So ready for spring

Well, it is windy in the 'Chester today and it is looking like rain. Seems like spring might be heading our way......

Spring has always been my favorite time of year since as far back as I can remember and let me tell you that this year I am chomping at the bit for it to get here! A few of my

Favorite things:

the plants starting to pop up through the dirt

digging in the dirt with my fingers and toes

the smell of flowers and tree blooming

the first little blooms showing on the dogwood trees

I hope today finds you anticipating springtime and enjoying the day God has given us. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Valentine's Day

Here is my menu for Chris and the kids on Saturday night. Let's hope I can pull it off:

Maple-Glazed Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
Heart-Shaped Polenta
Baby Spinach and Red Onion Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake

Yummo! Can't wait!

Abby Alert!

Abby wore her hair down today and actually put mousse in it and scrunched it!!!!! This is big happenings on the Brown front!! I will try to sneak up on her and get a pic sometime tonight and post! Hee....hee....

Hello all! I haven't had time to blog lately, nor time to relax, take a hot bubble bath, catch up on my reading (my favorite past-time of all)! I am busy working two part-time jobs now and am loving it believe it or not. I also am gearing up for our 30-Hour Famine at church - trying to get things organized and media releases done, etc. On top of all that I think we need to do a small little thing called OUR TAXES! Oh well, no one in administration seems to be able to pay them either, so maybe Uncle Sam will be forgiving if we are late this year. :)

Hope all is well with everyone and remember God loves you!

Great Book!

I have met so many wonderful people over the internet and especially through Facebook! I met one especially sweet girl through Facebook named Tammy Maltby. She lives in Colorado and has a great life story and also has written an incredible book called "Confessions of a Good Christian Girl." She sent me an autographed copy in the mail this week as a surprise and I am spending the day reading it while making hot wings for the Middle School SuperBowl Party at church. I feel like the book was written for me - or could have been written by me! If you get a chance to pick it up, I encourage you to read it. Here is a review:

"Beautifully tender and scorchingly honest. Confessions refuses to waste time on either judgment or sentiment. This book, like its author, speaks with a voice of deep understanding, aching transparency, and fierce reliance on the Grace of God."

I personally thank Tammy for being REAL. Something so many people have trouble being either due to fear or pride. She uses her life story as a witness to others and to give us all hope in our present circumstances. Melissa

I just heard the most interesting thing by Beth Moore -

People normally turn to legalism (the "rules" of Christianity) when they are empty and have not had a fresh Word from God or God is not priority in their lives. When they are not holding onto God fully then they have to have something to hold onto and that usually becomes the "rules of men" because it makes them feel safe.

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

I Peter 3:8

Ready for the Weekend!

Whew, I am ready for the weekend! Big plans for the weekend! The girls may go down to visit their grandmother in Chattanooga and Jacob and Chris will run the shop and I think I am going to paint a bathroom! Doesn't that sound super fun? I think you know you are officially old when you actually look forward to such things! OR I may just do nothing this weekend - wouldn't that be a thought!?

One thing I do know for sure is that I am ready for warmer weather. Bring on the flip flops!!!

God Is So Good!!!

I received a phone call late last night and it was such a blessing to our family! I was offered another part-time job that allows me to work around my current hours for the church! This is such a blessing to our family as it also does not interfere much with my time with the kids - the most important thing after all. So, starting this week I will be working two part-time jobs and I feel so blessed and loved by God.

One thing I have learned is that there will be times of great rejoicing and times of great sorrow in life (sometimes all at once, like this week), but we are called to do is to praise God in ALL circumstances. I am praising Him for this new opportunity but I also should be praising Him in all situations in my life - this call is for us not to have a complaining spirit about us, but to be thankful all the time.

A dear friend of mine had her parents staying with her this weekend and while they were her their house burned to the ground in East Tennessee. The first thing that their family did was praise God for their parents being alive and then have continued to praise God! Let us learn from that. God is in control and even if bad things happen to us or those we love we can have complete faith that God is working out a good and perfect work. He never means harm to us. Sometimes we just don't see the big picture. Well, most of the time we don't, right? Encouraging you to praise God today for whatever you are going through, even if that something isn't something you feel like praising Him for. Love to all!

Cadoo

This is a good family game for game night. Lots of fun, very easy and can be played in about 30 minutes. It is also put out by Cranium and we all know that the Cranium games are great! Definitely a game I would invest in for the kids.