Pumpkin Carving Party

Meagan and Lizzy loving the feel of it.


Ben busy at work.


Lizzy decided her pumpkin was dirty and gave it a good washing.


Team work.


Loving every minute of it.

The coolest pumpkins ever!

The proud pumpkin carvers!


Jodi, Jon, Madi, and Tyli, came over the night before Halloween to carve pumpkins. They brought dinner and made a real party out of it. I thought we were just carving your "regular" pumpkins, but to my surprise they had a different idea. Ben (with help) carved the skeleton head, Michael the bat, Lizzy the jack-o-latern, and Meagan the spider. The were the best pumpkins that we have ever carved, thanks to the help of Jon and Jodi.

Max Brown October 2001 - October 2008

Max was hit by a car and killed on Wednesday, October 29, 2008. It was a very sad day for all of us. Katelyn text several neighbors and friends to come to a candlelight vigil for Max. We told stories about Max, and after you told your story you put a dog biscuit on his grave. Ben sang the song that he had made up for Max quite some time ago that he sang to him daily. Ben doesn't remember life without Max, because we got Max before Ben was born. Ben carried around Maxs' collar for days after he died. He, like all of us, loved little Max. Max was buried under the tree that was planted in memory of Steve.

Family Home Evening

The kids decorated pumpkins for their dad. They wrote messages on the back of the pumpkins to take to his grave. This year Lizzy was a U of U cheerleader and Ben and U of U football player for their dad. We miss him so much!

We left Steve's favorite candy (Reese's peanut butter cup) with the pumpkins. We all got in the car to go home and Ben had a different idea. He got out took the candy and ran. He said, "Dad can't eat it anyway."

Ben caught in action!

Susie Davis' Halloween Party

Diving for candy.


Ben playing bingo.

Lizzy playing games.



Madonna



Lizzy goes fishing.

The gang.

Arod and Madona.

Becky's mom Susie invited us to their family Halloween party. The kids a great time playing games, eating pasta, and came home with lots of loot. Thanks Davis Family!

Grandma Brown's Halloween Party

The Brown clan.

Bradley, the adorable bumble bee.

Noah, the cutest pumpkin.

Ben having fun.

The cutest cheerleader!

The trailer park mom with her uptown kids.

Meagan took Katelyn, Lizzy, and Ben to Grandma Brown's Halloween party. They had a great time dressing up, playing games, eating soup and scones, and bonding with their cousins. This is a tradition that the kids always look forward to. Grandma and Grandpa put on a pretty awesome party!

Black Jack....our new addition.

My brother Dave surprised us with Black Jack, our new bunny.

The kids were thrilled, I'm still undecided.

Friends

Monday's are especially hard for our family. It reminds us of the day their dad and my husband left this mortal life. We have many friends (some not in pictures) that invite us to FHE at their house to have fun and try not to remember our tragedy.

I believe what Elder Holland said in his conference talk, "Heaven has never seemed closer than when we see the love of God manifest in those around us through kindness, and devotion of people so good and so pure that the only word to describe them is angelic." He states that "mortals are instruments in the hand of God". These people are those we walk and talk with. They are neighbors, friends, and family. I have truly been blessed by these mortal angels. The service, and love and concern for our family has been endless. We have been surrounded by many who have been willing to lend a hand in any way. I can't begin to list the things that have been done for us. We have been blessed.

We have also been blessed by "heavenly angels", as Elder Holland calls them. There is a saying that says, "Because someone we love is in heaven, we feel heaven in our home." Immortal angels are sent to help us and comfort us. We have felt Steve comfort us and know that he is always near.

I haven't blogged about the funeral yet. I'm not sure when or if I'll be able to. It was a beautiful tribute to Steve.

I have learned a lot in these past 6 weeks. I have seen tender mercies, miracles, and have experienced trials beyond my imagination. However, I do know that sometimes we have to trust in the Lord, we have to be obedient and press forward in faith knowing that we will receive our eternal reward.

Katelyn enjoying mashed potatoes at the Gulbransen's.

The kids in the hot tub at the Ellingson's.



Katelyn enjoying Eden's cooking.

Ben and Michael at FHE with the Ellingson's.

Eden and I. It is so nice to have such great friends!

Funeral

July Alaskan Fishing Trip 2008



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We'll miss you.
TSG

Morning of the Funeral

It has been 3 weeks now since the death of my husband. Someone said, Time heals all wounds. I'm not sure I agree. Time may soften wounds, but I don't know that a wound this deep will ever heal. It has been said that tears are the price we pay for the love we enjoy in this life. I guess when we love someone a lot, we hurt a lot when they are gone.

Our family has had many ups and downs during these several weeks. Probably more downs than ups, but I guess that is to be expected. My heart breaks for my children. Little Ben was talking to someone and said, "You know I don't have a Dad." Today Ben said that we have a new "D" word and it isn't "damn", it is Dad. He said it makes him sad to talk about his dad so we should call it the "D" word. Little Lizzy touches her fingers to my mouth when I try to talk about her Dad, because it hurts her to talk about him. I feel the pain of all my children and wish that I could fix this for them. That's what their Dad used to do. Every time I had a problem, or not even a problem, I just wanted to "vent" to him, he would have my problem figured out and fixed.

We miss him so much!

Now

It's amazing how fast life can change. One moment you are on vacation with your family and the next moment your life changes forever. That's what happened to our family on August 25, 2008. That is the day my best friend, and wonderful companion left this mortal life. It is so hard to lose someone you love so much. My heart aches with grief and pain to be without this extraordinary person. I have never imagined grief like I am experiencing. I was told by a wise person that if we had an ordinary husband or an ordinary father this wouldn't be as hard for us. Because we had one of the great fathers and great husbands our pain is much larger. What a blessing it is and was to have such a great husband and great father. We feel a larger pain because my children's dad and my husband was extraordinary.



His life was one of service and example. He blessed the lives of others with his unconditional love, thoughtfulness, kindness, loyalty, honesty, and fun sense of humor. What he did will live on in the many lives he touched.



We miss him dearly, but find comfort in our knowledge that we will live with him again.

Then

Steve's Obituary--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stephen Wayne BrownStephen Wayne Brown 7/15/1958 ~ 8/25/2008 Stephen Wayne Brown, beloved husband, father, brother and son passed away suddenly Monday, August 25, 2008 of a heart attack at home. Steve was the first child born to Janet Pehrson and Wayne C. Brown in Salt Lake City, Utah.He was an active and faithful member of the LDS Church in which he served in many capacities. He served as a faithful missionary in the Anchorage, Alaska mission, was a bishop in the Mueller Park 5th Ward, and was currently serving as a member of the Bishopric of the University 13th Singles Ward. His energy and testimony blessed the lives of many, but particularly the youth he served. Steve graduated from the Olympus High class of '76 and later the University of Utah with a BS in communications. He was also a member of the Crimson Club. He was a partner at the Summit Group since 1986, President of the firm, and instrumental in the firm's growth to the largest locally owned communications firm in the state of Utah. He had a great sense of honesty and gave the truth whether you liked it or not. Many people came to work at the Summit Group because of their interactions with Steve. His personality was instrumental in the companies' growth. He was married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple to Cindy Fagg on June 20, 1986. Steve loved hunting, fishing, camping and the "Runnin' Utes." But his greatest accomplishment and love was his wife and children, whom he served with all his heart. The most enjoyable part of his life was spent attending his kids games, concerts, and recitals. He was their coach, cheerleader and friend. He is survived by his parents, Janet and Wayne Brown; his wife, Cindy who he loved dearly and his children: Meagan, Sarah, Katelyn, Michael, Elizabeth and Benjamin; also his siblings, Jeffery (Chantal) Brown, Michelle (Joe) Hanna, Jennifer (Scott) Brown, Leslie (Brian) Paul; father and mother-in-law, Don and Lavell Fagg; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Preceded in death by grandparents, Paul E. and Ruth Pehrson, Emeral and Clara Brown. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Fri., August 29, 2008 at the Mueller Park Stake Center, 1800 E. Mueller Park Road (1800 South), Bountiful. Friends and family may call Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 N. Main and Fri. morning 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment-Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com

Before