Camp!

It's that time of year again............church camp time. Our church does our own kids and teen camp at a nearby state park. The campground has always reminded me of the campground in the movie The Parent Trap. I loved that movie and still do. Haley Mills was my favorite actress when I was growing up.

Even though it is a pretty rustic camp, the kids and adults all seem to love it and are very excited to get back to it every year. There is no reception for cell phones so we don't have to tell the teens not to bring them.....they just won't work. We have air conditioning in some of the adult dorms but most of the kids dorms don't have it but they don't really seem to mind. It's hot but most of the campground is very shaded, there is swimming, volleyball, softball, swimming, lots of cold watermelon....did I mention swimming. And of course the main reason we come is to strengthen our relationship with Jesus. I think the adults get as much as the kids. It is a very rewarding experience with lots of hard work but I love it.



Storms

I know everyone has storms in their lives and we are no different except that I have a God that I can run to in times of storms. He shelters me, protects me and loves me through them if I let him. Sometimes it is hard to let him do this for me because being who I am I tend to want to be in control of everything and in storms I am not.  I really need the shelter of God from this storm we are going through right now. Thank you God that you are my shelter and that I can run to you; crawl up in your lap and let you wrap me in your arms. Such a loving Father.  Protect my family and me, physically and emotionally. Gather us under you wings Heavenly Father like a hen gathers her chicks. If you don't know my Father, I pray that someday you will. He is like no other.

Isaiah Ronald Brown

He's here!!!! And he's beautiful. I have fallen in love again. Plus he has dark hair. Noah and Jonah had just a little bit of hair and it was blonde so it looked like they didn't have any.

Cuddle time with Aunt Jessica

Shelter in a time of storm.

As I was thinking about a title for this post and thought of this one "Shelter in a time of storm", I was reminded that the ultimate shelter is Jesus Christ who is always there to be our shelter in any kind of storm that life brings our way. So blessed to have Him in my life to shelter me and mine. Speaking of "shelters", in out little town there are large storm shelters that are used as gyms during the non-storm times at each of the schools. We have one at the junior high-high school area, one at the middle school-elementary school area and a final one at the elementary school that stands alone. These are all in different areas of town and very easily accessible. So thankful for these. They do get quite full and stuffy but so what.....we are safe.

 We kind of thought we might be heading to the shelter so we prepared ahead of time with folding chairs, a couple of blankets and snacks for the boys. You just never know how long you might be there. All the kids there were well behaved and so were the dogs and there were a lot of them. The cats are required to be in carriers.

 Guess Noah was hoping for the sunshine to come back out. Such an optimist.

Oklahoma!

Prayers are needed for Moore Oklahoma, along with so many other things. Living in Arkansas on the border of Oklahoma, having a daughter who lives in Oklahoma makes me feel very close to them.
I am not good with words in situations like this but my heart grieves for the Moms and Dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents who will never get to hug or kiss their loved ones again. I cry out to God for strength for them. I want to run over there and hug them, hold them, wipe away their tears but I can't but I know a great big God who can and will. Please pray for them now and in the weeks to come.

We're having fun now!

Yes sir, we are having fun now. Just about everything is moved in or out as the case may be, the boys are there all the time now (and I am loving it), baby Isaiah will be here any day now so......after just one week things seem to be settling down. And I have seen a side of Jamie I haven't seen in a while. He is being so patient with Kacee and the boys and working so hard every night after working hard at work during the day. I am so blessed with such good kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and husband. Oh and had a wonderful Mother's Day on top of it all.
On a different note............went to "decoration" Saturday with Karen and of course we had to do some junkin' on the way. We got some really cool junk and found a wonderful place to pick with two very interesting ladies who have been doing this for quite a while. Can't wait to go back there when they bring out more from their numerous barns.

Here they come......

Here they come.....walking down the street.....get the funniest looks from.....everyone they meet. Hey, hey we're the....Browns. Oh wait, that's not how it goes. But whatever, they are coming, tonight in fact. It's moving day and the Browns are moving in with us. I know it's going to be tight but it will also be fun and we will always remember this time together. I am so thankful that my kids want to be with us. Such a blessing.