Saturday, March 27, 2010

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!

Monday, January 4, 2010

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!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

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!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

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! 

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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! 

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

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!


Tuesday, April 28, 2009

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!

  

Monday, April 20, 2009

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!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

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?

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!