Prayers Needed for the Felts

Hello Everyone,

Well, here I sit in a hospital bed on bed rest for I do not know how long, and I just wanted to let you all know, if you haven't heard yet, that I am was in preterm labor. It has been stopped for now and I am on medication to control the contractions, because I am very early (31 weeks). My doctor did not seem too positive that I will make it to 34 weeks, but if I do I might get to go home a be on bed rest there. The baby is doing really well. I had a ultrasound yesterday. He is already 5 pounds, so if were to carry to full-term he would most likely be over 9 pounds. He is measuring in everything around 33-34 weeks, except his upper arms, which are 31-32 weeks in length (so he has Jon's arms). So he is big for his age.

I am doing well, except that I have to stay in bed for a while. I am glad that I get to eat solid food now. For the first day, I was on clear liquids only, until the contractions were under control and the possibility of a C-section right then was past. If you are inserted, I am in Toledo Hospital. I am in the Special Care Unit in Labor and Delivery, Room E. The number I can be reached at is 419-291-8348, and then ask for Keriann Felt's Room. I do also have access to the Internet and email.

Jon is having a hard time, because he has school and finals coming up. He feels guilty that he cannot be here with me all the time, but that is how life goes. He also is trying to adjust to having to do his laundry, dishes, and get himself up and ready for school. Keep him in your prayers too. I think he is having a harder time than me right now.

Well, I hope you all are doing well. Take care.
-Keriann Felt

The World is Very Small!!

I received these pictures today from Sean's parents who are serving a mission in Mexico at the Mexico City Temple Visitor's Center. The world is very small!!

Ivan is retired and I'm not working!!

Nothing has changed around here. Ivan is retired and I'm not working. Lori is still living in the basement and crochets afghans and baby booties for the family and close friends. I guess being retired wasn't what we expected! Amy came home this summer after having her heart broken and loosing a good friend (he drowned in Utah Lake during the 4th of July weekend). She is doing a little better, but it was a HUGE tragedy for her.

Ivan had a little back surgery that put him down for a month, but seems to be doing a little better than before.Kelli and Creed are doing well and are glad to have their children back in school. Doug and Deana are going through hard times, but I'm sure will pull through. Keriann and Jon are still in Ohio, but she keeps you up to date on her life. Kristy and Isaac moved to Fairfield, Idaho in July. Isaac will be teaching school - Spanish, Government, American History, and Economics. If he has time he will help coach basketball. Kristy is expecting baby #2 in March. That is it for us. We were hoping to do more this summer, but "no mon, no fun!".

Have a great day and be happy. We love you and appreciate all you do for the family. Susan and Ivan

Melvina--How does she keep up with all of them!

MELVINA ANDERSON: This summer I've been camping twice with Terri and Dewayne, once with Lori and Roland. That is, I stay in their trailers but we're camping at Terri and Dewayne's property near Argyle Canyon.

STEPHANIE ASAY AND ERIC HATTON: finished caulking inside their log home and now are working on the outside and staining it too. They've had moose, deer, and lots of hummingbirds. The swallows are building nests in the eaves and on the decks. Remember the one on Mom's porch in Blackfoot. Fun to watch but messy.

TERRI AND DEWAYNE HOLGERSON: besides camping, DeWayne worked for GSL in Cedar City and in Idaho coming home on weekends. He's back at Kennecott now. Terri had carpal tunnel surgery on one hand during summer vacation and now is back to work cooking for Granite District. They've been taking long bike rides on the Jordan River Parkway to keep in shape.

TRAVIS HOLGERSON: works in Kememer, Wyoming on a GSL coal mine project. He's finishing is electrician journeyman's license. They are nursery leaders a church trying to remember all the old songs.

RACHEL HOLGERSON AND BUDDY STEELE: Rachel is a personal care aide for disabled young adults in a home setting, part time. Buddy STEELE is a bricklayer working in Ogden. Shaylee started kindergarten and loves it and says she hasn't even had to sign the naughty book yet. Russell is second grade. They wanted to test him for a gifted school but the teacher said not to put him through it. However, he's a really active young man and puts the teacher "through" it.

JESSIE HOLGERSON AND KELLY BLACKNER: Jessie waitresses at The Spagetti Factory part-time. Kelly is on a GSL project in Evanston Wyoming for Hexcel. Alissa started kindergarten and loves it except they split her class and she has a new teacher already. Kasey is in 4th grade and is a Nintendo nerd. Kameron is in 2nd grade and plays with his friends.

CARRIE HOLGERSON AND SEAN: Carrie shifted to a day job at Zions. Keeping up with her graveyard and her kids was wearing her down. The boys (Damion and Seans sons Eli and Aaron) play softball constantly. Jadon's looking forward to playing next year. DeyJa is Thirteen and eighth grade. She has a 3.9 average because her French class pulled her grade down. "It's Hard." Sean proposed last year.

WESLEY AND BONNIE ANDERSON: Wes still doing long days at Nevada Power. Its contract negotiating time so there are threats to strike. He often works 7 days a week. Bonnie certified as a phlembotomist and works full time at the hospital. She's love to do lab research work which would mean more schooling. She completed her CNA. Heather and Micah have their home in Washington, McKenzie is growing fast and has a really calm loving nature. Megan is transferring to the Bountiful Costco which is closer to were she lives with her cousin Morgan. Rebecca is working and taking some college classes but just wants to get married and be a mother. Harley's a senior. He sounds like Wes on the phone. They love St. George.

LORI AND ROLAND LARGO: Hunting season is upon us. Roland will probably not camp just drive and day hunt. He's auto mechanicing. Mrs. Fields filed for chapter 11 reorganizational bankruptcy and Lori got a recruiting call from another company about the same time. She started her new job, Accounts Receivable Manager at Prime Insurance Monday. Her predecessor was fired a month ago so she's doing lots of catching up. She's really organized so she'll be great.

BRANDIE ASAY: Brandie sold her mobile home and moved into a new house in Draper. Shaylyn is 13 and just started Junior High so it will be an adjustment for her. Tyrone loves the computer, too. She and DeyJa are at that awkward teenage stage where you think of them as young girls and they're stretching their wings. I reminded Brandie and Carrie what they were like and to be patient. Everyone rolls their eyes at that.

Love to all. Mel

Foley Band and Soccer Pictures

These are some fun pictures we got from the Tiger News which is an awesome weekly newsletter put out by the activities director at our high school.

Ryan is one of the drum majors this year for the band. He decided not to play soccer again so he could give more time to his flute, piano, and music. He decided he also had enough extra time to be in the school musical in November.

Brock (number 9) is playing on the varsity soccer team this year. He knew he wouldn't see a lot of playing time on the varsity team, but loves the game enough to do it anyways. He is also keeping busy with College Algebra, AP World History and AP Government and Politics.

Another Wilson Arrives

Here is the update for the Wilson family.

Christopher James: C.J. was born on the 16th of May. Weighing in at 12lb 7oz (editor's note WOW!) and 23 1/2 inches long. The doctor kept telling us he thought there would be more water. However there was not. We are happy that he came out as healthy as he is. He is now over 16 lbs.

Adelaide: (4 in December) She is going to be our entomologist. She loves to collect rolly pollys, worms, grasshoppers, and any other bug that moves. She keeps a close eye on mom. Never leaving her side for more than 30 seconds.

Taylor: (4 in December) She recently went to a hotel without a swimming pool. She informed her father this was a "fake" hotel. She wanted to go to a hotel that had a swimming pool.

Charlotte (6) Charlotte started 1st grade and loves the teacher. She wanted to write a note to thank her for being her teacher. She is a very big help. We are sad she is in school all day.

Kip (36) Kip is still working for Direct. He was released as the gospel doctrine teacher. (His favorite calling) They put him in as the Elders quorum president. (His least favorite) He loves living in rural Idaho were he can take his girls fishing.

Suzanne (?) I am still recovering from having C.J. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since then I have been trying to keep the levels between 80-120. However, everything effects it. Other than that we are healthy and happy.

Suzanne

A Little Update

Here is a little update from Peter & Lori Lindhardt (from Logan Utah)...I will start with our youngest and end with the oldest in our family.

Adam (5) or A.J. - Adam loves to play all of the outdoor and indoor games with his brothers and sisters. He started kindergarten this year and is very excited to go to school. When Adam says his prayers he always tells Heavenly Father how much he loves his mom, dad, Jesus, and his family. He asks for help to be obedient and to be happy. We love being his parents.

Mason (7) - Mason is our little worker, he loves to be in the yard helping mom and dad. He can't wait until he is old enough to mow the law my himself. Mason is in second grade and doing very well. He sometimes gets a little distracted with his friends and causes a small amount of stress with his teacher. Mason has a smile that is contagious...it makes you smile just looking at him. He will turn 8 in December and is looking forward to getting Baptized in January.

Reiss (9) - Reiss is "do the job right or don't do it at all" child. He wants to do everything the right way. Reiss has many talents...one of them was a surprise to his parents when he stared in the school play in the lead role. We did not know he had it in him. Reiss is doing very well in 4th grade. He has many, many friends who love to be with him. His greatest attribute is the trust the adults have in him. Reiss is a calming influence at home, in school, and in his Church classes.

Olivia (11) - Olivia is still little spark plug in the family. She is very busy doing, creating, talking on the phone, riding her bike, reading, dancing, and playing with her friends type of girl. When Olivia prayers you get the sense that she knows who she is talking too. She carries on a wonderful conversation with her Heavenly Father with a lot of meaning. Olivia is busy in school this year as a 5th grader. She is doing very well in school. Olivia truly loves life and all it has to offer.

Zackary (13) - Zack is soon to be the tallest in the family. He is now 6 feet tall (almost caught up to dad) and we can't seem to keep him in clothes that fit. Zack is a very good baby sitter for his mom and dad. He knows how to have fun with his brother and sisters. They always miss him when he is gone. Someday Zack will be an artist, he has a very creative mind. Zack is doing well with Priesthood responsibilities, without complaining. He loves the charter school that he attends (8th grade). Zack is our straight "A" student who loves to learn.

Ryan (16) - Ryan is working at little Caesars and attending Logan High school as a Junior. He finds plenty of time to play with his friends. We don't get to see him as much anymore. Last month Ryan was ordained to the office of a Priest. It was a very spiritual day for him and his family. He recently got his drivers licence, he is now thinking he needs his own car. Ryan loves to climb the mountain that we live by, he has to keep busy. He has been a good example to his friends in doing things the right way.

Amber (17) - Amber is a Senior this year at Logan High. She is very excited that this is the last year. Amber is very busy with her friends (like Ryan), we don't see her very much around the house. She is the Laurel president that also keeps her busy. Amber has a great personality that brings a lot of comfort to stressed out people. She a beautiful young women with a very strong testimony in the Gospel.

Peter (40) - Peter is working at TTM technologies as the Quality Manager (over 19 years), this continues to be a very good job for him and one that he likes very much. He is currently the Stake Executive Secretary for the Stake Presidency. Working with the Stake President has been a spiritual highlight for the past 2 years. Having a busy schedule is the norm, if it was any different it would not be good. Peter loves his wife and family very much...he is extremely grateful for the Gospel and the spiritual foundation it has provided in his life. He loves to do things with his kids, and working around the house completely the many things on the "to do" list.

Lori (41) - Lori is working in the Lindhardt home keeping things in order, she is definitely the hardest worker in the family. She is currently the Primary President that keeps her very busy. The parents and children love her very much. Lori stays very busy volunteering in the schools and transporting our kids to and fro. She loves to decorate our home...it really is awesome to have things change like they do, it keeps things interesting. Lori has many friends who depend on her, she too has a smile that is contagious (like Mason).

We are grateful for our heritage. We would not be who we are without the foundation that was established many, many years ago. To all of our extended family...we love you...please keep the faith and doing what you are doing...our children (all of our children) depend on it.

Peter and Lori Lindhardt

The Tale of the Toothbrush

Not much to report for our family. I received my Black Belt in Taekwondo, Breanna and Rebecca will be testing for their Black Belts in a week. I’m still working as a consultant on HR Payroll software for a company in Wisconsin. All of the kids are back in school, so my wife is missing them now. Here’s your painful story for the day. My youngest (18 months) was chewing on her toothbrush and tripped. It was an adult sized toothbrush and she managed to shove it through the soft palette in the back of her mouth. Ouch. Anyway, after an emergency room trip (it happened at night after the cheaper options were closed, of course), the doctor said that there wasn’t any artery involvement and that it’d close on its own in 10 to 14 days. The hole is the size of your ring finger. Nobody warned me that this child would be so much fun!

Anyway, we hope everyone is well and doing what’s right.

The May Family, Robert, Breanna, Landon, Ashley, Rebecca, Robert, Ayesha, Donald, Samuel, Andrea

The Christmas Present

It has been a very busy summer here in Toledo. Jon did clinical research in the Emergency Department at the University Hospital. At the end of September, he is going to a conference in Iowa to present some of his research. He loved working in the ER! Now he knows that he could be happy as a doctor in the Emergency Room. He is looking forward to seeing if there is something else he likes more when he starts rotations next years. He has started his second year of medical school at the University of Toledo in August. He is loving the medical field much more than his undergrad in Chemical Engineering.

In April, I was called to serve in the Stake Young Women's. I was able to go to Girl's Camp this summer. It was fun to get to know the Young Women better. I am constantly amazed at the strength there. Jon and I were also able to participate in a Wilderness Youth Conference. It was full of hard, growing experiences for the leaders as well as the youth.

For Christmas this year, Jon and I are getting an addition to the family. We are having a boy! I have been doing really well as far as the pregnancy goes. I have passed two kidney stones in the last 4 months, but I see that as a preparation of things to come.

That is what has been keeping us busy. I look forward to seeing what all of you have been up to.

-Keriann Felt

Foley's Idaho Summer Pictures

Brock (my oldest) and RJ (Rulon's oldest) spent over a month in Blackfoot this summer working on the farm for their grandparents. All the rest of the Foley children and I spent a week there helping as well. These are some fun pictures we took while we were there!

Ryan Foley
A man in his tractor!
Another beautiful Idaho sunset. A man (Jerry) in his field.

Brock and RJ with grandpa looking on.
RJ.

Felt Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,


Merry Christmas, everyone! 2007 has been a busy year for Jon and me. The waiting for interviews. Receiving rejection after rejection. Then, waiting to know if Jon would be accepted to medical school somewhere. It was down to the wire, but finally a "big" envelope came in March. Jon was accepted to the University of Toledo Medical School in Toledo, Ohio. It was a very joyous day!



Jon graduated on the 27 th of April from Brigham Young University with his bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. That same day, we moved from Provo to Stansbury Park (Tooele), Utah, where we lived with Jon's parents for the summer to try and save a little money. Jon continued to work for the "Saints At War" project the whole summer, and I continued working at the Provo Temple until the beginning of May. This meant commuting from Stansbury Park to Provo everyday for a few weeks, and then, a few times a week for the rest of the summer. It wasn't too bad.




The middle of May, we took a trip to Ohio to find housing and take a little vacation. We visited Kirtland, Ohio, a church history site I had not yet seen. It was early in the tourist season, and therefore, we were some of the only people around. After spending a few days in Kirtland, we headed off to Toledo. We stayed with some friends, Steven and Sherri Ziemer. We were able to find an apartment fairly quickly and spent the rest of the time just enjoying time with our friends.



On the 23rd of July, we started or journey across the country. Starting with loading the ABF trailer. Jon's Engineering major came in handy and we were able to fit all we owned in six feet of the moving truck. This was especially good since we paid by the foot, and we thought it would take eight feet. ABF was the way to go when moving a long distance, because we didn't have to drive the moving van and worry about gas and/or breaking down. My parents and sister, Lori, help us move. It was wonderful to have their help! We did a little sightseeing on the drive. We stopped in Idaho Falls, at Mt. Rushmore, and at a family friend's in Ames, Iowa. Then while my family was here, we went to Kirtland, Ohio; Niagara Falls, New York; Rochester, New York; and Palmyra, New York. It was fun to see so much, but a very tiring adventure.



Jon started school on the 13th of August. He really likes medical school, and we both love Ohio! I started a blog of our adventures here in Ohio (http://jonandkeriann.blogspot.com/). Check it out. We have met tons of new people, but miss those we have moved away from. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.



Love, Jon and Keriann Felt

Wilyums News

In 2007, the Wilyums had a “building” kind of year. On the family front, we finished a nearly 18-month-long basement addition project. Kay’s business is continuing work on a software product that will be ready for market in 2008. Jason had an eventful year at Milestones, the 11th year of business, which involved changing warehouse partners in the Chicago area and negotiating a new contract structure with a longtime Chinese partner (which resulted in Milestones having their first “own Chinese employee”). A highlight of Jason’s year was his first trip to China in 6 years. It is hard to describe the unique feeling of being in the midst of the oldest civilization on earth, which at the same time is growing faster than any other.

IAN. Ian probably gets the award for “Most Exciting Wilyums” in 2007. After graduating from Bellevue High School in June, he spent a few weeks in the summer with some friends in China . He visited Kunming , took a 1,000 mile train trip from there to Beijing , and finally ended with a few days in Taipei . He was glad to be with friends who could speak Chinese, and who had relatives there who could also show them around. Some of his stronger impressions of China were how cheap things were to buy, and how crazy the drivers are there. Ian started University of Washington this fall (shown moving into the dorms in the photo at left) and loves it. He is heading toward a degree in Computer Science/Engineering. He has a great on-campus job working at the Department of Education maintaining computers and other electronic equipment. When Ian is not busy with school or girlfriend, you can bet he’ll be playing with his tech toys. Latest favorites are his iPhone and a very powerful computer.

JOSH. Josh, now 15 going on 16, continued his direction of musical involvement this year, performing in a couple of rock bands connected to some classes and camps he’s been part of. He is shown at right performing guitar and lead vocals for a rock band camp he attended at the Experience Music Project in Seattle this summer. He also was able to make the Belle Aires, a jazz choral musical group at Bellevue High School . Perhaps because of his musical prowess or just his low-key, easygoing, friendly nature, Josh seems to have lots of friends and especially girlfriends these days. Josh continues to earn money through a couple of seasonal opportunities, baseball umpiring in the spring, and being a drummer/stiltwalker/candy-cane-hander-outer at the nightly “Snowflake Lane” Christmas show in downtown Bellevue through the winter holiday season. Josh took driver training this past summer and is looking forward to getting his license in April.

TAYLOR. At age 12, almost 13, Taylor is our last true “kid”, still light-hearted without all the cares and complications of young adulthood. The pic at left shows Taylor clowning around with a label maker. Continues to get good grades and never needs prodding in that area. Taylor had a good season of baseball this spring, but over time, golf has become the real passion. He takes lessons every week now, and never stops talking about it. He joined his first real competitive tournament in fall and finished dead last out of 100+ players, but is the new guy on the block and undaunted by that tough start. Taylor is following Josh’s steps by singing in advanced choir, and also really loves that. While it has been a really good year for this great-attitude kid, there was also some drama. In the winter during basketball season, Taylor developed PSVT, Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia, which basically means that the electrical impulses controlling your heartbeat get out of whack and your heart beats 200+ times per minute! After a couple of trips to the emergency room, we were able to get the right treatment and now Taylor takes a beta blocker to control the problem. Fortunately, though it is dramatic (as is the cure in the emergency room, where they literally stop your heart for a couple of seconds to let it ‘reboot’), it is not life threatening, so he will be just fine.

And so was life for The Wilyums in 2007 . . .

Brock Foley Turns Sweet 16!!!

By Vivian Foley

On October 30,2007 Brock Foley turned sweet 16. He got his driver's license 2 days later, which was longer than he thought he should wait. We bought a family car for the use of the children, and he is already taking himself where he needs to go (HURRAY!). He had a big bash on Saturday with his friends and Ryan is seen here holding his birthday cheesecakes while he blows out his candle. Brock also got a new suit for his Birthday and he was ordained a Priest yesterday.

Brower Bits Volume 12, Number 2

October 2007

Welcome!

This newsletter will be the last of an era. If you haven’t heard, I am planning to stop printing and e-mailing the newsletter unless you specifically re quest that I do so. From this newsletter on, you will find the newsletter as a blog at: http://www.browerbitsonline.blogspot.com./

On my blog I will post each piece of information (including pictures) as I receive it from you...that way no news will be old news. I will also put together a complete newsletter every six months and post it as a large chunk on my blog. I will notify you by e-mail when the complete edition has been posted.

If you just don’t use the internet or won’t look at a blog, I will still e-mail or print you a copy of the newsletter, but you have to care enough to let me know!!!! Never fear, I will still continue to pester you for information!! My next newsletter is due in April, feel free to write or share news anytime before then and I will post it expeditiously on my blog.

Vivian Foley
13165 Lock Lane
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 637-9228
vivian_foley@yahoo.com
http://www.browerbitsonline.blogspot.com/

Newsbits

What People Are Saying about Brower Bits Online

"GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! " (Judy)

"I took a look and this is great! Well organized, convenient to navigate, and nice how you have interspersed photos with text (when you have it)...now I think I will turn off the email reminder I still get every couple of days to "See what’s happening with the Brower Family", when nothing is really happening on that web site at all." (Lydja)

"I love the blog. I check it quite regularly."(Keriann)

"Wow, the blog is great. I guess I should have looked into the family website. Anyway I will repent and use the blog." (Susan)

Mission Calls
By Joan Lindhardt

Just wanted to let you know that our grandsons, Spencer, (son of Daniel) has received his mission call to Rio De Janerio Brazil and leaves Dec 18 for the MTC in Sao Paulo and Tyson (son of Jeff) has received his mission call to the Baltic Mission - Russian speaking and enters the MTC in Provo Feb 27.

So Busy, They're Dizzy
By Melvina Anderson

Stephanie Asay and Eric have moved into their new home in Heber, Timberlake. They have lots of work to finish including caulking the logs. So far its rained every weekend which slows things up. Stephanie has also transferred her office to Park City located in the Smith's Grocery store. Now she can get to work in a half hour instead of an hour. We helped mud and paint. I couldn't look up without getting dizzy so in the end I wasn't a lot of help. It's a neat house. Nickolas gets out of the Navy in November. They will probably settle in Arizona. Brandie Cloward's daughter Shaelyn is now in West Jordan Junior High.

I camped twice this summer with Lori and Roland (Largo)and Terri and DeWayne (Holgerson) once in Fairview Canyon, the other at Terri and DeWayne's property in Argyle Canyon. The kids saw a mother bear and her cub. Instead of hiding in the trailer Rachel, DeJa and Shaylee went looking for tracks.

Part of George's job is being outsourced to India in November. There is another year on the rest of the contract so he'll still be working. He supervises the night shift.

Wes and Bonnie love being grandparents. Heather, Micah and MacKenzie are doing great. Bonnie and Rebecca are taking college classes.I'm a DUP VP and as I thought my assignment is seeing that the Cemetery gets weeded so I hear a lot about why others can't. It reminds me of Mom walking around the neighborhood and weeding people's yards until she couldn't tell the flowers from the weeds. I could have kept her busy since one side is all weeds.I did get copies of Arza Hinckley's journal from Marsha Mason (Keith Mason is her husband; he is still in the nursing home but was doing a little better). One history was written by Joel Bowen. I'll send them on.

BABY NEWS for Liebes Family
By Judy Liebes

About the only new information in our family is a baby boy who is due to arrive January 5, 2008. His name will be Jacob Donald Liebes - Jake for short. Courtney is now in kindergarten and LOVES it. Everything else seems to just be going along the same.

Bronson Dunn Born June 13, 2007
By Liz Dunn

Life is starting to get back to normal for us. We had a son born a little early. Bronson was born June 13, 2007 and was expected August 24th. He spent two months in the NICU and overcame many obstacles. At birth, he weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz. He now weighs 9 lbs. 8 oz. Bronson is a miracle and a really great baby.Dylan is two and lots of fun. He got to spend time in Idaho and Utah with grandparents and cousins. He loves the tractors at Grandpa May’s and we still can’t drive by the hospital without Dylan mentioning Bronson.Marc is enjoying work. We still live in Olathe, Kansas. (A suburb of Kansas City) Our only complaint is we are far away from family. Thank you to all the family. We couldn’t have made it without the support and prayers.

Retired and Tired
By Susan Brower

Kelli and Creed are adding the stress to our lives, as only Kelli can. Kelli had open heart surgery on May 9 in Rochester Minn. at the Mayo Clinic. She had to go there because SLC doesn't do the kind of surgery she needed. She had two tears in her pericardium that is the sac that surrounds the heart and protects it from blunt force. It was so damaged that they couldn't just repair it, they took the entire sac. She was there for a week, then home on bed rest for a while and wasn't supposed to work for a year. Her insurance company decided that she didn't need to stay for a week and they don't want to pay for more than 1 day. Isn't it funny that the insurance knows more than the doctors. We won't go into that. Joseph is 12 almost 13 and in 7th grade. He is in the middle school and loves changing classes and being the oldest class. Kaitie is 9 and in 4th grade at Midway Elementary in Menan. She has lost interest in school since it is so boring. She needs more activity. I think she is a little spoiled also. I'm sure she will settle down. Bryce in almost 4 and in a pre-school with his stepsister Kenna who is 3 1/2, They are so funny, what one doesn't think of the other one does. Ben is 2 and tries to keep up - he is very persistent and usually gets in trouble by pushing someone down. He loves the farm and loves to go with Creed.

Lori is still here and keeps busy sewing quilts and doing crocheted blankets for most of the weddings and babies of her friends. She still watches Ben and Bryce from time to time and of course she plays with Tyson and Kristy. They do a bit of running around and we all play card games as a family. (rook, up and down, head and foot, rummykub, and golf)Amy is probably sending her bit so I'll just say she is attending BYU and will be graduating in April 2008. She is a live wire and is hard to keep up with also.

Kristy and Isaac live a few blocks from us. Isaac just got a part time job in the School District helping with the Spanish speaking students. He helps them understand their school work and keeps them on track. He has about 8 students in the junior high. It's not quite enough hours to support the family, but it is an in with the district. He wants to teach Spanish, but may have to do part time school at BYU-I to do English as a second language. Anyway, they spend a lot of time here and we love having Tyson here. He is almost walking and has 2 teeth. Kristy is so proud of him, but so are we! He will be 1 in November.

Ivan is officially retired and tired. He reads a lot and still does some computer repair and consulting. He is currently trying to put up an antenna to hook the neighbors up to high speed internet. We bought a camp trailer in April and have only used it a few times. We love it so far and may be will take it out of the driveway soon!. Actually we spent 3 days in Yellowstone park and really enjoyed it. When it got so hot in July and August, I slept in there with the air conditioner on! I quit working at the dairy the end of April and attended Jon's graduation with the family. Then the end of July we went with Keriann and Jon to Toledo Ohio! We were gone 2 weeks and enjoyed seeing some of the country on the east side of the Mississippi. The church sites were especially nice. We didn't take the trailer because we didn't have a vehicle big enough to pull it that far. It was nice to be with Keriann and Jon and get them settled in. They have a great family ward and will be a great part of it. We love our families and we love the Brower clan. We miss spending time with all of you, but as our families grow we kind of get busy with them.

Houses, Houses, Everywhere
By Connie Brower

This summer has been rather crazy for us. Or maybe it's that we have gone crazy. In April we finally made the move and bought a house in Mesa, AZ after looking for several years. I asked the real estate agent ,who has been very patient and kind to us these past few years .I think maybe she thought she had shown us every house in leisure world. Anyway I asked her if she thought we were ever really going to buy a house and she said she thought we would probably spend more years looking.After being so careful and spending so much time looking in Arizona. We came home and had a chance to sell our pasture ground and took it. In order to not have to pay so many taxes we put our money into a 1031 which allows you to put that money back into real estate. Anyway to make a long story short, our real-estate agent here told us about a house on the Salmon river in Challis . We looked at it once and said we'll take it. I am quite sure we are crazy because all we have done this summer is travel back and forth mowing lawns and taking care of houses. Also trying to furnish a house in Challis is a challenge because Challis is a very small town with not to many businesses there. I have never spent so much time in DI's, Big lots, dollar stores and etc. So we have also been busy hauling house furnishings back and forth. Anyway we are worn out and finally last week end got the Challis house winterized (Just in time for the snow storm today thank goodness.)

Well the rest of the story is that we are now getting the Blackfoot house winterized and getting ready to go to Arizona and furnish the house there at least we won't be traveling back and forth between two houses and Mesa is a big city with lots of nice estate sales to furnish your house. I really began to wish we could have another wedding reception this summer to help get things rolling but that would have been just as much work so I soon forgot that idea.The crazy part is what do we need three houses for. Other than to keep us really busy and out of mischief. I forgot to mention the other thing that has made this so crazy is that Jerry hurt his shoulder (rotator cup) in Feb., and so in between traveling he has been in physical therapy all summer. He has improved and is about done with therapy,Thank goodness just in time for traveling to AZ. Also he will be able to help lift and haul things better now. He found it rather challenging with one hand, So did I.There's room for tents and trailers if anyone wants to camp and fish,hike,float the river, or just relax, Give us a call we love company. Also if the winter gets long, cold and depressing, or if your just interested in seeing what Mesa is like come visit us.

Holy Toledo!!
By Keriann Felt

Jon and I have moved to Toledo, Ohio. We love Ohio! It is so beautiful here! Jon started Medical School on August 13th. He is doing well. He has had two exams already and has done well on both of them. I am just a stay at home wife which everyone seems to think is weird. I love being at home and keeping things under control. Jon and I have been put in the nursery in our ward. It was rough the first few weeks, but the Nursery Leader is very organized and has structured things so well, that things are going really well now. Jon says it is even better than the beginning when he was basically a bouncer for the really rowdy boys. We have had some crazy adventures in moving and starting our life out here. We started a blog to let our family and friends see our adventures. Here is where it can be found:
www.jonandkeriann.blogspot.comIt has been fun to learn how to blog and to hear others comments on how life is going.

Just a few things that have happened to us. We had our car broken into in the parking lot of our apartment and they stole our radio. It has been hard to have no music, but we are hesitant to replace it, because it would probably just get stolen again. Luckily, they didn't break anything to get into our car. They were able to jimmy the lock and not ruin the electric locks. Then the week after that happened, we lost our hard drive on our computer. It is only 2 years old and was still under warranty! So we got a new hard drive for free. DEL even came out a installed it. The sad part was that we were afraid that we would loose all the data on our old hard drive, but through a lot of prayer, miraculously we were able to get to the data and move it over to the new hard drive. It was a amazing! We are so grateful that even though we are so far away from family we are being looked out for. It is hard to be so far away, but I know that Jon and I are not alone. That is a great comfort. We hope you are all well.

Doug and Deana Brower Update
By Deana Brower

Doug is still working at Robertson Supply. He was recently given his own accounts as a salesman and is enjoying his job. He hopes to move even further up in the company. I am not working at Jakers anymore. I am now working at Vino Rosso, a wine, beer, and gourmet food shop in the Downtown area of Idaho Falls. I love it there, and feel that it was a good change for me while I wait to get out of the night time job into a day time job. Raven is in the 3rd grade this year and absolutely loves school. She is an amazing student that excels at all subjects. She is reading at almost a 5th grade level and enjoys the ability to read chapter books like Harry Potter. Scarlet started Kindergarten this fall. She was nervous about it at first but has since jumped in head first and can't wait to go to school everyday. It has been an adjustment for me to not have any children home in the morning, but I am using the time to walk/jog around the river and enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book in the local coffee house. We hope all is well with all of the family. Everyone have a wonderful Fall!

Ian Williams Off To College!
By Lydja Williams

Thought you might enjoy some photos (photos can be viewed on the blog) of Ian moving into his dorm at the University of Washington yesterday.He shares a room with Maxwell (Max) Burke of Phoenix, Arizona, who we just missed meeting yesterday. Ian says he is a perfect dorm mate, friendly, yet independent.The dorm is served on one side by a cafeteria that serves a wide variety of food including the campus favorite – Pagliacci Pizza. The other side sports a snack bar and internet café named, interestingly enough, "Ian’s Domain". Ian feels right at home.Ian hated all the pictures, but from a brief email today, is delighted with campus living so far, especially the freedom to come and go as he pleases.

Another cool thing for Ian is that he has already tied down a campus job. He has been working for the past three weeks already as a computer technician for the Department of Education. Basically, he and 2-3 other students set up and maintain all the computers for the professors and staff of the department. He finds this a vast improvement from his previous job at Dairy Queen!

Marc and Carol Vaughn Update
By Carol Vaughn

Well, there's still not a lot of change going on for Marc and I. Marc is still going to school, taking 17 credits this semester and doing well so far (he's about a quarter of the way through). He quit his job at Acres (a food market) and now has an on-campus job refereeing. We're still living in Pleasant View in the basement of Marc's parents. It hasn't been bad, since there's an apartment set-up so we have quite a bit of privacy. I have a job teaching Spanish at Wahlquist Jr. High. It's been going well so far. It would be going better if I hadn't been sick the entire time (although things are getting better). No, I don't have a terminal illness, but I do have a terminal "condition": I'm twelve weeks pregnant. :) So that's been exciting. I've sworn to never work and be pregnant at the same time again...but sometimes you don't know what's going to happen in life. Right now we're focusing on getting Marc through school, not on what "might" happen.

Robert and Breanna May Family Update
By Robert May

Things are going well in the May house. School has started, so it’s a busy time, plus Breanna’s thyroid is still messed up, so that’s hard for her, but she’s doing o.k. The kids are all healthy, which is always a plus. Andrea is already six months old. They just keep growing up and we never have time to catch up. We’re entering the busy time of year with birthday’s and such. We’ll have 7 birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and our anniversary all between August 28th and the end of the year. Something is going on every week.Ashley turned twelve this year and the horns grew and her head started rotating in circles. Do all girls go crazy when they hit twelve?? At times she’s very grown up and happy, but sometimes she’s just nuts. Must be a girl thing. Landon is known by everyone in his school, and by ALL of the teachers in the school. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing . . . Landon’s birthday is today, and he’s old enough to go to dances now. Scary. I dread the day when he can drive, and its only two years away.

I’ve been called as an Assistant Stake Clerk over Technology in our stake. I have a much bigger appreciation for Stake Conference now that I have to make sure that we’re broadcasting to all of the buildings in our stake, and making sure that everything else is in place for the conference. I didn’t know that so much work went into stake conference, but there is quite a bit. Overall, it’s a nice calling—I’ve had much worse. We had a social evening with the stake presidency and the high council and it was pretty funny to find out that I had more kids than anyone else in the room. Makes me feel old.I will hopefully be receiving my Black Belt of Taekwondo sometime around March. That’s been a nice stress reliever.

I’m still working for a consulting company writing software for a company that makes healthcare software. It’s a lot of fun, since we’re using the latest and greatest technologies (WPF, WCF, XAML, and a bunch of other acronyms). There’s so much to know in the programming space that it’s hard to keep up with it. Currently I’m acting as the scrummaster for a team of about 12 people (3 teams really) plus coordinating a couple of other projects. It keeps me busy.Other than that, we’re pretty busy with life. We love where we live and hope to stay here for a long time.

Arrival of McKenzie Jean Beecher

McKenzie Jean Beecher was born August 4, 2007. She is the daughter of Micah and Heather Beecher, grandaughter of Wesley and Bonnie Anderson, and great grandaughter of Melvina Anderson.

Jennifer Bruggeman Attends Workman Reunion
By Jennifer Bruggeman

The Workman Reunion was held in Hurricane, Utah. The weekend of the 14th and 15th of September. It started out at the church and everyone brought their information and sat around and shared family stories. I didn't go to that, but my mom said she couldn't tear my dad away.
Saturday morning a few of us went to the temple and did baptisms and initiatory. There weren't very many of us, but there was a special closeness and some neat spiritual experiences. What a joy to be able to do work for your own family.

Next we met at the Hurricane Pioneer museum and had a tour. Hurricane is where Jacob Lindsay's 3rd wife Fanny is buried. Most of the family there are descendants from Abraham Workman. I'm not sure if that is Jacob Lindsay's brother or son, I just knew that it wasn't our branch. It was neat to see a representative from the Nancy Reader branch.

My dad learned that he was named after James Thomas Workman. I think that we figured out that it was Josephine Workman's dad. So that was neat to know where your name came from.
After the museum we toured around different sites in Hurricane. Jacob Lindsay is buried in Virgin, UT and we spent some time in the cemetery there. Then we drove to a ranch that is supposedly where Jacob L and Fanny raised there family. A homestead of 25 acres. We went to the park and had lunch, and then my son had a football game so we had to leave.

That night they had a special session at the temple. They met at 6:30 and did endowments and sealing. It was very well planned and exciting to sees o much activity centered around the temple. If anyone is interested in temple cards, there is an official family historian named Ken Workman and he can supply them. I can get you in contact with him.

Also there is a website I believe it is Workmanfamily.com. If not type in John Workman family organization in Google and you will find it. There weren't a lot of people there, but there certainly was a family resemblance. My dad has the "Workman eyes." Anyway-it was fun and exciting for those of us that were there. Talk to you soon.

Foley Fun
By Vivian Foley

Sean has been working as a contractor for the Federal Reserve Bank since June. He enjoys his job, the shorter hours, and not taking work home with him. He doesn’t enjoy the commute or being a contractor, but we hope that the contracting part will end soon. We celebrated five years of being the Richmond Branch on the 30th of September. That makes five years that he has been Branch President!

We took advantage of having Melody and Scott living in Hawaii and took our whole family to Hawaii for a couple of weeks at the end of May. It was a wonderful trip! We especially loved camping by the ocean, the Polynesian Culture Center, beautiful water falls, adventurous hikes, lots of beach playing and relaxing, and being with the Jackmans! When I took Ryan for his physical at the end of August the Doctor asked me how he got sand in his ear (not too many beaches in Missouri). I guess he just wanted to keep a souvenir close by!

Brock is turning 16 on October 30th!! He is playing the drum in the marching band, just finished playing soccer on the JV squad, looking forward to having his drivers license, looking forward to dating, and managed to be on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

Ryan is playing the flute in the marching band, just finished playing soccer on the JV squad, playing the piano a lot, asking for piano lessons in addition to his flute lessons, and also managed to be on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

Emily and Branden are living a quieter life for this year. They are in 8th grade and will enter High School with all of its craziness next year. Sage is in 4th grade and competing for her 2nd year at a level 4 in gymnastics.

As for me, I am really looking forward to Brock getting his license and taking some of the taxi responsibilities of my shoulders so I can get some other things done. We have the new family search program in our area and I love working on it and combining all of the duplicated work that has been done in our family. Some day I may even find some more temple work that needs to be done!

Joseph Workman Brower
(This is the 4th part of the history transcribed by James)

While we was there Tom and AC, went out on the canal and they worked for a guy that had teams, on the canal. It was northwest of Toppinish quit a ways. So we was out there and the team I had was just colts and I had quit a time with them. One time while I was driving them they just got scared of something and turned right around inside and came right back toward me and I scared them back the other way. I don't know how they even done it. Then when we come in from there we had to walk clear from there over to Zillah.

That was after AC come out of the army. Steve and him went in the army and they was in almost two years I believe he said. They went to Ft. Lewis and they trained and then they got in an old company and they trained soldiers all the time they was there. He said they sure would like to of went but they kept them there all the rest of the time. And while they was there, why Apostle Ballard, Apostle Ballard was over the mission over in that country, and he set them apart as elders. Apostle Ballard was also down when we as in Grants Pass, at that time too. I can remember him there but I don't think he was an apostle at that time, I think that was before he was an apostle.

So after that we left Zillah and we went over to Union Gap and worked in the sugar factory. There was Tom and Frank and Ora Gibson, Ora's my sister, they come out from Burley. I think Tom was on the spinners and Frank was on the furnace. Tom and Frank rented a house there and I stayed with them and Father would come over once in a while from Zillah. And there was Tom and Adria and Frank and Ora lived there. AC come there out of the army. I don't remember whether he came out for just a furlough or whether it's just out of the army. I can remember him coming for a visit. At that time at Union Gap I believe I started out on the beet end and while I was on the beet end they had a fellow on the kelly presses, that's were it took all the rough stuff out of the syrup--- it goes through the kelly presses. And when he had to change that he had to go up and shut a valve off then he would open it up and let the kelly press out. Well, all of us was around, the ones that was working around different places. When it was time he went over there and opened the Kelly press up and didn't turn the valve off so that shot everything right out on him, the steam. And we went out and cut his clothes off and his shoes off and he was just like when you scald a chicken. And we took them off and took him over to where they was supposed to come out and get him and we could see him and all he said was 'Oh My God, 0 My God.'

And I'll bet it was an hour, better than an hour before they come and got him. I don't know why it took so long, but I guess that they just didn't. At that time they just didn't have anything to do with scald and so he lived till the next day and died. So, I guess that must have been when they put me on the Kelly presses, cause I remember going on the presses after that, I worked there till it was over.

Let's see, yea, then I guess Frank and Ora left there and went back to Burley again and Tom stayed out there. Then in the spring we went over to Toppinish and they were building a sugar factory there. We worked in the sugar factory, Tom and I did and Father did too. And oh, I don't know, we had worked to long until the mechanics went out on a strike over in another place in Washington. So they came up there and worked over there and I think they were the one's that started for a strike there so they went on a strike there for more wages. Well, I didn't think about it. I don't know why I didn't stay, but when they went on a strike Tom and I went out together. We walked over to the office and a clerk come out and he pointed to Tom and he says there's a guy that'll never get back on and it made Tom mad and Tom says take them glasses off and so he took off the glasses and they went at it for just a while and went down wrestling. They stopped it.

Then from there we quit the sugar factory and went out thinning beets. Then from there we went to Hooper, Utah, and the reason we went to Hooper, Utah they was putting up a factory and we went to work at that. I don't know how we got wind of it less it was through the sugar company or something, I can't remember. But any way at Hooper we lived right down pretty close to where we was building the factory. Eccles was the one building the sugar factory. Father was running a place where you made steam for the hoist where they run their hoist to raise up stuff and I was working with the brick layers, they called them hood carriers and I was wheeling brick. The Hooper church was only two or three blocks from there. I forget the name of the people I worked for on the bricks, it was a separate contractor that I worked for and that was in the summer of 1919. We left in the fall of 1919 and Father and I Went over to Salt Lake. I guess he got me the job, I don't know, but I got a job with a contractor making side walks. I forgot what his name was, and I worked them side walks for a while, well, it was till late fall I worked for him. Then early in the spring of 1920 I Went to work for the Rio Grande Lumber Company, that was something to do with Utah Lumber Company, and I was delivering lumber with a horse and a wagon. The lumber would come in on the train and we would unload it. A lot of times we would take a contract after work and get so much a thousand for unloading. I was driving one team and Dewey Barlow was on another team. I worked there for all that summer. And Saturday, if we didn't work on Saturday evening then they'd put someone out there to watch the place and I would get that once in a while. And then you'd get paid the same as if you was on there on Sundays. They had a Model T truck that they would deliver some lumber with and they sent me out on that sometimes and then they had a Nash truck. While I was there why I would start it up and drive around the yard. I learned how to do it. So I worked there during the summer. There was one time during the summer that the boss that was over us, the foreman, wanted me to work one weekend and I said no. I thought it'd take me longer to do it, it was a big load of lumber and I said I'll bet you $10.00 that you can't do that in so long a time and he took me up on it. I think, I forget whether it was 2 hours, but he took me up and he beat the time a little bit on me. So I lost. I didn't think he could do it. So I had to spend my time and I got paid for it and had to turn it over to him. He made more money than I did. So, I worked there that fall, that was the place I liked to work. But as soon as the bad weather come why they'd only use just a few men so then they laid me off there.

Then, Tom wanted somebody to come out in the spring out to Washington, he'd rented a place. So I went out to Washington in the spring of 1921 and was out with him. And we planted beets on March the 3rd. Out there it wasn't early, whenever that gets ready. . . So I stayed with him and I think at one time Father come out after the beets was out. When I was on Tom's place I didn't get any pay for that at all.

After Tom left why I farmed for Sterling H. and Ethel Lewis, I raised beets out of Toppinish and I... we got 20 ton to the acre. I got $30 a month and 10% of the net profit. I probably should have got more than that. Then after we finished that, Webster Wallace and I finished plowing the ground then I left for Salt Lake City.

In the fall of 1922 I worked for Baldwin Radio in the winding department, Armus was foreman. The winding department is where they made radio headsets. And then, they went under the hands of receivers.

Then I bought a Model A bug for $90.00 to drive to work at Murray smelter that was in 1923. Rider was my foreman, I worked there for about 13 months, I was on the blast furnace, a tapper. Then I quit there in the spring of 1924.

I worked on the road between Wendover and Salt Lake, that's out on the Salt Lake Desert. I was driving team on the wheel scraper. They dumped their stuff right from the railroad; they'd dump it down and then we'd haul that out and put it on the road through the desert there.
Then in 1924 in the fall I went to American Falls for Steve Belac. That was stacking grain and combining, I was bagging on the machine in the fall for him.

In the winter of 1924 I went back to Salt Lake City. I worked for a short time for a hide company. What they done was salted them and after so long they'd shake the salt off and put em out to cure off. I worked there but that was only a short time job.

Then in the spring in 1925 I went out and worked for Drumick Construction Company. There was a boy there in Salt Lake and Bill, my brother, and I shipped out there from Salt Lake and worked on the road. It was team work, I was driving team on a fresno then the fellow that was on the caterpillar he was just a young fellow he come out to Salt Lake and he didn't seem to know much about it, so they gave it to me. They put me on it and so I stayed on there and used the caterpillar to pull it, they called it a scarefice, it went on the roads and dug up all the rocks and stuff and then they throwed that off. That was out in Stanley Basin.

Then in the fall I went back to Steve's place and then back to Salt Lake then that fall I went back to Idaho Falls with a Wilford Johnson and we topped beets out there for a Bingham till we finished. Then picking spuds that fall. Then the winter of 25 after topping beets we went back to Salt Lake.

In the winter of 25 Tom, he had a contract carrying mail and he wanted me to come up and help him. It took two outfits from Ashton to Guild in the winter time. So we each had four head of horses and I took from Harrison Ranch up to Guild. Then in the spring of 1926 we finished that on the Star Route. I received $45 a month and board and room.

Mission Calls!!

By Joan Lindhardt

Just wanted to let you know that our grandsons, Spencer, (son of Daniel) has received his mission call to Rio De Janerio Brazil and leaves Dec 18 for the MTC in Sao Paulo and Tyson (son of Jeff) has received his mission call to the Baltic Mission - Russian speaking and enters the MTC in Provo Feb 27.

What People are Saying About Brower Bits Online

"GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! " (Judy)

"I took a look and this is great! Well organized, convenient to navigate, and nice how you have interspersed photos with text (when you have it)...now I think I will turn off the email reminder I still get every couple of days to “See what’s happening with the Brower Family”, when nothing is really happening on that web site at all." (Lydja)

"I love the blog. I check it quite regularly."(Keriann)

"Wow, the blog is great. I guess I should have looked into the family website. Anyway I will repent and use the blog." (Susan)

So Busy, They're Dizzy

By Melvina Anderson

Stephanie Asay and Eric have moved into their new home in Heber, Timberlake. They have lots of work to finish including caulking the logs. So far its rained every weekend which slows things up. Stephanie has also transferred her office to Park City located in the Smith's Grocery store. Now she can get to work in a half hour instead of an hour. We helped mud and paint. I couldn't look up without getting dizzy so in the end I wasn't a lot of help. It's a neat house. Nickolas gets out of the Navy in November. They will probably settle in Arizona. Brandie Cloward's daughter Shaelyn is now in West Jordan Junior High.

I camped twice this summer with Lori and Roland (Largo)and Terri and DeWayne (Holgerson) once in Fairview Canyon, the other at Terri and DeWayne's property in Argyle Canyon. The kids saw a mother bear and her cub. Instead of hiding in the trailer Rachel, DeJa and Shaylee went looking for tracks.

Part of George's job is being outsourced to India in November. There is another year on the rest of the contract so he'll still be working. He supervises the night shift.

Wes and Bonnie love being grandparents. Heather, Micah and MacKenzie are doing great. Bonnie and Rebecca are taking college classes.

I'm a DUP VP and as I thought my assignment is seeing that the Cemetery gets weeded so I hear a lot about why others can't. It reminds me of Mom walking around the neighborhood and weeding people's yards until she couldn't tell the flowers from the weeds. I could have kept her busy since one side is all weeds.

I did get copies of Arza Hinckley's journal from Marsha Mason (Keith Mason is her husband; he is still in the nursing home but was doing a little better). One history was written by Joel Bowen. I'll send them on.

Love to all, Melvina

BABY NEWS for Liebes Family

By Judy Liebes

About the only new information in our family is a baby boy who is due to arrive January 5, 2008. His name will be Jacob Donald Liebes - Jake for short. Courtney is now in kindergarten and LOVES it. Everything else seems to just be going along the same.

Bronson Dunn Born June 13, 2007

By Liz Dunn

Life is starting to get back to normal for us. We had a son born a little early. Bronson was born June 13, 2007 and was expected August 24th. He spent two months in the NICU and overcame many obstacles. At birth, he weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz. He now weighs 9 lbs. 8 oz. Bronson is a miracle and a really great baby.

Dylan is two and lots of fun. He got to spend time in Idaho and Utah with grandparents and cousins. He loves the tractors at Grandpa May’s and we still can’t drive by the hospital without Dylan mentioning Bronson.

Marc is enjoying work. We still live in Olathe, Kansas. (A suburb of Kansas City) Our only complaint is we are far away from family. Thank you to all the family. We couldn’t

have made it without the support and prayers.

Retired and Tired

By Susan Brower

Kelli and Creed are adding the stress to our lives, as only Kelli can. Kelli had open heart surgery on May 9 in Rochester Minn. at the Mayo Clinic. She had to go there because SLC doesn't do the kind of surgery she needed. She had two tears in her pericardium that is the sac that surrounds the heart and protects it from blunt force. It was so damaged that they couldn't just repair it, they took the entire sac. She was there for a week, then home on bed rest for a while and wasn't supposed to work for a year. Her insurance company decided that she didn't need to stay for a week and they don't want to pay for more than 1 day. Isn't it funny that the insurance knows more than the doctors. We won't go into that.

Joseph is 12 almost 13 and in 7th grade. He is in the middle school and loves changing classes and being the oldest class. Kaitie is 9 and in 4th grade at Midway Elementary in Menan. She has lost interest in school since it is so boring. She needs more activity. I think she is a little spoiled also. I'm sure she will settle down. Bryce in almost 4 and in a pre-school with his stepsister Kenna who is 3 1/2, They are so funny, what one doesn't think of the other one does. Ben is 2 and tries to keep up - he is very persistent and usually gets in trouble by pushing someone down. He loves the farm and loves to go with Creed.

Lori is still here and keeps busy sewing quilts and doing crocheted blankets for most of the weddings and babies of her friends. She still watches Ben and Bryce from time to time and of course she plays with Tyson and Kristy. They do a bit of running around and we all play card games as a family. (rook, up and down, head and foot, rummykub, and golf)

Amy is probably sending her bit so I'll just say she is attending BYU and will be graduating in April 2008. She is a live wire and is hard to keep up with also.

Kristy and Isaac live a few blocks from us. Isaac just got a part time job in the School District helping with the Spanish speaking students. He helps them understand their school work and keeps them on track. He has about 8 students in the junior high. It's not quite enough hours to support the family, but it is an in with the district. He wants to teach Spanish, but may have to do part time school at BYU-I to do English as a second language. Anyway, they spend a lot of time here and we love having Tyson here. He is almost walking and has 2 teeth. Kristy is so proud of him, but so are we! He will be 1 in November.

Ivan is officially retired and tired. He reads a lot and still does some computer repair and consulting. He is currently trying to put up an antenna to hook the neighbors up to high speed internet. We bought a camp trailer in April and have only used it a few times. We love it so far and may be will take it out of the driveway soon!. Actually we spent 3 days in Yellowstone park and really enjoyed it. When it got so hot in July and August, I slept in there with the air conditioner on!

I quit working at the dairy the end of April and attended Jon's graduation with the family. Then the end of July we went with Keriann and Jon to Toledo Ohio! We were gone 2 weeks and enjoyed seeing some of the country on the east side of the Mississippi. The church sites were especially nice. We didn't take the trailer because we didn't have a vehicle big enough to pull it that far. It was nice to be with Keriann and Jon and get them settled in. They have a great family ward and will be a great part of it.

We love our families and we love the Brower clan. We miss spending time with all of you, but as our families grow we kind of get busy with them. I thank Vivian so much for getting organized enough to keep us connected.