My little boy is 3 today-March 31st

(a birthday gift from grandma!)

Words cannot express how thankful I am for Cade and the strength the Lord has given him at the age of 3. He has been through alot in 3 years, but he is healthy and we cannot give thanks enough for that.. He has taught Chris and I so much and we have learned to rely on the Lord more in the past 3 years than we ever had. We found the meaning of Cade's name early on when he was just a baby and little did we know that in just 2 years he would define the meaning "warrior" at the age of 3. He has brought so much joy to our lives, but he has also contributed to our growth in our relationship with Christ.
Cade, when daddy and I dedicated you to the Lord, we knew He had big plans for your life..right now, we are only getting glimpses of what you are to become, but we both know that you will glorify Him in all that you do!!
You are growing up so fast and mommy knows that in a few years you won't want to sit with her and cuddle watching cartoons, or want to be held, or want her to play with you. I am cherishing those moments everyday! I love you "bubba." Happy Birthday!!

(p.s.) I am so thankful for the many friendships that Cade has and that he loves them all! Thank you to all of you who came on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. He has been asking everyday, "when is everybody coming to my house again?" He had a great time!

Post-Spring Break

(this is my favorite picture ever! great profile pic!)

(cade and ace..inseparable..he loves his Ace!)


Cade has had a fun two weeks.. Last week I had a blast spending time with him.. The week didn't start out too fun due to the MRI he had, but the remainder of the week was great. We drove to Murfreesboro twice to watch my brother's team compete in the state basketball tournament..long drive, but Cade loved it..

I took him to Chuck E Cheeses' on Thursday.. We had a great time! He won alot of tickets and was able to pick out some prizes before we left. By Friday he was asking to go to school... to be honest didn't know how I felt about that..glad he misses his friends, but sad he didn't want to stay with "mommy."
Saturday we picked up Chris' mom from the airport and he has non-stopped played with her since she has been here.. She will be exhausted by the time she has to leave..

It was very difficult to wake up for school on Monday, partly because of spring break, but also because of some difficult circumstances surrounding our school... It has been a hard week, but the Lord is working in the lives of our students! God is good.. All the time!!

My friend Jennifer took all of these pics.. Love them! Thanks Jennifer!

Random Thoughts....

(Cade showing us his muscles!)


(I don't think I want to know what that other hand is doing..:)


(his picture smile..head tilt and everything!)

Some of you have asked about how Cade is doing and how the eye is progressing since his surgery.. I posted a few pics of him just taken yesterday. He is doing great! The swelling seems to be gone and now we are just waiting to see how well his muscles are working to keep the eye in alignment. Many of you have asked if this was the last procedure... I would say definitely the last major one.. We still have some minor things that will need to be taken care of, but I think we are done with all the 2-6 hour surgeries..Thank the Lord!

other things: I am amazed everyday at what new things Cade says and does. He cracks me up sometimes!He asks me all the time, "you happy or sad?" not because of all my crazy mood swings, but because they sing a song at school everyday that asks them that question. He is beginning to start to sing and it is so cute.. He loves "if your happy and you know it," "the B-I-B-L-E," and some song that we have been listening in the car for the past few days by VEGGIETALES..i have to say that veggietales was a cute idea, but man, their sound is soooooo annoying, and of course Cade wants to listen to them everytime we get in the car. He is definitely growing up way too fast and I know that soon I will miss those songs of his..

other thoughts: Today is Selection Sunday and I am so excited to get my bracket and fill it out.. This is my favorite time of year!! Love to watch all the games with Chris and root for my pick which usually is not his..We are very competitive and keep track of whose teams win or lose throughout the tournament..Bring on March Madness-only in a basketball sense please!

Spring Break!!!

(really wish i was going to be here!!)


Yeah! I am officially on spring break.. It started yesterday around 3:00. I am so excited to have some time off at home with Cade. I don't know what we are going to do yet, but I want him to have a fun spring break.. No, we aren't going to Cabo, Seaside, snowboarding in Colorado, or to Turks and Caicos.. much like most of my students.. We will be staying in good ole' Nashvegas and hoping the weather gets warmer!
It so happens that every year Chris' spring break and mine never fall on the same week, which stinks. I listen to him leave in the morning as I try to sleep a little longer and then it is reversed when his spring break starts..so hard for the both of us!
I am hoping this week to get some things done for Cade's party on the 28th and maybe take him to Chuck E. Cheese and Monkey's Treehouse.. Chris' mom is coming in at the end of next week and we are so excited for that...especially Chris, because his mom usually cooks all his favorite things!!! He is so spoiled!! Love you Honey!!

Cade is schedule for another MRI on Tuesday at VCH..not looking forward to that, but it is going to let us know if there is anything hindering his eye from moving properly.
Alot of you have been asking how he is doing and if the swelling is down. I am hoping to post again with recent pictures of his eye.. He is doing great though! Thanks for all your prayers..
Will post the pics later..
Not worthy, but HIS

A Friend Loveth at All Times

(this has to be the cutest picture ever.. how sweet of Christopher to be helping Cade put his shoe on.. they love each other so much!)


As you have seen before, Cade is always in a picture with his buddy Christopher at school. I am beginning to think that they are attached at the hip. One of the things that I love about Cade being at school with me during the day is that I get to witness moments like these quite often. Cade's teachers will send me picks via facebook every so often and it just makes my week.. I love the fact that as he gets older he begins making new friends that he loves.. Cade's pre-school is run much a like a mother's day out, but Cade goes 5 days and week and so does his buddy Christopher. (who is in the picture, his mom works with me at CPA also) He loves Christopher, and on a daily basis they are either best buddies who play so well together or they are at each other's throats. They are always in trouble together.. I am so thankful that he has a best buddy at school. Cade loves Christopher or "titopher" as he calls him. He always lets me know if he is not at school.
Christopher is adopted from Guatemala and in fact, there is another little boy in his class adopted from Russia. The Brian family is surrounded by friends and family who have adopted and thank the Lord for the calling He has placed on those families.
Thanks Sarah for snapping the picture! It made my day!

March Madness!

Okay, so this is my favorite time of the year. Not only do we celebrate Cade's third birthday this month, (which i cannot believe!) it is basketball time.. This is the time of year where Chris and I become heavily competitive as we fill out our brackets for the NCAA tourney. I usually fill out a girls and a boys bracket, but Chris refuses to do a girls bracket. I usually pick several underdogs and "Cinderella" teams just for the fun of it. It is also neat to watch some of those unexpected teams picked to lose in the first round, go pretty far in the tournament. There is always one or two teams that make it pretty far..
This month also brings back memories before I had Cade. I was on bed rest for 5 weeks, which was awful. Chris' mom was here for quite a while to help out which was so great! I clearly remember the night my water broke. We were watching the NCAA slam dunk competition-yes basketball of course. Chris and I loaded up the car and headed to Centennial. I don't think we spoke a word to each other we were so nervous..
So yes, March is an important month for all of us. I can't believe Cade will be turning 3 at the end of this month, and we are very much looking forward to the NCAA tournament to begin.. Stay tuned for my final four picks!