Welcome to the world, Andrew! Here is a picture of how your parents normally act. You are going to have a GOOD life filled with fun, silliness, laughter, and a whole lotta LOVE, boy!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
He's here!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Katie Jane....
Most of you know already, but just in case you don't, my sister is about to have her first baby! I talk to everybody I know about Kate being pregnant, so this is not new news. But hey, this is my blog and I can talk about whatever I want! I want to celebrate how awesome Katie is and
dedicate this blog post to her!!
If you know me at all, you know that I adore my family. I feel blessed to have grown up in the Brown household. I think my parents did an amazing job as Mom and Dad. (They still do!) They taught Ben, Katie, and I to play, create, use our imaginations, and love to be together. That is why being together now is a JOY, and I feel pretty lucky to have that. As much as I love Ben (or Tootie, his nickname.....Gabe STILL calls him that!), this blog is going to be about Katie because, holy cow she is about to bring another life into this world!!
Here she is at 39 weeks!! I think this was just taken on Sunday.... I hope I look half as great as she does when I am about to have a baby! She's had an awesome pregnancy; everything has been healthy and on track. See the little pictures in the background. I helped her make the one with the little turtle and birdie.....it's just torn paper, modge-podged onto canvas! She made the other two pictures, and they look sa-weet!
We arethe original three Brown girls.....three peas in a pod, if you will. We are all very similar, yet God has designed us uniquely. Mom is a go-getter and makes things happen. She's a great decorator, and will be one heck of a grandma! She is also a woman of wisdom and of God. She's one of the biggest cheerleaders in my life! I am bubbly and like all things girly. I don't have an ounce of musical talent, but I am creative at times. Katie has a gentle spirit and a huge heart. She sees the best in people and that's why everyone likes being around her. She's an outdoors woman and loves Montana, fly fishing, hiking, and rock climbing. See, we're different. :) 
These last two pictures were taken at my parents' house in Milford at her baby shower. I don't know how many weeks along she is at this picture, but isn't she just beautiful?? She's always been this pretty. She has always had freckles and I love them! She gets a ton during the summer, and my mom always jokes that she'll turn into one big freckle! I wonder if Baby Hughie (her last name is Hughes and this is our name for the sweet pea) will have her freckles.....we shall see!!
So, folks, this could have been a little too sentimental and "gaggy", but again I don't care because it's my blog and she's my prego sister. She's awesome and everyone should know! And don't you worry, I will be back shortly to announce the birth of my new niece or nephew and to post pictures. Until then, me and my hubby are praying for a quick and smooth delivery for the Hughes family!
We love you Katie, Joe, and baby H!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011....
I've been thinking about making some resolutions for 2011. I don't know if I have EVER made any resolutions throughout my life. This is the year! I will try my best to reach them.....like I tell my second graders: just try your best!
Here's the list:
1. Write on our blog. Woohoo!! (Now, some of you may be laughing or saying, "Yeah right!" but I am really going to try this time!)
2. Eat more fresh vegetables and drink more H2O.
3. Try new recipes each month.
4. Do a Bible study (or studies) at church and get into the Word consistently.
So, today I am already reaching towards resolution number one and am quite proud of myself. I promise to start posting some pictures about our life and update you all on what's been happening. I know that pictures are really what people want to see on a blog.....well, maybe that's just me.
Have a happy first day of 2011!
Libby
Monday, December 13, 2010
Go ahead...leave
I read something that struck me this morning, "Church hoppers are like wife swappers! They get plenty of honeymoons but never know the deeper joy of committed, costly, enduring love!"
When I read this, names of people started flooding my head. Do you know those people that just go from church to church? They try to get involved, then mess things up and leave. I've experienced that with people in our church. It's sad, it really is. Do you ever view the church as a relationship? Think about this, what if you were to tell me that you really like me but you just can't STAND Libby - how do you think I would feel about you? As a human, I would struggle not to punch you in the face. She's the woman I have devoted my life to and she's my wife! The one I have chosen to be with! So we hear these people say, "I love God, but I hate the church". It makes no sense to me, yet I have been one of those people in the past. I know the institution of the church is a struggle to some, but why? Have you been hurt by the church? Being at the Bridge, I meet many people who have been hurt by the church. They were involved in the church and then something happened. I have a friend like that who is now atheist because of how things went down at his last church. To just completely leave the church because of an incident that didn't sit well with you, how mature is that?
Look at it in a relationship again. Libby and I get into arguments and disagreements - you could call them fights. Now let's say we get in a fight and I decide after that fight I'm done, I'm leaving her. What would you say to me? I would hope someone with some sense would come to me and point out my stupidity and overreaction to something. So why don't we do this to those that leave the church? We write them off as just another church hopper. This is an epidemic that needs help, it's needs our attention. So what can we do to stop it?
Just my observations on a snowy monday morning, feel free to help me process this if you care :-)
When I read this, names of people started flooding my head. Do you know those people that just go from church to church? They try to get involved, then mess things up and leave. I've experienced that with people in our church. It's sad, it really is. Do you ever view the church as a relationship? Think about this, what if you were to tell me that you really like me but you just can't STAND Libby - how do you think I would feel about you? As a human, I would struggle not to punch you in the face. She's the woman I have devoted my life to and she's my wife! The one I have chosen to be with! So we hear these people say, "I love God, but I hate the church". It makes no sense to me, yet I have been one of those people in the past. I know the institution of the church is a struggle to some, but why? Have you been hurt by the church? Being at the Bridge, I meet many people who have been hurt by the church. They were involved in the church and then something happened. I have a friend like that who is now atheist because of how things went down at his last church. To just completely leave the church because of an incident that didn't sit well with you, how mature is that?
Look at it in a relationship again. Libby and I get into arguments and disagreements - you could call them fights. Now let's say we get in a fight and I decide after that fight I'm done, I'm leaving her. What would you say to me? I would hope someone with some sense would come to me and point out my stupidity and overreaction to something. So why don't we do this to those that leave the church? We write them off as just another church hopper. This is an epidemic that needs help, it's needs our attention. So what can we do to stop it?
Just my observations on a snowy monday morning, feel free to help me process this if you care :-)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Rivers and Floods
Indiana is finally getting some storms that we needed and we got a decent amount of rain the other day. But I was thinking about what it would be like if we flooded. The rain just continually comes and creates all of this damage and wrecks many lives and destroys homes. I also live by the river. The river flows and does it's thing. There is a purpose to a river. The river flows to a destination and creates a way for people to get somewhere with the current that it provides.
They are both bodies of water but there is a difference - focus. As a leader, the goal is to channel people, time, energy, money to one clear vision. Being in leadership, I can see the value of being like a river. I also see the destruction of being like a flood. Many leaders today act as floods, they have their position and they sit and all it does it create damage. We need to look at our lives as rivers and know what we are trying to accomplish and help lead those around us to that goal.
Not a life update really, just was sparked by a leadership challenge and thought I would share.
They are both bodies of water but there is a difference - focus. As a leader, the goal is to channel people, time, energy, money to one clear vision. Being in leadership, I can see the value of being like a river. I also see the destruction of being like a flood. Many leaders today act as floods, they have their position and they sit and all it does it create damage. We need to look at our lives as rivers and know what we are trying to accomplish and help lead those around us to that goal.
Not a life update really, just was sparked by a leadership challenge and thought I would share.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Blessed and Encouraged
Passion seems to be a topic that is talked about OFTEN around me and my sphere of people in my life. I work with a guy who is the definition of passion to me. In all he does, he puts his heart into it. I'm always impressed by him and constantly learning from him...maybe I should tell him that. But a couple weeks ago, I met with another junior high pastor and we were just talking about passion. I asked her to pray for me in that area. It's weird, passion seems to have it highs and lows with me. If you know me, I'm a very moody person - wish I could rewire that in my brain. But she asked me what ignites my passion and I told her anytime I'm with the middle school kids, it's there, I leave and just have this energy and passion for what I do. Tonight really ignited some passion for me - which is something I've been praying for and I know some of you have been praying for me in that area, which I am so appreciative of! So thank you. But let me tell you a little about tonight that was pretty cool to me - there were lots of things, but this sticks out.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Adventures at Highland
Every week I venture into the local junior high to hang with some students. Most of you have kept up with our city's issues with the merging of schools and all that jazz. Phil is over at the high school and loving it. Kids attitudes seem to be great and he's got a great gig over there. I, on the other hand, do not so much have a great gig where I'm at. Every one was all about Anderson high school and focusing all of their energy there, that I think they forgot about highland. EVERY week I go in, I'm either breaking up a fight, or dealing with a bully situation. I face a LOT of negative attitudes - they're directed at me too. But every week, I leave that school, sit in my car and just pray...a couple of times, I just cry. I cry because I hurt for these kids and I feel at such a loss. You know the song "Hosanna", the line in there "break my heart for what breaks yours...EVERYTHING I AM FOR YOUR KINGDOMS CAUSE". I think I caught a glimpse of it today. Every week, I see a glimpse of God's heart breaking for these people. But for once, I caught the second part - everything I am for your kingdoms cause. I exerted all of my energy today, I did all I knew to do and still left hurting for them. I know it won't change immediately, but my goodness, this is a HUGE mission field.
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
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