MARCH 28--A HARD DAY!

I have decided that I am the only one that ever looks at this blog so I can post whatever I want. Today (even though it is technically "tomorrow") was a really tough day. March 28 brings memories that tear my heart into pieces of scrapnel. I found myself watching the clock to relive every moment--to prolong the memories of Connor's life as long as possible. But as the afternoon went on, the moment that changed all our lives forever closed in. I made two trips to the cemetery. Grief is hard.

The good news is that we ended the day with such a fun time with Reagan that it seemed we had honored Connor more with our laughter and celebration than I did with my tears at the cemetery. Reagan just had the baseball game of his life. I may not understand everything about heaven, but it was easy for me to picture Connor having something to do with it and laughing with glee as Reagan hit his first ever over-the-fence homerun with two men on. It just seemed the right way to feel his presence--having fun rather than crying. Connor loved having fun and celebrating life.

We still have so much to be thankful for. Bailey was at the game celebrating with Reagan. Tears turned to laughter. God is good.

Love you all more than you can ever know, mom/grandma

JOHN CONNOR BROWN

It is hard to believe that it has been two years, yet in some ways it seems like we have been grieving forever. This little marker can't ever do justice to the life it represents. May 28, 2007. A day like no other in my life. Oh the memories and pain of that day. But oh the wonderful, fun, beautiful memories of that life that blessed us all in his 13 incredible years!

As I sat on the bench drying tears, this little white butterfly came fluttering around. I just always associate butterflies with new life.

REAGAN PLAYS GREAT FOR CONNOR

In the first game of the city tournament Reagan had the game of his life in honor of his brother Connor. The highlight of the game was when he just stroked a beautiful homerun over the right center field fence with two men on to break the game wide open. He had several great fielding plays and finished the game batting 3 for 4 with one walk. He managed to put big smiles on our sad faces to finish this hard day. (We won 12-7.)

REAGAN HITS 3 RUN HOMER

You can't really see Reagan but he is crossing home plate as his teammates give him the homerun welcome celebration.

This is one happy baseball player with the ball he hit over right center field fence. He just stroked it. Later he told me he had never even hit one over in practice. We are quite sure Connor was laughing from heaven as Reagan hit one over for Connor.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSIAH!!!

This is one special young man!!! He is the first of our "'99 Crop" to turn 10 today, and we are sooo proud of him. His wonderful smile and sweet spirit bless us each time we are with him. He is fun and loving and soooo smart. Have a very, very happy birthday, Josiah. You have a very special place in our hearts and our family. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Lena in the fountains

Last Thursday our girls lunch and kids play group got together and took the kids to Butler Park for a picnic and to play in the water fountains there. Lena had so much fun playing in the water and splashing with her friends. She was constantly pouring buckets of water on her head and running around in the fountains. It was hard to choose from the mass of pictures I took, so there are several posts of pictures here. We will definitely come back to the fountains during the summer.

Waiting.....hoping for a drink.

Getting a drink.


































Water in the nose.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom,
As I wrestled through worship today with my little ones, managed to get permanent marker on my favorite dress (thanks to one of those precious little hands), administered medicine, listened to LONG stories, got sticky kisses and "I love you SO much!" hugs, juggled my baby girl in my lap through lunch, put kids down for naps, and did all the other things that are part of being a mommy, I am so thankful for the mommy who did all those things for me years ago.
One of the things I continue to be grateful for is the way you taught me to love the Word of God and seek truth and wisdom there. Asked what was one way that I showed Jesus to him, Alex said, "You teach me scripture and explain what things in the Bible mean." I wonder, would it have occurred to me to do those things if I hadn't had a mom who did them for me? Even now you challenge me to grow in my knowledge of scripture. I'm so thankful for your encouragement.
Wherever you are across the ocean today, please know that you are loved and cherished--for all the many ways you have given of yourself to nurture us, and now our children. You are a very special mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOD!!!

We love this guy!!! (This is Tod after a full day of helping with an elementary school track meet. You can find Tod involved in anything from a church training session to helping little guys find their way around a track meet.)

This man continues to make us proud and amaze us. He is still one whose counsel and wisdom we trust, who knows how to have a good time, who is an incredible father and husband, and who continues to set an example of faith through hard times and good for all who know him. He has contributed so much to our family and to all those who know him.

Tomorrow morning we will pick up Bailey after her semester in Oxford has ended and fly with her to Prague and then Vienna for a little mini-celebration trip. Today we visited with one of her sponsors and she just kept saying, "Bailey is wonderful! Bailey is delightful! etc." Of course that makes us so proud of Bailey, but on this day, thinking of our special son on his birthday, we also know what a tribute that is to her dad.

Our memories of this guy go back farther than anyone in the family, and we can say without any hesitation that he has blessed us over and over and over far beyond anything we ever could have imagined when we held him in our arms 44 years ago. (Well, to tell the truth, he really didn't look like he had much potential at that moment with one eye swollen shut and a big wound down the side of his face from the forceps.)

Happy Birthday Tod!!! We count you among our greatest blessings! We truly thank God for you and continue to be in awe that He blessed us with such a fun, amazing, brilliant, godly, faithful, wise, handsome, good firstborn son.

We love you, mom and dad

(Posted from Oxford, England)

Lena's first hair cut

Lena got her first hair cut today. We still have the length and curls, but got a small trim and bangs. Lena doesn't like having her hair in her face, so the bangs will help with that. We did save the hair that was cut off for her bangs.