TO MY STUDENTS...

If you are reading this, then YES, you have found me, and I am very impressed!

Even though each of you have amazing detective skills and the uncanny knack to solve mysteries in classwork, I do believe that you would never be able to use your super sleuth skills to achieve solving a mystery of this magnitude (even though you are all very smart to be such a tender age).

So...if you are reading this, you have solved the mystery and now have the opportunity to win a little prize. Come to class anytime between Monday, March 29, and Thursday, April 1, to provide me with answers to the following:

• the title of my longest post (and how many words)
• the title of my shortest post (and how many words)
• my secret identity
• your favorite title
• the post that you think is the best example of a personal narrative (Hint: It's a personal blog, so this one has LOTS of correct answers.)

Winners will receive 5 (you read that correctly - FIVE) whole "Brownstone" Bucks to use in class!

In addition, I must tell you that if you choose to comment, all prize money will be forfeited. This is not a joke. NO COMMENTS from students or your families!

TO MY STUDENTS...

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2010/03/to-my-students.html

Mrs. Brownstone's New Year's Resolutions

1. Love even better.
2. Drink more water.
3. Be more organized.
4. Take the stairs.
5. Eat more regularly.
6. Foster my friendships.
7. Have more patience.
8. Cut some expenses.
9. Help a cause.
10. Redeem this blog!

Happy New Year, Y'all!

Mrs. Brownstone's New Year's Resolutions

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2010/01/mrs-brownstones-new-years-resolutions.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

It's hit or miss these days for me ~ still not feeling great but hopefully getting healthy, slow as that may be!

Hope you're all well!  Thanks for the well wishes and the blog visits.

Mr. Linky is still not enabled, but to be honest, I've dropped the ball on that the last few weeks because I just haven't felt like doing much of anything!  Please feel free to leave your link in the comments.

1. I am thankful for my two sweet, sweet babies.
   
2. They are growing up to be kind, wise, giving, loving, and a whole lot of other good things.
   
3. They are finally home for the summer, and this makes me so happy.  I miss them during the school year.
   
4. They have made a schedule for themselves for the summer.  I'll try to post it on here this week.  It's very detailed and very cute.  They even planned field trips!
   
5. They laugh a LOT.  It doesn't take very much to get them started or to keep them going, and their giggles and peals of laughter are highly contagious.
6. They are the best of friends.
7. They are curious ~ I notice this always, but it definitely intensifies during the summer when they are not diverting some of that to their teachers.
8. They love to be outdoors.  The "wildlife" in our yard is keeping them captivated.
9. They think I'm the greatest mom in the whole world, even on the days that I don't act like it.
10. They love God and Jesus, and they aren't afraid to share it!

Have a blessed day!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/06/ten-things-tuesday.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Good morning, Tuesday Friends!

Mrs. Brownstone is currently under the weather with a minor medical emergency.  She is still thankful for many things, include yourself among them!

Please feel free to leave your link for your thankful lists, and please remember to visit each other.

Mrs. Brownstone acknowledges that "Ten Things Tuesday" is not quite back up to speed, but maybe today she will find out one of the things that has been making her feel "not quite right" for awhile now.

Have a blessed day, and remember to give thanks! 

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/05/ten-things-tuesday_26.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Good morning! 

This morning I wanted to share some songs with you that are among my all-time favorites.  Music is definitely one thing for which I'm thankful, and there are ten reasons listed below for your listening pleasure.  The list is in no particular order, and it is by no means all-encompassing, but these are ones that either put a smile on my face, bring tears to my eyes, or cause me to sing out loud no matter who is around to hear it!

If you click the name of the song, it will take you to the lyrics.  If you click "hear it", it will take you to an audio/visual performance.  The A/V links are simply ones I could easily find on the Internet, not necessarily the ones to which I personally listen.  Most of the worship songs have become favorites from singing them at church!

1. Days of Elijah     Hear it.
   
2. The Great Adventure     Hear it.
   
3. Rescue     Hear it.
   
4. Sing     Hear it.
   
5. Blessed Be Your Name     Hear it.
   
6. It Is Well With My Soul     Hear it.
   
7. Elevation     Hear it.
   
8. There's A Stirring     Hear it.
   
9. Lord Reign In Me     Hear it.
   
10. Pride     Hear it.
    

I'm thankful that for the music that touches my life!  What are your favorite songs?

Have a thankful and song-filled day! 

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/05/ten-things-tuesday_19.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Happy Tuesday, Friends!

I'm taking some time to be thankful today ~ hope that you will, too!

We have a cottontail rabbit living in our front yard.

And then there are the mallard ducks ~ a male and a female.

Not to mention the bluebird...

Or the redbird...

Or the yellowbird...

Or the black and white bird.

We also have the bumble bees, the roly-polys, the ladybugs, and the butterflies.

Then, of course, we have the squirrels.

There are also the hundreds of small geckos and dozens of chameleons (usually bright green)...

And three GIANT lizards!

We have our own zoo!  I'm so thankful for the giggles of delight that it brings to my ears each time Tornado and Twister walk outside!

What are you thankful for today?  Don't forget to leave your link in the comments!

Have a blessed day!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/05/ten-things-tuesday_12.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Good morning!!

This is a quick list - I'm sitting here with one of my siblings (her favorite) so we're off to spend the day together.

1. It's a beautiful rainy day.
   
2. Field Day got rescheduled, so now it's TWO fun days - this unexpected free day and of course the new Field Day.
   
3. Thing 3 is funny.  See parentheses above.  :)  Thing 3 added that tidbit.
   
4. No one in our immediate family has the swine flu.  According to the media, we should never leave the house...but we do, and we're still healthy!
   
5. My husband scored U2 tickets for this fall.  This is a BIG deal in the Brownstone household!
   
6. Tornado and Twister share our love for U2.  They first heard them on the way home from the hospital as babies, and now they can tell you the name of every song, as well as the names (and facts) about each member of the group.
   
7. Our missionary friends made it home safely to the US for a visit with their families!
   
8. I've been doing Boot Camp at 5:30 every morning.  It's kicking my bootie, but I love it!  In just two weeks, I've already got better balance and more energy.
   
9. I discovered the most awesomely delicious snack of all time possibly.  Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds.  You should totally try them.
   
10. Guys are funny.  It's like being around kids in a candy store with all of the superhero/space adventure/action movies that are coming out right now - i.e. Wolverine, Star Trek, etc.  Can you say "Guys' Night Out"?  :)
    

Well, that's my list for this week.  So sorry I didn't get to visit anyone last week.  It was a busy one!  As always, until Mr. Linky is back up, you can add your link to the comments!  Visit each other, too!

Have a blessed day!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/05/ten-things-tuesday.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Wow!!  It's been WAY too long since I made my own personal list of things for which to be thankful!!  So here goes...

1. It was easy to get up this morning when the alarm sounded.  It's getting easier each day.
   
2. The weather is nice outside ~ not too hot, not too cold, and the fog is beautiful.  Summer will be here soon enough.
   
3. It's been a peaceful morning.
   
4. It's been a productive morning.
   
5. I've made new friends this week.
   
6. It was good to get to spend some unexpected quality time with Mr. Brownstone yesterday.  
   
7. Tornado said farewell to an activity yesterday, opening the door to so many new possibilities.
   
8. Twister has been well for at least month, and that is a huge blessing.
   
9. Today will be a day where my efforts at home will be obvious.  It's nice when those come around every once in awhile.
10. God loves me.

Be thankful, friends!!!  Make it a great day!

Post your link in the comments!

  

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-things-tuesday_28.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

HELLO, TUESDAY FRIENDS!

Well, Ten Things Tuesday has been in a mess lately.  There have been many things that have kept me offline for the last several months.  In addition, I've had some trouble with the new computer and Mr. Linky.  I am trying to get that all sorted out, but in the meantime...please feel free to leave a link in the comments section, and I will get those added when the other problem is resolved.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Remember to be thankful everyday!  

And please link.  I could really use the encouragement I get from reading your lists.

Have a blessed day!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-things-tuesday.html

ON THE SUBJECT OF CONFESSION

So XBOX Wife has had a hard time getting back up and running.  It might not be so hard if our Internet would work consistently.  Last year we had LOTS of trouble with our Internet and telephone services...so much that we even switched to a different company thinking that would solve the problem.  

It didn't.

It's like our home was built on some crazy vortex that sucks the life out of all Internet and telephone attempts!  The repairman will come out, take a look around, run a few tests...then he will turn to me and say, "Mrs. Brownstone, I cannot seem to find the source of the problem.  That will be $139.95."  ARRGH!!!

So, my confessions:

• I am dissatisfied with our current Internet and telephone services even though the vortex is probably not their fault.  Unless!!!  Unless...it's a conspiracy!  That's got to be it, right? They are conspiring to charge the Brownstones $140 a couple of times a year because that would help the company in this dire time of financial crisis.  A good theory, except I don't anyone else that lives on a crazy Internet/telephone service draining vortex.  I guess a mere $300 a year is not good bailout for any company.
  
• Speaking of financial crisis, every time this happens, I fear that we haven't paid the bill, even though deep down I know that it has been paid.  We are of the mindset that if we can't pay for something that is not a necessity (necessities being food, water, reasonable clothing, shelter, and electricity), then we don't have it.  As much as we'd like to think of Internet as a necessity, it's not.  I remember way back in the last century when nobody had Internet in their homes...and we had to walk five miles to school...in the snow...with no Ipod to keep us entertained.  
  
• And my final confession?  I drove up and down our street until an open connection presented itself. Normally, I would drive to a wi-fi coffee shop or something.  Normally.  But it's hard to go anywhere when the telephone/Internet service company that you're using gives you a time frame of 8 am to 7 pm!!! SERIOUSLY????  So here I sit in my car, parked on the street in front of someone else's home but within view of my own home so as not to miss the repairman during the ELEVEN HOUR window we've been given.  I picked a house to park in front of that belongs to someone we know, at least in a friendly down the street neighbor sort of way. The wife knows what trouble we've been having, so it's cool.  To be honest, I'm not even sure if I should be embarrassed about even having to do this...even though I am completely, thoroughly, utterly mortified.  Cars filled with other people, people not in the know, keep driving by and giving me funny looks.  But...a girl has to check her email, right?

ON THE SUBJECT OF CONFESSION

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-subject-of-confession.html

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!

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

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/03/creakcreakcreak.html

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?  

ICE PICK, ANYONE?

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/03/ice-pick-anyone.html

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?

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/01/ten-things-tuesday_20.html

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."

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2009/01/dream-is-wish-your-heart-makes.html