Christmas Eve Gift!

Christmas Eve Gift! (a family tradition)

Every year on Christmas Eve my family plays a game that has become more and more significant. On Christmas Eve (from midnight to 11:59pm), you try to be the first person to say "Christmas Eve gift!" to somone else. If you catch someone first, they are supposed to give you a Christmas Eve gift (although most never do give a gift it is fun to play). This year I got my dad, brothers, sister, and wife (my mom caught me off gaurd... but my dad set her up to do it). I am still working on getting my Grandma (she is pretty good).

So as I want to say... Christmas Eve Gift! to all! :)

Merry Christmas!

-Brandon and Rachael

Our New Christmas Present!

One of the things Rachael and I wanted was a new camera before the baby came along in April. The Lord has provided a great digital camera with 6 megapixels and 10x Optical Zoom. We got it as a Christmas present from Rachael's parents.




We can't believe how good the Lord's blessing is and that He would choose to bless us! We are stil praying for a new shed, a dishwasher, and money to fix our car before the baby comes. I know that God will provide! Please be in prayer for us as we take on this new adventure!

Brandon and Rachael

#1 OU Fans!

Rachael and I went to Jon and Beth's house with my family, her family, and others to watch OU play OSU. We are both BIG TIME OU FANS and this game was important. Winning this game would mean that Oklahoma would go play Nebraska for a BIG 12 title in the championship game!


I am happy to report that OU beat OSU for the third year in a row!


About 5 days after the game, Jonathan and Kristinia called and offered tickets to the BIG 12 Championship game in Kansas City! We were SOOOO excited! Rachael made a sign, we packed up and headed off to the game!


We had a great time with Jonathan and Kristina! We were able to make it a two day trip thanks to the hospitality of the Jestes' cousins.




This sign, Rachael, Kristina's hat, and myself ended up on national TV!


This is a picture taken with OUR camera at the BIG 12 Championship Game! We had seats on the 50 yard line about 15 rows up! It was amazing!



SHOW YOUR TEAM SPIRIT! Who is your favorite NCAA football team?

Playing in the Snow / Getting Stuck :)

Rachael, Alisha, Adrianne Lauren, Jonthan, Justin and I went to the park to sled after this last snow we had. The snow was very deep (about a foot) in most places. We had a great time.


Jonathan tried out a few tricks... they didn't work so well. He had a sore behind for the next week. :)





The snow was so deep that it made a creek bed look like it was part of a field. Alisha and I took off out into the field and, as you can see, got a little stuck. Mine was pretty easy to get out because I saw it before it happened and was able to make some adjustments.





Alisha wasn't so lucky...






Alisha burried her car into the creek, crack the ice, and water came up through the snow and made a pond. We tried to push it out but it was to late... she sunk her car into the 5+ foot deep creek!


My dad had to come in his new truck and pull it out (I think he enjoyed that). Alisha broke something on her car and had pay $150 or so to fix it.

Although it wasn't fun at the time, we can look back and laugh at a good memory made.


Any comments?




Brandon and Rachael

Putting Up Lights

A Christmas Tradition
Every year, right after thanksgiving, we help my parents put up Christmas lights at there house. Rachael and I had a great time doing this and getting into the Christmas spirit! This will be our first Christmas as a married couple...

So from our house to yours, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

*And remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

Brandon and Rachael

CBI Presentation / Character Focus

Children's Presentations
CBI is going VERY well. We are taking the children through the Bible in one year. Many of the children are memorizing large chapters in the Bible and nearly all of them have memorized the books of the Bible! Rachael and I are so blessed to be able to serve the children and parents in WHC through this ministry.

Character Focus Ministries
God has blessed our efforst with children. The dream of Character Focus is becoming a reality! Rachael and I will be going to Richmond, VA with a large group of young people to administrate a children's conference for about 500 children for 2 days! We will be training volunteers, traveling, site seeing, and sharing the gospel! We are excited about this new door the Lord has opened for us.

Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that God will bless our ministry as we serve the children and families of America!

PS - I will be updating the Character Focus site within a few week. Check it out at www.characterfocus.com.

If you would like me to learn more about how you can be apart of this trip to Richmond in June, please leave a post!

It's a Girl! (Elizabeth Grace)

The Newest Member to Our Family... Elizabeth Grace!

We are having a baby girl! We are both so exicited about this new life the Lord has given us. Both of us thought that the child would be a boy (because boys are dominate on daddy's side) but we feel so blessed to know we are having a precious little girl.

Rachael and I went to the doctor on December 5 with both of our parents. We were glad that they got to share in this exciting event. After the appointment, we went to celebrate by eating Mexican food downtown.



Please pray that Rachael and the baby stay in good health. We are so excited about what God is doing in our lives... and we both can't wait to be parents!

(By the way, we are half way there! Only 20 weeks to go!)

In Rachael's office we held a name poll to help us decide what the name should be. Elizabeth Grace beat Samantha Joy by a number of votes. Leave a post and let us know which one you liked the best (just for fun).

Brandon and Rachael

We just finished the Harvest musical at the church. It was a big success! Hats off to everyone who helped.

Have a happy thanksgiving from Brandon and Rachael!