Some of my Favorite People

Whew, we have got to get a bathroom upstairs in this house (not going to happen).  I was working up here and don't feel like carrying my stuff down...but not sure how much longer I can do it.  I need to go!  This is irrelevant to my post.  We went to Cracker Barrel last week with some of my favorite people in the whole world.  I was going to write about them for a Fenomal Family Friday, but I can't find my little picture I was using for those (like 500 years ago) so I just am going to write about them now on this post today :)  This is Papa and MeMaw Bramlett, Rayford and Gloria, as they are known to some....but probably to most just known as Papa and MeMaw.  In most churches there is usually one family that has numerous family members involved in the church.  Sometimes this is a good thing - and sometimes it's not such a good thing...have you ever heard the term "family owned and operated" about a church - haha.  I learned that phrase during our time at Woodstock when we spent time with families who were hurting through City of Refuge.  ANYWAY, the Bramlett's are a very special family.  They are special for a lot of reasons.  They were kind to us from the start - I'll never forget Neal meeting us at the church to show us around that first afternoon we visited.  Then, Ray being on the committee that interviewed us.  It was obvious from the start that this family was different.  Since coming to Bethabra, we gave gotten to know many Bramlett's.  I have to say, that honestly, I am thankful for every single one of them.  Because you know what's special about the Bramlett's?  They want Bethabra to be GOD owned and operated.  MeMaw and Papa long to see Bethabra grow, families in the community reached, and Christ's name spread throughout our area.  They desire to help with that mission in whatever way they can.  Having the Bramlett's at Bethabra is sort of like having an army on God's side to help us accomplish His mission.  It is rare that I have met anyone like them. For there to be so many of them, yet all of them united in their goal of reaching the community and moving with the movers.  They have accepted us as family since we arrived (as many at Bethabra have), and I am thankful.  I love them.  I love the whole family.  In many ways, they remind me of my Wise family back in Crestview :)   We are fortunate for many reasons to be where we are, and I have no doubt the Father ordained this exact place for us at this exact time.  Oh, how we want to do His will and see lives changed.  

I don't know if MeMaw actually knew I was going to post this, but hopefully it's okay with her :)

Oh, and of course, some cute pictures of James

I'm just telling you right now that I don't know how people survive without a church family.  I know people do it all the time, and obviously, it's clearly possible to live without one.  I can so see why God tells us not to forsake assembling together though.  The past couple of weeks have been kind of hard - for several reasons - on our family.  Many in our church family have been a haven to us.  I left the dr. the other day and we texted back and forth with about a million people who care about us :)  I am grateful to walk our journey with these people.  I love our Bethabra family with all my heart!