{Jenna Brown Photography}

This's me and my sweet Popa.

He reads my blog and encourages me in so many ways, and he's the one who has motivated me to start back bloggin' :)

He is such an awesome man, and I'm so thankful my daddy had, and still has him as his example in his life.

My daddy is alot like my grandpa, and they both are the most likable, sweet, easy going, giving, funny, humble, smart, loving men you'll ever meet.

Thankyou Popa for making my daddy the way he is now.

You sweet men are my heroes.

I love you both so much.

Mr. Grumpy Man Germaphobe!

Well, I feel the same today as I did this time last week.

Now that it's Saturday I feel sorta like I've hit a milestone!

I have worked so hard studying, and it feels like my hard work has paid off.

Now I have the rest of  Saturday and Sunday to rest!!

What a good feeling!

My mom, Max, and the girls went to see the movie The Princess and the Frog  today while Kimmi was at a birthday party and I was at school.

Mom said Max, during the movie, had to go to the restroom around five times.

Mom said she washed her hands and Max's hands everytime, but the 5th and last time they went in neither of them washed their hands.

Max did  put his dry hands under the hand dryer.
(so I guess that counted)

When they walked out of the restrooms Max asked mom "Did you wash your hands, mom?"

Mom said "No Max. Not this time."

Max didn't say anything, and it was quiet for a a few minutes until they were about to walk back into the movie, and Max said.

"Leggo of my hand! Your hands are gross!"

This is a picture of Max that I found on my old blog a few weeks ago.

I had forgotten about this picture.

Cracks me up!

Wednesdays

I adore Wednesdays!

When I was younger I thought it was the worst day of the week.

I mean, it is right in the middle of the week, right?

Although now that I think about it, it's not even in the middle!

Well, I mean sorta, but it's just one big loop to me anyway.

I remember when I was probably 10 this teenage boy told me that Wednesdays were bad because they were in the middle of the week.

I guess I just believed it.

Wednesdays are our busy day.

First Kamryn and Nona have their ballet and tap classes, and that's in the morning.

It's on the other side of town so we spend the rest of our morning/afternoon running errands and shopping. Stuff like that.

After that, we come home and take Cason to swim practice.

Then we have tutoring with our church.

I love that!
 I tutor two little boys in... handwriting... has anyone here ever seen my handwriting?? It's ok though because they're 2nd grade, so I think I handle it pretty well. One little boy's name is Peter and the other is CJ, and they are so funny and cute!
It's really just a lot of fun to meet new people, and then help their kids with subjects that aren't their best.

It's kind of funny to me because the kids that come in are smarter than any kids I've ever met.

I think maybe their perents just want them to not only be ahead, but WAY ahead! hehe

Once we leave tutoring Kimmi and I go to ballet.

That's later in the afternoon. It's becoming a little more fun. :)

And on top of all this, I have my sweet grandparents in town! My mom's momma and daddy.

Altogether, Wednesdays are fun because I get to see people I don't get to see everyday. Even if it is the middle of the week! ;D

Here are a few pictures from our day.

Hope everyone is having a good

Wednesday!

Quotes by Kimmi

I see people put quotes on their blogs all the time of famous writers, poets, and theologians. I put quotes from Kimmi. 

This is what kimmi just said to me when I told everyone I knew I was going to love what Kimmi got me for Christmas because she asked me what I wanted and I told her.

This is what she said with a funny/cute/guilty face...

"Uuuuuuh... I got you what you wanted for Christmas, it's just not what you said you wanted."

She's still my BFF!

Actually, knowing Kimmi, I'll probably end up liking what she got me better than what I asked for.

• Ten Things I Love Tuesdays •

 

Here they are!

All ten toes of the baby who I love very, very much.

Psalm 139:14
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

• Jessie's Second Christmas Tree •

•••

Mark 10:14

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 
•••




Merry Christmas!!

• Sweet and Six! •

Happy Birthday Nona Klare!

Nona is six-years-old today!!! 

I can't believe it! 

She's such a sweet blessing to the whole family and to every one she's around. She is so giving and loving! Anytime she goes out anywhere she's ALWAYS looking to get something for someone else.

I had the honors of making her cake. Nona knew I was going to make it, so for the past couple weeks she's been talking about what sort of cake she would like. At first she wanted a gingerbread house cake with TWO houses on top, and she wanted it on a sheet cake. No idea where she came up with this! THANKFULLY, about a week ago she came up with a candyland themed cake, so I listened to all her requests and did it. I have never used fondant, but I did with this one and It was fun! My arms are actually sore from rolling it though. haha

Anyway, the cake turned out cute and Nona loved it.

In this picture Nona had just opened her crown we got her. As you can see she was wearing a "homemade" crown that she had just put together, but she was happy with giving the "homemade" crown up for the real one. ;)

Love you Nona!

• Jessie Worshiping •

  For as long as I can remember, we have been singing the song Crown Him With Many Crowns during our family worship, and once Max, 3 1/2, came along he started thrusting his fists into the air about every 30 seconds with the tempo of the song.  For example: Crown Him wih many crowns (He woud throw his hands up after this line.) And then: the Lamb upon the throne (He'd do it here too.) Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but it's own. (You get what I'm saying? ) It's very cute and contagious but has become more of a sporting event in the Brown household. We all do it now. Even Jessie. It's so cute, and it makes her look like a big girl. We're really not charasmatic, but maybe Jessie's trying to push us in that direction. heehee

The first little Brown kid that really really loved this song was Kamryn, 7 1/2. When  the babies are young they always just walk around while we read the bible and talk, but if we ever want that little one to come sit with us we just break out in Crown Him With Many Crowns. We know if we do that whatever baby is walking around will come running to find a lap to sit and sing along.

Jessies's mouth is wide open because she's singing with passion! Or at least she's attemptig to sing. It's more like a loud yell, but as you can very well see Jessie gets into it what she's doing.

Last night was the first time she started doing it, so this is definitely "blog" worthy! ;)

• Baby Curls & Block Parties •

 I had some oh so adorable pictures of Jessie up yesterday, but this morning, I took them off because my mom thought she looked nasty... she did.. but she was such a cute looking nasty  baby! My mom said I should just put some pictures of her all dressed  and pretty.

She had jelly all over her face, and she was only in a diaper.

These pics were taken a few Sunday ago, and she was wearing the same dress but one looks purple and one looks blue... or is that just me? 

I love this one because it really shows off her baby curls! SO SWEET!

•••

I'm getting excited because I'm just about to go get on my costume. I haven't dressed up for halloween since I was probably 12, but our family, and Emily my friend, will be going to a block party in about an hour.

I'm going to be Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notredame, and Cason's going to be Quazimoto. You know... the hunch back. haha... It cracks me up thinking about him dressing up as Quazimoto!

Cason's so sweet!!!

Now how many bigger younger brothers would dress up for their sister? I'm really not sure, but Cason is one of them! =D

I'll post pictures of everyone's costume's later.

Hope every one is having a really great day! =)

• Picture Day •

Every year, with our home school group, we have class pictures. 

Of course every one wants to look their best because that's how you'll be remembered for the rest of your life in what ever grade. 

Everyone wants to look good except for Max.

Yesterday night, when we were getting all of our clothes ready for pictures at 11:30 am the next day, Max decided to go hide away in my room and cut his pretty blond curls. 

He came walking down stairs with a smile on his face, and we all just looked at him for just a moment in shock. 

It seems like little kids always know where it would make the most impact with scissors. 

Max cut his hair in the front on the very top of his head. He looked like a clown... still cute, so he was a cute clown. 

My mom had to just shave his head. 

It was so sad. He had already had a lot his baby curls cut away, but this was for real.

 He had them shaven off. 

Now he looks like a big boy. 

Alyssa and I were just talking about how it's no fun to have a bad hair day on picture day. Max won that award Alyssa! hehe

Well, I'm off to go to swim team.

Hope everyone is having a blessed day so far!

• Kimmi •

Well, I was informed by Kimmi that her picture isn't on my blog much. She has been picking on me about it, and I have just decided to grace every one with this gorgeous pictures of my 12-year-old sister, Kimmi.

I told her I was going to do a post JUST about her, and she slapped me and said "You better not!" How could I not though! I had 3 pictures of her up and ready to post, and she wasn't going to let me add any even though I was assuring her that she looks stunning in them all. Then I finally talked her into this one.

Well anyway, what's a post all about Kimmi if I don't name a few of her many good qualities? So here I go.

•She's a good listener (and talker)

•She's so sweet to ALL of her brothers and sisters (even when it gets hard)

•She's funny

•She can do anything, I'm serious!

•She's so sharing

•People love her (I'm guessing that counts as one of her good qualities)

•She has a happy heart when she's helping my mom

•She's smart

•She's purdy

• And last but not least She loves the Lord. Very much. =)

Love you Kimmi!

•My Cup Of Coffee•

Q: what's better than finding a dollar in your pocket?

A: Finding a good song on your iPod you didn't even know existed! hehehe

It really is a great song. It's one of those songs that make you feel good. I call those types of songs my "cup of coffee". Well, anyway I have been lying in bed for the past three hours, and I can no longer sleep! Too excited! I was listening to this song over and over. I put it on repeat so I now know almost every word! WOOHOO!

It's a hymn that was written in the 1800's, so this is an old song. I usually prefer the new-er music like: Rush of Fools, MercyMe and Brandon Heath. That type of stuff, but this one was just really pretty! Here are the lyrics.

Jesus I Come

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

You should listen to it as well. Here's the song.  My goal is to learn how to play this on my guitar.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

•Bonnie and Clyde•

I absolutely adore this picture of Cole and Kamryn. It just really speaks for itself. They are definitely a little team. Bonnie and Clyde, right here folks. I'm serious! 

Today Cole and Kamryn- Ok, I'm not proud of what they did, I'm just telling- they were on a walk with Kimmi, and there were two little boyscouts, probably about 9-years-old selling popcorn door-to-door, and pulling it around in the back of their cute little red wagons. Anyway, one of the two little boys said to Cole, "Heeey, don't you know you're riding a girls bike?" and Cole, aka Clyde, the comeback KING said, "Well , don't you know you're pulling a little girl wagon?" and Kamryn, aka Bonnie, added in, "Yeeeah, and where are the little baby dolls that you should be pulling in the back?!?" After this was all said and done Cole, the popcorn LOVER of the Brown family, asked the boys, "How much is your popcorn?" I thought that last line was pretty funny. Just so everyone knows they were corrected. My parents didn't see the same amount of humor in it that I did. They were looking at it from the perspective of evangelists, and Cole and Kamryn were terrorizing the boyscouts. This would be opposite of evangelizing here people. I have to laugh whenever I think about it though. 

Do ya'll have any funny brother/sister stories?

•Papa•

My grandpa is going to be having a procedure done withen the next few weeks. He's in his 80's and he has a 90% blockage in his neck. Would y'all please all pray for him?

This is Nona Klare and Papa. He takes his grandchildern "driving" around his cow pasture. He actually still wants me to drive with him whenever we visit. He won't let me go any faster than 2 mph, and he'll put it in gear 2 so that's the fastest I could go... he still tells me to slow down. I don't actually sit in his lap anymore though. HAHA I can't make myself tell him thatit's not as fun as it was when I was 11. I still go with him because I love him, but not because of the excitment. =) He's so sweet. He's recently been walking in Hartwell GA, where he lives, and when he meets someone, he'll share the gospel and hand them one of his gideon bibles. He's such a good man.

•Does Your Daddy Cook? Mine Does!•

Oh, the great wonders of cook'n! My dad is, at this very moment, in the kitchen making a dessert with my excited little sisters. The main little Brown girl doing this is my precious little five-year-old sister Nona because she is the cutest... just kidding... kinda. Well, the reason he's doing this is because Nona has been carrying around these cards that have cute children's recipes on both cardboard sides. She got a whole big box of them from a garage sale a few weeks ago, and she has been showing the desserts to us saying, "I'm going to make this for you." She is SUCH a giver. With everything! Any time she goes somewhere she makes it her top priority to bring something back to one of her siblings. She's a sweetie! My dad took her to the store today and bought all the ingredients for her Fudge and Coconut

 Cookies. She is so sweetly excited... I just found the perfect opportunity to say/write the word sweetly. I was having a debate with a few friends today and the debate was about the word sweetly. They didn't think the word sweetly could actually be used in a sentence... Lookie who was right... ME! HA!

Anyway, my dad is making a dessert. He's actually really into it. I think he has maybe found his new calling! Bye Bye Preacher Man and hello Culinary Chef! He would look handsome in a little apron and a tall chefs hat... hmmm... ;)

Hope everyone is having a blessed day! I am now going to take a shower and wash away all the salt water from tubing and all the sand from the beach and all the smell from tennis this evening. =) 

Ok, people I almost forgot to tell ya'll that this is a little friendly competition with my momma. She was taking pictures of my dad and us cooking and I said, "I'm going to do a blog post about dad cooking." It sounded like a good idea to her so she said, "No, i'm doing a blog post about dad cooking." She said she had already been thinking of doing it... OK people, we all know that I'm the master mind in this little fight! I mean, c'mon... I'm the homeschooler here! She went to public school in the 80's!!! 

So anywhoo,  we decided to have a competion to see who likes whose blog post the most. If ya'll wouldn't mind just posting and saying you like my post about dad cooking more. ;) Or if for some reason you like my moms more you can post on hers telling her you like hers better. Here's her blog.

FYI to everyone. I'm kidding about my mom going to public school in the 80's... well, I'm not kidding because it's true, but I know she's smart and I love her so so so much. ;)

 

Proverbs 7:1-4  

 My son, keep my words

   and treasure up my commandments with you;

 keep my commandments and live;

   keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;  bind them on your fingers;

   write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

   and call insight your intimate friend,

•Thankful•

For some reason I'm particularly thankful today. I'm very happy, and it might just be partly because of circumstances,but I think it's probably because God has just given me so much and I'm very thankful for it all. He has given me so many reasons to be thankful! I do pray that even though I feel so extremely blessed at the moment, I'll stay focused on God. When everything in life is pleasantly going my way it's so much easier not to be focusing on the one who has given it all to me. I need to make it my top priority to focus on him even when I'm feel'n chipper. ;D

I'm so thanksful for all the things God has given me to be thankful for!

So, we went to the beautiful beach of IOP today. It was beautiful and perfect today. Even though it was cloudy most of the time although at the  beginning it was sunny. It became cloudy just in the nick of time. It started getting too hot and 'bout that time it started getting cloudy. It actually even rained a little bit. I LOVE the rain with passion!!! :D  One of my favorite things is rain on the beach. BEAUTIFUL! 

I'm a watcher, and I love watching people at the beach when they don't know they're being watched. Well, I might not realize that they realize I'm watching them. It's just such an entertaining thing to occupy your time! You can learn so much from watching people interact with their families. 

Is that wrong? 

I'm so thankful for the beach! 

I also just got back from a run with my beautiful sista Kamryn. We had such a fun time, and it wasn't a long run this time. ;)   It was kinda dark so we didn't go too far. We stayed in the light so we could see where we were going. I only went for a 1miler and I'm pooped! Probably crash'n from the caffeine I had earlier! HAHA!

I'm so thankful for my little sister who just adores riding her bike beside me while I run.

I said I was going to post pictures of my new (and 

adorable) baby kittens. I have not yet done that and they are now about 15 days old. The kittens have gotten a little bigger since these pictures but just imagine them a little bigger and a little less cute... haha just kidding. They're still preeeetty cute. ;)

The Triplets

Moma cat (No Name)  She just showed up on our door step about 7 months ago, and claimed us as her new family... bad pick if you ask me. Max just ain't the most loving owner. hehehe

Moma cat (No name) and the baby kitten (Charlotte)

I know it's a little bit blurry, but it's just so sweet!

I'm so thankful for our New (and adorable) baby kittens!

Hope every one will have a blessed week!

Proverbs 6:8

she prepares her bread in summer

   and gathers her food in harvest.

If any one is wondering why I always put proverbs, it's because this is the lucky book we picked for our bible study we're doing with some girls in our home school group. I also just love Proverbs. =)

•Fixat'n My Eyes On God•

Most every night, or at least my dad tries to do it most every night, we have family worship. Last night's bible passage was especially helpful in my everyday life. I love it when I hear those verses that apply so well. I guess all scripture is kinda like that, but there are always those verses that come at the perfect time. My dad was reading Psalm 28, and it was a prayer from David. My dad was explaining it to all of us and he was saying if we fixate our hearts on daily life and not on God, then we will always be going from happy to sad, happy to sad. If we focus on God, and all that we have because of God, then why should we really ever have a reason to be unhappy? Focusing on God makes us stable. When my dad was reading it to us, I was thinking, "Gosh, life would be so much easier if I were unwavering!" I'm not a particularly unhappy person ,but as we all do... I think, we get in those moods or have moments. If I'm ever in one of those moods it's usually because somethings not going my way, and I'm not focusing on God. I'm focusing on something going on around me instead. There's probably something that I want to happen or something I wish didn't happy, and it's not happening my way.

This morning in my quiet time one of my prayers was that I would fixate my eyes on God and not what's going on around me. I was put to the test today. I know most of you have met my precious little 7 year-old sister Kamryn, who at the moment has a bunch of bubble wrap and is popping it right here beside me and it  seems particularly loud. Little miss Kamryn isn't always very easy to deal with and this morning, at about 8:00am., I decided to go for a longer-ish run, and Kamryn, "REALLY REALLY wanted to come!" so I let her. I wanted her to come too... so I thought! ;D  I could tell, from the beginning, that the 3 miles that were ahead of me were going to  seem a little longer than just 3 miles. HAHA! The entire time Kamryn was yelling at me to run faster so we could get to the park, and she was laughing at me because my face was red from being hot. She was also trying to throw her sweater on me, and remember I was HOT, while I was running. She has a sweater because she has a basket on her bike and she brought it "just in case" it got cold, but between you and me... I think she brought it because she wanted to fill her empty basket. haha! Well, anyway it was a very long 3 miles. I was thinking the entire time about that bible verse and how I just need to stay happy, but wishing God could have made this... a litlllllllle easier. hehehe. If I had indulged in focusing on "daily life" I probably would have shoved her into her little basket, along with her un-needed sweater and on into the woods. Instead I used it as a somewhat easy opportunity to be a blessing to her and to practice fixating on God and correcting her sweetly. Anyway, I got through the run just fine... but for future reference, I'll only bring Kamryn if it's a little shorter run, and if I run 3 miles again I'll eat more that just a yogurt for breafeast.

Well, Hope everyone is having a blessed day so far!

Karis

Proverbs 3: 5-8

  Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

   and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways  acknowledge him,

   and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

   fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh

   and refreshment to your bones.

•Good Bye Summer•

Well, 3 months of excitement have come and gone so extremely fast, and much to my dismay, it's just about over. Well, it might not say summer is over on the calendar, but as we all very well know... it's over. School is back and running again, and there's starting to be a cool breeze. I have got to say, though, that the cool autumn breeze is most definitely my favorite!

This "past" summer has been my bestestful summer ever! It hasn't been too hot like all of the other past summers that I have lived for the past 16 years. Really, every summer, for as long as I can remember, it has been waaay too hot until this year. I've enjoyed every hot and humid Charleston day. It was filled with swim coaching, which is definitely not why my

summer has been my bestestful summer ever. There have been free summer movie watch'n, garage sale goin', chess playin', new (and adorable) baby kittens, etc., etc. . I am so thankful to the Lord for all that he has graciously given me, and I don't deserve any of it at all, but he just keeps on giving!!!

I've decided to keep my blog updated more so in the next few days I'll be posting pictures of my new (and adorable) baby kittens.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

So, what has been your favorite thing about this "past" summer? =)

~Karis

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Miss Personality

♥ Jessie ♥

Mom and Dad

I think this is a sweet picture of my mom and dad. = ) They love each other so much, and they give such a great example of what a Godly marriage should look like. = ) My mom has been helping me the past few weeks on homemaking. Like laundry, keeping my room organized and cooking, I really need help with cooking hehehe! I'm getting better though.

Well, I just wanted to put a pic of my parents, I didn't have any of them. Hope every one is having a good week. = D