Update

Wow! I don't even know where to begin....

So to give a brief update with out going too deeply into all of the background details:

After a long period of prayer and seeking council from friends and family, Andy and I have decided NOT to move out to New Jersey for Andy to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. Andy was accepted to Luthor Seminary here, in Minneapolis where he will be pursuing his Masters of Arts in Systematic Theology.

(For those of you who don't speak Greek, that means that he will be spending 2 years in a program that is geared more towards the academic side of Biblical studies. This will allow him to pursue a career either in the church in a pastoral role, or to continue his education to PH.D. work and become a theology professor.)

Haha, and I thought I was putting it simply!

So we are very much at peace with our decision to stay here in Minnesota. I have recently gotten a promotion at my job with Express Scripts, and Andy will be working at 2 different ice arenas driving zamboni over the summer.

I just wanted to give you all an update and write my first post of 2012! I can't believe it's been that long...

Holy Moly!

http://thegleeprojectcasting.com/Auditions/View/3404989

I never thought I would do something like this.... EVER!

Marriage

 Andy and I just celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary this past weekend. We went out for a lovely dinner and stayed Downtown Minneapolis in, what happened to be, the same hotel we stayed at for our first anniversary. It was so good to spend that quality time together and to reflect on the past 2 years.

 As we were talking about our roller-coaster of a journey that the past 2 years has taken us on, I began to think about how drastically my life has been effected and changed by being married to Andy.

 Over the past 2 years, Andy and I have moved 4 times, attended 2 different churches, have had between 2-5 different jobs, gotten a puppy, made friends, left friends, driven countless hours together in the car, and purchased, and then sold, a motorcycle & our second vehicle.

 HOLY CATS!

 Although it has been a very unpredictable, and often stressful, couple of years, I have come to appreciate every moment of it. I have grown and learned A LOT and wouldn't change a thing about our lives today. I have a deep respect for my husband, and I have come to appreciate him more and more for his determination and dedication to what he feels God's calling on his life is. I have learned that by being willing to follow Andy and honor him in whatever decision is made for the direction of our lives, I am honoring God.

 This has not been easy for me, being that I like to be in control, and feeling like I have lost control of the direction of my life has been very difficult. But in this time that I am being pushed and pulled and stretched, I have come to rely more on God to be in control. I am slowly relinquishing my desire to take the wheel, and I am letting someone else drive.

 I am looking forward to our next step with excitement, faith in my husband, and trust in God.

Prayers for the Kausch Family

 I don't know how many of you have heard the news, but Andy's grandpa, his mother's father passed away on Saturday, June 4th due to heart failure. If you could keep Andy, and his family in your prayers this week as they deal with this time of loss and sadness. Donald Kausch was 80 years old and was loved by all who knew him. He made anyone and everyone feel like part of the family. He will be dearly missed. Please think of his wife Shirley and keep her in your prayers as well.

Rest in peace Papa Kausch. We love you.

Double Standards

 Let me just say that if there is one thing that I hate, it's a double standard. That is all.

Camp Cook

 This week began my first of 3 weeks as a cook for Youth Front Camp South. It is me and 1 other person for breakfasts, and we have one more helper for lunches and dinners. My mornings begin between 6:00 & 6:30am and I am usually busy from then until after lunch at around 2:00pm. I then get about a 2 hour break before preparation for dinner begins at around 4:00 or 4:30pm. I am in the kitchen from then until around 7:00pm depending on how much prep work can be done for breakfast the night before.

 Needless to say, I am pretty wiped out by the end of the day. I find myself either taking long naps during my afternoon breaks, or going to bed at about 9:00pm. But I am loving every minute of it. I love preparing food for people that I love. All the staff here are great and I feel so welcomed into their little family. This has been a great start to week 1 and I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy being here for the next 2 & 1/2 weeks.

 Do what you love, love what you do.

 Peace & Love <3

The Brownes are on the Move!

 As you all know, Andy and I are preparing to make a move out East to Princeton, New Jersey where Andy will be completing his M.Div.

 As we travel across half of the country on our trek out East, we have decided, with the help of Adam Richmond and Man vs. Food, to stop at a few 'Hole-in-the-Wall' restaurants along the way.

 Our trip will include stops in St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, Cleveland, OH, and Pittsburgh, PA. We plan on stopping at one or two places in each city. I will be blogging about our experiences at each place, and we plan on taking on a couple of the eating challenges that were featured on Man vs. Food.

 Here is a list of the places that we plan on stopping at:

-St. Louis: Iron Barley to try their Oak Roasted Pork Loin.

-Indianapolis: Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream to attempt the Big Ugly Burger Challenge.

-Cleveland: It's currently a toss-up between Steve's Gyros at the West Side Market, or Hot Sauce Williams for their famous 'Polish Boy'.

-Pittsburgh: DeLuca's for their wide variety of over-sized breakfast creations.

 We begin this journey on July first, and plan on taking about 3-5 days to complete our Epic Edible Exodus. Stay tuned because the Brownes are, once again, on the move!