High school basketball treated her well...

The day she traded in her dance shoes for a pair of high top basketball shoes was...well...unexpected.
I wrote a little bit of her bball journey here and here.

Look at her now!
The Lady Hawks made it to the State Championships.
Playing on ASU's Sun Devils court.

They made it to the final four.  One game shy of playing for the State title.  It was such a tough loss.

But...I was really happy that Maddison got the chance to play in a State playoff game.
That's something she will remember always.

 

So it might not have been dance shoes and a sparkly pink leotard but I have to say she was more than amazing in high tops and a black & teal jersey.

Coopster the Hoopster...

Back in March we were neck deep in basketball.
Between Sis and Coop it seems any extra minute we had was spent in a gym watching orange balls fall into white rope hoops.

This was Cooper's second try at basketball and YUP!
He liked it a lot.
As one of the BIGS he was the go to guy for rebounds, put backs and a mean pick.
Coach Ammon was perfect for the boys and took them all the way!

 

Congrats Coop!
Well played, my boy, well played.

Sis...

 I love my sweet Maddison Joy with all my heart.

 

It consumes me sometimes.

 

That love.

 

 

It literally can make me crazy.

Wanting nothing but joy, love and safety to be hers.

 

 

I would move mountains to provide it for her.
 

Learning that I can't...

Is oh. so. very. hard.


I learned the reality of this when Sis came face to face with gut wrenching disappoints that would, quite honestly, rock her world.  It sounds dramatic.

It was.

The short of it all (because the long of it is etched in our experience)...

The Lady Hawks came up one game short of playing for the High School State Basketball Championship.
The work, the sweat, the tears.  The girls were ready.
It just didn't happen.

The very next day Maddison got the news that she was "denied" at BYU.
The work, the sweat, the tears.  This girl was ready.
It just didn't happen.

I couldn't fix it.  I couldn't change it.  I couldn't hug it away.
All I had was a bunch of lame words of comfort that sounded empty, even to my own ears.

It is excruciating to stand back and watch your child hurt.
I have never wished so hard to be a super hero.
To have the strength to move mountains in her behalf.

With a mother's swollen heart, I turned to my Heavenly Father and pleaded for her.

Thankfully I know that is where I would find the strength I needed.
I prayed she would find it as well.

Then together at times, and separate at others we
slowly, piece by piece, began to pick up the bits of an exploded balloon.

There are lots of pieces and we are still gathering. 

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I'm having problems with blogger and my picasa working together.

 

ugh!

Neglect: to leave undone or unattended to

And the consequence of neglect (in this particular case) is a blog that is F A R behind and needs a great deal of attention.  So let's get started...

My raucous red head turned 10.  My baby made it to double digits.

My baby...
that strikes a tender chord.

Thankfully despite his rough and tough exterior, he has a gushy interior and I can still wrap him up in mama bear hugs when no one is looking. 

We took a few friends for some non-stop jumping and bucking and they had a great time.

 

 

 

 

 

 And then we celebrated at home with just the family.  Coop's birthday comes right before Little League begins so new baseball gear seems to always make the present list.



Grandpa Brown's card brings a smile and a loud "YES!" every year!

 



 

And we got a good laugh when Maddie brought home his DQ ice cream cake.  Apparently they don't know her little brother's name! Haha : )

 



 

Hey Coopster,

10 years of love and laughter you've given us.

We are looking forward to 10 x 10 more!!

 

XoXoXo,

Mom and Dad

Soaring...

Although Davis completed his Eagle project months ago, we are just now getting around to making it official with the celebratory Eagle Court of Honor.

 

The Board of Review was no easy pass.  Davis apparently drew the short straw that night and had two STICKLERS (for lack of a better word) that took him for a walk over some hot coals.  But knowing Davis as I do, I knew he would present himself well and come away from the experience unscathed.  And he did.

Finally last month we planned an evening to recognize Davis and his achievement of reaching the rank of Eagle.

 Beautiful AND delicious cupcakes by Wylene : )

 

 Mighty men.

 

Cousin Sam and Cooper helped with the flag ceremony.

 

A proud big sister.  Despite the seemingly endless teasing, I know this is how they truly feel about each other.

Grandpa Brown and the Wilson (Brent's youngest sister) crew came to support Davis.

It meant so much to have them with us.

 

  

 

 

I asked a talented friend of mine to put the words of the Scout Law into a subway art kind of poster so that I could display it at the Court of Honor. She came up with this and it couldn't be any more perfect. LOVE IT!!

  If I had to come up with words to describe Davis, I wouldn't have to look any further than the Scout Law.

He is all these things.

I love him fiercely.

 

*        *        *        *        *        *        *        *

 

I love it when the cousins are able to spend time together.

So grateful for their sacrifice of driving such a very long way for such a quick weekend celebration. 

 

The first swim of the year ~ FEBRUARY 18th, 2012 ~ and still too cold!!

But every one is still smiling : )

 

Such a wonderful weekend for a truly wonderful young man!

 

  

Worth it...

I am preparing a few thoughts to share with the Laurels tomorrow at church.

About the Atonement.

I want to share something that they will carry with them always.

Serving these girls in some capacity or another for five years will endear them to your soul.

Yes! I LOVE these Young Women with all my heart,

And one of them is my beautiful daughter.

I want her to know and learn of this most important and powerful part of the gospel.

As I've been reading and pondering I came upon this blog entry that a friend wrote...

It is worth your time...

Her quote and application about a "cushion against the writhing" has been timely in my recent years, months and days.

It has been applicable in different ways for different reasons.

Today is seems to relate directly to the Atonement.

Answered prayers always humble me.

Lovin' it...

I only have one left at home exchanging classroom Valentines.

This is what we came up with this year...

 

My little charmer told me it was a hit!  Even with the 4th grade ladies ; )

I mean really, who doesn't love the mustache craze right now!?!

 

Love Day at the Brown home is always wonderful!

We order Chinese take out (but Cooper get a Subway ham sandwich), I make my mom's Cherry Torte Cake, I get a little bit of special attention and treats from my sweetie, my sweetie and kids get a little something from me.  This year is was ties for the boys and a cool owl ring for my only girl.

 

And I added some Valentine decor to my usual set up.

I printed out this *LOVE makes a beautiful ride* print and also a vintage Valentine card.  I framed them up and here you go...

My *tiny heart trio* is simply a red piece of scrap card stock and pale pink tiny hearts punched from some old paint chip samples.

 

And to wrap things up ~ Maddie went to Morp with one of her best friends since the 3rd grade.  It was a 50's theme and they looked darling.  Once upon a time these two had a big time crush on each other.  They even exchanged Valentines with x's and o's all over them.  All that has faded away and now they know the sweetness of a wonderful friendship.

LOVE is a beautiful ride!
 

Love, naturally

So years ago my little boys would bring me surprises they had found along the way. 

Along any way.

Along a walk,
Along a road,
Along a fence,
Along a yard.

But not just any surprise.

These surprises always had a certain shape and they would bring them to me gently (or not so gently) squeezed between two dirty little palms and reveal the gift inside with such excitement. 

This is my collection so far...

 It's my "love" collection.
All made by nature.

Even the little piece of glass Cooper found years ago was naturally shaped like a heart.

 

 

 

My most recent addition was given to me just a couple days ago.

My 14 year old son came home from school and found this along the way and placed it beside me while I was working at the kitchen table.

His hands were not so little or so dirty.  Kinda tugs at my heart strings.

 

Naturally ~ love is wonderful.

 

 

 

 



Young love...

A few nights ago our family was sitting together catching up on a recorded show when suddenly...

Ding Dong!

Cooper jumped up to get the door (he always does) and when he opened it up you could hear a truck load of 4th grade girls screaming...

"Happy Valentines Day Cooper!"

And left behind were a bunch of scattered paper hearts that covered the porch and a red headed darling that just said...

"This is the most embarrassing thing ever!"







Honestly though...I'd fall for this guy too!

 

Playing post at 5' 8"... maybe 5' 8 1/2"

It's really an oxymoron because you normally don't see post players at that size.  At least not if you play for the Highland Lady Hawks basketball team.  No, the girls that play post at Highland are 6' or taller.

 

Except for Maddison and she has done it four years.

A year on the Freshman team.

Two years on the JV team.

And currently on the Varsity team.

 

The season is winding down.

They are undefeated in regular season play and thus far in Regionals as well.  They have the Championship game left to go tomorrow night and then it's on to the State Tournament.

 

Pink game ~ Fight for a cure!

 

And here's a little story about friendship and its true definition.

 

These are the two M. Brown basketball players for the Lady Hawks...

Megan and Maddie.

 

They have played bball together since the 7th grade. Well, Maddie was only the team manager that first year but she practiced and worked out right along side Megan. They were the same size then. Tall for their age and equally athletic. They joined forces on the 8th grade junior high team and became the 8th grade Junior High District Champs that year. The seasons come and go and every year they work hard and cheer each other on. Megan has always been a starter. Maddison has always come off the bench. Maddie debated on whether or not to play her Senior year. She tried out and Coach Webster told her he wasn't quite sure what her role on the team would be. You see, there were 4 other post players (3 being Seniors) that were 6' tall (at least) and quite talented that would get most of the game time minutes. Maddie went back and forth to try and decide if all the time, work, effort, aches and pains would be worth it.  Well, she made her decision and here she is giving it all she has whether she gets on the court or not.  A couple weeks ago as Coach was talking to the girls before a game, he told Maddie "you'll be starting tonight."  Maddie said she just froze, looked at Coach and said "HUH???"  He replied "let's just say you have a really great friend."  And with that Maddie got to start and went on to play her best game yet.  Come to find out Megan had approached Coach before the game and told him "Maddie is a Senior and deserves to start.  She can have my spot tonight."

 

And that is friendship ~ unselfish, kind and motivated by love. 

Senior Night ~ Congrats Sis!

Senior Night ~ Peyton's sign for Maddie is the best!  Flashing lights and all!

Senior Night ~ Maddie and Valoo, campus security beast and every student's friend

 

 

 100 % free throw percentage for the season!

 

waiting to take the court

 

Coach Webster and his girls after his 700th win.  Players past and present.

Maddie and the other six seniors.  She is on the left side of the second "0" in the 700.

 

Coach Webster reaches an amazing achievement. 700 wins makes him only the 2nd girls high school basketball coach in Arizona to reach this mark.  The 4th coach, girls or boys.  Everyone wants to play for Webster.  He's a big deal here in high school basketball.  He loves his girls and gets the very most out of them.

 

Let's keep on rollin' Maddie!

Preparing...

 We are getting ready for an Eagle Court of Honor for someone pretty AWESOME...

 

That would be this guy.

 

 

He completed the required 21 merit badges to earn the rank of Eagle but went a bit above and beyond.  Davis has 45 merit badges (I have yet to sew the 45th on his sash as it's my least favorite part) and he is already waiting the required time to receive his first Palm.

 

He is scouter extraordinaire!!

When pressed to name is favorite and least favorite merit badges, he told me that earning the Canoeing merit badge at his last Scout Camp was a lot of fun.  Hard work but definitely fun.  Then he said, in almost a whisper, that earning the Citizenship merit badges was probably his least favorite.
And that's totally okay by me, my boy!