Happy Birthday!

Dear Mom,

How did you do it? I mean like really do it??

(Brown fam. Moab trip 2009)

How did you raise 10 kids?

(mom holding baby Jackson 2009)

How did you raise 10 kids and do it like you did?

How did you put your life on hold and completely put your heart into all of us?

(sister St.George trip 2009)

How did you have so much strength and determination to do it every single day?

How did you always have a warm dinner on the table at 6:00 every night?

(sister St. George trip 2008)

How did you have enough T I M E to drive me to swimming every day? Take Troy to basketball games....juggle 8 other kids schedules?? Do all our homework? Clean the house? Cook breakfast? Organize the laundry? or even manage a shower???

(my bday lunch. July 2009)

How did you maintain your strength when you were being pulled a 100 directions?

How did you manage to fulfill all your church callings?

(mom w/ her missionaries. M and D mission presidents. 2006-2009)

How did you take and sit with all 10 kids at church every week without crying? (ha ha..I cried with 3!)

(Brown fam Christmas party at mission home 2008)

How did you always have enough love for all of us?


How did you make me feel as important?

(Official release of mission...welcome home! July 1, 2009)

How did you always have an encouraging word for me when I needed it?

(thanksgiving point gardens summer of 2008)

How did you never have time for yourself but maintain your smiles and good attitude?

(tuachan. me, misty, brookie, and mom)

How did you raise a family that completely loves and supports one another...a bond in life I find hard to find these days.

(2007)

I want to wish you a very happy birthday to a very special mama.

I look up to your optimism, your zest for life and learning.... your mind always full of great ideas and your tenacity that keeps you going every single day.

(m and d. Mission pres. 2007)

I am one lucky girl. to. have. you!

Love you mom....and thank you for your example of what a mother should be.

And it's true, until you are a mom yourself, you will never completely understand the sacrifice a mother makes....nor the love she feels for her children!

NOW I understand.

Happy Birthday!

xo, Tawny

*see you at the secret sister lunch tomorrow (and maybe today too!..)

Ashlyn's swimming courage.

*I did this post last weekend, but to crazy to post it...so here it is now!* and this is for my bloggin journal...!

Ashlyn stood nervously in line behind 6 other kids waiting their turn to tryout for the team.

Suits on, goggles in hand, each child had to swim a 100 Individual Medley.

One by one the kids dove in the pool and swam their laps...

25 yd butterfly, then backstroke, next breaststroke, and finally freestyle.

One by one they got out as we watched them talk to the head coach,

nodding their heads up and down.

Then the parents taking their child's hand and walking out the glass doors.

"What did that mean?" Ashlyn asked me. "Did they make the team? or were they cut?" I was not exactly sure myself so I just said, "get ready, it's almost your turn..."

and swim your best...."

Ashlyn was so nervous, I knew this was hard for her to tryout in front of the coaches, she has a little bit of "stage fright," in life.... but from the encouragement of Ry and I she wanted to try out for a year-round swim team
First swim meet summer 09

Ashlyn dives in and goes.....her hips kicking hard down, 2 kicks to every big arm...Butterfly is the hardest stroke in swimming...it takes years to perfect it and definitely takes the most endurance....Ash was swimming it well!

The head coach immediately walked over and grabbed the other 2 coaches. They all watched Ashlyn swim butterfly, then backstroke, followed

ashlyn summer 09

by breaststroke and last (and her best) freestyle...

She gets out, dripping wet, she looks up at me and then at the coach anxiously.... not sure how to read her...the coach says,

"wow, great stroke, will you get in and swim butterfly for me again?"

Ashlyn looks at me for encouragement, I smile and she jumps back in the pool..

She starts swimming and the coaches start talking amongst each other.

Ash gets out and the head coach says to her,

" beautiful stroke you have,"

you also have natural talent,

we would be honored for you to join our team."

Wahoooo, yay, as a mom I was secretly beaming inside!!

and a competitive swimmer myself for 7 yrs plus I was praying

she would love this sport!

She did it and they loved her. Ash was smiling happy..

we followed the coach the other direction (not towards the glass doors yay!)

and into her office and got the paperwork.

Ashlyn was the only kid to make the swim team that night!

I was so proud of her!

So this weekend,

Ashlyn had her first swim meet as a Dimple Dell Devil Ray member

We woke up early to get to the warm-ups for the swim meet.....

Oh man she was nervous....her first big meet since summer.

She had been practicing for weeks now....

Up to the blocks she went, she was ready


she swam as hard as her little body would go.......

Ashlyn took first in all her events.



we were so proud of Ashlyn.

I told her I didn't care if she first or last place, I was just proud of her for swimming and working hard. She swims 3 days a week so far.

Two weeks into her swimming,

the coaches asked to see me. They asked Ashlyn to join the most competitive level of swimming.....

She would have to commit to practices every single day,

and lots more swim meets, trainings and practices.

I am proud of Ashlyn and I left it up to her....

Swimming Championships Aug 09

As I have said before on my blog, I feel full heartily that kids a talent or a hobby...

One that gives them self-esteem and makes them feel they are capable of setting

goals and working hard.

I don't care if it is soccer, swimming, art, jump roping, each child NEEDS to feel

that they excel in some area....

they need that confidence in this crazy world.

So we will see, what AShlyn decides...not sure where her road lies.

For now I think, we are still 3 days a week for Ashlyn...but that may change soon...we will see!

I am proud of her!

Love her and great job!