building homes, fulfilling dreams

In about 36 hours I have to speak at a fundraising breakfast. I am filling in for my Exec Director while he is on vacation with his family. I hate doing these kind of things, but it is necessary in our ongoing efforts to raise money for our current build.

I am just a shy little girl from Kansas, still wondering how she ended up in Salem Oregon. I have been here two years as of yesterday.

I didn’t travel at all when I was a kid. Not unless you count a 30 minute trip west of town to go camping at Lake Cheney.
I was 30 years old before I ever got on an airplane.

But I have made up for it in my adult life. In the past 15 years or so I have been to Chicago and seen the Sears Tower.
I have seen the space needle in Seattle,
Coit Tower in San Francisco and crossed the Golden gate Bridge by car and on foot.
I’ve seen 3 Frank Lloyd Wright houses. And I’ve been in the book depository in Dallas.
I’ve seen the Oklahoma City Memorial and been to the top of the St. Louis Arch…
3 times, no wait... 4 times.

In my limited travels I have seen some wonderful architecture, buildings and homes.

Yet all of these structures pale in comparison to what I have seen on Evergreen Ct., Wendy St. and now Ford St. in Salem Oregon.

There is something about watching a home go up that brings tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart.

The awe, and the wonder, that go through me when I watch walls being raised pale in comparison to standing before the greatest structures in the world.
There is something about knowing that you are building with a family, and housing a family, that surpasses any work designed by any architect, or constructed by any company.



Being on the build site is what I enjoy the most. But raising money so we can build is just as important as driving in the nails. So I will get up early on Saturday morning and instead of heading to Ford St I will go to St. Mark's and do my best to not be nervous, or shy and bring in a few more dollars so that the Flores family can be in their first home before Christmas.

In need of some favorite things...

I am in such need of


sunshine,

a roadtrip,

and some sand!


Maybe this weekend!

Everybody needs a little help

Everybody needs a little help now and then.
And sometimes it comes in the form of an adult beverage that has a way of smoothing out the rough edges.
Tonight my help came in the form of Rogue Brewery's seasonal Malt Liquor known as Dad's Little Helper. I think it is mislabeled!

Hiding or the only place to call my own?

My mind is so cluttered right now I don't even know where to begin, how to begin or if I should just post this photo and leave it at that.


I need to write to let go of these tumultuous feelings inside me tonight.

I don't even know why I came up with the word tumultuous other than it seemed to be the most accurate.

Now I am wondering what tumultuous actual means. I wonder if it is an accurate description of how I am feeling.

Hang on a second....

Yup... That is what I thought.

It is accurate.

1 Tumult:
a: disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices : commotion
b: a turbulent uprising : violent agitation of mind or feelings

So I have chosen to hide out in my room. I am sitting on the floor, leaning back against my bed, with my computer in my lap, and my feet on the window sill looking out over my backyard, and the city that lies beyond wondering what the hell just happened to my life.

I know that I am being a bit over dramatic and tomorrow I will wake up, breathe in and out, and start all over again.

But this evening, right now, I feel tumultuous. Life in my house feels out of control. There is definately a disorderly agitation of bodies milling all about. The uproar and confusion is causing a commotion.

And if I can't get my house and my life back soon then there will definitely be a turbulent uprising and I might just have to get violent.

For those few friends that check my blog you most likely already know that I have a houseful of kids this summer. More than the usual 4. There are 6 kids back under our roof, all day, every day. There is a 7th that supposedly moved to a new apartment across town, yet 75% of her possessions are in my house, garage, and on my front porch.

In two days we have an 8th and 9th coming to visit for a week.
And in three days we have extended family come as well.


I was/am excited to be with and around family.

But when I arrived home from work at 5:30 this evening everything came crashing down around me.
I didn't see this coming.
It felt like I was tumbling down into some dark place that I might not be able to climb out of.

I am a little better right now. The tears have stopped and I can talk/write about it.
I called my sister in the midst of my 'melt down' and she helped me breathe and gain some perspective.

Writing always helps me too.

Talking and writing don't solve anything.
I still have a house full of kids with more demands than I can meet.
I still have more family coming in 2 and 3 days.
I still have some feelings milling around wanting to be 'disorderly and agitated'.

But I am better.

And Tomorrow I will probably be

F.I.N.E.

The month of May in snapshots...

Brad Graduated from UNL and I was blessed to be there for him.



I was 30 years old before I ever flew on a plane.
Our younger kids are becoming quite adept at air travel at a much younger age!


One of the best things about being in Kearney....
Great converstation over good brews!



My mom taught me many things for which I am grateful,
but rising to the surface the night before Aimee's wedding...
my skills for sewing and being flexible.



Amidst all the commotion and chaos there must be time for napping!



Just enough time for last minute make-up before the wedding.




After many years of dating (since Sophomore in high school)
Mike and Aimee are married!


It doesn't seem that long ago that my dad gave me away on my wedding day.



No Brown celebration is complete without an appearance from Elvis!
Thanks Matt! You are the best!


Sometimes people come into your life in the most odd ways.
Meeting Trevor has been a blessing in so many ways,
it can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit.


There is a unique bond between firefighters that most people will never understand.


What binds friends together is sometimes obvious and other times a mystery.
But whether it is obvious or not, some bonds will last a lifetime.


The best of friends will always find a way to make you feel at home.


Of all the activities we have enjoyed as a family,
just hanging out in the backyard is probably one of our favorites.


Road trips take you to many unusual places; physically, mentally and emotionally.
So why not start off a road trip with a visit to Carhenge?


Mount Rushmore....


Devils Tower...



Yellowstone....


Old Faithful....


Grand Tetons....



And Somewhere in Oregon...
there is still an old fashioned phone booth at a rest area.



Finally, when back at home, there must be time for planting and setting down roots.


I can't help but wonder what June has in store for me.