Year Two: Embracing Life While Dreaming of the Future

One year ago today, we traveled to Stanford for our normal monthly appointment. We celebrated one year with the doctors who saved Marty's life. We called our transplant social worker and handed her a letter for our donor family. We always knew that someday we would know our donor though we knew it was a longshot the family would reply.

Just over a month and half later, we spoke to our donor's mother Debbie on the phone for the first time. What a long emotional conversation that brought such peace and completion. We no longer have wondered who our donor was? We know his name was Jerry and he was 18 years old for 24 days. His final act in life was that of hero, he saved this family of four and showed thousands that miracles do happen.

Bolstered with those facts, this last year has been a year of planning and dreaming. I remember when Marty first got sick, one of the first things we realized is that we had wasted so much time. Yes, we had lived a very full and wonderful life. We had wasted so many years of our twenties worrying about things that weren't important. We spent so much time focused on jobs and money that we had wasted away some of the really great days of life with worry.

When Marty got sick, I realized the foolishness of my ways and set forth to no longer worry. Of course, that was difficult when he was sick and I had some really bad days. When he got well, the new struggle was to not worry about rejection and our new found freedom being taken away. We spent  year traveling to and from Stanford only once really worried.

As the first year passed and the completion of knowing Jerry brought life full circle. We set out to achieve our dreams born from adversity. These are dreams to live big, dream big and achieve things we have always wanted. These dreams are ones we refuse to worry about instead embracing our precious gift at a second chance.

We are fortunate to have this second chance as a family. So many people die waiting for transplant and never get this second chance at life. We have it and are going to use it.

So I sit in a house littered with boxes, lists galore as we plan to drive off east to Knoxville,TN next month and put this new life to use. We have to do this, for us, for our kids and for Jerry. Life is short, too short to just sit on our dreams.

Marty is healthy, still no complications. Everything is going well and for that we're so thankful. We are looking forward to having a transplant center to visit in our new town at the UTenn. It will be nice to not have to travel 660 miles round trip to see his care team.  Just another one of the reasons we are moving.

Thank you all for being there, listening, reading along and supporting us along the way. We're always grateful for the support.

Thank you Debbie and Jerry, our lives will always be lived for Jerry. So thankful for the gift you gave our family.


One year ago today, I registered online along with a dear friend of mine to be an organ donor. I had done it through the DMV but have been told the best way is to register through a donor registry. We are huge supporters of the work being done through Taylor's Gift. Todd and Tara Storch donated their daughter Taylor's organs and then have gone on to promote organ donation in her memory. We love the work they are doing on behalf of those waiting for organs. Please visit their site and register to be a donor.

Their slogan is " Be a Hero, Outlive Yourself' " click on the picture to be directed to their site.

A/N; I have chronicled our journey with transplant on this blog. You can read the entire story by clicking on the tab titled "Marty's journey with renal failure and transplant''  above

When the Phone Rings.....It Can Change Everything

Sometimes I am jumpy when the phone rings. I know all too well, that a phone call can change everything..........I still am on edge with the phone all these years later. I don't turn it off at night, though the feeling of waiting for that call has long passed.

A balmy May evening, a Wednesday evening to be exact we got a phone call that turned our lives into upheaval. Marty had see the doctor the day before and his blood work wasn't good. They wanted us to come in the next day. The next day, they diagnosed him with End Stage Renal disease, kidney failure.  He was thirty one and felt his life was over.

The next call was to tell us that Marty was listed for a dual organ transplant at Stanford University. The told us the wait would be one year. We thought it may come that fall and told everyone we couldn't do anything. I remember everyday past that one year mark felt like torture.

Once Stanford called on New Year's eve  to check in...........I remember my heart was racing and we thought this was it. They just wanted to check over everything and let us know they remembered us.

Then on my birthday weekend in 2010, Stanford called to tell us they were removing Marty from the transplant list for being "non complaint" because his doctor had a bad day and wrote that in his chart. It was a short battle to get him re-listed but horrifying none the less. Marty felt he had been handed a death sentence.

Two months later, the first glimmer of hope came when Stanford called to tell us Marty was second on the list and a backup for the transplant happening that day. It wasn't his turn that day  but he was next in line.

Twenty two days later,Two years ago today,  the phone rang at 4:45 p.m. on 1/1/11 and it was "The Call" and our lives were turned upside down. I shoved the kids out the door to Heather, called my friend Di to have her update Facebook and Twitter. Took the 99 to the 152 praying the whole way. It was a clear January night, we headed in the pitch black to the unknown.

Here we sit two years later, our lives have changed for the better. We were given a second chance at life that so many don't get. We had a positive outcome and now can live our dreams, take chances and embrace that second chance. Three months ago, we got another phone call of the very best kind and now are headed to TN to chase our dreams.

Bad phone calls can bring your worst nightmares alive. Good phone calls can turn that all around and bring glorious things you never imagined to reality.

Guest Blog: Another Ski Season Begins

      One of my new found Twitter friends and fellow homeschool mom Teri shares about ski season in their house. Teri is a wonderful woman that I had the pleasure of meeting at the Mixtape Festival this summer. I am so grateful to know her and call her friend.

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I never dreamed I’d live in a house where skis criss-crossed the floor, boots lay in piles and wet winter gear was draped over every available piece of furniture.  However that’s exactly what has happened.

     Ski season is beginning for us and my three children are slope junkies. As Homeschoolers, we have the opportunity to form or join ski clubs. These clubs meet at our local slopes, in our case Perfect North Slopes, once a week for a full day of skiing and snowboarding.

    Some moms ski, some don’t. We fellowship and play cards or board games. Many work on lessons or grade papers from the classes we teach in our local co-op. There are scrapbookers, stampers, knitters, cross stitchers, and a fair number of laptops scattered throughout the lodge loft. Most of all there are friends, tables full of them.

    Dozens of people camp out in the upper level of the lodge. The owners are business savvy. Getting these kids hooked on the sport at an early age and at a cost the parents can afford, virtually guarantees them customers for years to come.

     The cost of feeding everyone for an entire day of skiing would be prohibitive to say the least; therefore we are permitted to bring our own food.  Did I mention the owners are business savvy?  This translates to slowcookers at every electrical outlet (we regularly blow the fuses), coolers and snack bags. Various soups, stews and barbeques simmer, filling the place with delicious aromas. 

One week during the season we make hot sandwiches on a griddle, courtesy of my own BFF Laura. We also have waffle day which features homemade waffles and fresh fruit. Everyone feeds any chilled and hungry skier as they wander around while taking a break from the powder.

It is a very relaxed atmosphere, one that I now look forward to each year. I never dreamed I’d live in a house where skis criss-crossed the floor, boots lay in piles and wet winter gear was draped over every available piece of furniture, but now, I can’t imagine it any other way.  

An ''Ahhhmazing" Golden Man

Today California lost a golden treasure, Huell Howser. For those of you outside of California you may be wondering, "Who is this Huell Howser?" that you're hearing about on Twitter and Facebook today. He was a piece of California television gold that no other state in the nation could replicate. As I read through my timeline on Facebook, I realized that everyone loved Huell!

Huell hosted a show on California PBS stations called "California's Gold"( I dare you Californians to say that without Huell's twang) since the 1990's. We actually never watched Huell until we moved to central California. We didn't have much money and PBS is free so we quickly became Huell fans. Every afternoon after Conner and Elizabeth woke up from their naps our family would sit down and watch California's Gold together. Today even E was sad to hear Huell had passed away. Some of our greatest family memories are our times watching all of Huell's shows ( he ended up having about five or six different shows at one point)

In the series, Huell and his trusty cameraman ''Louie" who was actually Louis would traverse the back roads of California digging up "golden" bits of California history that may be overlooked. He didn't go to Disneyland or Hollywood, he went to places like the Livermore Fire Station to see the 100 year old lightbulb. He would go to San Francisco and climb the TransAmerica building tower with " Louie" in tow. He taught Californians so much about our state.

We often would try to go places Huell had been. My particular favorite was when we went to Griffith Park to see the Disney Train barn and ride the 1/8th scale trains after we watched an episode of California's Gold. Once we went to Cambria on a camping trip, all Conner could talk about was going to NitWit Ridge because he had saw Huell Howser go there. I remember it was closed and I think Conner is still ticked to this day.

I can tell you that I learned more about California history from Huell Howser than I did in school. I loved his simple way of talking to a subject, he always said the same things over and over. He wasn't a flashy, smooth talking man. His southern charm was really what made the show great. From his "Are you getting this Louie?" to his famous " Isn't that Ahhhmazing?" line. You just would smile,laugh and have fun watching one of his many shows. He wasn't even a native Californian, that was the best part of it all!

Most of us loved watching Huell because he was funny. His over excitement about the simplest of things was often hysterical. He was a bit of a simpleton and often repeated the same questions from show to show. I found this hysterical Funny or Die clip mocking Huell in a uncanny impression.

Here is a great tribute to Huell posted on Youtube this afternoon. Gives you a great idea of the funny nature of his shows


So many were saddened today to hear that Huell had died. He was truly beloved by his fellow Californians and the state has lost its biggest fan. Kind of funny this happens; as our family is  preparing to leave California and move to Huell's homestate of Tennnesee. I really hope that Chapman University takes the gift Huell gave them and puts his shows online for the world to watch. California would continue to benefit from the great gift Huell gave this state.

Goodbye Huell, I hope those Golden Gates open up for you!

A great interview with the famous "Louie" tonight on So Cal Connected here

Flashback Friday: Conner and Elizabeth Videos

Yesterday, I stumbled upon two videos of Conner and Elizabeth while searching through old pictures. I never knew these videos exsisted and had completely forgotten about them. Which is rare in my case because I usually forget nothing long term.

My cousin Sarah and I sat watching them. I had tears running down my face watching my babies once again. We didn't really take home movies when they were little and so these videos are wonderful glimpses back into time. So funny, that I remember living in that house waiting for our life to really begin, I remember the kids being so little but really didn't remember what they were like?

This video is Conner and Elizabeth dancing to "What a Wonderful World" and is so sweet. It reminds me of a time when they had fun together and enjoyed spending time together. These days they are two teenagers who love to bicker and stay away from each other. Truly was a wonderful world back then and I miss those days.

The next video was taken at the same time in the same house. We obviously had just moved in and things were a mess. Elizabeth was being five, cute and sweet while singing me "Hollaback Girl" and Conner...well this video is classic Conner. Some things never change and this is proof of that. You can hear Conner during the whole video whispering to E. I laughed so hard watching this video this morning and so did Marty.

Kids grow up so fast. You don't really realize it is happening while they are young and need more. I remember being so tired and overwhelmed during those days. In the midst of it all the kids grow up, life gets easier and then you miss those days. I remember so many moms saying that but never really understood until it happened.

Loved having a peek back into those days and wanted to share it.

Happy Birthday Cousin Series: Happy Birthday Lacey!

The first installment in 2013 goes to one of my younger cousins Lacey Jae. I remember when Lacey was born in the beginning of 1991. I was in high school and remember being excited that we had a new baby cousin. She lived far away and we didn't get to see her for a really long time.

My memories of Lacey are of her sweet, cherubic face. She was the cutest little girl!

Our own little Shirley Temple

Lacey and Barney

Lacey on my wedding day

Lacey on her first day of school

Lacey sitting on Sarah and Brianne's lap

Age and distance really prevented me from really knowing Lacey well until the invention of Myspace. Lacey and I have gotten to know each other via the internet as adults. We both love to read and had our very own Twilight book club via chat. We love to talk about music and tend to like the same kind of music. It has been fun becoming friends and knowing each other better. 

As Lacey gets older, she looks more and more like my Grandpa's family. I think out of all of us cousins she looks the most like a true Brown. I even was showing my cousin Sarah pictures this morning while writing up this blog and she couldn't believe how much Lacey looked like our Grandpa's sister Leona

Our Grandpa's sister Leona.Crazy resemblance to Lacey

Lacey

She looks like my Grandpa's sisters especially Leona and Eloise. Really amazing when I look at the pictures to see how strong our family genes are.

Lacey on the left

It's been fun watching Lacey grow up and turn into a lovely young woman. She is a very talented cake decorator and just a joy of a personality. She makes me laugh all the time with her witty ways.

Happy birthday Lacey, I cannot wait to move to TN and get to know you even better. Much love, Julie

Dreaming Big in 2013

As you know for several years, all Marty and I have talked about is leaving California. We thought that Georgia would be our destination but plans changed and Tennessee is our new destination. As we start the New Year, we start with a plan. February 4th will be our last day in our current city of Visalia. February 5th or 6th we will leave California forever.

14 years ago this month, we packed up our one year old son Conner and moved to Visalia for a new life. We have loved living in this little town, we learned many life lessons, gained a daughter and many life experiences. We came here with nothing, no jobs, no friends, no careers and gained all of those things in spades. It isn't going to be easy to leave but we know it is the best choice for our family.

We know this decision isn't popular with some who are family or close friends. We have thought long and hard, planned fastidiously and researched our options. We aren't doing this rashly and have thought it out. We live four hours away as it is and it is only a four hour flight. To us and for us, nothing will change. We are saddened at the anger but understand it is your right to be angry. We have to live for ourselves and our kids, maybe someday you will see this was a good choice. If we fail, you can tell us "Told you so"

We are choosing to be positive, trust God and not worry about every little thing. Lee has been a good friend to this family. Starting with being Julie's friend, to supporting Marty and I since we were dating and being a pseudo crazy uncle to our children. We have been thinking on this verse;

John 15:13 " There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." 

 We are willing to go and help our friends in need. They need help and we are so excited to go help them while they help us realize our dreams also. We are honored they chose us and are helping me start my career. I am also starting my own social media consulting company : check it out here

It has long been one of our desires as a family for me to start my own career. We have planned this since before Marty was sick and then put it on hold. I plan on attending the University of TN to further my education at the same time. 

Also, we will have great medical care for Marty at the University of TN. A transplant care center in our own city instead of driving 600 miles roundtrip for care. That is a huge burden lifted off our shoulders.

We have faith everything will work out. We are starting  out in a much better place than when we moved here.  We have so much more than we did back then. We have life experience and knowledge that things always, always work out.

We could chose to make others happy by living in this box we are in currently. Instead we are choosing to follow our dreams, live outside the box and put this second chance at life to use. So many die waiting for transplants or from complications. We know so many who would've loved a second chance. We got that second chance, we can use it or just squander it. We are choosing to use it and live big.

This is scary, exciting, nerve wracking but we have complete peace this is what we are supposed to do. We would appreciate support, prayers, encouragement and good wishes as we try to live our dreams.

We are choosing to dream, live the dream and take a chance. We happy and hope you can respect that. It is either do it or quit talking about it and live with regret. I was raised to live with no regrets.


We promise to help our loved one's and friends travel to see us. Usually this doesn't matter since I am always the one to head to So.Cal myself. We will still come to visit just as much as we do now.