Except this week gets to look a little more fun and different... which is the best. It's the best because today's post is a compilation of thoughts from most of your Tidewater&Richmond Cru staff women! That's right - we're all chiming in together to celebrate the one and only... Brooke Barnett!
It's her birthday today {insert all the praise hands emojis} and we wanted to do two things! ONE - We wanted to show Brooke the love we have for her! & TWO - We wanted all of you lovely ladies to get to know her a little more, if you don't know her already!
This blog is, in fact, a dream of Brooke's come to life! You may never have met her {although we really hope you have} but you may have read some of her posts. You probably have been prayed over by her... and her prayers are big ones. You've benefited from her joy, her wisdom, her heart from the Lord, and her generosity. {Every giveaway -- yep, that's Brooke.} And because we love her, and because she loves Jesus & she loves you, and because finding those good, real, honest, true women of the Lord is a beautiful and necessary thing in this life, we wanted you to learn from her, get to know her more, and see how she's touched us.
{Side note: Brooke has no idea this is happening. Also, she is currently embarking on her newest role of motherhood and doing it so beautifully. If you don't know about her sweet daughter, then you do now, and you should instantly be in awe of the gift that her sweet girl gets to be raised by her...}
Without further ado, here are five things we love about Brooke.
1. We love the things she loves.
"I love how thoughtful she is: she sends me pictures of CJ, kittens, and puppies just randomly late at night because she knows it brings me joy." - Maggie
"Her laugh. Everyone knows it. Brooke's laugh is one of a kind; it brings joy to the hearer as the Monday Night Football theme song brings to the football fan." - Lindsay
"I love her ability to find true beauty and joy in all aspects of life. Plus, I love her instagram feed, her love for good books & big dreams, dots & buffalo check & strips, Zoe's Kitchen, and definitely dachshunds." - Meg
"I've learned that a beautiful atmosphere adds so much more to an event than I ever knew. She's taught me an appreciation for all things dots and grey. Also Brooke has introduced me to so many incredible Biblical teachers - Jennie Allen, Jen Wilkin, Shauna Niequist, Jen Hatmaker - and great music too." - Laura
"I love how she gets excited about mail, what a great listener she is, her love of all things polka dot, seeing what a great mom she is and her beautiful handwriting!" - Steph
2. We love how she loves people.
"Brooke is the BEST encourager! Chart-topping in the words of affirmation, make you feel like a baller at all times, category." - Lindsay
"Brooke has been blessed with such a warm & tender presence. I always come away from sweet time with her feeling rested and more beautiful." - Bree
"I love how she cares for me as her friend and staff teammate and always encourages me to go deeper in my walk with the Lord. She challenges me to see situations through the lens of Jesus." - Maggie
"I also love the love and leadership she brings to the women of Tidewater Cru!" - Steph
3. We love how she prays.
"I love praying with Brooke. I love seeing her pray for big things, for little things, and to seemingly always pray for things that are so in line with God's heart. She knows God so sweetly and intimately and I think even her prayers seem to be written by Him at times because she is so faithful to do so. Brooke is a prayer warrior. She's faithful. And God uses that." - Meg
"Brooke cares about people. And she shows it. She thinks about, prays for, and acts on behalf of others, that they would know there is a God and He is kind. She is an expression of God's grace to those around her." - Lindsay
4. We love how she dreams - and she's steadfast in patience for God to make them happen.
"I've learned to be patient in praying for dreams through Brooke doing so." - Laura
"She has a long-suffering heart - whether it's waiting for the Lord to bring her baby to her or meeting with a lost student for years and continuing to share Jesus with them. She is a truly refreshing and live giving person to be around! <3" - Katie
5. We love how she loves Jesus.
"Brooke amazes me because of her passion. As long as I've known her she has had a HUGE heart for Jesus and for people. Even when she's drained and tired she never wavers in her love for God and her desire to see people drawn closer to him." - Katie
"Brooke actually, truly, really loves Jesus and He affects her life. She loves talking to Him and hearing from Him." - Lindsay
We hope you see the gem that Brooke is - and are blessed to get to know her, too. All of these things are true, and there are so many more things we could say about Brooke! But most importantly, we hope you see Jesus through her and through our love for her. Join us today in praising God for using women like Brooke in our lives - or for Brooke if she's impacted your life. And join us in asking God to grow each of us to reflect His heart more, like He is doing in Brooke's life. We know that's Brooke's prayer for all of us and all of you!
