Da Browns

Da Browns

Welcome to the jungle!

Our jungle has a mighty lion king, Jared; his sultry lioness, Tamany; three crazy monkeys, Landon, Tyler, and Ethan; and a beautiful gazelle, Isabel. It also has a beast, Phoebe, our mastiff.

Life in our jungle is much like other jungles: a constant searching for food. It consists of finding the food, killing it, bringing it home, preparing it, eating it, cleaning it up, and trying to share with others what we found.

This blog is to share the highlights of what happens in our jungle during that process.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Pioneer Trek family reunion 2009

















































































































































Jared and I had a great time at my mom's family reunion. (Barnes family). We went to Martin's Cove in Wyoming where the Martin handcart company was rescued. My great-great grandmother Margaret Ellen Clegg, came across as a baby. She was 13 months-old when they arrived in SLC.

















The church has a mission there that is operable during the summer months. Visitors can camp down the road, then take the "re-created" trek during the day. It was such a great experience. The missionaries take you along and every mile or so tell stories and events that occurred on the trail. It was fun, spiritual, and educational.

















Below is my contribution to a book my aunt is putting together of our insights and experiences. I thought I would post it as well.

















(p.s.--some of us dressed up for the occasion. Jared did too. He wore his BYU shirt in honor of Brigham sending in the rescuers! :)

"How could God let this happen?" This is the cry of many who lack faith in God and his purposes, it is often said when good things happen to bad people. Some who witness a tragedy may be compelled to ask, "Where was God?" Or those who the tragedy happens to may be tempted to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" During our trek I was most impressed with the testimony given over and over from the pioneers that they knew God lived and that they felt so near to him. It seemed to go against the natural tendency to complain and question God and his purposes in hard times. What was it about the Martin handcart company and their adversity that brought them to know God lives? What was different about those saints that they could find tender mercies in the midst of such suffering when others, in easier circumstances, are so quick to question God, or betray what they once knew to be true? During our trek, and since, I have reflected on these differences. All throughout scripture we learn of a pattern the Lord has for refining his people. One aspect of his pattern is to lead them through a wilderness. One of the missionaries in the beginning devotional asked to reflect on our "handcarts" today. Instead of modern-day personal handcarts, I would like to speak of personal wildernesses. First, let me speak of scriptural wildernesses. Adam and Eve were lead to a wilderness, Abraham was lead to a wilderness, he Israelites were lead, then wandered in the wilderness. John the Baptist grew up in a wilderness, Lehi and his family were lead through the wilderness. In Lehi's dream he was lead through a wilderness before coming to the path, Enos speaks of the Lamanites who wandered in the wilderness as a blood thirsty people, the Jaredites were lead through a wilderness, Moroni had to live out the remainder of his days in a hidden wilderness. The pioneers were lead through multiple wildernesses, the Martin handcart company suffered in the wilderness. What is it with the Lord and wildernesses? As we study each account of the people in the wilderness, there is a common theme throughout: those who had faith in the Lord were lead by him, and those who did not have faith wandered. The Israelites were lead out of Egypt but as they lost faith and became disobedient, they were left to wander until through their trials they either perished or learned to look to the Lord. In Lehi's dream, he was lead through the wilderness by a man in a white robe. It was dark and dreary, but he was still being lead--he was not alone. By following with faith, he was eventually brought out of the dark and to the path and the rod which lead the way to salvation. In real life, Lehi and his family were alone in the wilderness, but the Lord sent a tender mercy: the Liahona. And why were the Jaredites in the boat for as long as they were? The Lord could have brought them to the Americas faster than he did. What did they learn in their wilderness that they could not have otherwise learned? We all have wildernesses. Sometimes they come just as a matter of life, sometimes we cause them, sometimes the Lord provides them for us. What I have learned is that what we do in our wildernesses determines our outcome and determines our faith in God. Findng God in the middle of the trial is key. After the women's pull, and at the end of the day I was convinced that the pioneers were being helped along the way by heavenly means. I am a healthy woman who exercises each day, I eat healthy food, and I am well-rested. I didn't have to look for my food or prepare a fire, I was wearing great shoes and the weather was good, and after visiting the Beehive house, I saw that I am twice the size of those pioneer women, yet I could barely pull the cart up one hill, and at the end of 6 miles and I was exhaustd from a long day, I realized that I had only gone half the distance that the pioneers went in one day. I am convinced of the accounts of pioneers who felt heavenly beings pushing their carts with them. When we look for God, we find him and he helps us. When we leave him out of our lives and determine to go about things our own way, we are left to our own strength. Making and keeping covenants were never meant to promise a person a life of ease. They were meant to promise a person strength through trials. We are promised that we can walk and not be weary and run and not faint, but we must still walk and we must still run. The Lord will support our efforts as we strive to become more like him. President Hinckley referred to the Cove as sacred. Another place I have been that is sacred and the Spirit is strong, is Liberty Jail. Two places where great suffering occurred. When suffering is done over the altar as a sacrifice to God, he consecrates our efforts and seals our sacrifice to him. This is done through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is why we can feel the Spirit so strong in these places. In our personal wildernesses, in our homes, our families, in our church callings, we can have this same Spirit when we have faith and hope in the Lord that he will mend hearts, perform miracles, and strengthen faith-- we will see the power of God at work in our lives. We will find those tender mercies and proclaim that we know God lives and answers prayers.

Post surgery/grateful kids

Phoebe's stitches

new stove

new water heater

Mom, she loves us

Mom, she loves us
Tyler's pic of Gramie

Mom, she love us

While at dinner with Gramie, I asked where she was. The boys said she was standing in line waiting to get them their pizza from the buffet line. I said, "What!" Tyler looked at me and emphatically announced, "Mom, she loves us!"

My Guitar Heroes

My Guitar Heroes
Jared and Landon practicing

kiddies at the park

bed of mulch

monkey bars backwards

"Hulk" at the park


Belle and Babe

Bella and her "buh"

I Am a Child of God

I Am a Child of God

2008 in review

2008 in review
Landon's baptism

Gramie and Grandpa came to visit

Best buddies

the nappers awoke (after family pics)

Extended Stay (Feb 2008)

Extended Stay (Feb 2008)
I got sick---Gramie stayed

A Bit Too Much Fun With Slime

Houston Rodeo

Houston Rodeo

Easter

Easter

First Easter Dress

Grandma Lowry Came to Visit (April 2008)

Grandma Lowry Came to Visit (April 2008)


#41 Presidential Library

T-Ball

T-Ball
Da Boys

A Love Affair

A Love Affair

Beautiful Belle

Poisonous Snake (copperhead)

Poisonous Snake (copperhead)
Annie Oakley got her snake (with a shovel)

Overnight Campout (May 2008)

Overnight Campout (May 2008)
Lake Livingston

horseback riding at Lake Livingston


HUGE Frog

HUGE Frog

the frog we caught in our neighborhood

Farewell to the Broadbents

Farewell to the Broadbents

Tyler and Jeffrey saying goodbye

Tamany and Sheralie

Jared's B-day

Jared's B-day

Trip to St. Louey

Trip to St. Louey
Jesse James Wax Museum

driving 15 hours with the dog

road trip to with 9 kids under 9

all the cousins

Inside The Arch

Independence, MO

Independence, MO
where Tyler felt the Spirit

Liberty Jail

Liberty Jail


Far West Temple Site

Far West Temple Site

Adam ondi Ahman

Adam ondi Ahman

Ethan's birthday (July 2008)

Ethan's birthday (July 2008)
He was in heaven

Isabel's 1st birthday

Isabel's 1st birthday
hosted by Mr. John and Ms. Shey

princess dress from Grandma Lowry

Mr. John with Belle-Belle

Dinner with Elin (Aug 2008)

Dinner with Elin (Aug 2008)
Fancy French Food

First Day of School

First Day of School
Very Happy Day (for all of us)

Playing at the Pier

Playing at the Pier

Ethan

mom and daughter

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike
retreat to Birmingham with the Oborns

Sharlene and Isabel

Phoebe and Joey (Oborn's dog)

visiting Lana during Ike aftermath

Ragnar (October 2008)

Ragnar (October 2008)
CTRs--Chicks That Run

VICTORY

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008

Disneyworld

Disneyworld
We went to Disneyworld for vacation in December. It was a lot of fun. We were just happy to see the kids got over their fear of people in costumes!

The Princesses

Daddy's Girl

Daddy's Girl
While in Disneyworld, Isabel's wish came true: to have her dad hold her non-stop for an entire week! She is so in love with her dad!

Tyler's birthday in Disneyworld

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008
Gramie and Grandpa

Aunt Sara, too

monkey attack

The Polar Express train ride

Gramie and Belle

potato gun shooting