And they're off....

Just got a text from mom and they've boarded the plane in Atlanta for the flight headed to Tokyo. The way I have it figured, they should be there somewhere around 3:30-4:30 a.m. our time (July 1). Will had made plans to go with some of his friends today to play paintball guns. We were eating at my grandmother's house yesterday afternoon, and he came up and asked me if he could go to the airport with Gig instead. I told him that his friends would understand and I thought that was a great idea! My precious Will is so tenderhearted and I honestly think he just wanted to see them leave for himself and be a part of their departure. He's always been an adult in a kid's body! And, I know Gig (my dad) enjoyed his company too. They stopped at Cracker Barrel and ate breakfast and then met Molly and I at at Dr. Sims office.

Will, Molly and I had appointments for our 6 month dental cleaning today. I guess the third time is a charm because Molly somewhat cooperated and had her teeth cleaned for the first time today (without being under some type of anesthesia)! I guess the prize she was promised from WalMart did the trick. Now, please don't misunderstand me. She wasn't the perfect patient- not by a long shot! However, Dr. Sims did manage to count and brush her teeth. Will has always been a model patient and student. He has gotten fillings without a shot and when he broke his arm, he acted better than most adults! Molly, on the other hand, is full of drama! Just kills me..... I say she's just like her dad when she acts like that. Dr. Sims asked her what her prize was going to be and she quickly replied "a trampoline". She's really wanting a trampoline. She even told Darin on Father's Day that she was going to buy him a trampoline but she didn't know how to get it home! In the end, she settled for a Buzz Lightyear for her prize.

I hope everyone has a blessed Wednesday and hopefully by the time I blog tomorrow, I will have some news on the "world travelers" or as I like to think of it "Mission Mia"!

With Love,

Allison

June 29, 2010

Good Morning! We've got another busy day on tap for "The Brown's". We're about to go pick bluberries at my granddaddy's house and then Will has another practice game tonight. The Glenoce majors start playing this Friday night in the All-Star tournament in Collinsville so good luck to our boys who have worked so hard this summer! In between, we're going to celebrate Ashley, Griff & Mom's departure to China. Griff, my brother-in-law, wanted Mata's pizza before he left for China so we're going to honor that request and have Mata's pizza this afternoon! Needless to say, our family is always looking for a reason to eat Mata's pizza!

This whole journey has been surreal for our family. Ashley & Griff began this process in late September and some people wait years for closure but God blessed Ashley & Griff with the gift of time and they've sailed through compared to most people! On the other hand, it's like when you find out you're expecting- 9 months seems so long away and you think it will never come and before you know if you're holding that precious baby! We've experienced that same "pregnancy" feeling with Mia. We knew she was coming but it just seemed like a dream and that it might not ever really happen. Like I've said before, we consider our family to be honored and blessed that God has chosen us for Mia. She's going to bless so many people.... I just know it!

Darin and I attend North Glencoe Baptist Church and we have an awesome pastor, Bro. David Denson. He preaches such practical, life-applying sermons that make you feel like you can become a better Christian each and everyday. He's been preaching a series of sermons called "Suffering Well". Like Bro. David said one Sunday... you'll never have a testimony without a test"! He also reminds us that "God never wastes a hurt". We all have endured hurts, hang-ups, trials & tribulations but we can still "let our little light shine" during these times. Even though Mia has been in an orphange in China since she was just a few days old, she awaits a BIG earthly blessing! She will have opportunities here to serve Christ that she would've never had in China. And just think about her birth mom... how happy she would be to know Mia is finally safe and sound with the family God intended for her all along! So... my sister has suffered well! She has invested her heart & soul, finances, family, time away from work, etc. because she felt led to do this. I admire her & Griff so much for following where God led. Please pray for safe travels to and from China, and for Mia's adjustment period. I'm praying Mia will sense the love and that the Holy Spirit will surround Ashley, Griff, Mom & Mia each day.

And just think.... the next time we have Mata's pizza for dinner- Mia will be here to eat some too! LOL!

Have a great Tuesday and remember to....Count your blessings!

Allison

Monday, June 28, 2010

Well, it's Monday morning! It's amazing how much more fun Mondays are in the summer- no rush, rush to get out the door for school and making sure you have the backpacks, gym clothes, practice stuff, etc. Today Will has basketball practice and then baseball tonight. Hopefully, we can get enjoy some time at the pool in between our two sporting events.

This week is going to be a BIG week in our family. My sister is adopting a beautiful, little 18 month old girl from China and they leave this Wednesday for China. Right now, it's bitter sweet. We're so thankful that God has chosen our family for Mia, but we're all anxious about the trip and the time spent apart. They will be gone until July 18 and our family is really close and that seems like a long time for us to be separated. Please pray for safe travel, a smooth transition for Mia, and for Cole, Garrett, Nolan, Molly and Will. I have a feeling there's going to be some children missing their Mom, Dad and grandmother! We're unsure about how we're going to communicate now while they're in China. We're hoping to skype but we're also not sure how reliable that's going to be. Ashley is going to try and update her blog www.fivefairleys.blogspot. com and I'll post here as I talk to them. We're just trusting God to see us through this journey- literally!

I hope you enjoy your day! Remember to count your blessings....

Allison

The Braves Game

We had so much fun in Braves Country yesterday. Will couldn't wait to get there- in fact, we were there 30 minutes before the stadium opened. If this gives you a hint, the stadium opened at 4:30 and the game started at 7:00. However, we made the most of it! We were able to watch batting practice and then we went to eat at The Chop House restaurant inside the park. The Braves did great! This was Molly's first Braves game and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Bless the people who work at Turner Field. The ushers are so patient- Molly stopped the little man that was on our aisle and bought one of everything he was selling- except for the ice cold beer and she would've bought that too if she could've rounded up an ID and some high heels! LOL!

We went to get Will's haircut this morning. Will and Gig went to Silver Lakes fishing and then we went for a nice, long swim over at Mimi & Gig's. We just love these summer days!

Hope your day has been fabulous! God is so good....

Allison

Day 2

Well, it's Day 2 on my blogging journey. We've got a busy day today so I thought if I was going to blog that I should do it early this morning. We're going to see "Our Braves" play at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA tonight. Our family loves baseball and it just doesn't seem like summer if we don't make it to at least one Braves game before school starts back. Our family went to Disney World during spring break this year and while the girls (Molly, Mimi, Aunt Ashley and Mommy) enjoyed a day at Bippidi Boppidi Boutique, the guys (Darin, Griff, Gig, Will, Cole, Garrett & Nolan) enjoyed at day at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex where they saw the Braves play the Florida Marlins. So... I guess you could say this is our 2nd game of the season. Will is taking a friend, Madison, and Molly and I are going too. I'm praying that they don't have a 2hr. rain delay like last night and that the game starts on time as I really don't want to be on I-20 by myself with three kids at midnight! Do you "see what I'm sayin'?"

I'll post pics of the game tomorrow. Darin gave me a new Nikon camera for Christmas and I'm lovin' it! Just wish I had time to really sit down and figure it out. I know it is capable of doing so much more than pointing and shooting!

We're having a BIG yard sale at one of my friend's house on Saturday. I really hate yard sales but I'm gonna give it a go one more time. Yard sales are like labor pains... they hurt really bad at the time but then your memory fails you and before you know it, you're doing it again! Ha!Ha!

Well... I hope you enjoy this beautiful summer day God has blessed us with. Take some time today to thank Him for your blessings!

God Bless,
Allison

Just getting started

Well, as the title says. . . I'm just getting started. I sat down in March and fully intended to start a family blog. In fact, I did start a blog.One day... one entry... and that was it. My life gets really hectic in the spring and so I just never got around to posting another entry until today. Most of you who are reading this blog probably already know me and my family, but just in case you don't- I'm going to give you a little background about "This Brown Bunchx4".

My name is Allison and I'm married to Darin. God has blessed Darin and I with two precious children. Will is about to be twelve on June 23, 2010 and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" turned six on May 11, 2010. I'm a schoolteacher and will begin my 12th year of teaching this August. Darin is a lineman at Alabama Power. He's a hardworking man and has been at APCO for 12 years. We live just outside of Glencoe and as most people with young children these days we're overbooked, stretched too thin, and basically run ragged. We get by with a "little help" (really it's ALOT of help) from Mimi and Gig. Guess you're wondering who Mimi and Gig are? Well, that's my parents and luckily they live right across the road from us. So close that their house is accessible by go cart, golf cart and four wheeler!

So, why did I start a blog? Well, I've considered that question myself. Just as I told my children when we adopted my sister's yorkie (Max) back in September. . . "the last thing I need is another responsibility". I hope this blog won't be another responsibility for me but a way that I can share funny family stories and really just keep a journal of our daily lives. I abandoned scrapbooking a long time ago but I see this blog as a form of a "scrapbook" of The Brown's.

Today is Tuesday, June 15. We've got quite a week planned. On Wednesday, we're going to an Atlanta Braves game, Thursday and Friday will be full-prep mode for the multi-family yard sale we're having on Saturday. In between, Will has practice games Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday for all-stars. And I've started a blog???

God Bless,
Allison