Spiritual Euphoria

Dale,

I just had to thank you for the "spiritual euphoria" found around the campfire Friday night. I can't remember laughing so hard in all of my years of Brown thanksgivings. Cary, hope your time away has been good. Thanks also for your input on "Club 1010" or "Club 116" -- or whatever it ends up being exactly. Our teens are digging the idea of "the hut" and decorating the youth room in a beach motif!

Thanksgiving overflows

What a wonderful time with family during the holiday! Seeing Bailey and Connor and Alan and others work hard to set the family record on Speed Stacker was loads of fun. Organizing the family football then soccer then basketball activities so that even the youngest could be included made the fun the focus and not the competition and that was super.

Food preparation and clean up seemed to get taken care of without one being burdened noticably more than the rest and that made me proud of each one. And who can bring a credible challenge to our cooks! When it comes to our favorite pastime, eating, we do it as well as anyone I can imagine. For me it is back to the diet routine but boy was it fun.

Thank you each one for making the effort to come join us and doing your part to help the whole group have an enjoyable time. Surely memories of good times and good values will be passed on to the likes of little Olivia for the good of at least one more generation.

Love you all.

Dad

PP Gate code

Everyone take note!!! The gate code to enter Deepwater Estates has changed to 6520 as of 11/6/06.

We need to arrange Saturday lunch plans to take into consideration a Hutton's 2:00 pm football playoff game in Abilene at Shotwell Stadium.

Looking forward to being together.

Dad

Let the feasting begin!

Mom asked me to blog a menu for Thanksgiving, so we'll start with the basics and let you all add what you want!

Turkey & Gravy - Mom
Dressing - Mom
Mashed Potatoes - April
Green Beans - Anda
Cranberry Salad - Holly
Green Salad - Jill
Rolls - Trisha
Apple & Pumpkin Pie - April
Jeff Davis Pie - Mom
Chocolate Pie - Jill
Pecan Pie - Jill
Other desserts - the rest of us...

Please comment with what you would like to be responsible for in the meal. If you sign up for an item or meal, can you also bring the ingredients for that meal/item? I'll list the rest of the meals and maybe we can each sign up for one and we'll work together for the ones with an *. For planning, please include when you will arrive and leave.

Wednesday
*Supper - tacos (Trisha)
Thursday
Breakfast - breakfast burritos (guys in charge?)
*Feast...(about 3 p.m.)
Friday
Breakfast - Breakfast Casserole (April)
Lunch - Soup and sandwiches (Trisha)
*Supper - Brisket, baked potatoes, salad etc. (Jill)
There are 2 frozen raw briskets at the lake we need to use
Saturday
Breakfast - Anda
Lunch - Anda
Supper - leftovers?
Sunday
Breakfast - cinnamon rolls (Jill)
Lunch - ????

Ben & Trisha's family plans to arrive for dinner Wed. and leave from the Midland Christian game Saturday afternoon.

"atta-ways" from Fort Worth

Dale, Randy and I are loving your encouraging words! Thanks for being such a life-bringer. I'm going to do a little bit of my own "bragging" on my boys and Jesus. First, Josiah had a great season again with the Tigers. They finished first for the season and then won all 3 of their games in a tournament yesterday. Lots of fun to watch this sweet little team that has been together for several seasons now.

Then there is my sweet husband. It's really fun to watch the Lord's destiny being so clearly worked out in someone's life! Jamey preached this wonderful sermon this a.m. that mostly focused on personal integrity and character. Towards the end, he said he wanted to mention a few men who had demonstrated this kind of Christ-like character and talked first about a couple of our church planters (including Brent Pennington). Then he starts talking about Randy and how, while he's not the most charasmatic guy (ha!), he gently leads people and is quite stubborn about some things like Jesus and the poor. He said that what he is doing with the Mighty Men is changing our church and the city of Fort Worth. And one of the coolest things is that big brother Cary was in church with us this a.m.!! (Don't worry, Cary, I won't tell them about you losing yourself in that interpretive dance you did...). Anyway, Randy doesn't want any praise, but I just thought you guys would enjoy hearing about how the Lord is working!!

Tonight we feel like we "entered into the battle." We had a dessert/hot chocolate/coffee get-together in our driveway for Lake Como Dr. We had some precious (and quite spunky) 80 year old women come, about 8-10 kids, and 6 or 7 adults from the apartments. God is moving and it's really wonderful, scary, etc. to be a part of it. Pray for us - I've never felt such an urgent need to pray and be completely dependent on God. God is SO good and worthy to be praised!
Love our family and can't wait to be with you this week!

Cary and Jill, we were so encouraged by your visit! Thanks for taking the time!
Rita, let us know what food we need to bring this week!

Blessings,
Anda

We cannot WAIT to stop saying "She won't be 2 forever." We like to speak words of hope and faith daily - "she's almost 3...!" 

Josiah did an incredible job as goalie for part of his game yesterday! His team ended the season in first place and also took first place at the tournament yesterday! Go Tigers! 

My little man! Can't believe he'll be one this week. Can't wait for you guys to hear him rap - no, I'm not kidding. He's really into hip-hop. 

Love these girls!! SWEET sisters! 

One of my closest friends, Candice with her daughter, Shumel and one of our apartment neighbors, Sheila. 

Our neighbors, Mrs. Gray and Ms. Murray and Ann Ellis. 

the "initiation" of the front porch! 

Atta-ways abound

Mom - finished her ladies class stepping on toes with the truth, with the ladies loving her all the more for it, then on to a special tea party to celebrate birthday with Katy and Abbey Claire - a big hit with special treats from our France trip.

Tod and Reagan for a great showing in the 4th grade super bowl game. We especially were thrilled as Reagan brought down the house with his spectacular kick-off return for a touchdown (we will forever believe it was for the length of the field with 11 of the biggest, fastest bullies in all of Midland in hot pursuit).

Cary has done a wonderful job of leading Legacy this past week through some defining moments on the way toward the IPO we have had in view for over a year now. All going well, the end of the year will see achievement of this phase of the business plan.

Ben did a great job with a chapel presentation at MCS on Friday in his pajamas. He really impressed Ricardo Maia from Belo Horizonte as Trisha and Ben hosted Ricardo for the morning. Ricardo meant it as a compliment when he said Ben would make a good Brazilian.

Alan got word this week that he will be recognized by Texas Monthly magazine early next year as a 'rising star' among Texas attorneys. He also did a great job filling in at the last minute teaching the auditorium adult class at GCR this morning. Such a good job that it was suggested he teach the important lesson about how truth matters to our teens, probably in a couple of weeks.

Allison is being an incredibly good sport handling the 'pressure' of a cruel orthodontist apparatus that spreads the bones in the roof of her mouth, opening a new gap between her front teeth. She is a super sweet young lady, and entertained us all at lunch talking about her ordeal.

I could list so many others in our family who have made me proud this week, but will just have to save some til later comment. Love you all.

Dad

Thanksgiving

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving. Is it the best turkey that's cooked? Or is it Mom's stuffing or Trisha's rolls? Maybe it's the Turkey Bowl.
Whatever it is, combine that with the warmth, love, and fun of this family and you have one of the best holidays outside of Christmas. This has to be one of my favorites. I long to see all of you, to hug your necks, to play with your children, to hear all your news. I miss my family. Next Wednesday just can't come soon enough.

Along with Thanksgiving, and my tradition with it, I volunteer to make some pies. I really do make good pies, even though my apple pie went up in flames (literally) last year, and I plan to prove that it would have been great if it hadn't been for the flames. I also would like to make some yummy mashed potatoes. With Mom's help of course. I gave Lena the talk about how she needs to play nicely with her cousins so I can be an adult and help in the kitchen. I always in the past shirked away from the kitchen, making the excuse that I was taking care of the kids. Not this year. There are plenty of little babysitters and I am going to be an adult and take some responsibilty and help.

Anything else I can do, let me know.

See you all soon!

April

In this family, girls have to learn about football.

Olivia, with cousin Emily's help, is learning how to cheer for her cousin Connor. 

Elijah roots for his cousin Connor

I think we are definitely looking at a future football player. 

Connor finishes his 7th grade season undefeated!!

Connor played great in the last game of the season. His most outstanding play in this game was sacking the quarterback all by himself in a one on one wrestling match 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He had a great year and the team was pretty excited about their undefeated season. 

Bailey--always cheering for her brothers!

 

Bailey, our cheerleader!

Bailey (third from left in back row) has had so much fun as cheerleader this year. We are so proud of the leadership she provides in so many areas. 

Hutton with his dad in his new varsity uniform.

Hutton made the decision to miss his last JV game to go with his dad to a missionary conference in Honduras. We all assumed that would mean that he would not be asked to suit up with varsity on Saturday for the big game. He and Tod had a great trip and got home on Friday night. Saturday morning they woke Hutton up to tell him his uniform (brand new with his name on the back) was waiting for him. We are so proud of him for putting first things first. 

Reagan and The Patriots in the Super Bowl

Sunday was also an exciting day. Reagan's football team had come in second in their division and won their first playoff game. The championship was scheduled in Grande Stadium against the undefeated Chiefs. The Chiefs are always huge and fast, having been handpicked and recruited by the coach every year. They haven't lost a game in years, and usually crush their opponents (i.e. 56-0). It was truly a "Facing the Giants" situation for our little 9 and 10 year old guys. Tod is one of the coaches, and I think he was more nervous than the boys. We did lose (36-6), but played hard to the end with some wonderful moments for Reagan that we will never forget. Reagan made us so proud--fantastic runs and tackles plus he never gave up to the very end.

A.J. was ready with the shirt he had painted for the occasion.

Allison, Annie, A.J., and Abby Claire painted shirts with #22 for the game. Reagan had lots of friends, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins ready to root for him. 

Connor was ready with face paint in place.

 

Reagan and teammate celebrate

The teams play a "5th quarter" of football using the second string team before the real game begins. (This makes sure all kids get to play.) With Reagan playing quarterback, Sam Patty ran in for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the score wouldn't count in the real game, but we won the "5th quarter" 8-0. 

Facing the Giants.

Reagan--#22--was one of the four captains for this championship game. 

The greatest moment of the game!!!

On a kickoff, Reagan broke through the huge Chiefs' line and ran 80 (?) yards for a touchdown. This is the only picture I got because I was yelling and jumping. It looked like the big guy was going to catch him, but our mighty little Reagan just kept going and somehow outran him into the endzone. It was one of only 2 touchdowns scored against the Chiefs this year. 

To say the crowd went wild would be an understatement!!!

Note the two grandpas. "That's our grandson!!!" 

Reagan came off the field as a hero!

It was fun to see Reagan's confidence level soar after scoring against the giants. 

Reagan's high school fans

Even boys from Midland Christian varsity football team came to cheer for Reagan. What a neat thing for them to do! Note the look on Reagan's face. 

A Fine Father-Son Team!

It would definitely be hard to say who had more fun--Tod or Reagan. I am so proud of both of them. Tod did a superb job of coaching, and Reagan gave his all until the very end! 

A Fun, Happy Family!!

Hutton was also there, but had left to spend some time with his friends after his week in Honduras. 

The Arrival of Lexi

Saturday was such a fun day. We all (including both sets of grandparents) went to the airport to wait for Lexi's arrival. After 13 years of waiting, begging, pleading for a dog, Mitch and siblings were going to finally get their wish. As most of you know, Cary has refused to get a dog for years. He finally made a deal that if they would all read through the Bible, he would agree to a dog. Jill researched and got on the waiting list for a "Golden Doodle"--a cross between a golden retreiver, cocker, and miniature poodle--while the kids met the challenge and each read through the Bible. I am so proud of them. The pictures will tell the story, but I will say we are all in love with Lexi. Well done, Mitch, Emily, Ashley and Josh. We are all proud of you.

Everyone is ready for the arrival of Lexi.

With Jill's help, they had attended to every detail--bed, treats, collar, leash, wipes, food, etc.--and they were ready for the long awaited moment. All grandparents were in attendance for the special occasion. 

A hero's greeting for dad Cary!!

This is the greeting Cary got when he arrived at the airport. If there was any doubt that he had made the right decision it was gone at this moment.