First Trip To Mommy's "Home Sweet Home"

Did anybody see me take it from him?

Mary Claire loves to hold Christopher all by herself!

Lil' LSU fans!

Maw Maw and another great grandbaby!

This weekend Papa had a a Life Teen Core Member University training in Lafayette; therefore, the whole family packed their bag for the weekend. We spent it at Beezie and Sport's house. Friday night we hung out with Beezie & Sport. On Saturday Beezie had a small sip-n-see with a few of the neighbors and MawMaw & Ruthie. We also went to visit PawPaw Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening Mary Claire, Jacob, and Nanny Nat came to watch the LSU game with us. I think Christopher really enjoyed his first trip to Lafayette!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

Mauree

Brooksherland

So the title of our blog "Brooksherland" was not my idea! A dear friend of ours Brother Christopher Iwancio came up with it. Since, Steven seems to always be so positive and happy Brother Christopher coined the phrase, "Welcome to Brooksherland!" There's a little more to the story; however, that's it in a nutshell. My assistant last year at Brulsy Elementary had a onesie made for baby Christopher that reads I heart Brooksherland! He wore it for the first time the other day. You can see by the smile on his face that he sure does love Brooksherland and being part of the Brooksher family...haha!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

Mauree

Happy Birthday Papa & Sport!

This weekend was a weekend of celebration! Saturday was Papa's birthday. We took a trip to New Roads we stayed at our dear friend Jeanne's family plantation, Bonnie Glyn and their boat house, which is located on False River. We had such a relaxing & enjoyable time on our first family vacation! We ate delicious food at Ma Mamma's, Morel's, and Hot Tails. We were able to watch the LSU Game at Hot Tails and have a drink for Papa's bday. Christopher was a trooper on the drive to and from New Roads as well as at all 3 restaurants! On Saturday night he slept 8 hrs! Papa really enjoyed getting to just relax, read, and enjoy his time with family! On Sunday was Sport's bday! Sport is Christopher's maternal grandfather. We call my dad Sport because of his love for sports, particularly LSU Football!! He signs everything, Go Tigers! He will drive to Baton Rouge solo just in the nick of time to get to Past Time & catch a shuttle to Tiger Stadium. I have fond memories of LSU Football as a little girl. My favorite is the time my dad took just me to the football game to tailgate and go to the game. We stood around this circle and watched this old man cajun dance with bystanders! Well he chose me at one point to dance with him! It was quite funny and a fond memory of special trip to Tiger Stadium with my dad. On the way home from Baton Rouge there wasn't any talking just listening to the Post-game show on 98.1. On away game-days, Daddy would blare the pre-game show in our living room and when the game came on TV he'd listen to the Radio game-show during commercials. I hope one day Christopher gets to attend his first experience in Tiger Stadium with Sport. Sport grew up following LSU Football and hoped to go there one day;however, he ended up attending USL. So when Nat & I graduated from LSU in 2005 it was a very special day to see his 2 girls have the experience he had hoped to have! Well, we love you Sport & Papa! Thank you for all the sacrifices you've made for both of my families!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

Mauree

A Very Blessed Baby

Today the St. Aloysius community welcomed Christopher into the church. Steven and I were very honored parents. 1 Timothy 1:12 reads: "I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry." This scripture was read during today's second reading. It is very fitting for Steven & I because we feel so blessed that God has called us to be parents of our precious son. Father Burns was the celebrant for this mass and he came to celebrate with us afterwards. Christopher wore the same gown which Mary Claire and Jacob Paul wore for their baptisms. Christopher did so well at the Baptism (Steven only had to take him to the cry room once). Christopher's god-parents are Natalie & Joshua. Christopher received several gifts on this special day. We were so happy to have ALL of our immediate families and most of Christophers great-grandparents with us to celebrate this joyous occasion. Andrew and Emily flew in from NYC and Matthew flew in from Nashville. This was their first time to meet baby Christopher. Nana & Grandad (my dad's parents) drove in from Memphis and Grandma & Papa (Ms. Margaret's parents) drove in from New Orleans. Grandmother (Dr. Steve's mother) lives here and attended. Everyone got the chance to hold him; many for the first time! Therefore, Christopher rested very well the rest of the day. I was very excited about Christopher's cake. I ordered it from Whole Foods. The bow & writing did not come out as I expected; however, it still tasted delicious. Well, we are so glad that Christopher was able to attend mass for the first time and spend time with so many family members. It was a blessed welcoming into the church indeed!

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Mauree

Who Dat?

This past weekend, Beezie came to stay with Christopher and I. Papa was on the High School Youth Group Fall Retreat. On Saturday, Beezie, Christopher, & I took a trip to New Orleans. We went so Beezie could pick up some curtains at an antique shop on St. Charles and so that I could go to Pipen Lane on Magazine Street to pick out some winter outfits for Christopher. Well after our errands, we popped in Cafe Rani to grab a light lunch before heading home to Baton Rouge. Well, it was later in the afternoon and the hostess sat us in the quiet corner since we had a baby with us. Well, much to my surprise I look up and who do I see sitting right next to us??? Yes, Drew Brees and his wife. On the table was also a sippy cup. When we were entering the cafe a toddler was running around and almost ran right into the stroller. I thought, "who is letting their lil boy run around this place?" Well, when I saw the sippy cup , I quickly figured out is was Drew Brees! Haha! At the end our meal and their meal, I began trying to make eye contact with Drew & flag him over to take a picture with Christopher. He didn't look my way so when he stood to go pay the bill, I walked over to his wife & politely asked, "Do you think, he'd take a picture with my baby boy?" She was SO nice & said sure!! Well, when he came over Christopher was getting fussy so I picked him up to calm him. My mom then told Drew go get your little boy for the picture. So we took the picture with the 4 of us! He was very friendly & I think Christopher will thank me when he's older for being a little bit embarrassing! I'm now an official Saint Fan! Who Dat? Good luck Drew in you first game of the season against the Vikings!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

Mauree

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope."

Our Papa, Steven sent out this email last week:

I want to let you know that I am officially leaving St. Aloysius as Director of Youth Ministries around January 1^st 2011. I have LOVED everything about working here at St. Aloysius and working with all of you. It saddens me to think about not being youth minister to all of you next year, but I know it is time for me to move on and allow someone else to continue our vision here at St. Aloysius. I am excited to see all of you step up to the challenge! This past week I have had several meetings with Fr. Burns, Deacon Johnny Veron, and parishioners about the future of youth ministry at our parish. It is of UTMOST importance to me that our programs continue and stay strong. For this reason, I have committed to the parish to leave by January, so that they can financially commit to hiring the new person hopefully by October/November to assist me and learn how everything is run here before I leave. The parish staff is forming a hiring committee for the position that is opening. I don’t anticipate being asked to be involved in this process, but they will probably ask an adult volunteer and a YLT member to be on the committee. Please encourage anyone you know that you think would be gifted and interested in applying to be our new Director of Youth Ministries to send in a resume. Also, please join me in praying for this process and for our anticipated next youth minister!

I want to THANK all of you for your yes to serve our parish and for you faith in me as youth minister over the years. It has been a blessing for me to serve you in this capacity, and I will miss ALL of you very much….even though I do hope to stay involved if the situation permits me to.

In Christ’s love,

Steven H. Brooksher, Jr.

Director of Youth Ministries

St. Aloysius Catholic Church

Steven and I have discerned his calling over the last year give or take a few months; however, we knew in our hearts that God was calling him to move into another job. We of course went back in forth with trying to figure out if he was suppose to leave St. Aloysius and if our reasons for him leaving were truly God's call. But it came down to realizing that in order for us to support a family he would have to move into a new profession, especially since we both agreed it was best that I stay home with our children at first. It is a very bittersweet feeling for both of us. It is very sad to leave his job in youth ministry since he has so many close relationships with the kids and their families. It is also very sad because his job is so very important. It is so important because he is helping kids to come to know Christ and to grow in their own Catholic faith. However, we both agree that God has worked through Steven. We know that the Lord prepares the called; he doesn't call the prepared. Therefore, we have hope and trust that God is going to call someone else to continue on the work Steven has began at St. Aloysius. When Steven started at St. Aloysius youth group was mainly a small group of kids who gathered to play games and have pizza. The youth group has come a LONG was since then. For example, the Fall retreat is this weekend. There are 100 kids attending and there is a FULL wait list of kids hoping to get to go! The retreat will be full of teachings, sacraments, and fellowship. I am almost done reading a book my mother gave me called, The Rhythm of Life. The book talks about how to be the best version of yourself and to live with passion and purpose. The chapter I read last is called "The Enemy of Excellence: Minimalism". I couldn't help but think of Steven. The 2nd to last paragraph reads:

"Building character is a task only for the brave and dedicated. There are no shortcuts when it comes to building character. If you wish to cure minimalism in your own life, to develop a complete commitment to excellence and an absolute rejection of mediocrity, the question you need to start asking yourself is, "What is the most I can do?"

Well, I know our dear Papa answered the Lord's call to be the director of youth ministry at St. Aloysius. He did not feel prepared at all. However, he certainly took a leap of faith. He's always asked the Lord, "What is the most I can do for the youth of St. Aloysius?" (like the books talks about) Through many trials with the program at times he never gave up on his ability to serve the youth! Through his dedication to the youth and his acceptance of the Holy Spirit there are now hundreds of kids who know Christ personally and believe in the Catholic faith. Even though he is leaving St. Aloysius he will remain in spirit. We will both miss him working there, but we know that the Lord has other plans for our family in mind. We are grateful for the opportunity he had at St. Aloysius and we won't ever forget all that both of us have learned through this incredible ministry! We are also very excited to see where God is calling him to serve next so that he can provide for our family. Our journey together has already been so exciting since we got married and had our first child. We know the journey will only get better! Christopher and I love you Papa!

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Mauree

Happy 2 Months Old Birthday!

Today Christopher is 2 months old! Therefore, we had his check-up and we were due for shots : ( I was a little concerned about vaccinating him, because of everything that I have read. I have read a book on why not to vaccinate your children, read several articles on why not to vaccinate, and then I've read several things on why to vaccinate your children.) Long and short I knew I wanted Christopher to be vaccinated for all the benefits; however, I didn't want him to have a negative reaction either. We said a prayer for protection to St. Christopher prior to leaving and I brought along in his diaper bag a relic from Blessed Selos. This relic was given to me prior to my c-seciton and I believe Blessed Selos interceded for me and the safety of Christopher's delivery. Well of course Dr. Tribou was very understanding and helped me to come to a decision that I felt confident about. He just received 2 vaccines today and we will return in 9 days to receive another. When we return for his 4 month check up he will just have to receive one vaccine that is combination vaccine. He was just a little fussy when getting the shots and then he fell asleep. I woke him to feed when we got home so we could run to the grocery. He got a little fussy when waking 4 hrs. from his vaccine; however, I just gave him a lil Tylenol and is now resting. You can see his pic above; notice his 2 bandaids on his thighs. (Yes he's resting on his stomach; don't fret we have a breathing monitor in his crib). Also another positive report from the doctor: he weighed in at 8 lbs. 5.5 oz. We are so very proud of his weight gain! I'm working hard on beefing up his cheeks and thighs!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

Mauree