December 13, 2011 · 4:02 pm

Christmas Vacation: Day 2


After spending the night in Connecticut, we arrived in New York City  at lunchtime on Monday.

There truly is no place like Manhattan: the energy, the pace, the endlessly fascinating people watching.

Our first stop was checking in at our hotel, the Waldorf Astoria. The lobby is beautiful.

Next was a visit to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree…

On the way to Times Square, we stopped in at St. Patrick’s church. It was a strange mix of worshipers, tourists, and a heavy police presence, but it is absolutely beautiful.

I loved watching my kids’ reactions to Times Square. It is such a feast for the senses.

Minnie Mouse was our first (and so far only) celebrity sighting:

Julia had no trouble acclimating and was soon hailing taxis like a native…

It was soon time to head over to Radio City Music Hall to experience the Christmas Spectacular.

The show did not disappoint. It was amazing, fun, and very uplifting. No cameras were allowed inside the theater but I was able to take some photos of the lobby. It is delightfully garish.

After the show we walked to Del Frisco’s Steakhouse for dinner. There was a lot to see on the way…

Our dinner at Del Frisco’s was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I had heard Neil Patrick Harris tell Kelly Ripa on “Live With Kelly” last week that he had recently enjoyed a meal there and it was the best steak he had ever had. I would have to agree.

We made a nighttime stop at Rockefeller Center before heading back to the hotel. The tree is even more stunning in person than it looks on TV…

You will probably notice that I have a lot of photos of Doug and Julia. I would like to have photos of my son but he has developed an acute case of camera shyness. I hope this phase passes quickly.

Several hours, a million calories, and about six taxi cab rides after leaving the hotel that afternoon we were ready to call it a night.

This may be the city that never sleeps but we need to.

Tomorrow, the New York Philharmonic and Broadway!

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December 11, 2011 · 11:31 pm

Christmas Vacation: Day 1


Here we are: the Griswolds Browns getting ready to head to Vermont for the first leg of our Christmas vacation.

Notice that Buddy is attempting to remain unobtrusive, hoping to slip out the door with us.

Not a chance, Bud. We wouldn’t want to deprive Uncle Jeff of all that quality time with you.

Darkness fell as we drove the back roads of New Hampshire and Vermont. A full moon shone in the sky and every so often the silvery night would be punctuated by bright Christmas lights strung merrily along trees, porches, and windows. We listened to Christmas music as we drove and my heart overflowed with gratefulness and anticipation.

We awoke bright and early and headed out to breakfast. It was so early there was no one in the streets:

But the sun sure did look pretty rising over the Green Mountains:

As evidenced by this fountain in someone’s front yard, it was cold!

We headed to one of our favorite breakfast places:

And here is my family walking “up for breakfast”:

It’s a cute little place with delicious food and a small town feel…

After breakfast we headed for Connecticut.

On the drive there, the Brown family ended up behind the Brown bus:

We  decided to make a short stop  in Northhampton, Massachusetts. Back in 2007, we flew to New England from south Florida for our niece’s surprise wedding shower.

We had lived in Florida for nearly five years by that time and we were so homesick for New England. Right before we left, Doug had agreed to interview for a job in New Hampshire. The interview would take place a few weeks after we were in Massachusetts. We wanted it so badly. New England was home and while we experienced many blessings living in Florida, it never felt like home to us.

The cold winter weather was a shock to our systems but Josh and Julia have always loved winter and were desperately hoping for snow.

We checked into the Hotel Northhampton only to find that  we were given a smoking room. We immediately placed a call to the front desk and were told that the only room available was the bridal suite, which they would upgrade us to at no extra charge.

The room was gorgeous and spacious. The best part for the kids was the fact that the room came with a balcony that overlooked part of the town. That especially came in handy the next morning when we woke up to snow.

The kids were overjoyed and immediately went outside to play in it.

It was a gift from Heaven, an answer to their prayers. I remember watching them being so filled with happiness and praying fervently to God, telling Him how much we wanted to move back home. I was so afraid it wouldn’t happen and was scared to get my hopes up.

His still, small voice told me, “Trust My heart.”

I did…and He sent us back home later that year. I still praise Him for that every single day.

So, it was sweet to go back and see that place where we had so many fun memories and hopeful dreams…

Hotel Northhampton

Next stop was New Canaan, CT where Doug and I lived for two years when we were first married.

It’s a charming little town and we were looking forward to taking a trip down memory lane…

We visited the place we used to live…

We lived in this two bedroom apartment with our Border Collie Charlie…

Charlie and his favorite toy

Charlie was an absolutely amazing dog…crazy (in a good way), incredibly smart, tons of fun, and very protective. .

To be honest, we had no business having a Border Collie while living in an apartment, spacious though it was. Border Collies require a ton of exercise. Fortunately, our apartment was the right across the street from Mead Park…

Charlie and I spent hours here and he loved it. He could run, sniff, fetch sticks, and stealthily stalk squirrels.

I could still see him in my mind’s eye as we walked through that familiar park.

We still miss Charlie to this day.

Next up, we took the kids to a lovely place in town that the natives call “God’s Acre” because there are three churches on one acre of land.

One of the most magical experiences my family has had on Christmas Eve took place on God’s Acre back in 1993.

It was my first Christmas away from home and my parents and brother had come up to spend Christmas with us.

Every Christmas Eve, everyone in the the town is invited to God’s Acre to sing Christmas carols in front of the huge, brightly lit tree on the property.

That evening,  as we gathered with the townspeople, we were given a candle to hold as we sang the familiar carols.

Would you believe that just as we all started singing, it started to snow?!

It was magical, like being on a movie set.

After singing the last song, “Silent Night” we blew out our candles and walked back to our apartment while the snow fell all around us.

It is still one of our favorite memories.

On the way back to the car, Julia wanted to try to recreate the “Abbey Road”  album cover with her dad:

I don’t think she quite pulled it off. 🙂

Before we left town, we went to the largest park in New Canaan called Waveny Park. There are loads of hiking trails and picnic areas, including a lovely mansion that once belonged to a family but was given to the town back in 1969. It is now used for weddings and events.

It’s a beautiful place…

This reminded me of a Romeo and Juliet balcony

Julia and Doug

Our last stop for the day was Stamford, Connecticut. After checking into our hotel, we went to one of our favorite malls, Stamford Town Center, which has 9 stories…

These pictures were taken on the 9th floor…right before the security guard came up to us and told us that that floor was no longer open to the public.

Oops.

After doing some Christmas shopping and having dinner, we headed back to the hotel.

While waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up, Josh agreed to let me snap his photo wearing the new hat he purchased…

Is it just me or does he look like the main character in the “Despicable Me” movie?

Here he is looking much more like himself during dinner…

Earlier in the day when we were having lunch at a Chinese restaurant in New Canaan, we each opened our fortune cookies at the end of the meal. Mine read:

“There are many golden hours ahead for you.”

I don’t believe in that kind of stuff, but I must say, as we head into New York City tomorrow, I am looking forward to the golden hours ahead.

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December 10, 2011 · 3:48 pm

Weekend Moment: Christmas Vacation


Photo credit: Vivenne G.

When you read that title, did you automatically start singing the theme song from National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation?”

Because I totally did. And now it will be running through my head for approximately the next 568 hours.

In a little while, my family and I are heading to New York City for a week.

Our kids have always wanted to go there and there is no better time for a visit to NYC than at Christmastime.

We plan to see the Radio City Music Spectacular, a Broadway show, and the New York Philharmonic while leaving plenty of free time to explore and soak it all in.

In the past, I always had such unrealistic expectations of vacation.  I expected no less than the following:

*being well rested and having tons of energy

*constant smiles and good humor

*absolutely no fighting between my children

*no getting lost trying to find our destination

*one Hallmark moment after another

Totally realistic, right?

Needless to say, things never happened that way.

So this time, I decided to be much more practical.

This quote by Ann Voskamp will frame this particular vacation for me: “I want the moments enough to let go of the mirages.”

No more mirages.

I will let it be whatever it is.

I will meet and embrace the moments ahead with joy.

I will endeavor not to lose sight of the many blessings that we have.

I will thank my beautiful God for giving us this gift of time with my precious family.

I will make memories.

I will laugh off the non-essentials.

I will refuse to let go of my joy, no matter what happens.

By the way, my brother is staying here at the house with Buddy, our Bichon Frise.

Pray for him. 🙂

And by the way…the rumor is that Milton the Moose will soon be making a bloggy appearance,  as he is making the trip to NYC with us!

Happy holidays!

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December 5, 2011 · 11:19 pm

Crowned With Dignity and Honor


I could feel my anger building as I listened to the beautiful teenage girl across the room during Bible study one night.

In a halting, quiet voice, she shared some things her boyfriend had recently said to her.

Slyly manipulative things.

Mean things, couched in  the seemingly benign sharing of information.

Things meant to make her feel slightly off balance,  intentionally left wondering if she measured up to his (supposedly) former girlfriends.

How dare he!

How dare this boy play his devious mind games with a young girl who has already been wounded by life?

How dare he not build her up by  focusing  on her many wonderful qualities?

How dare he not let  her know how grateful he is that she has agreed to be a part of his life?

But no.

Unable to break free of his own massive  insecurities,  he has to tear her down in order to feel big…powerful…manly.

It’s pathetic.

However, what is most egregious is that this boy claims to be a Christian. He says that Jesus is the Person who most inspires him.

Really?

Let’s take a look at how Jesus treats women, shall we?

*In a culture that disdained women, considered them easily disposable (a man could divorce a woman for something as trivial as burning dinner), did not allow them to testify in court or learn from a rabbi, Jesus treated women with a dignity, respect, and loving-kindness that was  simply astonishing.

*He welcomed women to learn from Him.

*He celebrated them.

*He appreciated them.

*He was gentle with women, particularly with those who were fragile emotionally or physically.

*He did not shy away from women who were prostitutes, outcasts, caught in the act of adultery, or those who lived with a string of  men without being married. Rather, He offered them a new way of life…one that was based on how HE, their Creator, defined them, rather than allowing  the ignorance, prejudice, and intolerance of others to do so.

*Rather than call them derogatory names, he calls women:

Beautiful
Cherished
Chosen
Captivating
Worth Dying For

And most delighfully , He calls them  His masterpiece, His poem, His work of art. (Ephesians 2:10).

So, no, dear Christian teenage girl…you do not have to put up with any boy who treats you as less than who you are. You have caught the eye of the very One who loves you with an everlasting love, who will always prove faithful to you, who died in your place so that you could have life everlasting.

Let no one disrespect you.

Do not let anyone define you.

If you get the first whiff of game-playing, it’s  really very simple: cut him loose.

Pray for him? Yes. Allow him access to your heart? No.

Actions speak louder than words. No matter what he says, see if his actions line up.

If not, make a deal with yourself: no rationalizations.

No excuses.

No denial.

Face the truth unflinchingly and with courage. Do what you need to do to be healthy and live in the glorious freedom that Jesus gives you.

If something does not feel right to you, if you have a check in your spirit, that is your Savior talking to you, warning you of danger ahead: pay attention.

Claim your God-given dignity.

Know that you are beautiful in His eyes

He has crowned you with glory, honor, and dignity. (Psalm 8:5).

Live like it.

(To read some of Jesus’ interactions with women, please see: John 7:53-8:1-11; John 4:1-42; Luke 7:36-50; Mark 5: 25-34)

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December 4, 2011 · 10:10 pm

Sowing Light and Joy


Photo credit: rovinglight

Yesterday morning, I read Psalm 97 and was intrigued by this verse: “Light is sown for the (uncompromisingly) righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart (the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of  His favor and protection).–Ps. 97:11 (Amplified)

I love this!

This is a conditional statement, promised not to those who are perfect (which is impossible this side of eternity) but to those whose hearts are wholly devoted to Jesus.

It makes sense that Jesus would sow light and joy into our lives because He IS Light and Joy!

I am the Light of the world.—John 8:12

…God has set You above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. —Hebrews  1:9

It made me picture Jesus smiling in delight at me when I wake up in the morning, anticipating my discovery of all the light and joy He has sown along my path for me to discover that day.

Living like that truly would make everyday a treasure hunt of His grace and love.

This is what that looked like for me on a recent day:

He treated me to a sight of the winter sun setting over the mountains

I was filled with sweet memories of Christmases past while bringing out the decorations for another season…

There was dinner with my family at one of our very favorite restaurants…

Afterward we spent the evening enjoying the state’s Philharmonic Holiday Pops show…

As I listened to the lovely music, I found myself wondering what music is going to sound like in Heaven. If it is so glorious here, imagine what it will be like there! Music is such a gift.

On the drive home, we talked and laughed while the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack played in the background.

Nothing earth-shattering happened that day. Nothing out-of-the-ordinary…yet it was beautiful.

Jesus had opened my eyes to see how much light and joy He had sown into that day.

He is willing to that every day. Psalm 97 says so.

Will I have eyes to see?

Will you?

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December 1, 2011 · 12:02 am

Holiday Survival


The holiday season can be tricky.

It is supposed to be a time of great fun and frivolity…a season of parties, carols, feasting, presents, bright lights, excitement, and anticipation…the most wonderful time of the year! And sometimes it is.

Yet, it is also a time of tremendous pain, especially for those who are mourning the loss of a loved one or are dealing with heartbreak. For them, the brightness of the season blazing into their sadness is like rubbing salt into an open wound. It hurts. I know. I have been there.

So how to cope? Here are some of the things that helped me when I walked through the holiday season after losing my dad:

1) Accept that the holidays will never be the same if you have lost a loved one. 

They can’t be. That person will always be missed. You can’t recreate what it was like when they were there, so do not try.

2) Let it be what it is.

Don’t try to work up feelings that aren’t there and acknowledge whatever you do feel. Don’t allow the culture or family and friends  to dictate what your Christmas should look like. Life is not a Norman Rockwell painting. Life can hurt and it’s okay if you are not in the celebratory mood that the season seems to demand.

If you need to cry…cry.

If you need to be alone…it’s okay to not accept every invitation.

If the very thought of decorating is exhausting to you, don’t.

Keep a running dialogue going with Jesus. He hears. He understands. He can carry the burden of your grief.

3) Avoid unrealistic expectations. 

This one is huge. It’s easy to buy into the hype and feel pressured to have the”perfect” Christmas. The truth is that there is no such thing. Take each day as it as it comes and release yourself from impossible, impractical or unworkable burdens.

4) Make an effort to focus on the blessings you do have.

You may not feel like your life contains any blessings but that is not true. Ask God to open your eyes to the gifts He has placed all around you, no matter how small. He will show you.

5) Know that you will laugh again. 

The joy of the holidays will return with the passage of time. I don’t believe in the saying that ‘time heals all wounds.’ Time can ease the pain, yes. However, Jesus heals all wounds…if we will allow Him to. Give Him unreserved access to your wounded heart.

6) Resist self-absorption: be a blessing to someone else. 

You are not the only one who is hurting. Continuing to look inward is a recipe for despair and bitterness. You have gifts to offer the world around you and there is a vast sea of need. No act of kindness is too small. Reach out and make a difference in the life of someone else. You will be blessed, I promise.

7) Remember the reason for the season.

…”the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch  over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said them, ” Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Messiah, the Lord.” —Luke 2:6-11

On that first Christmas, the Lord God gave us the greatest, most staggering gift that ever was…a gift we will continue to unwrap for all eternity.

Because of Jesus’ arrival on our planet over 2000 years ago, believers are:

*Free

*Forgiven

*Loved unconditionally

* Safe

*Beloved

*Offered the priceless gifts of hope, grace, light, purpose, renewal, restoration, redemption, new life and joy, regardless of circumstances.

Even if you feel alone while the world celebrates around you, you are not alone.

He is with you and He will pour His strength into your heart to enable you to live through this season. He will bring you out to the other side.

He makes all things beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

For unto us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Is. 9:6 

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November 29, 2011 · 6:14 am

Who Will You Say Yes To?


The other night, my family and I were on our way to an event and we could not find the venue.

I began to get irritated when it was clear that we were going to be late.

I hate being late.

Unfortunately for my family, I  began to declare my irritation and frustration. Loudly.

My mouth has always gotten me into trouble.

I was so obnoxious when I was a kid that the moms on the street I grew up on called me “The Mouth of Theresa Avenue.”

I didn’t have a problem sharing my opinion (whether people wanted to hear it or not). I never backed down from a fight. I gossiped. I could be critical. I was bossy.

Not a pretty picture, is it?

Yet, when Jesus got hold of me, He began to undertake a major renovation project…which was making my mouth an instrument that would bring glory to Him rather than wreak havoc in the lives of those around me.

He has brought me a long way. So much so that when I recently told the ladies I am privileged to serve with at my church what my childhood nickname was amongst the neighborhood moms, they were all quite shocked. They simply could not imagine it. That is a major praise and proof of the redeeming power of Christ.

However, I am human and I still struggle in this area, as was clearly evident that night.

We did eventually find the venue and although we were late, the program hadn’t started when we took our seats, so we didn’t miss anything after all.

I felt miserable. Why hadn’t I just kept my mouth shut? I apologized to my family, asked Jesus for forgiveness, and was able to enjoy the evening.

The next morning during my quiet time, though, I still felt grieved. I poured out my heart to Jesus, telling Him that I would probably always be dealing with this for the rest of my life. I asked Him, “Am I ever going to be free of this tendency to run my mouth???”

Like a magnet, my eyes were immediately drawn to a book on my bookshelf. It is one of my very favorites: Having A Mary Spirit: Allowing God To Change Us From the Inside Out by Joanna Weaver.

I opened the  book and found these words: “Whenever we resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we really are saying no to God and yes to Satan. And each time we do that, hell clamps chains on our souls…Holiness is all about choices. One choice after another. Saying yes to God and no to Satan.” -p. 186-187.

That was  incredibly sobering. That night when I chose to complain and stir up strife, I was saying yes to Satan and no to Jesus. One represents death and strife and the other represents life and peace.

Satan delighted in my behavior  and Jesus was grieved.

I don’t ever want that to happen again.

So, the next time I hear Jesus’ Spirit whisper a warning signal when I am tempted to say something that is not godly, I will listen and say “YES” to Him…and no to the enemy of my soul.

I will say YES to freedom and NO to bondage.

And I will thank my beautiful Jesus for the fact that He never gives up on me and that His mercies are new every morning.

Who will you say yes to today?

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November 28, 2011 · 7:01 am

Thankful


It has been a wonderful weekend for me and my family.

It was a time to celebrate God’s incredible faithfulness, lavish grace, and breathtaking love.

Thanksgiving morning dawned bright and sunny…and snowy!

We spent the day with family…

“In family life, love is the oil that eases the friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.”–Eva Burrows.

There is no such thing as a perfect family, but I sure do love mine.  We are genuinely happy to see each other. We share each other’s joys and burdens. We support each other. We respect our differences. And we laugh. A lot.

The rest of the weekend, we visited with friends, decorated for Christmas, and got into the holiday spirit by attending a holiday concert with the state’s incredibly talented Philharmonic.

At one point, I was talking to a friend. She and I have both come through storms in our lives and are  now enjoying some very welcome sunny skies.

I told her that I intend to soak up every single ounce of joy from this sweet season.

“But how do you do that?” She asked.

Be fully present in the moment.

Recognize that everything is grace.

Make thanksgiving a way of life.

Celebrate a very good God with every fiber of your being.

Rejoice always.

Pray continually.

Make everyday a treasure hunt of His beauty and blessings.

Actively seek to be a blessing to others.

No waiting for the other shoe to drop…today is all you have and if life is good right now, surrender to the happiness and enjoy. 

“Thanks is what multiplies the joy and makes any life large.” —Ann Voskamp 

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November 23, 2011 · 8:41 pm

Happy Thanksgiving!


“Wherever thanks is possible…joy is always possible.”—Ann Voskamp

This year, my family and I are feeling particularly and joyously thankful.

Our wonderful God has brought us a long way this year.  He has taught us how to give thanks in the midst of great difficulty, to search for the beauty in  the seemingly mundane, to find joy even when circumstances are less than ideal.

Gratitude has become a way of life.  Everyday is a treasure hunt of sorts to find the blessings within.

Tomorrow, we will gather at Doug’s sister’s home with our nephews, our niece and their significant others. It is always a day full of excellent food and much laughter.

I plan to treasure every moment and thank God for the precious gift of family.

He has been so good to us.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 🙂

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful to Him and bless His Name. For the Lord is good…Ps. 100:4

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November 22, 2011 · 8:13 am

Great Expectations


Photo credit: weluvobx

Last week, I was disappointed when something I had hoped would happen did not.

I had it all laid out in my mind…this would happen, then this, then this, etc. It all seemed so simple and logical! My friend Dianne calls that “writing the rest of the story” yourself, rather than waiting to see what Jesus writes.

Yet…it didn’t happen like that at all.

He did not say no…but He did say, “Not quite yet. You must wait to see what I have for you. Trust Me.”

The fact that I felt so disappointed was a red flag to me because it meant that I was trying to find comfort in my plan, in what I could see and understand with my very limited vision.  It was also an invitation from Jesus to draw close, pour out my heart and my fears to Him, and to listen.

It turned out that He spoke to me yesterday through a sweet lady in our Moms-In-Touch prayer meeting. During our prayer time, she quoted this verse: “And now Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.” (Psalm 39:7)

Did you catch that? Our hope and our expectation are in HIM.

Not in money.

Not in other people.

Not in our ability.

Not in our plans for our lives.

Not in favorable circumstances.

Simply in Him….the God-Man who loves us perfectly and knows what He is doing at all times.

The words that Jesus used to call His followers when He walked this earth over 2000 years ago are the same ones He uses today: “Follow Me.”

Knowing His unconditional love, His breath-taking faithfulness, His matchless beauty, and His incredible sense of adventure, I will continue to follow Him…wherever He leads me, knowing that His plan is perfect.

My expectation is in Him.

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