Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

This picture was taken about this time last year when we lived in Mesa, Arizona. A few things have changed since then... the main things being, I was about 25lbs lighter in this picture than I am now and I'm now a homeowner. I'll just blame the weight gain on the stress of buying and fixing up our first home. I sure hope next year's changes reflect a smaller, less stressed me!

Catching Up

I was watching my brother's 8 kiddos (and Ivan) last week, by myself, while he and his wife were happily vacationing in Mexico...who would have guessed that I wouldn't have time to blog while I was there? And since I've been home its been tough to get back into the groove of the blog. The day after I got home, I started babysitting twin 2 year old girls part-time and Ivan started going to a new preschool (which also means a new physical and occupational therapy schedule) so this last week was a little crazy. Crazy it good though...I like having a little more to keep me busy, I feel much more productive with my time.

Anyway, I suppose I should get back to completing my challenge. I'll be completely honest, I've looked down the list at some of the upcoming challenges, and I'm not excited about some of them. OH well, here I go anyhow...

Day 13: Goals

Hmm, is it weird that I have a goal to set goals? For the past I-don't-know-how-long, I feel like I've just existed; like I've been without progression or purpose. Ever been in a rut like that? Well I realize that I HAVE to have something to look forward to each day/week, I HAVE to do things that help me feel accomplished, I HAVE to feed my soul before I can effectively help others. So, I decided that setting goals is my new goal. I want to write them down so I can be reminded of them and more accountable for them. I want to clearly define long and short term goals and spend time each day reflecting on them. I want to record my progress in my journal so I can better see the accomplishments and progression.

Well...I'll let you know how it goes...I think I might just feel like a new me pretty soon!

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

Lately, I haven't left the house without my book (I'm almost done with book 5 of The Great and Terrible series), water, and gum. I know I already mentioned this series in a previous post, but you should seriously consider reading it!

Day 11: Favorite tv shows

This is an easy one...

Parenthood, Glee, Modern Family, and The Office (I actually am really excited for this show to end...I'm kinda done with it)

So I've always said that I don't like TV...but look at me, I follow 4 shows...hmm, maybe I should give them all up!

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

I'm terrified of not being prepared for an emergency. Been thinking about this a lot lately... I really would love to be one of those people that has enough food storage to share with others or that could be able to stay home in the event of some terrible disaster, and not feel like I had to run to the store to frantically grab any available water. This fear may be significantly enhanced because of the books I'm currently reading called, "The Great and Terrible" by Chris Stewart. Regardless, the fear is motivating me to do something! I know that emergency preparedness doesn't happen overnight...in fact people work on their food storage and preparedness for YEARS, but that doesn't mean I don't wish for it to happen overnight. I wish I had the means to go right now and buy all of the water, food, clothes, blankets, medicine, and equipment that I'd need to be prepared for an emergency (who wouldn't wish for that, really?). I wish I could spend a few weeks with people like my sis-in-law, Jana, and her sister, Jamie, who are kindof experts in self-reliance and preparedness (seriously, check out Jamie's self-reliance blog here...you wont regret it!) so they could teach me and help me stock my shelves full of delicious and healthy food. BUT since I can't do all of that tonight....just wondering if anyone out there knows of a good place to start? I know that books and plans for a year's food storage supply exist...I just don't know what they are. My other sis-in-law, Holly, mentioned that this starter kit is a great place to start (which I think we will do) but I'm certainly open for any other tips you might have so I can be prepared and eliminate this fear.

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Finally got a few pics up of the best friends. Some of them are scanned and didn't turn out well, but somethin' is better than nothin'. Just a little memo to Keri and Danica...We really should take more pictures of us together when we're together...I have pics of your cute kids but none of just us.

Original Text: So I'm a little upset about not being able to access the pictures on our external hard drive (no power supply)....but I think I can scrounge up some printed pics of my besties tomorrow and scan them in for your viewing pleasure. In the meantime, please look forward to seeing some fabulous pictures of...

Celeste Brown: best friend from high school, bride's maid, and future deliverer of my babies--she'll be a Doctor in May!!

Danica McDonald: next door neighbor for 2 years in college. I seriously couldn't have graduated college without that girl!

Keri Christensen: just a connection from a visit back home that was ABSOLUTELY MEANT TO BE! (her parents moved into my home ward and they suggested that we contact Mike, Keri's husband, for a summer job at BYU-Idaho)

These girls have helped me develop my talents, they have eased my burdens, we've shared many gut wrenching laughs (and even a few tears), they have believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself, they've taught me a thing or two about love, and they have been the closest things to sisters that I have ever had! Love you girls so much!!!!

Day 8: A place you've traveled to

ALASKA
Would I go again? IN A HEARTBEAT!
Alaska is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen. When I was there, it felt like everywhere I looked was a picture perfect postcard...so much magnificent beauty all around! (unfortunately, I can't find my pics of Alaska on my computer. They are backed up on an external hard drive, but we can't find the power supply for the hard drive...doesn't do me much good does it?)

Day 7: Favorite Movies

So glad it says movies...and not movie. Does anyone really have an all time favorite movie? I don't know if I could narrow it down to just one. So here's a list that are probably my top 5 (in no particular order)

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Probably a given, but this kid makes me happy (especially when he gets into his dress up box-- and comes out with his pirate hat as an alternate chef/baker hat)also...
This sectional (or something very similar) WOULD make me extremely happy, BUT instead, I currently have a non-functioning sofa, turned on it's backside, that is mostly uncovered (except for the 6,000 staples holding the last 1/3 of the fabric in place). I am happy that we decided to get new carpet in our living room...because we've been resting our rumps on it A LOT lately!

Day 5: A song to match your mood

I was afraid of this...I'm a couple days behind. Yesterday didn't provide me the time I was hoping for, but thank goodness for SUNDAY!

As we are preparing our taxes, and assessing our finances, I think this song (click on this) is fairly appropriate for my mood.

Day 4: Your parents

I've been looking forward to this post all day because I have some WONDERFUL parents and I'm so thrilled to tell you about them.

My dad has the biggest and most comforting smile in the whole world; that smile has kept me from falling apart many MANY times! My mom is a healer...really, she has an amazing gift of healing--she can even heal me over the phone! My dad is adventurous and playful; I get that from him. My mom is thoughtful and kind; I get that from her. My dad is so generous, my mom has unwavering faith. They made sure that we had opportunities to excel, even if it meant dipping into the food budget or savings accounts. They have taught me to serve and love others, because that is what they did/do. I will never understand all of the ways that those two have sacrificed for my brothers and I, but I am eternally grateful for everything that they have done.
I know that so many of you have wonderful parents too, but I'm pretty sure they're not as cool as mine ;).

Karen and Dave Gasaway

Day 3: Your first love

Part of me is a little nervous to do this challenge...not sure why. Welp, here it goes.

My First Love. hmmm. My first and only TRUE love was/is my husband, but of course, I can't just stop there. Unfortunately, before Tyrel... I did say the "L" word to 4 other boys.

1. 5th grade, Nathaniel Peterson (we were going out for 1 week)
2. 6th grade, Derrick Stallings (he used to go to his friend Benito's house after school, just so he could ride my bus and we'd slump down in the seats and hold hands)
3. 7th grade, Kyle Wright (can't tell you how many games of "kick the can" we played...but we may have changed the way it was supposed to be played just a little bit)
4. 8th grade, Terry Reynolds (I didn't want my parents to know I was going out with him, so my best friend at the time, and I nicknamed him "Saran Wrap" just in case they ever found our notes ... I don't know what we were thinking. Reynolds Wrap = Saran wrap. We thought we were so clever!)

So I may have been a little loose with the "L" word as a young girl, I even told Tyrel that I loved him everyday from when we started dating October 6, 1998 (disgusting that I remember that and I can't remember where I set my keys yesterday!) until we broke up shortly after our Junior year in High School...but I didn't really know what love was.

I knew that I liked being with him and that I was happy when he was around. I knew that he was a pretty straight-arrow kid that was easy to be good around. I loved the way it felt when he'd show up at my softball games or musical performances. I remember feeling such excitement each morning to read his email before seminary and then to see his cute face at seminary! I remember feeling so proud when he'd do something special for me in public (like put balloons in my locker or send me on a treasure hunt through the school), but I didn't really know what love was. I didn't know what it was until Tyrel was gone for a summer fighting fire. I didn't know what it was until we decided to break up so Ty could better prepare for his mission.

When he was gone, I filled the hole he made in my life with other friends (and I am forever grateful for them and the support they were to me at that lonely time) but I didn't realize how much I missed Tyrel until he came back. I hope I never forget that day....summer was as usual, quickly coming to an end, and it had been almost a month since I had heard from Ty. He had been gone on a fire for 21 days....I'm sure his parents knew he was on his way home, but I didn't. I was outside playing with the Cain kids (kids I babysat) when all of a sudden I saw Ty's red Geo Metro barreling down our gravel road. He wasn't even allowed to drive his car on my road (one of his parent's crazy rules), but there he was kicking up a trail of dust! When he popped out of the car, I barely recognized him. He was literally covered in ash and dirt. His uniform looking more brown than yellow, and his face blotchy from a quick attempt to wipe off some of the grim. There was no slow motion run to each other, but there was a pretty incredible (and very dusty) embrace!

I remember feeling and wishing then that Ty would always come home to me and that I'd always be the first person he wanted to see after work or school (or his upcoming mission). I knew then that I finally understood that the love I felt was real and not just "puppy love". My feelings, commitments, and dreams were extending more into forever than our previous fairly shallow relationship. I wasn't sure then if or how it would all work out, but I wanted to marry that boy someday! I wanted him to be the father of my children and the man I stood beside forever! My friends and even teachers teased us, our senior year, that we would get married as soon as Ty got home from his mission....I would say things like, "Who knows, alot can change in 2 years." but I actually secretly wished that they would be right. I couldn't imagine loving someone as much as I loved my best friend. Well lucky for me, my friends and teachers were right!

Plus, how could you not LOVE a face like this?
8th Grade Dinner Dance, Central Junior High, Milton-Freewater, OR

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

I wish I had some deep and significant meaning behind my blog name...but really what it comes down to was that when I first started my blog, I was trying to place a picture of our family at the top and it was some goofy picture of the three of us (most of our pictures are goofy) clowning around. And then it came to me, "we could say just brownin' around instead of just clowning around". Ahh, got to love inspiration! haha!

As for the website address... browngas.blogspot.com ...well when Ty and I got married we joked that we would now be making brown-gas (my maiden name is Gasaway). Kindof disgusting? Yeah, well, that's just how we are!

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Mandy Brown. Mother of one. Lover of my handsome husband. Sister to 4 amazing men. Aunt of a bunch of crazy kids. Friend to many.

1. I really love using power tools. (They make me feel so 'powerful')
   
   
2. My new favorite place to shop is D.I. (Deseret Industries...its a second hand store)
   
   
3. If its possible to dream TOO big...I probably do just that.
   
   
4. It's very likely that I could carry on a whole conversation with you in my sleep.
   
   
5. I remember learning in High School that most people get dressed the same way everyday because we are creatures of habit, so I made it a habit to get dressed a different way each day. Some days I start with my socks, and some days I start with underwear (I also try to alternate which feet I step into my pants with)
   
   
6. I failed College English 4xs before passing with a C- (not because it was too hard, but mostly because I didn't go and when I did, I didn't turn in my work). Funny--and a little ironic--but now I want to be an author of children's books.
   
   
7. I absolutely hated reading until I took a children's literature course in college. It was then that I realized how much great literature I had missed out on. Now I just need to get over the looming feeling of guilt (like I should be doing something else) when I read.
   
   
8. Sometimes when I'm feeling physical pain, I start recalling all of my teacher's names from Kindergarten - college (ie; Mrs. Fellows and Mrs. Sams, Mrs. Vann, Ms. Adams, etc...) to take my mind off of the pain.
   
   
9. I never thought I could love my in-laws as much as I do.
   
   
10. I have a billion creative ideas roaming around in my head, but sometimes that's as far as my ideas go. I've got to work on the application of those ideas.
    
    
11. Have been and will probably always be a rebel...just don't handle following the rules very well.
    
    
12. My eyes change to a bright emerald green when I cry...sometimes I watch myself cry because they look so cool!
    
    
13. I got pulled over 15xs before I received my first speeding ticket.
    
    
14. I can throw a pretty wicked (as in AWESOME) Halloween Party....if you haven't been to one, YOU SHOULD!
    
    
15. Sometimes I say, "that's funny" instead of laughing. Lame, I know!