Sunflowers

Sunflowers remind me of Steve in many ways. They are strong and vibrant,  just like he was. Their presence is seen throughout nature, and the rugged mountains that he loved.  Sunflowers and roses were dominant in the bouquet we chose for his casket. It harmonized with the engraved pine trees on the exterior of the casket, surrounding him with some of the things he enjoyed in life.

In the interior of the casket a beautiful picture of the temple was displayed.  Although Steve loved the out-doors, nothing could replace his love, and respect for the temple.  What a blessing it is to have the sealing ordinances of the temple.

Recently, Ben asked, "Mom will you take to Dad's grave?"  Tears fill my eyes, each time he asks. A young child should never have to ask such a question.  They should be protected from these great sorrows in life.

When we visit the grave Ben enjoys laying on the grass, looking up to the sky, and talking about times he can remember with his Dad.  I think he worries a little about losing those great memories.  We look up to heaven, and talk about what it would be like. I'm sure heaven is a great place to be.

Photo by: Eden Ellingson

Photo by: Eden Ellingson

Sometimes on a particularly rough day, I am reminded of these up-lifting words, from a charming, inspired prophet.   They help me keep my head up when things are a little difficult.  

Saturday, I came home to a sweet note, and beautiful bouquet of flowers from my niece in New York.  What great timing, as I walked in the house ready to burst into tears. Flowers, and an evening out with a dear friend helped rejuvenate  my spirit. I'm ready to tackle another day!  

Turning 83

Saturday, September 15th was my dad's 83rd birthday. It was also Bountiful High School's Homecoming and the BYU/Utah game. Today was a very busy day to say the least. I was lucky to be able to fit in all the day's celebrations.

My brother, Scott, hosted a birthday party for my dad at his beautiful home. Their yard is over an acre of land with ponds, grass, winding staircases, gardens, and even small animals. It is absolutely gorgeous!  Volley-ball games, and great food were part of the festivities.

Since, it was right before the BYU/Utah game, each person represented their favored team in some way. Hats, shirts, face-painting, plates, it all took in the excitement of the rivalry.

 Happy Birthday Dad!

My Dad

Scott & Connie's House

The Party.

Bountiful Homecoming 2012

Homecoming festivities began at 9:00 a.m. with a trip to Willard Bay with the boat. Three adorable, vivacious couples spent a half day on the lake. They skied, wake boarded, tubed, and had a lot of fun. The boys' even provided lunch for the girls.

Amidst the fun, were a few adventures. The most memorable debacle, (besides leaving Jack in the lake, bumped heads - tubing is dangerous), was having the boat towed. The boat ran smoothly most of the day, until the last time tubing. Luckily, I had three beautiful girls on board that flagged down a fellow boater within minutes, as the boys continued to try to fix the boat. It was probably just the battery, but unfortunately, I didn't bring the power box to jump it.  Oh, where is the jump box, well if you must know, I jumped the suburban's battery, and after doing so ran it over.  Yep, smashed it to pieces, no more jump box!  Our towers were very kind, and generous with their time, as they towed us to the dock.

It was a fun day for all, despite the minor set backs.

Jack, Emily, Madi, Michael Gretchen, and Mike

 Mike and Gretchen

Wake boarders and skiers. (Who didn't get a picture of my cute boy?)

Tubing and lunch.  Tools work great for cutting cheese when you forget the knives.

Towing the boat.

The whole group for the dinner, dance, and after party at Zac's.

Twins

Before Mason was born, Ben and I talked a lot about him becoming an uncle. Ben was only 9 when Mason was born, and it seemed more like Ben was getting a little brother, rather than becoming an uncle.  I told him that he was going to be a great example to this baby, and that they would be really close.

When Mason was born, I couldn't believe how much he resembled Ben.  Mason has a special bond with Ben even now.  He loves Ben, and will smile at him.

I always wished Ben was a twin.  Weighing in at 10.6 I thought I should have gotten 2 babies instead of one.  Mason weighed in a little under Ben at 9.3. He was a big guy too, however, I don't think Meagan ever wished for that extra prize:).

Mason

Ben

Mason

Ben

Ben

Mason

Third Times The Charm

Saturday night’s Utah verses BYU football game was nail biter.  The game was tied at the half 7-7. Late in the third quarter the Ute’s lead 24-7.  BYU rallied, bringing the score to 24-21 late in the 4 th quarter.

This may have been one of the wildest game endings I have ever seen.  The Daily Utah Chronicle reported it like this, “With eight seconds left in the game, BYU quarterback Riley Nelson felt pressure from Utah’s defense and only had time to toss up a desperation heave. Receiver JD Falslev dove in a last ditch effort to reel in the catch, but to no avail. The ball harmlessly found the turf, the clock read triple zeroes, Utah’s fans stormed the field in celebration and the Utes escaped with a 24-21 win against the Cougars. ‘

The game was not over. The officials added one second to the clock where Utah defensive tackle Lotulelei blocked Sorensen’s 51 yard field goal attempt.

The Cougars got another shot, from 15 yards closer after the crazied crowd prematurely rushed the field, and Utah was assessed a penalty.  Stephenson’s 36 yard filed goal attempt with no time left bounced off the goal post, sending the crowd back on the field for good to celebrate the upset.

As Coach Whittingham stated, “We won this game 3 times.”

With a wild ending to the football game, Ben, Lizzy, Kate and I, left with hoarse voices from cheering, and elevated heart rates.  You might say we were one of those frenzied fans (although we did not storm the field).

It's a good day to be a UTE!

Best Fans

Game Time

One of the times the field was stormed.

Wearing our colors proudly.

At home enjoying the game.

Rivialry Week

The BYU Utah game is a day away and will end  rivalry week.  The Utes have had to regroup after a difficult loss last week to Utah State.  With emotions running high, and the game on our home turf with our home-town crowd, the Utes are feeling confident.

So what does a Ute fan do during rivalry week?  Besides bantering with the adversaries, at our house, we made Utah door hangers.  I thought of pranking our fellow rivals by placing our newly made crafts on their doors, but they were too cute to mess with.  No pranks here!

GO UTES!!

Craft Day

Little Ute Fan

Utah State Fair

It has been years since I have taken the kids to the Utah State Fair.  Saturday night, Ben, Lizzy, Quinn, Meg, Mason, and I, decided to go to the fair.

Wow!  There was so much to see, and very crowded! Fortunately, we were mainly interested in food, livestock, animals, diving, and agricultural.

My favorite story of the night is about a young man who was shooting hoops next to Ben.  The game is designed to make it very unlikely for a person to make a basket.  A young handicapped man, was shooting the basketball over and over again trying to win a prize.  His dad or escort, was secretly giving money to the vendor.  The vendor wanted this young man to make a basket, and let him shoot until he did.

We stayed and watched hoping and cheering for him to win.  Finally, after quite some time he made a basket.  The young man jumped in the air shouting, as cheers from the crowd rose.  It made his day!  Although the vendor was not obligated, he asked this young man to pick any prize he wanted.  The prizes were extremely large stuff characters.  He was elated!

Little Mason was a gem.  He slept the 3 plus hours we were there.  On our way out he decided he was hungry, and when they boy is hungry,  he makes a lot of noise!  We couldn't help but laugh at him.  He is adorable, even when he cries (which is very rare).

Funnel cake.

Agriculture

The animals

Diving

Ben's favorite game (of course)!

Hungry, hungry boy!

First Day of School Pictures 2012

Lizzy - 8th Grade Mueller Park Jr. High

Ben - Valley View Elementary - 4th Grade Mrs. Ewell

Mike - Bountiful High School - Senior Year

George Moved On

Meagan and Quinn looked after things while we were away on vacation.  When we returned Meg mentioned that she thought "George, from the Gorge" had died.  I told Ben, but Ben insisted he was alive, and that he had played with him.

After talking further with Meagan, I was convinced that the lizard had passed on.  I told Ben the next day that George was gone.  He pulled it out of the cage, began petting it, and said, "Yep, he's dead."  It took all my grown up power not to freak out about Ben handling, and playing with a dead lizard.

I was grateful that he wasn't too sad.  He told me he wanted to bury it.  I found a sign designating the spot George was buried in.

P.S.  I did make him scrub his hands.

August 25, 2012

August 25th marked four years since Steve has passed away.  I was glad school started late this year, so that I could be away, far away, on that day.  I have found that being away on difficult days make them easier for me.

Steve still remains a huge part of our family.  We talk of our fond memories of him, laugh at his funny one-liners, and revere him for the many things he taught us.  We all miss him, and think about him every day.

I reflect on how young our kids were when he passed, Ben had just turned 6; Lizzy 9; Mike 13; Kate 15; Sarah18; and Meagan 20.  So much has changed.  Two children have married, and 1 grandchild has been born.  Life marches on.

I am grateful for the guidance I feel on behalf of our family from the “other side.” I believe, Steve has something to do with that. Small, soft, nudges, of what I should or shouldn’t do.  I think he may be closer than I imagine, and helping in more ways than I am aware. I am thankful for that knowledge.

In D & C 84:88 it reads, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand, and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”

A wonderful friend of mine once said, “I think time only helps in increasing our ability to endure the absence of the loved one, I don’t think it softens the yearning we feel at that absence.”

We love and miss you Steve Brown!

Wrapping It Up

Wherever my kids happen to be, they always find a way to have a fun time.  They make me laugh, and are so fun to be around.  I am so glad we were able to spend an entire week  together.

Dinner at the Shipwreck.  Jordan wearing his handsome Hawaiian shirt buttoned to the top. I thought he looked great, Sarah said it was a joke.

Eating at Sunset Cove.  Ben and Jordan couldn't resist dancing with the not-so-young woman while the band was playing.

Jordan and Sarah with their flip glasses.

I LOVE flowers!

Mike's sudsing slip-ons.  He washed them with detergent in the wash machine before we came. Every time he got them wet and walked they would bubble.

St John

At the end of our vacation week in St. Thomas, we decided to visit the gorgeous Virgin Island - St. John.  We took the car barge service from Red Hook in St. Thomas to Cruz Bay in St. John.  What an experience that was backing the rented Path Finder onto the barge. Then again, I had to learn to drive on the opposite side of the street when we arrived in St. Thomas, so I guess one more new thing was no big deal.

Two-thirds’ of St. John is a U.S. National Park.  The roaming hills are covered with lush trees and greenery.  Bursting through the tunnels of green, are panoramic views of their white sand beaches, and turquoise waters.  Pictures don’t adequately portray the Island.  It is absolutely gorgeous! My kids think this is the most beautiful place they have ever visited.

Truck Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  It’s white sand beaches, pristine water, boarder by velvet green rolling hills is spectacular!  There is an underwater snorkel trail that the older kids attempted.  Without life jackets, it was a little difficult.

While the older kids were snorkeling, Lizzy, Ben and I dabbled in the warm, crystal clear blue water.  As we were exploring, I noticed a large sting ray to the side of me.  A woman from the beach yelled and pointed right next to me for everyone to see.  Lizzy starting screaming, and jumped on me, as Ben booked it to the beach.  "What," I explained,  "I thought we wanted to snorkel and find sea animals?  Why the screaming."

The kids fessed up that they had watch Shark week (or Stay Out of the Ocean Week), prior to our trip.  “Didn’t you know a shark bit off someone’s leg in St. Thomas?” Ben shouted.  Wow, I guess I need a few more parental controls on the television.

Cinnamon Bay was another beach we visited.  Walking to the left were beautiful boulders lining the ocean.  To the right was another soft, white sand, beach.

Visiting the Island of St. John was one of my children's favorite adventures. St. John is as far away as you can get from civilization, but still a short distance from quaint stores.  It is absolutely stunning!

The Ferry/Barge

The views