Joy In the Journey

How we use our clothesline and we have azaleas in February!!!

2012-02-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

I actually used my clothesline some last summer when we first moved here. It's just...umm..quicker not doing it that way.

My precious girls were soooo excited to usher me through this beautiful flower room they made with a blanket and our clothesline and of course our azaleas, daffodils and a few camelias.

My children are an absolute JOY!! to my heart. I am so thankful for the amazing privilege of teaching loving and caring for them all. I love the azalea, daffodil outdoor flower room moments ......

......and God has even taught me to truly GIVE THANKS for my children in their moments of sin while they are still in my home. Sometimes it takes me a minute to get there, but those teachable moments, those moments when I am presented with an opportunity to talk about how we need a savior are so valuable.

I really feel privileged to be their momma. Thank you God for allowing me such blessings.

Ninth Blessing!

2011-06-09T17:52:00.001-07:00

Martha Kathryn Brown

Ten pounds Two ounces

of pure sweetness!!!!!!!

Somebody sweet just turned NINE!!

2011-05-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

...and she is really a blessing to her family. Thank you little nine year old for being my girl. Of all my children we are probably the most alike. I'd say we are VERY COOL.

Happy Birthday Miss Amanda Kamryn Brown

Nona Klare

2011-05-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

This is our Nona. She has a sweet gentleness about her, and we are so blessed to have her in our family. Sometimes, when very excited, she gets a little bit too silly...haha...LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!

Jessie C

2011-05-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

I put up way too many pics of this one little "almost" three year old, but just look how sweet!!!!!

I'm their momma and I LOVE 'EM!!!

2011-05-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

Kimmi-poo

2011-05-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

Just realized I have not posted a photo of my sweet "almost" 14 year old in a long time. She might not like this photo but I do and you can see plenty more over at her blog (haha) . Just click here.

Love her!!

She starts HIGH SCHOOL in just a few short months!!

Miss Bossy Britches.....

2011-05-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

...is very much loved by her big brother......So thankful!!

Home Churned Ice Cream: Monday Morning Breakfast

2011-05-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

OK...not really for break

fast but right after breakfast. The plan was for

little children to do their schoolwork while I cleaned out kitchen cabinets. Some things will be going to GoodWill and some things will be put in boxes to go to the garage of the new house and a very weee number of kitchen items will stay here to keep us going til we actually move in a couple of weeks. We will have less kitchen space in the new house but trust me...we will be A-OK! The amount of space we are moving from is way over the top unnecessary. Still, I spent the last five years filling every nook and cranny. I was about to put the ICE CREAM CHURN in the box for GoodWill, but Cole saw me. I knew it worked, but remembered there was some reason I didn't want it enough for it to get a spot at the new house. Cole, because he loves sugar more than any person I know, was able to prove to me in about 45 seconds that we have everything we need to make ice cream.

Cole got the churn going with cherry vanilla ice cream in about ten minutes BUT three minutes into the process, it stopped. Then I remembered why I didn't want it. It was a $20 churn from wal-mart and the motor is weak. You have to work with it the whole time to keep it going. Just a little too inconvenient for me to make a space in my smaller kitchen ...so.....it didn't make the cut. It's going to GoodWill, but we still had very yummy pink ice cream on Monday morning. It was a fun way to start the week. Now back to packing and some school work.

Oh, I'm about to take a really nice WOK to GoodWill. If any of my friends in town read this and would like it, let me know: ) I've only used it twice and can make what I need with a more all purpose pan.

Cason Eating...duh!:)

2011-04-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Seriously...don't mess with him people.

cutsie-pie!

2011-04-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

My New Home

2011-04-25T07:21:00.001-07:00

OK!! I'm so excited about my new house. I get to move in right about the time I get my new baby: ) We'll just see what happens first. I've been looking at blogs about updating 1950's and 60's houses. We are moving into a late 50's(I think) ranch in an older Charleston neighborhood. Here is what I really love bout my hubby. We are totally updating the WHOLE thing in a matter of about six weeks. Part of me would kinda like the the life of a little project here a little project there as a hobby, but the Larger part of me adores the fact I can say..."i don't like the kitchen segregated on the end of the house and now the kitchen is exactly where I want it in the middle all open to the dining living area and oh sooo gonna be cool!!.(heehee) MAGIC!! He is definitely a "git er done" kind of man. I cannot believe we didn't take before pics of the inside. It was well gutted before I said..."awwww...we should have taken before pics". Also, my "hobbies" I already have pretty much take all my time...hobbies such as laundry, teaching people to read, and feeding ten people 3 meals and two snacks a day(haha) Anyway, I adore my new neighborhood and my new neighbors who I already know( one fam who I am so excited to live near) and a couple of elderly people and one "new age" lady we met on Saturday. She told Kimmi she wants to come back as a cat in her next life. Kim is all over that. She can't wait to talk to her more once we really get moved in.

God can definitely move us anytime He is good and ready but Rich and I both feel very drawn to and already settled in our hearts in our new neighborhood. Lord willing, I don't think we will ever move.

I appreciate it.

2011-04-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Before I ever even knew, Jessie made a mess in the pantry, played in it, was photographed by Kimmi and then Kimmi cleaned it all up.

Thanks Kimmi. I don't know if I've ever said that I really appreciated that: )

Love you!!

Our Sweet Valentine Girl

2011-02-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Just scratched the surface

2010-11-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

Spunky, sweet and my precious girl!! I am home everyday with her and my other beautifull eight children, but I neeeeed to know them more. I am so thankful to God for the blessing of home schooling them which to me really means I don't have to send them away everyday. I do like teaching them academically ...more so this year than ever....I'm loving it. More than anything ,though, and more important than academics, I am thankful for the daily opportunity to tell them of God's love and try with the help of the Holy Spirit to guide their little hearts rightly. I feel like I've only scratched the surface of knowing them, too. Their little hearts and souls go sooo deep. WOW! What a magnificent privilege to be mom. God has really pressed on my heart lately just what a short time we are given to hold their little hearts in childhood. Do any other moms feel this way?

2010-11-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Fewer than half my children but still a very blessed hand and heart full. We had so much fun this day. Althought this is just a few minutes before Jessie threw up her orange ice cream on Cason, he was still more than happy to hang out with her, chase her around and even carry her on his shoulders after the little incident: )

Been Diggin"

2010-10-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

Touring Clemson !!!

2010-10-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

Here is my precious Kamryn. We all had so much fun touring the campus. We loved the ice cream ALOT!! The two random students we met while showing ourselves around were both from Mt. P!! (haha)...... One whose family lives in Rivertowne and one from Wakendaw Lakes. Must be lots of Mt. P kids there. It was a really beautiful campus, and it made me miss lots of trees and the foothills of SC. I always love the topography wherever I am. Now, I couldn't be pried away from from the marshy lowcountry but when I'm there, I start dreaming of a few acres and some goats and cows(heehee) Whew!! Safe at home : )

Happy about my charger!!!

2010-10-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is really how I feel!! I've not been taking photos because my camera was sooo bad. It was just really pathetic. I hated to buy a new camera though because everytime I thought about it I'd remember the really nice camera we have...the one toooo nice to use that has just been on a shelf since Richard no longer supplements our income with nature photography. I actually made my decision awhile back to determine to be really careful and just use it. The problem then was that I had misplaced the charger. It has been nagging at me forever. No pictures of my children therefore no blogging. Also, no blogging because as I told a friend the other day who asked me why I don't blog anymore...I replied....because blogging is stupid. My bloggging anyway. I blabber on and just need to post pics I'm thinking: )I am glad now to have my camera that takes such nice photos that I have to drag them to the desk top to distort them a bit so they will upload. I am sure there is a smarter way but it works for me. So, I'm blogging again just to have a way to share happy everyday life moments and pictures with friends and family. So, here is my second favorite time of day on the day my new favorite child, Cole, found my charger. Getting ready for bed and famly worship time.

What's that...what's that....what's.....

2010-10-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite spots for photographing my little people. SEarched around and found this oldie. Time for another shoot. Cole is sure dapper looking here.

Anyone want to Brag on their teens????

2010-06-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

My sweet big kids are getting so...well... big. It seems like only yesterday they were spitting on other children and making them cry at the water fountain at church.*sigh* Where does the time go? Okay, yes they were very naughty, but they have come a long way. Every single day they say or do something that makes me so proud. I am loving this teen/older teen stage of life with them so much. I think if I'd been asked when I had only young children if I thought I'd like it, I'd have said no. I've seen them both share the gospel and encourage younger siblings to do the same. They look out for underdogs in life and are really loved by alot of people. They make me really proud, and it has been a pleasure giving them more and more freedom and seeing them use it wisely. I don't even expect them not to make mistakes along the way just as I hope no one is expecting that of me. At this point in life, I'm trying hard not to launch fully into bestest friend stage with these still growing people, but its sooo great to have a foretaste of the pleasure of grown children.

God is extremely good.

Lemon Hummus

2010-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are having our second family group meet at our house that focuses on missions(In particular a family serving in Pakistan) , and evangelism and confession. Our church has 4 four groups meeting in the area. Kamryn made hummus so that everyone can sample a middle eastern food. Here is the recipe. Just add it all into the food processor and blend.

1 can garbanzo beans(drained and rinsed)

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup tahini

1 clove garlic(pressed)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup olive oil (add to processer as it blends)

Serving tonight with pretzel sticks.

Everyone in my house loves this recipe. Its an old favorite.

2010-06-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Tired after her magnificent performance and ready for rooty tooty fresh and fruity(or whatever little cutsie pie name IHOP has on their kids menu for pancakes with a whipped cream face)

Enjoying a late late dinner with nana and papa after the four oldest girls' ballet recital. It was alot of fun and really beautiful..

Cason and Richard coloring.

2010-06-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

The boys waiting to give their ballerina sisters roses!!!!!

It was a beautiful performance.

Waiting!!

Waiting and searching!!

He found his ballerina!!

Sweet girl.

Don't Mess with Kamryn

2010-05-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

This is one of our all time favorite funny personality capturing pictures of all times. This one and the one of Kmmi at 3 years with a flower pot on her head and the one of Jessie with the straw in her mouth but this one.....this one is definitely in the top five all time Brown kid favorites: ) : ): )

So, anyway, it is so good to watch someone grow in so many ways. Kamryn has come a long way. All the way from this tiny little firecracker to now actually just a little bit bigger firecracker. She's always gonna be a firecracker. Anyway, tonight, she blessed her daddy by being willing to recite Philippians chapter 2 for the men's bible study group without any forewarning. It was flawless and it was sweet. God has gifted her with a great memory and also alot of kindness and love. We all love her so much. A few days ago, someone was picking on Kamryn and this little person took something of hers and she was quietly telling me and karis that this other little person wouldn't give it back. I let Karis handle it: ) Karis gently asked kamryn what Jesus would do in this situation. Kamryn gave a good answer by saying that He would just overlook it and let it go. Karis told her that was exactly right....then she asked...but what do you think your big sister is gonna do.(heehee) Kamryn looked puzzled....and karis waited a second and said....I'm getting it back for you...and she did. It was achieved in a sweet way but achieved all the same. Don't mess with number five of eight. As a matter of fact don't mess with any of eight.

2010-04-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Jessie wants to get down(heehee)

The urge is getting stronger.

Lays awkwardly to the right.

Dramatic lunge back.(heehee) Richard is still talking theology.

It's probably not really worth it. Jessie decides he's a tough egg to crack.

Really Really Really I love him so very much : )

2010-04-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just here to serve others.....

2010-04-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

I didn't really ask to smell this flower. I don't really want to, BUT since you're holding it for me and since it seems to make you happy, I will just do it.

Muttinoes

2010-04-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

My sweet girl picked these lovelies before we had the reminder talk about "taking only pictures and leaving only
footprints............................."

It was such a beautiful time with my sweet family in the mountains of North Carolina.

When we first moved to NC years ago, Cason was two and he kept saying

something like Muttinoes. We kept wondering what his little two year old self was trying to tell us. We were driving from Lenoir to Blowing Rock one day and we came to

an opening and the view was just breathtaking and two year old Cason yelled..."MUTTINOES" and finally we understand. He was just saying mountains.

We've , of course, all called the mountains muttinoes since. We even taught Jessie to say it this trip(heehee)

Does anyone have a funny saying you've taken on from your little children that you just can't let go? Please share.

Cute and you know it!!!!!!

2010-03-27T07:08:00.001-07:00

Spring Fever? Yes!!!!

2010-03-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

We have been managing to get some schoolwork done this week but everyone is trying hard to call fishing "nature studies"....me included. It has been absolutely beautiful weather! What a great blessing from God. Here are some fishing and fun outdoor pictures.

Happy Birthday Cole!!!

2010-03-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today is Cole's 10th birthday. He informed me last week that he has asked me to make this cake for the past two years. I don't remember him asking, and I can't imagine why I wouldn't have already made it because it was extremely easy: ) Richard and I took Cole last night to pick a new bike and today we celebrated our sweet and funny Cole. We have alot to celebrate spiritually because of Cole this year as well. I won't tell all his business, but God is very good to our family in so many ways.

NapTime!!!!

2010-03-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

My favorite new hobby is snapping pictures of Jessie while she's catching some zzzzzz's.
She usually plays and does her thing until about 1:00 and then I say, "You're laying here Jessie."
Then she lays down and sleeps(heehee) Just plain old cuteness!! She sleeps right in the living room with everyone else all around her. Every few minutes someone goes by and kisses her head and says, "awwww, look at Jessie". We all know we are very blessed by her tiny sweetness.

A sweet pair....

2010-03-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

I've been asked before if having a big family is a hindrance in the sense that everyone might not get the love and attention they need...... Honestly, I can see why someone might ask that. Until experiencing it all first hand I wondered the same thing myself.

Every person in my house was needed for the sake of the other people.

I love this. Jessie eating crackers and Cason pretending to be sad because he wants a cracker too: ) And then Miss Jessie having mercy on him. She shares!!!!

Let us not grow weary.....

2010-03-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

Galatians 6:9 . . . And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Here are the youngest Brown's with me in Target last week.

If you know me at all, you know that I do not have extremely naturally calm children.(they are funny though---that comes sooo naturally)

If you know me really well, you know I've struggled just a wee bit adjusting to having eight and figuring out how to manage it all. Over the last month or so, Richard and I have been focusing on developing self control in these precious people. We are requiring lots more "just sit down" time and have drastically reduced their "free roam around time" here in our house. I started this really out of an attempt to get basic things done here at home and it has worked. School and everything has gone so much better. As an added benefit(actually I think this might be even more important for our testimony) I've noticed calmer hearts and better behaviour when we go out places. It's been a pleasant surprise. I didn't even go into Target wondering if the training would pay off (seriously we started this just as a survival technique at home) but was surprised as I sat there all by myself with the younger children and suddenly noticed we were having a quiet lunch with nice conversation. I truly am thankful for my children and am blessed that God has helped me figure out a way to enjoy them more. More than anything, I want them to give God glory with their precious little lives.

Thanks Mr. Turtle!! It was fun while it lasted.

2010-02-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

Kamryn found "old mister turtle" and Kimmi was the photographer. I love these shots Kimmi!!!

He went with us to ballet and we lost him in the van...then we found him. Then we lost him in the house....and then we found him again...wheww!!!! Richard is such a realist about things like that. He immediately imagined "old mister turtle" down an air vent that Jessie is always uncovering for us and in which she is always dropping things. When small things are missing, we often just stick our hands down in the vents and find many many treasures!!!(heehee) I usually have to get my nerve up to check the vents. Soooo, anyway, Richard was imagining "old mister turtle" passing away deep in a vent. Happily, we found him the next day under the couch.

Cason had mercy on mister turtle and set him free by the pond while no one was looking. We had lots of good times with him though. Maybe he will come a visiting again soon!!

A legacy of Faithfulness........

2010-02-25T17:46:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I found a picture of "us". I think it was taken from Richard's cell phone by a waiter who saw us doing the ridiculous extended arm photo of self thing. I hate that, but we were doing it too so I can't judge: ) I'm glad I found it. I was actually looking for a photo of Richard because off in the distance I can hear him and a room full of men talking, praying, and singing hymns. It blesses my heart so much. Sure, I mumbled under my breath just a wee bit as I put together the last of the notebooks with the curriculum he prepared while the kids cleaned the kitchen and living areas and got snacks ready.(Kamryn actually entertained Max and Jessie--sweet girl) God somehow calmed the chaos for me and supernaturally made it all work. For that, I'm very thankful!! I only mumbled for a short while as I thought about how he left the house by 6:30 this morning and works so hard and would drive in just in time to greet the first of the guys as they arrived. I then started praying for Richard and that the new men's group he is starting would be such a blessing to the men who would be involved and to their sweet families. It's a 12 week course written by my sweetie designed to aid men in leading their families in worship. He is teaching them how to teach through Ephesians (as an example), and the notebook contains a section of hymns, psalters, scripture memory, etc... Just some ideas of how to organize a family worship discipleship time. His heart is very much into seeing husbands/dads lead their families effectively for the glory of God. I think it's an awesome calling and he's definitely a good man for the job. I'm very proud of him.

Here is a verse from one of the theme passages:

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:4

waiting and warming up for the dance

2010-02-23T07:48:00.000-08:00

We so love this happy little blessing. Next year she will be going to the father and daughter dance as well. She is so cheerful and playful and loving.

I really like this picture of kamryn and Nona enjoying some sweet time talking with Nana while they await the dance.

I love this photo!! Love that man too. They were just doing a little warming up.(heehee)

Chicken Dance and such as that......

2010-02-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

Father and Daughter Dance 2010

It's really a big deal around here!! Really big. It is talked about and anticipated for weeks before it actually gets here. These are just a few pictures. I would have posted more but it's loading sooooo slowly. Richard got the girls little handbags and jewelry for the evening. Very sweet. There is a picture of Kamryn and Nona's bags but the big girls have more "grown-up" clutches. It was very sweet to see the excitement and the pre-dancing and picture taking and present giving. I'll definitely post more photos tomorrow with some tales of daddy's and the macarena and YMCA and the chicken dance and such as that...Can't wait to hear all about it when they get home!!!!

Karis styled Kimmi's hair(Oh, she is so grown up!!!!)

2010-02-18T05:50:00.000-08:00

Cason and Richard had a good time together at his state meet this past weekend. He is the youngest in his age group now, but still did really well in his best events. He took a 6th and a 9th. We were somewhat surprised but he was not. Here is one picture Richard sent me from his iphone. That's Cason in the sea of Valentine balloons and girls: ) Just minding his own business: ) I really love that boy. It is more of a blessing than I ever would have imagined to watch your son grow in the Lord and into a man. He is such a blessing in our family. I'm very proud of his swimming and athletic finesse, but it so extremely pales in comparison to how proud I am of seeing him carry his baby sister around or reading Nona a story or just generally helping me and Richard in so many ways. He is so strong but has a gentle heart. He can take some ribbing too. Cason is known as the one in the family who does things the right way, and he has expectations that others should as well: )

Richard sometimes call him 'the Sheriff". If we're in the van and Cason is correcting someone's attitude or behaviour, Richard will chime in in his country/western voice and remind all the little "outlaws" they better listen to Cason "cause he's the Sheriff of Econoline-county". It's kind of picking on Cason, but he doesn't really care. He just smiles and agrees and keeps on doing what he's gotta do to keep things running smoothly around here(heehee) I love that sweet boy!

Shopping List

2010-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

This morning Cole was trying to get my full attention so I would listen to a couple of items he needed from the store next time I planned to go. I told him to not even try and get me to remember but to write it down. Here is the list he and kamryn and Nona came up with for me.(heehee)

army men

glue

beads

feathers

little catapults

paper with pictures of birds on it

It just really made my morning!!!! Does anyone know which aisle I should look on for "little catapults"?

Hidden Spots

2010-02-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

I love cleaning out a closet. Or, maybe I should say I love it when my closets are clean. My huge closet in our foyer is sometimes very tidy with it's contents in pretty wicker baskets. It has, along with alot of other spots, been very messy for a while now. I hate when that happens. I feel so organized when my hidden spots are tidy. It's kinda like this...if closets, drawers, my purse and under beds and couches are cleaned out, then everything must be clean. Since we've been showing our house for two years now trying to sell it, I have often times had to clean and tidy in a superficial manner. Does anyone know what I mean?? It means piling junk in baskets, laundry under cabinets, and sweeping dirt under a rug. Basicly just hiding "stuff" wherever we can. Uugh!! It really makes me itchy to think about it. I told Richard the other day that it would make me so happy if he would get me one of those big dumpsters to go in my driveway for a few days. Would that be pretty?? Ummm, we'd definitely get a letter about that: ) Anyways, when we show the house and it looks good to people not looking too deep, I just don't feel good about it. I think about how it would have been nice to spend that time folding laudry instead of hiding it in cupboards or it would have been nice going through and throwing or giving away what we found under beds instead of sticking little containers of randon things in closets. That gets me back to the topic of my newly cleaned out foyer closet. I just wanted to say...It looks good. The whole time I've been typing this post, I've been thinking of how it parallells with our spiritual lives. i seriously just wanted to tell about about my closets but I'm thinking I'm not going to be able to resist going deeper with it. Here is how I clean a really messy closet with buckets of mis-matched "stuff" and coats piled on top of that. And here also, is how to clean the mis-matched piled up junk in our lives. Just take a broom and sweep it all out. I don't sit in the closet and pick through the buckets and decide what to keep and what to throw away. I make the closet look really good and really quickly. I get almost immediate impact. OK, then I have alot of "stuff" right there in the living room. Just right out in the open. I immediately take a trash bag and throw away all the obvious garbage. And then what happens next is beautiful. I call everyone else in my family in to help me sort everything out and put it where it all goes. Together, we make everything right really quickly. I guess that parallells confessing to others. Confessing is letting someone else share your messy burden with you. It really makes the burden light. I don't know, maybe I've gone too far with my little analogy now. There is no doubt that masking or being superficial or putting up a nice front or sweeping issues under a rug, though, makes me feel itchy inside just like sweeping real dirt under a real rug makes me feel itchy too. I am very thankful for the Holy Spirit convicting me and not just convicting me but helping me haul it all out to the dumpster when I'm hiding and holding onto things I shouldn't. My little question i was going to ask before I turned spiritual here was going to be if you enjoy the cleanness of the closet when you're done or the lost treasure you find amongst all the junk... I'm sorry, but that preaches too. For instance I found some cool grammar flash cards and also some flash cards with the constellations I used to use with the older kids and that will now be perfect for the younger set. I am seriously going to enjoy using those with Cole, Kam and Nona tomorrow during school time. It's a simple pleasure---you know---seeing my little children learning something new from some flash cards that bring back a sweet memory of Karis, cason and Kimmi. I think, spiritually speaking, when our lives and hearts are cleaned out, we can enjoy the simple blessings in life more.

Praying for God to reveal more hidden spots to me.

Magnolia

2010-02-02T10:40:00.001-08:00

Here are some fun pictures we took at Magnolia Plantation

about 2 weeks ago with our friends the McKoys. We love the

petting zoo. Magnolia is our favorite plantation. We used to get a family pass every year and go at

least every couple of months. We've always phographed our littl'uns on the pretty bridges there. It's just a beautiful placefor it. We took some the day we were there, but I plan to go back in a few weeks for really good ones with everyone dressed matching a little better with hair all fixed for a "framing" photograph. None of these will work for that but they were pretty cute.

Sweet of Jessie and Karis. The animals made her a little nervous.

Max and Cason made the animals(and me!!!) nervous. Especially Cason with the wild boar.

The bridges and other pretty spots for photos!!!

You can see how this would have been a good spot for a photo had I possessed a child who wanted a picture taken of himself. I didn't have one at this moment though. Just use your imagination: )

A tiny piece of tape, bible reading, projecting an image and not being ashamed.....

2010-01-07T05:28:00.000-08:00

About two weeks ago, I was in line at Kohl's. I was returning something at the back and it was a looooong line. I didn't mind though. I was in there by myself and was happily staring off into space. Yes, I was in a daze. Enjoying a quiet moment. Having a thought of my own probably. It had been a busy day. I'd, of course, been getting ready for Christmas. I think I'd wrapped presents locked in my room all day long so........ my house was being "run" by a group of eight really wild people. A couple of them aren't really wild but I'll just lump them all together for the convenience and fun of aggravating a helper or two when they read this(heehee) They HATE being lumped. I was definitely NOT feeling like I had things all together. But for the moment, I could quietly project to strangers around me that I might have it all together---they didn't know my secret life now did they???? Anyway....back to the story. In the middle of my happy place daze a very "quiet ,and slow moving, I have all the time in the world to do things exactly right" kind of lady softly tapped me on the shoulder and was informing me of something that was stuck to my back. She even began to remove it from my back for me.(nice) Fear shot through me as visions of all the possible things that could be stuck to me came to mind: ) (One day I'll get up the nerve to blog about what one of my children dumped from my purse, in the middle of everyone, while all 8 of us sat in the crowded waiting area of a Great Clips. We didn't have Jessie yet and I think I was very pregnant with Max) OK, back to the lady in the line. She slowly handed me a piece of ..........clear tape. I'm serious. And it was so small, I had to squint and really employ my fine motor skills to take it from her. I was very relieved and thanked her profusely for her help and pretended to be embarrassed that I'd have a piece of tiny tape on my back. It makes me giggle when I think about how crazy my life would seem to someone who would think I'd care that there was a piece of tape on the bottom corner of the back of my sweater. I'm really not examining this lady. She really was nice. Its just a reminder to me that what I'm doing is different. Sometimes I feel like I'm being judged by others' standards and it irritates me. It probably does happen, but probably not as often or as severely as I've made it in my mind. If my van is extremely messy sometimes, its because we have lots of little people who are still being trained to take care of their own things. I'm thankful for everyone of those little messers. I enjoy them. If someone shows up at my house and they are shocked by the mess, its because we are ALWAYS in the process of cleaning and maintaining. It is never perfect unless we are about to show it. Even then, it still might not be perfect. My prayer for myself is that I can accept that others cannot help being surprised by us and not feel judged even if I am being judged. My prayer for me is that I can please God and my husband and care for my family the best I can and not even try to put up a facade for others. I think if I can do this, I can then be gracious towards people not just on the outside but on the inside too where it really matters to God.

I was asked last week to speak about organizing to our homeschool group. (heehee) I think someone had heard how quickly I will throw things away that cross my path and that was counted to me as organized. I just nicely replied that I only throw things away so quickly because I don't know how to organize and that its only a coping mechanism. Just be as simple as possible-that's the only advice I have and someone homeschooling one or two children really doesn't need to be as simple asI need to be. I jokingly said that as soon as they needed someone to speak about how losers can homeschool too to ask again.(heehee) That is way too self-deprecating and I don't really mean that. It was just a funny way to get out of embarrassing myself in front of a group of nice home schooling moms.

OK, I just realized I do have some advice. This is what I've been teaching my daughters lately about home skilledge. Don't be lazy. Keep moving. Always be praying that God will show you a better way to do things. Look around your area and think of a way to make it more appealing and functional.

Also, I'm loving, absolutely loving reading through the whole bible in 90 days. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of starting a new movement called reading thru the bible 4 times in 365 days. I'm wondering if it'll catch on.(heehee) Thanks to this nice family for the encouragement.

Oyster Roast and Happy New Year

2009-12-31T13:24:00.001-08:00

We're getting ready to go to an oyster roast at a church in Moncks Corner with our friends the Whites. I just printed off my 3 month bible reading schedule and decided to print off a couple extra in case Lisa or any other unsuspecting person I can recruit tonight wants to do it as well. Here is the site to get the schedule again.

Karis

2009-12-29T04:56:00.000-08:00

I stood on the card aisle yesterday for awhile reading cards that I would like to give to my now 17 year old daughter. Yes, today is her birthday!! I'm not really a card giver, but I read about 10 cards that I wanted to hand to her to just express how much she means to me. I was tear-ing up in Publix as I thought about how blessed I am to have been graced by her presence for 17 years now. Time goes by so very quickly and I know that before I know it, she will be all grown up. Other than a few of my bad habits she's picked up along the way (heehee) she is just like her daddy. Maybe that's why I love her so much. The only thing better than Richard is the female version of Richard. Just teasin'...there is nothng or no one better to me than that man. Oh, but it is amazing as she has gotten older and her intellect has developed to listen to her and see how she processes information just like Richard. How they both study and know people so well. They both enjoy people tremendously and like finding out little details. Maybe that's one reason they are both so loved by others. They make people feel good about themselves. Everyone wants to be known by someone.Honestly....they are odd. Maybe I should say unique but really unique doesn't express it well enough, so I'm sticking with odd til I think of a better word: ) I was in Target with Karis about 2 months ago and I returned an item when we first arrived. When we walked away she made a comment about a facial feature of the girl who waited on us. It wasn't negative it was just an observation. I told karis I probably couldn't even identify her again. I just don't take in details. Karis was bumfuzzled so she began to observe me. After we checked out she said I appear to be connecting with people, but that really I wasn't and was just saying words that sound like I'm connecting. It was't a criticism. It was just a fact. I hit target with a task and returned what I needed to return and collected everything into my cart I needed to collect and checked out and was on my way in record time. I guess I assumed that's what everyone does. After her glimpse into my world(amazing to her) and my gimpse into her world(amazing to me) we talked about how it takes different personality types to make life work. How God in his amazing creativeness made us all so differently and for special purposes. It really is cool. Except Karis knows she can't just float around relating and neglect responsibilities and I know I have to stop and really look at and get to know people sometime.
Anyway, I'm not sure I've stayed on topic well unless the topic is "I love my Karis and I am so glad to get to know her more and more everyday and I'm so glad to see God shaping her heart and developing her character...I'm blessed to be her momma"

Can't wait to see what today brings. We're going to spend the whole day blessing her to say thank you for what a blessing she is to us and just doing whatever she wants to do. I might post pics later: )

Reading Thru the Bible in 90 Days

2009-12-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

I'm starting January 1 and reading (hopefully) thru the whole bible in 90 days.I heard about it from Raising Olives. Here is the site with an easy way to print a schedule. Would anyone like to join me?

Joy and Confession

2009-12-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, during his sermon, Richard shared with us his desire for us to be a confessing church. Over the next year he wants confession one to another to be more a part of who we are--- For it to be just how we operate in our relationships with each other. More of a freedom to be real and to be willing to be held accountable and to be willing to be involved enough to follow up and ask someone else how they are doing in an area of struggle over sin. He didn't say ALL of what I just said, but I know that's what he meant. I can read that man's mind(heehee) During prayer time, I almost asked for prayer for Joy. I was afraid I would say more than I really wanted to say so I just told God and kept quiet like I usually do during prayer request time. Soooo, when Richard shared his vision for Providence in the area of being more transparent, I already knew my confession. I need more JOY. I don't know if that's really the confession though. Since Joy comes as a gift from our Lord, I guess its more of a complaint or maybe I should say request: ) The confession would be not going enough to the source of Joy. I'm a pull yourself up by your bootstraps kinda girl so when I get over whelmed with the work load here at our house or bickering amongst the people I live with--or I'm worried about little technicalities in this fleeting earthly life I try to just work harder or faster or smarter or do better or think of really good solutions. That's my confession and prayer request all at once. I want daily, hour by hour and minute by minute to learn from, go to and trust and rest in Him, my Father up above. Here is an amazing verse I plan to set to memory.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
—Psalm 16:11

I'm really thankful for God placing this on my heart. It is a sign of hope to me that he has a plan to see it through. He would not begin it if he had no intentions of completing it.

I wish every day was Christmas(sigh)

2009-12-26T07:46:00.000-08:00

We had the best time yesterday. From the moment the children crowed like roosters to wake us up ( a weird tradition that's been going on since Karis and Cason were our only children) all the way to bedtime!! I have about 100 photos I would love to post but probably I'm the only person who would be THAT interested---so I'lll hold back.

I think I'd like everyday to be Christmas because we're all here together all day long.

(Yes, I put the pic of Cole with his eyes crossed cause it serves him right)

Also, because it is a time my children enjoy blessing each other with a gift they've put thought and love into.

If everyday could be Christmas, Richard would still probably need to make money so I think he'd just weave purses for a living with Kamryn's new loom.

(We'd call it folkart and it would be really EXPENSIVE)

If everyday could be Christmas, we'd wear our pajamas all day long.

(Max and his kitten)

We would eat dinner by candlelight every day STILL in our pajamas.

(kamryn makes dinner "dinner and a show")

Also and most importantly, I want everyday to be Christmas because of this.....Everything shuts down(EVERYTHING) because Jesus was born. It's taken me awhile in my life to get a grip on what I really think about gift giving and receiving on Jesus' birthday and all the preparation and the little bit of stess that comes along with getting ready for "THE DAY". I used to think it was just materialism and I really didn't want to be associated with it. And while I do know our world does get very materialistic at Christmas, we do our very best to not be materialistic with it all. I'm not bragging, but I think we've done a pretty good job. But again, as I mentioned earlier, I've come full circle. I might even do MORE next year---like maybe sending out Christmas cards...or maybe not: ) Even though its a feeble human attempt to shout and yell because Jesus was born, I think God looks graciously at our attempts to celebrate His Son and smiles about all the hoopla.

Does anyone else have a different take on that topic???? I'm not offended at all by differing views: ) I used to be, but I've grown with age: )

Also, if anyone can name a Christmas morning tradition more outrageous than my children crowing like roosters I'll mail a rooster to you as a prize: )

Cole and Grape Juice and Christmas Eve Gifts

2009-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here is a stack-o-presents. One for each member of the Brown house. We open one gift on Christmas Eve. These are not yet wrapped but I thought they looked kinda pretty on my cabinet next to one of my favorite photos of my children. The photo was taken on Sullivan's Island by a local Charleston artist about seven years ago. Our family was a little over half-way done back then. At that time, Cole was the little Brown who needed to be watched the most(heehee) We were meeting patricia there to model for her for a new oil painting series she was about to begin. We were friends with her through the art gallery we owned at the time. I was so prepared. I had everyone's white clothes ready to go the night before, a white blanket ready to lay baby kamryn on. My white dress too cause she thought I was a good pregnant lady model. I even got up that morning and hid the purple grape juice in the fridge under the sink because I knew Cole, in his white clothes, would be searching through the fridge for it. Richard wanted to make a good impression on her and not be late because she did alot of framing with us. Plus he's nice and hates to be late. We were all ready to go out the door and I realized Cole was no longer in my sight. You guessed it. Cole found the grape juice. Opened it. Drank straight from the container and spilled half it down his clothes. I stripped his clothes off, grabbed the Oxy Clean, drenched it in the sink and watched the purple vanish pretty quickly. Then straight to the dryer it went. It was perfectly clean looking and dry in record time and although we were a few minutes late, we pulled up at the same time as our friend. Anyway, that's what I think of when I see that photo.

As for those gifts, I think I'll wrap them and put them under the tree. We are the only people I know who never put any gifts under the tree til time to open them. We always have a family member who has the age and moral capacity to not care of the feelings of others should they just happen to rip into all the gifts. I think I'll let these ten be our "test" gifts to see if we're ready to have some presents out and under the tree.

2009-12-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the auxilliary branch of B and S Restoration---our family business.

Auxilliary comes from the Latin word auxillium meaning help or aid. (I'm so glad I remember at least one latin word after helping the kids so much)

Here is the B&S chocolate trifle maker.

Here is her trifle all ready to cover to go out the door.

Here is the B&S macaroni salad maker.

This helper(below) is actually not helping in this photo. Notice there is no attachment attached. He's just watching it spin!!! He actually goes sometime and helps his daddy.

Here is the B&S cake eater. We have alot of full time employees with that position(heehee)

We also made grilled chicken(in the rain), greek salad and bakery bought croissants. The B&S big boss(daddy) was about to buy all store bought food for a group of nice people learning about our business today. The auxilliary team had to step in and help out. We were so glad to do it. Makes us feel needed.

One of the helpers was still sleeping during preparation because she needed her beauty sleep since she is serving the nice people while her daddy "represents".

The other auxilliary helper was sweetly babysitting for another family.

Busy but fun morning. So now I'm rewarding myself with a few minutes to blog about it all.

Oh, if you see this within the hour, please say a prayer that the presentation goes well(going on right now) and that everyone is blessed by the food.

I'm very thankful for.....

2009-12-17T06:49:00.001-08:00

........ a warm fire on a cold day.

.........that my children are best friends.

...........that no carpet and a clothes basket entertains babies for hours.

...........sweet kisses.

........Jessie's cheesy grin.

Advent, Family and God's Amazing Mercy

2009-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Nona and Mommy---- repairing our advent calendar. We've said for two years, we just need to get out the glue gun and repair all the little pieces of ribbon that have come loose and reattach all the velcro. Yes, hot glue and velcro. That's how I sew. We love our calendar. It's all 31 days of december. The first 15 days are old testament prophecy pointing us to the coming Messiah and the 16th on is prophecy fulfilled. We went ahead and fixed her all up this year because for some reason, we were missing about 14 of the felt covers for the windows. We made new covers and finally our repairs.I'll probably find them all tucked away in some safe place within the next few months(heehee) We started a few days late but Richard caught us all up in one day. This is a great family devotion by Wanda Sanseri.

Here is the book containing all the patterns needed for the calendar.

I love hearing these stories again this year from the man I love snuggled on the couch with the children I love. I love that Jesus humbled Himself to become a lowly man. That is so amazing. I love that He saved me from God's wrath by sweet redemption. His merciful plans are so amazing.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2009-12-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

For awhile I've thought about trying homemade laundry detergent. My only obstacle has been needing to go to more than one store to get the ingredients. So, yesterday in Publix, I was on the detergent aisle about to pick up some Tide, and I spotted all three needed ingredients: Borax, Washing Soda and Fels Naptha. Here is a picture of all three. I should have taken a photo before ripping into it all, but I was totally out of detergent, so I got busy: )

Here is my homemade laundry detergent. It took about 10 minutes and that time includes finding containers that would work.
Here is the recipe. You can add essence oils but it has a really fresh scent without. So, I'm not going to add any. Oh my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, who are professional laundry people, love this soap. I knew when I found out it passed their requirements that it must really be good: )

Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha .99 per bar
½ cup washing soda 2.99 per box
½ cup borax powder 3.99 per box
(It makes 2 gallons or 64 loads for regular washers or 128 loads for front loaders.)
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. I used a medium sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a larger sauce pan. It will need to hold 2 gallons. You could do this right in the 2 gallon container you use to store it. I used several smaller containers. Now add your soap mixture from the first sauce pan and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load for regular washers and ¼ cup per load for (HE)front loaders.
You can do the math on it. I think its about a half penny per load for front loaders. That sounds free to me compared to the cost of detergent. I’m not a tree hugger(even though I do love trees) but much better environmentally because lots less packaging waste.

I'm reading.....

2009-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm reading this book that I've only scanned before. I really like the Bluedorn Family.

I'm reading this book because we all love it so much. It's the first year we've read bartholomew but we've read the first book in this series every year for probably the last five years. Everyone is a little bothered that we might not work Jotham's Journey into the Season. I think we will, though. We might just have to do it in a couple of sittings: )

Accidental Tradition but I love it.....

2009-12-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

Here is my sweet Jess being mesmerized by the pretty lights. I love Christmas and I love babies! It's a very pleasurable combination for me.

It used to bother me that my Christmas tree, and Christmas decor in general, was

way less than magazine worthy. Not anymore. I am totally over it. A beautifully decorated tree

that stays that way all season is so far beyond what I can produce and maintain that I have embraced our ugly trees and other decor that looks like maybe thing 1 and thing 2 got loose in my house and were in a merry mood. I'm actually blessed with a team of 8 people who descend on my home and decorate it for me in about 45 minutes flat. Talk about a cool service!!!!! They are available for hire: ) And yes, number 8 really does help. Her main job is to constantly rearrange the ornaments on the tree. Also, if you notice the stockings hung by the chimney with care in the top photo. You'll see that they are not exactly distributed evenly. I do go behind the little helpers and make some adjustments sometimes; ) Also, I have not been corrected yet, but I know my older children would like for me to clarify that most of this "type" decor can really be attribued to the Brown children who are 9 and under!!!

Funny Christmas Tradition #1

2009-12-02T03:53:00.000-08:00

This is an absolutely beautiful morning. It is pouring rain, and I'm up all by myself. I didn't sleep much last night. Normally I don't have any problem at all catching some rest but occasionally I wake up in the middle of the night perfectly rested. It might actually be because of all that Coke I consumed last night at Moe's. I decided a while back when this happens not to lay there hoping forever to go back to sleep. I get up and spend some time with Jesus and then catch up on whatever needs catching up on(there is always something) This morning I also spent some fun time looking online for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers and I found the cutest site called Vat19 They call themselves purveyers of curiously awesome products, and I do believe its true. This is so cute. If you have time, watch this little advertisement but don't let the kids watch cause they almost say a bad word and it's pretty obvious what they're about to say: ) We like gummy bears(pretty much any candy) here at our house, but Kimmi is the real gummy lover. When she was about three years old, we started a tradition where Kimmi gets one extra present behind the tree. She gets a little basket of gummy bears very well hidden waaaay behind the tree and she forgets that it might be there until waaaay after all presents are opened and breakfast is eaten and stockings are un-stuffed. Every single year she forgets! I think she actually might be pretending now for my sake. I'm not sure why we started this tradition. It seems unfair to the other seven children. I'm thinking its because she was the baby at the time and if you remember Kimmi way back when, you know that she wasn't very easy to get along with....she was actually pretty darned grumpy. She stayed in quite a bit of "trouble". I'm imagining I was looking for a way to make her feel special...set apart. That's silly to do that with a little red basket of gummy bears, but it sure did work. I don't remember any of the other children ever feeling offended by it or expecting anything different than Kimmi should get her gummies. It's just a fact of life here. I was thinking it might be funny to put that giant gummy bear in her basket this year just to keep her on her toes. It actually might scare her(heehee) Here she is with baby Jessie. She sure makes up for all that trouble she used to cause. She is a real blessing, and I don't know what I would do without her.

2009-11-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am not crafty. I have an aversion to crafts. I actually hate doing crafts. I decided one year that I would conquer my little issue by purchasing a kit(from a children's company) to make beaded ornanments. We made them but it was not fun, enjoyable, or the sweet memory making activity for which I had hoped. We still have them and they are very pretty and they do bring back memories but those memories still make a couple of my children curl up in the fetal position and cry.(heeehee) Actualy, it wasn't that bad...we just laugh about it now. Anyhow, when Christmas season approaches I always want to do some sort of craft with my peeps and this year, only 2 days after Thanksgiving, I can go ahead and check that little chore off my list. It was so simple and really alot of fun and no one cried. I'm at my mommy's house now and maybe that's another reason I enjoyed it. There are no major chores hanging over my head here and I had my sweet mommy right beside me as back up when I sewed a ribbon on backwards. She talked me thru it and helped the children too.(heehee-again-but I'm serious.

They are not fancy. Just some straight lines and simple hand stitching and even Nona Klare caught on to it. It was fun doing it with Nana and we even were able to bless her with six new ornaments for her tree that we helped put up. Who in the world would be so thrilled to "beautify" their tree with these except for a doting grandmother???

Now that we know we like to hand stitch maybe we'll add in some embroidering and other simple projects since we won't be watching TV anymore...since we cleaned our house out of those evil boxes. It's been about a week and no one misses it. I'm so glad they are gone. We've been TV-less a couple of times before in our lives and we're always the happiest, growing closer to the Lord, most productive that way. I could talk about that for quite awhile so I'll save it for another post: )

Happily Celebrating Nona Klare

2009-11-20T05:52:00.000-08:00

Wow!! It has been almost six years since this sweet girl hesitantly entered our home. It was the longest pregnancy ever and I learned so much about trusting God through it. I learned lots of other little things too. For one, if you don't know your due date don't just assume that on halloween( and the many days that follow) you can eat all the candy bars you want just because you've already been thinking "the baby" should be here anyday for a whole month. You Will Get Sooo Fat!!! So will that late baby. Also, if you don't know your due date, go ahead and get that sonogram. Even if you really want to be the most natural birthing mom ever---really----just get it. You don't even have to tell the other all natural mommies you did it. Also, when you find out you're pregnant, if that baby is your sixth and you've told her husband you don't want to tell people you're pregnant yet, cause some people already think you are freaks, don't just assume he won't tell every single person in the world secretly anyway! That part, looking back now, is sweet just because he was so excited. How many men can you say that about?

Anyway, here she is now.....

My plans are to take her with my nice camera to take some pics of just her before her birthday and maybe out for tea. Her sweet little top tooth is just getting loose and it makes me sad. Even though still beautiful, once those baby teeth are gone their little faces change so much. Sooo, that's why I need to get pics NOW! Her birthday is not til monday but everyone has special plans for her. She has mentioned a candyland cake and her biggest sis is planning to "go all out" for her with the cake. I think we'll be heading out for special pans and candy of course.

Nona Klare is such a special gentle little blessing in our family. We all love her so much.

Oh, and here she is still with baby teeth.....

Cowboy

2009-10-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

My daddy bought these boots about 17 years ago when Richard and I first moved to Dallas. You know....Texas.....cowboys......boots. I think he bought them in Ft. Worth. Maybe Dallas. I can't remember, but we'll say Ft. Worth cause its more the cowboy town. He gave them to Cason as soon as they fit him and now they fit Cole. Max just can't wait for his brief moment of papa's boots fitting him, so he's trying them out already. This cowboy is ready for whatever comes his way. He's tough, but still needs his momma too.

About three times a day, he takes a break from his "doings" and says "hold me like a baby". I know that sounds pitiful, but really it's not. He doesn't say it in a little whimpy voice if that's what you're imagining. Oh, no. It's a command. A cowboy command. I have no choice. Not that I'd want it any other way. We usually rock on the front porch for a minute. I forgive him for all he's done since the last time he commanded me to hold him like a baby and think about how he probably won't be asking much longer. I love being his momma!!!

Best Buddies

2009-09-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Love 'em!! They can really cause some trouble though!! Walking the neighborhood at Bonclarken---in the rain. It was a fun day.

Ballerinas at Sullivan's Island

2009-09-26T08:37:00.001-07:00

Dance on Wednesday mornings and then guitar classes for the older girls on Sullivan's Island right after. Looking forward to lots of walks on the beach while we wait.

Coconut Truffles and Pretty Fudge Shapes

2009-09-07T23:18:00.001-07:00

When Richard and I got married, we received an electric wok as a wedding gift. It was one of my favorite and most used gifts. It came with a little pamphlet-like cookbook with about 20 recipes. Richard made stir fry chicken and broccoli at least twice a month the first year we were married. I learned alot about him watching him in action. Really, I remember thinking how different we were. He is a perfectionist. I am not. He would have all the ingredients lined up ready to go. I would NEVER do that: ) Silly boy! He never started til he was totally ready. I jump right in there all confident and stuff. He brought his A-game everytime for sure. He had every ingredient everytime. I use what I have. It called for cornstarch that was mixed with chicken broth. He would measure it exactly.(heehee) I would have just dumped it all in. Anyways, he's a better cook!! Unfortunately, since that first year, I don't think he's walked in the kitchen until today. That first year he was motivated by his clueless and hungry bride. Today he was motivated by Nona Klare! She showed him the two recipes she wanted to make. The recipes are called "Coconut Truffles" and "Pretty Fudge Shapes". The two of them went to the market and shopped for all the ingredients. She was so excited and especially happy to be going somewhere all by herself with her daddy. And just as when we were first married, Richard brought his A-game. They all had so much fun cookng in the kitchen with daddy. I loved watching him in action. It's so sweet seeing him enjoy making his girls happy. Some things never change. I love my family.

Oh, yeah, while I was snapping some photos, Karis announced she was blogging about daddy cooking. I immediately said, oh no, missy! I'm blogging. After a little spat, we decided it would probably be OK for us both to do it. She also challenged me to a competition. So, whose blog post do you like best?? If you pick her post as your favorite it will be a compliment to us both cause I'm her momma and teacher: )You can find her at Winsome Composition in my.. stalker...I mean followers list.

How Firm a Foundation

2009-09-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Michael Card sing this beautiful hymn which I've heard so many times before over the years and I finally listened to the wonderfully deep words. Know what I mean??? Hope these words can encourage someone else as it has me.

(this might be my favorite stanza)

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Scenes from Late Summer

2009-09-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

Pretty baby with her Nana....just enjoying country life....

Nona at Nana's with a flower in her hair....

Cason receiving advice at his meet from dad!

Kimmi REALLY having a fun time with her cousins!!

Karis and Kamryn-sweet girls of mine!!!

Surprise-----We have kittens

Mommy and her baby!

Kimmi driving her papa. He always gives good lessons!

Max and Kamryn waiting their turn to drive. I'm serious!

Cason

2009-07-20T16:37:00.001-07:00

Cason just broke his first city meet record!! This is what he's committed his life to(JUST KIDDING!!) It does make him happy though. Waiting to see if he breaks the FLY record, too!

Update and pic coming soon. State meet this coming weekend!

I stayed at home and have been googling and figuring out his course of study for college.(hee hee) I have it narrowed down to (preacher, dentist or college prof) I'm thinking dentist sounds the most lucrative: )

Cake Update

2009-07-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

AVALANCHE!!!!

At least you're pretty and sweet, Karis!!!!

Italian Cream Cake and a some time with Aunt Lisa

2009-07-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Karis is enjoying some time with her precious Aunt Lisa and getting a baking lesson to boot!!! Hooray for the Browns!!!

Here is Aunt Lisa and my preciously funny and clever niece Jalin. Oh, and Max has now met his match(hee hee)

Great Memorial Day

2009-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great time seeing some old friends and some of our family in Sumter yesterday. We each were blessed with a ride in this 1942 WWII trainer plane.(not exactly sure what it's called: ) It's been restored to it's original beauty,though. Thanks Jeff and Sally. It was such a blessing spending some time with your sweet family! Great Day!

Dinner for Twelve: )

2009-05-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

I like cooking for a crowd. I daily cook for ten and often havee a few of the men who work for Richard to dinner too. Tonight I'm making a triple batch of Black Bean Chili Spaghetti. So so much better than boring spaghetti---in my opinion. It's still very easy though!!

Black Bean Chili Spaghetti

1 lb ground beef or venison or turkey

1 can black beans drained

2 cans diced tomatoes/or fresh depending on the season

1 small onion diced

1 bell pepper chopped

clove garlic pressed

1 TBSP chili powder

pinch cayenne(optional of course)isn't everything?

cilantro

sour cream

Brown and drain meat. Saute veggies with meat adding. Add garlic and seasoning. Add tomatoes and beans and simmer for awhile. I'm putting in the crokpot on low til dinner. Serve over whole wheat spagheti noodles. Top with fresh cilantro from your herb garden and with sour cream.

By the way, here is my herb garden this year. Thought I'd spruce up my porch with this cool outdoor coffee table from my awesome brother-in-law, Dennis, and some terra cotta pots and

plants.

Slices of Life

2009-05-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Just started reading this book Slices of Life about the life and work of bible translators Ed and Aretta Loving outloud to the children today. I've been looking at it for weeks and wanting to find time for reading aloud but have not been able to carve out the time to snuggle down on the couch and indulge. If I had to pick my all time favorite single activity(other than alone time with R), it would be reading aloud stories to my children that touch their hearts. I love to glance up and see them all--even my older children- staring off into space engrossed in the tale. I am known, however, to not be able to finish a sentence sometimes because of my own tears. I read, stop, try to compose myself,squeak a line out while trying to hold back tears. They stare at me somewhat amused but ready to hear the best part. I begin again, voice quivers again and then I announce that I'm ridiculous, someone offers to take over reading, I hand the book over and this child (it never fails and it tricks me everytime) reads about two lines and then breaks into fake blubbering tears!!!! Everyone breaks into laughter! It was Kimmi today. I was having a hard time getting thru a story of how Arettta, pregnant with baby #1, needed protein and was craving eggs and God continually provided for her dietary needs in amazing ways!!! Great story of trusting God and seeing Him provide. So so so glad to be done with editing BJU dvds now and forever!! Yesterday was my last day and I feel like a free woman with plenty of time for couch snuggling and reading to my extremely funny children!!

Swimmer Boy

2009-05-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Cason out with Mom, dad and Jessie at his end of year swimming banquet. Cason broke a Mt. P record this year. There were actually loads of records broken by the swimmers. Their coach is terrific. We are very blessed to have her. Even though its a little blurry, I like this photo. It is hard to get that boy to pose: )

Date Nights and some ramblings....

2009-04-28T06:37:00.001-07:00

Richard and I usually go out to dinner once a week. We don't really have a set night. It's usually just first chance we get. We decided yesterday to try and increase our dates to twice a week and make most of our dates include exercise and nature. We live in such a beautiful area. We're also taking up fishing. We just bought 2 rods and reels or is it rod and reels? Our date last night was scoping our own neighborhood for a good fishing spot.We went to the new crab dock. Pretty spot but R thinks it will be hard to pull in all the fish we'll certainly catch. We headed on down the street to our old neighbors. They have moved on up in life and left us behind. They now have a great house and a beautiul spot on the Wando River. We can only see glimpses from our house. (heehee) I'm really saying that jokingly. Our home is amazing and way above and beyond any provisions we expect from God. We have lived in neighborhoods during our marriage from EVERY socio-economic category you can imagine!!! When we were very young and not yet married and getting acquainted he asked me over a pizza hut pizza(thin and crispy supreme/no black olives--some things never change) date if it scared me to go down the path of life with a preacher/missionary?? He was referring to the poverty and possible dangers and sacrifices his calling could bring. I lied and told him it didn't scare me at all. At this point nothing scared me as much as the thought of going down any path in life anywhere other than under his arm of protection..(sniff sniff) I'm making me cry. So, yes, I lied and , yes, I'd do it again: )

Anyway, during our courtship, we embraced and actually looked forward to a life of adventure. It has certainly been that so far. In Richard's sermon Sunday he talked about idols a person might have in their life and one he mentioned was not being willing to give up a certain lifestyle. Or, being committed to maintain a certain level of lifestyle. That, I can honestly say, we are not. I say all that to say, it was nice walking through our overly nice neighborhood and enjoying the beauty of the wealth and not being envious at all of the people on the river and not being worried we won't always live here. I'm almost positive we won't! Just thinking it interesting that God has chosen to place us here now. We're just visitors here for a short time kind of like we're just visitors here on earth for a short time. Just happy that our old neighbors have a dock they really want us to use anytime we feel like fishing.

Oh, and last night we had planned to go get Richard a salad or something at the Dog and Duck Restaurant in our neighborhood after our walk, but our neighbors with the dock had just returned from their month long stay at Islamorada, FL. and they sent us home with really good crab legs(already cooked:) Hmmmm....another provision from God.......SOOO......we just went home and crept in the house as quietly as we could and I made R a salad while he ate the crab legs. It took everyone about 11 minutes to realize we were home and join us in the kitchen. I'll take those eleven minutes: )Fun night.

Simple Pleasures

2009-04-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

Just enjoying the simple pleasures in life today. Rising early. Worshipping God around our breakfast table together---led by the most awesome husband and father ever! Seeing a child grasp a concept in math--whew!!! Lighting a candle in my clean kitchen. Taught my oldest daughters to make a delightfully comforting evening meal via the trusty crockpot. OOOOH!!!!! and a wonderfully heavy downpouring of rain. Everyone came running upstairs from their afternoon outdoor playing. All the action was directed to our screened in porch. And....last minute dinner plans with our precious friends---the Heaners! They are back in town for the last time for a long time since they are closing on their house this week. I guess that means I'll put the crockpot meal in the fridge for tomorrow.

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

We had a nice Easter service. I do love my church family. We feel so blessed. Also, had a very relaxed afternoon napping and hiding eggs for the children.

Kamryn was so thankful for the egg hunt!

Nona wth eggs.........

Kimmi-best egg stuffer and hider!

Mommy and Jessie Carol

Jessie's 1st Easter(pretty prettty baby!)

Our Seder Meal

2009-04-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we had our whole church over to learn about the traditional Jewish passover meal. http://gracealamaison.blogspot.com/

Go to my sweet friend's blog to learn about the symbolism and the special time we had.

Beautiful Saturday

2009-04-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

We went to a beautiful park on Daniel Island Saturday with the 6 youngest children for a few hours. The two oldest were at their last practice for volunteering at the Daniel Island Family Circle Cup which will begin soon. They will be part of the ball crew!!! The park where we played is on the Wando River side of the island. It is a water park(for pulling boats in the water and a little splashing/not swimming) It is gorgeous with Live Oak Trees, pier ,and the river. The play area is a model of Charleston and surrounding areas. Really pretty. Here is a photo of Jessie. I cannot believe I left her pretty white dress on the table as I was leaving. PLEASE picture her in her best little feminine cotton dress. This pic of her is too funny not to share though.

Father/Daughter Dance 2009

2009-04-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Just one of daddy's girls missing from photo. Jessie is too young for all that dancing. Karis, Kimmi, Kamryn and Nona Klare each received a pretty silver necklace from her daddy.

My Joy

2009-02-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

My Joy comes from Jesus as I journey on the path with my beloved Husband and our precious eight children.