And then...

she graduated.



A little story I don't want to forget about this special morning...
For a couple weeks before this day I knew I wanted to put together a little "celebration entry" to mark the occasion.  I also knew I wanted a WORD that I could give to Maddison on her graduation day that would be meaningful and help set this day apart as significant in her life.  I pondered for sometime and finally decided on the word S E E K.  I bought black and white 4 x 6 cards with each letter and planned to hang them on my "clothesline".
Graduation morning dawned and while Maddison had gone off to rehearsal I hurriedly got my things together that I had been working on all week. Everything was set and ready but I could not find the 4 x 6 cards.  This was very important to me.  It was the focal point.  It was meant to be more meaningful that anything else.  I tore the house apart.  Brent was looking as well and trying to help me remember where the last place was I had set them.  I repeated over and over that I had already looked in that basket. I was pleading, no, I was more like demanding my Heavenly Father that these cards appear.  This continued for some time and I was frantic that Maddie would come home and the entry wouldn't be complete to start her day.  For some reason it mattered.  It mattered very much to me.  Why?  I'm still not sure.  Then Brent stepped into the living room and said, "Honey, remember last night when you were gathering your things one of the cards had a bow in it.  You wanted to place the cards under some books to flatten it out."  INSTANTLY I knew where they were.  I went straight to the bookshelf and lifted the stack of books I had put the cards under.  I hugged Brent in a tearful embrace and asked how he knew.  What he explained to me is the beauty of the story.  Brent saw me frantic and getting upset and he told me he knew how important this was to me.  With tears in his eyes and a choked up voice he said that he didn't want this day to start out unhappy for me so he lifted his eyes toward heaven and asked Heavenly Father to please help us find the cards.  Brent isn't one to offer up a silent prayer in a circumstance like this.  He even told me that and I nodded my head in agreement.  But he said "as soon as I offered my prayer my mind was filled with the thought of the card with the bow in it."

As silly as it may seem to others it was confirmed to me once again that the Lord is involved in the details of our lives.
 

 

And the rest of the day was exciting!
 

I had remained very composed the rest of the day until this moment.
When she found us in the crowd and she blew us a kiss.
My heart just couldn't have held anymore love and so the tears poured down my cheeks to try to ease the weight of what my heart was trying to hold.
 

 

 

 

You did it SIS!!

Senior Prom...

The last dance...
 

 

 

 

 

 

Not just any guy...

With the end of school upon us, Davis was busy being recognized.
First as an outstanding artist and let me say...
YES he is and I can't wait to post a couple of his projects.
He was even asked if he would sell one of his oils.  Davis turned down the request : )
I soon as I figure out how to post from my phone, I'll show you.


And then again as a Golden Scholar. 

This guy is so much more than just your average Joe.
He makes me so very very happy.

It's over...

I didn't think I would be so emotional at the final basketball banquet.
But then I didn't expect Sis to be acknowledged to such a degree.
Forgive me for my pride but I think she deserved each award.
 

Every Senior player gets the P.R.I.D.E award.
Coach Webster came up with the acronym which stands for...
Perfection Requires Intense Daily Effort.
It was and is his mantra.  It was drilled into the girl's minds and was executed in their play on the court.  He was able to get the very best out of his girls.

One girl is chosen and recognized for her Academic Excellence, which was expressed as being extremely important to the coaching staff and deserved the respect and admiration of her peers.
When Maddie's name was called I couldn't help but get a little emotional.  She has worked her tail off throughout high school to keep her grades impeccable.
 

The last recognition given is the Hawk Pride award.  As Coach Webster explains it, it is his favorite award to give because it is the "complete package".  Given to a girl who represents the Lady Hawks with every good virtue and characteristic you would want in an individual both on and off the court and who makes those around her want to be better both on and off the court.

Maddison was surprised when coach called her name.

I had a few tears and felt extremely grateful.

 

Maddison has been incredibly lucky to be coached by these good men.
Tough as they should be, tender when necessary and honest always.
Coach Webster, Coach Erwin and Coach Valocchi.
 

(Olivia, Megan, Kat, Liz, Sis, Rebecca, Kayla)
Would you ever guess these seven senior tough as nails Lady Hawk basketball players could dress up and be so awesome!!

It's been an unforgettable ride ladies!

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!