Have I shared on here how the Lord provided us with our first renters, the Cooks? Amy came to see the house for the first time the day the movers were there. She walked through the chaos with me, loved the house, and handed me a cash deposit on the spot. Our prayer had been that God would bring renters before we moved to St Louis, and he did. The night before we left town.
Today, on the day the movers are there for the Cooks, one of the men helping load the moving truck called his sister about the house. She and her husband went over, walked through the chaos, loved it, and called Brian right away. They've asked to see a lease agreement, which we promptly emailed. Our prayer has been that we'd be provided a renter/buyer that we could sign papers with while we are in Bham over Christmas. This is promising...
So pray on, friends!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Anniversary Top 10
Top Ten things about being Rebecca Brown:
10. It's an easy last name to spell--no clarification necessary.
9. Brown also sounds pretty cute with Rebecca.
8. My mother-in-law is the best mother-in-law you've ever heard of. Seriously.
7. Marrying a man from your church means you get to stay at that church without any haggling!
6. Brian has great taste--he always out-orders me at a restaurant and can tell me which shoe looks better with a particular outfit--great assetts in a husband. His great taste also landed me! ;)
5. Brian was also the best-kept secret in Birmingham. He's soooooo funny and kind and gracious and compassionate and patient and has great hair (although that's not a secret) and loves his God and his family fiercely. I'm just lucky no one figured it all out before I did.
3. I get to be that man's wife, hopefully for another 5 decades or so. Lord willing we'll have a long life together!
2. Sarah Frances, Catherine, Patrick and Lillian Brown
1. I don't deserve any of these wonderful things--God is simply so gracious and oh so good to me!
And please feel free to add anything that you know I forgot. The list could go on and on...
10. It's an easy last name to spell--no clarification necessary.
9. Brown also sounds pretty cute with Rebecca.
8. My mother-in-law is the best mother-in-law you've ever heard of. Seriously.
7. Marrying a man from your church means you get to stay at that church without any haggling!
6. Brian has great taste--he always out-orders me at a restaurant and can tell me which shoe looks better with a particular outfit--great assetts in a husband. His great taste also landed me! ;)
5. Brian was also the best-kept secret in Birmingham. He's soooooo funny and kind and gracious and compassionate and patient and has great hair (although that's not a secret) and loves his God and his family fiercely. I'm just lucky no one figured it all out before I did.
3. I get to be that man's wife, hopefully for another 5 decades or so. Lord willing we'll have a long life together!
2. Sarah Frances, Catherine, Patrick and Lillian Brown
1. I don't deserve any of these wonderful things--God is simply so gracious and oh so good to me!
And please feel free to add anything that you know I forgot. The list could go on and on...
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Ready, Set, Go
I'm going to have to stop calling our friends the Cooks our renters, because they expect to be out of the house on Saturday. I'll definitely have to call them our partners in ministry though because of how many ways they have helped us since we moved here to start our ministry career. We have been so blessed to be in relationship with them, and had we been neighbors, I feel like we would have been great friends. Both sides are disappointed that circumstances are changing, but we are all trusting in our good, soverign Lord to place us in the right new ones.
As far as the house goes, we've contracted with a realtor and there should be a sign in the yard this weekend. The woman from last week has decided our house is not for her. I'm not even sure she went through it, which is fine. There are SO MANY options for buyers now. But you can pray with us that someone wants 3637 Leslie Ann Rd for a Christmas gift! :)
In other news, I'm struggling with my back. Silly me tried to lift Patrick (50+ pounds) out of the big side of a shopping cart last week and it pulled my lower right side some. Then this afternoon as I was turning around, my left ankle rolled hard and my entire right side wrenched. So now all the inner, core muscles on my right side--my hip flexors in front, my lower back, and my back side up to the middle of my ribcage--are knotted and tight. I've iced and taken my ibuprofen, but this is not the time for an injury!
Lastly, it's finals time. Brian has 2 more to go, as far as I can remember. We're pretty out of touch lately, but tomorrow is our TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY. We have a date Sat. for dessert, so I can probably tell you more details after that. I do know he's planning on taking his Hebrew final on Friday morning.
Oh, and tomorrow is also when we expect our first Pruitt cousin to make her debut. Emily and John will go in for an induction in the morning. More details on Chloe Kathryn Pruitt as I know them.
So prayers all around, please.
As far as the house goes, we've contracted with a realtor and there should be a sign in the yard this weekend. The woman from last week has decided our house is not for her. I'm not even sure she went through it, which is fine. There are SO MANY options for buyers now. But you can pray with us that someone wants 3637 Leslie Ann Rd for a Christmas gift! :)
In other news, I'm struggling with my back. Silly me tried to lift Patrick (50+ pounds) out of the big side of a shopping cart last week and it pulled my lower right side some. Then this afternoon as I was turning around, my left ankle rolled hard and my entire right side wrenched. So now all the inner, core muscles on my right side--my hip flexors in front, my lower back, and my back side up to the middle of my ribcage--are knotted and tight. I've iced and taken my ibuprofen, but this is not the time for an injury!
Lastly, it's finals time. Brian has 2 more to go, as far as I can remember. We're pretty out of touch lately, but tomorrow is our TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY. We have a date Sat. for dessert, so I can probably tell you more details after that. I do know he's planning on taking his Hebrew final on Friday morning.
Oh, and tomorrow is also when we expect our first Pruitt cousin to make her debut. Emily and John will go in for an induction in the morning. More details on Chloe Kathryn Pruitt as I know them.
So prayers all around, please.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Advent
I did not grow up celebrating Advent, per se. Or maybe it was mentioned, but I don't remember. It probably sounded too Catholic, lol. And there's a lot I don't remember about my childhood anyway, so maybe it was taught and I've forgotten. Come to think of it, we did have this beautiful felt calendar (I think my mother made?) that we flipped a number on every day in December. ANYWAY...I also know I've been in a church for the last 12 or more years that most likely did teach about celebrating Advent but I don't really remember it from there either. Before tonight, I'm sure I've heard about it and probably sung about it and been taught about it plenty of times but didn't get it.
Tonight I got it. We went to an Advent Hymn Sing. We sang many exquisite, old, familiar hymns and several exquisite new ones I'm going to learn. And Scriptures were read. And Psalms sung too. Then tonight when I was putting the kids down and saying prayers, I prayed that we would anticipate Jesus' return as much as we anticipate celebrating his birth. And it clicked in my mind at the same time the words were coming out of my mouth. Yes, Advent helps us richly cherish "the reason for the season" but it also points us to Christ's final return. So now I think we should celebrate Advent all year long. Am I so new to this Advent thing that there is already a name for anticipating his ultimate return that I've not clued into yet?
Tonight I got it. We went to an Advent Hymn Sing. We sang many exquisite, old, familiar hymns and several exquisite new ones I'm going to learn. And Scriptures were read. And Psalms sung too. Then tonight when I was putting the kids down and saying prayers, I prayed that we would anticipate Jesus' return as much as we anticipate celebrating his birth. And it clicked in my mind at the same time the words were coming out of my mouth. Yes, Advent helps us richly cherish "the reason for the season" but it also points us to Christ's final return. So now I think we should celebrate Advent all year long. Am I so new to this Advent thing that there is already a name for anticipating his ultimate return that I've not clued into yet?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
House news
Just a fair warning--I so believe in prayer. I know what God has done for me and my family in the past because the saints lifted us up in prayer, and so I have no qualms about asking for it again. So get ready, if you're annoyed by prayer updates and requests, you might want to take a break from reading this blog.
I'm not going to post play-by-play updates on FB or email blasts. Because while I believe in prayer, I understand it can be annoying too because circumstances change so often, esp. in real estate. My thinking is that you don't get to this blog by accident; it's your choice, so I won't feel bad about giving you quick updates as they happen.
So today we got an email from a woman interested in a lease to purchase with $20k down of our house in Bham. I admit I don't know the details of how that works, but I do see in it the word "purchase" and understand enough to know if she decides our is the house for her, we wouldn't miss making any of our mortgage payments. We have some calls out to realty friends who can help us. My prayer is that God--for his amazing glory--would provide a buyer for our house through this woman who found it online available for rent. That could ONLY happen by God's provision and not of our own doing, and would be yet another miracle in the story of our housing-through-seminary.
Please pray with us that God would have this work out.
I'm not going to post play-by-play updates on FB or email blasts. Because while I believe in prayer, I understand it can be annoying too because circumstances change so often, esp. in real estate. My thinking is that you don't get to this blog by accident; it's your choice, so I won't feel bad about giving you quick updates as they happen.
So today we got an email from a woman interested in a lease to purchase with $20k down of our house in Bham. I admit I don't know the details of how that works, but I do see in it the word "purchase" and understand enough to know if she decides our is the house for her, we wouldn't miss making any of our mortgage payments. We have some calls out to realty friends who can help us. My prayer is that God--for his amazing glory--would provide a buyer for our house through this woman who found it online available for rent. That could ONLY happen by God's provision and not of our own doing, and would be yet another miracle in the story of our housing-through-seminary.
Please pray with us that God would have this work out.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Believe what I believe
I'm trying to believe what I believe. I'm trying to rest and trust. I'm trying to wait patiently on God's timing. I am excited to see what God's going to do with our circumstances to further his kingdom and bring himself glory. But I still have to live through it.
Our renters are leaving. Yes, the ones who said they wanted the house all 4 years that we are in seminary. They still do, but the husband has lost his job. And so goes my security that we won't lose the house or have to file bankruptcy. Silly me, placing my security in mortal circumstances.
So now we have a house for sale or rent. Seriously, just make us an offer. And pray for me to rest.
We've put it on Craigslist. And we have a call in to a realtor to list it, asap, which is apparently not as quickly as I originally expected. Brian says it's a holiday week, but it's been over a week since we called her about listing it. And here comes my control-freakishness bearing its ugly fangs.
Hey, at least we've done this "gotta dump a house or we lose everything" before. I do wish we could get out of this with a little something to show for it. Of course the cash would be nice, but I mean more about what that cash would represent--that my husband didn't work for 10 years in his first career for naught. That he'd have something to show for the long hours of hard work he put in at BCBS and FPC.
I guess we'll see. I do believe in God's perfect soverignty. This is not a surprise to him. It's actually his plan--yes, I believe that too, easily and wholeheartedly. He is entirely trustworthy too. It's just that I have to do more than believe it; I have to live it out. I'd just as soon skip to the resolution part of this story, and I know there is good for me and glory for him that will come from this, but I have to fight daily--no, momently--to rest in what the Bible tells me is true. (see above)
I compare it to my delivering a baby. I have duper-duper easy deliveries. Don't ask, you really don't want to know how easy. Lillian pretty much fell out. But when it came time to deliver #3, I had done no mental prep for it. I expected it to be simple. And it was simple. But no matter how easily it happens, it still has to happen. I have to push a 7+ pound baby...well, you get the idea. And that, not to mention 9 months of growing an entire human being in my body, is a traumatic event no matter how easily it happens. So I had a freak-out moment in the delivery room.
Back to today...So maybe I've done this before. And maybe my faith brings me peace, whenever I remember to believe what I believe. But I still have to go through this. And right now I'm having my freak-out moment. So pray, and please remind me of what I know to be true. It's all going to be OK. It's all going to be OK. It's all going to be OK.
Our renters are leaving. Yes, the ones who said they wanted the house all 4 years that we are in seminary. They still do, but the husband has lost his job. And so goes my security that we won't lose the house or have to file bankruptcy. Silly me, placing my security in mortal circumstances.
So now we have a house for sale or rent. Seriously, just make us an offer. And pray for me to rest.
We've put it on Craigslist. And we have a call in to a realtor to list it, asap, which is apparently not as quickly as I originally expected. Brian says it's a holiday week, but it's been over a week since we called her about listing it. And here comes my control-freakishness bearing its ugly fangs.
Hey, at least we've done this "gotta dump a house or we lose everything" before. I do wish we could get out of this with a little something to show for it. Of course the cash would be nice, but I mean more about what that cash would represent--that my husband didn't work for 10 years in his first career for naught. That he'd have something to show for the long hours of hard work he put in at BCBS and FPC.
I guess we'll see. I do believe in God's perfect soverignty. This is not a surprise to him. It's actually his plan--yes, I believe that too, easily and wholeheartedly. He is entirely trustworthy too. It's just that I have to do more than believe it; I have to live it out. I'd just as soon skip to the resolution part of this story, and I know there is good for me and glory for him that will come from this, but I have to fight daily--no, momently--to rest in what the Bible tells me is true. (see above)
I compare it to my delivering a baby. I have duper-duper easy deliveries. Don't ask, you really don't want to know how easy. Lillian pretty much fell out. But when it came time to deliver #3, I had done no mental prep for it. I expected it to be simple. And it was simple. But no matter how easily it happens, it still has to happen. I have to push a 7+ pound baby...well, you get the idea. And that, not to mention 9 months of growing an entire human being in my body, is a traumatic event no matter how easily it happens. So I had a freak-out moment in the delivery room.
Back to today...So maybe I've done this before. And maybe my faith brings me peace, whenever I remember to believe what I believe. But I still have to go through this. And right now I'm having my freak-out moment. So pray, and please remind me of what I know to be true. It's all going to be OK. It's all going to be OK. It's all going to be OK.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Dinner Out
Tonight we were invited over to the Luthin's house. I mentioned them last week--no, 2 weeks ago. Bill, the husband, is currently deployed with the Air Force, and Regan asked if there were a night we girls and the kids (they have the 2 boys P's age) could get together at their house for dinner. Brian had already told me he had some heavy-duty studying to do early this week, so tonight worked out well for us to head out without him.
It felt so good to be in her home. It's clean. And straight. (Remember they're military.) And she served brie for an appetizer with a nice glass of wine. It's so tastefully decorated, like a real grown-up house. But it's also very much a home. I was comfortable letting the kids just go, and they all played well together. She let my older girls help make pumpkin waffles, bacon, and scrambled eggs. And when one of us mothers were busy with a child or 2, the other stepped in and kept dinner going. She let me help clean up the dishes and the basement before we left. Not once did she decline help, but neither did I feel obligated. I wanted to help. And inbetween there was time to discuss parenting, books, and even share some heart issues, even if we never actually finished any particular part of the conversation.
How refreshing! What a treat to be invited into another's home. What a blessing to feel so welcome and at ease (no pun intended). It is truly a gift from the Lord to have relationships like this. Honestly, this is the 5th conversation we've had, including 3 just in-passing at the church. Like I said before, I hope we get to spend more time together.
I have been so blessed to consistently have a girl friend or two in my life, especially since soph. year in college, who loves me well, encourages me, speaks truth to me and lovingly holds my feet to the fire. Even when we moved here, within a week or two, I had a close and dear friend. Now, I may not see you all often, but these are the girls I can pick back up with at the drop of a hat. I have a feeling Regan will be one of them as well.
Hey, guess what? Relationships in heaven will be even easier than this with EVERYONE there. Can you imagine not having trouble relating with anyone? There will be no one there who is difficult to love. We will live in perfect harmony and be at peace with each and every person there. Wow. That's fun!
It felt so good to be in her home. It's clean. And straight. (Remember they're military.) And she served brie for an appetizer with a nice glass of wine. It's so tastefully decorated, like a real grown-up house. But it's also very much a home. I was comfortable letting the kids just go, and they all played well together. She let my older girls help make pumpkin waffles, bacon, and scrambled eggs. And when one of us mothers were busy with a child or 2, the other stepped in and kept dinner going. She let me help clean up the dishes and the basement before we left. Not once did she decline help, but neither did I feel obligated. I wanted to help. And inbetween there was time to discuss parenting, books, and even share some heart issues, even if we never actually finished any particular part of the conversation.
How refreshing! What a treat to be invited into another's home. What a blessing to feel so welcome and at ease (no pun intended). It is truly a gift from the Lord to have relationships like this. Honestly, this is the 5th conversation we've had, including 3 just in-passing at the church. Like I said before, I hope we get to spend more time together.
I have been so blessed to consistently have a girl friend or two in my life, especially since soph. year in college, who loves me well, encourages me, speaks truth to me and lovingly holds my feet to the fire. Even when we moved here, within a week or two, I had a close and dear friend. Now, I may not see you all often, but these are the girls I can pick back up with at the drop of a hat. I have a feeling Regan will be one of them as well.
Hey, guess what? Relationships in heaven will be even easier than this with EVERYONE there. Can you imagine not having trouble relating with anyone? There will be no one there who is difficult to love. We will live in perfect harmony and be at peace with each and every person there. Wow. That's fun!
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