Brother's Tom & Jerry Brown

I couldn't ask for better brothers. They are good Christian men in spite of hard times as youths. Yet, I'm sure others had harder times also. Living in Port Arthur, TX was simpler than now, though. If you want to compare.

It's a wonder we survived. Left on our own, we learned to take care of each other. At least, they took care of me.

Port Arthur, TX, known as "The Wicked City" or "The Windy City". A port town with refineries at their peak of production.

A time when most everyone was buying a car, and a home. Who remembers the Port Theatre, in the Del Mar addition, The Sabine Theatre downtown, or The Village Theatre out 16th Street, near St James Catholic church? It was a quarter for the Saturday Matinee, with serials like "Rocket Man", Comic strips, like Elmer Fudd, & Tom & Jerry, & Tweetie Bird & Syl

Who remembers Kress five and dime stores, or Fornett Men's Wear, or Bluesteins? They were the best stores.

Who remembers having your gas pumped by an attendant?

When mom went to Houston via Hwy. 90 she always stopped in Liberty to have her car filled up with gas because the attendant always swept out her floor board. She thought that was being treated like royalty.

Well, enough nostalgia.

We were taught through experience to look after one another. I think we taught our kids to do the same, look after one another, and I hope they teach their kids to do the same also.

Christmas Time/New Year

Well, the year is about done. What can anyone say? It's been a journey.

I am looking forward to the new year 2010.

I have all kinds of plans, and hope they develop into productive times.

Straightening the house and making better use of "space".?? Recon that will happen?

Looking into the genealogy thing again. Something I started years ago and never went any further than great-great grandfather Brown. Still don't have any of his dates.

I'll let you know how this progresses sometime in February or sooner if I succeed quicker than I think.

As for today, I have a Christmas party to go to and better get my "dish" ready.

My wish is for all of my followers and family to have a safe and great Christmas Season!

Health Issues

Don't we all feel "under the weather" sometimes? I feel I have had more than my share. But, whose counting? The Lord always sees to it that I come back to bright and cheerful.

I had one of my "days" last week. Couldn't think, brain washed out, fuzzy head and anything else you can think of where the head is not as functional as it should be. I get like that and can't think much less attend to any other business that may come my way. I asked the Lord, "Just end this day" tomorrow will be better. Well, the next day was better.

It's always hard to remember Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," the Lord declares, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen."

We all have bad days and must learn to deal with them the best way we can. No one had a worse day than Jesus when He went into the wilderness and came out tempted by Satan. The Lord delivered Jesus from His humanity feeling of hunger, powers to overcome nature's strongholds and power to rule the world and power over God himself.

I see these three things as the basic human needs by which Satan thinks he can control the world. Our human condition to want food. Our human condition to want to rule over mankind. Our human condition to want to rule the physical world, nature.

Therefore, we trust God to rule, with Jesus at His side and the Holy Spirit to reveal to each of us what God wants for our life. We pray to God and know because we have His word, His plan to prosper us and not to harm us.

May your day be blessed by the reading His word!

Mothers and Daughters

Chicken Soup For The Soul books has come out with a "Mothers and Daughters" book. I can't wait to read it.

I'm not sure what is refers to, but I just thought I'd do a "take" on my daughters and me.

I have three daughters. Each one is as unique as can be yet, alike in some ways.

First born is Kathy, Katherine Lois Stuart. How do you like that? First billing? Named for me, the Lois "thing". She is as independent as the day is long. She's a survivor as are the other two in their own way. Can't take "shopping"--not like her mother.  They keep as close as they can with their "work-a-day" world. Unlike their mother they are in the "work-force". A must in today's world. She is a dedicated Registered Nurse and loves the excitement of the ER and ICU and CCU. She remains single at this writing but, soon will probably be hearing wedding bells.

Debbie Gail Smith, my second born. The "middle" child. Poor her. However, she is my "writer".

She followed her father's footsteps to work and the "plant". She is now considered a publisher and editor of a small magazine "Alive In Christ". It is put out by the writer's guild she founded. The Agape Inspirational Writers Alive writer's guild is connected to the IWA of Houston, First Baptist Church. 

She has inspired me to write and "blog". She favors my mom and I have pictures to prove it. She is the mother to my only grandchild, a son, Thomas. She is very proud of him with a right to be. But, hold on this is about mothers and daughters. She loves to shop. Now that's where she comes to be like me. 

Not quite as avid a shopper as I, she usually "thinks" over each purchase very carefully. 

Tracey Lynn Rabalais, my "baby". Sorry, girls. :):) I was my father's "baby" when I was 50. She's stuck with the label as I have with my brothers. She's a "workaholic" like the others. They are alike in that way. They get that from their father, even if I do stay "busy" most of the time.

She's my "shopper", though. We are always finding "bargains" and sharing information about shopping.

One time I went to Houston, where she lived, to shop with her. I arrived there at 9 a.m. and we started when the stores opened at 10 a.m. We were still shopping at 9 p.m that night. When, Bobby, her then boyfriend, called her she said we were headed to another store. His reply was, "Where can you shop at 9 p.m? Aren't the stores closed?" She said, "No, there's always "Wal-mart". We shopped til 10  p.m.

What can I say? My mom and I went shopping every Saturday afternoon, downtown, Port Arthur, Texas in the 50's.  She has taken me as far away as San Antonio and Houston to shop with her. She had "style". However she liked jewelry. I prefer clothes. 

My mother's mother bought material and had clothes made for my mother and for me when I was young.

I can only guess, there are many things handed down from generation to generation. I know this is one thing we can't escape. "Shopping".

Good Luck in your endeavors as you reach the "peak" of your lives, girls. Live today as fully as you can.

Mom/Lanell

Goals For The Future

Goals give us a since of hope and accomplishment. Goals can be long term or short term. They can be challenging or simple. Goals should be reasonable and attainable. They should be set for a certain time limit. Too long from now and we will feel overwhelmed.

Some people don't want to have goals because of fear they may not be able to accomplish those desires. Therefore they use generalizations such as "I'll try to be a better person". Too many times we have set goals and not been able to accomplish them. Therefore we don't set any goals at all. How sad not to look forward to anything and settle for the mundane and end up with a boring life.

Happiness can come from setting new goals and looking forward to the future. We don't always know what the future holds, but nothing comes from doing nothing. Goals can keep us involved with people and doing the Lord's work.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you hope and a future.

Praise Jesus Now

 Christmas is my favorite time of year. It was my mother's favorite also. She loved buying gifts for just about any and everyone she could think of.  All the hustle and bustle of shopping. All  of the Christmas carols being heard in the stores and in church.

I hope you will keep in mind the reason for the season: Jesus. He loves you so much. He wants the best for you and your family. 

He fills me with a peace that passes all understanding. I am particularly mindful of His presence this year because so many good things have happened recently. My health is better than it has been in a long time. I'm happier than I've been in a long time. I believe it is because He has chosen this path for me.

Events happen in our lives to prove God is an ever present help. You too can have this presence. Just call upon His Name, Jesus and He will lead you in the paths of rightness. Even when life gets hectic as it can. He can give you the peace that you deserve. This is a time of year for peace and happiness, so don't let life get you down. Look up to the heavens and praise God for your life and those people that come into your life. 

Praise His holy name and all that is within me! 

Christmas This Week

I have so much to do and a short time to do it in. Isn't that something like a song?
Parties, parties, parties, what can I say. Monday our Senior Choir will sing at a local nursing home while the Women's Missionary Group serves cookies and presents. That evening is the S.S. Department party for 3 S.S. classes.
Tuesday, I may have time to do some christmas shopping????
Wednesday, is a Bible Study luncheon at a member's house and I will make sandwiches for that. The luncheon will last till about 2 p.m. I am looking forward to attending. Wednesday evening is the last of a Beth Moore study: "Believing God".
Thursday is a Christmas party for the Jeff Chem club and we will eat supper there and play games.
Friday is my husbands S.S. Department Christmas party in the evening.
Saturday is really a big day. My first born is coming for Christmas celebration from Houston. She will be in Florida this year on Christmas day. She will be enjoying a new and exciting relationship with her new boyfriend and his family. I hope it turns out happy for her.