Brown Family Highlights: 2013

• Sarah had a heart transplant and now has a perfect Angel heart. We are so grateful for another’s unselfish decision that gave her a second chance at life. She is doing amazingly well and is happy and healthy.
• Rachel spent two weeks in Iwamizawa, Japan as part of the Sister City Youth Delegation. She loves to travel and had the time of her life. She also spent a week at EFY in Provo last summer.
• Bryson learned to swim. He used to hate the water, and now can swim the whole 100 yards required to pass his Boy Scout swim test.
• Joshua is learning to play the drums. (Thankfully for us, though, he’s still using a nice, quiet practice pad.) His ever-present curiosity never ceases to amaze us.
• Nathan was baptized last month. He loves being eight, and tries really hard to make good choices. He was also excited to be a cub scout.
• Steve and Julia kept this great family as happy and sane as possible during our crazy year. We’re so grateful for the love of so many that supported us in so many ways through such a difficult time.

We have all grown and learned so much through all of our experiences this year. We are thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and merciful Savior whose tender mercies and loving grace gave us the strength to stretch and grow into the people we are now.

As we reflect on the past year, we just feel so much gratitude.

Love. Hope. Family. Faith. Joy.

Merry Christmas! Our Year in Review...

Merry Christmas! We've had a wonderfully full year with lots of excitement, stress, fun & happy moments, an amazing family vacation, and much busy-ness. It's been a great year, and we're so very grateful for the incredible blessings, love and growing experiences we've received thorough our Heavenly Father.

Steve combined his direct mail business with political consulting, and made a little extra money in his "spare" time. He had about 5 clients in the primary election, and increased that to 12 in the general. He had a wonderful experience working with these amazing people, and making enough money to pay off debt and take our family to California. He still works for US Congressman Mike Simpson, and serves on the Pocatello City Council and several other state and community boards. I'm so proud of him and the way he puts himself out there to try to make a difference. He was also called to serve in the High Priest Group leadership in our ward a few months ago.

I (Julia) finished up my first year as an aide in 3rd grade at my boys' charter school and loved it. I've also kept myself busy being the mom the rest of the time. That's the job I love most of all and am so grateful to be able to work where my youngest kids are, and be home when they all are. I've been serving as a counselor in the Relief Society presidency, which takes a little more time, but I've loved the opportunity to serve and have really grown to love the ladies in our new ward.

Sarah's life has been kind of turned upside down and put on "hold" for a bit. She has undergone evaluation for a heart and liver transplant the last four months. Her health has held steady, but has had many more trips to the hospital for IV protein infusion therapy this year. Between those, her regular checkups, and the evaluation tests, we have been at Primary Children's or the University of Utah hospital about twice a month for 2 to 6 days at a time. We've put a lot of miles on the car, but it's been a good experience to spend that time with her as Steve and I take turns going down Salt Lake. Right now, we're waiting for a final listing decision from the heart team. (You can read a LOT more and stay updated on her new blog: www.sarahssecondchance.net) She works (when she can) at an Allstate Insurance agency as a customer service specialist, making birthday calls and helping the receptionists and agents. She loves her job and they are so very good to her. It's like another family. Her other new love is her singles ward. She has felt so much love and support through her health struggles from so many amazing new friends. They are awesome and we love them!

Rachel is a junior in high school this year. Her AP classes have put a dent in her social life, but she manages to keep everything in check. She was selected to travel with the Japan Sister City youth delegation next Summer and has begun learning the Japaneese language and customs. She's also been busy with her chocolate business (www.sweet-treets.blogspot.com) and other fundraising opportunities to pay for her trip. She turned 16 this year, and loves driving and dating! Friends are among her top priorities and because of the kind of friend she is, she has many. Rachel still plays the piano whenever she's home, teaches piano lessons, and has begun writing music and teaching herself to play the guitar.

Bryson is doing very well in life these days. He loves his scout troop and goes camping every month with them. (He's not real fond of the winter camping, but has learned to enjoy it enough.) He has been taking swimming lessons, which he really loves, but still loves drawing the most. He is in 7th grade (still at the charter school) this year, and has amazing teachers who are helping him grow and be successful. He loves serving in his Priesthood quorum and has really come alive with all these boys and new friends in our ward.

Joshua is 4th grade now, and still loves inventing, building and drawing. He is a great helper and right-hand man for his daddy in fixing things and working in the yard. He even learned to mow the lawn this fall. He loves to be outside and seems to really enjoy gardening. (I have no idea where he got that!) He's a good little helper and works hard to the bitter end. When he's outside, he also climbs trees, builds forts and traps, and fishes the guck out of the pond. (He built a pretty cool contraption to do this with.)

Nathan turned 7 this year and started 1st grade. He is becoming a great reader and loves being at school all day. He's our master of disguise and comic relief. He also loves to draw, build with legos, and play with his brothers or his best friend around the corner. He is still my sweet "baby", although he's not a baby anymore. He's rebelled a little that I suddenly realized how old he is and expect him to be a big boy and do 7 year-old things by himself now. It's so unfair. (Who knew it would be so hard to allow the youngest one to grow up?) He is a sweetheart though, and I still love to cuddle him. :)

The highlight of our year was our family vacation in November to California. We felt like we really needed to have a family-focused trip together before Sarah's transplant, and Steve worked extra hard to earn the money to pay for it. We went to the Oceanside beach and pier, San Diego temple, Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center, Mission Bay park, San Diego Botanic Gardens, Sea World, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Disney's California Adventure. What a packed and wonderful week! We had so much fun together. It was so great to be focused on each other, watch the wonder in the younger kids eyes, see the smiles pasted on faces all week, and just not "worry" about anything all week. We have so many great memories to hang onto through the rough patches that are sure to come through Sarah's transplant.

We end this year in reflection with much gratitude for all the blessings that have come to us through our struggles and triumphs. We are most grateful for our health, our home, and our knowledge of a Heavenly Father and Savior who love us. We are so grateful for our family and friends, those who support and sustain us through the good and hard times. We love each of you, and pray that the Lord will also bless you abundantly in the coming year.

A New Blog

I thought I better take a minute and explain my absence the past few months. We started heart transplant evaluations for Sarah a few months ago. Life has been crazy hectic since then, with all of  Sarah's appointments and Steve's political consulting business. Many of you already know about our new blog documenting Sarah's transplant journey, but for those that don't, here's the link to Sarah's Second Chance. I've been much more diligent posting on that blog, as that has been the focus of our lives lately, and our source of communication to close friends and family. I hope to someday get caught up and post here about all the fun, happy, and amazing events of all my children's lives, but it might be a while before I get there. Just know that we're hanging in there and striving daily to keep the faith and come through this triumphantly! (Thanks for all the prayers!)

First Day of School - Fall 2011

Fist day of school for the boys always comes faster than we want it to. Summers at our charter school are shorter, allowing kids to retain more skills and knowledge and giving us more time off for breaks during the school year. We love it, but wish it lined up with the the school district a little better. It's always hard going school though, knowing the big sister is laying in bed being lazy.

So, here are my handsome boys on their first day of school, August 2011...

Joshua, 3rd Grade

Bryson, 6th Grade

Nathan, Kindergarten

...And the big sister, on her first day of school, a couple of weeks later.

Rachel, Sophomore

Working Mom

About a year ago last spring, I was asking about openings at the school, looking for part-time work, hoping to be able to augment our income to help even out the deficits caused by owning two homes and not very reliable renters. At the time, the only position that was open was one that would require me to work all day, a couple days a week. With Nathan being only in kindergarten, I didn't see how that would work very well for our family. We prayed about it, and decided it just wasn't time yet, and we needed to trust in Heavenly Father (since He led us here in the first place) and trim the budget wherever we could.

Then, later that summer, when I dropped Joshua off for summer reading program, the vice-principal asked me if I was interested in a part-time job at the school as a morning aide in one of the classrooms. I went home and talked to Steve about it again. We prayed again, and decided that this fit into our lives better, and wouldn't cause too much stress for me or our family. (I am first, and foremost a mother, and I love being able to be home with my kids!) So, I interviewed and got the job! We felt like it was a blessing and answer to our prayers.

I was blessed to be assigned to 3rd Grade, to work with Mrs. Mary Harris, one of the most amazing teachers I know. She teaches kids to be responsible, holds them accountable, and empowers them to be the best they can be. Their motto in 3rd grade is "If you don't get it today, you might get it tomorrow. But only if you try." As the year progressed, I learned to really love Mrs. Harris. We became very good friends as we struggled through her mother's stroke and Sarah's illness together. We work well together, and agree on almost everything, including how to raise kids and having unwavering faith in God as our strength. She is an amazing teacher, but also a wonderful friend, whom I gained much respect for and support from.

Fast forward... in retrospect... 

Nearing the end of the school year, the other aide left and I was given the opportunity to work more hours. That helped financially, but it also meant more time away in the afternoon working and in the evenings doing the things I couldn’t do during the day…  I have since discovered that during that time, I was kind of on autopilot, whatever event, chore, or concern filled my life at the moment is what received my attention.

I love my job, but that 8-week experience taught me that there is nothing more important to me than being home. I discovered that my presence in the afternoon and evenings really does matter in my family. Did they survive? Yes. Are they unchanged? No, not really. Through this experience we all changed, and I’m grateful that we had an opportunity this summer to regroup and refocus on what really matters most and, working together to make our home and family what we want it to be, even when Mommy is working.

Costume Change Artist

There are so many things I need to blog about, and to catch up on, but I just uploaded a bunch of pictures and HAD to share. Our little Nathan is the world's best 6 year-old costume designer. Instead of trying to figure out what to do every afternoon, he spends his days deciding what to be.... Nathan lived a couple years of his young life as a pirate (seriously, every single day), and then a scarecrow for a while, and then back to a pirate. Well, he's now added a few other passions and possibilities to his list of "what to be when I grow up". Let's hope he settles on something profitable and responsible someday, before he's a husband and father!

Pierre... the mime. Or, sometimes Pierre... L'artiste de Francais!

Chef... Boyardee... uh, Nate!

A clown. He put this costume together ALL by himself. Rachel and Sarah hate clowns—they think they're scary. So, his favorite clown thing to do is to run after them, hide and jump out, and scare them. Good thing he hasn't seen Stephen King's "IT".

Superman (Love the addition of the red underwear to complete the costume!)

Shepherd in the Christmas program... this is the only costume I've EVER told him to put on. :)

This one is an old one (Christmas 2009) but still one of my favorites.

Scarecrow.... outstanding in his field.

This is proof that he literally LIVED in that costume. No matter what we were doing, and no matter where we were going, he was Nathan the Pirate...always.

National Honor Society

At the beginning of October last fall, Rachel was inducted into Century High School's chapter of National Honor Society. I came home from Utah (while Sarah was in the hospital) on the Salt Lake Express to surprise Rachel. I wanted it to be a complete surprise, but we had to tell her ahead of time. She was really, really sad that we weren't there, and must have thought we didn't care enough about her to be there for her too. When she started making plans to go with her friend and her parents, we decided we needed to just tell her. In retrospect, I see that we made a mistake about surprising her. We should have just planned with her from the beginning for me to be there. She went through a lot of agony dealing with her feelings about it all.

That aside, it was a happy reunion when I came home to be with the kids, and we all went to Rachel's induction. I was so proud of her and am so impressed with what a wonderful student she is and how much she loves learning. Her talents and abilities astound me. 

 

My little sister used to always say how much she hated when people said she "has so much potential", as if she wasn't living up to what she could be now.... But, I think they simply meant that they could see so much in her that could prove to be nothing short of amazing as she grew and developed. I see that in my incredible daughter... so much potential, and nothing short of an amazing woman in the future. Love her so much!