My New Home!!

It's been quite a while since I've posted. We moved into our new house mid-October. This is a blessing I wasn't expecting. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

God is very good and faithful and trustworthy. Resting in Him is the answer to everything in our lives.

OK!! Here's my new home!

 We've updated the outside so far only by changing out all the windows. We were going to immediately paint the brick to give her a little face-lift, but after the windows went in we decided to wait because it was much better. We're still deciding: ) The windows have not been changed yet in this picture.

 My pretty yard pictures!!! We have great hills for rolling down!!

 Kimmi and Max on our bench and Turkey Creek.

 Mot, Kimmi, Max(I love how he sits), Cole  and Karis and my beautiful grand baby girl Audrey!!
Karis and Audrey have their own apartment built onto the back of the detached garage with full kitchen, bath, living area and bedroom. It was a lawyers office way back in 1964!! I keep thinking about how God was thinking about and planning for my family the year after Richard was born. Well, I mean wayyy before that, but you know what I mean.  This was a definite added blessing although being raised with so many siblings, Karis loves company and she and Audrey hang inside with the rest of the gang most of the time.

 Kamryn being her usual spunky self.

Visiting with friend Kristen: )

 The love of my life and our sweet first grand child Audrey Elizabeth

Cole and Max---the bros: )

 Be careful Max--- Lookout for gators

 My kitchen before: )
When we found this house, I fell in love with the size, the character of an old house, the acre, the privacy, the tidal creek, the basement!!! What? A basement in charleston?? I wanted it no matter what. My only request was to paint everything that was brown and to take out carpet to reveal the wood floors. My talented husband obliged plus some. We do still have our 1960's bathroom tile!! Pink, lavender and bright blue. I' will post about these one day. They definitely deserve their own post: )

I also just realized Cason is no where to be found on this post. I'll have to post again soon just to brag about his awesome first semester both academically and swim wise!! He rocked those classes, and he is already sooooo close to breaking two College of Charleston records. Go Cason and Go Cougars. Ok, I guess I don't need to post a bragger blog about Cason now: )

Ocean Studies

  

I love going to the beach with my children probably more than anything. I always know before I get there that it will be beautiful, but everytime  I'm surprised for a bit by the beauty and also by the sensory overload. The salty smell and taste, the wind to skin and the sounds all are fantastic reminders of God's creativity. It's a place where God reaches for me in so many ways. 

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD,
all the earth. 

 Psalm 96:1

In our school time, we are reading Holling C. Holling's Pagoo, and we are learning so many awesome things about the ocean. When I say "we" I actually do mean "we"--haha.

I love this author. When my older children were younger I intended to read all these books, but I never made it to Pagoo. Sometimes too many lofty plans keep me from doing the things I really think are important--lesson learned!! Cason, almost nineteen and about to begin his swimming career at College of Charleston, walked through and heard about three lines from Pagoo and asked me if that was the same author as "Paddle to the Sea". Good ear Cason and good memory: ) 

We are also reading this little gem below. 

 Cason saw this book on the couch and because of it's beautiful cover questioned my integrity. "Is that abridged mom?" Oh no Cason...it's just pretty." Cason replied, "Good job mom: )"

 We missed the rest of the fam yesterday!!  I think we will all go again late today and meet up with my brother and his family who are vacationing in town.

 Right here----this girl right here----- FUNNY, SILLY, and also very very SWEET!!

                                                 Sisters!!!

                                              Digging!!

Stranded at the Park

 The van keys ended up in Karis' purse, and Karis went home with Cason.  By the time we realized she was home, it was almost time for  Kimmi to be in Summerville. She had to deliver Kimmi before she could bring us the keys!!! We are sure blessed that... 1. We had potluck at church and 2. We were able to play at this great playground. Oh, and just look at that beautiful sunshine. I am so thankful for the nice warm weather.

Cole was relaxing while he waited for our keys: ) HANDSOME BOY!!!

 Kamryn is fabuloso!!

 Jessie-- This sweet girl picked so many wild flowers today!!

 Nona is showing her pretty bracelet from Mrs. Wilkins. She is my gift giver, and she really feels loved when someone gives her a gift.

She made handmade clay beads and made a necklace to give to her in return. She is my crafty girl!!

 Sun Glorious Sun!!

 The men just chillin!!

 Some forced simple family time. It was a great afternoon.

We missed our big kids though. One drove people around and delivered keys. One was at musical practice and one was at the Flower Town Festival!! Sooo blessed by the family God has given to me.

Keeping Those Hands Busy

We have been using our decoupaged clip boards that I posted about a few weeks ago during family worship time. Richard decided to have the kids draw a picture of  whatever scripture passage he is reading from to us. He got this idea from our friend Tobe---- Thank you Hester family!! It is amazing how well everyone sits still. They reallly really listen too. Every night a couple of people stop him and ask him to go back to a point they missed just so they don't miss a detail. The details in their drawings are great, too. Of course Miss Martha here might not really and truly be drawing what her daddy is talking about in the background, but she sure is a cutie-pie!!  Would you please take a look at those fine motor skills of hers. That's all we will accept here at the Brown house from our 21 month old babies--hehe. I am totally joking! I have no idea how she possesses these awesome skills, but she seriously holds that pencil correctly. You might also notice that Miss Martha bites erasers off the tops of the pencils--- we gotta stop that for sure. Love that baby!!