Did You Hear About Our Foster Daughter's Early Days??

The little girl the Browns agreed to take in as a foster child was only eighteen months old when she was brought to their home. But she had already lived in 5 homes by that time. Her mom was unable to care for her. She stayed with her mom’s parents for a little while, but they were unable to continue the arrangement for long. The little girl had already been to three other foster homes. But she was not easy to handle, so she had been sent back to the agency.

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Did You Hear About The Time We Agreed to Become Foster Parents?

In that original meeting with the representatives of Christian Services, Archie and Ronda Brown were also asked to consider doing foster parenting until the infant boy they were seeking to adopt was available. There was an 18 month old little girl with special needs that the Browns were asked to take as a foster child for the two months it would take to get her paper work done so she could be adopted.

The Browns agreed. Their future was changed!

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Did You Hear About The First Meeting with the Adoption Acency?

In the meeting with the director of the representatives of Christian Services of the Southwest, Archie and Ronda Brown learned many things about the process of adoption.
They learned that there was usually a few months waiting period for an infant boy. They learned the financial requirements. They learned of the state regulations and the expectations of the agency.

But that was not all they learned!

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Did You Hear About Our Decision to Adopt a Child?

Archie and Ronda Brown decided that they would work seek to become adoptive parents. They had two daughters and figured they would adopt a little boy, younger than Evonne and Shelby. They did not want either girl to lose their place in the pecking order of the family. They contacted an agency in Dallas and made an appointment with the director and a social worker.

The first step toward a changed life was taken.

Did You Hear About The Time I Made 2nd My Daughter Take A Speech Class?

Archie Brown not only insisted that his first born, Evonne, take a speech class in high school. He made the same demand on his second daughter, Shelby. And the resistance he met from her was far more vehement than with Evonne. But once again he prevailed. She did well in the class. And once again the class had a positive outcome. Shelby got to serve as a foreign exchange student to Singapore representing the Rotary Club from her hometown. While in Singapore, Shelby had been expected to make a presentation to 600 men, in a foreign culture. When she returned home, she told Archie that she was glad he had made her take that speech course!

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Did You Hear About The Time I Made My Daughter Take A Speech Class?

Archie Brown’s dad, Orel, had insisted that Arch take a speech class as an elective subject in high school. It had turned out to be very helpful in Archie’s life as a teacher. So naturally when Archie’s daughter, Evonne, was in high school, he made the same demand on her as he had from his dad. Evonne did not want to take speech, but was no more successful resisting her dad than he had been in resisting her grandpa.

Again it paid off. It gave her confidence that she could present ideas with clarity and skill. She became a wonderful Sunday school teacher.

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Did You Hear About The Time I Had To Take A Speech Class?

Archie Brown wanted to be a major league baseball player. Or maybe a veterinarian. So
When his dad, Orel, insisted that one of Archie’s elective courses in high school be used to take a speech class, there was a pretty big fuss between them. Orel had such an aversion to speaking in public that it had held him back from advancements. He did not want his son to have the same stumbling block. Orel won the argument. And he was vindicated when Archie actually enjoyed it. Public speaking became a part of his life as a teacher.

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Did You Hear About the Times I Called the Hogs!

Archie Brown’s dad, Orel, loved the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. When his kids were still living at home, Orel would try to schedule at least one weekend trip each season to see a game.

The Hogs were always competitive, so the kids enjoyed the games. But their favorite part of the contests was when the cheerleaders would lead the Arkansas faithful in calling the hogs. Archie and his siblings loved to join in!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Pig, soooie! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Pig, soooie! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Pig, soooie!

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Did You Hear About The Time I Ate A Whole Cow?

When Archie Brown was a young boy, he loved it when his maternal grandparents came to visit in Texas, from their home outside Philadelphia. His grandparents loved Archie and his siblings, Cathy and Max. They thought Archie was the smartest boy they had ever met and they loved to laugh at his jokes.

On one trip, Grandpa Gabelle said, “I am so hungry I could eat a cow.” Archie said, “Grandpa, I know a place that will serve each of us a whole cow, and I promise I will eat my whole cow if you buy it for me.” His grandpa said he’d buy, so Archie took him to the Dairy Bar, the establishment with menu items, Brown Cow and Black Cow. The Black Cow was chocolate ice cream in a tall glass, with root beer poured over it, the Brown Cow had vanilla ice cream.

True to his word, Archie ate his whole Black Cow!

Did You Hear About The Time We Gave Timeshare For A Wedding GIft?

Archie and Ronda Brown had several times traded the use of their timeshare property in Galveston, Texas for use of other properties in various destinations for their vacations.

They also found another way to use their ownership to great benefit. When their daughter, Evonne, got married, Arch and Ronda traded their week of time for a week in a property for the honeymoon. It worked out so well that they gave the timeshare exchange to loved ones for their honeymoon trips.

Did You Hear About The Time We Used OurTimeshare To Go To D. C.?

One year Archie and Ronda traded their timeshare week in Galveston for a week in Red River, New Mexico. The family went skiing, along with other family members. Their place had beds for six and a kitchen and dining area. The bay window provided a view of the mountain they were skiing. It also had a hot tub, which was a welcome relief after a day on the mountain.

Did You Hear About The Time We Used OurTimeshare To Go Skiing?

One year Archie and Ronda traded their timeshare week in Galveston for a week in Red River, New Mexico. The family went skiing, along with other family members. Their place had beds for six and a kitchen and dining area. The bay window provided a view of the mountain they were skiing. It also had a hot tub, which was a welcome relief after a day on the mountain.

Did You Hear About The Time We Went to Hear About Timeshare Properties?

Archie and Ronda Brown went to one of those presentations of a timeshare property in Galveston. They thought it would be a nice way to pick up the door prize being offered, and afterward they would stop for a nice seafood dinner and a stroll down the seawall. Ninety minutes later they had signed up to buy a floating red week of time and become members of the vacation exchange service, RCI.

Not such a cheap evening as they had expected!

Did You Hear About My Grandfather GIving Me A Beagle Hound?

Archie Brown’s was given one of the red and white beagles bred by his grandfather. The mother of the pup was named on her AKC papers, “Bingo’s Belle.” Archie named his puppy Whizzer. On his papers he was, “Belle’s Whizzer.” And Whizzer grew to be a field trial champion.

One day a friend, Walt, asked Archie if Whizzer could go on a hunt with the friend’s beagles. Archie allowed Walt to take his prized hound. But it was a deadly mistake. Whizzer was leading the pack that was chasing a rabbit. When the rabbit passed Walt, he shot at it. But he missed and shot Whizzer in the head instead.

Did You Hear About My Grandfather's Beagle Hounds?

Archie Brown’s grandfather bred beagles for several reasons. One he loved the breed, loved to watch and listen to them work as they hunted rabbits. He loved to compete at field trials and dog shows against other breeders. And he loved the extra money that came from selling pups from his champion blood lines.

One of the reasons people sought out his pups was that he had bred the black out of his dogs; his beagles were only red and white. Archie grew up loving beagles, especially red and white ones.

Did You Hear About The Time I Went Away to College?

When Archie Brown had gone away to school in Abilene, he wanted to be away from constant scrutiny of his folks. He wasn’t sure why, he just knew that is what he wanted.
He had never played poker before college. But he tried it and liked it a lot. It was how he financed his dating life. He had never had pizza before going to college, because the only place that sold it in his little home town was the beer joint, and he was not allowed to go there. When he tried pizza for the first time, he was hooked; it was a Pizza Inn sausage pizza! He went to his first strip club, skipped his first class and a few other experiments. Fortunately for him the only thing he tried that he continued doing throughout his life was eating pizza!

Did You Hear About The Time I Became a Blogger?

Archie Brown was happily making a living as a coach and teacher. But one day he received an email from one of his daughters urging him to join her in becoming bloggers. Archie had heard the word, but did not even know what the term meant until that night. His second daughter, Lizzie, thought he might like the experience.

She convinced him to sign up and name her as the one who referred him. That would allow the income that was possible from advertising on the blogs to be more lucrative. They both signed up and became blog addicted. It was not only a chance to express ideas and discuss them with others around the world, it also let the two of them know each other better than ever before.

Did You Hear About The Time My Cousin Moved Into Town?

Archie Brown had a cousin, Bobby, who was about three when his family moved from the farm to the small city where Archie’s family lived. It turned out to be somewhat traumatic for Bobby.

You see, he was in the midst of potty training. When they were on the farm, they facility was out side, a nice two-holer. So when Bobby would announce his need to go, his mom, Archie’s Aunt Lily, would tell him, “okay, that is a big boy, hurry run outside!”

But when they moved to the city, their new home had indoor plumbing. So when Bobby would be playing outside and tell Aunt Lily he needed to go, she would say, “Okay, that is a big boy, run INSIDE.” Bobby was a very confused little boy!

Did You Hear About The Time I made My First Error?

Archie Brown was so pleased when as a ten year old; he was named the starter at second base on his Little League Team, the Dodgers! He was the only ten year old starter on a good team; most of the rest of the starters were 12!

One night the Dodgers were having a particularly bad night. Nobody could catch the ball, it seemed. Bobby Koenig, the catcher had a miserable night behind the plate. And Mo Rave, the All-Everything shortstop, had made three errors that had allowed several unearned runs to score. The Dodgers were down 10-1.

That is when Archie made an error at second base, his first of the season. He stood at second base and could not keep the tears from flowing. He felt he was to blame for the bad situation the team was in. It was irrational, but that is how he felt. His coach, Mr. Billington, came onto the field to console Arch, and let him know he was still an important part of the team. Archie got over the error.

But he never forgot Mr. Billington!

Did You Hear About The Time I Got A Serious Sunburn?

Archie Brown and some of his class mates were invited on San Jacinto Day to go to the lake with their favorite teacher. Mrs. Tucker had been their teacher in the 5th grade. Now as 6th graders, they still loved her. Tommy and Larry and Zeke and Arch went swimming and canoeing and even fished a bit.

It was an overcast day, so the guys thought nothing about going shirtless all day. But they learned that overcast days do not mean one cannot get serious sunburns. Archie and the guys all missed a couple of days of school because of the severe burns. Archie even had to go to the doctor to get some relief.

He never again went shirtless outside again, even when swimming, he wore a tee shirt.