ON WINGS OF EAGLES

There are so many times when things and situations seem to press in on us and our spirits get down. We look here and we look there for answers, for a release for our souls and the heavens seem silent. But there is One who knows every desire of our heart, every word that we whisper and our every cry in the night. For those of you who are in this seemingly silent place right now, I would like to share a few verses of scripture with you.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men (women) stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

I trust that this encouragement from the Lord will cause you to rise up and soar again. Soar high, yes even higher and trust the Lord to take care of the temporary things that crush and damage our hearts and spirits here on earth.

GRAND-DAUGHTER ELIZABETH ASBURY BROWN IS 12 YEARS OLD TODAY

This is a very special day--twelve years ago today our precious Elizabeth Asbury Brown made her grand entrance into the world and our lives. What excitement it was to hear her first cry--life had begun for her. Her dad and mom did not tell any of us whether she was a girl or boy, but waited until after her birth. Then when we went into the room to see her, Rob (our second born son) handed us our Valentine card (since she was born two days after Valentine's Day) and the card was signed Elizabeth Asbury Brown. We were blessed with the wonderful new life- a new grand-daughter. The smiles on Rob and Kara's faces told it all--a star was born.

Elizabeth has been such a joy in our lives. She loves life and life loves her. Her beauty is far beyond her age, each year brings so much maturity in her life. She is an excellent student, articulate and does her very best at anything she attempts to do. She has one of the most compassionate hearts that we have ever seen. Always so concerned about friends and family who are hurting, struggling or just plain having troubles in their lives. She is "all girl" (with her girl cousins) but enjoys hanging out with her five boys cousins and fits right into whatever they are doing. She loves her younger sister Emery and watches over her and worries about her when she is sick or going through a rough time. She is a daughter to be proud of for Rob and Kara and we are so blessed to have Elizabeth (or Zib) as she is known to many, in our lives and hearts. Two years ago Grandad (Charles) had the privilege of baptizing Elizabeth, at her church, on Easter Sunday. What a joy to be a part of her professing Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Have a fantastic 12th Birthday and so many more to come. We love you with all our hearts, Granddad and Meme

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

Today is my precious husband's birthday and I want you all to know about this man who married me. What an incredible almost 49 years we have walked together. Some of you already know this, but for those of you who don't--he has always called me his Kitten and I have always called him my Tiger--our nicknames! When we first met back in Chicago in 1962 and had just fallen in love, the song "Misty" by Johnny Mathis, came on the radio. A phrase in the song says, "I am as helpless as a Kitten up a tree"--from then on I was his Kitten. And a Kitten always has to have a Tiger looking out for her, and that's my story and I am sticking to it.

We have had our peaks and our valleys-but I shared with someone, not too long ago, marriage is like the old timey glass bottle of fresh milk. In the very bottom the milk is thin (almost like skim milk) but the further up you go the thicker the milk gets, on to light cream and then that rich, thick cream on the very top. You have to get through the thin times to get to the rich times and I am hear to tell you, we are making delicious ice cream today with that amazing thick cream on the top. It is so worth the journey.  

Now to tell you a bit about my best friend, my lover, my hand holder and my "second heartbeat". Charles is a man of integrity, honor and truth. He is a relentless seeker of the the Word of God, always listening for the "wind whispers" of the Holy Spirit. He is a self-sacrificing, incredible husband to me; a devoted, praying father to our five children and their spouses; a loving, caring grandfather to our eight grandchildren; a grateful, amazing son to his mother and dad (we had his mother's/Memo's celebration of life service yesterday-she went home to be with Jesus this past Sunday-while Popo, his dad, has been with the Lord almost 7 years now). He is also a blessed brother to his sister Nancy, who he loves dearly. And he is a true friend who will stick with you to the end of your lives-always faithful and always there. In each church that he has served as their pastor, he lead the people (the flock) into the depths of God's riches and love--always wanting the folks to "go from the shallows into the deep waters of our Lord", never settling for anything less. He is the finest teacher and preacher I have ever known. I may be prejudice, but I was/am as accountable for the Word of the Lord that he ministered as any one else in the congregation--because he has also been my pastor as well as my husband for all these years. The above picture was taken at Memo's memorial service yesterday. I could write volumes about Charles that would fill a library. But I will end this by saying, I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed! Happy 71st birthday to my forever Tiger.
I love you with all my heart, your Kitten

NEARING THE END OF A JOURNEY

As I was driving home from my plastic surgeon's appointment yesterday, I realized that this journey over these past 20 months was nearing an end. In some ways, I felt like it was just yesterday that we heard those dreaded words, you have breast cancer, while in other ways it seems like a life time ago. When you are on a journey like this you always remember the beginning and the present steps you are taking, but you so often wonder, will this ever end? At times, I (we) felt so buffeted by the winds, we wondered if we could even catch our breath. Would I survive to really live again, not just exist, but live? Cancer brought so many changes with it and we never knew what to expect each time we encountered a new day. But I am here to let you know that I am the palm tree on the left and I have survived, stronger than ever. More determined to share the love of the Lord with everyone I meet--ready to see people come to "new life" in our precious Jesus. He is the only Hope that we have.

"I will praise you forever for what you have done; in you name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your people. Psalm 52:9

WAITING ON SPRING

Often I am not a good "waiter" and I don't mean serving food. I love to see spring come with all its new life and a "fresh start" for those of us looking for it. For some reason this new year it has been extra hard for me to wait---day after day  dreariness seeps into my spirit and soul. I have asked the Lord to make be thankful for what He gives each day and I do well for a few days then the big blah arrives! On my way out to the pottery shop this afternoon, I saw two faithful friends also waiting for spring. I wonder will they be waiting a long time or do they have their seasons mixed up? Do they know that winter is not over yet? Or are they trying to bloom too soon? Here are my new friends, so much like me!!! 

I believe that's how I am sometimes--waiting for something that I want with all my might, but then realizing I have to wait on the Lord's timing because His ways are perfect. So I will just sit back and trust Him to allow me to "bloom" when His time is right for me--He knows best! The season of Spring will come in the Lord's appointed time and the "Spring" in my life will also come at His appointed time.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

This will be a quick post but a very special one. What a difference a year makes!!! One year ago today I was sitting in the recliner, at my oncologist, receiving my final infusion of Chemo. I was bald, weighed a puny 106 pounds and looked quite different than I do today. I never did get sick from the Chemo, just never had an appetite. I now have a healthy, full head of hair and I have put most of lost weight back on and my energy level increases each month. I AM BLESSED.
This a picture of me with two of my precious granddaughters, Elizabeth and Emery, who gave me a beautiful Breast Cancer Flag with that awesome Hope filled ribbon on it. This flag hung in our front flower garden all year, as a constant reminder that breast cancer can be beaten. I am living proof, one year later, I have been declared CANCER FREE.


A very special thank you to my incredible husband, Charles, who has walked every step of the "our" cancer journey together. He is always there with encouragement and anything that I needed. And believe you me, it has been a journey but how great is our Lord and how wonderful is His Mercy, Grace, Love, Healing and Protection over us. I love you, my Tiger, always your Kitten

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO POPO IN HEAVEN

Today, I would like to pay tribute to a very special man in our lives. My precious father-in-law, Charles B. Brown, Sr., Popo, who would have been 102 years old today--but he has the joy of celebrating this special day in Heaven. He went to be with his Lord May 9, 2005, at the age 95. What a man he was and what a life he lived.


When I first met Popo, a little over 50 years ago, it was "love at first site"--such a quiet and loving southern gentleman. He accepted me as his future daughter-in-law from the moment I met him and Memo at the airport in Orlando, over Christmas 1962. This was my first introduction to the whole Brown family. From the big hug and huge smile on his face as he greeted me, he won my heart and I knew that I had won his. After all, not just anyone could marry "his son" Charles B. Brown, Jr., and I was a Yankee from Chicago to beat all. Over that holiday, Popo introduced me to grits (which I thought were Cream of Wheat cereal), turnip greens (which I thought was spinach that had gone bad) and hush puppies which I loved but tasted like a northern version of corn fritters without the corn. Yes, this was my Big Debut to becoming a transplanted "Southerner". Charles literally had to translate for me during this visit, because Popo had this slow, southern drawl and I had a bit of trouble understanding it all. But I never had trouble loving this man "of few words" and when he did speak it was like E. F. Hutton--"everyone stopped to listen". He was a man of simple but great wisdom.


Popo loved his wife, daughter, son, his other daughter (me), his grandchildren and his great- grandchildren. At Christmas time, his birthdays and other special occasions, we would always give Popo some "spending money, to keep his pocket warm". He loved this. He would sit on the couch, flatten each bill out, count them and then hand to our son Rob and Popo's banker, for safe keeping until he left to go home. Thus the picture you are seeing below, I believe this was taken on Popo's last Christmas with us. This picture is from an album that our son Charlie, Heather, Conlan and Keegan gave Memo this past Christmas. That is Memo's 97 year old hand holding this album. They were married 68 years when the Lord took Popo home. What a priceless "keeper" this memory is for all of us.

Popo was a wonderful mentor and teacher, in my life. He taught me bait my first hook, with live shrimp. The only shrimp this Northern girl had ever seen were the ones fried to eat and laying on a plate, with french fries and cocktail sauce. He always took time out to find out what was going on in our lives--taking in everything around him but sometimes never speaking a word. But even then he taught me so much by example. He was an incredible Popo (Grandfather) to our grandchildren. He and Memo seldom, if ever, went to the beach for the day or a week-end, that the grandchildren didn't receive that exciting phone call saying, "pack your suitcase, we are headed for the beach, coming to get you!!" He was also Mr. Fix-It, not always quite the professional way, but the "Popo Fix It Way", as we still call it today. We had kidded that Popo went to Heaven with duct tape in one hand and WD40 in the other--probably to do some work on the "Pearly Gates"- the Popo way.


We miss you every day but would not want you back--we know that you are too busy helping out in Heaven and enjoying the presence of your Precious Lord and Savior. But I want to say to you Popo, thanks for accepting me just like I was, loving me more than any father could love a "daughter" and blessing me with your life. We could write volumes on this man who said very little but spoke so much through his life. Thanks for the "Memories", Popo, always your Lynne