The Boisterous Brown's

Crazy Savings at CVS

2011-11-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

So, about 3 months ago, I decided to embark on the world of couponing. I have always made excuses for why I couldn't, wouldn't or shouldn't do it ~ takes too much time, won't save me any money, they don't have coupons for the stuff I buy, etc. But, Corey and I really needed to trim our budget, and after visiting a few couponing websites, I thought I would give it a try. Since then, I have seen some SERIOUS savings ~ cutting both my grocery bill and baby supplies expense in half :) I have had a few friends ask to share some tips on how I am doing it and my blog seemed like the most logical option. So, here you go!

Today, I thought I would share about CVS because I got a great deal on diapers there today, and I don't know too many of my friends that wouldn't like a little savings in that department :)

I don't know about you, but I like step-by-step instructions, so to make it simple, I thought I would number this post - so its not just paragraph after paragraph.

1. First of all, if you are thinking about couponing, I would recommend visiting www.southernsavers.com ~ fantastic website with How-To's on all the stores, coupon policies, and the weekly sale items with coupon match-ups. And, I would recommend starting off slowly and then getting more advanced as you see success.

Some people shop both Walgreen's and CVS, but since I am new to this, I decided to just focus on one and found better deals at CVS. Just to be clear, I still shop Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods for all of my grocery needs. I primarily buy my baby supplies and toiletries from CVS.

2. Go to CVS.com and sign up for their Extra Care card, AND sign up for their email list. This is the ticket to super savings. They will immediately email you a $4 off $20 coupon just for signing up and then will periodically email you more - I have been getting about 1 a month.

3. CVS runs their sales from Sunday to Saturday, so check the couponing websites or the Sunday sale papers to see what their sales are. The best deals are the ones that give you ECB's or Extra Care Bucks. Basically, this is money back after your transaction that you can apply to your next transaction.

CVS will allow you to do multiple transactions in one visit. So, as an example, let's say you want to buy Crest Toothpaste for $2.99 and has $2 ECB and Listerine that is $1,.99 and has no ECB's. Buy your Crest in your 1st transaction and then use your $2 ECB towards your Listerine purchase, which you will get for FREE!!

4. Figure out what you plan to buy, coupon match-ups, and your transactions before you go - this will save you time and frustration in the store.

5. Go shopping!! When you get to the store, be sure to stop by their red coupon kiosk. When you scan your card it will print off additional in-store coupons for you to use, either on that trip or a later one.

I want to finish by sharing my example from today, so you can see how good the savings can be. The Pampers Jumbo pack of diapers (36 per bag) were on sale for 2/$18. I had $4 ECB's left over from last week, a $2 off Pampers coupon (manufacturer coupon) and a $2 off Pampers coupon that I had printed off the kiosk last week (store coupon). So, I walked out of the store with 72 diapers for $11, which averages out to about $.15 per diaper!! I was one happy Momma!!

Back at it Again

2011-10-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

So, they say that the 3rd times the charm ~ I guess we'll see. I have decided to start back blogging once again, and hopefully I'll have better luck this time than the last two.

I really love blogging - it is very therapeutic - but, it seems to get put on the back burner when things get hectic. I read somewhere that you have to do something 21 times before it becomes a habit. So my goal this time is to write 21 posts and hopefully by that point it will be like second nature.

So, I hope you'll follow me as I navigate the highs and lows of being a stay-at-home wife and Mom! And, I hope you enjoy the new layout and name ~ decided to start with something fresh this go round!

Time to Organize

2011-01-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

So typically I am not a fan of New Year's resolutions. But, this year, I decided to set one - figured it would be something to help hold me accountable! So my resolution is to declutter and have a yard sale!! I guess that is actually two, but who's counting!!

If you know me, then you know I am extremely organized ~ probably to a fault. So, if you walk in my house on any given day, you would think I have it all together. But, what you don't see is the monster that lives in all of my storage places.

We currently have an unfinished upstairs, which is a good thing. But, it seems to be the catch all for everything and throughout the year can get pretty crazy. So, I decided that every January I am going to have a purge session!! If I haven't used it in the last year or can't find a reason to save it for a future use, then it is out of here!! And then in March I am going to have a yard sale to get rid of it all!!

So, I started on this last weekend, with the help of my wonderful hubby!! We started by organizing the attic into sections - one is for things we want to store long-term, but don't need to access (momentos, stuff for a future home, etc.). The other section is stuff that we need to get to on a regular basis, but doesn't have a place downstairs (Christmas decorations, kids clothing/toys that we need to keep for future little ones, hunting gear, etc). And, finally is our yard sale section. That way when we started with the downstairs, we new which section to take things to.

Then I began at one end of the house and moved through it, cleaning out every drawer, cabinet, or closet. I re-organized the contents, removing anything that we didn't need or use anymore. Those items then either got trashed or put in the yard sale pile!! Other than mine and Corey's closet, we got through the entire house!! It was a weekend of hard work, but felt so good once it was done!!

So, now if I can just keep it this way throughout the year!!

The Oakes Family Fall Festival

2010-10-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you that know me, you know that I come from a pretty big family. My mom is one of 6 kids and all of them, with the exception of my Aunt Bobbie, live within about 30 minutes of each other. So, needless to say, our family is very close. Over the last 4 or 5 years all of my cousins have gotten married and started having children, so our family has expanded significantly. When we all get together, we have about 40 adults and about 15 kids, so we have alot of fun!! About 4 years ago my Mom started a tradition of having a fall festival for the whole family and over the years it has grown into quite the event.

This year it was held at my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Deb's house in Snow Hill. We cooked hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill and had all sorts of games ~ pony rides, hay rides, doughnut eating contest, pumpkin carving contest, apple bobbing, etc. I don't know who has more fun ~ the kids or the adults.

Corey and Riley carved her pumpkin before we went, because we learned the first year that it takes way too much time to do it at the party! We were so proud ~ Riley's pumpkin won first prize!!

Riley also decided to try the doughnut eating contest and the sack race for the first time! The doughnuts are tied to a string and you have to eat it without using your hands. Riley tried about two times to do without her hands, got frustrated and just grabbed a hold and started eating! It was hilarious! So, she unfortunately didn't win, but I think she still enjoyed the doughnut!! Then when it was time for the sack race, she had the jumping part down, but couldn't figure out how to move forward, so she just stayed in place!! She got the hang of it though after we showed her what to do!

By far the most fun Riley had was the pony rides! She loves horses, so she was super excited to get to ride one! We had a lot of great pictures, but I think the one below is the best. This is Riley with her cousin Hailey, my brother's daughter that is only 3 weeks younger than her!

To finish off the day, my brother took everyone for a hay ride around my Uncle Jesse's farm - it was a great way to end an awesome party!!

3-D Vision

2010-10-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

No matter how many times he does it, I am always amazed at how the Lord knows exactly what we need to hear and when we need it. As I have shared before, I have had a challenging couple of months adjusting to life as a Mommy of two. While Georgia has been a great night sleeper, she just can't quite get the hang of napping, which throws a major kink in my seriously Type A lifestyle!! So, week after week I tried everything I could think of to help her nap - put her down earlier, put her down later, CIO, etc. - all to no avail. I finally gave up and just decided to stick to a eat, awake, sleep cycle, no matter how short it was. And instead of reading any of my "sleep" books, I just laid it all at the Lord's feet. But, then I began to get frustrated because I felt like he wasn't answering my prayers. Day after day I would come before him, crying out for help, and yet there was no answer and no reprieve.

So, the Sunday before last, we were in church, and Pastor Mike spoke about 3-D vision, and boy was it what I needed to hear. He spoke about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and how when Jesus arrived, Martha said to him, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died," as if he had arrived too late. This is where the first D comes in - Delay. The Lord often delays answering our prayers because he wants to lead us to a place of Development (the 2nd D). He is not denying our request, however, he wants to increase our ability to trust in him - can we wait or are we going to try to take matters into our own hands. And lastly, the 3rd D, is Deliverance. The Lord will deliver us from whatever it is we are walking through, but it will be on his timing. In the case of Lazarus, it appeared to Mary that Jesus was too late, because her brother had been dead for 4 days when he arrived. But, that wasn't the case, he delayed coming to develop a greater trust in Mary, and then ultimately his deliverance comes when Lazarus is raised from the dead.

Each day presents new challenges, but I know that the Lord is doing a great work in me and that my deliverance is ahead!!

Answered Prayer

2010-09-28T11:33:00.001-07:00

So, I have had every intention of keeping my blog updated, but I think I underestimated how challenging being a mother of 2 would be. These little ones are keeping me busy so I don't have as much time as I would like to blog, but I know this is just a season, and soon enough more time will come!!

But, today I am lucky because both girls are sleeping at the same time - Praise Jesus!! So, I thought I would share about a huge answer to our prayers.

On September 7th I took Georgia in for her 2 month check up. I assumed everything would be routine, but towards the end of our visit, Nancy, our PA, asked if I had noticed anything wrong with Georgia's left arm. She thought that it was looking weaker than her right and she wasn't fisting like she did with her right. The only thing I had noticed was that her hand turned in slightly, but I figured it was just an awkward newborn thing that would go away as she grew. So, then Dr. Stewart comes in and says she is concerned as well - that there seemed to be less muscle definition and obvious weakness in that arm. They suggested we go to East Carolina Neurology for further observation. Needless to say, I left their in tears, worried that my sweet little girl had something serious going on.

They scheduled us an appt with East Carolina Neuro for September 20, and then physical therapy for September 27. So, Corey and I began praying that the Lord would heal her harm before she ever went for these follow up visits. And, as no surprise, at both appointments they couldn't find anything wrong with her arm!! We will follow back up in a few weeks just to be for sure, but we are praising God for healing our sweet girl!!

As a side note, Dr. Stewart happened to see me swaddle Georgia as we were wrapping up our visit. I use the "Miracle Swaddler" blanket, as many other moms do. She was appalled that they recommend swaddling their arms at their side, instead of across their chest. She was even concerned that swaddling Georgia that way could have caused whatever was going on with her arm, because it was pulling it to an unnatural position, and may have stressed a nerve or something. So, when I met with the physical therapist, I showed it to her and asked her about it and she agreed that a baby should never be swaddled with their arms at their side, but across their chest. So, I am still using the "Miracle Swaddler" blanket, but am now positioning Georgia's arms across her chest when I wrap.

While I'm Waiting

2010-08-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

Today I had a brief moment of alone time in the car. My mom was here for the morning and I ran to the post office to mail birth announcements. While I was in the car, the Lord totally spoke to me through a song. What' s funny is that I typically listen to the country music stations if I ever get control of the radio. But, today I flipped to the Christian music station, and within a few minutes the perfect song came on for me.

As I have talked about in some of my previous posts, Georgia has been giving me a lot of trouble with her naps. She will sleep for about 45 minutes and then wake up and cry the rest of her nap. I started CIO (Cry It Out) with Georgia at 2 weeks because I saw how beneficial it was for Riley to learn to soothe her self to sleep. Riley picked up on it fairly quickly and I saw progress almost immediately. But, Georgia seems to be more of a challenge. She doesn't cry for long going down for her nap, but she just can't seem to soothe herself back to sleep if she wakes up. So, I am sure all of you mom's out there can understand how I am feeling. Although I know CIO is the best thing for her, it is not easy to hear my sweet girl cry.

So, I have been crying out to the Lord for the last 6 weeks asking for some reprieve. So far, this hasn't happened and I have found myself growing frustrated.

So back to the song that I heard in the car. The name of the song is "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller and it goes something like this:
"While I'm waiting, I will serve you; while I'm waiting, I will worship;
while I'm waiting, I will not faint; I'll be running the race, even while I wait."
It was exactly what I needed to hear. Instead of disengaging I should press in even more. The Lord's will is sovereign so if he is having me wait, then he has a reason. I just have to trust in His plan more than my own.

Hoping this song ministers to you as much as it did me.

A Great Adventure!

2010-08-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you have been following my blog, you know that the last few weeks have been somewhat challenging! Not only am I a new mother to a 7-week old Georgia, but I have been potty training Riley on top of that.

Georgia has unfortunately not been a great napper for me - started off good, but has gone down hill fast. She likes to wake up after only 45 minutes and cry it out for the rest of the time. Doesn't do so well for me emotionally. Then add on top of that taking Riley to the potty every 3 minutes, because she isn't sure if she needs to go!

In addition, Corey started a new job in May and has been pretty much slammed since he started. His office is in Kinston, so he leaves home every morning at 7:30 and typically gets home around 7:00. It makes for a very long day for me!!

So for the last couple of weeks I have been feeling very defeated. I have been crying out to the Lord for some relief, but have felt like he has been absent. And then it was like something slapped me in the face - since having Georgia I have only been in my word a couple of times. It is kind of hard for the Lord to rescue me if I don't use the life vest he has thrown me. So, today as soon as I got both girls down for nap, I went straight to my knees. I laid everything at the Lord's feet and asked for a fresh revelation from his word.

He lead me to read Joshua 1:1-9. The Lord is speaking to Joshua as he is about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua is very anxious and so the Lord says to him, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." These two stood out to me the most and really spoke to the struggles I have been having. In the study notes of my bible, it says the following: "Every new job is a challenge. Without God it can be frightening. With God it can be a great adventure."

I have been trying so hard to do this new job of mothering two little ones without God. My prayers have been for the Lord to make this easier (help Georgia nap, give Riley an obedient spirit, etc.) which isn't wrong, but I have found myself frustrated when he doesn't oblige. I have been listening to the lies of the enemy and allowing him to still my joy. Instead, what I need to do is trust in the Lord to give me victory over the situation and to have peace regardless, so that I can experience the "great adventure" that he has me in!

What a Week!

2010-08-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I have never been happier to see a Friday. This has been one of the most challenging weeks I have had in a long time. Let 's start back at the beginning.

On Monday, Riley was in full two-year old mode! She had a day full of whining and temper tantrums and I felt like all I did was discipline from morning til afternoon. Luckily, Georgia slept like a champ, having to wake her up for every feeding.

But, Tuesday was a different story. Georgia hit her 6-week growth spurt, and was wanting to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Her growth spurt continued into Wednesday, and top that off, Riley came down with a fever. She work up perfectly happy, but started becoming lethargic around 10, at the same time that I noticed she was feeling very warm. She was running a temp of 102.3! She wasn't exhibiting any other symptoms, so I just started alternating Motrin and Acetaminophen to manage her fever. I could tell I was going to need to bring in reinforcement, so I called my Mom. She was already planning to come on Thursday so that I could take Georgia to an appt, so she came on over and spent the evening with us. She got up to check on Riley's fever throughout the night, so that I could just worry about Georgia.

Thursday was busy, busy, busy! We had a previously scheduled appt. for Georgia at 9:00 a.m. at the hospital for an ultrasound. Because she was breech when she was born, they automatically do an ultrasound to check for hip displasia. Luckily, everything was perfect with her hips - praise the Lord! We left the hospital and drove to Goldsboro to see Dr. Wilding. Since I didn't know what was going on with Riley, I wanted to be on the same side and get her adjusted. We left Goldsboro at 11:30 to come back to Greenville. We got Riley fed and down for nap, so that I could get her up at 3:00 for a 3:15 appt. at Our Children's Clinic. It was at that appt. that we found out that Riley has Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. In a nutshell, it causes a moderate fever, lethargic behavior, and blisters on the hands and feet and in the mouth. Because it is viral, you just have to let it run its course. Unfortunately it is highly contagious among children, so the doctors were concerned about Georgia being exposed. As you can imagine, the thought of having to keep Riley away from Georgia for 5-7 days when I am home by myself was overwhelming! Riley adores her sister and wants to kiss and love on her all day. Praise the Lord for having family close by, because my Dad and stepmom volunteered to keep Riley Friday through Monday, so that she could get through this sickness and not expose Georgia.

So, my sweet girl left this morning for Nana and Papa's and I already miss her. But, I know that this is what's best. So, today it is just me and Georgia! I thought I would be getting a break, but so far she doesn't want to nap at all. It's par for the course this week. I will never be more happy to see my sweet hubby tonight! Although he can't change the circumstances, it is nice to have someone to share in them with!!

Crying It Out!!

2010-08-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Georgia, everyone said that I would do things differently with her than I had Riley - that because she was my second child, I wouldn't be as anxious about things so I would be a lot more "go with the flow". So far, that seems to be coming true.

You see when Riley was born, my closest mom-friend was my sister-in-law Kellie. Dayla had been born two years earlier and so I had a great opportunity to see Kellie in action and take lots of notes for when I became a mother. Lucky for me, Kellie and I agree on about 99% of parenting issues.

When it came to sleeping, Kellie and Clay had always rocked or bounced Dayla to sleep, so when Riley came along, I did the same thing.

For the first 4 months of Riley's life, she was a great napper and nighttime sleeper. Then, to the day that she turned 4 months, she started waking up early from naps and would only go back to sleep if I rocked her. Then, 15 minutes later it would all happen again. I began spending hours in her nursery trying to get her to sleep. I was at my whits end, when I talked to another mom friend of mine, Tracy Moore, who had put her children down awake, allowing them to teach themselves to fall asleep. I was desperate and so I decided to try it. I didn't have enough will power to just let her cry endlessly, so I would rock her for a few minutes, not to get her to sleep, but to soothe her. Then I would lay her down. I would return to her room at 5, 10 and 15 minute intervals to calm her down. Let me tell you - the first few weeks were absolute torture. A 4-month old has a lot of energy and strong lungs, so she could go for quite a while. She was also having to break all of the bad sleep habits that I had trained her to have. But, once she figured out how to soothe herself, let me tell you - it was fantastic!! Since that time, I have been able to go into her room, lay her down and walk out. Then, when she wakes up, she just sits and plays until I return. She even does this now that she has her big girl bed. She has not once tried to climb down (I should probably knock on wood at this point:)

So when Georgia was born, I knew that I would handle her sleep training differently. First of all, I knew that my time would be more limited when getting her down for nap, because of Riley. Secondly, I knew I couldn't put myself through what I had done with Riley. So, Georgia was only 8 days old when I started putting her down awake. I swaddle her, hold her without rocking for 5 minutes, and then lay her down in her crib. To this day, she has not cried for more than 5 minutes when falling asleep. Occasionally she will wake up in the middle of her nap and cry for a few minutes, but she has learned to get herself back to sleep.

I wanted to write about this, because I remember when I started letting Riley cry it out, I felt a lot of guilt. I felt that as a mother I was supposed to be nurturing her and soothing her, not letting her scream at the top of her lungs. But, what I realized was that it was my responsibility to teach her to become a good sleeper by allowing her to learn to soothe herself.

If you are in the midst of letting your little one "cry it out" I would recommend two books regarding sleep habits for babies - "Babywise" and "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby". I reference them all the time!

Brown Family Beach Trip

2010-08-12T11:38:00.001-07:00

In my last post, I talked a little bit about our beach trip with the whole Brown family, but decided it needed a post all of its own. We were there from Sunday to Sunday and had an awesome time! But, Corey and I decided that vacation takes on a whole new meaning when you have kids (at least really little ones). There is no more sleeping in, reading books, or laying in the sun for hours, but it is all replaced by the joy of seeing your children have new experiences.

We were very blessed to rent both sides of a duplex that is owned by a friend of Clay's. Both sides have 3 bedrooms, giving us plenty of room. Corey and I stayed with Corey's parents and our girls on one side, and Clay, Kellie and there 3 girls stayed on the other side.

We spent the first two days on the beach. It was quite an adventure. Hauling all the stuff you need for five kids 4 and under, including 2 newborns is not an easy task, but we made the most of it. Dayla, Bailey and Riley had a blast playing on the beach and in the water. Tuesday night we had dinner at Amos Mosquito's!! If you have never been - it is a must! I had the meatloaf and it was to die for - and I am not a big meatloaf eater! Also, for the kids, they have a smores dessert that they bring out - so the kids can roast their own marshmallow and then make their smore. The girls loved it and were covered in chocolate by the end.

On Wednesday, we decided to take a break from the sun and visit the aquarium - it was great! The girls loved it! I was rather impressed - it has been years since I had visited and it has changed dramatically! Riley was checking out the sea otters in the picture below - that and the sharks were her favorite!

Thursday Clay volunteered to keep the little babies (Georgia and Reagan) for us so Kellie and I could enjoy some time on the beach with just our big girls. Unfortunately, because we are both nursing, we only had a short window of time to go, but we made the most of our couple of hours!

Friday we found the Atlantic Beach town park to take the girls to. We wanted to be outdoors but weren't up for the work that it took to get us all on the beach. Swings and slides are always a hit! That evening we went to Cedar Point to have dinner with Jason and Jennifer Watson and their kiddos. The Brown's have been friends with the Watson's since before Clay and Corey were born, so it was great to catch up with old friends. Jason and Jennifer have a set of 2 1/2 year old twins (Tucker and Massey) and a 10-month old (Fin). Fin wasn't at home when we visited, but the other seven were plenty to keep us busy. The pic below is of Dayla, Bailey, and Riley with Massey and Tucker - they are getting ready to eat dinner!

Since Saturday was our last day, we made another trek to the beach for the day! We got rained on for a brief bit, but luckily we had taken up home under the pier and didn't get too wet!

By Sunday, I think we were all ready to come home! Vacations are great, but there is nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed! This was the first year since Corey and I have been married that we have vacationed with his whole family for a week! Good news is we all survived and had a blast!! Already looking forward to next year!

Back to Blogging!!

2010-08-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back to blogging again, and hoping this time I can be consistent!! I started this blog about a year ago and have been on again/off again with it since I started. While I really enjoy blogging, it always seems hard to find the time to keep it up. But I am determined to stick with it this time.

The last time I blogged was almost 3 months ago. At that time, Corey had just started his new job and I was coming home full-time to prepare for the arrival of our 2nd baby girl. Since that last post so much has happened in our lives, so I will give a quick overview.

Georgia Reese Brown arrived on July 7th - 3 days past her due date. She had to be delivered via c-section because she was breach. While most people would have been disappointed with that news, I was a little relieved. During Riley's delivery I suffered a cervical tear which lead to a pretty severe hemorrhage which lead to a blood transfusion. So, needless to say, when I was preparing for Georgia's arrival, I prayed continuously for a complication free delivery. So, when the ultrasound revealed that she was breach, I felt like the Lord had orchestrated it so that I wouldn't have to experience anything like before. Dr. Stephenson even tried to externally turn Georgia, but she wasn't budging. It seemed like a clear message to me that this was the way the Lord wanted her to enter the world.

What's even more awesome about Georgia's arrival is that her cousin, Reagan, arrived 4 1/2 hours after her. Kellie was due on July 2nd and while I was getting prepped for the c-section, she was at the doctor's office getting checked. They sent her on to the hospital to have her water broken and within a few hours she was delivering!! Our in-laws were beside themselves having two new grand-daughters on the same day!!

Since Georgia's arrival, things have been crazy!! Riley turned 2 on July 23rd, and we had a Sesame Street birthday party for her at our house. Alot of our friends joined us to help her celebrate and although it was the hottest day of the year (110 degree heat index), we all had a great time!

Then, the first week of August we spent the whole week at the beach with the Brown family!! It was chaos having five kids 4 and under, but we made the most of it and had a great time! I wanted to share a quick lesson I learned the hard way. Kellie and I both agreed that we would take the newborns on the beach - otherwise we would never see the sun. So, we decided that camping out under the pier would be the best option, as it would provide the most protection from the sun. Boy was I wrong. I had Georgia in her carrier, with the canopy pulled over top and sitting under the pier the entire time, and she still got sun burned on her face. I was devastated. I was doing everything I knew to do to protect her, but it still wasn't enough. I have since learned that under the pier is one of the worst places to be - apparently because of a combination of the reflection of the sun off of the sand and the wind whipping underneath. Luckily, her face has healed perfectly, and it will be the last time it sees the sun for a long time!

And, now that we are back from the beach, I decided to really jump off the cliff and start potty training Riley!! Let me tell you - it has been a crazy two days, but is turning out to be a resounding success. The Lord has given me tons of grace and we are making it work, but I will be glad to be over this hurdle!!

So, until next time......

Back in the Loop Again!

2010-05-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

As I sat down to write this, it feel like it has been forever. Then I realized that it has - my last post was on March 11th - so nearly two months! I am going to go ahead and give the warning here that this will be long. But, please keep reading, because the Lord has done some amazing things in the Brown household the last couple of months, and I just have to share!

When I last posted, we were still in the middle of Corey's job search. As a recap, Corey decided to stop his Pre-Paid Legal Business in December and began looking for a new job in January. Little did we know where this journey would take us.

Although I was working only part-time with United Way, we weren't all that concerned about finances, because we knew that Corey would have a decent residual income still coming from Pre-Paid, so we felt like he had a good couple of months to find something. For anyone that knows my husband, you know that he is a born salesman - as the saying goes, he could sale a "snow cone to an Eskimo." He just has this booming personality and very little fear of rejection - a great combination for sales. So, we felt confident he would find something quickly.

He has always had an interest in medical sales (not pharmaceuticals), but like medical devices. So, that was where he started networking. He also had quite a few job offers while he was selling Pre-Paid (from CEO's of companies he was selling to). So, he started following up with those companies. Let me just say that the Lord's favor was overwhelming. In total, Corey probably ended up with 5 or 6 offers from some really great companies, but nothing seemed to be the right fit. Over the last few months, we constantly felt the Lord telling us to wait. Meanwhile, Corey's residual income was slowly trickling down, so were facing the possibility of surviving off of my part-time non-profit salary as of March 1st.

While Corey is continuing his job search, I am still working two days a week at United Way. I had given my notice the end of November and agreed to work until the end of March. My replacement had already been hired, but a few other positions needed to be filled to keep things running. Well, as the first of March rolled around, we were still two positions short and kicking off a HUGE transition within the organization. To say that they could use another full-time staffer was an understatement. So, I proposed coming back on board full-time, and allowing Corey to be a stay-at-home Daddy until he could find something. My boss was thrilled, and so on March 1st, I jumped back into full-time work and Corey took over baby duty!! What we thought would be a four-week stint turned into 8, because at the end of March, the Lord had still not made it clear what job Corey needed to take. So, we continued to wait.

As April rolled around, United Way work really kicked into high gear as we conducted 17 community forums in one month. I went from working 15 hours a week to nearly 50, and was completely exhausted - hence the reason I haven't posted in a while. But, I felt like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to. Also during April, Corey was in discussions very heavily with two different companies about a job - one was a very large company (over $400 million in sales), the other one fairly small (around $2.3 million in sales), but with a lot of potential for growth and for Corey to help lead them there. For literally three weeks, it was a back and forth - we both felt peace about both of them, but wanted the Lord to show us very clearly which was the right opportunity.

In the end, Corey accepted a job with Down East Protection Systems - he will be head of their Sales and Marketing. We are super excited about what the future holds and the Lord has overwhelmed us with his goodness once again.

I wish I could say that I never doubted the Lord, but I'd be lying. There were many days that I just kept asking the Lord - "why." Here we were jobless and 6 months pregnant, and there was an offer on the table, regardless of how good or bad - it was so hard not to just take whatever came along. But, our Provider knew what was ahead and what he had planned for us - we just needed to be obedient and wait. And talk about timing - Corey accepted the position with Down East on Thursday, April 29th and my last day of work with United Way was April 30th (they had hired the needed staff and couldn't keep me on beginning in May). Only our heavenly Father could have orchestrated it so perfectly!

So, as of yesterday my hubby is back to work and couldn't be happier, and I get to be home full-time with my sweet Riley and in the near future, our new addition, Georgia. As hard as the last few months have been, I wouldn't trade them for anything because the Lord has used them to teach me (and Corey) so much:

He never leaves us - through every trial he is at our side and with us in the waiting
He is our provider - no matter how bleak things seem financially we don't have to worry, because he will meet all of our needs (note that says "needs" not "wants")
The "wants" really aren't all that important.
What you think may be the right path for your life really may not be - the Lord makes our paths straight, so we should look to him for direction

I am sure there is more, but for now that's all I've got! For now our trials are over, but believe me I won't get too comfortable, because you never know when the Lord is going to bring another one around the corner.

Lastly, just a special note of thanks to everyone who has been praying us through this - we could feel them lifting us up, so much appreciation!!

The Lord's Perfect Timing

2010-03-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

As much as I love blogging, I never seem to be able to find the time to do it! But, miraculously, I have found a few minutes to share!! You see, most of my evenings are spent with my hubby, once we get Riley to bed. We are early to bed and early to rise, so our short time together in the evenings is precious, and I hate to spend it blogging. But, tonight I am flying solo, as Corey left this morning for 4 days. It's tough being away from him for so long, and this time especially, because we won't even have any phone contact! It will be the longest we have ever gone without talking:(

Corey has gone to Colorado for a four-day Men's Retreat. His birthday is coming up at the end of this month and this was my surprise birthday gift to him. Many of you may be familiar with John Eldredge, who wrote the acclaimed book "Wild at Heart". Many of you women may be more familiar with the book his wife Stasi wrote, "Captivating". Well, The Eldredge's put on a series of Men's Wild at Hearth Retreats and Women's Captivating Retreats in Colorado at Crooked Creek Ranch. Because of the high demand, the selection process is done by lottery. I have tried a few times before to get Corey in one of the Men's retreats, but was unsucessful. But not this time - and it was totally because of the Lord's perfect timing. The lottery opened up last fall, and although the timing wasn't the best for us financially, I prayed that Corey would be accepted if it was the Lord's time for him to go. A few weeks later I found out he was accepted. I had one week to reserve his spot with payment. Not only would this be the biggest financial decision I had ever made without Corey's input (since we've been married), but it was also only about four weeks before Christmas, so we were up to our ears in gift expense. But, I felt the Lord leading me to move forward and trusted that he would provide.

I had no idea then, how perfectly timed this trip would be for Corey (but, I have a feeling, the Lord did:) As I have shared before in previous posts, Corey has been looking for new job opportunities, pretty much since the beginning of the new year. He has been self-employed for the last two years selling Pre-Paid Legal Services as an employee benefit. Although he found success with the company, he didn't find happiness. For most of the end of last year, he was discontent, and made the decision at the turn of the new year to actively pursue something different. So, he really started seeking the Lord for his purpose, direction, and next step in his career. He has had lots of opportunities come his way, but still doesn't feel like he has a clear direction from the Lord. As this week began, Corey had four different job opportunities, in four very different companies, and no idea what he should do next. Not to mention the financial pressure he feels to provide for his family.

And now in light of all of this, he gets to go on this amazing trip this week. I mean, does the Lord know what we need, exactly when we need it, or what!! I absolutely love watching our Father work so intricately in our lives - his love for us can be seen so clearly in how involved he is in every little detail!

I have been so excited for Corey all week, because I just know that Lord is going to rock his world this weekend!! I can hardly wait to talk with him on Sunday and hear about all that the Lord has done! Please keep him in your prayers as he is away from us and travels back home on Monday!!

Playing Catch Up!

2010-02-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how fast time gets away from me. My goal is to post at least one blog a week, but that never seems to happen. So, I am going to spend this week playing catch up on all that has been happening in my world over the last few weeks!

Baby Girl #2
On February 1st, Corey and I found out that we are having our 2nd little girl - Georgia Reese! He was secretly hoping for a little boy, but hey they say that the third time is the charm - so we have another chance! We are both really excited that Riley will have a little sister - we have already taught her to say her name, although it comes out more like JooJoo than Georgia right now, but she has another 4 1/2 months to perfect it!

I can already tell how different things are going to be for the 2nd child, based on how I am with this pregnancy. Last go round, I knew exactly what week and day in my pregnancy I was - now I sometimes I have to check the calendar! Also, as soon as I found out that Riley was a girl, I had registered for everything - bedding and all - within one week. This time, I have barely thought about it! I'll get there soon enough!

Motherwise Bible Study
The first week of February, I started a new Bible Study called Motherwise at Covenant here in Greenville. Can I just say that it is awesome!!! I don't attend Covenant and it has been a great way to meet mothers of all ages and really seek the Lord about how to become a better wife and mother. Apparently there are multiple studies in Motherwise (they did Wisdom for Mothers last fall), but for this semester we are doing the Freedom for Mothers study. It's quite funny because I thought this study was going to be all about learning Biblical parenting skills which would then lead to Freedom!! But, oh how I missed the big picture. Ultimately, Freedom for Mothers is about realizing that nothing we do - work, marriage, parenthood - can be done well apart from Christ. The reason we struggle is because we are trying to do it all ourselves, instead of laying it all at the feet of the only one who can! For the past three weeks I have had several a-ha moments! The first of which was the following: "Jesus did not come to help me be a mom. He came to do it for me" - WOW!!! Now this is where freedom really is!! My prayer is often, "Lord, help me do this" or "Father, help me do that" as if he is my assistant or something!! I should be asking him to fill me so completely that he actually is me!

I am sure there will be much more to share as the study progresses, but for now I will stop there!

Prayer Requests
This week has been one filled with sickess in the Brown household. Last Friday, Riley came down with a 24-hour stomach bug that she then passed along to me! I spent all day Sunday sick on the couch. We thought we were in the clear, but then Corey got sick with the same stuff on Wednesday. Luckily, we each only had it for 24-hours! Once we had that behind us we thought we were in the clear, but now Riley and I both have colds - runny nose and coughing. She has been a champ - handling it better than me!! I won't complain much though - this is the first sickness any of us have had all year!! So, we are just praying for speedy healing!

Also, continue to lift up Corey's search for jobs! He has a lot of open doors (thank you Father for favor), but we need discernment about which one to walk through and when to walk through it!

For now that will be all, but I promise to not let as much time pass before my next post! Blessings until then!

In Every Season

2010-01-24T16:31:00.000-08:00

Can I just begin by saying that I absolutely love worshipping Jesus! I grew up in a Methodist church singing hymns and can sum up my thoughts about church in one word - BORING :) It wasn't until I truly committed my life to Christ at 22 and began attending a spirit filled church, that I realized what true worship could be like!

Don't get me wrong I love hearing the message (Pastor Mike is awesome), but something about worship just stirs my soul! And, it doesn't hurt that we have a truly amazing worship team! And today they sang one of my favorite songs that goes something like this:

"All of my life, in every season, you are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship."

We have sang this song numerous times, but today it really resonated. For the past few months, Corey has been in a state of uncertainty with regard to his job. He has been working for Pre-paid Legal Services for almost two years now, and has been very successful, but is really unhappy. So, he has been seeking the Lord for the past few months about what to do next. Having not really gotten any direction, he decided to begin a 7 day water fast last Monday, hoping to really press in and hear from the Lord about where to go from here. I joined him by fasting television (a water fast doesn't work too well for a pregnant woman:) Unfortunately, as of this morning, we didn't have any more clarity than we did a week ago, and Corey was feeling a little frustrated when we arrived at church this morning. But, when this worship song began, you could see the weight of his decision lifted off of his shoulders, and it was quite emotional for me. It was so clear to us both that no matter what season we are in our life, that our God is still God, and we should worship him and praise him, regardless. Our Lord is limited by nothing, certainly not time. So, we left church rejuvinated to continue in our prayer for direction and trust that God is God, even in this season of uncertainty, and that he will provide an answer in his timing, not ours.

Taking Inventory

2010-01-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

So, this past Thursday was Corey and I's four year anniversary! We started a tradition on our first anniversary of going away for a night or two and staying at a Bed & Breakfast, and we have really enjoyed this! B&B's are so quaint and really have such a different feel than a hotel. This year we stayed at the Fearrington House in Pittsboro! It was spectacular and is so far the best yet! The Fearrington House is a five-star Inn and Restaurant located on 1400 acres of privately owned farm land. They have Belted Galloway Cows and Goats, a handful of specialty shops, which includes a privately owned bookstore with fireplaces! We spent two hours just sitting by the fire with our feet propped up reading books we picked up off of the shelves! It was great!

In addition to visiting B&B's for our anniversary, we also have a tradition of taking an inventory of our marriage. On our drive to wherever we are going, we always share what we think we did well or didn't do well over the last year(s). Now this sounds like the perfect way to begin an argument, but our comments are limited to what we, as a couple, need to work on, not as individuals :) For example, we both agreed that we need to do a better job of praying together. We both make time for individual prayer time, but making time to do it together is something we constantly struggle with. So, this will be at the top of our list of things to work on as we begin another year of marriage. It has really helped us not become complacent and both stay focused on constantly improving our marriage!

New Beginnings

2010-01-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

As we embarq on another new year (hard to believe) it has really gotten me thinking about new beginnings. I always love ringing in the new year because it always feels like a time of putting the past behind and starting fresh. And, I can't help but be reminded of when I first came to know Christ! It feels like it was yesterday, when in reality it has been nearly 6 years! Being born again is the ultimate feeling of washing away the old and starting anew. It is such an exciting time - I often compare it to the beginning of a dating relationship! Everything is new, you can't wait until you can spend time together again, you want everything you do to please him, etc. But, just as in a dating relationship or marriage, that newness will eventually wear off and you actually have to begin working at it. I have found the same to be true in my relationship with Christ. It is so easy to become complacent and take my relationship with Christ for granted, and think, "Well, if I miss my quiet time today, it will be okay" or "I'll pray later, when I have more time" - sound familiar? And then, I wonder why I don't feel as close to him. If only I were playing my part!!

So, this week as the new year kicks off, I have a renewed desire to retun to my first love. To return to that same passion and excitement that I had when I first came to know him and to "earnestly seek him" with all of my heart!

The Miracle of Life

2009-11-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

It's official - Riley is going to be a big sister!! Corey and I had decided when we got married that we wanted our children two years apart. But, I have always heard that if you want to give God a good laugh, tell him your plan for your life. So, we weren't exactly sure if God's plan would be the same as ours. But, thankfully, he heard the desires of our heart and is blessing us with the miracle of another child!!

I went to the doctor on Tuesday, and it was confirmed. Our next little miracle is due on July 4th - an Independence Day baby!! And, to make this even better, Corey's brother, Clay and his wife Kellie found out they are also pregnant and are due on July 2nd!! I don't think we could have timed this any better if we tried! So, the Brown family will be expanding once more.

But, back to my doctor's visit on Tuesday. I went in expecting the usual - confirm that I'm pregnant, give me a tentative due date, and set up my next appointments. But, that was not the case. You see, when Riley was born, I experienced a cervical tear during delivery. While my recovery was slightly longer than average, I was back to myself fairly quickly. And, since her birth, I really haven't thought twice about any possible side effects. But, now that Baby #2 is on the way, there are some concerns about how my cervix has healed. If it hasn't healed properly or if it is weak at the sight of the tear, there is some risk that it will become incompetent during my 2nd trimester or early part of my 3rd trimester, causing me to deliver prematurely.

So, instead of waiting until 18 weeks for an ultrasound, I will be having them fairly regularly to monitor my cervix. The first of these ultrasounds was on Tuesday and let me tell you it was nothing short of a miracle. Riley and I were able to see this new life, little heartbeat and all, as clear as day on the monitor. And, at this point my cervix is looking great (if that is possible)!!

So, as our new little miracle continues to grow, I covet your prayers over this pregnancy. Specifically, that my cervix would be completely healed and strong enough to endure a full-term pregnancy and that there would be no complications with delivery. I will keep you updated as we progress...

Questioning God's Plan

2009-10-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

To say this week has been a challenge, would be an understatement. Last weekend, Corey, Riley and I took off to Manteo to spend a quiet weekend fishing with my Mom and stepdad, Dennis. But, on Saturday evening, our weekend took a turn for the worst. We received a phone call to notify us that my 17-year old cousin, Ryan, had been killed while riding his 4-wheeler. Just like that - he was gone.

I was fortunate to have gotten to know Ryan better than most. For a year and a half after graduating from college, I babysat Ryan and his younger brother, Russell, while I worked on my Master's at ECU. At the time, Ryan was 11 and Russell, 6 - and let me tell you they were a handful. But, I am now especially thankful for that time. So, as you can imagine, when I got the news Saturday night, my heart just broke. But, more than my own feelings, my mind immediately went to his mother, my aunt Deb. Now that I have a child of my own, it is unimaginable what she must be experiencing - I mean how do you even wrap your head around something like this. And, how do you explain why God would take someone so young, with so much life ahead of him, from this world?

As my relationship with Christ has grown, I have come to see time and time again how perfect the Lord's will is, but at times like this it is a challenge not to question him. On Wednesday this week, I attended Ryan's funeral service. While difficult, it was filled with stories of Ryan's sweet spirit, his lovable nature, his commitment to Christ, and his love for all things outdoors.

It was at his funeral that I also heard a great analogy for questioning God's plan. For a minute, imagine that you live in a 3rd world country. You have never been exposed to modern medicine and you walk into an operating room to see a patient having a heart transplant. From your perspective, it seems as if the doctors are harming the patient - cutting him open, prodding internally, removing his heart. However, what you don't realize (because of your limited knowledge) is that they are actually saving his life and doing what is best for the patient.

In this same way, our limited knowlege, causes us to question God without realizing that he is doing what is best. My flesh tells me that Ryan should remain here with us, but my heart knows that God sees all things, he is our Alpha and our Omega, and he knows that Saturday evening at 6:45 was Ryan's time to go. Ryan was able to leave this world with no regrets, and had the advantage of never really having to experience all of the pain and suffering of this world. He can now dance with Jesus for all eternity and we have the promise of knowing that we will meet again someday!

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers, specifically my Aunt Deb, Uncle Jesse and cousin Russell. They no doubt have some challenging days, weeks and months ahead!

Following the Crowd

2009-10-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, if I ever told my mom I wanted to do something because everyone else was doing it, I always got the same response - "If your friend jumped off of a cliff, would you jump too?" My answer was typically "well it depends." But, she had made her point - it isn't always a good idea to follow the crowd. And, this principle isn't just applicable as a teenager, it seems to matter even more as an adult.

With all the hysteria about the swine flu, or H1N1, whichever you prefer, it really got me thinking about this principle. I find it interesting that the mainstream media isn't even willing to discuss alternatives to the vaccine. They sort of gloss over any possible side effects, even though this vaccine was rushed to market in a few months and has no longitudinal studies to support its safety. Not only that, but they have no studies to show that this vaccine will actually keep you from getting the swine flu. So, they just want me to blindly trust them to vaccinate my 15 month old child and just hope nothing happens? Sorry, but I am not willing to jump off this cliff!

So, as an alternative, Corey and I have chosen to protect her in a more natural way - by doubling her multi-vitamin intake, giving her probiotics daily, making sure she gets plenty of fluids, and maintains a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. This is what we feel comfortable with for our family, but it may not work for everyone.

This is a decision that each family must make, so I would just encourage you to ask questions, do your own research, look at possible alternatives and then decide for yourself if the seasonal flu vaccine or swine flu vaccine are best for your family. It is our responsibility as parents to protect our children and take whatever steps are necessary to do so, even if it means not following the crowd!

Does Life Ever Slow Down?

2009-10-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Slow weekends don't come around very often in the Brown household, and this weekend proved to be no different. We didn't really have much planned, but it is amazing how quickly two days can fill up.

I don't believe a Saturday could have started any better than yesterday. Corey, Riley and I, along with our friend, Ginny, had breakfast at Yoder's Dutch Pantry. Yoder's is a small Mennonite restaurant/store in between Grifton and Vanceboro that my mom and I discovered a few years back. From Winterville it takes about 30 minutes, but it is well worth the drive. They make the most amazing french toast and cinnamon rolls you have ever tasted! I was so excited that Ginny decided to join us. You see, Ginny and her husband Shane have been in Life Group with Corey and I for the last 3 1/2 years. They have become dear friends of ours. Unfortunately, they are no longer able to attend our Life Group (sniff, sniff) because of other obligations. So, it was a great opportunity to play catch up.

After breakfast, Corey had some daddy/daughter time so that I could go shopping!! So, I headed to the mall and got some great deals for both Riley and myself. Having a little girl is so dangerous - financially I mean. There are just so many adorable outfits, and never enough money to buy them all. Fortunately, I had some Gymbucks from Gymboree, which definitely helped the cause.

Once I returned from my shopping trip, it was time to get ready for the Family Fun Festival for our church. It was at the Boys and Girls Club this year and we had a blast. They had lots of fun activities including a dunking booth, a clown making balloon animals and a huge inflatable slide! Riley loves slides, and this one was right up her alley. We started her off going down with Corey and I, but our little girl proved to be quite the daredevil, eventually going down all by herself!

Needless to say, by the time we returned home, we were all pretty worn out! And, we needed to rest up for a busy Sunday!

Today, we had the Barham family reunion in Raleigh - my dad's mother was a Barham. It began at lunchtime, which didn't allow us time to go to our church and still make it in time, so we headed to Goldsboro and went to church with my Dad. Then we all headed off to Rolesville for great food and fellowship!! As a kid, I used to loathe family reunions - just seemed like an excuse for a lot of people who really didn't know each other to get together and eat. But, now as I have a family of my own, I am really learning to appreciate them. So we spent a few hours playing catch up with everyone and then on the way out of town, we took the opportunity to visit the gravesite of my Granny and Poppee and also the family farm that my Dad and Aunt Julie still own. We made it back to Greenville by 5:00, leaving me enough time to get my fall decor out and relax a little with Riley before her bedtime.

And now, as I wrap this up, it's time to prepare for another busy week. And, it leaves me wondering if life ever slows down.

The Beginning of my Blog Life

2009-09-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I hate to admit it, but I am generally behind the curve on most trends. Capri pants for example - it took me a couple of years (yes, years) to agree to wear a pair. You see, I am only 5'5", so they don't do the greatest things for my legs, but I finally caved and now I love them. So, its no surprise that the same thing held true for blogging. But, I love to journal, and also wanted a way to keep friends and family up to date on all that is going on in the Brown household. So, here's to the beginning of my blog life.

I hope to use this not only to share about our family's comings and goings, but also about lessons I am learning as I try to navigate this crazy world of marriage and motherhood. I won't claim to be an expert at anything - rather, I am just trying to figure it all out like the rest of you. So join me as I share about My Life as a Brown Girl!