Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas,

Welcome to the first ever Bratton Family Christmas blog! We are honored by your effort to arrive at this page, and I will do my best to not abuse the fact that our text space is not limited by paper or card. This may be the first of many blogs, who knows?! True to the context, I think I should start with blog-like musings. . .

So we come to celebrate the birth of our Savior once again. My need for originality is thwarted by this holiday. We considered turquoise ornaments on the tree this year, but Sam's club sold out before we purchased our 55 gallon drum-o-ornaments. We even looked at fake trees this year (even the ones with embedded lights which appeal to my obsessive desire that the wires not be seen and the lights be methodically spaced for perfect coverage) as our house was being tented for termites in the middle of holiday prep and we wondered whether our "real" tree would die more quickly. Christmas is, after all, a time for efficiency above most other things. So how do you get there? I guess for me it is a return to "first things."

I've always been a little distracted by the focus on the manger because I know what's coming. Even in the lantern glow of Bethlehem, the cross is never far away. I'm drawn to the shepherds because I think they got it. Something about the sky filling with Angels gave them a glimpse that this was a big deal. In truth, I think the book of Isaiah is the best reading for Christmas. There, you get a sense of this unbelievably Holy God looking ahead to his greatest condescension in the incarnation of Christ. The basic idea first comes out in my favorite of all passages, Isaiah 6:

"1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

The Shepherds went off rejoicing at what they had seen and heard, as did Isaiah (in a slightly more reluctant way initially). My prayer is that we would get a renewed sense of what God is doing in spite of our pathetic celebration of what he has done.

______

So another year in the Bratton family, and what a year it has been.

We have now been in Ojai ("O-hi" for you out of state folks) for 3 full years already! Hard to believe. This has been a good season for us. Oddly enough, it has not been the easiest season, but as Beth and I were reflecting on our 8 years of marriage in October we both agreed it has been good. I say oddly enough because last year at this time, our news was filled with bad health news in our extended families (cancer and stroke) and the loss of our unborn daughter. We actually had a repeat this year with our second miscarriage almost to the day from our first in October 2006. Sometimes grief sneaks up on me, and I find tears that I didn't know I had for our kids that we haven't yet met (Like right now, for instance). Beth grieves better than I do--she actually just does it. My grief leaks our through cracks in my otherwise well-managed veneer of stoicism.

The challenges that life throws haven't stopped, but we find God nearer these days than we used to. I have been able to attend a 6 retreat series called the Journey over the past 2 years which has had a profound impact on my life, marriage, and ministry as I walk with God in new rhythms of life. In spite of some large frustrations this year, things have been going very well at Camp. We had a phenomenal summer staff which always makes life more enjoyable. It also enabled us to focus more on our campers and less on putting out fires. Speaking of fires, we watched some pretty large ones in the area, but we were unaffected apart from a little smoke and falling ash. My new passion is vintage vehicles. Our 1969 VW Bus, Sky, is almost completely done. We have redone almost the entire interior and I did my first tune up with great success. I'm looking for upgraded seat belts for Christmas. We also bought a 1963 10' Shasta trailer this year. Her name is "Daisy," and her interior is complete so far, with exterior paint on deck for early 2008, to match our bus.

Beth's life has taken on several new dimensions this year. She is now leading a MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at our church in addition to teaching pre-school Sunday school. After feeling very isolated as a young mom, she is now well connected with many others who know the joys and. . .challenges of having young children (we cast much less judgement on mothers who lose it on the news these days). For the first time in our married life, Beth has found a group of women to connect with who really love, support, and understand one another. It has also been really cool to see her find her niche in ministry. This summer she really enjoyed hosting a prayer group for our staff girls each week as well. Meanwhile she is also a great mom to our own little pre-schooler-going-on-college-student. As you can see on our card, she has mastered the little mermaid hair flip.

Bennigan continues to amaze us. Yes, all parents are biased, etc., but I really think he is an exceptional kid. His artwork was included on the card this year, with other pieces promised in the months ahead if you check back. This one features my VW Bus driving along the ocean. note the use of perspective with blacktop visible in front of and behind the vehicle. He also properly placed the drivers' seat over the front wheels. The arches in the background are "curly waves," by the way. Benny knows about curly waves because he is getting ready for surfing by going out and sitting on a longboard with me and getting as close as we dare to breaking waves. His artistic ventures are primarily in marker, but we are looking at various other art forms. He is pretty amazing at Legos too. When not practicing for Mensa membership, he is almost always doing one of two things: playing Playmobil or chasing/cuddling/harassing our cat Nutmeg. Benny truly loves his cat. We have another cat, but Guapo is a little too fast for Benny. He remains a classic camp kid, waving from his bedroom window and trying to hang out with college students everywhere we go. He also has made some good friends his own age this year, in addition to his boy and girl cousins whom he loves dearly. He also made his first appearance in the classic 4th of July parade with Beth's parents during a summer visit.

We really loved living in Wisconsin, but we are slowly accepting the fact that California is really more conducive to our lifestyle. Most days Beth mentions at some point that she can't believe we live here (usually followed by some kind of encouragement to tow the line and not get fired/quit my current position). We are also grateful to live near Grandma & Grandpa Bratton, who we get to see pretty often.

As always, if you are in the area, we would love to have you visit. We will likely make it to Colorado and maybe even Iowa or Wisconsin sometime in 2008. Please do not feel the need to give notice (nor should you expect that we will call before showing up on your doorstep).

We thank you for your presence in our life. As I have been reading your cards and letters this year, I have been overcome by a certain nostalgia at memories of people and places gone by. You truly fill in the whole picture of our life (or you would have been dropped from the list this year). Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers often.

Merry Christmas,

Love,

Guy, Beth, & Bennigan Bratton

March 28, 2003 - 1 Day Old on the Outside!

If you have been following our saga over the past month or read the other entries below, you will be as surprised as we are to see a photo of a baby above! Here's the story:On Wednesday, March 26, we went to our OB's office for our fourth ultrasound (3rd this month) and a regular checkup. We have had a steady flow of contradictory information flowing for several weeks, so this week's news was not particularly alarming. The ultrasound seemed to indicate that our baby was about 3-4 weeks behind in development. That's not a good thing, and by itself was not enough to be alarmed about, but it definitely raised some concerns. Dr. Merrill sent us to the hospital to have some more tests done and told us that we would probably be on our way to Green Bay to see a high-risk pregnancy specialist by Friday (today as I write). They kept her over night at Dickinson Co. Hospital near home and mostly things were looking good. Beth's tests were showing that she was stable enough that we could drive ourselves to GB instead of taking an ambulance. We headed out at about 10:30am on Thursday morning and drove safely through 2 hours of a late season snowfall and made it to GB kind of early. Our new doctor performed another ultrasound on a little fancier machine (in the U.P. they just yell at yer belly then put an ear to listen for echos). He was also an "expert" on early babies and ultrasounds, so when he told us that our baby was too small we listened. He gave us about 2 realistic options: 1)Walk over to Bellin Hospital (next door) and start inducing this baby or 2) Try giving corticosteroid shots to help out the lungs and wait for 48 hours to induce. Yikes! We were kind of thinking we would be doing all this back up north and 3 weeks from now! We called our parents and prayed and talked, and we were leaning toward the 48 hour approach--if for nothing other than getting used to the concept. My (Guy's) mom was on the phone and was told by the Lord that we should go ahead and have the baby right away. We were kind of torn at that point because we had really been leaning toward waiting a little, but while I was on the phone, Beth's mom called and said she had spoken with a doctor friend who said that the steroids were unlikely to do much and that we were probably better off going ahead and delivering the baby as soon as possible. That was a really nice confirmation at just the right time. So we decided to go for it! The doctor told us to go grab dinner and when we came back we'd go have a baby.

Over dinner we were just kind of relaxing and were amazed at the kind of peace that we felt about everything--even as sudden as it would be. We also felt really good about the decision to go ahead and deliver and were ready to go. I should stop and tell you a little about the potential risks. At 34 weeks, under normal circumstances, there is about a 20% chance of Respiratory Distress Symptom, which is kind of a general term for lung problems that may have some kind of lasting effect (not often dramatic problems, but some). If the lungs aren't ready, the baby may be put on a respirator or be given oxygen for the first little bit after delivery. There are other risks that involve the development and maturity of the digestive system and brain, but they were 5% or less and not a major concern. Keeping the baby in, at this point was unlikely to help growth continue, and there was some indication that Beth was beginning to become more and more at risk herself.

So we checked in at Bellin Hospital and they ran a few more test to check Beth's status and that of the baby. Everything looked pretty good, so they began the process around 9:00pm on Thursday with some drug to start dilating and thinning the cervix. This was going to take some time, so they told us to get some sleep and we did (at least I did, I think Beth was kind of wired). Around 2:30am contractions were becoming regular and they noticed that the baby did not seem to be responding well during them. This lead to the conclusion that a vaginal delivery was not going to be the way to go.

Meanwhile, Beth's mom, dad, and sister had left Iowa as soon as they could and were just fading off to sleep around 3am when I called to tell them that they should probably come over to the hospital because this baby was coming out--soon! Phone calls were made to the anesthesiologist and the neo-natal intensive care doctors and a short time later, they began prepping for a caesarian section. I put on my cool hospital clothes and they got Beth all fixed up and away she went. They came to get me when she had been reduced to a head on one end and a belly behind the curtain. I won't get graphic, but they did their thing and I actually watched most of it--I even took pictures which I will spare you unless you request to see them in person. They aren't too bad, but it is a surgery after all. After about 10 minutes or so, out came one upset baby. He was screaming mad and wanted us to know it. Yes, that's right, screaming means BREATHING and that is a good thing.

So, at about 5:30am, Beth gave birth to a 3 pound 7.6oz. baby boy measuring a whopping 16 inches long! The neo-natal doctor took over and made the call that things were looking good. The baby was small, but he was breathing on his own and that is great. They took him over to the neo-natal intensive care unit to check things out more thoroughly, and they sowed, stapled (and duct taped?) Beth back together and everything was looking good with her. After about an hour, we left her to get some sleep and went over to the NICU to see the baby.

I should probably mention that we decided to name him Bennigan David Bratton at long last. When we got there (St. Vincent's hospital next door) we were welcomed by Dr. Bertagnoli whose son is coming to Leadership Development Camp at Lake Lundgren this summer and who will likely be coming up to camp himself in may for a men's retreat through his church! We were excited to make the connection and have a doctor who could appreciate the wonder of God's creation that Benny is. We went in to see him and he looked really good. He was pink and cute and sweet and pretty darn tiny! The doctor said that things look really good and he was continuing to breathe on his own and was doing great. Beth made it over to see him just before noon, and we are in love. I am only now stopping long enough to realize a little bit about how truly incredible this all is and am a little overwhelmed.

So, we are in Green Bay for the foreseeable future. Benny may be here for as long as a month, and Beth is free on Tuesday. Fortunately, there is a house near the hospital where we can stay for free while the baby is getting big. I'm not exactly sure what our plan is, but I think we will be down here for at least the next week or two. I may run north to get some clothes or something, but we'll keep you posted.

Thank you for all your prayers and care for us. We should be able to take some visitors during the next week gradually.

Rejoicingly,
--Guy and Beth

Bennigan's 1st Birthday

It would seem that once you have a kid, everything is a milestone. We just celebrated Bennigan’s first birthday and had yet another opportunity to realize what a year it has been. We can hardly believe that this independent little guy, who crawls like the wind and climbs anything that stays still long enough, was tiny enough to be cradled with one hand such a short time ago. God is good indeed.

Winter, which had scarcely appeared at all in recent years, made a strong showing this year. Camp was filled with plenty of snow, and we enjoyed a steady winter season of ministry at camp. Much as I enjoy winter, I find it difficult to make my mind wander back that way as the last traces of snowbanks disappear and blades of grass battle their way to the surface in shades of green that I truly forgot existed. This is particularly difficult after the cruise that my parents took us on in March—a stark contrast to the two feet of snow still on the ground as we headed south. I’d much rather look forward to summer at this point.

Our Summer 2004 theme, “Don’t Waste Your Life!” grew out of the end of last summer and a deep-seated desire among the staff to see this Gospel we talk so much about take hold of our campers’ lives. Maybe it struck such a cord with us because we desire it so much for ourselves and often find it such a distant hope. None-the-less, as summer approaches, we busily prepare for the material aspects and battle to not lose sight of the more significant spiritual preparation in our hearts and lives.

In the midst of all this anticipation is a certain nagging in the back of my mind. We have always told the Lord that we would stay at Lake Lundgren as long as He makes it feasible for us to do so, and that remains the case. Our financial support has never been visibly solid, but scarcely has it been so touch and go as it has been lately. I do think that we are meant for a longer term here at camp, but in my quiet prayers, I have asked the Lord to reinforce His call on my life and put me at peace with where I am (if that is indeed the Plan). Like I said, everything seems like a milestone, and as we approach the end of our fifth year, I can’t help but take stock a little and wonder if I am truly made to fit this particular place. Please pray for me in this regard.

Life is good. Bennigan is a joy to us and to most everyone he passes on the street. Even in his infancy, I can see him minister to those around him through his warmth and love of people. Beth and I are enjoying a good season of our marriage as well. Having not always found ourselves to be entirely selfless, we seem to be living a renewed commitment to serve each other and consequently enjoy each other more fully. We pray you are well and that Spring’s return renews your hope in a Savior who is never so far away!

Love,
Guy, Beth, and Bennigan

Christmas 2002

O what a year it has been for us. Each year we look forward to life settling in a little, and each year it just seems to get a little bit crazier—with no end in sight (foreshadowing). God truly has a sense of humor in His efforts to thwart our complacency.

Last year about this time, Beth decided to try her hand at camp registrar. She has always been good on the office end of things, and we both figured that a little extra income would kind of help out, so why not? By mid July it became apparent that we had overlooked the ripple effect of this new venture. Summer is a very full season for us and we learned that adding a somewhat stressful job to Beth’s life made it overflow. Add to that a nice little medical mix-up between our doctor and pharmacist that put Beth’s thyroid level at 1/10 of the intended level and you have a fairly tumultuous summer for our otherwise perfect marriage. By August we began to identify some of these elements and things improved steadily.

Apparently things improved rather rapidly too because during Labor Day weekend, we discovered that Beth is pregnant. Yes, it’s true, on or about May 7, 2003, we will be turning our lives upside down yet again, and entering the parental phase of life. Beth is excited to see her toes fade from sight, and being the gracious husband that I am, I have decided to put on a few extra pounds myself just to be supportive! You may be wondering how her health is supporting this new demand on her body, and I’m happy to report that she is doing very well. She has some of the regular pregnancy discomfort, but is generally feeling good and everything appears to be healthy with the baby. She is reading all the parenting books, so I think we’ll be pros. I, of course, will be reading the Cliff notes (which I understand are now available online) and will otherwise wing it. In case you hadn’t calibrated your understanding of a camp-centered schedule, that means that our little one will be arriving just weeks before our summer season. Oh good. Yet another opportunity to grow and adapt to life’s challenges. I digress.

So back to the past and present. Other than continuing to work out the balance of life and camp, our 2002 summer season was incredible. Staff recruiting is the biggest and least controllable aspect of my work and last year it went better than we ever thought possible. We had an exceptional staff and the summer program went great. I had the added benefit of two of my staff doing internships while they were serving last summer and we learned so much that I can’t wait to implement it all next summer for what will likely be our first perfect summer ever. Can Christ’s return be far behind? I think not.

Exhausted by summer and continuing into fall with no break to speak of (except for the week in between when all the viruses from the whole summer ganged up on me and knocked me out completely), I hit my own personal wall. By the end of the fall season I found myself completely spent and had lost just about all of the joy that ministry ever held. I have steadily added new jobs to my life over the past three years and realized this fall that I can no longer do that. We have a lead on a possible new staff person who would take half of my job (hallelujah!) early next year if everything works out. There is, however, quite a bit to work out, so please pray for this situation. The possibility of another staff person and a few weeks of rest and catch-up after the fall season have dramatically refreshed my outlook on things. I am, however, committed to simplifying my responsibilities at camp with the reality of fatherhood coming soon, and I don’t know how I’ll be able to do so without additional staff.

All that is to say, God continues to be faithful. In addition to the true blessings of our ministry, our lives have also been filled with lots of good visits to and from friends and family which is always great. We are looking forward to the start of winter very shortly, and hope that all of last year’s missing snow will find its way to us this year. We hope to see many of you over the next few months, and would love to hear from you. I should also mention that we could really use assistance with our financial support, especially as we add a family member next year. We have lived on one-time gifts since we got here, and continue to trust the Lord for the funds needed to continue our ministry here at camp. If you feel that the Lord is leading you to join with our ministry financially, we would greatly appreciate it. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers often and especially this Christmas as we look back to Bethlehem and celebrate the arrival of our Savior who is Christ the Lord. God bless you !

Love,
Guy & Beth