Update

Not much to update lately - FINALLY Chris is going to the doctor this morning to have himself checked out and for that I am very grateful. I am in prayer this morning that it will be nothing serious and just anxiety. I know that we have a lot of that right now with three kids to raise and the times being so tough economically, but I choose to praise God for what we have and to be thankful in ALL circumstances. We are so blessed on so many levels and I know that God will provide. I hope everyone we know and love are enjoying their summer and spending time with their kids and families. Love to each and everyone one of you who read this blog.......

Who Made the Sun Shine?
by: Bayless Conley

Look at Luke 12:16-21:

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:

"The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Take a look at the few words that this man spoke. In his short declaration, he uses the word I six times and the word my five times! His perspective was a very selfish one. Here are a few questions to ponder:

-Who gave the rain that made his crops grow?
-Who made the soil out of which his crops grew?
-Who made the seed he planted?
-Who caused the sun to shine?
-Who gave him the physical strength to work the field?
-Who gave him his soul?

The answer to all of those is God. Yet he makes no acknowledgement of God in his speech, planning, or giving. He should have been thanking God for all His blessings and asking the Lord what He wanted done with His things. Be faithful to acknowledge God and to ask Him what to do with His resources over which you are a steward.

More Drama - Imagine that!

Well, the hubby woke me up at 2 a.m. Monday morning and asked me take him to the hospital because he was having chest pain and felt like he couldn't breathe. SO, we made the trip to the E.R. and subsequently Chris had to spend the next 24 hours in the hospital being monitored. Come to find out, the doctors believe the pain and shortness of breath was brought on by anxiety and stress and he is back home. Well, actually he is back at work in Tacoa, Georgia today and won't be home until tomorrow evening. So, PLEASE be in prayer for the Brown Family (as usual). The blessing in all this, because there always is, is that we were reminded again how short life can be and how much we need to love and forgive and live each day as if it is our last!

Well, Bonnaroo is in full swing and if you listen very quietly you can hear the sound of chanting and the smell of all the smoke rising in the distance... :)

We are headed to Chattanooga this evening to get the kids, see a friend who is swimming 4.5 miles tomorrow in the Tennessee River Rat Race and spend some time with my Dad tomorrow. All in all, a good weekend.

Be patient Melissa.....

Well, if anything right now the Lord is teaching me patience. The first home we put on the market sold within 24 hours so I haven't had much experience with listing a home and it actually sitting on the market. We have had several showings, but no offers. Please pray that God's will be done for our family. We really need to downsize financially and I pray that the Lord will send a buyer.

http://www.trulia.com/property/1079335259-406-3rd-Ave-NW-Winchester-TN-37398

Two Quick Things To Share

First of all God gave me this verse last night and YES I mean gave it to me. It literally came to my head and I went and looked it up:

John 14:12-14 (New International Version - UK)
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Isn't that great news!

Secondly, our fears about Hudson not being a true beach-bum like the rest of us have been eased as you can see from above pic! :)

summer!

First week of summer break for the kids and I am giving them about 2 days before they are bored to tears. :)

We were blessed with such a wonderful weekend this past weekend - the kids' cousins Levi and Micah came for a visit on Friday and then Levi ended up staying with us until this morning. We had a wonderful visit from the Beathard family on Sunday and basically just celebrated the first weekend out of school.

I have been feeling a little sorry for myself today because I won't get to spend much time with the kids this summer while working two jobs, but have decided to be thankful for the jobs I have and make the most of the time I do have with them! Chris and I are still praying about the house and his traveling situation and other than that life is just simple and good. HAPPY SUMMER BREAK EVERYONE!!!!

Hudson't first beach trip - he didn't dig the sand (pardon the pun!)