So, as most of you know 2010 was a roller coaster, to say the least. Great highs and terrible lows. Well, we would like to start this new year out with some good news... We are pregnant. I am hesitant to announce this great news because I am scared....

I am scared that since I poured all of my love for the boys in to Shae that I may not love "new baby" as much. I am scared of losing another baby. I am scared to be excited because it might mean I won't miss the boys as much. I'm scared to go to a baby shower... I am scared.

But, although I am not promised tomorrow I know I get a brand new start with every sunrise. So, even though today was scary, tomorrow doesn't have to be. My hope is that by getting out what I am feeling or thinking I can work through being scared and start getting to a place where I can enjoy and even be excited about this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, Scott and I planned this pregnancy and we're excited, but something happened when found out.... I guess it sunk in.

Long story shorter, we are expecting. August 28th is the due date. We should know more in February when we go in for the check up.

Please keep us in your prayers

Renee

Wanting the want

Church. Some of us go and some of us do not. We all have our reasons for both. For myself, Sunday morning comes and going to church depends on Renee wanting to go. I am usually not motivated to attend. When I do go it doesn't take me long to figure out why I enjoy church. The fellowship, the praise and worship, and most of all, the teaching. When I leave I am motivated to take on the world. I feel energized. I can't wait to get home and read all of my "spiritual" books I have so I can grow closer to Him. I am going to be God's most dedicated disciple. :)
Home. It is our comfort zone. Our place to relax and enjoy the things that make us happy. It is also the place where a lot of us lose our "want". As soon as I sit back to watch whatever football game is on, I lose my want. Why? Because my want to please God is not my priority.
When God took our family through this past summer and we lost Shyloh and Tyce, I knew I had grown closer to God. But, as time went on I found myself walking away from God, then running from Him, and lately it has seemed like I've been sprinting. I know why. I feel cheated and when you feel cheated, you get angry and I am more angry than you could imagine. If God is so powerful and so good, why do bad things happen?



I think I found my issue. My want is of the world and not of God.

God never said it would be easy to have a relationship with Him. The first step is wanting to have a relationship with Him and when we make Him our priority we will begin to see how our doubts and lack of faith in God slowly disappear. For me it's not so easy. I give Him all of my anger. I give Him my fears. I give Him me one day at a time.

We sang this song at church this morning. It's the first time I have ever heard it but it really spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you.



Please pray for our family. Please pray for me and my want for God.

One last dance

As most of you know, I was adopted. I've always known who my biological mom is (Bonnie) and have maintained a close relationship with her for as long as I can remember. I never call her mom but she is the woman who gave birth to me so obviously we have a close connection. And because of that close connection, I have always cared for her and wished her nothing but the best. She has always deserved to be treated like a lady and her current husband Burnie, did just that. He always put her on a pedestal. He treated her with respect and with faithfulness. One heck of a man.
Burnie Ballard suffered a heart attack and passed away yesterday at the age of 60.
Burnie Ballard grew up and lived in Pageland S.C. He was a respected lawyer and everyone knew him and loved him. He just had that "teddy bear" personality. Although he did not have children of his own, he loved his "step" grand kids dearly. Adored them would be a better description. He was a man of integrity and a eternal spring of knowledge. He was simply "Burnie". A loving husband, a caring grandfather, a wonderful son, and a dedicated friend. To me, he was the man who treated my biological mom like she was born to be treated. And because of that, it is easy for me to call him my "step-dad".
If there is one story I could tell that would help you understand the type of man he was, it would be this: Burnie, Bonnie, my half sister Amanda, and her daughter were visiting for Shae's birthday. We were all at my in-laws house and were sitting around after the party. The kids were napping and we were talking. Someone asked where Burnie was. He had gotten up about 10 minutes earlier and never returned. I stood up from the table and glanced out the window to the back yard. Wouldn't you know, there's Burnie laying on the slope of the yard. Glasses off and sound asleep. Not a care in the world.
Renee and I are both heart broken and we are also jealous. "Papa" Burnie is in heaven holding our boys. :)
We will never be able to grasp why loved ones are taken from us. We do know that only God knows when our time is up. Bonnie and Burnie were getting ready to watch a football game. They were both standing in the middle of the living room when Bonnie felt the urge to walk over to her husband, hold him, and just dance with him. She made her move and he obliged. It might have been their last dance together, but it is one dance that will last forever. Burnie and Bonnie Ballard will always be dancing with a little help from our friend. Thank you God.
Please keep our family in your prayers.

RIP Burnie Ballard.

Scott Britt

My daily drive

I started my new job the first week of October. It is in Buckhead off of Piedmont road and if anyone else works downtown then you know how the drive is to and from. In the past 2 months I have had at least 2 hours a day all to myself. This job has given me the opportunity to spend a lot of time thinking and talking to God. Today was no different except for the conversation I had.
Most of you at some point or another have heard someone tell you "God has big plans for you." I have always thought, if God has big plans for me, why would he tell you? Why doesn't he tell me? On my way home today, I once again wished I knew what His plan for me was. Why doesn't He show me?
The background picture on my phone is of my beautiful wife Renee and our beautiful daughter, Shae. As I was talking with God about his plan for me, my phone rang. I picked my phone up and it was then that I remembered exactly what his plan for me was. I stared at the picture of Renee and Shae and said "priest, protector, provider". God's plan for me is to be a faithful, loving, understanding, and respectful husband to my wife. To meet her every need. His plan for me is to be a loving and positive model for my daughter. His plan for me is to lead my family spiritually. To protect them and provide for them.
For me, this is going to be the start of standing up for my family and embracing what God has called fathers and husbands to do.
Hope everyone is doing well. Take care.

Scott

Don't stop praying

This week has been a tough week. After 17 years at the same company, we have both decided it would be better to part ways. It's an odd feeling to be unemployed but this is also a chance to pursue things I have been afraid to pursue. So, I will look for a job with the faith that God will provide for us. He has to. He said he would but we are also subject to His time. Not ours.
My family would appreciate any prayers you can send our way. Yes, this has been one tough year for us but we know things happen for His reasoning and we will continue to put our faith in him.
I have one heck of a wife and a heck of a little girl and we will be ok. The Britt family will be around for a loooooong time.

Thank you everyone.

The Britts (Scott)

Good times

Just and update from the Britt family -

Renee is preparing to go back to school. One of the grants came through for her and will greatly help with the cost. She is very, very excited. She is an amazing woman and I am very proud of her. She never ceases to amaze me with her determination. Renee and her mom just finished up their 2nd pageant. From what I've heard it was a great success. I think they are already planning for next years pageant. I am just amazed at how much she can do. She seems to never wear down. She is loving her new car. We were able to trade the mini-van back in and got a great deal on her car.

Shae is growing sooo much. She turned 3 on August 7th. Her vocabulary is incredible and is only getting better. She loves her some flash cards. We hope to get her into Bethlehem Christian sometime soon. There is a waiting list for her age and who knows when she might get in. She is doing great and I believe she has a pretty good idea of where Shyloh and Tyce are. Every time she sees clouds moving she thinks it is Shyloh and Tyce on their way to see God. She is so sweet.
I am doing pretty good. Staying very busy at work and around the house. I'll be glad when winter rolls around so I can let the lawnmower rest.

All in all, we are doing well. We still have our days of sadness but we are quick to remember everything God has blessed us with. We found out that my best friend and his wife are expecting twins. We are very happy for them but it is tough for us. It brings up all of our emotions and takes us back to those past few months. But like I said, we are happy for them and pray for them everyday. I am proud of our little family and can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

One bit of advice - hug the ones you love and make sure they know that you love them.

Hope everyone is doing well.

The Britts

Today was tough...

I won't lie.... Today was REALLY tough....

I paid for Tyce & Shyloh's grave stone... No mother EVER thinks they will be buying their children's headstone. Yet, today we did. I always thought we would beat the odds.... we wouldn't be THOSE parents. We would feel sorry and pray for THOSE parents.... But, here we are.... THOSE parents.... We bought flags for their grave site today for the 4th of July.

I've learned how to control/hide my emotions. It's just hard at the shop at times... Some people don't know that I lost the twins and ask how their doing or ask if I'm having boys or girls and I have to explain that I lost them..... and then some people ask questions about how I lost them...

Today was just very hard.........