I AM BEYOND BLESSED!

Its been a while since I've blogged! Had some internet issues and had to switch ISPs. Hopefully this will go much faster now!


Saturday I had the opportunity to go to a Melissa & Doug toy party at my friend Kalli's BEAUTIFUL home! The party was a fun time to visit with friends and make new ones plus buy toys for the little ones for Christmas! The stuff was so great that I decided to have a party myself on October 24! I never have parties like this but I am excited about this one - mark your calendars! After the big Stonewall Long Haul 5k that I mentioned in a previous post you can come buy toys for your little ones!


Although, I have lived in my house for a little over 2 years I still have LOTS of decorating that needs to be done! So now I am in "decorating" mode which is fun and exciting and a little daunting!


But little doubts have started to creep in . . . maybe my house isn't fit for a party? Its not as big as Jane Doe's . . . and maybe not as nice as Sally Sue's . . . and, and, and maybe I can just make lame excuses about my decorating skills.


And then I read a hopefully life changing blog entry -- a little background, my wonderful friend, Lauren, has started her blog, Team Huss, and through it I found links to her sister, Kim's blog and from Kim's blog I have found Kisses from Katie! Following Kim's advice I started reading Katie's blog at the August 14, 2009 post and then to the most recent - since then I've gone back and read all of 2007 (the start date) and I will slowly make my way to where I started. Its amazing and a must read! Come be a blog stalker with me! Katie is younger than me and has from all appearances left a priveledged life in TN to be a missionary in Uganda. You just have to read it to understand the love she has for our Savior and for his people in Africa. I don't know her and don't even know if I know anyone who knows her but her love for Jesus is so apparent in her words that I have no doubts about her authenticity!


But to the point, she blogs about going to the small one room "shack" of one of her students and they proudly welcome her into their home and make no apologies for its appearance or for all that its lacking, they simply praise Jesus for providing shelter!!


How awesome is that??? And how humbled am I? I have a beautiful home filled with everything I truly need - love, family, laughter, and basic things such as water and electricity - and yet I have only thanked God in my quiet time! When I have visitors I ask them to excuse my mess or pardon that I don't have many trinkets when what I should be saying is LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS PROVIDED FOR MY FAMILY!! WE ARE EXTREMELY BLESSED!


I challenge myself and each of you to realize how blessed we are - even in our darkest hour - I doubt any of you have ever wondered about having a roof over your head or whether you could afford groceries to feed your children or if the mosquito bite on their arm would kill them before morning - we are BLESSED and to God be ALL THE GLORY!


So if you come over and find that there are toys scattered everywhere (which there usually is) and breakfast still on the table even though its lunch time forgive me for not apologizing - I am simply thankful my children are healthy enough to play and that we were able to provide them with food!

Love, Mindy

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** Congratulations to my fabulous friend, Elise, on the impending arrival of Blessing #4, Stinson Walker Toms, due March 6, 2010!! **

Mickey the Mouse and Much More!

Fun times in the Brown household lately!! I am about to put my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee on the market, if anyone would like to buy it! On Wednesday, Conner and I were vacumning it out while I was simultaneously talking to my sister-in-law, Erica, on the phone . . . then came my OMG moment --- there was a mouse on top of the light fixture in the garage starring at me!! So I calmly tell Erica that if I begin to scream that it's because a mouse just fell on my head! But seriously - how does a mouse climb a straight, smooth wall and then walk upside down on the ceiling to get to a light fixture??? There is no way he could have jumped from anywhere! Conner & I go on about our business and then its snack time so we go inside . . . I left my car doors open because I knew we'd be coming right back and then I FREAK OUT and sprint back outside to close my doors . . . I'm reminded of a story my friend, Kandy, who is a preschool director at a school in Houston, told me . . . a man came to pick up his kids from school and then ran into her office claiming a rat had jumped off the curve and into his car and could she please get it out! That's right - a male police officer asked her to get a rat out of his car! Long story short, it was concluded that the rat came from his car and it jumped out of his car not in. I just couldn't risk pulling up to school and a mouse jumping out of my car in the pickup line!! That would detract major points with the PTA I'm sure!

Mickey in the top corner of our light

That night Mickey the Mouse was in the light fixture just hanging out. Being the good PETA person I am I tried to fry him by turning on the lights but that didn't work because he's still up there somewhere! So any ideas on how to get a mouse out of light fixture???




first haircut

My sweet little Conner was being mistaken for a girl way too many times lately so it was finally time for the dreaded first haircut! Right before your eyes your baby drifts away and emerges a little boy - it's horrible! I wasn't really looking forward to the experience for that reason and also because Conner never ever sits still and I could just imagine the work I was going to have on my hands! Mason got his hair done first and set a perfect example for Conner and surprise, when it was Conner's turn he sat still and ate his Dum-Dum and was just the best baby anyone could ask for! My mother is so mad at me for cutting his hair but I think he looks absolutely adorable!!

Mason showing Conner how it's done!

Sweet Conner being such a big boy!

The boys showing off their new haircuts!

old lady moment
Had to take Mason to the dentist Friday and my cousin, Mollie, came over to babysit Conner. I feel especially old when Mollie comes over because I used to rock her to sleep!! Its really bad when your former "charges" are now old enough to watch your kids!! Then I complimented her fabulous gold sandals and asked where she got them and she responded that her mom got them at some "mom store" like Ann Taylor Loft!! Until that moment I had been thinking I was looking super cute in my green Ann Taylor Loft skirt . . . but suddenly I just felt old!


Ashly & Baby Sam
Robin, Kelly, Melody, and Ashly came over today for a light lunch before Ashly has little baby Sam in a few weeks! We all went to high school together and had a great time catching up and watching our kids play! It's always fun to have lunch with the girls!

Me, Ashly, Robin, Nora Jo, & Kelly

randoms

Anytime Fitness in Stonewall (btw the owners are WONDERFUL) are hosting/sponsoring the first annual Stonewall Long Haul 5K Health Walk/Run on Saturday, October 24, 2009! Yes, I'll be entering so if anything you should come watch that! All proceeds go to the Alzheimers Association. You can call the gym or get the information here! Hope to see you there!


We've got our tickets for the Imagination Movers at the Strand on Saturday, October 10, do you? Parents of preschoolers your kids will thank you!! Mason is so excited that he asks us everyday when the Movers will be here! Call the Strand or go to their website or Disney's for more information!

BTW, Mason's class will not being showing Barack's speech on Tuesday so yes to all of you inquiring minds he will be at school!

mindy

Sound the Alarm

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

This Sunday at church the message was about how we are supposed to DAILY spend time with God . . . confession time - I find that SO HARD to do! But the Bible is pretty clear on the daily part . . . see Luke 9:23, Numbers 28:3, Luke 11:3, Proverbs 8:34, Psalm 86:3, Acts 5:42, and Acts 17:11. Aside, one day I'll learn how to do a hyperlink to the verses on Bible Gateway but today there is no time!! If you know how to do it - leave me a message or comment!!

Then I received my new Better Homes & Garden magazine on Monday and it had this fantastic quote from some designer named, Alexandra Stoddard, "What I've always been able to do is give myself time, but I've found you can't do that if you're unwilling to set the alarm clock."

So I'm selecting you all as my "accountability partners" - call me in the a.m. and ask if I've been up studying, reading, praying, etc. and if not then give me some good encouragement!!

Random Thoughts . . .

Copying a post from Kandy . . . fun in the pantry!

Mason, June 2006, playing with the chips

Conner, the little muncher, in our much nicer pantry

Well it's pickup time at school so I've got to run . . .

mindy