tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22868534510917873052024-03-07T21:51:41.460-05:00Life with EliasSporadic snapshots of the life of elias brown and his familyMeagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-54685877035310594292012-11-06T19:32:00.003-05:002012-11-09T00:45:17.105-05:00New Blog Address<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've updated the blog with a new design and blog address. Please visit <a href="http://choosingtosayyes.blogspot.com/">We Choose Yes</a>.</span></b>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-5111777136457381232012-05-21T21:17:00.001-05:002012-05-21T21:17:30.485-05:00Easter 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We celebrated Easter with a houseful of friends. We started out in nice clothes (the only time a year that we dress up for church) but by the end of the afternoon Merin was down to her diaper. Oh well- it made for some cute egg hunting pics!<br />
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Merin loved picking up eggs for her basket, even though she didn't even know what was inside. Elias and his friend had a fierce egg hunt later that required blood, sweat, tears and tree climbing. <br />
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<br />Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-8756408170513324512012-05-21T20:42:00.002-05:002012-05-21T20:42:59.622-05:00Spring BluebonnetsSome rare spring rains brought beautiful wildflowers in Central Texas! Here are a few pictures from our amazing field of bluebonnets down the street from our house. We had about 5 minutes to snap these photos before a woman asked us to leave. Apparently we were on private property. Oops.<br />
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<br />Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-15520268199072202512012-03-14T15:42:00.000-05:002012-03-14T15:42:19.519-05:0012 Months of Merin<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've missed blogging so I've decided to start at it again... slowly. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To start off- a collection of photos from Merin's first 12 months of life. She is 16 months now and walking, talking, laughing and eating. And eating. And eating. So much fun!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmW5Xi02hevkobL7bgKjJVbE4YouFbNYFHFPp03m_CTjc6Ch5TxB3S8LOGcPRfEoMl_3gQSCRQkfFouV4EHoMXlTDEa9KgpwHOexyFPvfZb2Cj4fmpc4wM3kk6rIxe-vcG6Sdevodcmng/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmW5Xi02hevkobL7bgKjJVbE4YouFbNYFHFPp03m_CTjc6Ch5TxB3S8LOGcPRfEoMl_3gQSCRQkfFouV4EHoMXlTDEa9KgpwHOexyFPvfZb2Cj4fmpc4wM3kk6rIxe-vcG6Sdevodcmng/s320/IMG_2614.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcRDejlDYHF4wn7GAfm3plF4_g3idtLsnW1xvZYImC3UUWg5qT2EUWSKHp5rCpyfK9NPOS6vofvMp69GiEeDN53dcfLm93kFLYQ_tILam3zxwFKGg3UsFwbN8iY0EZjrWTtTN6i8VG58m/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcRDejlDYHF4wn7GAfm3plF4_g3idtLsnW1xvZYImC3UUWg5qT2EUWSKHp5rCpyfK9NPOS6vofvMp69GiEeDN53dcfLm93kFLYQ_tILam3zxwFKGg3UsFwbN8iY0EZjrWTtTN6i8VG58m/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>And she's ONE year old!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos1pLfFtvSWj42i0O-2rHD3U7Mlx_z3M55NpFb2F3BKFbHXIalx2v__Oer26Ldm3O-eMTNQwOFdpvhAOQmFB5hrqcYOJuEkRfAokA9cyBzZAaZ_ffEdolj2tO26ngLIsyFuNdMwiKdsb0/s1600/IMG_4262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos1pLfFtvSWj42i0O-2rHD3U7Mlx_z3M55NpFb2F3BKFbHXIalx2v__Oer26Ldm3O-eMTNQwOFdpvhAOQmFB5hrqcYOJuEkRfAokA9cyBzZAaZ_ffEdolj2tO26ngLIsyFuNdMwiKdsb0/s320/IMG_4262.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-35446648303527721182010-12-21T11:12:00.007-05:002010-12-21T12:39:58.341-05:002010 Happenings<div align="left">I just mailed out all our Christmas cards and didn't include a family update like we usually do. Since so many people are on facebook it seems redundant to write about all the family happenings that most people already know about. So, since our card included our blog address, I thought I'd just do our family letter here. And maybe now I'll be more consistent about updating this blog too.<br /><br />We were just a little into 2010 when we found out that I was pregnant, and by the time we wrapped our minds around the fact that we would be having a newborn, Merin was here! It has been an absolute delight to have a newborn baby in our family. I'd prayed throughout my pregnancy that this experience would soften all of us, and it certainly has. There is just something magical about how a baby- so fresh and new- brings sweetness and peace into even the darkest of moods. We have all enjoyed her so much. She's an easy baby which means I can say "sweetness" and "peace" when I talk about a newborn. She just started smiling this week which is so much fun.<br /><br />Chase, who wasn't too sure about how it would be to have a daughter, is absolutely smitten. And Elias loves her more and more everyday. He loves to sing and dance and talk to her and feels so important when he gets to help take care of her. We work to find plenty of ways that he can be included and this has really helped his transition from being the only child. It'll take time though. We were a family of just three for a long time!<br /><br />Chase is commuting to San Antonio for his job which is hard on all of us, but he loves what he does and where he works. We are so thankful for this. Between working and his long hours in the car everyday he doesn't have much time for his many hobbies, but gets out to the gun range whenever he can. He went deer hunting recently for the first time and we had to buy a new freezer to house all the meat. Venison is the new chicken in our house. Anyone have good venison recipes?<br /><br />Elias goes to Kindergarten every morning and really loves it. Well, he loves math and recess. He still talks nonstop and has more energy than all of us put together. He's gotten really into soccer and loves playing at school during recess and wants to play more as soon as he gets home. I was a pretty lame soccer opponent late into my pregnancy, but I could at least stand there and kick the ball with him. He played t-ball this year which was perfect for him and will probably play again this next year.<br /><br />Elias recently got into legos and it's the only thing he's ever encountered that will keep him occupied for hours. He completed a 362 piece set yesterday while I took care of Merin and got a ton of Christmas stuff done!<br /><br />I worked part-time for my church this year which was so much fun for me. It's helped make my transition to having two children go smoothly just because I'm not as busy trying to juggle working on top of home and all our other activities. We have simplified life a lot since October and it's made all the difference. I still "work" with refugee women in Austin which I love. I don't like to say "work" or "volunteer", because the women are truly my friends and I love to be with them and a part of their lives. You can see more about my refugee friends here: <a href="http://www.hilltribers.blogspot.com/">http://www.hilltribers.blogspot.com/</a><br /></div><div align="left">We are still waiting on our Ethiopian adoption. We never thought we'd wait this long and it's hard to even talk about. But we know that God has this whole adoption under His faithful, loving control and we'll have our child in our arms not a moment too late. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">You can read more of our blog for a couple other happenings in 2010 (like the <a href="http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/2010/06/endeavor-games-2010.html">Endeavor Games</a> and Chase's trips to <a href="http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/2010/03/chase-in-haiti-update-1.html">Haiti</a>), and I'll post a few of our other favorite pictures of the year below. (I lost my hardrive though so only have pictures from the summer until now).<br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><strong>Family Camp at Laity Lodge<br /></div></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOtOyu8F1z740VZ_73DFg6IO8XkxMk1yBmDSDbE1b0N9dU68HsFCt_0IriVYJaFLNNWQIiAkP6Rx_hjzUszFVHM-VcZXDEsaubA4rqr83WaTS51Ipa4cV4QH61YRgPZwIjYBaWUTRh5VS/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180658085978770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOtOyu8F1z740VZ_73DFg6IO8XkxMk1yBmDSDbE1b0N9dU68HsFCt_0IriVYJaFLNNWQIiAkP6Rx_hjzUszFVHM-VcZXDEsaubA4rqr83WaTS51Ipa4cV4QH61YRgPZwIjYBaWUTRh5VS/s320/IMG_1830.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeosUfT9lMsHuPsCRvAOHffhTqWYyUlGp7Uitp8GQxKnNYccuh3fWJtil3PF_Eri5_t-XGqfTXvK9-gCQ5rXraYhWx19srDdotNuPd8KwWSh5OfyDP7WFlzPZUQ9W1B-np_reB6602kZU/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180652316592562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeosUfT9lMsHuPsCRvAOHffhTqWYyUlGp7Uitp8GQxKnNYccuh3fWJtil3PF_Eri5_t-XGqfTXvK9-gCQ5rXraYhWx19srDdotNuPd8KwWSh5OfyDP7WFlzPZUQ9W1B-np_reB6602kZU/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><strong>First Day of Kindergarten</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAAhcaxVO8B3yZb8j8WCMt4tofGgJs8nqqEJTPQgMWuAeg3P5A6DOg4Upb9U0asADJiA5UM_QZRXN7AJQwq42jAXGEixUTWjGNWOR_p3sBHHAPkDMaKblKOSoqqNFvd8JvYAWu3_Hf8gy/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG"><strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553188360475684498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAAhcaxVO8B3yZb8j8WCMt4tofGgJs8nqqEJTPQgMWuAeg3P5A6DOg4Upb9U0asADJiA5UM_QZRXN7AJQwq42jAXGEixUTWjGNWOR_p3sBHHAPkDMaKblKOSoqqNFvd8JvYAWu3_Hf8gy/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" /></strong></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3xA07ABhtZWQrDp8mzIlGsbP_LY1pF1tPOpBnYFpYOXP-Unx6o-ijyz0s0ib5NxeHJLUwpQbq030PHYFQdQZqWckGNmHRAChuPcPzo7q1vpG2VwqZPAag5UxZsORW-7GPneTQioRPuTf/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553188359048378402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3xA07ABhtZWQrDp8mzIlGsbP_LY1pF1tPOpBnYFpYOXP-Unx6o-ijyz0s0ib5NxeHJLUwpQbq030PHYFQdQZqWckGNmHRAChuPcPzo7q1vpG2VwqZPAag5UxZsORW-7GPneTQioRPuTf/s320/IMG_1889.JPG" /></a><br />Cool Tatoo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY9WKaS0lj07uD8f9UMQ1y24xCGgiR0_MrZjvikDracCN5q5Ltlp5oYTDVXR53oezvKFsE5NIItjpKSCnLeMrVoUMspyARPSaZcCFivQZXTQjkxrH80Nu5TqorsRFixTg1bnpphvxhcMX/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180658835919890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY9WKaS0lj07uD8f9UMQ1y24xCGgiR0_MrZjvikDracCN5q5Ltlp5oYTDVXR53oezvKFsE5NIItjpKSCnLeMrVoUMspyARPSaZcCFivQZXTQjkxrH80Nu5TqorsRFixTg1bnpphvxhcMX/s320/IMG_2076.JPG" /></a><br /><strong>MERIN IS BORN!</strong></p><p align="center">We finally meet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gcmhBgermuN9fRkvd30Ravaef3csjfZ5xh50xVSyoHkIrd6xu292A-IR6VPSm1i0qDNP6lOmhAqaqf0PCKtmofvguvyj6N_iKCiJOSBS7lkgBOGIHCT-koXUsuipY5FVavDyUgeg0Cd_/s1600/3+of+us.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553183174361848498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gcmhBgermuN9fRkvd30Ravaef3csjfZ5xh50xVSyoHkIrd6xu292A-IR6VPSm1i0qDNP6lOmhAqaqf0PCKtmofvguvyj6N_iKCiJOSBS7lkgBOGIHCT-koXUsuipY5FVavDyUgeg0Cd_/s320/3+of+us.JPG" /></a>Coming out of delivery room with Chase<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLtpNsnj7wEOYjftdsjClRI4VCZj2aiwXxP1H8SaeSgsmWVCLa9xUVm_mplLzvQrVGJeUu5QzFa_6FqYaVLS0fi2jmFGd7it_i63NxtDy4Q3bEu-ZmuGA0BTyAxl_Exf7NfX7k6jXkR4F/s1600/Chase+and+Merin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553183175326202066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLtpNsnj7wEOYjftdsjClRI4VCZj2aiwXxP1H8SaeSgsmWVCLa9xUVm_mplLzvQrVGJeUu5QzFa_6FqYaVLS0fi2jmFGd7it_i63NxtDy4Q3bEu-ZmuGA0BTyAxl_Exf7NfX7k6jXkR4F/s320/Chase+and+Merin.jpg" /></a> </p><div align="center">Meeting Big Brother Elias, Aunts, Grandmothers for the first time...<br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553183159650696402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE5P9vWN612ey5u8NbDhDI1RvhZC1fq8PhkJzrC58YQHECGmQDmffNXO0cyKtGSPea37YdN85m6zUTojyRVxcshPIn7gvd0ObU4vYwmelBLSNUne8rZBs8ybYFNSUqHPfeqN9FRGo9Cm4/s320/IMG_2143.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_CN2g1PMWw6DCNguOfAPHWbJM5uM9OIdWxY3TSAY0-4lgkopRzz5ScMAmuZsftmFi8D5lT1wz-YREZ3KGJLLsZIz1M1ZILROsRiBpGoWNaJEw5GZOHAEcyseWnomM9WCCPcTmAdeV9G3/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553183168624855138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_CN2g1PMWw6DCNguOfAPHWbJM5uM9OIdWxY3TSAY0-4lgkopRzz5ScMAmuZsftmFi8D5lT1wz-YREZ3KGJLLsZIz1M1ZILROsRiBpGoWNaJEw5GZOHAEcyseWnomM9WCCPcTmAdeV9G3/s320/IMG_2175.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vvxCm0JK63ie3fbXmeQJt53sIhoBncclVoSDC38j4iPgwlQpnbQZI1Gvcog8uSuP8bvxlXvyczvD8dkBb3b9Zp1CiZPHUsyrTgwlUVR_Y8hT_p1K9aYRLCYOf3_nKe7EfN6bBxC3Jhxy/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553183156738567186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vvxCm0JK63ie3fbXmeQJt53sIhoBncclVoSDC38j4iPgwlQpnbQZI1Gvcog8uSuP8bvxlXvyczvD8dkBb3b9Zp1CiZPHUsyrTgwlUVR_Y8hT_p1K9aYRLCYOf3_nKe7EfN6bBxC3Jhxy/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU8ccobqddcHP_AXzHPQ-4u2jE4_xGEWfzFHj0_F97mgsesZQijpegIsu0HSXmNouQvDwjRHAlO4cWQGYq-_COlcmju-5DY5sLiBeNrX0K6JNtykQGaqjfku3crhGSOjXo9MY1UWZ5z0n/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180675233886914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU8ccobqddcHP_AXzHPQ-4u2jE4_xGEWfzFHj0_F97mgsesZQijpegIsu0HSXmNouQvDwjRHAlO4cWQGYq-_COlcmju-5DY5sLiBeNrX0K6JNtykQGaqjfku3crhGSOjXo9MY1UWZ5z0n/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPKVbp7AH_UrZhlAA7REkcy_fwxZkRx5WMaMtNXkO0cbFuTbtg-kjl1klppGO5tfIyn7JM8eiRtgYOoQf2qMXe1SHMBcbUS-mMRaUlzFzuH-nfGk8UwOJ1WiJIHal06oAuw3CAMtit4FQ/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180665625322066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPKVbp7AH_UrZhlAA7REkcy_fwxZkRx5WMaMtNXkO0cbFuTbtg-kjl1klppGO5tfIyn7JM8eiRtgYOoQf2qMXe1SHMBcbUS-mMRaUlzFzuH-nfGk8UwOJ1WiJIHal06oAuw3CAMtit4FQ/s320/IMG_2109.JPG" /></a> </div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-74632228715703392772010-10-20T16:50:00.004-05:002010-10-20T17:14:03.148-05:00Any day nowBaby Girl Brown is expected to arrive any day now and we are ready for her to be here!<br /><br />I don't have much energy or pain tolerance to be out and about anymore, so Elias and I spend a lot of time at home playing games, watching movies, reading books, and kicking the soccer ball outside. It's been a sweet time together as we wait for his sister to arrive.<br /><br />He is SO excited about being a big brother and is especially excited to have a sister. I was actually suprised by this since he is so into all things boy, but his expressions have been super sweet about having a baby sister. And loves to see her dresses and pink clothes and ooh and aah over them. :-)<br /><br />We haven't taken any pictures as a family with me pregnant because I'm always the one with the camera. But we had a friend snap a few informal shots in our living room the other day. I'm revealing to the blog world me and all my pregnant belly glory.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t9J783UZcuZlrk4ooLxirjtAxHhlvn7J2TsIrY_VyEARK3ICa6KrvkpeFEefss3pUgB5ZZtdjyFRVD-fLX0l6JnFNlXyQi5ofIpApaqGC0RWX7-8PaugiQ-qOuKtJlXwLMDjHApwrYaT/s1600/IMG_2030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530252896216068306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t9J783UZcuZlrk4ooLxirjtAxHhlvn7J2TsIrY_VyEARK3ICa6KrvkpeFEefss3pUgB5ZZtdjyFRVD-fLX0l6JnFNlXyQi5ofIpApaqGC0RWX7-8PaugiQ-qOuKtJlXwLMDjHApwrYaT/s320/IMG_2030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb1Cx4hZ35SamH_BboW3-orwEK1SHducJU-u9fEFAhhCnYydZ7elX9IIBYB8eMeTIVeI05pQl2RJLOg4UG91xPzoJWfuDc-GcvBis6z9clf4cVsVD8IFt0XxBvBSNdOrlWVEs7x8LjGLr/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530252893504976290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb1Cx4hZ35SamH_BboW3-orwEK1SHducJU-u9fEFAhhCnYydZ7elX9IIBYB8eMeTIVeI05pQl2RJLOg4UG91xPzoJWfuDc-GcvBis6z9clf4cVsVD8IFt0XxBvBSNdOrlWVEs7x8LjGLr/s320/IMG_2046.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvFPap6PAKxD0wJD5HyZvG82eEP5KgYl0EztUtt8VHIa4elyIR7ACVHvvUNWDltNxvYViIph88hJ6Chc7_Icf8UyxOQZQzrRjhtlaUtb-x02UOS3ycRp6k5I-dTjxfNDqa5vujVtpzH5w/s1600/IMG_2062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530252887477764562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvFPap6PAKxD0wJD5HyZvG82eEP5KgYl0EztUtt8VHIa4elyIR7ACVHvvUNWDltNxvYViIph88hJ6Chc7_Icf8UyxOQZQzrRjhtlaUtb-x02UOS3ycRp6k5I-dTjxfNDqa5vujVtpzH5w/s320/IMG_2062.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb99ZaeooWenxKapzXxWUlLih-zli9yDKRCcOSZZj_7Zx1lYAzCTUzW2Cs1cXuJN2MD95Ga4eWVnbcBbDxxxrKOf0mnptp1ABk75ZLukE5GQPgY5_j1S2Ilzmme4ypPiRZn0j0vUM3Fc5/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530254384758162082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb99ZaeooWenxKapzXxWUlLih-zli9yDKRCcOSZZj_7Zx1lYAzCTUzW2Cs1cXuJN2MD95Ga4eWVnbcBbDxxxrKOf0mnptp1ABk75ZLukE5GQPgY5_j1S2Ilzmme4ypPiRZn0j0vUM3Fc5/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" /></a> </div><div>I'll post again with the first pictures of our family of FOUR!</div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-34137551508281121972010-07-04T13:59:00.004-05:002010-07-04T14:04:45.767-05:00Happy July 4th!Just in time for Independence Day... Elias has taken his patriotism to a whole new level.<br /><br />Happy July 4th everyone!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSEYVZ8emCaxpzmGBKLP0DpVNwuwbEpasKqXx18Er_sC13nG0CGe79GlQZ31QFJ3SB3z53g5dHupPxpaiarzr9QsomAYIL780lAgxzwToNxN7omxgNO8DhNpkqBM-VLe3moA7sTr0AUdA/s1600/Elias+Flag+Leg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490128079056855138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSEYVZ8emCaxpzmGBKLP0DpVNwuwbEpasKqXx18Er_sC13nG0CGe79GlQZ31QFJ3SB3z53g5dHupPxpaiarzr9QsomAYIL780lAgxzwToNxN7omxgNO8DhNpkqBM-VLe3moA7sTr0AUdA/s400/Elias+Flag+Leg.jpg" /></a>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-42314275470521926872010-06-25T21:10:00.003-05:002010-06-25T22:32:13.894-05:00It's a.....I haven't posted much the past several months because I've been tired and have had other things occupying my brain. About 5 months ago, we found out that I'm pregnant! My due date is toward the end of October so I'm more than halfway there.<br /><br />We are, of course, very excited about the baby that will be coming into our family soon. We get lots of questions all the time- - here are the answers. :-)<br /><br />Yes, we are excited.<br />Yes, we're still adopting. Our decision to add to our family through adoption is independent of us having/not having biological children.<br />Yes, we were surprised, and at the same time, no we were not surprised.<br />Yes, I'm feeling well.<br />Yes, Elias is really excited. Then Elias always pipes up and says, "I can't wait to have TWO "babies" come into our family!" So then I respond...<br />No, I'm not having twins- we're adopting as well.<br />Yes, we're finding out what we're having.<br />No, we don't have a name yet. (And if we did I wouldn't tell you).<br /><br />It's been an adjustment to be expecting a baby by birth after expecting our next Ethiopian child for so long now. Adoption is so up and down with twists and turns and heartache and so many unknowns. With pregnancy, I can pick up a hundred books at my local library or look at thousands and thousands of websites that tell me <em>exactly</em> what my baby is doing today, how I may feel or look, and give me pages upon pages of suggestions, remedies and opinions on how to handle any bit of uncomfortable feeling, ache, or pain.<br /><br />It's amazing really the illusion of "control" all this information creates. No wonder people are afraid to adopt! For us it's been fun to experience the polarities of both experiences at the same time.<br /><br />Now, on with the title of this post. We found out recently what we're having and decided to surprise Elias and the grandmas with a homemade cake announcing the gender. It was fun to celebrate together in this way!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6cS8PefuMQlZA5w9HMGUkg1s9KTz7Hg3tJ6H4rrQ35blYAoah2EZyypuahfRhYhmdLkwB44BHir4u-ZSeaJJSHg_y9U4H6YtLD8FhP9ChNnS6W6l0relSjzBMeQkp0_q2njZHweDoeQY/s1600/Its+a+.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486918692848704386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6cS8PefuMQlZA5w9HMGUkg1s9KTz7Hg3tJ6H4rrQ35blYAoah2EZyypuahfRhYhmdLkwB44BHir4u-ZSeaJJSHg_y9U4H6YtLD8FhP9ChNnS6W6l0relSjzBMeQkp0_q2njZHweDoeQY/s320/Its+a+.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoyH_CJNF-HniLrlfzUpsgPmxV3X_k-3O9twJhZ1SUAGiERQSeOSs2SZMpTlT664Rzuva94_GaM_r2GU7zSCssdSFIgfnFOYGDO5D8JMaqoUCPRl1Neyu9Fq3rx-YAKziTNaeMiUX2Tuj/s1600/Its+a+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486918683973894930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoyH_CJNF-HniLrlfzUpsgPmxV3X_k-3O9twJhZ1SUAGiERQSeOSs2SZMpTlT664Rzuva94_GaM_r2GU7zSCssdSFIgfnFOYGDO5D8JMaqoUCPRl1Neyu9Fq3rx-YAKziTNaeMiUX2Tuj/s320/Its+a+2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCPE6QlagppwOwJsAeZ2beBVtfsPloC5GSwS7m-1ZLw3ukRYIDtO_tvrS8wNwHWU_vVqOHKXlR5cAf8hq-MKNRKCEFpyl6NAMkQ5bH26f60A5WPnBLgekUnx0njeVmTJbCbHB5xaIf-JQ/s1600/Its+a+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486918675281016898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCPE6QlagppwOwJsAeZ2beBVtfsPloC5GSwS7m-1ZLw3ukRYIDtO_tvrS8wNwHWU_vVqOHKXlR5cAf8hq-MKNRKCEFpyl6NAMkQ5bH26f60A5WPnBLgekUnx0njeVmTJbCbHB5xaIf-JQ/s320/Its+a+3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGwuHTC9lyvmLHRgtsDCPw03i5dQEf7rQVGIF_xuNA10Whw0f1T9SkwhD_GVFoJGGXm9sgw1W67BP2ieFzjO84NYvTMlWSduCzbCoq_cjcUG0Kb5bj1hds5JzMqHfuDUKtPoJ-c3ax7Ts/s1600/Its+a+4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486918669050516146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGwuHTC9lyvmLHRgtsDCPw03i5dQEf7rQVGIF_xuNA10Whw0f1T9SkwhD_GVFoJGGXm9sgw1W67BP2ieFzjO84NYvTMlWSduCzbCoq_cjcUG0Kb5bj1hds5JzMqHfuDUKtPoJ-c3ax7Ts/s320/Its+a+4.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>GIRL!<br /></div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-31940225757688971532010-06-16T22:23:00.005-05:002010-06-19T18:34:05.882-05:00Endeavor Games 2010<div align="left">Elias had the awesome opportunity to participate for the <a href="http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/2009/06/endeavor-games-continued.html">second year </a>in the <a href="http://www.ucoendeavorgames.com/">Endeavor Games </a>in Edmond, OK. We love the Endeavor Games for a million reasons, but especially because Elias gets to be with other amputee kids and this has proven to be really significant in his life. The EGs are also special because each individual gets to be exactly who they are without people staring or them feeling so different. Legs and arms are laying everywhere, and no one bats an eye. I love it! </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Elias ran in the 60, 100 and 200 Meter races and also participated in "Softball Throw". The best part for him is that he medaled in each event- 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals! Every night I hear them clanking up in his room as he plays with them before bed. :-)</div><div align="left"><br />Here are some of our favorite pictures from this year. There is a link at the bottom of this post to pictures in the Edmond newspaper that show the whole story of the Endeavor Games (and not just my awesome son). :-) </div><p align="left"></p><div align="center">Practicing with friends the day before the race<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsQSW0RWcV8_WVFC7A5AkwiUceBUGa3m8zkZCP2twV4NUhIupUbHz2Lua9m_pWnJ7bOdBtUS3RqpWi9E1hzTBUOidd1m3I6QMXnJRiCwVDoz50c8KLFJD47jxMdv6GQAx6TH_C8b48M5B/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsQSW0RWcV8_WVFC7A5AkwiUceBUGa3m8zkZCP2twV4NUhIupUbHz2Lua9m_pWnJ7bOdBtUS3RqpWi9E1hzTBUOidd1m3I6QMXnJRiCwVDoz50c8KLFJD47jxMdv6GQAx6TH_C8b48M5B/s320/IMG_1493.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayeImXYQIJ-2PLhlV6QiQAE6fzalxckGKWhBhyphenhyphenvdgfz3BuLfsi_avi_Ufmn9N3KKCaiztrWAUoCC6CAlgNGkdM-WSpAOF-6T_0WmDpmtqJp4V4F3OOgAgMoHdGqY46SOlkEn2ySB5jaaN/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayeImXYQIJ-2PLhlV6QiQAE6fzalxckGKWhBhyphenhyphenvdgfz3BuLfsi_avi_Ufmn9N3KKCaiztrWAUoCC6CAlgNGkdM-WSpAOF-6T_0WmDpmtqJp4V4F3OOgAgMoHdGqY46SOlkEn2ySB5jaaN/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center">Taking rest on the field (<em>and actually devising a strategy as his friends ran all the way around the track. He cut across the field and got right in front of them, beat them to the finish line and then cheered as if he'd been winning all along. Elias is SO competitive</em>!)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOViI67n65gs2_FnW15vxuKWSdw2j1mvJIqF9yiGw529XS5FJyyCGQu0Ad3fgaxpE-E0-xYfgqIPp-cu1dpS0gOPtrtCxchCc4w9AVO4Vz7HFTaFhPw5qODJGhAgMhwi42_4LZnXt6bHcv/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOViI67n65gs2_FnW15vxuKWSdw2j1mvJIqF9yiGw529XS5FJyyCGQu0Ad3fgaxpE-E0-xYfgqIPp-cu1dpS0gOPtrtCxchCc4w9AVO4Vz7HFTaFhPw5qODJGhAgMhwi42_4LZnXt6bHcv/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" /></a> </div><p></p><p>Cousins Melinda and Kaden (along with 3 grandparents) got to come. It was so fun to have them there!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kdz9G2xLv0wLS1aRwYAvek87vruKn1_ONW3bpPhdkDNSgdjQ5B741DlL1vRAj0heKnNmVE5g7tsgd3Kyg8p3OAPDQ9O828v6YZj3tTJ7nhY4CH-Siqn6IH0OerTkGTpsXwd6JLDokEIy/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484622843337501826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kdz9G2xLv0wLS1aRwYAvek87vruKn1_ONW3bpPhdkDNSgdjQ5B741DlL1vRAj0heKnNmVE5g7tsgd3Kyg8p3OAPDQ9O828v6YZj3tTJ7nhY4CH-Siqn6IH0OerTkGTpsXwd6JLDokEIy/s320/IMG_1567.JPG" /> </p><p align="center"></a>Getting ready to race on game day</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNsomx3YfteKXOBawG2sx7KLN4JIF_Pqn2maUaAQrMR6h0ovRMVT1SlDc3mB2K_RNV2Udc4wlEeuaR_d5xPU15fzW-Bg0TchlvjJzxxusBX4MkXflLwec3nnV7fKmF8ltp9oBSlh13txx/s1600/IMG_1573.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484622849538003122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNsomx3YfteKXOBawG2sx7KLN4JIF_Pqn2maUaAQrMR6h0ovRMVT1SlDc3mB2K_RNV2Udc4wlEeuaR_d5xPU15fzW-Bg0TchlvjJzxxusBX4MkXflLwec3nnV7fKmF8ltp9oBSlh13txx/s320/IMG_1573.JPG" /></a><br />Running the 100M race<br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMmbCy9asWAi9u_HlIOZ8QRe-g9r_Pkb6-dkKoP8pjzIBCXuWs5cKdvOontCVFdBrkDjLAdTlRJQxEsYlYStN_NKmFeNgROdC8k4qmKi87fDTPosEW0F5Yw8tojL2G01SYC3_TdPBM123/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484622826089560210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMmbCy9asWAi9u_HlIOZ8QRe-g9r_Pkb6-dkKoP8pjzIBCXuWs5cKdvOontCVFdBrkDjLAdTlRJQxEsYlYStN_NKmFeNgROdC8k4qmKi87fDTPosEW0F5Yw8tojL2G01SYC3_TdPBM123/s320/IMG_1562.JPG" /> </a></div><div align="center"><p align="center">Crossing the finish line</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZx71rmCGxJKUykrmR_UTv9mrW_fmggSTehiKyersWF1rZrd_LZDnEzHxwo7WpQFshwZOOlFDk5TO0lTFz2zwW6bWbKvS9J_4FMCCy8r_QedmDOGL72f4vMDjjJJ5w9XUszkdL4qyba3a/s1600/Finish+Line.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZx71rmCGxJKUykrmR_UTv9mrW_fmggSTehiKyersWF1rZrd_LZDnEzHxwo7WpQFshwZOOlFDk5TO0lTFz2zwW6bWbKvS9J_4FMCCy8r_QedmDOGL72f4vMDjjJJ5w9XUszkdL4qyba3a/s320/Finish+Line.JPG" /></a> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Getting ready to jump in Daddy's arms (tongue was out the whole race).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOI2008053KP1pay17X-fzBzaTchtzcTGn0cUItph_vAWj4dChwZC0DlZFiiJGQXRwyWaKMaWlFr-k8ISVzncUaKZCu_TvRyfJYep8akeO9fXgsH4nKMkTwcrx96VsA-NUEAqUe77q5top/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484621219998664962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOI2008053KP1pay17X-fzBzaTchtzcTGn0cUItph_vAWj4dChwZC0DlZFiiJGQXRwyWaKMaWlFr-k8ISVzncUaKZCu_TvRyfJYep8akeO9fXgsH4nKMkTwcrx96VsA-NUEAqUe77q5top/s320/IMG_1599.JPG" /></a><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz4iqmOTme3CXgrs2eGnwuL_aWSpez6CeR-ub1K2m1HImzJtG7cBo0ic0QmsHmdDC7x46QEwb8WvBrZZY2kLQ_B_j73o0eyaGUW-SYcwzxnmpHQH4uehnUn01jeZIcqmOXOeuwQ0z2qV7/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484621209031013154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz4iqmOTme3CXgrs2eGnwuL_aWSpez6CeR-ub1K2m1HImzJtG7cBo0ic0QmsHmdDC7x46QEwb8WvBrZZY2kLQ_B_j73o0eyaGUW-SYcwzxnmpHQH4uehnUn01jeZIcqmOXOeuwQ0z2qV7/s320/IMG_1602.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYC9lWqLN65kBOyWo_5kD_dtcAZtCschelY2hlsQWvs9pPY3WddB2FeQoGoM5GPPLXiRkdrbrHy53Y9c8eOmR19aIU97dppuAJAFHgxOe3Va4LM5Oa8ujAPXsbTBfNju7rjsWxLOqkwnv/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484622809326990706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYC9lWqLN65kBOyWo_5kD_dtcAZtCschelY2hlsQWvs9pPY3WddB2FeQoGoM5GPPLXiRkdrbrHy53Y9c8eOmR19aIU97dppuAJAFHgxOe3Va4LM5Oa8ujAPXsbTBfNju7rjsWxLOqkwnv/s320/IMG_1564.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Funny faces on the field<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtps8WkVALdkT04qH9iJIzsYHqLijDApou95f-kQjW436Aau1k1MLe3I1TPZh0XIMwHFx773O5BkZPeowEPjf9MS7YjzDHMk3HpHEZ5KSMVZs233ljfeEEFr-H3dNh96W_SXibYh1jOjjx/s1600/kids+funny+faces.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484621177748367458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtps8WkVALdkT04qH9iJIzsYHqLijDApou95f-kQjW436Aau1k1MLe3I1TPZh0XIMwHFx773O5BkZPeowEPjf9MS7YjzDHMk3HpHEZ5KSMVZs233ljfeEEFr-H3dNh96W_SXibYh1jOjjx/s320/kids+funny+faces.jpg" /></a><br />Posing with friends at the Closing Ceremonies Banquet<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZkT10_5Wm_6msyfTuEP_zQy8xLK9JPVYzpQTWQFcndipgyAT_zl3Jf-uWpMa0cBHmoykUMWmXy_2PqwKyl8uwoQz38h7xiNqCVGGAKAuxw1UF8Turn6Yj86pVCycniMcL1H009_urwU9/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484621202165258546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZkT10_5Wm_6msyfTuEP_zQy8xLK9JPVYzpQTWQFcndipgyAT_zl3Jf-uWpMa0cBHmoykUMWmXy_2PqwKyl8uwoQz38h7xiNqCVGGAKAuxw1UF8Turn6Yj86pVCycniMcL1H009_urwU9/s320/IMG_1621.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Two of the medals<br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9cqqv45PBJwLemf7OpKPWnEkv5jZjzDziBezRzQJnh3cKKLAX29S0E7__6v24G2AXfBgVT1XA1Rk37UniPYhV73kXcL9qlzwjSQHi8mIz7eZXmTUBwsRZA7uTUcWRf3TzKce_YXLE_9z/s1600/Medals.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484621167471375282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9cqqv45PBJwLemf7OpKPWnEkv5jZjzDziBezRzQJnh3cKKLAX29S0E7__6v24G2AXfBgVT1XA1Rk37UniPYhV73kXcL9qlzwjSQHi8mIz7eZXmTUBwsRZA7uTUcWRf3TzKce_YXLE_9z/s320/Medals.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="left">Click <a href="http://www.edmondsun.com/sports/x1358984785/Endeavor-Games-crowns-champs">here </a>and <a href="http://www.edmondsun.com/archive/x1358985271">here </a>to see the slideshow from the Edmond Sun Newspaper. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />We can't wait until next year!</div></div></div></div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-57331141466018507912010-04-08T21:51:00.004-05:002010-04-08T22:00:42.612-05:00New kind of beerThe other day Elias was with me at a BBQ joint for lunch with large group of young people from our church. (By "young people" I mean younger than me. I'm old, so I get to say things like that now).<br /><br /><br />He thoroughly enjoyed all the attention he was getting from the YPs. With the focus of everyone on him, he took a big swig of his cherry limeade in a bottle and said,<br /><br />"Aaaah. Cherry Limeade. It's like beer for kids".<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNQkY47aXTBRf4PACg6suy3dpohuOVqwAx0mawZDwbYp7UjE-etGm5ookbUFpPoEI7DOb43I7ILqGqkFcsvQextg7AAaNjv1cDX_YO3OwgDVYVeIsKfQ5KJVpO1F9S8rDkvvC-dbTEaW5/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457966730379022802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNQkY47aXTBRf4PACg6suy3dpohuOVqwAx0mawZDwbYp7UjE-etGm5ookbUFpPoEI7DOb43I7ILqGqkFcsvQextg7AAaNjv1cDX_YO3OwgDVYVeIsKfQ5KJVpO1F9S8rDkvvC-dbTEaW5/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" /></a>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-8188058484594175142010-04-06T22:15:00.003-05:002010-04-06T22:41:46.362-05:00Haiti Trip #2, Update 1Chase has been in Haiti for several days now and is having an incredible time. Sounds like it's been exhausting, exhilarating, emotional, and a ton of plain ol' hard work.<br /><br />Once he arrived home from his last trip just 4 weeks ago he hit the ground running with getting all the details in place to start the prosthetic clinic at Mission of Hope in Haiti. He said it felt like starting a brand new business in three weeks time for a clinic that is 2000 miles away. Throw in the cultural differences and resource limitations and general chaos and it was a tough job! He had lots of help from his boss and doctors and many others around the country who have pulled together to make this dream a reality.<br /><br />A huge logistical component was ordering all the equipment and supplies for the clinic and getting them shipped just in time. In fact, the shipment was still in customs on Thursday morning, and customs was closing at noon that for the Easter weekend! Miraculously though every single piece of equipment arrived safely at MOH on Thursday evening, just in time for Chase and his crew to arrive and set up the clinic over the weekend. It was hard manual work but they got it all done!<br /><br />Chase started seeing his first patients on Monday and hopes to have their legs or braces ready by the end of the week.<br /><br />Today was an emotional day as he had to deliver devastating news to an 18-year-old boy that a prosthetic will not work for his leg due to the condition of his residual limb. This family lost their home in the quake, is living in a <a href="http://media.cleveland.com/world_impact/photo/tenti-city-haiti-011810jpg-6512557f6e361aaf_large.jpg">tent city </a>and also lost their sister/daughter in the earthquake. Chase said that the conversation with this family today was one of the hardest he's ever had and they all broke down crying together. The only option this boy has is to undergo a second amputation on the same leg and then after it heals the boy would be a candidate for a prosthetic.<br /><br />Our prayer is that God gives peace to this family to make the right decision and that the shame of disability and immense discouragement of today's news be redeemed by the plans God has for this young man.<br /><br />Finally, one more story from today. Chase helped with food distribution outside the gates of Mission of Hope today and a riot broke out. Some people were injured and Chase was the ambulance driver to get the injured to the hospital. He said he is emotionally drained and appreciates your prayers!<br /><br />Thanks for your love and support!Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-17294891526025928732010-03-26T08:58:00.003-05:002010-03-26T09:08:12.564-05:00Letter to an amputee child in Haitimsnbc.com is doing a spotlight on the amputees in Haiti. They have a special <a href="http://haitiamputees.msnbc.msn.com/">section of their website</a> where they are following the stories of amputees in Haiti as they seek treatment and get their first prosthetic limbs.<br /><br />A reporter contacted us last week and asked if Elias would be interested in writing a letter to a 4-year-old boy who is getting his first prosthetic leg this week. I sat down with Elias and showed him pictures of Schneily and asked if he could tell me a few things to write in a letter to him.<br /><br />Elias said some of the sweetest things, all with no prompting from me.<br /><br />His letter is on the msnbc website today: <a href="http://haitiamputees.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/03/26/4070000-dear-schneily-ill-be-your-friend"><em>Dear Schneily, I'll be your friend</em></a><br /><br />It warms my heart to know that Elias was an encouragement to this family who is enduring so much right now!Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-7350234598043804642010-03-24T13:25:00.003-05:002010-03-24T13:45:59.636-05:00Pictures from Haiti TripChase was fortunate to have a professional photographer (<a href="http://www.kmorrisonimages.com/">Kevin Morrison</a>) in his group in Haiti. He took some great shots of Mission of Hope and the neighborhoods around Port Au Prince. Most pictures are labeled briefly underneath.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8gJ89j6QNUBsNu7t5mr8AshUI8AWaaHndR8jwI_MwSb1ulwwTHbpTWS8lFcUbLJYvGIKqB9xtd5i32rGHRHdLveVhOm030m0pZ2Q8j-ME4xcCVP4qCpdtY7sOIGrw-LZPMV1wLvq5dzk/s1600/MOH.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452270453773443090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8gJ89j6QNUBsNu7t5mr8AshUI8AWaaHndR8jwI_MwSb1ulwwTHbpTWS8lFcUbLJYvGIKqB9xtd5i32rGHRHdLveVhOm030m0pZ2Q8j-ME4xcCVP4qCpdtY7sOIGrw-LZPMV1wLvq5dzk/s320/MOH.jpg" /></a>Picture of Mission of Hope with ocean in background<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXdoJ0vRGfuFoLvXZClNVF7-mhxlJVfcAKOXUVSpaKfzhKYuapT4MmmThA3hodz9A3wgbqNIvz2Vwp3tqFimFqRx9yXTTP0JDQMzCIMEZCt1Vw4-m4AP93biZjC2i9_JEaKSW4MbvDPVp/s1600/Morning+Rush.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268663496627490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXdoJ0vRGfuFoLvXZClNVF7-mhxlJVfcAKOXUVSpaKfzhKYuapT4MmmThA3hodz9A3wgbqNIvz2Vwp3tqFimFqRx9yXTTP0JDQMzCIMEZCt1Vw4-m4AP93biZjC2i9_JEaKSW4MbvDPVp/s320/Morning+Rush.jpg" /></a> The people streamed in each morning to go to the clinic when the gates opened.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbs1xwzEm3uh6Hv0nJtpU75Lp2Lp3nQChB_GnXiGZRloL5KbA79Ia5wOcGHdrB5ZyQjmwyxXArolJLFCnxnXPYm84Z3tQRenY3Co16z9IYGCbESTbcS9EWItp-7BjIRViDUe3ff6jNlWT/s1600/Waiting+for+Clinic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268671552155442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbs1xwzEm3uh6Hv0nJtpU75Lp2Lp3nQChB_GnXiGZRloL5KbA79Ia5wOcGHdrB5ZyQjmwyxXArolJLFCnxnXPYm84Z3tQRenY3Co16z9IYGCbESTbcS9EWItp-7BjIRViDUe3ff6jNlWT/s320/Waiting+for+Clinic.jpg" /></a> Waiting in line for the clinic<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUHLuqiAi26kWSt8T1XzAejH31-R2ofY_93nj0yJ62BsqiO8OL9CfEZ4oOj_mgEnkQu0CK0YVUsg8tegeC3sDYTzbSiyTtngHUZ_XyLCzIzy2RJOuWP0CRuvXBJyFtyRBolrehRb0wX1Z/s1600/External+Fixator.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268694008337906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUHLuqiAi26kWSt8T1XzAejH31-R2ofY_93nj0yJ62BsqiO8OL9CfEZ4oOj_mgEnkQu0CK0YVUsg8tegeC3sDYTzbSiyTtngHUZ_XyLCzIzy2RJOuWP0CRuvXBJyFtyRBolrehRb0wX1Z/s320/External+Fixator.jpg" /></a> External Fixator (prevents amputation)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo380oZmjDD5carX2uZyAVa9qnVHSjrQZsxrkVdR7y3SxTWOHAf22ODeSgXWN_GHShFqyRE7ldp0ox-VMFSilWdOVJDCwRPAdlV_pln47lKRs3Kin1EeXnzQ3K55JLa2B_uDwep7ocwtv/s1600/Kid.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268690052205170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo380oZmjDD5carX2uZyAVa9qnVHSjrQZsxrkVdR7y3SxTWOHAf22ODeSgXWN_GHShFqyRE7ldp0ox-VMFSilWdOVJDCwRPAdlV_pln47lKRs3Kin1EeXnzQ3K55JLa2B_uDwep7ocwtv/s320/Kid.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM8-fOGhez8afgnf7t9QU4HbpfNTrm_T_Ub6l2BU7LbSDiv4fHTS83kUU34eK6iENZ9HMC5tWc_4yqL19Y3aNlIfYMxSKcdQzWUvsL1Zuy5lNVZ-Gr6oNh1hUV-tRdydbjCCQNlWxDw2F/s1600/Kids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268682577959506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM8-fOGhez8afgnf7t9QU4HbpfNTrm_T_Ub6l2BU7LbSDiv4fHTS83kUU34eK6iENZ9HMC5tWc_4yqL19Y3aNlIfYMxSKcdQzWUvsL1Zuy5lNVZ-Gr6oNh1hUV-tRdydbjCCQNlWxDw2F/s320/Kids.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_RBbTHlMnVwDuThB66na5eL5e-_De0gWeNAkXQLAFHDbhDxWCltRkAEo6hBqflRHIdUxZ-8rTS4qjfyTLWa-iLrMAuEIgD1EzGqGpPpj9KyaF_OIDCcFFJQShnwK72o7ryLFKbeMBdOg/s1600/Palace.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269456877653250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_RBbTHlMnVwDuThB66na5eL5e-_De0gWeNAkXQLAFHDbhDxWCltRkAEo6hBqflRHIdUxZ-8rTS4qjfyTLWa-iLrMAuEIgD1EzGqGpPpj9KyaF_OIDCcFFJQShnwK72o7ryLFKbeMBdOg/s320/Palace.jpg" /></a> Presidential Palace<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb_2s_djfsdt13gsD24BMh9l9-DWmJjv7K1oZVUUKR0WH8vlcuBhV5G6WU8u2E-kCl4xklR4pcB8VoaHOPkzBOlDr7slNAevKBP1c1tabswata-fKUA4qQ3CIXoGzx5qQMCXTeX2CaXZg/s1600/Tent+City1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269448948931346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb_2s_djfsdt13gsD24BMh9l9-DWmJjv7K1oZVUUKR0WH8vlcuBhV5G6WU8u2E-kCl4xklR4pcB8VoaHOPkzBOlDr7slNAevKBP1c1tabswata-fKUA4qQ3CIXoGzx5qQMCXTeX2CaXZg/s320/Tent+City1.jpg" /></a> Tent City<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JC_BYc4vzOLVdlCIwQu_vh77gQtcLxU_oQ1-N0utMIgYTP99XF6nGns3v5LbXCDiOmndmrHa98fqH7er0zf0biuzbjVxDN4WxOD67m2dVQ-q4JfRF0Bei9wipCkIm63mQYDPBrCuhbTr/s1600/Kids2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269445042129426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JC_BYc4vzOLVdlCIwQu_vh77gQtcLxU_oQ1-N0utMIgYTP99XF6nGns3v5LbXCDiOmndmrHa98fqH7er0zf0biuzbjVxDN4WxOD67m2dVQ-q4JfRF0Bei9wipCkIm63mQYDPBrCuhbTr/s320/Kids2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAfDYoeLMWq7TYCwd-gZP1wPUjMApvR5vO9GSxKGIr9jul5ozRvPj3QDnHI_coNKoFfHVsFKrLrsYStBZkA1Xp0HXBsctTV13vi4m50AsowFT7wybvfAnFT3e3SiE__y9CP4-NHswtHv2/s1600/City+Street1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269438602898786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAfDYoeLMWq7TYCwd-gZP1wPUjMApvR5vO9GSxKGIr9jul5ozRvPj3QDnHI_coNKoFfHVsFKrLrsYStBZkA1Xp0HXBsctTV13vi4m50AsowFT7wybvfAnFT3e3SiE__y9CP4-NHswtHv2/s320/City+Street1.jpg" /></a> Street in Port Au Prince<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPyuCAhuSzEbHn0Ot0EgM1hdiNemdhBKmOcag9uggoGnM4muhCveXTnmDzbQFNXkrlp8FEnOwRo-qcCcE5bikDX3dZrHrQ2GRAn7jVlZobgQfa_Qo-9SuzgO_q3Ncx9_NHz-VdwwwGtCS/s1600/Trash1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452270447600754514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPyuCAhuSzEbHn0Ot0EgM1hdiNemdhBKmOcag9uggoGnM4muhCveXTnmDzbQFNXkrlp8FEnOwRo-qcCcE5bikDX3dZrHrQ2GRAn7jVlZobgQfa_Qo-9SuzgO_q3Ncx9_NHz-VdwwwGtCS/s320/Trash1.jpg" /></a> Lots of garbage and skinny dogs<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dAczKAUNwvPwzNm0fDGQuqUom1Ay-arwrU01rOVNrl1AjilcCnHujOen8x313YOQEAK3PoDcEQ36_2cRWruQdgTlDIoBPZ1kumqPMSah9c68l8kPOVqtXSA6FRYN3V_4n6G60CMDtS6y/s1600/Humvee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269429415983474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dAczKAUNwvPwzNm0fDGQuqUom1Ay-arwrU01rOVNrl1AjilcCnHujOen8x313YOQEAK3PoDcEQ36_2cRWruQdgTlDIoBPZ1kumqPMSah9c68l8kPOVqtXSA6FRYN3V_4n6G60CMDtS6y/s320/Humvee.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">Monument in city with humvee driving in front</p><p align="left">Chase has been incredibly busy with getting all the details together for his next trip to Haiti. They are putting together an entire clinic, including construction to build out the clinic, purchasing and shipping all the equipment and supplies, filling out government forms, lining up volunteer staffing, and much more... all in just a few weeks time! </p><p align="left">His team will leave next week to set up the clinic over the weekend, and then Chase will start seeing the first patients the following Monday. There are a million details that have to coordinate perfectly for that plan to be successful, so he appreciates your prayers!</p>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-70861264948667433732010-03-08T14:27:00.003-05:002010-03-08T14:44:24.493-05:00Haiti Update #3Chase is home! He had a phenomenal, life-changing trip and said he'd turn around and go back tomorrow if he could. He came back to a house full of out-of-town guests and then is back to work today. He hasn't really had a chance to even unpack his bag, but will hopefully catch his breath in the next day or two and then post some stories himself to the blog along with some pictures.<br /><br />His last day in Haiti he sent me two pictures and a funny story that I'll post below...<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AfVFacVeGdkqJ98y1HH5hutIuKZXsQO9ewrT3zC-XcN1vhgqL4LrBasPwUJ1Lqm5V2UA9YcikIfbrjnu4tj0-iuNfbvhhfTvh65ZUJ1zEvbSw6TBQitkYgece7aVcr6HvBXIJw9O9cu/s1600-h/tent+city.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446349159994960402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AfVFacVeGdkqJ98y1HH5hutIuKZXsQO9ewrT3zC-XcN1vhgqL4LrBasPwUJ1Lqm5V2UA9YcikIfbrjnu4tj0-iuNfbvhhfTvh65ZUJ1zEvbSw6TBQitkYgece7aVcr6HvBXIJw9O9cu/s320/tent+city.jpg" /></a> <em>This tent city sprung up in the days following the earthquake. Haitians that lost their homes or who are afraid of being inside because of the aftershocks fled the neighborhoods and came into this flat area and staked out places to live. Homes are constructed by pushing four sticks into the ground, then covering them with a sheet or blanket. Lucky ones have found tarps to place over the sheet. The rainy season starts in a just a couple weeks which is a huge cause of concern for the several hundred Haitians living in these tent cities. </em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JDXpw3XiSsCZAWuiFJACfIiek_PTQTbDs9Wnym-D-3o41UG_Bj7uUKBIqQekbgSJOsHMvH0HDthixeZj-Pf-7RP4Yaouqg8HYP1nKoQxscYQi_Au2hNbJ-yIfOFaNIhIStMdx7VNWTYt/s1600-h/clinic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446349154818027138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JDXpw3XiSsCZAWuiFJACfIiek_PTQTbDs9Wnym-D-3o41UG_Bj7uUKBIqQekbgSJOsHMvH0HDthixeZj-Pf-7RP4Yaouqg8HYP1nKoQxscYQi_Au2hNbJ-yIfOFaNIhIStMdx7VNWTYt/s320/clinic.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>This picture is the hospital at Mission of Hope being built on to existing clinic. The bottom layer is done. Red doors will be entrance to prosthetics clinic. Lots of turkeys and goats around with an occasional donkey.</em> </p><p><em>One funny story: I was down by the clinic and heard what sounded like a woman wailing/screaming like she was in severe pain and anguish. My thoughts were filled with the images of legs being amped or bones being set. Wounds being cleaned/debreded. Oh what must be happening to this poor soul... </em></p><p><em>It was a goat. A darn old goat with what seemed like a case of heartbreak. </em></p>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-19872741071641630902010-03-05T09:49:00.002-05:002010-03-05T15:45:26.885-05:00Chase in Haiti- Update #2I had one quick conversation with Chase yesterday (in the middle of coaching Elias in his T-Ball practice). He said that things are going really well. His biggest impression is <a href="http://www.mohhaiti.org/">Mission of Hope </a>and the amazing things they are doing in Haiti. Even more, the amazing vision they have for the future.<br /><br />Chase spent a lot of time yesterday sorting supplies and food from containers. It was mind-numbing work, but desperately needed. Three more 18-wheelers with containers were arriving last night, and two more today. While many organizations are not able to get their supplies out of the port, Mission of Hope has access to one just five minutes away from their facility. So, supplies come through in a quick, steady stream and they are able to get them distributed to the people and organizations that need them most.<br /><br />The morning started out heavy with a woman dying in the clinic. Death is such a part of life there. As he watched a line of 150-200 people line up at the clinic as the sun was rising, they spontaneously burst into song, then into prayer with one another. God is redeeming the Haitian people and it has been amazing to witness that in person.<br /><br />He plans to evaluate amputees today and possibly work in another clinic. I don't know much other than that.<br /><br />Thanks for your prayers everyone!Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-728811568156604992010-03-03T20:36:00.002-05:002010-03-03T21:18:28.314-05:00Chase in Haiti- Update #1Chase is in Haiti! A few weeks ago he connected with a group of medical professionals and other Christians here in Austin who have been involved in helping the Haitians since the day after the earthquake.<br /><br />Chase was asked to help establish a prosthetic clinic in Haiti and he jumped at the chance! There was an extra spot on a private jet so he left for Haiti on Tuesday morning. He only found out about the trip three days ahead of time, so his mind was a bit of a whirlwind as he tried to make plans and gather his thoughts and things before leaving. He was so thankful that his boss let him go on such short notice.<br /><br />Today was his first full day in Haiti. We finally had a successful phone connection this evening so he talked as fast as he could before the phone went dead. These are the basic details of his time so far....<br /><br />He is working with a ministry called <a href="http://www.mohhaiti.org/">Mission of Hope </a>that has been in Haiti since 1998. Located about eight miles north of Port Au Prince, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">MOH</span> is in a strategic location and is doing incredible things. Chase said they are feeding up to 400,000 people a day! They have 18-wheelers coming in delivering much-needed supplies that are then used by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">MOH</span> or distributed throughout Haiti. They also have a church, school, orphanage, clinic and are building a hospital. Chase and others will be setting up the prosthetic clinic in the basement of this hospital. <br /><br />Chase went around Port Au Prince today and said that people are slowly getting back to living life again. Vendors are out selling their wares in the streets and cleanup is beginning. There are piles of rubble everywhere, but some buildings are left standing and operating once again.<br /><br />He passed by a white-looking field about an acre in size. He was told that it is a sulfur mine area but has now become a dump for an estimated 80,000 bodies. The bodies were dumped there in hopes that the sulfur would cover the stench of the decay. Horrible. Just horrible.<br /><br />Part of the amazing timing of this trip which seemed random but was certainly ordained by God is that Chase was able to take part in a very important meeting today with all the international players involved in medical and prosthetic care in Haiti. He said it was like the UN- people from all over the world from various organizations and the UN, WHO, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">IRC</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">USAID</span>, Handicap International, etc. It was a very serious meeting for people to report who they are and what their intentions are in Haiti.<br /><br />Chase was third in line to stand up and speak, and he said he was nervous but just prayed for the right words to communicate. He was relieved that no one drilled him with questions like they did with the others and he credits that to the solid reputation that Mission of Hope has in Haiti. He had several people come up and talk to him afterwards and was invited to a second meeting tomorrow for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">prosthetists</span> to go over more technical details of prosthetic care there.<br /><br />He also spent time playing with kids in the orphanage today and can't wait to go back and play more tomorrow.<br /><br />Chase feels amazing favor from the Lord and miraculous provision. Thank you for your prayers!<br /><br />He ended the call by saying, "My life will never be the same... and neither will yours!" Looks like we have some new adventures ahead and I can't wait!<br /><br />I'll post more as I hear from him. He's been trying to send pictures so hopefully I can post them soon.Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-6455395925556487742010-03-01T21:56:00.003-05:002010-03-01T22:45:44.529-05:00Home for the HolidaysOur family had the special opportunity to be featured in an adoption special that was aired on the local ABC affiliate on Christmas Eve. I wish we could link to the whole show here because it was heart-warming to see families and children from all walks of life who were brought together through adoption.<br /><br />The team that came out to film our family were so talented and did a great job at editing a couple hours of footage into a three minute feature. Of course it's a little weird to watch ourselves on TV. But this is God's story, not our own, and we hope that people who watched were encouraged by our experience with adoption.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7cWAepnXbOI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7cWAepnXbOI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cWAepnXbOIMeagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-44465422255841946952010-02-21T22:18:00.005-05:002010-02-21T22:36:02.948-05:00Future Para-OlympianElias was so so so excited to try out the prototype for his running leg this weekend! He's been anticipating this for a very long time and it was awesome to see him finally run with a "real" running leg.<br /><br />Chase is especially excited because he was able to fit a knee on the running leg. Usually kids start out with just a straight bar instead of a knee. While it will be a little more difficult to control as Elias learns to use the running leg initially, he'll run much better and with correct form in the long run if he starts out with a knee now.<br /><br />The first day Elias put it on he convinced me to wear it all day, including during his nap. Then he cried and cried when he didn't get to wear it to school the next day.<br /><br />The running leg has also inspired his imagination about what it will be like when "he runs fast and wins a race and gets a trophy." He's been practicing a special run with his arms raised in the air like a champion.<br /><br />And a champion he truly is.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo1bwH6HzEZzotqjYNRsZ_yQZMwNNfbIJb1pSzQAwqLK3li3ojaGeD6ay5qNb-0cVSDgcHV_BwZPyrHghfPIADIkM7Cg-MK0tiEsBFno7O63Ua2W6pfUWG7gTG0N07-_jSrJXUwTJoHm9/s1600-h/IMG_0735.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440904371088800434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo1bwH6HzEZzotqjYNRsZ_yQZMwNNfbIJb1pSzQAwqLK3li3ojaGeD6ay5qNb-0cVSDgcHV_BwZPyrHghfPIADIkM7Cg-MK0tiEsBFno7O63Ua2W6pfUWG7gTG0N07-_jSrJXUwTJoHm9/s320/IMG_0735.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOUSrmv3-4SxPGXlCrQPPBqoMbHv_shsSoOFine-EepilWOvKjSMTOc_mcSAict-f0EKSMsJUZS6y2xyuyWmwG44gwZZ662MQD8uzHRNBBfeC9qAp8SmJZaMgc8we3h5T29a8O_Alvq4w/s1600-h/IMG_0736.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440904361736892770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOUSrmv3-4SxPGXlCrQPPBqoMbHv_shsSoOFine-EepilWOvKjSMTOc_mcSAict-f0EKSMsJUZS6y2xyuyWmwG44gwZZ662MQD8uzHRNBBfeC9qAp8SmJZaMgc8we3h5T29a8O_Alvq4w/s320/IMG_0736.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JVMYT4EZrj7wrT2fb-hvgq7ItOjzJIyBqo0L_701SY7AGi8Jj2xKZsepI0Y_Pk-BBRUBYtnueTaD2NPzalc8wTmyEmyxMS34-oV4FYyfl3UIVp650UMtYndnewZIHPL5p9m41g6eZr86/s1600-h/IMG_0737.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440904358716574658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JVMYT4EZrj7wrT2fb-hvgq7ItOjzJIyBqo0L_701SY7AGi8Jj2xKZsepI0Y_Pk-BBRUBYtnueTaD2NPzalc8wTmyEmyxMS34-oV4FYyfl3UIVp650UMtYndnewZIHPL5p9m41g6eZr86/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLiZ7_6r78zZxyxytbCIJVUxm3DtmC2tGWq0u8IF4lvFD79N6Ij7CbH1N3a2usyhdoeLUpySbf1rdFR9JthdJIeRWADXHpj8BTpQGNjRW5jEVor8GbfVnmIWwYvyZdJJaja3nah0usTHD/s1600-h/IMG_0738.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440904346502647330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLiZ7_6r78zZxyxytbCIJVUxm3DtmC2tGWq0u8IF4lvFD79N6Ij7CbH1N3a2usyhdoeLUpySbf1rdFR9JthdJIeRWADXHpj8BTpQGNjRW5jEVor8GbfVnmIWwYvyZdJJaja3nah0usTHD/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippDe7RSzOhK_CTAXg46d31jWXvXPqLtXKg1PkaCQFYF16h-quhHXC2p_GbC0x7u91bYuSdMapSMx_T_Ydmwza524TL4BgKd1f3_siuw3B-V49l6ch8ysowVlZOnXVhpyu_-ciCwpiwSyo/s1600-h/IMG_0739.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440904339881499058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippDe7RSzOhK_CTAXg46d31jWXvXPqLtXKg1PkaCQFYF16h-quhHXC2p_GbC0x7u91bYuSdMapSMx_T_Ydmwza524TL4BgKd1f3_siuw3B-V49l6ch8ysowVlZOnXVhpyu_-ciCwpiwSyo/s320/IMG_0739.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-59222229723184533222010-02-15T17:43:00.004-05:002010-02-15T20:23:26.159-05:00I'm backI'm going to jump in here on this blog and completely ignore an explanation for the 137 day absense. 137 days? Pathetic. Truly pathetic.<br /><br />I'll get right down to business with an adoption update: There is no update. We are still waiting. I repeat- We. are. still. waiting. We never ever in all our lives imagined that we'd be waiting this long. I could write a hundred posts about this waiting and how we've dealt with it. (Sometimes with grace and sometimes with utter impatience and tears).<br /><br />International adoption is never straight forward and usually full of lots of unexpecteds and twists and turns. There is usually a general timeline or order of things that one follows. However in our case, we've been waiting extra long because of our own choice. Crazy to some, but the right thing to do to us. Okay, I admit that sometimes crazy to us too. But we still believe that God wants us to continue to wait for an amputee child, so that's why we wait. At some point we may feel "released" to accept a referral for a non-amputee/special needs child, but at this point, we are certain that we are to continue waiting.<br /><br />In the meantime, we try to live life as normal even though there seems like something/someone is missing. :-)<br /><br />Here are some general going-ons:<br /><br />- Elias turned FIVE. I'll post some pics of his awesome birthday party. I can't believe my sweet little boy is no longer little and growing up so fast. He's so smart and funny and challenging and loving and snuggly.<br /><br />- Chase has a new job in San Antonio. It's a long, long commute, but he loves it and believes it is worth the sacrifice. He says he's learned more in a couple months than he has in years and really enjoys the challenge. We've been forced to simplify life because of this major life change and are better for it. Saying "no" to things and people is hard, but worth it for the quality of our family life.<br /><br />- Elias is asking lots of questions about God and faith lately. From, "How can I really know God if I can't see Him?" to "Does Jesus poop? Does it smell?" Deep stuff.<br /><br />- Elias has been loving school and has recently memorized all the books of the Bible, Psalm 100 and Psalm 23. It's so awesome to hear him recite these things, not only when we ask him to, but also while he plays with his cars or other toys.<br /><br />- I continue to work with refugee women twice a week and love it. Elias goes with me on Mondays and it has been fun to serve with him at my side. It's not always fun for him, but it's been a good lesson for both of us to remember that serving isn't about us, but about the people we get to love and help. Our lives are richer because of our refugee friends!<br /><br />Some random pictures:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2OnGU6laDku8VTtnP9yBcBzoCxLHQCQh9O0HCXKUk5x21jlsYWW0n7JQli8DSUv05BL4MpF7D-P96Sg-LNUnxp31F-Cf4cfkVA4-sMlyj-ioIcRjzn2t0eQLDrh_mrL8Uub6xP2Xgv3k/s1600-h/PA090005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438643592280528946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2OnGU6laDku8VTtnP9yBcBzoCxLHQCQh9O0HCXKUk5x21jlsYWW0n7JQli8DSUv05BL4MpF7D-P96Sg-LNUnxp31F-Cf4cfkVA4-sMlyj-ioIcRjzn2t0eQLDrh_mrL8Uub6xP2Xgv3k/s320/PA090005.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5waBGZxI6c2JKOYU_3kkB68ZCQ9a94rryExXYhkDYb97bgfgPTCFyHtyf1wqDG9FmdNgljgkeIKYqzxsPGFppUjO6sSNpJbeME_uNqKm-D_iBw5YhIB220tiVsZRa58JYV5vbk2eZd8Sz/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438643585992918994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5waBGZxI6c2JKOYU_3kkB68ZCQ9a94rryExXYhkDYb97bgfgPTCFyHtyf1wqDG9FmdNgljgkeIKYqzxsPGFppUjO6sSNpJbeME_uNqKm-D_iBw5YhIB220tiVsZRa58JYV5vbk2eZd8Sz/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP7N9t53WD53leX-MTx5nk-xtC9T1-6rZziNVu8Qc9lJnIdoT9IC53rXbfu6VgGjz-dxSRXBzEuKoYtLA8uxbcNT-0IyANjQ8Y6OSGrOLSf86bdt-Hom0deHuc6EJjiZInkTxgVcLapYh/s1600-h/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438643580172702290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP7N9t53WD53leX-MTx5nk-xtC9T1-6rZziNVu8Qc9lJnIdoT9IC53rXbfu6VgGjz-dxSRXBzEuKoYtLA8uxbcNT-0IyANjQ8Y6OSGrOLSf86bdt-Hom0deHuc6EJjiZInkTxgVcLapYh/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq9iSNJ_xzLYj4_eCnBA-abXqUgYeC03V70SV9OvSOERGYHOsBP2E8ud1fLCsb1OqCXTvdhm8P8oMjQYRHDZyGz_QUTJ5id7BZ_h-yVBc_DcovkUgMUFkWVyP5VT5KkcbIj8v1zkUVhD9/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438643572806220610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq9iSNJ_xzLYj4_eCnBA-abXqUgYeC03V70SV9OvSOERGYHOsBP2E8ud1fLCsb1OqCXTvdhm8P8oMjQYRHDZyGz_QUTJ5id7BZ_h-yVBc_DcovkUgMUFkWVyP5VT5KkcbIj8v1zkUVhD9/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogp90cb9aGv3gejDcqLfEkP5BpkpQcKlUky1CrbKFOmCLQNIiASBuR9845SpjGXDb0-nyQqdcpRyE7apKNlPC3ogRwmR8fe-3qIFHrVbuzfrqSdoi6xQzUPSeiwGzgBiix1OKEos29sFx/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438643568348238546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogp90cb9aGv3gejDcqLfEkP5BpkpQcKlUky1CrbKFOmCLQNIiASBuR9845SpjGXDb0-nyQqdcpRyE7apKNlPC3ogRwmR8fe-3qIFHrVbuzfrqSdoi6xQzUPSeiwGzgBiix1OKEos29sFx/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" /></a></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-14444627870199702412009-09-30T21:12:00.005-05:002009-09-30T22:26:28.121-05:00MONSTER TRUCKS!!!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px" align="left">The Monster Truck Show came to town <a href="http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/2008/03/monster-truck-rally.html">again</a>, so we surprised Elias and took him and Elijah. The whole thing was a surprise, and while they asked an occasional question, they never really even wondered why we were driving so far or buying tickets for something.<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px" align="left"><span style="color:#666666;">Elias on the way to Elijah's house. Totally unsuspecting.</span><br /></div><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCCy50QWfTQwv9O-aqTimVMPRZ0ZuyMB3-jnoc8UeVHLuP8DG5tuebZAoQUecZaA1H3-KBvgrYTRhJigsMhya_tfcKTRVNPE64x0Wfi-7OsPMjb_NodmQB13XuODset4lNAmSHw-4_DvD/s1600-h/P9260503.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCCy50QWfTQwv9O-aqTimVMPRZ0ZuyMB3-jnoc8UeVHLuP8DG5tuebZAoQUecZaA1H3-KBvgrYTRhJigsMhya_tfcKTRVNPE64x0Wfi-7OsPMjb_NodmQB13XuODset4lNAmSHw-4_DvD/s320/P9260503.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">So excited to be together.</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy96yukUB591ZGI7_22rWUSNUqaRWccPz1UM3gURtKYBktJOTtAMwFj84gV1LoY535UH0jqjaQo9kGM9XAmPvoZbhFL8HFK-E31pJqsspLT2b8V-t6VtCOpJnn4PFLbNZf1a0xbamktBk/s1600-h/P9260504.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy96yukUB591ZGI7_22rWUSNUqaRWccPz1UM3gURtKYBktJOTtAMwFj84gV1LoY535UH0jqjaQo9kGM9XAmPvoZbhFL8HFK-E31pJqsspLT2b8V-t6VtCOpJnn4PFLbNZf1a0xbamktBk/s320/P9260504.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">We stopped at the only restaurant we could find- authentic Mexican food. I even had (got) to order our food in Spanish. And the boys' favorite part was drinking Jarritos.</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIB2UsEyQY9AuQpn7nToDpmWqD-I83aU5gyU2blpV5t97wz-Ga9eqDAKjJNssveSX6-u0DPOulMVTtU543VAVzszvxP5-YZ7EXH9BWPLqDueGWZIL2GOyNiQ2YniUS34y8-Z9uGc7BBe1/s1600-h/P9260506.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIB2UsEyQY9AuQpn7nToDpmWqD-I83aU5gyU2blpV5t97wz-Ga9eqDAKjJNssveSX6-u0DPOulMVTtU543VAVzszvxP5-YZ7EXH9BWPLqDueGWZIL2GOyNiQ2YniUS34y8-Z9uGc7BBe1/s320/P9260506.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Elias takes a picture of us</span>.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv98K97Z3XwgiT1sTON1gqz0QYsgGf0qfXgKSQoZNSinO1K00xgBGdmPzJ8VW0AlHgiKNVJeCBhe-hcPKbzOj3fbFYcC2PfdflPygmuoKoKQUZGan_mg6wufnMkUoH2zE_oWL507ss3dE_/s1600-h/P9260508.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv98K97Z3XwgiT1sTON1gqz0QYsgGf0qfXgKSQoZNSinO1K00xgBGdmPzJ8VW0AlHgiKNVJeCBhe-hcPKbzOj3fbFYcC2PfdflPygmuoKoKQUZGan_mg6wufnMkUoH2zE_oWL507ss3dE_/s320/P9260508.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><span style="color:#666666;">Video:They figure out where we are!</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzHdAoq6uvXncgu0yiwjIrGIJ5oj515zU7FKIHoFp6a59QOXRX8GNaD98uxnaiq7UQeqw6gfWXTo2C4KZGxaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">At the Pre-Show Pit Party</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFrr1X3lGPZHvPQjvveoAKHyCbPT40yMQXnh7VS9sYrx5yscdiop3WRvmqHdbshVUVQU7LZUh57vriAsUEB9wEnFU8Rr4T9QBHzdI4bwIr6ZwpD85a1m3-CObHu5ShTCS4Kdb6mYEwDsg/s1600-h/P9260516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387457506643998290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFrr1X3lGPZHvPQjvveoAKHyCbPT40yMQXnh7VS9sYrx5yscdiop3WRvmqHdbshVUVQU7LZUh57vriAsUEB9wEnFU8Rr4T9QBHzdI4bwIr6ZwpD85a1m3-CObHu5ShTCS4Kdb6mYEwDsg/s320/P9260516.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrmjHhR3xaOLRGnE7eLTw9WmJy7liLcmLH6YDeYf27CymCbOMyveYIyAeUIm1QcHWah5dNYi7sXqDb5jvQBI_J7hNhhuVlPFIKfQP2aM-A1gfzb9DGpggjrbEO7Hmr1DXnTPyMHLSrcPF/s1600-h/P9260513.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387466316512073618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrmjHhR3xaOLRGnE7eLTw9WmJy7liLcmLH6YDeYf27CymCbOMyveYIyAeUIm1QcHWah5dNYi7sXqDb5jvQBI_J7hNhhuVlPFIKfQP2aM-A1gfzb9DGpggjrbEO7Hmr1DXnTPyMHLSrcPF/s320/P9260513.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD4Ea5HHkk9v7I3Adqcj1nHD9NYN1aPd3LYo4PWPHzudjYSVNwpRU39rYNXBOX7iwX7T0CTqHJFMCYcSTqBdFsCQHDOlVMBQy0Fra0IA98s8d8-1gWa420fR7UbKg5J06589onXbYkzl0/s1600-h/P9260533.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387457512222620898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD4Ea5HHkk9v7I3Adqcj1nHD9NYN1aPd3LYo4PWPHzudjYSVNwpRU39rYNXBOX7iwX7T0CTqHJFMCYcSTqBdFsCQHDOlVMBQy0Fra0IA98s8d8-1gWa420fR7UbKg5J06589onXbYkzl0/s320/P9260533.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuohMaVRNJLKOFRQhpzloB2qhJkHI_5ZlFHmqdaQ5jTTsfkO3wN7SxUTVNy1fBgXkUYxE-9UBgwubPuI_2fgu6fXpEqrMIBGo48LxOW7waAuU9taRHdJqhFg1GBENEEhxB_DxorLPSX_av/s1600-h/P9260551.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387457523485275506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuohMaVRNJLKOFRQhpzloB2qhJkHI_5ZlFHmqdaQ5jTTsfkO3wN7SxUTVNy1fBgXkUYxE-9UBgwubPuI_2fgu6fXpEqrMIBGo48LxOW7waAuU9taRHdJqhFg1GBENEEhxB_DxorLPSX_av/s320/P9260551.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">Fans are interesting and butt cracks are funny to young boys.</span> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGBYzm4tI3vIc8_ufHePLTTYufQHjiKdn0JiX1EaZSxwf2s50vIQ6QtsDTbeDSO4cbWa09j3Vz3oLU0PZoy2qHVqfFi6BRkTBn5_u3qCLwcfwVYTRwFxfpYEtnYbBbz-OGDF-M2ofe83Q/s1600-h/P9260560.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387467216365661346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGBYzm4tI3vIc8_ufHePLTTYufQHjiKdn0JiX1EaZSxwf2s50vIQ6QtsDTbeDSO4cbWa09j3Vz3oLU0PZoy2qHVqfFi6BRkTBn5_u3qCLwcfwVYTRwFxfpYEtnYbBbz-OGDF-M2ofe83Q/s320/P9260560.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">Check out the backflip and then the boys' reaction!</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwKbYLj5-5QlYHmyoOfNpjUeyh9rr-oS02MSuImL3vU36LoqGrXOWO_KgMPYPSDRpwu1uaxv4w9KCbcojyGPw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPUohS_LCOxDXPDaeQr20hyphenhyphenxNKCSPzJzs-6MgtGmXgEvprDQOcspRrdJnwhygwXiv69r8Y0Ffm3_kP5_WmUvlxvpxqWfZXTJx7lsPRKtbx_og-Y1cPu6l0HHD8BGk_kVo6anGbNPyiHbv/s1600-h/P9260579.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387462041488844002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPUohS_LCOxDXPDaeQr20hyphenhyphenxNKCSPzJzs-6MgtGmXgEvprDQOcspRrdJnwhygwXiv69r8Y0Ffm3_kP5_WmUvlxvpxqWfZXTJx7lsPRKtbx_og-Y1cPu6l0HHD8BGk_kVo6anGbNPyiHbv/s320/P9260579.JPG" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">A little Monster Truck action for your viewing pleasure. The truck hits the wall at the end of the video- the driver actually passed out and they had to carry him out on a stretcher!</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dytMTAncokoiIuVMN6f9ItaQR0eVrorYJ-PkbnQsprVEetrkWJf7LyLPmj4Fds84VceTBYjBxTPalTSJxOM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-35673357494887568362009-09-15T22:29:00.005-05:002009-09-15T23:44:32.474-05:00My Best Friend's Wedding<div align="left">Best friends' weddings are so fantastic! One of my best friends from childhood (met in 7th grade, friends through school then roommates in college) got married in her hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota in late August.<br /><br />Elias and I flew to Colorado the week before the wedding and enjoyed spending time with friends and my wonderful, younger sister Liz. Then Chase flew in a few days later and seven of us drove in a borrowed mini van to Rapid City. While the drive seemed long as it stretched on at 12:30 a.m., the scenery through Wyoming was beautiful!<br /><br />Ami (best friend and bride) was an amazing hostess with all kinds of activities planned and a ton of site-seeing around the Black Hills area. Again- very beautiful. Us Browns love us some purty nature and cool weather! I think Elias' favorite part of the whole trip was driving the ATV with his dad.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFn0pumoQlfEJ-KzpXKqGWHiCTZxhW5yh8LvYLl4E1mBpC196Ha-fnlaH6d_8ydbpmGYO5ygw8wqJfhS1BQZc3KCi95akyHJYcoi_kohoQWc7lY0CjNeUHyGlWztONa23uy4tKmPCjq16/s1600-h/P8200382.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908870450256450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFn0pumoQlfEJ-KzpXKqGWHiCTZxhW5yh8LvYLl4E1mBpC196Ha-fnlaH6d_8ydbpmGYO5ygw8wqJfhS1BQZc3KCi95akyHJYcoi_kohoQWc7lY0CjNeUHyGlWztONa23uy4tKmPCjq16/s320/P8200382.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUymSAeMs0KKB3QrN-TOKTtLoYmEsKYME_7dDijYj2FshT1nsX_RrQ3RC5eiOQLVn40f4b-UDeLtZELvNOuThfM4ZP_eip8EcCmzKTfh2Y88jPMOnrgnZAAvwbyReJ3nE06z6Ot9NJa3y/s1600-h/P8210428.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908862023855218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUymSAeMs0KKB3QrN-TOKTtLoYmEsKYME_7dDijYj2FshT1nsX_RrQ3RC5eiOQLVn40f4b-UDeLtZELvNOuThfM4ZP_eip8EcCmzKTfh2Y88jPMOnrgnZAAvwbyReJ3nE06z6Ot9NJa3y/s320/P8210428.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Elias and the groom, Nate</span><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908135970557298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVVTTn3ptO7mqqdnfuZF2azK1-i_f1a4yVf8oiHtbOWWEMXbI_eq5LUSeIUu28EN8ZebvFvwPEEW4E65z-HEkSJdZE9Y4h-K_Vb3VP-ta3aatd2Jx13UNGgZLIIjSmDv18dwGu5QYZODs/s320/P8210432.JPG" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">Elias and beautiful bride, Ami<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyU-E_CkLZJBx5sTZtLIHMs4NfZM01PNbRMMF0vVSR9DfkFPBI5MhdDd-VKm-4mBrXsIbd-_3s80v5VnP9w6YancbZYgnpQyz3Z5nM27wZjnBN1Dc8n8DsrnA3xkynGbqUx1NY1A8O87p/s1600-h/P8200376.JPG"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908124714691634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyU-E_CkLZJBx5sTZtLIHMs4NfZM01PNbRMMF0vVSR9DfkFPBI5MhdDd-VKm-4mBrXsIbd-_3s80v5VnP9w6YancbZYgnpQyz3Z5nM27wZjnBN1Dc8n8DsrnA3xkynGbqUx1NY1A8O87p/s320/P8200376.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#333333;"></span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="color:#333333;">Elias was very serious about trying on his tux for Ring Bearer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-D_FlZvqZE8j1P02BvJz3nhsIpOtXJKWQLJu-L7fyv4be6FWrXQBjQ0u894ztPtFNOUsefgsreQd1xx5YUhlWUFPjl8Lwdz0_-fDwkjdQjsk1IlB9kF6xJhJ4t4VrefiyHpKAEC3Ox3B/s1600-h/P8200367.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381917430280214066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-D_FlZvqZE8j1P02BvJz3nhsIpOtXJKWQLJu-L7fyv4be6FWrXQBjQ0u894ztPtFNOUsefgsreQd1xx5YUhlWUFPjl8Lwdz0_-fDwkjdQjsk1IlB9kF6xJhJ4t4VrefiyHpKAEC3Ox3B/s320/P8200367.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#333333;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">Cool Dude</span><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381905035012085170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvQWTOnafGFCquf3CQnF-Bj9j8RhiwZH7Y8WXU-0f4uCF0xABNUR_TymmCN-jcufxcXAxE5hlpaw10DbCrovyvBDlkJniBIhJfSQXWAtqMpR852nFQMKqFx0zLbx8NqegqKDkQ-qOkOWt/s320/0820091307-00.jpg" /> <p align="center"><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Gearing up for his big debut as ring bearer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNJp5W2zj28OlJ0c_c44kZaOYLMt-3w3yzQm7Ib9FDqTX-nWnBo1fsZCcDKCixelsxTJTDP2Bkhe17llxF8VINkzNJObnlx1o9Th_65_aIGxdrTBMeRDF9niXxvENr8Gw_xANY-G4hEc0/s1600-h/CIMG5365.JPG"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381905031535899906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNJp5W2zj28OlJ0c_c44kZaOYLMt-3w3yzQm7Ib9FDqTX-nWnBo1fsZCcDKCixelsxTJTDP2Bkhe17llxF8VINkzNJObnlx1o9Th_65_aIGxdrTBMeRDF9niXxvENr8Gw_xANY-G4hEc0/s320/CIMG5365.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><span style="color:#333333;">The Browns and Schroeders (Meagan's parents)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrfn1TjSdSgLkntnfefwgr3wn8BvbdOTqv2pke_XWp2w82Lh8d0i6phL5JbxA8ZPBYkPX_hXUgB8QC_EMyVnFXwbmddAEiCCKOraNyjv58wE59sJd_W6FFpV99fO1H4NpyWtIu4CYVYzw/s1600-h/CIMG5373.JPG"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908115549679362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrfn1TjSdSgLkntnfefwgr3wn8BvbdOTqv2pke_XWp2w82Lh8d0i6phL5JbxA8ZPBYkPX_hXUgB8QC_EMyVnFXwbmddAEiCCKOraNyjv58wE59sJd_W6FFpV99fO1H4NpyWtIu4CYVYzw/s320/CIMG5373.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="color:#333333;">All dressed up in our wedding attire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG8d1BEDRZF0rraoXKlrxX2EL7uqKUBk15cXbDR3DzsM-rPUnk8-hIxep99l6Q4a8Lw0VBj7qpwKBFfDjgsl0ySunmfwSI6Mhp4oLnUuyWiMV0MWadb6B0T20yJcj1BkvCJWV67YcGOc8/s1600-h/CIMG5374.JPG"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381917420230852338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG8d1BEDRZF0rraoXKlrxX2EL7uqKUBk15cXbDR3DzsM-rPUnk8-hIxep99l6Q4a8Lw0VBj7qpwKBFfDjgsl0ySunmfwSI6Mhp4oLnUuyWiMV0MWadb6B0T20yJcj1BkvCJWV67YcGOc8/s320/CIMG5374.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#333333;">Dancin' the night away with mommy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgAhTnL-rqb1esco-X3HtBem6q-V2Qr9KIj0LqQS91141mtmwSS2wv0pSmqID1twbRlZlPu0jYK5ppbTXIuDO4ISF5DlhsKUs16hNJkWA37QKz49pI4tsaDLv-P1S9kUNx_eih561eInR/s1600-h/CIMG5399.JPG"><br /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgAhTnL-rqb1esco-X3HtBem6q-V2Qr9KIj0LqQS91141mtmwSS2wv0pSmqID1twbRlZlPu0jYK5ppbTXIuDO4ISF5DlhsKUs16hNJkWA37QKz49pI4tsaDLv-P1S9kUNx_eih561eInR/s1600-h/CIMG5399.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908106885576338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgAhTnL-rqb1esco-X3HtBem6q-V2Qr9KIj0LqQS91141mtmwSS2wv0pSmqID1twbRlZlPu0jYK5ppbTXIuDO4ISF5DlhsKUs16hNJkWA37QKz49pI4tsaDLv-P1S9kUNx_eih561eInR/s320/CIMG5399.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y5CXHc5LNPeYWQduxgkPh3FXWlTD-mgbpoxSbzAsZmHg-oaIoW0LUSZlDL9NDHX_kJLPK4PFLouq-tjMYnV_qtbVa6H82Q7XsvZDDgcgJI1Akqi9VK8NorRYTN1e965jBimV9gediZy8/s1600-h/CIMG5398.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381917445303300226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y5CXHc5LNPeYWQduxgkPh3FXWlTD-mgbpoxSbzAsZmHg-oaIoW0LUSZlDL9NDHX_kJLPK4PFLouq-tjMYnV_qtbVa6H82Q7XsvZDDgcgJI1Akqi9VK8NorRYTN1e965jBimV9gediZy8/s320/CIMG5398.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Gettin jiggy </span><span style="color:#333333;">(<em>yes, isn't that an AWESOME shirt to wear to a wedding reception? I was so tired by the time the reception came around that I didn't even realize what he was wearing until I saw the pictures later</em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rSVtBi-d3QEHz7wYj1d_RfmnlKHGLrYz4yr-SjNykGwuNeNp4RKtrHYxIZP0SfCE2WnsWo6DDRNWcc78c2VFt64LRHgFURoae9OJ8ebwvVs-oyIl-0Sz1d3KLbBmulZlqKpHL2Gw7xYl/s1600-h/CIMG5404.JPG"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381905019058409042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rSVtBi-d3QEHz7wYj1d_RfmnlKHGLrYz4yr-SjNykGwuNeNp4RKtrHYxIZP0SfCE2WnsWo6DDRNWcc78c2VFt64LRHgFURoae9OJ8ebwvVs-oyIl-0Sz1d3KLbBmulZlqKpHL2Gw7xYl/s320/CIMG5404.JPG" /></em></a><em><br /></em></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">A fabulous trip and we can't wait to go back to South Dakota!</span></span></span></span></span></span></p></span>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-66713325581685843092009-08-31T20:24:00.005-05:002009-08-31T21:59:58.989-05:00First Day of Pre-K<span style="color:#333333;"><span style="color:#000000;">Elias had his first day of Pre-K last week at his new school. He was a little apprehensive about not going back to his preschool from last year, but he warmed up within the first few seconds of being in his new classroom and seeing the potential for so many new friends. </span></span><br /><br />He goes to school three mornings a week and spends the other mornings asking me why he can't go to school that day.<br /><br />We're really excited about this new school and know it will be a phenomenal experience for all of us this year!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;">This first day of school picture was actually taken after school. In classic Brown Family style we were running late to get him to school on time and miss the classic on-the-porch or in-the-tree first day of school picture. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that Elias was up for 3 hours during the middle of the night before school started, causing extreme exhaustion for all of us. :-)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376316995296993042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-7JvjHumaytEE_aJan6wXvg_rikk6iwVdRX2s85O9cah0QQlCESGccuC0AAO-Gwj9lCPkTDnF8A_jAtKT2v1ns6xpJjcj53y1Ii3QDzXMpoFyjAexfdIvukZJh1qmFdBElbHJ-Mv-PQr/s320/P8260494.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#666666;"> All the parents and students went to the class and read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Hand-Audrey-Penn/dp/0878685855">The Kissing Hand </a>together. A really sweet story and Elias has talked about it over and over again.</span> </span></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376317000732790642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIhmtT4bFMSzGvc3PxgPb5YbT8SyRgiFDKi0-tQuoI4sokR5twMTzal4rbAXyBHHZU7WTbENilbxVWveaA4_7PWuI48nJDgwgS-srYzs6JBSDWTsxM921Ktpuj8m8aLaoFCyYDhf36jOc/s320/P8260489.JPG" /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYTkJqGXW6pMlcTVF2RE_e-eznyeVlKGP8d1RyfmC-bQpoGj5xBt5LC_9ewJx1KLip-mx4JFcFgUHc5zjrXHeMYUdbvxnR4jYJBLKz-8X2NXma8ZWJ3pdvbuOBnoCgmP3HUrGCebVFxTq/s1600-h/P8260491.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376317013060952002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYTkJqGXW6pMlcTVF2RE_e-eznyeVlKGP8d1RyfmC-bQpoGj5xBt5LC_9ewJx1KLip-mx4JFcFgUHc5zjrXHeMYUdbvxnR4jYJBLKz-8X2NXma8ZWJ3pdvbuOBnoCgmP3HUrGCebVFxTq/s320/P8260491.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfFzaJeZboQIHWlUckGlapszjtTk3eoGAaWwZVF2H5rpWn2gFNSJxCFwqbvExrAUMyXUfISo8XVEzbYV8fri9iRVqcP3A564pQhu-8yaFgHLEwxayoYFJC7Bqw6an6dXKQ3sqACLpXI6H/s1600-h/P8260492.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376317008980326930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfFzaJeZboQIHWlUckGlapszjtTk3eoGAaWwZVF2H5rpWn2gFNSJxCFwqbvExrAUMyXUfISo8XVEzbYV8fri9iRVqcP3A564pQhu-8yaFgHLEwxayoYFJC7Bqw6an6dXKQ3sqACLpXI6H/s320/P8260492.JPG" /></a><br /></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-62270718193515269152009-08-11T09:43:00.007-05:002009-08-11T10:27:12.909-05:00First SleepoverElias has a best friend named Elijah. The first things Elias will tell you about his friend is that "he has brown skin like me", he "likes cars too" and that "we're both from Eef-opia".<br /><br />Elias has found a lot of comfort in the ways he identifies with Elijah. I honestly thought that identity around race/color and adoption would come at a later age, but these boys haved talked often about their color, adoption and birth families since eary on (age 3 and 4). Needless to say, all of us are just thrilled that they have each other.<br /><br />We are fortunate to know Elijah and his family, and it's a huge bonus that they live just 4 miles away from us. The boys LOVE to get together and go through withdrawal if they are apart for very long. We've been out of town SO much this summer and Elias has been so sad not to see his best friend very much.<br /><br />With all this time apart, we decided that a sleepover was in order. This was Elias' first time to have a friend spend the night, and to say that he was excited is an understatement. He checked in with me at least 30 times that day to make sure Elijah was still coming to spend the night.<br /><br />The boys played for a while, had some yummy homeade ice cream, and then it was time for bed. They carefully arranged their identical Cars sleeping bags on the floor of Elias' room. While I was reading them a story, I noticed that Elias adjusted his sleeping bag over and over again to make sure that it was touching Elijah's at all points possible. He didn't want to be an inch too far from his best friend!<br /><br />After the boys were down, us parents played games for a couple of hours longer. The whole time we could hear whispers and giggles and numerous trips to the bathroom. Every time I checked on them they'd be back in their sleeping bags, side-by-side, chatting away. I have no idea what two boys can talk about for so many hours! (Elias told me later they were talking about racing cars. No surprise there).<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000066;">So excited to be together!</span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscREmMmNTM1iSB4X_J6h_q6PZyVh8iynEzAtQgfzRGsrOEzGJfu30pW6ldFud5Txilj0kb9aehZ0SqsnRgAyI5fZjQ68vCPDSoA9EWmjtbCOONIhbsE9Pj9H5rRzhrWf9UphzEqppMo0E/s1600-h/P8070353.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722915447439186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscREmMmNTM1iSB4X_J6h_q6PZyVh8iynEzAtQgfzRGsrOEzGJfu30pW6ldFud5Txilj0kb9aehZ0SqsnRgAyI5fZjQ68vCPDSoA9EWmjtbCOONIhbsE9Pj9H5rRzhrWf9UphzEqppMo0E/s320/P8070353.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000066;"><br />Getting settled in their sleeping bags</span> <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VGvUGTda0iUIy8rpPccc5ELir3eRUMzTPPHop42CKtT_VkU01lpkNHSyw8UyC5P49OCC3EMuRH7vIXUIyNbsOxcw7iA5TCkP1-GbWURFpCD4LFsE1h9pbhVNcrtfZRf5_GHjYWPAu3GP/s1600-h/P8070354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722639212533698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VGvUGTda0iUIy8rpPccc5ELir3eRUMzTPPHop42CKtT_VkU01lpkNHSyw8UyC5P49OCC3EMuRH7vIXUIyNbsOxcw7iA5TCkP1-GbWURFpCD4LFsE1h9pbhVNcrtfZRf5_GHjYWPAu3GP/s320/P8070354.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Finally fast asleep. (Notice how Elias, ever the snuggler, is touching Elijah's arm.)<br /></span><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2DXJCfME7_Z7xwCVebI6X30MGivZsIYMMyys5LexIEY3-Zrw5dx_tknUQ43AtNVO8giq-AT5EntaWz9ivRgxG7peKmbNmjtqtbaYZjaJBW76gkgQ6MsvmhR9tPtIup2ofRCg2hJaupw7/s1600-h/P8080358.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722634223313362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2DXJCfME7_Z7xwCVebI6X30MGivZsIYMMyys5LexIEY3-Zrw5dx_tknUQ43AtNVO8giq-AT5EntaWz9ivRgxG7peKmbNmjtqtbaYZjaJBW76gkgQ6MsvmhR9tPtIup2ofRCg2hJaupw7/s320/P8080358.JPG" /></a><br />Just 6-7 hours after falling asleep, the boys woke up bright (actually it was still dark) and early. Needless to say Elias was <em>very</em> tired and subsequently put his shorts on backwards. He couldn't figure out how to turn them around and kept trying to twist them to the front while still wearing them and got so frustrated. So sweet friend Elijah helped him get them off and on again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uNFeFZ1xkEzvzt-pEroxVtY5-Inp3k6yYrS1VdVOVzgAATIRI6wD0Knjnnq9mg4-wcIybR04XOb2TLfUuTTbikHQ3-QBcpz7O6AOCvAmyMdsMFIKxJ7D8BRC4Fruv1BqnNQLE530rEpA/s1600-h/P8080359.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722629636332882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uNFeFZ1xkEzvzt-pEroxVtY5-Inp3k6yYrS1VdVOVzgAATIRI6wD0Knjnnq9mg4-wcIybR04XOb2TLfUuTTbikHQ3-QBcpz7O6AOCvAmyMdsMFIKxJ7D8BRC4Fruv1BqnNQLE530rEpA/s320/P8080359.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AuYzWgGMx_dLvabYENE3-ueit0KIigxEOMLdbbQztZ2zy7UInP3mHT3J2S6HAiUjvOH8rL7P9wnD-zuLClNgDOPGKopOyoRnTzjeCfQHTHsPRmLbBYR1UZy2ykuqXB7DLcMbXki-4LNy/s1600-h/P8080361.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722629994151250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AuYzWgGMx_dLvabYENE3-ueit0KIigxEOMLdbbQztZ2zy7UInP3mHT3J2S6HAiUjvOH8rL7P9wnD-zuLClNgDOPGKopOyoRnTzjeCfQHTHsPRmLbBYR1UZy2ykuqXB7DLcMbXki-4LNy/s320/P8080361.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After getting some fuel from chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, the boys raced around and around and around until Elijah's parents came to pick him up.<br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPgNjl3_lyKYVK4N0_IB4z1qt9RVTst6dnggtNWENXy1kR968NwPCk4Sk4WNjz8QhBRSEeJJSW3sPKEZj8-dmnPEbRFK6ovs8tZev_NgbiUYO5p11WoCIqLKiRBnR4XVknQ9XZMjvSDod/s1600-h/P8080364.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368722611390837410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPgNjl3_lyKYVK4N0_IB4z1qt9RVTst6dnggtNWENXy1kR968NwPCk4Sk4WNjz8QhBRSEeJJSW3sPKEZj8-dmnPEbRFK6ovs8tZev_NgbiUYO5p11WoCIqLKiRBnR4XVknQ9XZMjvSDod/s320/P8080364.JPG" /></a><br />We can't wait for the next sleepover! <div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-71130949844163194912009-06-17T19:54:00.003-05:002009-06-17T20:18:09.946-05:00ED Video and Final PicturesHere's a little video of Elias in his 60 meter race. The filming isn't the best, but it's still fun to watch. I only wish you could see the smile on Elias' face when he gets halfway down the track and sees his daddy cheering at the end. Chase cries everytime he thinks about it. :-)<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gj4kqcLGjxo&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gj4kqcLGjxo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348469452099472434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SYVVqtkJxBnthB_lT-S917oi9ygFkzqCxuPe1LBhpIRMYlSKgUGclACBE78l_1pX2GYKZ9Ir1aTtq2nlsD3P0md5vVwHAzuoPqZRYS6UlVXzcRZ1Zy_IQ49yptPF8FXVmB1rJlntZoE7/s320/DSC01332.JPG" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p align="center">Softball Throw Competition</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348469465511690226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOEK45mlhPwuurdKidVveBrRkYBsjCmaDVW6ilGVGbzhhr45cst81n49unvF839em61XtcKHqlQ3tHNN4m82vIXzXTMAPyla6dS4bPprBY5oafuSq4KQnk4EAMRyRQjZYh0P0AVAhdcNI/s320/DSC01342.JPG" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p align="center">Another Ethiopian at the Games!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348469466944074978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN3xlANk2ssLvFmHDzJKgZFM8LaIDCDhJmD0LuuWHE4WgBU85TQofT8z44eTB0-2FTDznFIUhcfJpHKCAFhb9yYlPWdDSmbvtQuzYQDGP-7DgXitCKFNQb13MHbYnABbceoiezTL6V9-j/s320/P6130284.JPG" border="0" /><br />We are so thankful to Chase's employer, Orthotic and Prosthetic Technologies, who not only gave Chase the time off to attend the Endeavor Games, but also sponsored Elias in the Games and even made special shirts just for us!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348469457466371474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4E1a1II_lKBNO876uhyphenhyphenzwF2ReIEKBEoE14mieEV2zoPpIyUGjhUOCVEytG5rGAVdn3ZVdYz2rD4D1cP2zWz_UpN80obXMxX47VhIVjT_1AMfcFR8cihPSIVvYnGnQeYH1bB_6OvLN5fA3/s320/DSC01343.JPG" border="0" /></p>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286853451091787305.post-67437348119789993922009-06-15T19:08:00.006-05:002009-06-15T19:50:56.957-05:00The Athletes- Our HeroesThe most significant moments of the Endeavor Games were meeting the athletes, hearing their stories, and seeing them compete. There were a large number of veterans at the Games who lost limbs in the Iraq war. It was deeply moving to see them there, successfully living a life so drastically altered from the one they knew before. Their camaraderie is intimate and unique and we felt privileged to look on as they encouraged one another to achieve new physical feats.<br /><div><div><div><br /><div>Remember the athlete we met on the <a href="http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/2009/06/2009-endeavor-games.html">first day</a>? His name is Kortney Clemons. We got to know him a little more throughout the weekend. His story is fills us with deep gratitude and admiration. Here it is in his words:<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"><em>“We were on our way back to camp when we came across an overturned U.S. Humvee. There was a wounded soldier half inside, half outside. We got him onto a stretcher and at the guard rail, crossing over the median; there was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). The two soldiers who were assisting me were killed instantly, as was one other who was standing by us. I knew I was injured pretty badly.”</em> But it wasn’t until he woke to find he had been transported to a military hospital in Germany that he discovered that one leg was gone above the knee and his other had been hit by shrapnel.<em> “I had to get a lot of surgery,”</em> he says and a lot of vascular work Kortney recovered at Brooke Army Center over a period of ten months<em>.</em></span> </div><br /><div>A true hero! You can read more about Kortney <a href="http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=7767#profile">here </a>and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/paralympicsport/5373861/Wounded-veteran-Kortney-Clemons-takes-on-Oscar-Pistorius-at-the-Paralympic-World-Cup.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div>Kortney is now at the Olympic Training Center training for the 2012 Paralympics. Kortney won the gold in the 100m at the Endeavor Games. One of the most special moments was when he later saw Elias and gave him his gold medal. Elias wore it so proudly!</div><div> </div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347720897165682146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_nhHq-ijKPPd-rxexvahSWgSeo72KiXbmgL8SGivVoD5xFfVO6_WjDOyINH2QOlSiouIwpPcYEyamCFIEiwteYvmi9Z7Y3xDxD6VrEdRMpBGgk9NZn-o2tKg77fPYzxSpdA55Hoaj6h2/s320/P6130303.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>One more friend we met is Atzel. Atzel lost his leg at the ankle this past year in an accident at work. He got his prosthetic leg just <u>20 days</u> before the Endeavor Games. He and three of his friends drove <strong>22 hours</strong> from California to compete and meet the other athletes. Isn't that incredible!! He left just a couple hours after his amazing race to drive back to California!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347719961600494482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7p-TU3AoH3OvJDj4UxZ93rJ0XW1SHkz8kNVzoxUq5P2LnssoKpL0TbAkMzIio40xOlmy28cko2LYj3ZSuSx1AVECUgPJMaLod2Y1I-PE7ZyYxDAW-XlBV6vdKTf2HHlRPadpoWHzCN2Q/s320/DSC01298.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347719963775630802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm9zhDRSDJpGa-PNvbnwl28mbocSNAv2By1rpaHiljwXZaJGZ2BilwHbgJXJu6AJMjJMu11RDWLKm5-qAzSfCYUHDhjttJcKYDVAydd500zFbMPrPJjlC9XoA1yieyyEESQINYEmbncUI/s320/DSC01334.JPG" border="0" /></p></div></div>Meagan Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844056844567371062noreply@blogger.com6