February Flurries

There's little white snowflakes dancing in the sky right now. I have a cold (another one) and am reflecting on my February.

So many things have happened in the Browning family this past year! Ben and I got married. Kristen and Josh had their baby in November! Spencer, Ben's youngest brother, left on his mission to Russia in November. Kristen and Josh left to Davenport, Iowa two weeks ago with their baby, Tate, to start chiropractor school! We miss them, but it sounds like a friendly place! Sam is doing great in his classes at BYU! We live about twenty minutes away from Ben's parents, who are now empty nesters now that Kristen, Josh, and Tate have moved out. It has been fun to do some double dating with them! What a great family I married into! Hopefully, we'll all be together soon and the Brownings can take a rest for a while :) !

I was able to babysit my dear friend Becca's little girl, Kate! They are in our ward, and we love them :) We had so much fun playing with a ball, hand puppets, and playing hide and go seek! Becca just had her baby Friday, yay! I am so excited for their growing family! Isn't she so cute in her little princess outfit!?

I have also been doing the usual baking and cooking. It seriously is one of the most satisfying things to do in my life right now. I love it. This is a pasta dish with doritos, YES doritos, refried beans, all types of peppers, onions, and, of course, cheese. It definitely had a spice to it--yum!


Last but not least, Ben and I gave our living room a make over! We went to a furniture store in Perry that was going out of business and got a love seat, tree and picture all at a good price! This way, people don't need to sit in a moon chair or DI chair when they come in. Yay! This is one of the rooms that we want to paint. I am not a huge fan of the mustard color on the wall--it just. . . doesn't work for me. I think we are going to paint this room a pale yellow! Someday. :) We love the colors in our new painting!
It is so fun making a house a home. I just gave the YW lesson a couple weeks ago on homemaking and how the most important part of making a house a home is making it a place where the Spirit can reside. Even with a living room makeover, this is not the most important thing to making our house feel like a home. Homemaking is a daily practice of doing the things that let the Spirit reside there daily. Sometimes I am in a rush to fill up empty rooms with decorations, repaint some walls, and get new furniture, and then I remind myself that although these things are fun and exciting, they are not what makes a house a home. I am so grateful feeling at home with my Ben regardless of empty rooms!

Fighting Against Tolerance

"Ours is the responsibility to keep our lights aflame and burning brightly, that they might shine for others to see and follow. With the decline of religion in our society, many people have come to feel that they are sufficient unto themselves and have no need of a higher power. Wrong. A loss of religious faith implies a loss of faith in anyone greater than oneself."

-President Monson

There are so many despicable things we see in the news that would evaporate if people understood this principle.

I am reminded of this quote every time I look at the news. People feel that they are not accountable to anyone except to their own selves. Tolerance is the fight we are fighting today. People tolerate everything, believing nothing. To those who tolerate it all--there are no boundaries: no right or wrong. It is easy to slip into the mentality of tolerate it all; people can choose what makes them happy. What we miss is that others' choices affect humanity, so we have to stand up. We must. There is a right and a wrong. Satan would have us believe that it is a myth, but we know better. I am so grateful for the Gospel, which reminds me of this principle, even when it seems easier to "tolerate and let go." Thank you, President Monson, for this wonderful reminder!

It's Nice to Know

I love my forever valentine.

It's nice to know I now have an eternal Valentine who happens to write the cutest, cleverest poems to me (who knew--the business finance major poet? What can't he do?). He was so worth the wait and more.



He even took me out for pizza (you probably already know that this is one of my favorites :) I love this place because you can choose different sauces for your pizza, and it leaves you with a little kick!



He even danced with me for an hour in our family room because we missed the Stake Valentines Dance last weekend. I loved our Browning Ball, but most of all I love my Valentine!

A True Valentine

When I think about Valentines Day, I think about my grandpa. I always have. After all, it was his birthday, and everyone who knew him, knows that he emulated LOVE in every way. Even his motto was "Live together in Love."

Last night, my extended Jones family got together and honored Edwin Boyd Jones for what would have been his 95th birthday. He passed away when I was ten, but he has made an impact in my life, nonetheless. We think of him often because his legacy was one that leaves people inspired and wanting to be better. It was so neat to be surrounded by cousins and their new additions to the family (almost). I think Grandpa would be proud of so many of the wonderful grandchildren (my cousins) that are doing so much with their lives.

My grandma tells the story over and over again of the ONLY time my grandpa ever got mad at her. ONLY. He came home from a church meeting, went to the freezer to get ice cream, returned, and said to Grandma in a stern voice "Mildred, it is absolutely unacceptable that we have no ice cream in this house. We should always have ice cream." (This is where I get my love of ice cream from--I am just carrying on tradition :)

I have had the privilege of transcribing many of his World War II journals. In so many of them, he talks about reading The Bible and The Book of Mormon. He always kept the faith. He was constantly serving at home and in the church as a sealer, patriarch, temple president, and regional representative. His example shows that life-long service in the church brings much happiness.

Here are some remarks from my Grandpa's 1978 journal about love:
"Being drawn together by service we should understand the family as no other people do. I gave it and give it and gave it until it was mine. Live as if each day is the last day of our lives and one day we’ll be right.
Winning in love is a good accomplishment. Rewinning it day by day is rebuilding, and rebuilding is creating a dominion that has at its base the essence of Heaven. The deepest tenderness a woman can show a man is to help him do his duty. Be good to her and treat her like a queen."

On top of all that, my grandpa had great hair although I don't think he would ever consciously think that :) Mitt Romney patterns his hair after my grandpa Here's a quote from the Boston Globe "Mitt and Ann agreed to wait three months to walk down the aisle. The wedding was held in two parts. On March 21, 1969, exactly four years after their first conversation, Mitt, then 22, and Ann, 19, exchanged rings in a civil ceremony in her parents' home. It was officiated by church Elder Edwin Jones, the man after whom teenage Mitt had patterned his hairstyle."

I happened to find his obituary, here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650792/Death--Edwin-Boyd-Jones.html Although it talks about many of his accomplishments, his faith and love are remembered best.

I always wanted to marry someone like Grandpa Jones. When I was little, I chose a star and called it Grandpa's star, and I would talk to it, pretending he was listening to every word or maybe I wasn't pretending. Because I live close to the cemetery where he is buried, I am able to go and visit his grave site, which has a very special spirit. However, now I get to go with an eternal companion who follows Grandpa's example in ways I never thought possible and does exactly what Grandpa said, "be good to her and treat her like a queen." Thank you, Grandpa, for helping me choose my Valentine.

The Baker's Dozen: Part 2

Here are more things "baking" in my life:

7. I am finally getting over a cold. This has many wonderful meanings: I can breathe, I can sing, and I can taste my food again--wahoo!



8. I have had an immense travel itch for the last few months. I want to go somewhere, just for fun! Actually, I would even settle for Saint George right about now. I have been thinking of my study abroad England experience. Oh the wonderful memories! My top current travel urges belong to to Boston/Washington D.C./East Coast. My family did go on an Alaskan Cruise last summer, which was fun; however, I am more of a museum/sight seeing person and Alaska had some pretty nature scenes, but it was cold. Really cold. I promise I won't mind the cold if I go to one of the places mentioned above because it'll be more worth it (for me, anyways)! :)



9. Because the Ogden Temple has been closed for renovation (for almost a year now), and we live in North Ogden, we are smack in between two temples. The Logan and The Bountiful Temples. Both are so neat and so different. Lately, we have attended Logan (we hit less traffic, obviously). This is the temple my grandparents were married in and where my grandma was baptized, and it's fun to think about them as I attend. We are excited for the Brigham City Temple to be finished (http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/brighamcity/) , and that'll be closer (only about a half hour away). Then soon enough the Ogden Temple will be completed (http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/ogden/); this is only fifteen minutes away! We'll be surrounded by temples, yay!



10. I am loving work because of the flexibility to cook/clean during the day while interspersing that with work from my computer. I do miss teaching though. I miss my students, and the fun learning environment we had together (as shown above :)I really did have the best students ever!



11. HeyTell is my new favorite phone App because Ben and I can leave verbal text messages or voicemails to each other, and it's so fun to hear his little whispering messages to me throughout the day! I seriously recommend everyone to get this app because it can be the most convenient thing when you're driving etc. Ben and I are in love! I mean, we are in love with the App. . .and each other, of course! ;)



12. I am loving this book by Bruce C. Hafen right now! When I worked at Deseret Book, I had multiple people tell me that this is the best book on marriage. I am beginning to feel the same way!

13. This baker's dozen, the thirteenth, is to confess that I ate two sugar cookies while baking them for my laurels tonight for mutual. The rest is for you!

A Baker's Dozen: Part 1

1. This is my favorite room in the house so far. Almost anyone nearby will tell you I have been on a baking/cooking phase, especially my husband. I have LOVED the liberty of having my own kitchen, kitchen aid, cupboard space, nice new kitchen supplies, and all those fun things that seem so precious compared to the limited space/cheap kitchen supplies of apartment, roommate dwelling accommodations. I have been baking many (too many) goodies lately, experimenting with pinterest/new cookbook recipes. Some favorites so far are soft sugar cookies, chocolate chip cheesecake cookies, caramel cheesecake, apple doughnuts (thanks Charlotte!), and oreo mud pie. I will have to post some recipes soon! The trouble with baking is. . . I, as the baker, feel entitled to make sure my recipes are not poisonous throughout the process, meaning I test-taste dough, right out of the oven goodness, an hour later (as it's still cooling), and a day later. I try all stages of the baked product, multiple times. This means LOTS of sugar in me, which means clothes are not fitting the way they used to--so tragic! Here I am, trying to sharpen my baking knowledge, and I am suffering the consequences. Although my husband loves my food, he is more disciplined in eating only one to two cookies a day. Therefore, as I am working from home. . . temptation surrounds me! I have decided that I can now only bake ONE thing a week unless I am giving/taking it somewhere. However, I have been experimenting cooking multiple fun dinners, which is less lethal for me. Some favorites are potato/broccoli/cheese soup, chicken divan, stir fry, tortilla soup, and many other chicken recipes (different variations)-- will post some recipes later. Here are some other things baking in my life:



2. Ben moved floors at work (his job is completely the same, but he's now on the first floor, and I think his new office is pretty snazzy looking. Plus, now I can visit him a little more easily if wanted; with how busy he is, I doubt I would get more than a three second visit :) He leaves at 7, takes no lunch break, and comes home at 6:00/6:30 lately. Good thing--he LOVES his job! :)

3. After Ben gets home from work, we sometimes watch The Cosby Show on Netflix to relax. That is, until it got taken off Netflix last week: TRAGEDY! Oh well, on to the Dick Van Dyke show. I know what you're thinking--The Cosby Show, really? Who does that?



4. My dear, dear friend, Kelsi is ENGAGED to an amazing man! Kelsi and I have been through a lot together up here in the Ogden area, and I am so grateful she found her prince, even though she will be moving to Wisconsin for his last two years of dental school :(



5. My dad just had his other hip replaced. He has had both his hips replaced, both his shoulders replaced, and has more energy than almost anyone I know on a daily basis. He is amazing!

6. We've had lots of fun recently getting together with good friends, going to a surprise birthday bash (that was awesome, Camille!), and having fun with Ben's side of the family :) We are so lucky to have such amazing people in our lives!

To Be Continued. . .

From Roommates to Roommate: What's Stability?

Amy
Rachel (X2)
Annie
Carrie (X2)
Jamie
Lindsay
Sara
Melissa
Shauna
Courtney
Erica
Charlotte
Caitlin
Anneli
Jen
Skye
Heather
Lindsey
Jolyn
Bre
Becky
Melody
Mikelle
Annie
Christine
Lindsey (G.)
Melody (C.)
Natalie
Chloe
Tayler
Pattie
Kelsi
Hannah
Kim
Ashlee
Sariah

This is a list of all the girls who had to put up with being my roommate in the last six years. My life has gone from adjusting to living with 36 different people at different times to ONE!

Let me tell you, it's been a change. There are so many things I have loved about it: the free reign of the kitchen, cleanliness, not being kicked out of the family room for boyfriends etc. This does not discount that I loved many of my roommate experiences. I had wonderful friendships, talks, and pure good times with so many roommates, but the constant change and transition from going from one to the next made it so I could never get too comfortable.

Is it possible that stability kind of scares me? No, not the stability of Ben--that comforts me a great deal. It is the stability that comes from buying our house in North Ogden. This implies we may be here for a while. You are talking to someone who hasn't lived somewhere for longer than a year and four months since she was fifteen years old (that's nine years of change). I have had all of my things in portable boxes and bins so at any moment I can move conveniently. I am at the point where I am more used to change than consistency. Then, I think of the things in my life that have been consistent through all of the change: the love of my family and the gospel. These things have been constant, and really, they are the only things that matter. This gospel is what is constant. The truthfulness of the PLAN of Happiness helps console me at all times no matter where I am. I guess it's time to settle down, :) and although it somewhat scares me, it also makes me feel excited to have a HOME. I have lived in many "dwellings" over the past few years, but they were never truly home. I am so blessed to finally have a home, a place where my heart can settle for a while. So, here's to the newest change in my life: stability. I am ready for this challenge :)

My Family is Growing Up!

This is the most recent family photo. I have spent lots of time thinking about my family has seemed to all grow up so fast and most of it has been in the last few years. Mike has been back from his mission for a year and a half and is studying at BYU-Idaho. Seth got back from his mission in September, is also studying at BYU-I and is ENGAGED! He is engaged to Leslie Ricks--I just love her, and is getting married April 7th (I am so looking forward to this):) Kim is at BYU-Idaho also(I am beginning to feel left out). Mary is a senior, still deciding where to go. I feel like all at once my family is growing up and all in the college phase (almost) right when I just finished. I had to do it all by lonesome. No fair. Just kidding, I am so happy for them. It has been fun to watch everyone grow and all be in the same phase :)I am so grateful for all of their righteous examples. Yay for family!

What's Been Happening...

Ben and I met in the Spring and were married October 14, 2011. He has been such a wonderful blessing in my life. He is always with me every step of the way. I couldn't ask for a more supportive, righteous, loving, and fun husband. He even survived our engagement through my student teaching (yes, we got married in the middle of my student teaching--we were that in love :) Speaking of, I loved student teaching. I loved my students, my cooperating teacher, discussing literature, hearing their comments-- everything! The only thing I did not like was the constant stress and time constraints, but I am sure if I taught for a few more years, I would get used to it (that's what all the veteran teachers kept telling me). I digress... Ben and I got married in the middle of my student teaching. I student taught until the middle of November when, for the first time in a long time, I was not involved in any education. Since then, I have been trying to accept the fact that I am done with my bachelors, masters, and teaching certificate and I can move on from the phase of education (in the formal sense, of course). It's been nice not having "homework" and "studying", but I miss the satisfying feeling you have after turning in a 30 page paper in a weird, partially insincere way.

Since student teaching, Ben goes to work every day at the bank as a Lending Operations Analyst (he's been doing this for a few years), and I have been finally able to concentrate on making our house a home. We are living in North Ogden, UT, which has a charm about it that I just love! It is nestled at the base/bottom of the mountains, has a great view, wonderful hard-working people with great values, and my favorite community grocery store! Note to everyone: North Ogden is much different than Ogden, even though the only addition is "North," it's totally different than you would imagine Ogden. In fact, we live twenty minutes away from Ogden. We have loved the opportunity to be in our home:

My favorite features are: the kitchen, the big family room, and the fact that Ben and I get to start married life here. Some things that we are going to work on, eventually, are the multi-colored walls, dings, dents etc. Almost every room is a different color. We have a hot pink room, a mustard yellow living room etc. Some of the colors we like and some...not so much. However, the view we have from the back of the house/our back yard makes up for any "color"ing.
Even more than the view, we love the people who surround us. We have amazing neighbors and love our ward. With the last snow storm, we had so many people come snowblow our driveway for us (we haven't gotten one yet...we forgot that we live on the side of a mountain :) We plan to get one soon. These people are so kind, and we are so grateful for their examples. I am in the Young Women organization right now as the Laurels Advisor. I am loving the people I serve with: the leaders and the girls (who happen to be many of my former students from student teaching). Ben and I feel like this is the place where we are supposed to be right now, which is why we came here in the first place. We are so grateful that we are living here, have found each other (after a very long search--at least, that's what it felt like), and have been making so many friends. This was a super long post, but how can you catch up on a few months?! I know--you can't!

Starting out on a Journey...

This is my first blog entry. Ever.

I have been debating this idea with myself for quite a while, wondering what I would write about etc. Finally, I have caved in. I am now working from home as an assessment coordinator for a consulting company. I am loving the flexibility of the job but having less interaction with people has been a new thing for me. Most importantly, many of my friends are scattered across Utah and across the country, and this is a fun, easy way to stay in touch. So, my friends, and family, this is for you and for me :)