FAMILY

I think it must be because I just spent a week in Georgia with all of my family there but today I have been feeling really grateful for the family that I am blessed to call mine. Are we perfect...no, not at all. In fact we have been through some really hard times together. But I wouldn't trade those hard times for anything. They have taught me how important family is and that if you don't stick together life will be really hard and tough. You will feel lonely and like you have no one to turn to. I am so blessed to have such a supportive family that has always shown their love for me {although at the time I may not have seen it that way}. Each member of my family plays such an important role in our family dynamics.

Everyone meet Mo and Faddah

They make a cute pair, huh?! I sure think so, I'm thankful for genetics to say the least. My mom and dad are the best! I know everyone says that but mine really are. They are the best example of Christ like love that I know. They love us no matter what and make sure we know it daily. They love us for who we are and what we can become. They see our full potential and do everything they can to help us get there. They are our number one cheerleaders. They are also best friends who love when we love and who hurt when we hurt. They have taught us that family is always supposed to be there for each other even when its hard. Seeing them take their roles as Honey and Dude {their grandma and grandpa names} when my niece was born last September has made me love them even more. Their love for little Zoe radiates just as much as it does for us girls. They have so much love in their hearts. I hope to one day be the mom that my mom is for me. She is my best friend and I truly treasure that relationship. My dad showed me what qualities to look for in a husband and I really appreciate his wisdom and tender heart.

Meet the Brinkerhoff Clan

This is my older sister, Afton, her husband Gregg, and darling baby Zoe. First confession: I have ALWAYS coveted Afton's voice. She has the voice of an angel and I loved growing up hearing her sing, plus she is a lovely piano player. Afton also has the perfect complexion, something I have been and always will be super jealous of. She is an elegant woman, like a timeless beauty. She is a wonderful mom to little Zoe. Gregg is an awesome brother in law. He is quick and witty and a excellent dad to his daughter and loves my sister so much. He does everything he can for their little family, and we all appreciate that he takes care of two girls we love.  Zoe has blessed our family in so many ways. She has brought us closer together and she is our little ray of sunshine. She is the prettiest baby I have ever seen and she has such a happy spirit.

Here is the baby sister

Everyone this is Colby. Possibly one of the sweetest girls I know. This girl is beautiful inside and out. Her heart is SO big. She always sticks up for the underdog, and won't let anyone get bullied or bashed. She is so smart and beautiful. She has the longest legs in our family and I am so jealous of them, she has my dream body...and her eyelashes are to die for. She is a great aunt to baby Zoe. I know she has so much potential in this life and I can't wait to see her accomplish everything that is in store for her!

And last but not least

This handsome man is my husband! I feel so blessed to be his wifey. He makes me so happy. He is such a hard worker and such a tender hearted boy. He is kind to everyone even when I feel like half the time they don't deserve it. This boy has overcome so much and I know how much he has to offer. I can't wait to see what our future holds!

I am so blessed to have THIS family and to have the knowledge that I can be with them forever. I am trying to become a better daughter, sister, and wife and I am so grateful to have these people by my side to encourage me and help me along the way. I love you all so very much!

There's No Place Like Home

Sorry I have been a little MIA on the blog lately. Last week we headed down to good ole Georgia for the baby sisters high school graduation! I had such a great time and really got to see a lot of my family that I hadn't seen in what feels like forever.

Monday morning we got in and first stop was Chickfila. Never has a chicken biscuit tasted so good. After our Chickfila run we stopped by my parents house so that I could say hello {it's hard knowing that you are so close to your family but you can't spend time with them}. The thing about both of our families living so close is that we have to make sure that time is spent at each place. So the beginning of the week we spent at Brad's side of the family and the end of the week with mine!

On Tuesday morning we went to the aquarium with Brad's relatives. We saw lots of fishes and other sea animals. I was impressed with how great of a job Atlanta did on the aquarium but I probably wouldn't go again, basically it an "I can say I've gone to the Georgia Aquarium" kind of thing.After the aquarium I headed to get my hair done, that was interesting to say the least.

On Wednesday I went to the Braves game with my family! It was so fun to just hangout, catch up, and watch some baseball. I remember many times going as a family to Braves games during the summer! Colby would always ask for dippin dots and I would always go for the frozen lemonade! Later that evening we met up with Adam and Ashley {our friends who set us up} for dinner and then just caught up on whats going on in our lives.

Thursday morning we headed over to my parents for the rest of the week. It was so fun to see everyone who had come for Colby's graduation. Everyone was there and it's been awhile since that has happened! Thursday evening we had foil dinners and dutch oven lasagna. It was so delicious and of course we ended the evening with peep s'mores!

Friday was the big graduation day! Colby graduated with honors and it couldn't have been a more perfect ceremony. It was short and we were blessed with amazing weather. They even played banjo music which was PERFECT for Colby. After the ceremony we all got back to the house and she opened cards and we ate cookie cake!

Saturday we drove up to Canton to go to my cousin, Dallin's graduation. After the graduation we headed back to the house to eat {cafe rio style}. After dinner we headed to the lake to take family pictures since everyone was in town.

Sunday was church day. It's always weird to me to go back to that ward. I'm not sure why it just is. There have been a lot of new families to move into the ward but other than that it's pretty much the same. Once we got home it was lunch, naps, and then good ole wackee six. I seriously LOVE that game but I am not as good at it as I once was. {womp womp}.

Monday and Tuesday Brad and I headed to the beach. I am a beach lover for life and wish I could live there {maybe one day}. It kind of felt like a mini honeymoon. It was so fun to stroll down the beach and the little beach town hand in hand. It was also nice to have sand and waves in front of our faces instead of piles of snow for a change.

I am so grateful that we were able to go to Georgia for Colby's graduation and that my whole family was able to be there. It is so fun to see the different stages of life that everyone is going through. Words cannot describe how thankful  I am that families are forever. I know we may not always get a long and see eye to eye but I know that each one of us loves one another more than anything in this world and would do anything to make sure that we are all happy and healthy. I love my family and I am grateful that I get to be with them for eternity!

Mother's Day 2013



please don't hate me for the last picture, I secretly love it because it's totally us! :)

Let's take a second to talk about Mothers shall we. Well actually let's talk about the best one EVER, her name is Sabra Lynn Newberry, but I like to call her Mo :)

Being married and on my own has taught me a lot. One thing for sure though is that I am beyond blessed to have such a wonderful, loving, and supportive mom. 

Not only is she my mom but she is also my best friend. I don't think one day has gone by that I haven't called her at least twice.

I love that she is always there when I am happy and sad. She knows my pains, struggles, and imperfections and still loves me anyways. 

One day I hope to be just like her because she is really the best mom. I know growing up I didn't appreciate her as much as I should have. Recently my eyes were opened to exactly how blessed I am to have her in my life and I don't want to imagine a day without her because my life would be very dark and depressing. So it's a good thing families are forever! :)

She came to every dance recital, cheer leading event, sat through many hot and long chorus concerts, attended graduations, and some of my favorite memories are from when we would stay up talking till early am hours. She was there for all the biggest days of my life. From graduating high school, to receiving my endowments and getting sealed in the temple, and I know she will be there for big future events too, she wouldn't miss them for anything!

My mom has always made it a point to be involved in our lives and illustrated that being a mom and a wife were and still are her priorities in life. 

So here's to you Mo! I love you so much and thank you for being my mom! You are my Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. I know that my Heavenly Father knows me perfectly because He sent me to YOU, and I couldn't ask for anything better! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Love you!

p.s. Here is a BIG B-rett hug via blog!

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p.s.s. It was more than 10 seconds ;)