The Browning's

Many of you know that Jedidiah was born with a heart condition, which caused his heart to have a fused valve.  Each year he has gone to a pediatric cardiologist to see how his heart is developing.  Today was his two-year-old appointment.  We have asked many of you to pray that Jed’s heart would defuse.  Well, if you have been a part of that prayer team we wanted you to know that as of today Jed’s heart is completely healthy!

 

The doctor told us that everything in Jed’s heart looks great and that we would no longer need to see the cardiologist.  Many kids live with a bicuspid aortic valve, but most of them face a heart surgery at a very young age.  Many others are restricted from playing some sports to ensure that too much strain is not placed on the child’s heart.  Jed is very fortunate.  He will be able to live an active and healthy life and his future dream of being a South Carolina Gamecock linebacker is still in tact.  Okay that is dad’s future dream but it is now a possibility. 

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This week was a milestone for Piper and I.  We went to camp together.  Earlier this year, I was asked to speak at a girls camp and I agreed as long as I was able to bring Piper with me.  The camp director was kind enough to oblige, so this Monday we left for Camp LaVida.  Me and 120 girls!

Piper had a blast.  She told me on the ride home that all the girls wanted me to be their daddy because I was so cool.  Not hard to be cool when you are the only man for miles, right?  Piper said, “He is my dad and he is marvelous!”  That one comment, no matter how sincere, made the bugs, the heat, the constant questions, and the camp food all worthwhile. 

Piper did great.  She made several friends; never got homesick; camped outside; and learned a ton about God, missions, and loving people.  I am very proud of her.  She is a great little girl who, even at my displeasure, is quickly becoming a young lady.

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Many of you who keep up with our family are friends that we don’t see all that often because life has moved us apart.  When we talk, I always get the question, “How are the kids doing?”  I probably should do a better job at keeping you all posted on our three kids.

Piper, our oldest is now eight.  She is starting 2nd grade this fall and is a great student.  Piper has picked up reading very quickly but she is not an avid reader, yet.  Her teachers have expressed to us that she has a special knack for mathematics.  Her newest joy is gymnastics.  She is constantly doing cartwheels, round-offs, and backbends around our house.  Right now she is in the beginner class, but her coaches say that she will soon be moved up to a more advanced group.  Piper likes to ask deep questions about the Lord.  She has a tendency to want to please people to ensure their love.  Coupled with the fact that she is a very beautiful little girl, I would ask for your prayers.  She is going to break her daddy’s heart, I’m afraid.

Ethan, our middle child, is now six.  He is going into 1st grade.  He is a little more timid in the classroom but has quickly made several friends.  Ethan is a happy-go-lucky child.  Most of his days are made up of playing with his younger brother and sister or one of the neighborhood friends.  He just finished his second year of baseball and is showing signs of great potential.  He likes baseball but he is eager to get a chance at playing football.  Both Mom and Dad are holding the reigns back on this one for right now.  Ethan is not overly concerned with too much, this may cause him to struggle with academics.  Ethan loves to help his dad with church work.  We call him the associate pastor.  Ethan is learning how to pray.  Pray for him that he will meet Jesus in a real and authentic way.

Jedidiah, the youngest is now two.  He is a handful.  He is full of life and always into some mischief.  Pray for Tarah, she is constantly by his side, pulling him out of dangerous situation.  Jed has no fear.  He loves adventure and he is a thrill-seeker at any cost.  He is beginning to learn how to put sentences together.  He has a few passions in this world.  Number one is Baby Einstein videos followed closely by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Third place would be awarded to Eliana, the apple of his eye.  She doesn’t seem to share the same interest though, but Jed is persistent.  Even though most of the daily stress is at his beckoning, he makes up for it with his willingness to be affectionate.

Tarah and I are doing well.  We are trying to keep a balance in life.  Pray for all of us, we love you and thanks, for all that you do on our behalf.

This week we have been in sunny Florida for Will to speak at a youth retreat.  It has brought back many memories for me of my summer here in 1996.  Over a decade ago, I came to Daytona for a summer mission project and had no idea the impact the trip would have on my life.  Going on a mission trip just seemed like the right thing to do for someone who called herself a “Christian.”  So on to Daytona I went and in the next few days and weeks to come, God would completely rock my world.  On July 6, 1996, I put Jesus on the throne of my life.

When we arrived in Daytona this past Monday, I immediately had Will drive me to the place of my salvation.  As silly as that sounds, I had this urge to experience again the day God got a hold of me.  While we spent all of about two minutes in the actual hotel, it brought this overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Lord.  Why would he choose me, the rebellious, self-centered young lady that I was and which I still struggle not to be?  Why would he do the work that he has done in my life?  Why would he allow me to be a part of his mission to the world?  It is a great calling for such a simple girl.  I am humbled to know that as God wrote his story, he decided to write me in it.  Wow, what a privildege!

Tarah

I have heard the stories, but now I know the truth for myself.  Family vacations are no vacation at all.  I don’t mean to sound so trite, but before kids I saw vacation as a time to rest and recoup.  I now understand that vacation means craziness, sleeplessness, and mind-numbing excitement.


Those who work or volunteer beside me know how much a “Type A” person I am.  Within the first twenty-four hours, I came up with a schedule for the week.  I am so, “type A” that I actually wrote out the schedule and posted it on the refrigerator so there would be no confusion or opposition.  It was occasionally mocked but it was respected and implemented.  The family vacation schedule flaunted some exciting events.  Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Wave Waterpark, and Nascar Speedpark were at the top of the list.
 

The kids had an absolute blast.  Piper told me, “Daddy this was the best week of my life!”  Ethan asked, “Can I stay at Myrtle Beach for 100 more days?”  I may not have slept as much as I wanted, read the book that I brought, or got to play a game of volleyball but it was worth it to see my kids so excited.  Thanks Mom, Dad, Mark, & Shanda.

Our goal is not to only update our website every time someone has a birthday.  I have heard the cries from you who have demanded a new entry.  To be honest, since Madison’s death (our niece), I have been completely unmotivated to write happy updates about our family and church, but after a time of grieving we must return back to normalcy.

 

This past weekend we celebrated Jedidiah’s 2nd Birthday.  We had a pool party at Nanny’s house.  It was the first time she and Poppy have opened their pool in five years.  Our kids swam for about seven hours that day.  It reminded me of my days as a young boy swimming in that pool.  I could not do the same tricks on the diving board as I could in my younger years, but we had a blast anyway.  Jed got a tricycle, some learning games, and a baseball set.  Uncle Mark made some awesome hamburgers on the charcoal grill.  He laced them with A1 sauce and the perfect blend of pepper and spices!  After eating a hot dog, some cheese puffs, cake, ice cream, and watermelon, Jed final was pooped enough to take his nap.  We had a great time, Aunt JoJo and Aunt Rachael filmed the event, Josh got waterlogged by Piper and Ethan and we celebrated Gaga’s birthday a few hours early.  Thanks to everyone.

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Piper and Ethan had there eight and six year old birthday party this weekend.  It was a busy day.  Our good friends the Young’s (Nate, Cam, Hannah & Eli) came in town to visit.  This visit was very special to Piper particularly.  She loves Hannah to death.  Most of Piper’s dolls have been named Hannah in her honor.

The day started out with a bang.  Ethan, while playing on his bunk-bed, fell and cut open his lip so wide that we had to rush to an emergency care center for him to get four stitches.  We made it back in time that he didn’t miss his party!  The boys went bowling and the girls went to the roller skating rink.  We met back after lunch at the house for cake and ice cream. 

Nanny & Gaga had all the festivities ready.  A cake, half Power Rangers and half Hannah Montana, dawned the table.  The kids had a great time.  We are still opening presents. 

Thanks for all your love and support.  It has been so cool to see these kids grow up over the last 16 months.  They are doing great.  Seeing them flourish is so gratifying.  They are making friends, learning about God, learning to read, playing sports, amongst many other things.  They are such a great blessing to Tarah and I.

Come on God, what are you thinking?  These were the words on my lips early last Sunday morning when I stepped out of my car on my way to the Tupelo shelter at Wannamaker Park for our Journey Out Day.  I came dressed ready to play volleyball, in shorts even though the wind chill was below 45 degrees.  I saw this as a step of faith; everyone else saw it as a sign of stupidity.

Ethan, my middle son, reminded me as we walked back to the car to get some final items, “Daddy, you said we were going to pray.”  “Oh yeah,” I replied.”  But I was thinking, “What good will it do?”  My prayer was one mixed with frustration and anger.  Considering the proceeding day’s weather was in the 70’s and the following day’s weather was forecasted to begin a warming trend, I just said to God, “I know you have the best in mind for us, but I don’t understand this one.”  All I could think about was the money that we spent on this event and now, do to weather, no one was going to show up.  Come on God, what are you thinking?

It was about an hour into the event that I saw what God was thinking.  Over one hundred people bared the cold, the wind, and the rain to hang out with us.  This pat Sunday was the most successful event our church has ever had. 

Later that evening, my family was eating supper together.  We were all talking about what we enjoyed most about the day and Ethan reminded me, “Daddy, we prayed that God would make this a great day, and he did!” 

Ethan, you are right buddy.  Ethan helped me understand what God meant when he said, “Have child-like faith.”

Will  <><

When we moved down to South Carolina to plant the Journey Church we knew several things would change.  The weather changed, no more fall colors and white winters.  We traded that in for bathing suits, sweat-rags, and sunny days.  Our friends changed, no more free lunches from Bobby or vacation planning with the Harris’s.  We traded that in for lunches with the unchurched and dinner-times with new church prospects.  The biggest change came when we went from two incomes to one.

This is not a pity-party, it is the beginning of our testimony of God’s goodness.  When we left, we hoped to see God differently.  We wanted to depend on him.  We wanted to see him miraculously provide for our needs.  I recognize that if we had not stepped out on faith, we would not have witnessed these small miracles.  When we needed a car to fit a family that added three kids in one year, God moved in someone’s heart to buy us a van.  When I prayed that God would provide money for Tarah and I to have two date nights a month, a check came in the mail.  When the grocery money got tight, a church offered to give us groceries once a month.  Mind you, we never put out these requests publicly but nonetheless God knew what we needed.  There are even more stories than these but some people have requested to stay anonymous.

If you feel like you have never seen God’s hand move in your life in a real and tangible way, let me encourage you to take a step out, in faith, and trust God.