An addition to the Phantom of the Opera post...

I totally forgot to mention Kelly's one and only problem with our seats at Phantom.

Apparently, the lady sitting in front of him was wearing a perfume that "made his eyelids hurt."

???

The Phantom of the Opera---1998 to 2008

Kelly and I are celebrating just a small milestone this month...our 10th ANNIVERSARY! I have more to write about that later, but I wanted to share pictures of the amazing gift my family got us.

When Kelly and I were dating, he surprised me with tickets to Phantom of the Opera at the Keller auditorium in Portland. We dressed up, went out to a fancy dinner and drove my dad's nice car (instead of Kelly's no window van). It was an out of the ordinary and very special date for us, and we both LOVED the show.

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend 2008, where we were having lunch with my fam. Kelly had to take Aspen home as she was having an overly tired meltdown. While sitting at the table, I looked down for just a moment. I looked back up to see my parents and sisters holding paper Phantom "masks" over their faces. The tickets were passed to me in a specially made holder designed by my ever-creative sis Jenn. She had even included a seating chart highlighting two seats in the first balcony. We were surprised with a impromptu trip that evening to the Phantom of the Opera, at Keller auditorium. I cried, of course.

We dressed up, went out to a fancy dinner after the show, and drove my dad's nice car! LOL! Of course, this time, childcare for Aspen was necessary, but that too was part of the gift. Our seats were perfect. We were on the end, separated from anyone else by a big pole. I think we enjoyed the show even more, or at least in a different way, than we did 10 years ago. We have a lot more appreciation now for the amazing vocalists. The sets are just incredible, and the actors were stupendous. It was awesome.

So thank you family for such a thoughtful gift!!!

Today Aspen says...

"I take pockets to Grammie and Grandpa's!"




And I just have to say that she definitely has a Braaten mouth! :)

Karyn Sharin' Old Navy 20% off Sale

Old Navy sale ends tomorrow Sunday, Sept. 21. The sale is online and in store. It is 20% off everything with the code BFF. (special thanks to one of my bff's for the heads up on this one :) )

In store- tell them the code when you check out
Online- enter code at check out and also receive free shipping!

Check it out! They have some unreal clearance deals. Purchases from online can be returned in store.

http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/home.do?ssiteID=ON#open

BTW, if you get some good deals, tell me about it! I LOVE hearing about other people's bargains :)








And a picture of Aspen, just because.

I'm an AUNT!!! (for the 10th time)

Joseph Leo Haubrick was born last night!

Joey's mom is Laurie, Kelly's younger sister, and proud daddy is Laurie's hubby David. Joey was a whopping 9 pounds and 14 ounces! Yowza.

Mom and baby (and Daddy) are doing well.

Welcome to the family sweet baby!


(the only photo we have so far is from David's cell)

Labor Day water baby 2007 and 2008

2007 (15 1/2 months)


2008 (27 1/2 months)

She looks just like her daddy!

I hear it all the time. What do you think?

(They are going in for a kiss.)

And what's your name?

Last night we were in downtown Bend for the evening. We are browsing at a shoe store and a sweet older woman is talking to Aspen and telling her how cute she is. Then she asks Aspen, "and what's your name?"
Without hesitation Aspen replies "Eli."

???

Eli is her friend's name :)

Pondering "His Music"

Last week I posted this excerpt from Max Lucado's book "Traveling Light." As I read over it again, I started thinking about how this particular writing could be taken completely the wrong way. I could take it the wrong way, and so I started thinking about the whole concept and what the author is really saying.

Then my mom asked, "do you feel like this 'silencing' is happening in your life right now?" No, I don't. But, it has happened, I've witnessed it happening to loved ones, and I know it may happen again in my life. Praise God for His detailed love.

Here it is
His music
Oh, how God wants you to hear HIS music. It will race your heart and stir your tears. You want to journey to the stars? He can take you there. You want to lie down in peace? His music can soothe your soul.But first, he's got to get rid of that country-western stuff. (Forgive me Nashville, only an example.) And so he begins tossing the CDs. A friends turns away. The job goes bad. Your spouse doesn't understand. The church is dull. One by one he removes the options until all you have left is God.He would do that??? Absolutely. If he must silence every voice, he will. He wants you to hear his music.
Max Lucado, Traveling Light

It could come across as God being a big ol' bully. Someone who takes away our "CD's" and silences every voice just because He can. Nothing could be further from the truth.

How often do we find ourselves turning to Him AFTER we've exhausted other options. We rely on finding our security and comfort through our spouse, our friends, our family, our job, our church, our children, and the list goes on. Not that these areas cannot be a source of help to us, but when they replace God, we are entering dangerous territory.

God helps us. Period. He uses HIS resources, which can come to us in the above mentioned areas, but if He sees an over-dependence on anything but Him, He may silence it. Why? Because He loves us. Because the peace and joy we will experience when we rely solely on Him surpasses anything we can imagine. His music is the sweetest. But we cannot hear it if we have a bunch of other CD's playing at the same time. We won't concentrate on every soothing note of His song, when we are searching for melodies in other songs. If I am feeling "let down" perhaps it is because, in His grace, He has silenced every other song, to make His song more recognizable. He wants us to hear HIS MUSIC. Listen and enjoy His sweet, sweet song.

For the record, I am sooo thankful for the blessings the Lord has placed in my life...my spouse, my friends, my family, my job, my church, my child, and the list goes on. May this serve as a reminder that He who gave me these blessings is always supreme.

Romans 8: 28 "And we know God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to his purpose."

Jeremiah 29: 11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Psalm 121: 1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Isaiah 26: 3-4 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."


And, ironically, some songs that I just feel like posting:

How deep the Father's love for us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tUP1R6hPo&feature=related

Refiner's Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idA6fCAHVzs&feature=related