Christmas with the Browns

The day after Christmas, we drove down to Utah to meet Steve's family for Christmas again. We had a fun day playing and visiting together. All of Steve's brothers and sisters were there, with most of their kids. It had been such a long time since we'd been with all of them. It was so fun! We also had the traditional "Brown Family Christmas Carol" program. Families sang, kids performed, adults read and family members shared their testimonies. What a beautiful spirit and testimony-building moment together. Sometimes there is whining and complaining about having to do the annual program, but every single year it brings us closer together and the Spirit touches our hearts one way or another. (Thanks, Mom and Dad Brown for putting up with us and making us do it every year. We'll never admit it, but we love it, and will never let it go...it's part of Christmas!)

The next day was Sunday. Steve's nephew, Matthew, had returned home from his mission in Ecuador, just in time for Christmas. He gave his talk in Sacrament meeting, and then we had a fiesta afterward with his extended family. He's such an amazing young man. As his sister says, he's just so "shiny". He's got such a beautiful kind spirit, radiating with light and joy, and grew into an incredible man on his mission. It's amazing what placing your boy into the Lord's hands for two years can do for him, not to mention all the lives he touched!

We spent the whole weekend with Steve's parents. His sister, Jennie and her family were there, too, and Kathy's family came to visit. We played games, did puzzles, played in the hot tub (kids played), talked, ate (always lots of delicious food at Grandma Brown's!), and had a marvelous time together.

Jennie's Trey, Bryson, Grandma Brown, Me, and Sarah
playing a very intense game of Doodle Dice

Steve's parents: Grandma and Grandpa Brown
(Yes, he is trying to shove that ball in Josh's mouth.
And...he must have deserved it!)

Dad's legs, Mom, Kathy's Cami and her baby Alex, Kathy's Britney,
Sarah and Me (wearing Nate's pirate treasure) watching a funny
home video from 30 years ago together

Me and Jennie's little Kamryn

I've decided that Heavenly Father was really smart when he planned for us to live our lives with families. Family brings so much joy. I'm so blessed to have three incredible families - the one I was born into, the one I married into, and the one Steve and I are raising. How can a girl be so lucky to have so many incredible people in her life to be guided, comforted and blessed by?