Barn Gals

A couple of pictures for your viewing!

2010-08-25T22:27:00.002-04:00

Rejoicing in the Goodness of God....

2010-08-05T10:23:00.003-04:00

Well, here it is! I am getting married Nov. 6th 2010! God has been so good and so faithful to bring me the most wonderful man, Taylor Tsantles. I am so thankful for his great vision for the future and I can't wait to become his bride and walk along side him for the rest of my life! I will try and post a couple times between now and the wedding, but at the rate that I blog, no promises! Enjoy the pictures.... hopefully there will be more coming soon!

Blessings,

Blair

(The happiest girl on earth!)

Paris in spring!

2010-05-09T17:52:00.002-04:00

Sides Family

2010-04-03T22:59:00.003-04:00

The Sides Family

~ Spring 2010 ~

Miss Lydia Hope Sides

Meghan and Lydia

Big Brother Caleb!

From the Valley of Vision....

2010-03-12T23:12:00.000-05:00

Thou Righteous and Holy Sovereign,

In whose hand is my life and whose are all my ways,

Keep me from fluttering about religion;

fix me firm in it,

for I am irresolute;

my decisions are smoke and vapour,

and I do not glorify thee,

or behave according to thy will;

cut me not off before my thoughts grow to responses,

and the budding of my soul into full flower,

for thou art forbearing and good,

patient and kind.

Save me from myself,

from the artifices and deceits of sin,

from the treachery of my perverse nature,

from denying thy charge against my offences,

from a life of continual rebellion against thee,

from wrong principles, views, and ends;

for I know that all my thoughts, affections,

desires and pursuits are alienated from thee.

I have acted as if I hated thee, although thou art love itself;

have contrived to tempt thee to the uttermost,

to wear out thy patience;

have lived evilly in word and action.

Had I been a prince

I would longer ago have crushed such a rebel;

Had I been a father

I would long since have rejected my child.

O, thou Father of my spirit,

thou King of my life, cast me not into destruction,

drive me not from thy presence,

but wound my heart that it may be healed;

break it that thine own hand may make it whole.

Loyal Cromwell Bradrick

2010-01-23T17:58:00.003-05:00

January 11, 2010

11:12 am

5 lbs. 15 oz.

19 1/2 " long

Bradrick Baby has arrived!!!

2010-01-12T20:10:00.003-05:00

On Monday morning Baby Boy Bradrick was born into this world at 11:12 am!

We are praising God for the blessing of life

and for the many mercies He showed during the delivery.

Check back again soon to get an update with the name!

It is with great joy that I bring to you.....

2009-10-24T18:45:00.004-04:00

the annoucment of David Brown and Monica Daming's engagement!

~ Check back again soon for more pictures and updates! ~

Florida family vacation....

2009-10-18T16:06:00.010-04:00

Hello all!

This post was put together while I was in Longboat Key, Florida! Thanks to my Great-Aunt & Uncle, Libby and Ken, my family was able to enjoy a week at their condo on the beautiful beaches of Fl. It has been over 12 years since we have been down here! I can't tell you how much fun it has been to see the beach, pool, condo & all the places I used to visit. I must say that a lot has changed in 12 years..... I am really starting to see how time flies!

Well, let me give you a little recap from the trip.....

Lots of time was spent in the sand, swimming in the ocean and pool,basking in the sun, taking a nap, site-seeing, reading and just being a family! Below are a few pictures of the different adventures we had and a few of the beautiful landscape from Florida.

Enjoy.....

A couple of sunsets.

On a rainy day, we went to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Circus museum. In 1907 Barnum and Bailey

was bought out by the Ringling Brothers.....

The neat thing about the museum is that around 1956,

a man named Howard Tibbals asked to make a replica of the

Ringling Bros. Circus. The nephew of the Ringling brothers,

told Tibbals that he could make the replica,

but could not use their name.

So, here in Sarasota Fl, is a 3/4-inch-to-the-foot replica

of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

Howard Tibbles named his replica the Howard Bros. Circus.

For more information please visit:

http://www.ringling.org/CircusMuseum2.aspx?id=632

The Barnum & Bailey circus!

Here are a few pictures of the replica....

One afternoon, we went to Venice Beach, the sharks

tooth capitol of the world. (So their website says!)

Anyway, we went and sifted through the sand

to find a few sharks teeth. Claudia found the most, coming in at 7!

Fresh coconuts from Florida.....

Claudia is opening a coconut we found in the yard at the condo!

A beautiful sunset from the beaches of Florida!

2009-10-16T20:28:00.002-04:00

Laughter is the best medicine!

2009-09-12T20:16:00.002-04:00

"Like 'Murphy's Law' here are some funny 'laws' that are all too true....

Law of Probability:

The probability of being watched is

directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of Random Numbers:

If you dial a wrong number,

you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

Law of Close Encounters:

The probability of meeting someone you know increases

dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Alibi:

If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire,

the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Law of Results:

When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Shopping:

If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Law of Marketing:

As soon as you find a product you like, they will stop making it."

-Quote from: Women in Motion-

Volume 7 - # 9

September 2009

More Pictures from the Beach!

2009-08-31T21:58:00.004-04:00

Well, our trip to the beach has come to a close. It was a fantastic time and very relaxing! Kelly came down for the weekend and we had a blast.... The boys (Triumph & Knox) had such a fun time playing in the sand and getting wet in the ocean.

A taste of Summer!

Beach Trip!

2009-08-27T11:25:00.003-04:00

More to come later!

- Blair -

Can sisters have too much fun...

2009-07-23T20:37:00.003-04:00

Valley of Vision

2009-07-13T16:55:00.001-04:00

"Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience, more perceptible to those around. While Jesus is representing me in Heaven, may I reflect Him on earth, while He pleads my cause, may I show forth His praise."

Knox Gets a Bath at Nana's House!

2009-07-10T21:40:00.006-04:00

Tonight Mom and I gave Knox a bath.... and yes, he loves it!

NCFIC Intern Class - Spring 2009

2009-06-22T15:58:00.004-04:00

The National Center for Family Integrated Churches

is getting ready to send off the first group of interns.

It has been a great blessing and lots of fun to have these

5 young men on the NCFIC team.

(L - R:) Andrew Higgenbothom, Micah Ferrill, David Brown, Scott Brown, Peter Bradrick

Ryan Glick, Joseph Froemming & Andrew Gillingham.

(L - R:)Ryan, Joe, Andrew G. Micah & Andrew H.

~Christ is All~

2009-06-15T15:37:00.002-04:00

O lover to the uttermost,

May I read the meltings of Thy heart to me

in the manger of Thy birth

in the garden of Thy agony,

in the cross of Thy suffering,

in the tomb of Thy resurrection,

in the heaven of Thy intercession.

Bold in this thought I defy my adversary,

tread down his temptations,

resist his schemings,

renounce the world,

am valiant for truth.

Deepen in me a sense of my holy relationship to Thee,

as spiritual Bridegroom,

as Jehovah's Fellow,

as sinners' Friend.

I think of Thy glory and my vileness,

Thy majesty and my meanness,

Thy beauty and my deformity,

Thy purity and my filth,

Thy righteousness and my iniquity.

Thou has loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,

may I love Thee as I am loved;

Thou has given Thyself for me,

may I give myself to Thee;

Thou hast died for me,

may I live to Thee,

In every moment of my time,

in every movement of my mind,

in every pulse of my heart.

May I never dally with the world and its allurements,

but walk by Thy Side,

listen to Thy voice,

be clothed with Thy graces,

and adorned with Thy righteousness.

~Valley of Vision~

Friends for life!

2009-06-09T22:22:00.004-04:00

Following the Senior Portraits I did a photo shoot for Victoria and her dear friend Dottie.

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed capturing the two of them together!

Miss. Victoria Bulman ~ Senior Portraits

2009-06-09T22:07:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I did the senior portraits for a friend of mine.

The weather was perfect.... Warm, sunny and a little breezy.

Here are just a few of the pictures I was able to capture.

A great Birthday Card...

2009-06-06T23:35:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was Mom's birthday. One of the great cards she received reads as follows:

Birthdays are good for you.

Statistics show that the people who have the most

live the longest!!!

Larry Lorenzoni

A quote for the day...

2009-06-02T13:44:00.002-04:00

"Help me to honour Thee by believing before I feel,

for great is the sin if I make feelings a cause of faith."

(Valley of Vision p. 14)

From 'The Valley of Vision'

2009-06-01T10:55:00.002-04:00

'Thou art all my good in times of peace,

my only support in days of trouble,

my one sufficiency when life shall end.

Help me to see how good thy will is in all,

and even when it crosses mine

teach me to be pleased with it.'

The Valley of Vision

The All-Good

Page 10 & 11

An update!

2009-05-31T19:34:00.007-04:00

Once again I am very sorry for the long delay in my writing. With much travel in the last month and a half, I have had little to no time for pictures and blogging. Please forgive me.

I need to keep this post short, but will be back soon.....

The pictures below are from our Memorial day celebration

(For more pictures visit: ncfic.org/blog)

Elizabeth Daming and yours truly!

Pictures!!

2009-04-04T12:57:00.012-04:00

Well, here are a few more pictures from the past week. I am sorry it has

taken me so long to post again.

The first set of pictures are from our dinner on the beach last week.

(Jessie Lee and Molly Smith joined us that evening.)

We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed a great time of conversation and laughter!

Sunday all 5 of us, (Emily, Myself, Claire, Hilary & Dottie) headed over to the local Lodge in town and did a photo shoot in the gardens. After which we went to the beach for more fun!

I will post more later. I have so many wonderful pictures from the trip and choosing the best for the blog is hard. So hang in and I will get more to you later!

Claire with our picnic dinner

This spot will do!

Molly & Claire lighting the grill...

L~R: Claire, Molly, Emily & Hilary

L~R: Jessie, Hilary & Claire

Molly & Emily

Hilary Kate

Just for Laughs!

The Fitzgerald Family

Enjoying a sunset with my dear friend Claire.

A classic Cambria sunset....

An afternoon at the beach!

2009-03-28T12:13:00.007-04:00

Here are a few pictures from our outing to the seaside... Here we enjoyed a lovely lunch and time to enjoy the Pacific coast! (Yes, the water was freezing.)

The Pacific Shore...

Preparing for lunch.

Hilary and myself

Miss Emily

Hilary K.

Claire and Hilary

Blair Elizabeth & Claire Elizabeth

Here in Cambria, CA!

2009-03-25T15:51:00.004-04:00

Well, here I am at last, back to the world of blogging! What fun.... 8)

So what has happened in the past month or so? I could tell you all, but that would take forever. On the other hand I can tell you in a nut shell. Ok, NCFIC has taken on 5 interns. Mom and I took charge in getting their dorm set up. Our whole family went to the Valenti/Bradrick wedding on the 28th of Feb. Was home to live a week or so of normal busy life and now I am in CA!

I have been here since the 20th of March and will return home the 6th of April. While here I am visiting the Fitzgerald Family. (Life long friends of the Brown family!) We have been enjoying a relaxing time and sweet fellowship. It is always lots of fun to visit friends after not seeing each other for several years.

I plan to post more while here in CA, but if I don't I will do my best to post right after I return home. I do apologize for my neglect in keep up with my blog. As time permits I will be doing better, I hope!

Enjoy,

Blair

(L to R:) Emily, Aunt Ruth & Hilary

Claire - practicing with her new camera!

(L to R:) Claire, Me & Hilary

Just for laughs!!

Myself and Hilary

Please stay tuned. I really do hope to post more in the near future!

A yummy treat for a cold day....

2009-02-05T21:32:00.003-05:00

This is a must have treat for a cold day. Easy prep and wonderful taste... Could not ask for more!

I have not forgotten....

2009-01-12T16:14:00.001-05:00

Hello readers,

I just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about my blog. The reason for the great delay in posting is due to the fact that I have been traveling for 2 weeks. I will be heading home on Friday and hope to post an update then. Thank you for your patience with me.

Until next week.....

Blair

A general update...

2008-12-12T09:56:00.007-05:00

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I can honestly say that I have been keeping very busy. So, you may be asking yourself, 'I wonder what kinds of things the Brown's have been up to?' Well know you can stop wondering and I will tell you!

The last couple of weeks have been spent in preparation for a conference we hosted on Dec. 5-6. When we were not preparing for the conference, we put in some long days of work on David's house. It has been a lot of fun helping with the framing, flooring, measuring & cutting, dump runs etc....!

As a side to this post, I have had several requests for pictures of Peter, Kelly Triumph and Knox. The draw back is that I have not yet made it down to TX to visit and take pictures of my own. So here are a few of the latest pictures of the Bradrick family.

Well, I am going to close for now with a few pictures of Life at the Brown's Barn!

Blessings,

Blair

A work in progress....

2008 NCFIC Regional Conference.

David and his A/V staff!

The latest Bradrick photos!

The latest photos for your enjoyment

2008-11-26T22:23:00.002-05:00

Pictures at last....

2008-11-21T20:10:00.004-05:00

Knox Defender Bradrick

A Poem for Today...

2008-11-12T12:56:00.002-05:00

Father, I know that all my life

Is portioned out for me;

The changes that are sure to come,

I do not fear to see:

I ask Thee for a present mind,

Intent on pleasing Thee.

I would not have the restless will

That hurries to and fro,

Seeking for some great thing to do,

Or Secret thing to know;

I would be treated as a child,

And guided where I go.

I ask Thee for the daily strength,

To non that ask denied,

A mind to blend with outward life,

While keeping at Thy side,

Content to fill a little space,

If Thou be glorified.

In service which Thy will appoints

There are no bonds for me;

My secret heart is taught the truth

That makes Thy children free;

A life of self-renouncing love

Is one of liberty.

Anna L. Waring

A weekend Project

2008-11-10T21:11:00.007-05:00

This past weekend, Claudia and I painted and rearranged David's room while he was out of town! Lets just say it was a great surprise when he got home. 8) Here are a few pictures of the *before, during and after.

*I forgot to take pictures before I took the furniture out of his room, so they are what it looked like with almost nothing left in the room.

Hope you enjoy a little window into what my past weekend looked like!

Blair

We have a name!!!

2008-11-09T16:24:00.003-05:00

Knox Defender Bradrick

(When I get a picture I will be sure to post it! Just hang in there.)

A little fall color

2008-11-04T17:13:00.002-05:00

A New Baby!!!

2008-11-02T00:31:00.004-04:00

Well today started a little different for an average Saturday at the Brown's Barn. Mom came up to tell me that Kelly was in the early stages of labor and that I needed to come down right away and get her on the next flight out to San Antonio. So, after about 45 minutes on the computer and the phone, I was able to get her on an 11:00 am flight. She arrived in TX just after 3:00 pm.

At 8:00 pm central time, Kelly gave birth to a healthy baby boy!! I am so thankful to the Lord for giving Kelly the strength she needed and for blessing both she and Peter with a new miracle. Here is the information that I have: He looks like Peter, with light hair. Weighs 7 pounds and measured in at 19 1/2 inches!!

With much joy and delight,

Auntie Blair

FYI

2008-10-26T23:28:00.002-04:00

I just posted my 'long' Washington post. Seeing that it was a couple of days in the making, it is posted just below 'A day at the park'.

So scroll down to see the newsy update!

- Blair

A day at the park

2008-10-24T17:11:00.004-04:00

At the end of September the Peter Bradrick family came out for our Father Son Retreat. Kelly and Triumph stayed a few extra days, so we took a little trip to the local park.

Here are just a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

~ Blair ~

This is our neighbor's little girl - who was born the same day Triumph was.

A Blessed week in Washington

2008-10-23T23:04:00.014-04:00

For the past 10 days the Brown family has been in WA visiting the Bradrick Clan. I will give you a quick overview of what took place while we were there.

a) On Friday the 10th, 3 Brown ladies (Mom, Claudia & I) flew into Seattle to be greeted by 3 Bradricks. (Mama B. Katherine & Amy Ellen) From the airport we drove the remaining 4 hours to Spokane where we stayed with the Craig family for the weekend.

b) Saturday was the first of two mother daughter teas hosted by Christian Heritage. (christianheritageonline.org) The day was full of many rich blessings from the Lord, with 120 in attendance. After we spoke/shared and enjoyed a beautiful day of conversation. After which we headed back to the Craig home for a restful evening.

Sunday started with a wonderful morning of sweet worship. After which we came back to the Craig's and had the equivalent of Thanksgiving dinner! Followed by a good walk, volleyball, more fellowship and a few games.

Monday found us on the road heading back to the west side of Washington. On the way, we stopped in the small tourist town, Leavenworth. (leavenworth.org) After walking the very quaint streets and stopping in here and there for some shopping, we had an absolutely wonderful dinner. After dinner and coffee, we loaded back into the car and drove the rest of the way to the Bradrick's home.

c) Monday through Thursday went a little something like this:

Little sleep - lots of fellowship.

Canning apple sauce and apple butter.

Drying apple rings for a fantastic treat. :)

Lots of talking while working in the kitchen and doing dishes!!

Running into town to do grocery shopping and prep errands for the upcoming events.

d) Thursday My dad, David & Taylor Tsantles, flew in for a Men's Leadership Meeting held in Tacoma. (My dad was speaking along with Dan Horn.) So a handful of us drove into Tacoma to hosting the meeting and serving lunch.

Friday evening my Grandparents and Aunt JoAnne drove up from the Portland area for a weekend visit and to attend the second M/D tea in Tacoma.

e) Saturday was the second of the 2 teas. This one was larger in attendance, 180! The Lord richly blessed the work that the Bradrick family and the CH board poured into these two teas. The day was beautiful, the tea was spectacular and the conversations was greatly blessed.

f) Sunday was another day full of blessed fellowship and a sweet time of worship.

g) Monday found the Brown family and Taylor loading up around 7:00 am heading to the airport for a long day of flying back to NC!

Thus the end of our wonderful trip. Below are the pictures posted in order of events listed above. FYI: I don't have any pictures of the apples that we canned or dried, but trust me they were delicious!

Blessings from your blog host,

Blair

Mama speaking at the Mother Daughter Tea in Spokane.

A little lady at the tea....

Sisters and a friend who sat my table during the tea.

(Yes, they made their dresses!)

Leavenworth!

The Cheese Shop....

This was the most fantastic shop, they had every kind of cheese under the sun. :)

So Ladies, what will it be?

A beautiful soap shop....

And my personal favorite, the chocolate shop!!

Need I say more....

Amy Ellen capturing the moment....

Claudia in Leavenworth...

Miss Cecily

The group in Leavenworth, minus Cecily who is taking the picture.

Just for laughs!

Yes, we did have a blast together, how did you ever guess?!

Dear sisters and very close friends!

Cecily and me....

Aunt JoAnne and me.

My dear family

My sweet parents!!

One of the days, the guys went to the flight museum in Seattle, this is just one of the many pictures taken that afternoon!

The Bradrick Family

2008-10-21T23:23:00.001-04:00

Life in Black and White

2008-10-21T16:44:00.004-04:00

Here are just a few pictures from our time in Washington.

~Blair~

The Bradrick ~ Brown Family

~Katherine, Myself, Claudia, Amy-Ellen, & Cecily~

~Taylor, Stephen, David & Phillip~

Brothers and Dear Friends

The Trio! (Who had way to much fun together!)

Sorry for the Delay

2008-10-08T11:46:00.005-04:00

Hello to the readers of this blog.

I am sorry that it has been a while since my last post. Yes, there is a very good reason for my neglect. Can you guess? Some of you may know right away, and for those of you who are still guessing, I will just tell you. I have been out of town to the land of corn fields and not internet!

The Brown family traveled to Harvard, IL for a conference and to visit the Powers family. It was a 5 day trip and to my regret I did not take my camera, I am really kicking myself for it now! All that to say, I am hoping to get some of the pictures that the Powers took and post a few sooner rather than later.

So yes, I am still living and staying very busy. I do hope that everyone is enjoying this lovely fall weather. Just as a side note, I think that fall is my favorite season, the second would be spring!

Well, that is all for now folks. Until next time. (When ever that will be!!)

Your host,

Blair

A quote for today....

2008-09-25T22:12:00.013-04:00

Coffee is not a drug....

It's a VITAMIN!!!

A Quote from Susannah Spurgeon

2008-09-16T15:33:00.002-04:00

....'how little I dreamed of the honour God was preparing for me in the near future! It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence.'

Free Grace and Dying Love: Morning Devotions by Susannah Spurgeon With The Life of Susannah Spurgeon

Page: 132-133

In Remembrance of My Sister's wedding

2008-09-07T21:45:00.007-04:00

2 years ago on August 26, 2006 - Peter Bradrick and Kelly Brown were married. What a joyful day it was. Full of feasting and fellowship.

I will always remember the joy in Kelly's face as she finished writing and closed the book of being a daughter in our father's house, to picking up the pen and starting a new book and chapter in her life. One that she and Peter will be writing for many years, and with great delight will pass on to their children!

A beautiful covenant before God and man....

On July 9, 2007 - Triumph Perseverance Bradrick was born. I don't think I will ever forget receiving the call saying that Kelly was a mama and Peter was the proud father of a first born son! As a side note: We were in Georgia on our way to Texas when we received this wonderful call. After we got the news, we decided to drive straight through the night and arrived in San Antonio just about 1:30 pm the following day!

This picture was taken when Triumph was a little over 24 hours old!!

Now this soon to be big bother (in November) is one. He has been a continual joy to the whole family! I can't tell you in words just how much I love this 'little' man.

I am so happy for the wonderful husband the Lord has provided for my dear friend & sister. It has been such a blessing to be able to stand by and watch this sweet couple glorify God in their marriage and as they raise up a new generation of warriors.

I look forward with great anticipation to the day, that is coming so very soon, when I will be able to meet and hold in my arms a new little Bradrick! It is my prayer that God will grant you, Peter and Kelly, many years of blessed marriage and that He will give you many arrows to fill your quiver.

With much love and joy for you both as you start on the journey of a third year in marriage.

Forever your sister,

Blair Elizabeth

Psalm 146 & 147

2008-09-06T13:29:00.002-04:00

Last night before we all headed off to bed, we sat down to read the Psalms. This was what we read...

~146~
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

~147~
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

10 Days in Indiana

2008-08-27T10:44:00.015-04:00

Last week, the Brown family returned home from a 10 day trip to Indiana. Our purpose for going: Relaxation and fellowship with the Daming family, a visit to the Creation Museum, and a Regional Uniting Church & Family Conference.

Here are the events and details of the trip in a nutshell!

We arrived on the evening of the 13th, had a wonderful dinner and a sweet time of reading the Psalms and singing. Thursday was a day to stay at the house and catch up with the Damings, whom we had not seen since June. Friday was the beginning of a very full weekend. We started with the Creation Museum, which was just fantastic! AIG has done such a wonderful job displaying the Bible. After the museum, we headed to Anderson, Indiana where the UC&F conference was held. Friday night and all day Saturday was full of many wonderful sessions, time to talk with the attendees and see how the Lord is working in so many different families for His glory. Sunday was the end of our full weekend. What a blessing it was to be a part of the new church that was planted less than 1 year ago.

Monday was a day to sleep in and get back to "normal" life. A couple of us did the grocery shopping for the week, others did laundry, and some just went out and played in the yard and the creek. The rest of the week held many fun adventures. We went to 2 of the Goodwills, one of which was a Goodwill Outlet!! We made it to an antique store and the local Ice Cream hot spot. One of the big events was our Olympic games on the lawn. The first of the 4 events was a relay, followed with a traditional Highland games event, rock throwing. After we had taken all the measurements to announce the winner, we all headed down to the basement to the racket ball room for a good game of Wallyball! (This is just like Volleyball, but you are in a room with 4 walls, and the ball can be bounced off of them making the game a little harder!) Then we headed out back for the final event of the Olympics, tennis!! The last day of our visit we all went to a local family run apple farm. We picked for a while and then went back to the barn where we enjoyed carmel apples and delicious apple cider slushies.

We had a couple of day where we did not have anything planed, so we would sit on the porch to enjoy time of sweet fellowship and watch the humming birds fly by. Indiana is such a beautiful state, very flat and full of corn fields. Because Indiana is such a flat state, one can see for miles and there is nothing there but farms and fields of corn. With that view the rising and setting of the sun was just breath taking. We beheld a fantastic rising of the moon. It was so big in the sky and a deep red orange. I don't think I have ever seen anything like it. What a wonderful Creator we have!

Well, for now I will leave you to view the pictures posted below. Enjoy a little window into our trip to Indiana.

Blessings,

Blair

Glimpses of glory

2008-08-05T20:28:00.005-04:00

A job well done...

2008-07-28T11:13:00.006-04:00

Well, the peaches are done and the kitchen is clean. We finished Saturday night with 144 quarts on the shelf! Here are a few pictures of the work in progress.

To give you an idea as to how big some of the peaches were, the above peach is about the size of a softball!

Peach season is here!

2008-07-24T13:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we picked up our 7 1/2 bushels of peaches. Lets just say that over the next couple of days we are going to be rather busy canning. Why so many peaches you may be thinking? Well, for the last couple of years we have missed peach season. Two years ago we were getting ready for a wedding, last year we were in Texas for for the birth of Triumph Bradrick baby. So making up for the past couple of years, we should come out with approx. 150 quarts of peaches!!

Christ at the center of home life...

2008-07-23T09:58:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, I baby sat for a family in our church. Around the walls in their dinning room they painted the following:

Christ it the secret of happy home life.

What are some of the secrets of happy home life? The answer might be given in one word ~ Christ!

~ Christ at the marriage-alter

~ Christ on the bridal journey

~ Christ when the new home is set up

~ Christ when the baby is born

~ Christ when a child dies

~ Christ in the pinching times

~ Christ in the days of plenty

~ Christ in the nursery, in the kitchen, in the parlor

~ Christ in the toil and in the rest

~ Christ along all the years

~ Christ when the wedded pair walk toward the sunset gates

~ Christ in the sad hour when farewells are spoken, and one goes on before and the other stays, bearing the unshared grief.

Christ is the secret of happy home life.

(Quote from Secrets of Happy Home Life by J. R. Miller. Page 3)

This is my Father's world!

2008-07-17T19:56:00.004-04:00

2008 Scotland Faith & Freedom Tour

2008-07-14T14:29:00.016-04:00

Well, just as I promised here is my Scotland post. The pictures in this post are not in perfect order, but I am sure you will enjoy it anyway.

Getting to Scotland was a bit of an adventure, but we did get there safe and sound. After missing our international flight out of the States, we were able to fly standby on the last flight out for the night. We made it to London Heathrow, and missed the connecting flight to Glasgow Scotland. They rebooked us to Edinburgh Scotland, which in the long run was better, seeing that the taxi ride was 25 minutes and not an hour! We got to the hotel with an hour or so before the opening dinner. After all of the trouble with the flights, we had no bags!! Yes, that is right, we went the next 3 days in the same clothes. I will say, I have never been so happy to see my suitcase in my life. It was like having a birthday at the age of 5!

The whole trip was just wonderful. One thing that struck me the most was walking past the graves or the markers on the side walks of the men and women who died for Christ. I will say that this trip caused my eyes to be opened even more to the reality of how great the cost is to be a follower of Christ. I do understand that not every person will have to die a martyr's death, but we must stand & fight for Christ no matter the cost. Coming away from this trip, my prayer is to be found faithful even to the end of my days.

The days were full of going to different places, lots of great conversations, and many wonderful memories were made. The weather was rather wet, sunny in the morning, rainy in the afternoon, and who knows what in the evening! The locals said 'That in Scotland, you can have all 4 seasons in one day!!'

Let me give you a few big highlights that I came away with:

1) For the opportunity to be able to attend a history tour like this one.

2) Walking where the founding fathers walked.

3) Hearing the God honoring talks given by, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Potter, Mr. Morecraft, and Mr. Gunn.

4) Singing hymns in a couple of different churches. What a joy it was to hear voices of praise lifted up to our Heavenly Father.

5) Trying new foods! (Yes, I did try Haggis, and if you don't know what it is, look it up on google!)

6) The bus rides gave many opportunities for conversation. I was very thankful for the

hours we had over the 2 weeks of being gone.

To be perfectly honest with you, I could sit here and type for many more hours telling of the many blessings from the Lord and showing the other 1000 plus pictures I did not post. For tonight, I am going to end this post here. I hope you enjoy this little window into the land of Scotland.

Until next time!

Blessings,

Blair

Let me just say that the 'look left, look right' thing, is really a life saver!!

This is the Grass Market in Edinburgh, where many men and women were put to death for their reformed faith.

Miss. Rebecca Zes

Miss. Erica Daming

Singing praise in the Iona Abby!

Kelly on the Island of Iona.

Yes, there really are sheep all over the land of Scotland!!

This was the area where you could get a cup of tea for the ride...

Sarah and Rebecca looking over the train schedule...

The Jacobite Steam Train...

Mr. Doug Phillips

Mr. Bill Potter
Wesley S.
Dr. Joe Morecraft

Mr. Collin Gunn

Kelly and Triumph walking through St. Andrews.

St. Andrews

The Falkirk Wheel....

The monument for the battle of Bannockburn

Justice taking notes.

Honor is ready for battle...

Faith looking from the 'Ladies Lookout' at Stirling Castle...

Robert the Bruce Monument

This is the beach where Chariots of Fire was filmed.

Here in this driveway, Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake.

Elizabeth and Noah Daming...

Peter Serven was the photographer for our tour...

Katherine Walsh watching the Highland Games...

After the games were over, the men from our group went down to try their hand. It was so much fun to watch them throw the 50 lb. dumbbell, and the 86 lb. rock.

The local price of gas...

David did all the filming for the tour. I must say, he was the man for the job!

The Closing Dinner

Yes, we did have a small group of men wearing a Scottish kilt...

Look who turned one!

2008-07-10T18:29:00.008-04:00

Yesterday Triumph had his very first birthday. Here are a couple of pictures from the evening. I must say that it was a wonderful 'party' with much laughter!!!

Having way to much fun!!!

All Clean!!!

There and back again...

2008-07-09T09:10:00.008-04:00

I am back to the land of the living and the land of internet! I did not have internet while in Scotland. Well, I should say, that I could have payed $30 for 24 hours, but I thought I would just wait and post when I got home. This is not going to be a very long post seeing that I only have a few minutes to put this together. So here are a few pictures. I will post later telling about our adventure and the joy of flying over seas, and missing almost all your flights!!!

Until next time,

Blair

The beauty of Scotland...

Edinburgh Castle (This picture was taken from my hotel room window. What a view)

Stirling Castle

William Wallace Monument

Triumph Perseverance Bradrick...

The Highland Games

Urquhart Castle

More to come soon.....

Off To Scotland...

2008-06-22T08:43:00.005-04:00

Today I start on my trip to Scotland. The focus of this trip is Vision Forum's Faith & Freedom Tour. I will try my best to keep you all up to date with the events of this trip. If I don't get around to posting while I am gone, I will be sure to do a good newsy post when I return. Until next time.

Alba Gu Bra ~ Scotland Forever!

Blair

Psalm 19:1

2008-06-19T20:54:00.004-04:00

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork...

What A Cutie...

2008-06-17T22:06:00.005-04:00

My Sweet Sister Claudia

2008-06-17T21:42:00.002-04:00

Just for fun

2008-06-16T21:28:00.004-04:00

The Other day I went outside to take a few practice pictures. Here are some of the ones that I captured. As the title says, this was just for fun.

Blair

Picture for today...

2008-06-14T10:34:00.002-04:00

Father Daughter Retreat

2008-06-09T20:41:00.005-04:00

This past weekend our church hosted our annual father daughter retreat. We started on Friday night with my dad giving a message on biblical womanhood. Saturday we had brunch at our local tea room, followed by a couple more lectures. The retreat ended on our farm, with the girls taking aim at the enemies of femininity, followed by a high tea. The weekend was full of wonderful fellowship, and precious time for the daddies and their daughters.

Mother's love worth $117,000 per year, study says

2008-06-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

Click here to read the article....

2008 Memorial Day Celebration!

2008-05-27T11:20:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day...

2008-05-21T22:45:00.000-04:00

Well the big day is almost here. This is just to let you know that with all the prep and after work, I will be back to the blog a few days after the event. I will be sure to post pictures and a few comments.

Blessings,
Blair

Water Baby!

2008-05-03T14:27:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures of Triumph "swimming" in his little pool. (Note: The pool is in the house!)

Under Construction

2008-04-30T11:24:00.001-04:00

The last couple of days, David, Joey Valenti, and Taylor Tsantles have been working on putting the second story on David's house. Here are a few pictures from yesterday of them working. Hope you enjoy!

- Beach Trip -

2008-04-22T17:39:00.000-04:00

Here area few pictures of our trip to the beach. More to come...

A baby shower!

2008-04-20T17:54:00.001-04:00

Yesterday the ladies of the church gathered to celebrate the coming birth of a new baby in our assembly. Mrs. Meghan Sides is due in early June. We are looking forward to meeting this new bundle of joy. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.

Our new kittens...

2008-04-19T13:19:00.001-04:00

How cute they are.... but only when they are little...

This is what we call a real hot dog!

2008-04-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

Vision Forum's 2008 Father Daughter Retreat

2008-04-14T11:28:00.000-04:00

This past weekend almost 600 fathers and daughters gathered at Callaway Gardens, in Pine Mountain Ga.
This is the highlight of the year for many fathers and daughters. Not only do they get to spend time hearing wonderful talks, but they also get the chance to strengthen there relationship with each other. What a blessed time this was.

The joy of parents...

2008-04-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

Much love to you both. I am so thankful for you and your ever faithful friendship.

How sweet are the relationships.....

2008-04-03T17:42:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Poli with Sarah Joe ~Mother & Daughter~

Emily & Lydia ~Sisters~

Grace & Claire ~Sisters~

My dear sister....

2008-03-28T17:30:00.001-04:00

The Joys of Birthdays!

2008-03-18T18:35:00.002-04:00

Friends and family came to celebrate......

This was a very special birthday, seeing that she turned 20, and 5 all on the same day. Date of Birth: 2/29/1988 (Leap year!)

Happy birthday Liz!!! Thanks for being such a wonderful friend!

Ladies Sewing Day!

2008-02-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

Several of the ladies in our assembly gathered together to learn how to make a skirt. After several hours of hard work, they all left with a finished project!

The day was full of much laughter and joy. Can't wait to do it again!

Dinner over the fire...

2008-02-22T18:08:00.000-05:00

There is nothing better than a good homemade dinner, cooked over a home fire!!

Way too cute!!

2008-02-15T22:00:00.001-05:00

Samuel Breagy

(Picture taken at the
60th anniversary party)

Celebration of 60 years

2008-02-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

On February 1st we celebrated my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. Here are a few pictures from the evening. Hope you enjoy.

~Blair~

A blessing from the Lord

2008-01-30T07:48:00.000-05:00

"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.
I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee."

-Exodus 23:25-27-

60 wonderful years of marriage!

2008-01-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

On January 8, 1923 William Brown was born.

On July 5, 1927 Mary Holmsley was born.

Then on December 23, 1947 William and Mary covenanted before the Lord and were wed.

On December 23, 2007, this same sweet couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

We love you so much. Thank you for being a part of our lives. We look forward to the years ahead.

Happy Anniversary!

The Brown Family

Common Sense

2008-01-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

Today when I opened my email, I found that a friend of mine had sent me this story about the life of common sense. After reading it I thought, 'How true this is, not just when we take common sense out of our life, but when we remove God and His perfect authority.'

-Blair-

- The life of Common Sense-

My parents told me
about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on
him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but
less and less as time passed by.

Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance. For Common Sense had served us all so well for many generations.

-Obituary-

Common Sense

Today we
mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old
he was since his birth
records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered
as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm,
why life isn't always fair, and how, on
occasion, maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by
simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable
parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

His health began to
deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set
in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for
kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after
lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost
ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when
schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion
or a sticky plaster to a student; but could not inform the parents when a
student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the
will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became
businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common
Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your
own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally
gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of
coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was
preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his
daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three
stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a
Victim.

Not many attended his
funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Bradrick Family 2008

2008-01-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

Gonna be a cowboy!

2008-01-21T08:35:00.001-05:00

A beautiful morning in North Carolina

2008-01-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

"Truly the light is sweet;
and it is pleasant for the eyes
to behold the sun;..."
Ecclesiastes 11:7

Ephesians 5:19

2008-01-13T21:30:00.001-05:00

...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord....

Sisters, Sisters....

2008-01-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

The faithfulness of our unchangeable God

2008-01-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease."
- Genesis 8:22-

Chloe

2007-12-31T09:55:00.000-05:00

Here she is. I picked Chloe up on Saturday from a local shelter, and have enjoyed every minute with her. As I write this post she is sleeping in my lap! The joys of having a puppy.

Sticky Buns!

2007-12-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

One of the Brown family's favorite treats is Mama's homemade sticky buns. Thank you for making them Mom!

Psalm 103

2007-12-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel F295 in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul

The beauty of Fall!

2007-11-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

The last couple of days I have really been enjoying the fall weather. Here are a couple of pictures that I have been able to capture for you all. Enjoy!!

Blair

How time flies...

2007-11-06T09:43:00.000-05:00

What a blessings it is to be an Aunt. I have been able to see Triumph grow and change from a baby into a little boy. The Lord has richly blessed Peter and Kelly with a precious son. I am looking forward to watching him grow into a little man!

Another year gone by...

2007-11-05T13:49:00.000-05:00

Today we join David in celebrating his 16th birthday. Life in the Bronw's barn would be very different if the Lord had not placed David with us. We are so thankful for him and we look forward to seeing what the Lord has prepared for him.

David,
I don't know what we would do, or where we would be with out you. I am very grateful that the Lord allowed us to be adopted into the same family. You are a dear brother to me, and I could not ask for a better friend. Thank you for your sweet spirit, joyful face, and your ever open heart. I am looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in-store for you as you continue down the path of manhood. I love you dearly.

Blessings,
Blair

Beach delight

2007-10-11T19:08:00.001-04:00

After hosting the 2007 Father Son Retreat, of 210 people, we took a little trip to the beach. I will leave you with a couple of pictures, and will be posting more later. Enjoy!!!!

13 very wonderful years!

2007-09-26T20:03:00.000-04:00

Today, Claudia turned 13. I have to say, that life without Claudia would be very different. She is, and has been, a constant joy, blessing, sweet spirited, and a great encourager. We are very blessed to have such a wonderful sister, daughter, and granddaughter in the house.

We love you Claudia and look forward to see what the Lord has in store for you.

Claudia,

Thank you for being such a wonderful blessing and helper to our family. You are a very special sister to me. I am so thankful that God allowed us to be in the same family. Thank you for your sweet and joyful spirit. May the Lord continue to shape you into His beautiful young lady.

Much love to you on this your 13th birthday.

Your sister,
Blair

Our unchangeable God

2007-09-19T16:57:00.001-04:00

I want to leave the readers of this blog with an eye opening understanding of God's infinite power, and complete authoirity in all things.

' I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past.' ~Ecclesiastes 3:14-15~

'I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.' ~ Job 42:2~

'Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. ~Jude 1:24-25~

Praise the Lord for His indescribable mercies.

Blair

The Joys of Motherhood....

2007-08-31T21:37:00.001-04:00

Today, GranMary read me this little story that a friend emailed her. I thought that I would share it with you all. I think that you will get a laugh out it.

A women, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a....?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrat."
"What is your occupation?" She probed.
What made me say it? I don't know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronoucement was written, in bold, black ink on the officail questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what do you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't] in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out.) I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities. (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careeers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerks voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants"

Hope you ejoyed this as much as I did.

~Blair~