BRAINSTORMING "B"

Previous Entry: Pass The Popcorn, Please!

Recently I came across a fun little meme. By commenting, I received a letter of the alphabet for which to list ten things I love in my life that begin with that letter.

Thanks to Amy at Adventures in Being for challenging me with "B"!

1. Brownstones...Mr. Brownstone, Tornado, and Twister ~ these are the people I love best!
2. Big Cheese and JayBird...My parents are amazing!
   
3. Brat Pack...It's great to have siblings that are also your friends!
   
4. Best Friends...I have been blessed beyond measure!
5. Brethren...Our church home is awesome!
6. Barbecue...If this wasn't on the list, then I wouldn't be a true Southerner!
7. Bargains...I am NOT a full-price shopper ~ not even for groceries!
8. Books...Reading is one of the greatest adventures!
   
9. Blog Comments...I'd be lying if I said I didn't love 'em!
   
10. Bible...Last typed on the list but not last in my life by any means ~ this is the most important part of my day!
    

Let me know in the comments if you would like to play.
Hey! Comment even if you don't want to play!
Because we ALL love comments, and if you comment, I'll come and comment for you!
And if you ask me to give you a letter, a LOT of people will probably come comment because they
will want comments, too!
Like I said...we ALL love comments!

BRAINSTORMING "B"

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/brainstorming-b.html

PASS THE POPCORN, PLEASE!

Previous Entry: Ten Things Tuesday 9/23/08

One of my favorite ways to relax on the weekend is to catch a great movie! I love to escape into someone else's story for an hour or two. Whether it be action, drama, comedy, or suspense...a true STORY or based on a TRUE story...or something we can see with the kids, movies are an easy way to just "chill".

There is one small catch to movies, though...you have to pay to get in the theater, and a lot of times it's not cheap! The majority of our movie-watching seems to be done at home these days. For most movies, we are more than happy to wait a year if we can see it for free on cable television. And if a year seems too far away? We are usually able to rent it within six months or so. That sets us back less than $5, and usually it's only a $1. There is also the "dollar movie" option, which could become available just about anytime after a movie is released depending on how successful ~ or rather unsuccessful ~ tickets sales have been. It's been a long time, though, since the "dollar movie" was actually just a dollar!

Occasionally, though, there are the movies that you a) just don't want to wait to see, or b) feel that seeing it on a big screen will enhance the enjoyment of the movie. Like "Batman", or "Spider-Man", or "Lord of the Rings". They beg for a ginormous screen and a great sound system! Movie tickets around here can get as expensive as $12, but the average ticket price seems to be around $9. We also have several theaters that include a dine-while-you-watch option, which is pretty cool if you don't have time to catch dinner and a movie but want to do both. The thought of paying $9 for a movie, though...well that just makes my stomach turn a little bit.

We, however, are fortunate enough to have a better option! There is a movie theater near us that sells tickets for $6. That's first-run movie tickets, y'all! Six. Dollars. But if we can time it just right...it's only FOUR dollars! It's not too hard to catch the last matinee of the day and then enjoy dinner afterward. Two first-run movie tickets and a shared entree at a non-fast-food joint? That makes for one great date night under $20!

Because we should all relax a little on the weekend, here is an easy question for you: How much do first-run movie tickets cost in your town?

Kailani at An Island Life celebrates Aloha Friday every week (IN HAWAII ~ lucky girl!!!) and has decided to take it easy on her blog posting, too. To quote her, "No long posts, no deep soul searching revelations...just a little fun."

Each Friday, she hosts "Aloha Friday", a carnival in which she asks one simple question for you to answer, and it never requires a lengthy response.

It's so easy and laid back, like, well...just like island life! If you’d like to participate, just answer my question in the comments section, then post your own question on your blog and leave your link at Kailani's blog! And...even if you don't want to join in the carnival with your own question, you can still answer my question in the comments section here!

This week Kailani's question is: What is the oldest item of clothing that you own?

The oldest item of my own personal clothing that I own is the little red dress I wore home from the hospital when I was born! ~~~ The oldest item of clothing I own that belonged to someone else is an old velveteen striped coat that used to be my mom's. I'm not sure how old it is exactly, but I'm pretty sure it's older than me! ~~~ The oldest item of my own personal clothing that I own that actually still fits is my high school letter jacket!

Aloha, Y'all!!!

PASS THE POPCORN, PLEASE!

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/pass-popcorn-please.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Previous Entry: Gimme A Break! Gimme A Break!


Good morning, Y'all!

Thanks for dropping by ~ if you're here for the first time, 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!

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. I am often reminded to be thankful for something that has been overlooked!

1. Yesterday was the first day of fall! And fall, don't ya know, is my most favorite season of all!
2. The weather has been perfect! It's sunny but not too hot in the afternoons, and the mornings have been chilly without being too chilly. Just perfect, I tell you...perfect!
3. The squirrels are going nuts for nuts right now! It's been fun watching them. Earlier in the year, they would have driven me nuts, but they don't live in our attic anymore, so all is well!
4. The trees are starting to change ever so slightly. We don't get the never-ending canopy of bold, beautiful colors like New England, but the changes that we do get are still beautiful!
5. The smells are changing, too. I love the smells of autumn!
6. There are so many fun things that are going on right now ~ football games, marching bands, school craft fairs and carnivals... It's just a really fun time of year! Nobody is too hot. Nobody is too cold. And the wind isn't blowing everyone down the street!
7. I have been getting to wear some long-sleeves in the morning the for past week or two. I do not love wearing summer clothes, but I simply adore the "winter wardrobe"!
8. This time of year brings a renewal of friendships. Don't get me wrong, I loved all of my girlfriends just as much in the summer as now, BUT...we get to see each other more now that all of the kids are back in school. It's fun to catch a quick breakfast here, or a leisurely lunch there.
   
9. This is the only season that has two names ~ I can't think of alternate names for the other seasons anyway! I like that you can be relaxed and call it "fall". It sounds so comfortable and casual. OR...you can be all fancy and call it "Autumn"!
10. It is time to break out the soups and stews! Meals in a bowl just do not sound that good when it is 100 degrees outside, but we are a soup and stew lovin' family! Mmmmm!

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!
What are you fallin' for this autumn?



Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. Shara @ Momintransition 2. ~Stacey~ 3. HisFireFly 4. Kesi Keys (first time) 5. Melissa

6. mzzterry 7. Kipi 8. Carolyn 9. Chandra 10. diana/sunshine

11. Danna 12. Kellie 13. Sharon 14. MeChele 15. Julie

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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GIMME A BREAK! GIMME A BREAK!

Previous Entry: Hellooooo, Friday!

Break me off a piece of that quiet life!

I am very much a person that tends to get overwhelmed quickly with tasks. To be honest, it's not the tasks themselves...it's the fact that I have a very hard time saying "no" to all of the other stuff. It's not hard to fold a shirt, sort the socks, or shine the mirror, but tasks at home are so much harder to accomplish when you try to fit them in around all of your "yeses". Yet, the tasks have to be completed to make the house a home, and a "yes"...well, that means "yes".

In between being a wife, a mother, and all of the other things to which we commit, it's really hard sometimes to find a quiet moment for ourselves! In my profile, I use the following description:

"...a housekeeper, a cook, a chauffeur, a washer woman, a tailor, a nanny, a teacher, a tutor, a secretary, a gopher, a banker, a nurse, a wife, a lover, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a friend, a provider, a volunteer, a church helper, a prayer warrior, a cheerleader, a psychologist, an organizer, and a social activities director..."

Do you identify with any of these? I'm betting whether you're single, married, have no children, or have lots of children, that at least a few of these are roles in your life, too!

Earlier this year, I found a blog called Home Sanctuary. Rachel Anne continually reminds us that "Sanctuary is in the Small Things". What a concept! Each week day she challenges us to complete a single task in her daily post. Sometimes they require a little extra time ~ like "spot-clean your carpet". Sometimes they are super easy ~ like "make your bed". Sometimes they are serious ~ like "accept your blame". Sometimes they are silly ~ like "do something silly". Sometimes they remind us to take care of others ~ like "appreciate your Dude". And sometimes they remind us to take care of ourselves ~ like "pamper your feet", or like today's small thing!

Today's small thing was to "deliberately De-Stress by using one of your favorite techniques." We were encouraged to take a nap, blog, watch a movie ~ anything that would help us to simply "be".

I NEEDED it this week. For several weeks, I've been struggling with illness, and this week was the worst of them. However, when you're a wife and mother, you don't really get to call in sick! And it was one of those weeks where lots of things were scheduled to happen at all at once ~ a field trip with Twister, a training session for me, PTA duties, teaching Tornado's church class, and on and on and on ~ almost every minute of the week was accounted for something. Some of the activities were really fun, and all of them were worthwhile, but none of them were relaxing!

I was so excited to see the small thing for today! For the last several years, my mom, sister, and I have gone to a "Kaleidoscope of Homes". It's been scheduled all week; and though I love going every year, I had really been thinking about backing out today. After being sick for a lot of the week, not getting enough sleep and being tired, and needing to catch up on a million and one things at home, I was feeling a little bit guilty about taking a whole day simply to tour homes...and then I read today's small thing. I decided right then and there to get myself ready for the day and to go enjoy some quality time with two of the most important women in my life. We had so much fun seeing the creativity of others and just getting to be together! Then, after school was out, I took Tornado and Twister out for ice cream. It was all a really wonderful way to De-stress!

Rachel Anne has added a new component to her weekly challenges. Each Friday she hosts "Company Girl Coffee". It's a time to reflect on the "small things" of the week and how they brought a little order to the chaos, and then write about one or more of them. You can then relax a little more by having a cup of virtual coffee, and maybe even a warm slice of virtual pumpkin bread, as you read about how others are creating sanctuary in their homes!

Pull up a chair, and let me pour you a cup!

GIMME A BREAK! GIMME A BREAK!

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/gimme-break-gimme-break.html

HELLOOOOO, FRIDAY!

Previous Entry: The Polls Are Open!

Recently, I stumbled upon a new blog and learned something interesting: Fridays in Hawaii are known as "Aloha Friday". Isn't that fun!?!! Though I don't remember hearing the term while we were there, I do remember that Hawaii was a wonderfully relaxed environment. All of the locals seemed so happy and friendly!

I decided to do a little research on "Aloha Friday" for fun. TO-HAWAII.COM says that "Aloha" is the most-used Hawaiian word and that it's meaning "goes beyond any definition you can find about it in the dictionaries". It can mean hello, goodbye, love...but "the literal meaning of aloha is 'the presence of breath' or 'the breath of life'...Aloha is a way of living and treating each other with love and respect."

In the Aloha Spirit State Law, it states:

• "Aloha" is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation.
• "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return.
• "Aloha" is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.
• "Aloha" means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.

The concept of "Aloha" is so beautiful...now onto "Aloha Friday"!

We've all heard of "Dress Down Friday" or "Casual Friday", but did you know that they have close ties to "Aloha Friday", which in turn is closely tied to Hawaii's clothing industry? I didn't either! Prior to the 1940's, most of the brightly colored, locally-produced clothing (widely known as "Hawaiian shirts") was sold to tourists. Like most places, employees at larger companies were required to wear a more formal style of dress. In 1947, it was determined that it might boost the economy if residents wore more of the Hawaiian apparel, so "Aloha Week" was established. In 1966, after a campaign by the Hawaiian Fashion Guild, employers began to let men wear "aloha shirts" on the last day of the week, and "Aloha Friday" was born. Spreading slowly east around the globe, it eventually reached California in the 1990's, where it became known as "Casual Friday". You can read more about this entire topic on Wikipedia.

Kailani at An Island Life celebrates Aloha Friday every week (IN HAWAII ~ lucky girl!!!) and has decided to take it easy on her blog posting, too. To quote her, "No long posts, no deep soul searching revelations...just a little fun."

Each Friday, she hosts "Aloha Friday", a carnival in which she asks one simple question for you to answer, and it never requires a lengthy response.

It's so easy and laid back, like, well...just like island life! If you’d like to participate, just answer the question in the comments section, then post your own question on your blog and leave your link at Kailani's blog! And...even if you don't want to join in the carnival with your own question, you can still answer my question in the comments section here!

Today's simple question from the Brownstone Kauhale is:

What are your favorite snacks ~ one for "sweet" and one for "salty"?

My answer for both is a simple one: Pop Secret Kettle Corn!

And now I leave you with a video and song to start the weekend off right...



Aloha Friday, Y'all!

(If I have misused "Kauhale", someone please let me know! I had to Google it!)

HELLOOOOO, FRIDAY!

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/hellooooo-friday.html

THE POLLS ARE OPEN!

Previous Entry: Ten Things Tuesday 9/16/08

In honor of the
2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,
I have decided to conduct a weekly poll (or two) on this blog.

While I cannot say that there will never be a political poll here (especially since all polling is anonymous), I CAN say that most of them will NOT be political in nature. If your house is anything like the Brownstone house, then you are getting enough political polling without this blog adding to it! To prove my point, I will conduct a poll for every political call we personally receive.

You can find the poll box (or boxES) located in the sidebar under the "Ten Things Tuesday" button code box. All polls will be up for seven days. I'm excited to find out more about all of the XBOX Wife readers, and hopefully you can give me some ideas of how to make this blog better. I promise to throw in some fun, too!

Y'all be sure to warm up your voting fingers!!!

THE POLLS ARE OPEN!

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/polls-are-open.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Previous Entry: It's A Very Special Day!


Good morning, y'all!! A quick list for me today, as I'm headed right out the front door after the last keystroke!

1. A new door is opening for me today!
2. Two new doors opened last week.
3. It is chilly outside today!
4. We had an awesome dinner for $10 last night.
5. Tornado and Twister had a good morning.
6. Tornado and Twister also had a good night.
   
7. I have sweet friends who are loaning me a useful item so I can give said item a test run.
8. The Cowboys won last night!
9. I've been under the weather this weekend, but today I feel a little better.
10. This week is busy, but I'll be following an organized plan!
    

Have a blessed day, y'all! Go, and be thankful!!!



Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. MeChele Fuller 2. Shara @ Mom In Transition 3. Stacey 4. Aloted 5. HisFireFly 6. Rosheeda

7. Jill 8. Kellie 9. Joy 10. Alicia (First one!) 11. andria 12. Danna

13. Katie 14. Kipi 15. mzzterry 16. Jamie 17. Julie Swaim 18. Sabrina

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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IT'S A VERY SPECIAL DAY!

Previous Entry: Private Brownstone

Happy Blogiversary...

To Me!

Pull up a chair, have a slice of cake, and help me celebrate!

One year ago today,
at exactly 2:15 pm,
I actually published a post for the first time!

It's been a crazy year ~
ups and downs,
posting frenzies and blogging hiatuses,
new friends and old friends.

Thanks to everyone that has dropped in
and a special thanks to those of you that have come twice!
Keep coming ~ help make the two-year celebration even better!

Next year, I promise to bring ice cream! :)

IT'S A VERY SPECIAL DAY!

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-very-special-day.html

PRIVATE BROWNSTONE

Previous Entry: Ten Things Tuesday 9/9/08

I came across this article earlier today.

Mr. Brownstone used to work at KFC a long time ago back when it was still called "Kentucky Fried Chicken". The secret formula was (and I guess still is) so secret that there is no recipe provided for the fry people at the restaurant! They follow a "formula" to make the batter for the chicken, such as "Mix one bag of A with two bags of B, and fold in a bag of C".

And to take it one step further...the various bags arrived from different distributors! While one food distributor was responsible for "A", completely different food distributing companies were responsible for "B" and "C".

When Colonel Sanders decided to keep his recipe "secret", he wasn't fooling!

Much to my chagrin, Mr. Brownstone never made it past the rank of private for the KFC organization, though he did snag a really great recipe for cinnamon rolls from a bakery once! Between those, his homemade fried donuts, and his egg-scrambling abilities, he's the five-star breakfast general in the Brownstone kitchen!

PRIVATE BROWNSTONE

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/09/private-brownstone.html

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Previous Entry: Ten Things Tuesday 9/2/08



Good morning! It's time to count our blessings out loud ~ or at least with keypad noises ~ for the week! If this is your first time to stop my blog, then welcome, and I hope that you will join in "Ten Things Tuesday" with us, and visit anytime!

1. It took a week, but the rain finally arrived!!! We needed it ~ desperately!
2. It brought a little bit cooler weather ~ not much, but every degree counts!
3. I've had a MSN Hotmail account for a LONG time ~ YEARS, in fact ~ but I only discovered last night that you could set up a calendar, and it will email you reminders!!! Not quite sure how I missed it for so long...but SO glad to have found it!
4. Tornado and Twister are making mornings a breeze this year! Last year, we struggled a little bit with morning grumpies and not staying on task. This year has been awesome, and it's not even the first week of school anymore!
5. I am thankful for restaurants that offer great deals. Sometimes we really can dine in a restaurant for cheaper than I can cook at home!
6. This is a big one ~ I haven't been craving Diet Cokes in the morning this week. It's only been a few days, but that is a huge one for me. I cannot, however, say the same thing for the afternoon! :)
7. We are continually having new friends placed in our path at church, work, and school. What a blessing!
8. An amazing opportunity for cultural experience dropped right into my lap this week to benefit an organization for which I volunteer. When it occurs, I'll be sure to include more detail ~ for now, it's a surprise ~ an incredible surprise!
9. I am thankful for quiet moments during the day...
10. I am even more thankful for the loud ones when the rest of the family gets home from school and work!

Have a blessed day!



Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. Jill 2. HisFireFly 3. Emily 4. Stacey 5. Sabrina

6. Shara @ Mom In Transition 7. Tracy 8. Katie 9. Aloted 10. Danna

11. andria 12. mzzterry 13. JSkelty 14. Joy

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Previous Entry: Ten Things Tuesday 8/26/08



Good morning!

1. It's a gorgeous day here in the South!
2. It smells like we might be getting some rain!!
3. There are leaves tumbling down the street ~ the first signs of my favorite season!!!
4. We tried a new curriculum on Sunday in the class we teach ~ the kids seemed to like it, and so did we.
5. We enjoyed a nice lunch after church on Sunday with friends we haven't spent time with in awhile.
6. We bumped into not one...but THREE friends we haven't seen in a LONG while on Sunday.
7. We spent some quality time with Mr. Brownstone's family this weekend.
8. We spent some quality time with MY family this weekend.
9. We have parents that love us and our kids. They are also very generous. Mr. Brownstone's parents take us to dine out almost weekly. My parents purchase the majority of back-to-school clothing. We provide the hugs and good conversation...not to mention the grandkids.
10. Tornado and Twister are regaining their focus and organizational skills since school has started.

Please keep the Brownstone family in your prayers. Twister is still struggling with illness and is on ANOTHER round of antibiotics. Everyone else is battling off illness so far but it's throwing it's best one-two punch. Please pray that I will be able to get some rest, too. This four-hour-a-night thing isn't working too well for me!!!

Have a blessed day, y'all!



Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. HisFireFly 2. Jendi 3. Meredith 4. mzzterry

5. Danna 6. Shara 7. Stacy 8. Emily

9. Sharon @ Reservoir 10. Kellie

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Hi, Y'all! Can you believe that summer is almost over and that school has begun? It was the shortest summer vacation the Brownstones have had in a long while. It was fun, and we were not ready to get back into the swing of things just yet...until the first day of school was actually here, and Tornado and Twister really loved their classes, their teachers, and their friends. I think they actually like having a schedule, too. I know that it's been good for me!

1. I am so thankful that Tornado and Twister got wonderful teachers this year! (Who am I kidding, though...they have had wonderful teachers EVERY year!)
2. They each have some of their very closest friends in class with them. In fact, Tornado has a culmination of all of the favorite friends from each school year ~ how great is that!!
3. Everyone was well on the first day of school!!! That is a really big one! Last week was feeling "iffy" since Twister had strep throat, and Tornado suffered from some severe migraine headaches. It was a weird week! Everyone is doing great now, though! And that's a good thing because we had to hit the ground running for school and other activities.
4. I have a rejuvenated spirit today after spending some awesome quality time with a lot of my friends yesterday! We had a lovely, long lunch together to cry happy tears and sad tears punctuated with yelps of glee that school started!
5. I am completely caught up with my PTA office duties. That will only last for another five hours, but hey ~ those five hours will be bliss!
6. I seem to never be caught up with my home duties the last couple of weeks, but Mr. Brownstone still loves me! :)
7. We had some computer problems earlier today, but they were actually able to get the problem resolved quickly ~ maybe this list isn't too late!
8. We have eliminated a HUGE amount of clutter in the past few weeks! We had so many things that were waiting to be delivered to other places, and finally most of it is gone!
9. I've been staying up late to stay caught up with the aforementioned PTA duties, so I've been really tired. Because of that, this morning I have not one, but TWO tricked up Diet Cokes with easy ice from Sonic!!!
10. The weekend was amazing! I spent quality time with some of my dear friends and with some new friends, too. We attended a Women of Faith conference, and the time was such a blessing!!!

Go and have a great day! Remember to count your blessings!!!

Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. Jennifer 2. mzzterry 3. Chandra 4. Myra

5. Tracy 6. Danna 7. Dallas 8. Kipi

9. Joy 10. Amy

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Good morning, y'all!!! Hope this week finds everyone well! We've got a sick one in the Brownstone home. Please pray for little Twister. Strep throat isn't fun!

1. I am so thankful for our church!
2. We have the privilege of worshiping with some of the finest people and best friends we've ever known.
3. Our elders are accessible to the congregation ~ how blessed we are to have such great men leading us in the charge.
4. All of our ministers are fantastic! They are all down-to-earth regular people so you can be comfortable around them, but at the same time, they are knowledgeable, passionate, insightful, and wise.
5. There are so many people that are willing to pitch in and lend a hand, from the song leaders to the quilting ladies to the nursery workers to the benevolence room volunteers.
   
6. The opportunities to be involved are great! There are so many different ministries and projects that there is something for everyone ~ Giveaway Day, Benevolence Pantry, Quilting, Children, Youth, Missions, Camps, Finance...and the list does not end there!
7. We have just committed to fully support two missionary couples as they work to expand the Kingdom. They are young and energetic. What a blessing to us and to the people with whom they will be working!
8. We were finally ~ after many years of waiting ~ able to complete a beautiful new worship center! It was designed to be filled with music ~ from the scalloped ceiling to the tile floors to the big rock wall at the front ~ and the acapella singing was amazing!!!
9. Even better, though...we were ALL in there together on Sunday morning. For the time being, we will be able to worship as one body in one service. It was very moving, and I cried through a lot of it! Beginning with the raising of the cross on Thursday morning at 6:45 with the sun rising while we listened to Scripture and sang hymns like "Old Rugged Cross", continuing with a 72-hour non-stop reading of the entire Bible by members of the congregation to fill the walls with the Word of God, to the culmination of the reading with a congregational reading of the final few verses on Sunday morning, to the SEVEN baptisms (One that is the son of some of our closest friends, five that were near and dear to us from teaching, and one that moved away but wanted to come "home" to be baptized) and FIVE new memberships (My favorite quote from the day? Our preacher said, "God was saving souls and robbing hell." AMEN!), moving on to the church-wide feast, and finishing up the day with an hour of praising God in song. The whole day was amazing!!!
10. I am thankful that even with 1350 people there on Sunday morning, our church has an incredible sense of family. It has not lost the "small church" feeling and is working hard to keep it that way!

What are you thankful for today? Make a list, and come link up here! It's always a blessing to read about other peoples' blessings!!!

Remember, this is the day the Lord has made! Go out and rejoice!!!

Ten Things Tuesday Participants

1. aloted 2. HisFireFly 3. mzzterry 4. Jennifer

5. Stacy 6. Tracy 7. Joy B. 8. Rosheeda

9. sharon 10. Amy 11. Meredith Roswell 12. Emily

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TEN THINGS TUESDAY

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER "J"

I got tagged two months (and three days) ago by my friend Allan (Sorry it took so long, Allan!), who also happens to be one really amazing preacher! You should definitely check out his blog when you get a chance. You'll be blessed by what you find.

To start things off right, I made up a little poem to share with you because everything is more fun when it rhymes!

From A to Z and Z to A
There's always a lot that we can say
So here are twenty-six letters combined in a way
To answer the twenty-six questions I've been asked today.

I'll never cease to wonder how it can be
That the great moments that define the world's history
And the answers to questions about you and me
Can be summed up so simply from A to Z.

A. Attached or Single? Attached...to Mr. Brownstone, of course! Not only is he super fun to look at and super fun to be around, he is a great leader for our family, a great husband, and a great dad. He also gives me the status of "XBOX Wife".

B. Best Friend? Mr. Brownstone has been my very best friend since our first date way back in the 1900's. And if you're one to say "Husbands, siblings, and parents don't count!"...then I have seven or eight girlfriends that are just the best ever!

C. Cake or Pie? Pie ~ chocolate, strawberry, key lime, apple, cherry, coconut, pink lemonade, peach... You get a taste for what I'm saying, right? Though, I do have to say that any form of cheesecake could give pie a good run for the money.

D. Day of Choice? Sunday! I really love Sundays. We spend a lot of family time on that day, and we also get to worship our Amazing Lord and Savior at a church that we love with friends that we love!

E. Essential Item? How about itemS!?!? It may seem a cliche, but I have to have a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. I also have a purse-sized plaque-remover!

F. Flavor of Ice Cream? That is like asking me to choose a favorite book! Ice Cream, Frozen Custard, Frozen Yogurt, Gelato...all perfection in a dessert. My favorite flavor would probably be Peanut Butter and Chocolate!

G. Gummy Bears or Worms? Dare I say it...worms!!! I like the sugary coating. I did used to love to stick those gummy bears to my shirt, though, back when it was all the rage between Izod and Polo.

H. Hometown? Our Town :) It was a great little town.

I. Indulgences? I get a Route 44 Diet Coke with easy ice, regular cherry syrup, vanilla, and real cherries almost every day during Sonic Happy Hour!

J. January or July? Can I say "Juluary"? I do not like to be hot. I also do not like to be cold. July poses a problem because it is so incredibly hot here, which makes the air conditioner run non-stop, so it's either hot or cold in the house...never just comfortable! And as for January...it is sometimes a letdown because all of the Christmas decorations are taken down and put away, and everyone has either gone home, gone back to work, or gone back to school. Though I love winter and most things about it, January seems like a lonely month to me. To answer the question...the kids are out of school and home all day in July, and we usually take a fun vacation, so the nod goes to July!

K. Kids? Yes...my finest achievements ~ Tornado and Twister!

L. Last Movie I Saw In A Theater? "Space Chimps". I'm not really sure what more to say about that...

M. Middle Name? Jill

N. Number of Siblings? Three ~ Thing Two, Thing Three, and Thing Four

O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges, especially little Clementine oranges. I do love the green apple, though. And as far as flavorings ~ like gum, slushies, etc. ~ green apple would far surpass orange. Actual fruit seems to be the question here, however, so I stick with oranges as my final answer.

P. Phobia or Fear? Phobia. I have a major shark phobia. Realistically, I know that it borders on being ridiculous to get panicked if I'm the only one in the swimming pool, but there it is. I "phobia" the shark. Big time. (You can see how far this phobia reaches by my use of the word "borders". Somehow I've convinced myself that it is only mildly ridiculous. Who am I kidding? It's ridiculous! That's a phobia for ya!)

Q. Quote? I am particularly partial to Bible verses, but I don't really think of Scripture as a quote, even though it sort of is ~ I think of Scripture more as "the inspired word of God" and a quote as something for which anyone could be credited if they have something worth saying, or even sometimes saying something that isn't worth saying! There are so many Bible verses that I love, but here are three quotes that I really like quite a lot:

• "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." ~ Mother Theresa
• "The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid." ~ Author Unknown
• "To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation." ~ Francois de La Rochefouca

R. Reason to Smile? I could give you a million and one ~ Mr. Brownstone, Tornado, Twister, my family, Mr. Brownstone's family, our friends, our church, and that's just the people. That's not even mentioning all of the other blessings in life. But my reason to smile? I'm saved. In all of my imperfection, Jesus saw fit to save even me.

S. Season? If you've read this blog, then you already know the answer to this one! I love FALL, y'all! The cool, crisp air...the smells...the changing colors...the alternate name "autumn"...all of it.

T. Tag Four More? YOU'RE IT!!! I'm tagging everyone that is reading this who wants to play along but am also specifically tagging some relatively newcomers to this blog...Allyson at Oury Family, Tracy at The Redheaded Warriors, Sharon at Reservoir, and Kipi at In My Own Little Corner.... They are newcomers in the sense that I've only blogged about "Ten Things Tuesday" since April, so they haven't been tagged by me yet. Since summer is almost over, blogging will pick up the pace a bit. (Be sure and link back to me!)

U. Unknown Fact About Me? I am very shy. Being in a room full of people is extremely uncomfortable for me, even if I know all of them! A very small group (like 2-3 people) or a very large crowd (like an arena, or a church service) doesn't bother me as much, but a party or a classroom setting... Yikes!!! Being around 5 people up to 75 or so makes my stomach flutter with nerves every single time. I try to just put a smile on my face and get over it. Most people that know about these feelings are surprised, so maybe the smile is working! :)

V. Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan... Technically, Mr. Brownstone brings home the bacon, and I fry it in the microwave. Either way, I'm an oppressor.

W. Worst Habit? I am ~ believe it or not ~ a gum-swallower. I KNOW!!! It's yucky and gross and juvenile. You should also know that I didn't develop this habit until adulthood. I don't mean when I turned 18...or even in college...or even when I got married. This began when I was a grown-up!!! That means after I became a mom. So yes, I tell my kids "Don't swallow your gum; it's not good for you..." and then smile as mine goes down the hatch without so much as a second thought. Needless to say, I do not buy gum very often.

X. X-Rays or Ultra-Sounds? Would anyone answer X-Rays? I have to go with Ultra-Sounds. It was so precious to see our sweet babies before they entered this world!

Y. Your Favorite Food? One that starts with a letter of the alphabet. Just kidding. In all seriousness, there are very few foods that I do not enjoy (liver, beets, and I can't bring myself ~ even as an animal oppressor ~ to try cow tongue or weird stuff like that), so it's hard to pick a favorite. I really, really, really love fresh corn-on-the-cob, however, with butter and salt. Even as I type that, though, it feels like I'm cheating on nectarines, Tex-Mex, and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Z. Zodiac? Sagittarius ~ Though not into astrology or signs of the zodiac, I found this and thought it was pretty funny. "On the upside, you are optimistic. On the downside, you are blindly optimistic."

So from Z to A and A to Z
Each little letter has it's own story.
And from A to Z and Z to A
That's all I have to say today!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER "J"

https://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/08/brought-to-you-by-letter-j.html