Refreshed And Ready To LIVE!

Ok, by my last post--you can tell I was pretty much in a funk! Well, the funk is gone! It is a New Year, New Day and a New Life for me. Well, not really a new life but I am pumped and ready to LIVE life!!

For those of you who have been wondering about The Brown Box--it is going to stay open. I think I was just listening to the news to much and feeling some burnout! But I am refreshed and ready to keep living the dream! The store had a great Christmas and am truly thankful that it did. I have a lot of creative ideas up my sleeve for that crazy place so hopefully in 2009 The Brown Box will take on a life of its own!

The Brown's had a super Christmas. The boys got what they wanted and they really loved having both sets of their grandparents here. It turned out to be a wonderful day!

Wyatt giving Papa his OSU Crocs!

The boys with MeMe! (Yes that is something on Wyatt's face--he got some face paint for hunting and had to put it on right then.)

The boys giving daddy their presents they picked out for them!

The Gingerbread Sleigh! (The boys always make some sort of gingerbread something with Nana--this year it was a sleigh.)

The "Elves" at work!

Winston is working hard on the gingerbread sleigh!

This is Pa playing bowling on the Wii!

Hope Everyone Has A Blessed Year In 2009!!!

Scary, Scary

OK--so most of you know that I own a gift boutique here in our small lovely town. This has been a dream of mine for a long, long time and it has truly been a blessing the past four years. Well, lately I have had this weird feeling about it. I don't know if it is the economy, burnout, or what but I have had this feeling that I have never had about it. Sometimes I think that God is telling me to close its doors and then other times I think I am just thinking to much. I don't know--but the other day I was checking the stores bank account and I saw fraudulent charges on there. Somehow someone had gotten my check card number and charged money to these apartment rent places. It scared me half to death. Luckily they didn't wipe me out!!! It made me feel sick inside--like I had be violated. Has that happened to anyone else? See what I mean--is God trying to tell me something or am I just being silly? I don't know--I love having the business--but there is quite a bit of stress involved--I wonder if every business owner goes through this. I am sure they do. If you have a minute--pray for me--I hate this feeling.

Conversations With Wyatt!

This is a conversation Wyatt just had with is Daddy.

Wyatt: Dad, what is Jesus doing right now?
Ty: He is waiting on us.
Wyatt: Is He waiting up in the clouds?
Ty:Yes
Wyatt: Does Jesus have hard tile?
Ty: What?
Wyatt: I don't want to fall through the clouds.

Isn't that funny!!!

Also, I wanted to share with you that I am going to start doing some fun things on my store blog so please check it out. If you love decorating, cooking and shopping then this will be the blog for you!

Mandisa and Peppermint Rock!

Ok, I am so outta my funk! I just got back this evening from the Women Of Faith Conference and can I just say that there is nothing better then worshiping God. Like Beth Moore says, "Their is no high like the MOST HIGH!!!" I so needed a weekend of girlfriends and God--I can now tackle this holiday season with gusto! The best part of the conference was rocking out with Mandisa! That girl can sing and oh is she such a beautiful woman inside and out. On Friday night she sang Shackles--which makes me dance like you wouldn't believe. That song just gets me pumped up and I love it! The boys and I listen to it a lot, in the car, on the way to school--and when my boys start singing the chorus I just about lose it! (In a good way) Look at these words Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance I just wanna praise you, I just wanna praise you -- You broke the chains now I can lift my hands And I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna praise you!!!!

These words can rock your world if you let them--there is just something about letting Him break those chains and allowing yourself to be free and full of His mighty grace!!! I hope my boys will always remember that--and just sing this AWESOME song!!!!


Also this weekend I was able to do a little Christmas Shopping--which makes me happy! I bought some William Sanoma peppermint hand soap, lotion, counter cleaner, and dish soap--it made me smile! I think I am going to start getting the Christmas decorations out tomorrow! Here is what my purchase looked like--how could I turn it down?





I know the pic is little but you get my drift--it smells so wonderful--I am ready to do some dishes now!

Do I Have To?

Tonight I am just tired and I don't really want to be thankful! Isn't that strange? I just want to go to bed--so today I am grateful that I can be kind of grumpy. I am glad that I don't always have to be chipper and perky--don't those kind of people get on your nerves? (How can anyone be happy all the time? Really?) Well, tonight they would get on mine--so with that being said I am going to bed! Good Night!

Thank You!

Today I am thankful for all the Men and Woman who fight for my freedom! I am grateful that they put their life on the line so I can walk free--Thank you!

Two special men in my life fought for us and today I would like to honor them. It is men like these two, that make this country what it is--the land of the free! I am honored to know and love both of these great heroes!

My Father In-Law, Larry Brown

And My Daddy, Jim Chancellor

Sunrise!

Isn't this picture beautiful! This is what I am thankful for today! This is taken from our new front yard! I love the way the light is hitting the trees and casting the tall shadows. Most of the time I don't take TIME to just enjoy the beauty of nature. I tend to take it for granted but this picture captures a pure beauty that God has given me right out my front door! WOW--I encourage you to just take some time and enjoy something outside that God has given you!