I officially started the Love Dare this morning, and I am really excited about it! Not that the Hubby and I are in a bad place AT ALL!! I just think, in a marriage and in our walk with Christ we always need to be striving to better ourselves and our situations!
I listen to KLOVE on my way to work in the mornings and they have been focusing on this book for almost the full 40 days now. Hearing the testimony's and discussions about the chapters within Love Dare have inspired me! So, I got it...and I started it!
I knew as soon as I opened up to Chapter 1 last night, I was not only going to get a lesson for my marriage, but also for myself! The title: PATIENCE! Wow! This is something I honestly have not had much of lately! I really really hate to admit that about myself, because I have always considered myself a pretty patient person. I mean, I have my moments, but who doesn't? Anyways, here lately I think the hussle and bussle of life has gotten to me. Working full time, trying to have a small business on the side (Uppercase Living), in the midst of a total career change, trying to be a "perfect" (I know, I know) mom to two beautiful daughters, a loving-understanding and compassionate wife, keeping our home clean and picked up, dinner on the table every night and most importantly, striving to become a better Christian all around! I can honestly say, I have become overwhelmed with myself!
So, when I saw "patience" starring me in the face last night, I knew God was really going to talk to me...and boy did HE ever! I have been so quick to get upset, frustrated and somewhat angry at home when things are not just perfect and put together! Last night, I realized how silly that is! I have a loving husband who I have been crazy about since the night I met him in 2002. I do not need to get angry if he doesn't do something exactly how I think he should do it! We are a team, we have to work together and I am not perfect AT ALL either! I have two daughters who are absolutely the most beautiful things I have EVER seen in my life! A warm home (thanks to that new heater we got on Saturday-HA!), clean clothes and food on our table! God is so great!
So, today, I am focusing on being patient. Thinking about what I need to say and HOW I need to say it! What things matter and what doesn't! I am focusing on the love that Greg and I have together and I am so thankful for him! Realizing that if dinner is not on the table at exactly 6:15, the world is not going to end and my kiddos are not going to starve! It will all be ok!
So, already, Love Dare Chapter 1 has impacted me and I hope it impacts my marriage too! I know it will not be easy to immediately become the most patient Christian person in the world, but I am going to strive to become a more patient me for sure!
If anyone that may stumble across this blog for some reason has ever done or is doing the Love Dare, please, leave me some words of wisdom and some inspiration!
Hope you all have a very "patient" Tuesday!
Love,
Lauren
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Out in the Cold...if it wasn't for Family!
While enjoying our weekend last Saturday, our carbon dioxide alarm decided to go off! Thank goodness we have one!! Come to find out after the gas man immedietly came out, our heater is leaking carbon dioxide! YIKES! Our poor babies! We packed our bags and got out of there so fast! So, since last Saturday night we have been traveling back and forth from Hale Center and Earth to Lubbock everyday! Where would we be without our wonderful family providing us with a warm place to stay? Out in the cold! Thank you so much for taking us in guys! We appreciate and love you all so much! Eventhough the girls have not been to our house in almost a week, they sure are enjoying getting Nona, Grammie, Papa Jack and Papaw time! They are not complaining! :)
Hope you all have a great and WARM weekend...and go out and get a carbon dioxide detecter if you do not have one! They Work!!
Hope you all have a great and WARM weekend...and go out and get a carbon dioxide detecter if you do not have one! They Work!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Brrrrr Chilly Whompers!
Last Friday was my MOM'S Birthday!! We went to Cagle's Steakhouse to celebrate and it was D-LISH! (I even had a margarita that was even more delicious than the Steak!!)lol!
This past Sunday, we attended Paisleigh and Abigail's Second Cousins' 3rd Birthday Party! Kyler is precious and had a great party at Ready, Set, Go! My camera ran out of batteries after my 5th picture or so, I was so upset! Learned my lesson to carry extra batteries at all times! Here is Paisleigh having a blast on the trampolines!
Paisleigh attended her FIRST movie with her Nona on Wednesday! They went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks and only lasted a few minutes into the movie! Paisleigh was not so sure about the loud sound and when Alvin received a shot in the movie, Paisleigh became VERY upset! lol! I wish that I would had been able to get a few pictures of these two on this exciting day, but I was not able too! :(
Then, she went to spend the night with Nona and Papa Jack and got snowed in Wednesday night! It has snowed 3-5 inches here in Lubbock and in Hale Center! We still have not been able to get her back home to us because of the icy road conditions! We are going to Hale Center tomorrow, so we will have our precious pumpkin before long!
Our Back and Front Yards:
More exciting news! As you know, my sister, ANGIE, in on a congressional internship in Washington, D.C. She did not think she would be able to come home to visit until her internship was up in May! HOWEVER, she is coming home TODAY!! We are going to go up tomorrow and spend the day with her! I miss her terribly, so I am so excited about this weekend!
ALSO, Our sweet baby Abigail turns 8 MONTHS OLD TODAY!! I cannot believe that she is already 8 months! Time flies so quickly and she is just more precious than ever!! Since Paisleigh is with her Nona and Papa Jack, Abigail and I had a few minutes to play photo shoot! HA! I LOVE THESE!
Then Papa Jack and Paisleigh had a Dance! Which, is one of their most favorite things to do...and it was priceless!
Abigail and Mammaw Sims (one of their Great-Grandmother's)
Then, she went to spend the night with Nona and Papa Jack and got snowed in Wednesday night! It has snowed 3-5 inches here in Lubbock and in Hale Center! We still have not been able to get her back home to us because of the icy road conditions! We are going to Hale Center tomorrow, so we will have our precious pumpkin before long!
Our Back and Front Yards:
More exciting news! As you know, my sister, ANGIE, in on a congressional internship in Washington, D.C. She did not think she would be able to come home to visit until her internship was up in May! HOWEVER, she is coming home TODAY!! We are going to go up tomorrow and spend the day with her! I miss her terribly, so I am so excited about this weekend!
ALSO, Our sweet baby Abigail turns 8 MONTHS OLD TODAY!! I cannot believe that she is already 8 months! Time flies so quickly and she is just more precious than ever!! Since Paisleigh is with her Nona and Papa Jack, Abigail and I had a few minutes to play photo shoot! HA! I LOVE THESE!
If that does not warm your heart, I do not know what will! :)
On that note: I hope everyone has a safe, wonderful and warm weekend!
On that note: I hope everyone has a safe, wonderful and warm weekend!
Love, Lauren
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thankful Thursday!
There are many many things in my life that I am incredibly thankful for! Most of all my precious family and these two munckins!
Ahhhhh! They make me smile!
Have a wonderful Thursday!
Have a wonderful Thursday!
a WHOLE LOT'A FIRST post!
I have really not been a "good blogger" for quiet sometime now! The Brownd House has had many "FIRSTS" in the past couple of months and I would love to share!
Abigail is SEVEN Months Old right now (will be 8 Months on the 29th of this month) and she has been eating veggies, cereal and fruits for about a month now! SHE LOVE EVERYTHING! She is really doing a great job eating from a spoon! She is just so much fun and ALWAYS happy!
This is a picture of Paisleigh and Abigail the FIRST time we fed her! Paisleigh DID NOT like the fact that Abigail was in HER highchair! Eventhough, Paisleigh has not sat in her highchair for quiet sometime now! HAHA! I was rolling and just had to get a picture to show them when they are older!
****************************************************************
Becky, Greg's Sister, and her husband Cory had their FIRST baby boy on December 6th, 2009! We were all there awaiting baby Caden's arrival! While we were waiting Paisleigh got her FIRST busted lip in the waiting room! Poor thing, but I was so excited that I had my camera handy!
It was really different for me to be on the "other side" of the delivery room doors! But, I must say...I LIKED IT! It was so amazing to witness Becky becoming a mom for the FIRST time and that new precious life coming into this world! Congratulations Becky and Cory! Caden is BEAUTIFUL!!
********************************************************************
I really loved getting to be a part of all of these "First" events in our life! However, I know that there are MANY MANY MORE to come!
Abigail is SEVEN Months Old right now (will be 8 Months on the 29th of this month) and she has been eating veggies, cereal and fruits for about a month now! SHE LOVE EVERYTHING! She is really doing a great job eating from a spoon! She is just so much fun and ALWAYS happy!
****************************************************************
Becky, Greg's Sister, and her husband Cory had their FIRST baby boy on December 6th, 2009! We were all there awaiting baby Caden's arrival! While we were waiting Paisleigh got her FIRST busted lip in the waiting room! Poor thing, but I was so excited that I had my camera handy!
Here are a few pictures of Abigail while we were waiting too!
*****************************************************************
And the FIRST we were all waiting for...JOHN CADEN COLLINS had arrived! He is so precious and Paisleigh and Abigail are so excited to have a cousin! Greg and I were blessed to become Aunt and Uncle for the FIRST time in our lives! Here are some pictures of that miraculous day!
********************************************************************
I really loved getting to be a part of all of these "First" events in our life! However, I know that there are MANY MANY MORE to come!
Friday, January 08, 2010
2010 Handbook!
Hey Guys!
I follow a really great and often hilarious blog, The McMommy Chronicles, and she posted this (much needed) 2010 Handbook! I thought it was wonderful so I wanted to share it too! Go check out her blog and enjoy this post! I hope in 2010 I can really focus on many of these!
The 2010 HANDBOOK
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14.. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness..
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.. Don't hate others..
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
I follow a really great and often hilarious blog, The McMommy Chronicles, and she posted this (much needed) 2010 Handbook! I thought it was wonderful so I wanted to share it too! Go check out her blog and enjoy this post! I hope in 2010 I can really focus on many of these!
The 2010 HANDBOOK
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14.. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness..
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.. Don't hate others..
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
The Hustle and Bustle of the Holiday's!
Whew! This past Christmas Holiday was a busy and kind of stressful one for the Brownd house! Paisleigh came down with a pretty nasty virus right before Christmas! It was called the Aedno (sp?) Virus and I had actually never heard of it unitl now! She ran a 101-103 fever for about 5 days straight, yucky nose and cough and then her eyes were bright red and watery for about 3 days! It was horrible! I just felt helpless and plain awful for her! Then, Christmas morning....I got it...along with strep throat! Let's just say, I spent Christmas morning on the floor on a pillow and the rest of the day in bed! Not my ideal way to spend Abigail's first Christmas, but hey, we were all together and the girls and Greg were all healthy!
Christmas was wonderful, besides the sick part, we were able to see all of our family and enjoy a white Christmas!
Our New Year was very uneventful; however, it was actually really nice just to hang out with the Girls and Greg! I made it to 11:00 to watch the New York New Year and the ball drop, then I was off to bed! I was impressed that I made it that far! :)
Update on the Girls:
PAISLEIGH IS POTTY TRAINED! YAY! I am so proud of her! She has really caught on quickly and she is doing wonderfully at being a big girl! Her vocabulary is really coming to life and she is just precious! Greg and I just watch her and we are amazed at how smart and how quickly she picks things up!
ABIGAIL IS GETTING HER FIRST TWO TEETH...at the same time! They are the bottom front ones and she is actually tolerating it pretty well! We have had just a few restless nights, but overall she is doing great! She is officially sitting up on her own now and really starting to interact and play! I love it!
Greg is still doing great at real estate! He was awarded a scholarship to go to a main conference in New Orleans for Keller Williams in February! I am so proud of him because only FOUR people across the nation were awarded this scholarship! He is really working so hard and I hope I get to go with him for a mini vacation to New Orleans! Keep your fingers crossed for that one! :)
Have a wonderufl week!
Until next time....
Christmas was wonderful, besides the sick part, we were able to see all of our family and enjoy a white Christmas!
Our New Year was very uneventful; however, it was actually really nice just to hang out with the Girls and Greg! I made it to 11:00 to watch the New York New Year and the ball drop, then I was off to bed! I was impressed that I made it that far! :)
Update on the Girls:
PAISLEIGH IS POTTY TRAINED! YAY! I am so proud of her! She has really caught on quickly and she is doing wonderfully at being a big girl! Her vocabulary is really coming to life and she is just precious! Greg and I just watch her and we are amazed at how smart and how quickly she picks things up!
ABIGAIL IS GETTING HER FIRST TWO TEETH...at the same time! They are the bottom front ones and she is actually tolerating it pretty well! We have had just a few restless nights, but overall she is doing great! She is officially sitting up on her own now and really starting to interact and play! I love it!
Greg is still doing great at real estate! He was awarded a scholarship to go to a main conference in New Orleans for Keller Williams in February! I am so proud of him because only FOUR people across the nation were awarded this scholarship! He is really working so hard and I hope I get to go with him for a mini vacation to New Orleans! Keep your fingers crossed for that one! :)
Have a wonderufl week!
Until next time....
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