On my mind

Today I am thinking a lot about one of my heroes.

His name is Brett Nelson.

Yes, that's my little brother.

Today he is in surgery for his back. About 4 years ago, he started having back problems. Severe back problems.

So he is really on my mind today.

Let me tell you why Brett is my hero.

Never once has he given up, even with all the adversity he has gone through. Back pain (so i have heard) is some of the worst pains you have to live with. And being over 6 foot 5 only intensifies that pain. Brett has not had an easy go in life all the time. He was an athlete in high school, the ONLY member of the church in his circle of friends and he never once let his standards fall. Often times, he would be home on a Friday night because his friends were doing things contrary to his standards. He is simply amazing in my eyes.

Brett is unlike any other guy I know. Besides my own husband, I know of no better guy than him. He literally has a heart the size and Texas. So many times, when I was living in Logan and he lived around the corner from me, I would go outside my door to find a note telling me he loves me and an ice cold diet coke (my favorite). Seriously, what brothers do that for their sisters?

At this very moment, Brett is in surgery. My heart is full of gratitude for Brett. I am praying that this surgery is a success so that he can be rid of some of the pain and heart break he has felt the last few years. His size in stature doesn't even compare to the size of his heart.

Today, more than anything, I am just so grateful I am HIS sister and that I am blessed to learn so much about overcoming adversity from this special guy.

More Photos

My good friend Tracey Ferrin of Ferrin Photography took our family pics and she did an amazing job. She is so cute and very talented! We love them. Check her out at www.ferrinphotography.com

Family

How cute is my family?

That's all (:

Insanity!!!

I am now on week three, day 16 of this crazy, amazing and insane (hence the name) workout program "INSANITY!".

I have done P90X and thought nothing could get tougher than that. Even running a half marathon does not compare to p90x. So when the women at my school I work at told me about "insanity" I thought it would be a cake walk.

Was I ever wrong.

The first day I did the workout, it looked like I had jumped in a swimming pool with my clothes on. And I walked like a duck because of sore muscles for about 3-4 days, even with taking protein supplements.

I am now on week 3. Do I still sweat like crazy? YES!! I haven't missed a day yet in this program (Except sundays, which you are supposed to take off anyways) and I can already tell a difference in my body. My muscles are tighter and I am getting stronger and my endurance is pretty awesome. It is a 60 day program and I plan on doing it a couple times through.

It's interval training-- has 13 dvds and they tell you which workouts to do on which days to maximize your results. Usually it starts off with what they call a "warm-up" which is usually about 12-13 minutes of pure hell, followed by a few minutes of crazy stretching, followed by the actual work out where my heart rate gets up to 190 for about 4 minutes, take a 30 second water break only to start another 4-5 min. interval training... this goes on for about another 20-25 minutes before a 3 minute cool down and stretching.

I am in L.O.V.E. with this program and highly recommend it. However, it is not something you should jump in and do-- you should have a pretty good work out routine going on prior to beginning this. I tell you what though, you will get hooked once you feel the endorphins kick in from such an incredible, totally exhausting work-out! There is a reason why it's called INSANITY-- its totally and complete Insane!

A day for the books!

Today has been one of those days you just sit back, sigh and admit that even though things can be totally crummy at times... that life is good and that there is a loving Heavenly Father. We took a day trip to Austin to see the sights and we took Abbi Lynn, our famous niece, with us and had such a blast. We went to the Capitol, The official Texas History Museum, 6th Street, South Congress Avenue. We had such a great time together and it was awesome to just get away.

Best news of the day is Geoff accepted a math/science teaching position in the school district he really wanted to work for! Yay! (: So life is really good.

Here are a few pics of our time in Austin.

All done.. for now!

strength

I about cried today when i bought a pair of size 8/10 pants from anthropologie.

it dawned on me. six years ago, i used to wear a size 18/20 pants.

and even though there are many frustrating things about my body as of late, i am so very grateful for my healthy body and for how strong it has become.

heavenly father has blessed me beyond what i deserve.

No blog, No facebook

After my monthly melt-down for obvious reasons (yes, I am a freak... at least I can admit it!) geoff and i had a long talk about some things that are getting to me. i guess i am constantly comparing myself to others after being on facebook and reading blogs... i am constantly thinking about how i am now 26 with no kids and how behind i feel because all i see is what others are doing and how many kids they have and how big their house is and yada yada. these little things add up and are really damaging to my way of thinking and my spirituality.

so being as clever as he is, he suggested i take a break from facebook and blogging to see if it helps improve with how i feel about life and so i am going to take his challenge so for at least 2 weeks i am going to take a little bit of a break from the internet world and just focus on me and my relationship with my father in heaven. i think i will enjoy the break from all the stuff that distracts me from real life but that doesn't mean i want to lose touch with everyone, so please feel free to email me at camibrown84@gmail.com

Also, if you need a good pick me up, check out my cousin Sarah's blog on self esteem and true beauty. it always makes me feel better after reading her posts. Hope all is well with all of you and life is treating you kindly. (:

Spring Break 2010

Geoff and I decided that this year for Spring Break we would go and see things in Texas that he had yet to see... so we were all over the place last week! We went to the Houston Livestock show & rodeo, San Antonio and of course.. the beach! It was a great week but I feel like I needed another week off before going back to work today

Geoff and I soaking in the Texas sun-- it is so beautiful here!

Geoff and Abbi flying a kite on the beach

Snuggling my favorite 4 year old

Geoff and I on the San Antonio Riverwalk Cruise Boat

Walking around the beautiful San Antonio River-walk

Me, my parents and my lil sis @ the Alamo

Geoff and I in front of the Alamo

On the San Antonio temple grounds

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo-- so much fun!

How cute is this little girl? Can't get enough of her!

Abbi's 4th Bday!

My favorite little girl turned FOUR last weekend?! Where has time gone? We had an awesome family party at my parents house. I made her a Mickey Mouse cake for her "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party". She was spoiled rotten but she is cute so she deserves it, right?