Sunday, March 15, 2009

CREAK...CREAK...CREAK...

That's me having to remember.


The weirdest thing happened...

All of the passwords and usernames on our computer had to be re-entered, even the ones that are set to remain on all the time.

Does this ever happen to any of you?  And if so, how do you stop it?

I have a hard enough time remembering my username.  It's really difficult when the password has to be recalled as well!  Those should probably be kept somewhere safe.  You hear about keeping important things under lock and key...it just seems the safe in my head may be getting a bit rusty!

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

Friday, March 13, 2009

ICE PICK, ANYONE?

It's been awhile.  It feels like there might the need for an icebreaker.


Hi, I'm Mrs. Brownstone.  If I could be on any reality show...
It would have to be "America's Best Dance Crew".  
Particularly in the "Beat Freaks" crew.  

Of course, I'd have to learn how to dance first.

How about you?  

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Today I will choose to be happy.

  1. I am happy that I have a wonderful, loving, supportive husband.
  2. I am happy that I have two fantastic kids that love their mama and remind me often, especially when they think I need to hear it.
  3. I am happy that they are home with me today.
  4. I am happy that my friend made it home safe from her trip. (and I can't wait to hear about it!)
  5. I am happy that she had a fun time with her husband.
  6. I am happy that it's not freezing outside.
  7. I am happy that we got a lot done at home over the weekend.
  8. I am happy that my grandmother is doing well.
  9. I am happy that she lives with my parents now.
  10. I am happy that I got to quality time with one of my siblings this weekend.
What is making you happy?  What are you thankful for today?



Thursday, January 15, 2009

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

Recently overheard in the House of Brownstone...

A Brownstone:  "I haven't had a nightmare in over a year, and if I do have a bad dream, it's not about monsters or movie-scary stuff, it's about random things like giant bugs, or something.  I even had a dream that BARBIES were attacking me."

A Different Brownstone:  "That could be a nightmare OR a dream...depends on how you look at it."

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Well, the Happy 2009 Ten Things Tuesday list that I'd hoped to put up today is not going to happen, but below you will find Mr. Linky to add your link.  If you're new, you can find the guidelines and the inspiration in the sidebar on the right.


Please pray for us today.  Twister is sick...again, and we're on our way out the door to the doctor.

I'll try to post my ten things if the opportunity presents itself later in the day.  Feel free to come check!

Have a blessed day, a blessed week, and a blessed 2009!

 

Monday, January 12, 2009

SIXTEEN LEFT, THIRTY-FOUR RIGHT...

What was that combination again?

So, I just tried to log into Blogger.

It has been so long since logging in, I had forgotten my password.  Nice, huh?  After trying several times, I finally found the correct combination to achieve success in this venture.

It's a bit embarrassing actually.  Forgetting my password... Seriously?  Has it really been that long, or am I just getting forgetful?  I hope it's the first one.  Not that I don't love to come here and partake in this little luxury of life called blogging...I just am not ready for my mind to start going just yet.

It has been a long while.  I know it has been.  
And I'm sorry.
One of the best things about blogging is developing your own sort of community and readership, which in turn can be forged into a form of friendship, albeit one where we are never likely to meet face to face.
It's still a friendship.
And I wasn't a good friend.
I took a necessary hiatus and neglected to tell you.
And I'm sorry.

Hopefully you will forgive me.
Hopefully we can be friends again.

I'm not sure how quickly my return from hiatus will be a full return.  
It's just one of those seasons.
I hope you'll come visit, though, as often as you can.  

I'll be out exploring the neighborhood, too.

Happy New Year to you all!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

DIA-LOGGING IN, DIA-LOGGING OUT...A DIALOGUE BETWEEN FRIENDS

Hello!  I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit.  Please come in, and make yourself at home!


Yes, my hair HAS gotten longer.  Thank you for noticing!
Intentional?  Not really, it just grows so fast, and there hasn't been time for haircut!  
Ha! Ha!  No, I'm not going for a multi-colored look ~ those are just my roots showing.

Oops!  Sorry!  Let me just move those for you, and then you can have a seat.
Yes...I know.  I'm taking those to the donation station soon.  It's been hard to get over there before it closes.

Oh, did I forget to tell you?  I've been working some ~ there were some unexpected expenses, and then of course...bum-bum-bum...Christmas shopping.

Yes, Mr. Brownstone's car had to have a new radiator...and new tires...and valve replacement.
Is that all?  Oh, no, far from it. BowWow Brownstone had to have surgery.

Oh, yes.  He's doing quite well for a "geriatric" dog.  They say he has several more years to enjoy life with the Brownstones.
Thank you; we were so happy and relieved.  He's like one of the family!
Ha! Ha!  Yes, the kind that you put in the doghouse at night ~ unless is below 40 degrees or above 95 degrees.

Oh, girlfriend!  Don't even go there!  The telephones STILL don't work well, the Internet is temperamental, and the mobile phone...let's just say I could shed tears over it.  
Yes, the new computer is great...when I get to use it.

PTA?  The duties of my office are almost finished.  They should have been finished long ago according to the people that said it would be an "easy job".  
I KNOW!  They lie like cheap rugs!  But no...don't feel sorry for me.  It's nobody else's fault that I have a hard time saying "no"!  If I were them, I'd ask me, too.  I'm usually a sure bet.

Church?  Church is great.  We love where we worship!  It's crazy, though!  Teaching on Sunday and Wednesday is definitely keeping us hopping!  
Mr. Brownstone?  Oh, yes.  He helps ~ actually, you could say he does it,and I help.  

Right now?  He's outside grilling some burgers for us.
Mmm~hmmm.  He makes great burgers, and just wait until you try his homemade steak fries.

Scout meetings for two kids?  I'm not sure exactly.  Thankfully, they aren't on the same day, but even still it's hard to keep the days straight.  Luckily my scouting job is the same for both age groups.
You're too kind.  No, really, I'm not that organized.  In fact, Twister is missing an activity this week because I double-booked.
No, you're right.  It couldn't be avoided...but that doesn't take away the sting.

Definitely.  The other activities keep us even busier!
Sports here, creative arts there... 

Volunteer work?  Ha! Ha!  Isn't most of it volunteer?
Ha! Ha! Ha!  It's going well.  It's only every other week for right now because that is what works for their schedule.
I guess so ~ it probably is best for my schedule right now, too; BUT...I'd go every week if it worked out better for them.  It's definitely a blessing to be able to help!
    
Blogging?  Right now, it would be a guilty pleasure.  I don't know if it's good or bad (in this situation) that I'm not good at being guilty.
I know, I know.  Visitors have stopped visiting, followers have stopped following...  That's why it means so much to me that you dropped in for a visit.

Yes, it really does mean...  Oh, please excuse me for a moment.
Mr. Brownstone has the burgers and fries ready for us!
Mmmm...I know.  Don't they smell delicious?  I can't wait ~ some days there seems to be barely time to eat!

...Amen!



How to summarize the past few months?  I can't do it...just please pass the catch-up.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

TO LINK, OR NOT TO LINK...

It seems like Mr. Linky has not been working lately!  I did post a link this morning, but I've noticed that all of the links that remained open have disappeared.  Please feel free to leave your link in the comments section, and I will be happy to add it whenever Mr. Linky is once again in working order!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

XBOX Wife Ten Things Tuesday

Good morning, Y'all!  Isn't this a blessed day?  It is a day that the Lord has made!  Rejoice, and be glad in it!


  1. I rejoice that we just got to spend a wonderful weekend of thanksgiving with my family!  It was so good to see all of them without the normal pressures of a week.  We spent the weekend taking turns holding the newest sweet baby!  It was almost enough to make me think about having another one.
  2. I rejoice that I've just celebrated another year on this earth!  I had a birthday over the weekend, and it was a good one!  It was also one that reminded me that having another baby is just a nice thought.  Though we would LOVE another baby and consider all children as a blessing from the Lord, I love where we are as a family!
  3. I rejoice that I've got such wonderful friends!  It's always a joy when I can look forward to spending time with them!
  4. I rejoice that I've been able to reconnect with some old friends!  It's so easy to get caught up in our daily lives that you can forget how much you miss talking to old friends until you're given the opportunity to catch up with them!
  5. I rejoice in our church home!  We have been so blessed to find a place that focuses on making church truly like a family.  I get such a warm feeling of comfort from those with whom we worship!
  6. I rejoice in having found a creative outlet!  It seems like I haven't really had a lot of time to blog lately, and computer issues put a big giant forced hiatus in effect for awhile, BUT...blogging is a nice creative release for me.  I wish it had been around longer!
  7. I rejoice that my kids are so great!  We just got back some testing scores for them, and I have to brag a little bit ~ they are so smart!  They are great kids in all of the other ways that matter even more, though.  They have a great capacity for loving others and for loving the Lord!
  8. I rejoice that Mr. Brownstone is such a wonderful man and an even more wonderful husband!  He makes me laugh every single day, he is a great provider, and most importantly, he is a man of God.  He is also the best daddy for whom our kids could ever hope!
  9. I rejoice that this is a season of rejoicing!  I LOVE this time of year.  I won't lie ~ I adore all of the commercial aspects of Christmas.  I love decorating, seeing Santa in the malls, and buying gifts!  I love the parties and the organized ~ and sometimes not so organized ~ chaos of all.  BUT...I really love having a special time of year to focus on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I don't care if He wasn't born on December 25.  Since there is no way of knowing the exact date, I think it's great that one has been picked to honor His birth.  I love that during this time of year there is a focus on giving, a focus on helping those less fortunate, and a focus on rejoicing!  Even in a time of financial upheaval, it is so heart-warming to see people digging deep and helping others however they are able!
  10. I rejoice that God sent His Son to earth!  What an amazing sacrifice we are so blessed to have so undeservedly received.  REJOICE!

As always, thank you for joining in the thanksgiving with me each week!  If you're a first time visitor, please add (first time) by your name, so everyone can give you a big warm welcome!

Have a blessed week!


Thursday, November 27, 2008

TEN THINGS TUESDAY...ON THURSDAY! THE THANKSGIVING EDITION

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

I love the image above because the little girl does have it right!  We shouldn't leave being thankful for only one day a year.  That being said...I love the Thanksgiving holiday!  Today my "Ten Things" list is all about Thanksgiving.
  1. I am thankful for the traditions of Thanksgiving!  There is something special about knowing that so many people across America are doing the same thing all day long.  Our preacher phrased it perfectly this week as "family, friends, food, fun, and football"!
  2. We are sitting here all together in our pajamas watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!  It's been so much fun to pass this tradition to my own children.  We watched it every single year when I was growing up, and then one year we got to see it in Times Square.  I am excited for the day that we will be able to give our kids that experience!
  3. We just enjoyed homemade donuts courtesy of Mr. Brownstone.  It is a tradition that he decided to start for our family when the kids were born.  I love that he plans it our each year, and that it is his "baby".
  4. Tornado and Twister are playing a board game.  Mr. Brownstone and I will join in at some point, but they fit in as many as possible!
  5. In a few minutes, we will be heading to my parents house.  We alternate years between Mr. Brownstone's family and my family, and then do the opposite at Christmas.  Because of this system, we never feel rushed to make it to the next dinner or celebration ~ we simply enjoy spending time with the family we are with that day!
  6. We are getting ready to have a feast!  The times that we are with my family, it is guaranteed to be a wonderful, traditional meal.  We will have turkey, my mom's dressing, giblet gravy, green bean bundles with bacon, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar topping and nuts, corn casserole, homemade cranberry sauce, and more!
  7. The Cowboys play today!!!  EVERY year our team plays on Thanksgiving!  It is so much fun to sit around together and cheer on our boys!
  8. On Thanksgiving night, we will enjoy leftovers and no one will complain!  They are so good, how could we?
  9. In addition to the leftovers, we will watch some cheesy movie and laugh ourselves silly!  It is a fun time for all of us!
  10. Tomorrow morning we will get up extremely early and go into the hustle and bustle ~ even though we are almost done Christmas shopping ~ simply so we can be in the hustle and bustle!  
  11. While we have been decorating a little here and there, we will REALLY finish decorating for Christmas this weekend!
Thanks for dropping by today!  As always, feel free to make your own "Ten Things" list and link away with Mr. Linky!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

THREE GUESSES...

I will give you three guesses why the "Ten Things Tuesday" list did not go up on Tuesday morning. 


Feel free to guess in the comments, and be creative!  If you do leave a comment, please join in a brand new Mr. Linky ~ "Your Greatest Hits" ~ by leaving a link for your favorite blog post (from your own blog) posted during the month of November.  (It's not required, but I'd love to stop by for a visit!)  If you do not leave a comment, please know that I am thankful for your visit anyway!  However, since I was unable to post a "Ten Things Tuesday" this week in a timely manner, I am reserving this particular Mr. Linky for those that leave a comment as a way of saying that I am thankful for your comments!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

XBOX Wife Ten Things Tuesday

Late, late, late good evening, Friends!  It's way past bedtime in my neck of the woods; and obviously, it's not Tuesday anymore!  Y'all must think I'm such a big flake ~ late posting, no posting, no visits or comments to your blogs, etc. etc. etc.


In the interest of getting to bed before it's time to wake, there is no thankful list for me today, though the list could be long.  However, I am adding Mr. Linky for those of you that were able to make a list ~ or are planning on making a list ~ and would like to share it with all of us!  

I'll be blogging my own list on Thursday for a special Thanksgiving Edition of "Ten Things Tuesday".  Likewise, if you'd like to add your link to that list, too, I'd love to have you join in the Thanksgiving thankfulness!  Please keep mind that it is the "Thanksgiving Edition", so it should reflect the Thanksgiving holiday in some form or fashion!    

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

XBOX Wife Ten Things Tuesday

Good morning, Y'all! What a beautiful, blessed day!

Thanks to everyone for dropping by ~ if you're here for the first time, WELCOME!!! I hope you'll join in and express what is blessing you today! If you do join in, be sure and put (first time) by your name so others will know to give you an extra big hello!

And if you are a repeat visitor? THANK YOU for coming back time and time again! All of your thankful lists have been such a blessing to me!

Be sure and take a quick look at the link list when you get little opportunities throughout the day, so you can visit others and find out what is blessing them! Don't forget to welcome our newcomers!

  1. I'm thankful for the "happy chaos" that can accompany mornings in getting two kids ready for school!  I wouldn't change any of it! 
  2. Likewise, I am thankful for the quiet moment that follows.  It is usually the only time the day is quiet!  :)
  3. It's busy this time of year, but it's starting off well and staying organized...for the most part!
  4. Mr. Brownstone doesn't know it yet, but we are putting up our Christmas tree this weekend!  It's still pretty warm outside, so it doesn't seem like we should be doing it yet, but I don't want to be focusing on decorating during Thanksgiving.  
  5. Thanksgiving is almost here!  Yea!  My mom makes the best stuffing ever!
  6. I am thankful for the coming noise of thanksgiving!  When you get a set of parents, four siblings, their spouses, and all of the grandkids in one house, it can get a little bit loud!
  7. Our time together is filled with lots of laughter!
  8. I am thankful for goofy, cheesy movies that require little thought to watch.  My siblings and our spouses usually watch one at this time of year.  It's a tradition!
  9. I am thankful, too, for good books.  There is always time to sneak in some reading.
  10. Finally, I am thankful that the Cowboys won on Sunday!  It at least puts them ~ maybe ~ back into the game.
What are you thankful for today?

Have a blessed week!


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

XBOX Wife Ten Things Tuesday

Oops!
It's Tuesday!

Welcome to everyone! If you're a newcomer, be sure and let us know beside your link by typing (first time). You can grab the button graphic code, read the guidelines, and find out the inspiration for "Ten Things Tuesday" in the sidebar on the right. If you're a regular visitor, thanks to you, too! Y'all are the ones spreading the word about "Ten Things Tuesday", and it just wouldn't be the same without you!

A very quick list for me to be able to get Mr. Linky up for you!!!

  1. the smell of clean laundry
  2. the way clean sheets feel
  3. nice lunches with friends
  4. the funny things that kids say
  5. children's spelling errors
  6. good anticipations
  7. autumn rainstorms
  8. sunshine days
  9. watching leaves flutter to the ground
  10. lists!
Come join in the thanksgiving!!!



Ten Things Tuesday Participants
1. Jan Fleming
2. Andrea - Life As I Know It
3. Loving Mom 2 Boys
4. Melissa
5. Kayla
6. The Gwennap 4- first time post
7. Jill
8. Emily
9. Katey@crazyhomeschoolmama
10. Kipi
11. mzzterry (corrected link)
12. Chandra
13. Courtney Kay!
14. Relimom
15. Linda
16. Sabrina
17. Andi
18. Sarah\'s Everyday Elegance

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