Falling into Autumn

Well summer has turned into Fall, although it did take it's time. Here it is Halloween and the jackets have barely come out of the closet. Gotta love these long Indian summers!

As usual we have been making our pilgrimage to Bethesda for Doyle's treatment, but we are now done with only one more visit for tests, scans and assessment. It has been an interesting and stressful nine months!

The Lord is kind and we have had so many blessings along the way. One , or should I say two of those blessings have come in making and renewing a friendship with Russ and Debra Munk. These two angels have opened their home to us on each visit and we are so grateful to them for cheering us on and keeping us warm and fed!

Russ and Debra Munk

On our return trip from DC this last time we flew into Salt Lake where we had left our car after the extended Brown family reunion in Logan. We celebrated Micah's birthday and spent a few days with their adorable children. When Micah worked for Bluehost he did a video on the Harkness hotel in the tiny town on McCammon, Idaho. We decided to take a short detour to check out this boutique hotel. It was lovely. The family had taken this old old building and made it into a lovely and unique hotel.

Doyle outside of the Harkness Hotel

Our lovely room.

Reception area 

We arrived home and in a few short weeks found ourselves back on an airplane to NYC. Our Dan had decided to marry lovely Sandra Leung. We are delighted! 

Hanging around outside of City Hall waiting for the guests to all arrive...he does look a little excited. WE know it is love because he even shaved for the occasion!

Yes, some of us entertained ourselves by taking selfies!

Autumn and her sweetie Joel Wilson. She finished her consulting job in Laos just in time to fly to NYC to see the wonder of the century....Dan's wedding! Never say never, Dan!

Yes it was a little windy out, but Aden was a trooper!

He lasted as long as he could!

 Little Amaia was bundling in Ailene's swaddling  wrap most of the time, 

but she is growing fast and is such a doll

               What on earth is grandma thinking....hauling me around like a sack of potatoes!

 So they tied the knot! We are so happy to have Sandra in our family!!

All of Dan's siblings made it to the wedding and even the sun decided to 

show his face!  It was a great weekend!!

Changes

Following Ariel and Nathan's wedding in July, we had a family reunion for the Doyle Brown family in Plain, WA (just outside of Leavenworth in the Cascades) We found a beautiful lodge that we had all to ourselves, complete with a pool, sauna, tennis court, hot tub, river in the backyard, pool table, foosball, a kiddie playhouse and LOTS of room to play, eat and just have a blast!

 The three youngest were introduced to the pool and all took to it like fish!

Ammon and his two year old Aden with Haven and her two year old Liora.

The wind was chilly one day so Aden got wrapped in a towel to sun dry.

His little sister Amaia had just arrived in NYC, so Ailene and little sister had to stay home. We missed them!

 Our newly married Ariel came up for the week, but unfortunately Nathan had to work, although he did make it there for the last night along with his three great kids!

 The grandkids enjoyed the playhouse with all the little amenities for kiddies and the sandbox next to it was perfect for running all those diggers and trucks!

 Our Dulcinea is a great fan of frogs and she was thrilled to find many in the pond, playhouse and under the porch. Everyone was accommodated as we even had two bats, which Matthias, her little brother, adores!!

 Posing for the camera in the front yard. At one point we had twelve of our thirteen grandchildren at the lodge.

Ammon loaded up with the three amigos!!!

 Doyle did a lot of sleeping but he enjoyed the setting and having family together.

 Lots of planted flowers and wildflowers around the property and near the river. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather as well.

 Autumn's boyfriend, Joel Wilson, joined us and he brought equipment to teach all comers the art of scuba diving. He teaches diving in the Philippines, but is originally from Buffalo, NY.

 Here are our three youngest, born a month apart. They had a great time together and are all such little sweethearts!! Liora is Haven's, Aden is Ammon's and Caleb is Micah's

 Our little jack-in-the-boxes!

 Hanging out together all day long and not a cross word spoken!! Sure do love our family!!

 Noble and Big T enjoying the peace and quiet in the living room while the kids whoop it up outside.

 Autumn and Joel trying to pull off blue steel....hahaha! Joel has now gone to Buffalo to work for the summer and Autumn is doing a consulting job in Laos for CRS. She will be back the first of October

Here is a great shot of the lodge where 24 of us were housed with room left over. We would go there again in a heartbeat!! In case you are interested here is the info: VRBO # 207995

 Well, we were all surprised to hear that Dan had popped the question to Sandra, his girlfriend for the past four years! We all love her and are so happy that they will be getting married in Oct...on Kelsey's birthday! Dan is pictured here with his year of beard. Said he wanted to grow it for one year...

It was nice that he reached his year mark before they left to fly home to NYC. Haven't seen that handsome face in quite some time. Looks like a much younger guy! SO happy for them!!!

And other happy changes... Noble landing a great job in Draper, UT, packing a Uhaul and moving to within 1/2 hour of Micah.  Micah accepting a new job without having to leave their nice home in American Fork....so it has been a summer of changes for the Browns.

Doyle just finished his last chemo this past week and we will make a few more trips to DC for the vaccine booster in Sept and Oct.  We continue to pray that his "dragon" will remain asleep while we continue to live life to the fullest! How grateful we are for a merciful God, an amazing family and kind and supportive friends!!

Summer Surpises

After Doyle's treatment mid June, we decided to fly back from DC via Denver and pick up the car I wanted. An Acura RDX in RED!! Hard to find. Our vacation was to drive from Denver to Utah and then Meridian and then home!!! We made it, loving the new car the whole way!

 We made a stop at the Colorado National Monument Park.
It was a beautiful day for a drive through these lovely cliffs!

 Although Doyle has lost more than 35 pounds, he is feeling a bit better and seems to be tolerating the chemo better. His doctors are very pleased with his progress and although he slept a lot as I drove, he was doing better!

 Loved these tunnels cut right into the mountainside.

Arrived at Micah and Becky's place and spent a few days playing with their interesting and fun children!

Our next stop was June and Rodney's place in Logan. Stayed a day and a half, had lunch with Doyle's brother Richard and Kathleen and then were again on our merry way home.

Being old and all, we needed to stop again for the night in Meridian, ID (now we know how the pioneers felt! LOL)  Rex and Maria were so kind and we always enjoy seeing them!

She is a beauty and a joy to drive!!


After our trip home, which was so relaxing and a much needed change of pace, we began
 preparations in earnest to get Ariel and her prince charming ready to marry!!
July 9th found us at the Portland, Oregon temple with members of both families and several friends, shedding tears of joy for these two with stars in their eyes!!

(many thanks to our amazing Micah for the incredible photos!)

Newlyweds outside the Portland Temple

Made for each other!

The Nathan Larsen Family! Nathan, Ariel, Levi, Lael and Ty!

Look at our great group of supporters!! How we love our friends and family!!!

Doyle was feeling well enough to be silly with Ariel!

Proud mom and dad!

So happy! Ariel has waited a long time to find this "prince" and the bonus is three darling children!

After the wedding on Thursday we had two days with Micah and Becky, so we had VooDoo Donuts in Portland, then drove to Astoria where the Columbia River meets the mighty Pacific.

 Was windy but oh so beautiful!! Aren't they adorable!

Blustery day on the Oregon coast.

Me and my honey....see, he still has most of his hair...he is one tough cookie!!
Just FYI, the scans they took showed that his tumors have shrunk by 70% and the doctors are amazed and pleased! All those prayers have done wonders! THANK YOU!!!!