very proud

Other than the fact that the laptop network card went kaplooiey and I was without internet, the week was great. The assembly in Knoxville is over until next year. I was asked to lead in worship for the missions convention on Wednesday and it went well. The real highlight of the week for me was getting to be there for my dad's ordination as an elder into the Church of the Nazarene. Although Dad has been ministering for several years now, he just recently finished the course work to become an ordained elder. It was a great service. Dr. Talmadge Johnson, one of the General superintendents of the church led in the ordination service and rite. Ironically, My pawpaw Brown Served under Dr. Johnson's father in the Duncan, Oklahoma church many many years ago. It was a pretty special occasion for my family. My Grandmother and great aunt came in from Oklahoma, as well as two of my dads brothers from Louisiana for all of the festivities. It was an extra treat to get to sing in the service. Dad wanted me to sing "In Christ Alone", so I did. It's His favorite song.

Afterward we all went to O'Charleys for a celebration. Our waiter, who had been in the choir at Lee University, sang to dad after a little prodding. It was real fun.

here's a link to all of the pictures

on the road...again

This week, like last week, I'm on the road. Last week was vacation. This week it's the East Tennessee Nazarene District Assembly in Knoxville. Lot's of meetings, voting, reports, and preachers. Large crowds of preachers kinda make me nervous. Strong cologne, Loud ties, and big bibles are the norm. It seems that almost every conversation includes the words, "how many are you running in worship?" It's a great scene.

I'll try to be faithful to post this week. I know so many of you miss it when I don't.(said with sad smile)

peace

visitors

For several weeks now we have been trying to find a time to get together with our great friends Ben & Bekah. They have been longtime friends and I even took Music History with them at EKU(o the stories they could tell). They got in late Friday night and left this evening. It was short, but a splendid time was had by all! It was so relaxing just to take it easy, drink ale 8, play cards, and catch up on old times. We had the inaugural game of settlers that I just bought, and I think they may have liked it. We hardly left the house at all.

Thankfully, I had no outbursts of random object throwing during all of the games. That has happened before; not pretty. Apparently, taboo brings out the worst in me. By the way, if your reading this julie, I'm sorry about that. I hope you've learned your lesson and won't interrupt or distract me anyone else when they're trying to concentrate. I hope your scars have started to healed up. :)

In all seriousness, Ben and Bekah have been there for me and seen me through some of the "valley-of-the-shadow" times in my life, and I count myself lucky just to be able to call them "friend".

back and better than before

Today it's random musings that have been going through my head over the past few days.

The new Harry Potter was very good, very eventful. no spoilers here

It's funny how some people have become a little paranoid since I have begun blogging(you know who you are). I think they believe that I will use this to slam them. I might buy one of these to give folks fair warning

I survived Gatlinburg, and didn't even buy an airbrush tshirt. Got some great pics that I will post over at flikr soon. I really missed being able to blog while on vacation.

One of the best things about vacation was playing "settlers of catan" almost every night with Everett my brother-in-law who introduced us to it. It's new to me(I know I've been living in a hole), but so fun that I had to pick it up on the way home.

We've got houseguests coming this weekend. Ben & Bekah are two of our greatest friends and we love nothing more than hanging out and playing games. However, if I've had too much garlic, it becomes pure agony.

bear with me

Vacation starts tomorrow, and I need it. I will try to post a few times this next week, but don't expect much. I picked up Harry last night. You'd think the geniuses at Walmart would open more than four lanes at the release of largest printing of any book in history. I guess you can take the consumer global superpower out of arkansas, but you can't take the arkansas out of the consumer global superpower.

tonights the night

Well unless you've been living in the armpit of a giant, you should know that the new Harry Potter book comes out tonight. This is the largest first printing of any book in history.

10.8 MILLION COPIES.

I haven't been snared in by those midnight book party's at places like Barnes & Noble. But I'll do what I've done ever other release. I'll be purchasing from what some call the real dark lord, "Wal-Mart". Cheaper than anywhere else.

We leave Sunday for vacation with Lydia’s family. We’re going to the “Redneck Riviera”; otherwise known as Gatlinburg, TN. I imagine Harry and I will be spending a lot of time together.

humpday haiku

TiVo on the way
bedroom will also rewind
UPS brings joy



Yeah, I'm amped! We took advantage of a special deal that TiVo had going. If you buy a year of service, you get a free TiVo box. I ordered it monday night, and it will be delivered today. Now we have "His" and "Hers" TiVo's.

what "His" will record
Star Trek, Mythbusters, Family Guy, Big Brother 6, Good Eats(food network), American Chopper, Iron Chef, and of course Seinfeld

what "Hers" will record
Smurfs and Lifetime Movies with titles like: "She Said No", "My Husband Beats Me" , "My Daughter: The Tramp", and "He Said He'd Stop: My Husband Beats Me 2"

I don't get it. She loves these movies. They all begin with a beautiful woman with a promising career or a member of her family being victimized. And they all end the same way. "We the jury, find the defendant guilty on all charges" cue the emotional celebration