Wading in the water

I debated how to tell this story. Today-September 29th-madyson was baptized. I want her to share her reasons and views on baptism but she is already in bed-so hopefully soon she can tell you her side. But today-as a parent-I am so proud. 

Madyson has always had a deep desire to learn about God and the bible. Todd and I have nurtured this desire by making church a priority in our life. We believe that it is a great help to have a community that supports you, prays for you and encourages you. We have an amazing Family Ministry at our church and it has been with their help that madysons desire to grow with Christ has bloomed so much at such a young age.

Tonight-my 7 year old got into the water with the help of our student minister Garon (her uncle as she refers to him because he is a big part of our family)

and waded out to our pastor (who is a great mentor, family friend, and father figure to me) and so sweetly committed her life to Christ.

Then she was brought back to shore by our family minister Joseph who has been our Life group leader for the last 3.75 years and has played a huge role in helping us develop a foundation and plan on how to raise a child in a Christ-filled way. 

I am so proud of my girl and I am blessed to be apart of her life. I know God will do great things through madyson. 

...to be continued. 

Getting to know you. Getting to know more about you part 2 of part 1

 

1. What part of Mississippi are you from?

Central Mississippi!

How long have you been blogging?

5 years

1. Why did you start blogging?

I had a lot to say-and no close friends that were in the same point in life-so I just started writing and figured someone might read it.

1. Tell us what we can expect when reading your blog.

The broadus bunch is my corner of the web to record my family and the things we do. I talk about mommy stuff-recipes-living on a budget-DIY projects-how God is working in our lives-adoption/miscarriage---I try to be an open book and share our joys and our struggles. One thing though-it is steam of conscience. I rarely spell/grammar check. As our buddy says, "your writing is one big thought" because...it is. 

1. What does your blog title mean?

The first header I had for our blog was set up like the Brady bunch with Todd and I and the girls and all our pets. I thought it was so clever. I have thought about changing it but it has just kind of stuck.

1. What do you love about being part of Mississippi Women Bloggers?

Meeting new bloggers

1. Who inspires you to blog?

My girls. I think they will one day enjoy reading all of my thoughts about them and our lives.

1. If you could pick a favorite blog post from this past year, what would it be?

The highlight reel or the post Todd and I did about marriage. Both were very raw and open. And we have received a lot of encouragement about sharing our story.

1. Do your real life friends know you blog? How do they respond?

They do. Most are very supportive and use our blog to know how to pray for our family. 

1. What is your blogging routine (if you have one)? 

With 3 kids-I try to do at least 2 post a week but sometimes I do good to get 2 in a month. 

1. We all love social media! Are there any social media links you would like to share so we can follow you?

If you want hour by hour updates follow us (Todd and I share an account) on Instagram (@thebroadusbunch) 

I am always on twitter (@SarahBroadus) having 140 character conversations with whoever will chat along! 

Facebook is annoying but I keep it because all of our grandmothers/out of state family is on there-However we do have a Broadus bunch page!

And Pinterest is my late night mom addiction! ( less calories than chocolate) all our social media links can be found on the top right column.

Getting to know you-getting to know more about you!!

Welcome blogging buddies! Today Mississippi women bloggers has asked that we all play along in the getting to know you game! I missed round 1 (so come back tomorrow and I'll have those posted!) but here is round 2!!

1.  What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?

I have lived in my hometown for 29 years!! My most favorite thing to do is go to the outdoor movies! Every few months-the whole bunch loads up chairs and blankets and heads downtown to watch an outdoor movie with others in the community! So much fun!

2. What is the best vacation spot in Mississippi?

I love the coast! Ship island is a fun day trip for the family. For a girls day-junking down(or up) hey 49! 

3. Tell us about the most fun date night idea in Mississippi.

Progressive dinner with local restaurants! Then a stay at the fair view inn!! 

4.  What is one fun fact that very few people know about you? 

I can say my alphabet backwards!

5.  Who is your favorite sports team (if you have one) and how did it start?

Go Saints! My daddy and I use to watch games together growing up! (He even recorded over my baptism with a saints game...) 

6.  What are your top three “Best Eats” in Mississippi?

1) Campbell's bakery Tea Cakes

2) Three Little pigs BBQ near camp Shelby

3) Lurney D's pimento cheeseburger (omg!) 

7.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

In 5 years I will have a 12 year old, 10 year old and 5 year old trio of daughters-so more than likely I will be spending A LOT of time in the prayer room at the church or at therapy. 

8.  If you could choose an actress to play you in real life, who would you choose and why?

Kristin Chenoweth::because when I asked my husband this question he didn't hesitate and said her. Probably because we both have high voices and big personalities 

9.  What is a southern tradition you and your family have? (Note: Get your guest posts on “Traditions” ready for December!)

We do Sunday Lunch after church. It is so important to us to instill the importance of family in our girls. On any given Sunday 20+ people can be gathered for a good ole Southern lunch!

10.  List 5 things on your Bucket List you hope to do before you die.

1) throw a dart at a map and travel to wherever it lands.

2)stay in cinderella's castle

3)start a woman's shelter

4)go to the grocery store and pay for someone else's groceries.

5)be on Seasme Street 

Monkey bites

A yummy healthy snack!

2 really ripe bananas squished

1 cup of quick oats

1 tablespoon of cinnamon 

Mix together-bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes

Let cool. I melted baking dark chocolate and drizzled it on the top!

Hi my name is...

Hi my name is sarah and I apologize for the lack of blogging over the last few days (13!) let's catch up!

We have a new "daughter". This is Racheal and she is an international student from china studying at a local college here in town and we are her host family! The girls are so exited to have a big sister! 

Our family reunion was a lot of fun! Great weather and good food!

Fall is starting to happen! The leaves fell and te temperature is changing a bit!! Yah!

I've been busy working on a 5k for Madysons school! They need more playground equipment to cover the 700+kids in 2&3 grade-so we had our first fundraiser! We netted over 12,000$!! 

Madyson and her friends and their sweet teacher!

Also we had family dedication at our church! It was a huge success. We dedicated all 3 girls along with 13 other families. 

And there ya have it! That's where we have been-oh and I had my first pumpkin spice latte yesterday-but didn't take a picture. :) 

It's gettin hot in here.

Mississippi is HOT. And it is a hot like crazy hot. Because with the heat you get humidity and it's like being wrapped in plastic-then a wool blanket-then stuck in a fiery furnace-you are wet and hot and just miserable. Which is why we all greatly depend on our air conditioner units. Well-Friday-ours died. It started growling and grumbling and died. It has been very uncomfortable in the house this week. We have all gotten lots of bonding time living in one room with a ton of fans and watching movies. 

Amelia enjoyed lying on the tile floor in front of the fan.

She has actually slept better this weekend than she has in a while.

Todd broke out "the pretty fans"

And well Aubrie could care less if it is 9,000 degrees she wants to snuggle.

As miserable as it has been it has been a good teaching experience about being grateful for modern conveniences...we talked about missionaries in 3rd world countries that don't have air everyday. And we talked about people here in our town that are suffering like this daily and what we could do to help. The girls have really been opened to just how much we really have. 

Everything should be fixed today!! Yahh!! But until then-I'm thankful for fans!!   

Being grateful for the life God called me for.

It's 9:45 Saturday morning and I am ready to go to bed and wake up to Sunday. 

(This is my brave face....)

Mia has had 2 dirty diapers this morning-the ac is frozen, I have 7 baskets of laundry to put up, the big kids are just now getting breakfast and Todd is at work.

I have said so many times I never wanted kids but now that I have them-I am so blessed. I also never wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. But God had other plans for me.

I have attempted to go back to work 3 times since may 2012. I tried going to teach-which I loved-got pregnant (yah!) but had a rough pregnancy that forced me to leave before I was ready. Then this summer I had 2 great job offers from previous employers but when I agreed to go to work-something small didn't work out-(childcare/my schedule vs Todd's) 

Todd and I both decided it was God saying right now-this is the life I have planned for you. And let me address-it is NOT because we can afford for me to stay home. 2 incomes would be so much  better-but we are in a year of transition. New baby-new job for Todd-new schools for the girls. I need to be home to keep the normalcy that we thrive on.

Today my prayer is for peace in this understanding-because with the growling a/c, the smelly dog, and those massive baskets of laundry....I am needing some reassurance on this.  

(After posting this post-I was scrolling through IG and saw this that Lecrae posted-) 

6 months!

Happy 6 month birthday Mia Margaret!! You are half way to your first birthday!!

Right now you are maintaining your weight at 18-20lbs. You wear a few 9 month outfits,a few 12 month outfits and a few 18 month outfits :) you are in a size 3 diaper.

You LOVE to eat. Anything. And everything. You are loosing interest in nursing (which is fine with me!) right now you wake up and eat oatmeal and fruit 4 hours later you will have a bottle and some veggies (usually a green blend) then 4 hours later a bottle and a small amount of avocado or sweet potatoes then another bottle a few hous later and bed. 

You have LOTS of new tricks.

You drink out of a straw now-

You sit up by yourself

You scoot around the floor

You have found your voice and love to talk (loudly) to anyone who will listen.

You love attention and will smile and coo at anyone who looks at you.

And you think your sisters are the funniest thing. You belly laugh at them-all the time!!

You still do not have any teeth-but they are coming! 

You are an extremely happy baby-and make us SO happy!!

The most asked question is "are y'all going to have more kids?" We always felt like 3 would be a great number. But now that we have 3-we aren't so sure. I love how madyson and aubrie are with each other-very close. There is a 5 year age gap between aubrie and Mia-i would love for Mia to have a sibling buddy-but we will just see. We are still very open to adoption and have even talked about fostering to adopt. We are leaving it up to God-he knows what our family will look like anyway!

This month we are transitioning into a whole new aspect of "products we love" We still use our Blooming Bath, Cloth Diapers, and Honest Company Diapers weekly. Everything else is changing! I will keep you updated! 

Happy! Happy! Happy!!

Happy Labor Day friends!! 

Todd is off working hard this morning and the girls and I are relaxing on this Labor Day around the house. I hear we are going to play princesses and maid today...I have a feeling Ill be the maid..again. ( I am the only one tall enough to reach the washer)

This weekend we have had a very relaxing-calm weekend! 

Friday-the girls spent the night with my parents and Todd and I went to lowes! I am preparing for the great entry way overhaul and needed to pick out some paint colors and such! We ran into Todd's step dad while we were out so we all went to Cracker Barrel for dinner then over to his house to work on Christmas plans & to help him pack! He is moving to his new house in a few weeks and we are busy going through everything and getting him all packed! 

 Mia Margaret has discovered sticking her tongue out all the time...it's going to make for some cute photos the next few weeks!

Saturday-MM and I were home alone all day. She napped-I watched movies. My parents brought the girls home around 4 and my brother & SIL and nieces and nephews came over and we grilled out. Then my brother went in the attic and pulled out all his old stuff-like his commodore 65--

 He was pumped to teach the kids about floppy disk...

Sunday we all got up and went to church then Aubrie Doodle and I had a date. She wanted McDonalds :/ so off we went for lunch.

 We ran back to lowes to pick up my paint for the foyer-and then home for a girls night! Todd was with the youth group having game night. We made cinnamon crunch bread, ate Chinese, and watched American Girl movies :) 

That was our weekend-how was yours??