One heck of a week...

So my really good friend since the 10th grade called me thursday morning to tell me that her sister had died. I couldn't believe it, my heart just broke in a million pieces for her. Her sister and her were SO close. All they had was each other growing up in a family that sometimes seemed torn. Shauna lives in Idaho and came down to Utah to be with her family on Thursday. I went to spend some time with her and her family on Friday. I never realized how much I loved her crazy little family until this past week. Although I was there witnessing people go through the hardest time in their life I was overwhelmed by the spirit. Shauna's family isn't super religious and so thier eternal perspective of family isn't necessarily as clear to them as it is to me. I felt the spirit guide me to help them understand that their baby girl and beloved sister wasn't 'gone' she is just here in a different way. Before I joined them on friday I said a prayer to give me strength to do whatever it was they needed me to do or be to help them through this. To all that know me, I am a CRY BABY, I cry at commercials for pete's sake!! I was really nervous to go there because I needed to be strong. They were crumbling and needed to crumble, they needed someone to look up to, to hold them up and maybe give them some hope for the future. My prayer was answered. I felt that I was amazingly strong and effortlessly gave them hopeful insight to a more eternal perspective to life and how forgiving our God is.
As I was leaving Amber's (shauna's sister) little boys came in, it wasn't until then that I started feeling week. Looking into her son's beautiful innocent eyes, knowing that their momma wouldn't be kissing them goodnight that night and for many nights to come CRUSHED me. I got into my car and totally lost it all the way home. God answered my prayer and made me strong for the time I needed to be. That night I told Shauna and her mom to let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do to please don't hesitate to ask. A couple days later Shauna said that they had come up with something very special that they only trusted me to do. I couldn't imagine what that would be. They asked me to take pictures at the funeral.
Her mom wanted last pictures of Amber and things about the funeral captured so she would never forget what a beautiful goodbye her daughter had (or see you later as I would like to think of it). After Jason's dad died I swore to myself NO MATTER WHAT I would NEVER attend another viewing as long as I could help it. My best friend needed me, I didn't have anyother choice. She had made the choice not to see her sister in death and I promised her that I would take beautiful pictures so when she was ready she could see her at rest. This made me VERY nervous. I decided to see Amber a couple hours before I had to take pictures to shake off the initial shock. She looked beautiful. I can't say she really looked like the Amber I knew because Amber was so full of life, she just bounced all over the place and I don't think I ever saw her serious. So to see her so still, was just not the Amber I knew, but she was beautiful. I didn't realize that taking those last pictures of the last goodbye would be the HARDEST thing I would do to date. Capturing a little boy saying goodbye to his momma, a mommy saying goodbye to her little girl and a fiance kissing his honey for the last time was udderly and completely HEART WRENCHING!! I snapped the pictures and needless to say, Shauna was the one comforting me at this point since she choose not to be apart of that. Shauna was amazing that day. She was so inhumanly strong, I couldn't believe it! I think I prayed so hard for her family that day that maybe I left myself out of the prayer! I still am not sure if and when I will be able to go back to those pictures and edit them. I think that will take an extra prayer or two!!
Amber's service was beautiful and full of spirit. Everyone wore red to the service in memory of Amber's favorite color. Her fiance Pat spoke and the first thing he did was tell people her favorite color wasn't red....it was purple!!
I hope and pray that her family continues to hope and believe that they will see Amber again and to us it will seem like eternity, but for her it is just a brief moment when they will be reunited in a more perfect world than we can even imagine. I hope and pray also that they may find God to be comforting and that one day soon when she is done with her business up there that they will feel her and it will be undeniable to them that what they felt was indeed Amber letting them know that she is here and sees them and knows they love her and always will!!

I love you Mund and Forrest family!! God is GOOD!

XOXOXOX

More of the 'other' Brown Family

My moments

I was just looking over my blog and realized that I haven't posted anything about MY latest moments! Although I love taking pictures, maybe I should post the latest and greatest in my life right now.

Camden is starting to talk a lot. Everyday he says more and more. He is a little later than my other kids at speaking, but trust me, I don't mind that one bit!! He is growing up WAY to fast and it makes me VERY sad. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to watch him grow and learn new things, he is just my baby and I am not ready to not have a baby around anymore.

Kyson loves pre-school and Karate. He got his yellow belt a few days ago and we are very proud of him! He has not let that belt out of his sight since he got it. It is a great tool for me too. His Master said that if he doesn't listen to mommy and daddy or doesn't respect others, that belt will get taken away and he will get a white belt (a baby belt). It works great......for now!

Kaysia also loves kindergarten. She is in piano lessons and is doing very well. They are learning to play both hands and she is very coordinated in that way. She is kind of a klutz and not the most graceful child when it comes to running & dancing, but she does play the piano well. I think we have found her niche! It has only taken a couple years of dance, tumbling and the fall part of soccer to find it. She enjoys it and that is what counts!

I have decided to run the Wasatch Back Relay race. It is a race that starts in Logan and ends in Park City. I am very excited and think it will be really fun. I have run into some problems training for the race though. It seems like everytime I run I end up VERY tired an hour or so afterwards with a headache and chills. I went to the doctor and he did some bloodwork and an EKG, everything came back normal. When the nurse called to let me know the results, I let her know that I ran again that day and was feeling sick. She talked to the doctor and they decided to do further testing on my heart. The doctor is worried that maybe my heart isn't getting enough oxogen to my brain and is having a hard time recouperating after an intense workout. I am scheduled for a stress test and an Echo-cardiogram on November 17th. I am very anxious for that day to come. I am very hopeful it is nothing serious. Although, I have been getting pounding headaches that last the better part of the day for about a week now. It is a constant reminder to me that there really could be something wrong. It could also be a MILLION other things that are causing my headaches. I am just anxious to rule out the more serious stuff!

Jason is busy, like always with his work. He is such a hard worker and I am blessed to have him as my husband. I am thankful for all the sacrifices he makes for us. He is a great husband and father and I could not ask for anything more!!

I am so greatful for all the blessings in my life. I love my family and friends who are there for me. I am very greatful for the church and all the things it brings to my life; amazing friendships, peace, inspiration and most of all ETERNITY with my husband and kids!

This is it for now.....until next time!

Christopher, Jamie & Haiden

Last week my brother-in-law and his wife were sealed together and to their beautiful little girl in the Salt Lake temple. We are all so proud of them! Love you guys!!

My sister's beautiful family

This picture of Kaydence is my most favorite picture I have EVER taken!!

The Corley's....

Jill is such a good friend and is ALWAYS there when I need her. I am just glad that I could capture some great pictures for her! It was FREEZING outside, hence Jordan's red nose!! What can I say....Cute family = cute pictures. I love my Jilly!! I hope she loves them!

The Woodlands...

I don't have a lot of time to post all the cute pictures of this family so here is a little peak!! Poor sandon was so sad! We got some cute pictures of him, just none with smiles. Morgan was a little model...striking a pose whenever she could!

The Nebekers...

I just loved taking pictures of this family!! This shoot was so easy! Aside from the cold weather it was perfect!