Dragon's Source is Finished!

It's done! After almost exactly 4 months of work, 94,000 words, 56 chapters, and 317 pages, my first book is finished.

I'm now shopping for agents and publishers, while I continue to edit and refine the manuscript, and this may be the hardest part. I hope not, but since I don't have any other frame of reference, I'll just have to dig in and get it done!

I've already started to outline the second book in the trilogy. The working title will be "Children of the Stones".

I'm also beginning the outline of an historical fiction book that is based on the Bennett family as they moved from the Carolinas, through the Cumberland Gap of the Great Smokey Mountains, and into western Tennessee. The story will add flesh to what our family already knows about their lives as pioneers and will climax with their experiences during the Civil War.

Now onward into publisher land!

Smiles for the Brown Family

Christine and I are more than pleased to announce the engagement of our son Liberty Ronald, to his beautiful high school sweetheart, Andi Piper and her wonderful daughter Eryn!

They will be getting married in Bozeman, sometime this summer.

So with Candi and Charlie's new baby, that means that this summer the Brown Clan will have three more members.

Browns Gu Brath!

Current Projects

Apologies to every one for the lack of postings in the last month. To say that we have been busy is an understatement of epic proportions.

With the Bozeman market officially closed, Chris is now working in Billings, and only coming home on the weekends. Normally, this sucks big time, and it does now as well, but the upside is that, with Chris gone it's giving me more time to work on my book.

That's right! I've been writing a book!

My kids have always tried to encourage me to write my stories and publish them. (The stories, not the kids) and I've always fantasized about writing books for a living. Well, here is book no. 1.

I Can't tell you a lot about it on this very unsecured format, but I can tell you that when it is published, you'll be able to find it in the Fantasy Fiction area of your book stores.

I'm almost done. So far, I've written 75,000 words, on 255 pages, in 39 chapters. This first book, in what is planned to be a trilogy, is in three parts of which I've completed the first two.

Thus far, the reviews have been enthusiastic for the chapters that I've sent out.

Now, as I come to the end of the writing process, I have begun to look for agents and publishers. This part may be more difficult than the writing portion.

Any way, wish me luck, and I'll keep you up to date on the progress.

The Year That Was

Forever Children

2008 Grampa's Perspective

We've had the chance, over the last few days, for some retro-spection about 2008. Because of this blog, it has certainly been the most documented year of our lives. One needs only to begin at the older posts and read forward to hear about all the major events that filled the year and our lives. It only remains to put the year into perspective and rate it like we do the movies. You know..., 1 to 5 stars.

The single most defining thing of the last year was, of course, Christine's bout with colon cancer. She had several surgeries and the many trips to Billings, Montana for her chemotherapy treatments. The rest of the year, spent with family and friends, had to be shoe-horned in around the logistics of those treatments.

You might be surprised when you hear that we give the year 2008, 5 stars. That's right, *****!

With all that we've learned from the battle with cancer, the rest of the year was made that much sweeter. Yes, 2008 was a very good year!

It is my prayer that all of us will learn from this last wonderful year and use the lessons it has taught us to make all of the years to come, that much better.

*****

2008 Grandma's Perspective

What a wonderful blessed year this has been. Through the trials and adventures of the past twelve months I have come to understand more completely the Lord's plan for us here on earth. He has blessed us with family and friends that have enriched not only this year but our lives before and after. I have come to a more complete understanding of how important our loved ones are to us. You have all been there when the times were hard giving your love and support to us when most needed, and were there to celebrate the good times as well. We have been able to spend time with you either in person, by phone, via email, and through our thoughts and prayers, all of them are special memories. When I reflect on the events of the year and try to pinpoint the most special, it is not where we were or what we were doing it, it was the choice memories of times shared with those we love. May we all make it a goal to spend more time together this year and to live our lives following the example of our Savior so that we may be

together forever.

A Christmas Visitor

Yesterday morning (Monday) Grandma and I woke up with a visitor in our yard. The Canadian Goose had taken refuge from the snow storm next to the smaller of the two pines in our back yard. It has been there now for a day and a half, as the snow continues to fall.
Geese are very rarely alone. They mate for life and when they travel, they do so in family groups. This goose will call out every now and again, especially when it hears the train at the railroad crossing. There is no doubt it is calling for it's mate or family.
At this Christmas time of the year I am reminded of the importance of having loved ones around us. How cold and empty the world must seem to those of us who don't have a loving family with which to share the warmth of the holidays.
May all of you find the love and joy to fill your lives during this wonderful time of the year and may we always remember those that are cold and lonely in ways that might ease their burden.
Merry Christmas and Love to all of you,
Grandma and Grampa,
Mom and Dad,
Ron and Chris

Re-Trimming the Tree

Vanna Brown

Ok, this is how it went down, literally!

Grampa brown had the fun job of watching Liam and Aidan while his parents went to billings on Thursday. Mid-morning Aidan was in the toy room and Liam and I were in the hallway when we heard a crash from the living room. Liam and I looked around the corner to see what happened and found the tree had fallen across Grandma's chair. Ornaments, lights, needles, and the water from the tree stand were everywhere! Liam looked up at me and said "Grampa, that wasn't me!" (He must get blamed alot at home)

So the tree is back up and redecorated. If it comes down again, out it goes!

Trimming The Tree

Merry Christmas

When we got the tree home, we found a tiny nest tucked in safe, high in the branches

How it survived after being cut down, dragged through the snow, and the

70 mph ride home on top of the car, we'll never know.

Helping Grampa with the pudding

Sparkeling clean after a momma spit face bath!

Naughty or nice?

Never trust a "skinny" cook

Grandma Brown

Candi loves Christmas

Candi and Charlie hoping it's a little girl in July








Last Saturday, Charlie and Candi and Liam and Aiden, went up with Grandma and Grampa Brown into the Gallatin range to cut down our christmas trees. Wednesday, we had Them back over to our house for a dinner of left over turkey. Christine made turkey enchiladas. One pan of red sauce, and one pan of green sauce. (VeryChristmasy) Charlie made the salsa and we had a mexican feast! I should point out that in order to have left overs, we had to cook another turkey last Sunday. We had 24 people for Thanksgiving and there wasn't enough left over for the usual left over festivals. For desert, I bought some day-old chocolate donuts and made chocolate bread pudding. (a recipe inspired by Robyn Jones) If you want the recipe, let me know and I'll post it.









Anyway, after the enchiladas, we all put on our tree trimming hats and went to work!

In order to hear this video, you must first scroll up to the music selections in the right column and click on the pause icon. come on, you can do it!

Happy Thanksgiving

How could the Seahawks lose with fans like these!

Elanor and Robyn

Our Elf Princess Isabel

homemade Egg Nog for Breakfast at Grampa's

Triptophan kicking in

Liberty and Lillia

The Jones surprise Grampa

Most of the Thanksgiving pictures are on Gini's blog @ http://rigbyericksons.blogspot.com/

Wow! What a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were planning on the Ericksons from Rigby, and Charlie and Candi's family from here, and Zac and Pip and Liberty of course. What we weren't planning on was the wonderful surprise at church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We arrived just before the start of the meeting when we noticed Charlie and Candi and the boys sitting about three rows in front of us. Surprise! But that wasn't all. Sitting next to to the boys, was Lope, and next to him was Eden and Clara and Janette. (Robyn had taken Elenor out to change her) So we had a wonderful reunion. The only ones missing were Mac and Kelly. ( They had Thanksgiving with Grandma Adams and Uncle Kerry and Aunt Tess.) It was a wonderful week! (The only downside was the lack of leftovers)

In Remission

Christine went in for her 1st post chemotherapy cat scan, and it was clear. That's the good news. Also, she will have the "port" in her shoulder removed on the 1st of December. It's just an out patient procedure and we'll be glad to get rid of it.

Although, to the best of their knowledge, she is cancer free (or in remission as they call it) at the moment, they will monitor her frequently for the next five years with cat scans and colonoscopies before they will declare her "cured".

In the mean time, we will continue to refine our eating habits to give her the best chance possible for having a real cure.

What ifs: What if we'd caught the cancer two or even three years earlier? What if we'd been eating as we should have all along? What if, What if, What if? It doesn't do us any good to worry about the what ifs now. We're on the wrong side of that question.

You, on the other hand, are a different matter. What if you were eating what you should be eating? (Lot's of fiber and flax seed and avoiding processed foods and sugar) What if you scheduled a colonoscopy and had a polyp removed before it turned into a tumor? I hope you're always on the good side of your what ifs, and use them before it's to late. If you're to ambivalent to do it for yourself, do it for us and all the others that love you and want to keep you around for a while longer.

A Time For Recovery

Chris asked me the other day if this is who I still see when I look at her. I answered "No, the woman I see is even more beautiful and much more wise". I certainly appreciate her more now than the self-centered kid I was then.
The chemotherapy has taken it's toll, but not near as drastically as treatments some other cancer patients have had to go through. She lost about 2/3 of her hair, but that looks like it has already started to come back. Of more concern to me, is the nerve damage she has suffered in her extremities. (hands and feet are numb) hopefully that should improve in about 6-12 months. She's concerned about the weight she's put on with the anti nausea medication that she's had to take. (you're supposed to keep nibbling) The problem that affected her the most was probably the fatigue. She has slept a lot, but that's something that will correct itself soonest.
Now she goes into the "monitoring" phase of her treatment. We expect a clean slate because we will be working to keep ourselves healthy.

("Why?" you ask, and I answer "Read below!")

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Well, hopefully, we are through the worst of it.

Christine has completed her chemotherapy regimen and is ready to get on with her life. While I have hated seeing what the poison has done to her, we both hope and pray that the treatment has lifted her into the "cured" column when we add up the pluses and minuses.

Here's what we've learned:

1- Cancer is mostly preventable. There are foods that help prevent cancer, and when we ignore that fact, we are being stupid! Our diets should be high fiber (and must include flax seed) and we should limit our intake of red meats and processed foods. This is not hard to do. It doesn't cost any more, and in most cases will cost less than eating what's bad for us.

2- Early diagnosis is critical. The longer you bury your head in the sand, the worse your prognosis is going to be. Do not ignore your body! If you have symptoms, find out what they mean. (Our medical system is rated at 39th in the world and slipping. You must take control of your treatment options!)

3- Don't allow yourself to be sold or bullied into treatment you don't need. (This includes being "assigned" to a doctor you don't know or trust.) This is part of "taking control" Don't be lazy. Do your homework and insist on being in on all decisions.

4- Push yourself to do as much as you can. Life doesn't go on hold during chemotherapy. Do as much as you can, it helps keep up your attitude and that is critical to healing.

The "Eilean" Highlands

Gini was scolding me this morning, telling me it was time for an update. These are all pictures from the Highlands of Scotland, and I hope it satisfies her for a few days.

Click on the photos to see them full sized.

The adventure begins

Ron and Chris, Terrill and Margie,

outside Rosslyn Chapel

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I just want to take a minute to thank Lisa Deneen of Travel Pros for all the work she did to make this such a perfect vacation. All of the places she booked for us were magnificent and we are greatful for all her efforts on our behalf.

There are a million warm sunny beaches in the world, but there is only one Scotland! Gun cuireadh do chupa thairis le slainte agus sonus, h-uile latha, na chi 'snach fhaic! (May your cup overflow with health and happiness, every day, whether I see you or not!)

Cathedrals Churches Tombs and Graves

Breaking Dawn at Eilean Iarmain, Isle of Skye, Scotland