Christmas Letter 2008

**Oops! I was planning on posting our Christmas letter for this year before Christmas for all to read, but I didn't get around to it. 'Tis the season for forgetfulness, I suppose. So before this year wraps up, here is our Christmas letter for 2008**

TALES OF BROWNS, YOUNG AND OLD…

So far the moral of our story is when life becomes predictable, God turns it upside down… but this is just the beginning!

Christmas 2008 Edition

As of December 17 of this year, Jim and I will have been married for two years. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating our new marriage with you. We have experienced many changes in our life together over the past two years, and we hope to share those with you in this letter.

Jim and I like to say that the moral of our story so far is when life becomes predictable, God turns it upside down! Jim and I experienced this first when he suddenly, and without warning, lost his job last summer. We began a six-and-a-half-month journey into unemployment, exploring career options, and endless questioning. This was a difficult and frustrating time for us in our marriage. Jim’s income had taken care of most of the bills to that point, and with a mortgage and car payment, we didn’t know how we were going to make it on my part-time income. I was fortunate to pick up another position at the hospital and work more hours while starting my final year of full-time nursing school. Needless to say, we were very busy! Adding even more frustration to the mix was that every door Jim approached for employment seemed to close; and worse, slammed. We both felt confused and lacking in direction as to where Jim should go and what he should do.

Despite our frustrations and lack of faith, God was working through it all. He continually provided for us in this time financially, and also through the encouragement from family and friends. Though our monthly income only totaled half our monthly bills, Jim and I were awed and blessed to see those needs met each month. We had many people in our lives praying for us and encouraging us constantly.

In August of 2007, a fellow musician in our church told Jim about an open Minister of Worship position at another local church. Jim visited that church and picked up an application, but felt no real direction as to whether or not to pursue the position. The application sat on our dining room table for almost a month before I encouraged Jim to fill it out. He did, and on the evening of October 31 (yes… Halloween) went for his first interview.

Three months later, in January of 2008, Quinault Baptist Church voted to call Jim as their Minister of Worship and Youth. We are both so blessed to see Jim being right where God wanted him – in ministry.

As for me, I graduated from Washington State University in May 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. I was offered a full-time job in Labor and Delivery at Kadlec Medical Center, where I have been working for the past few years through school. Due to a setback, I was unable to start working full-time right away. At first this was disappointing, but God had other plans for me. Because I was working part-time, I was able to help out leading a group of youth on a mission trip and attend youth camp, which allowed me to participate in Jim’s ministry with him and get to know the youth of our church better.

We were also fortunate to sell our home this past March. We are currently living in an apartment, but will be moving again this February.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!