Family + Fireworks + Food + Fun

What a week! It really was one for the books! A little bit hard, a little bit bittersweet, but definitely one full of laughing and smiles.

Britton got a visit from Ty Detmer and his sweet wife and girls. They came to our home and brought so much love and kindness with them. It meant so much to Britton to meet and talk with them all, especially because Britton has always looked up to and admired him so much. It was a lot of fun to visit with the Detmer and Hafen family and share stories for a little while.

Britt's visits at physical therapy are up, he has used up all 20 of them already, so it's up to us now to keep him moving in the right direction and continue to make progress. We are in the process of appealing, for hopefully more visits, because he really really needs them! Luckily we still have Matt Rhea and his boys coming to work with him a few times a week, and we have such amazing friends and people in the community offer their services and facilities for him to come and work out in if he needs it! Seriously, just when you think your family couldn't possibly receive any more support and help, we do! This community is absolutely incredible. It has been like, what…8 months now, and the support is still just as amazing as the day it happened. We couldn't be more grateful, or appreciative of you all:) thank you!!

You wanna know the greatest thing in the world? Being able to watch your little brother pile in the car with a bunch of his buddies and head off to hang out and get Buffalo Wild Wings. Just like he used to. I'm trying not to tear up as i type this. But really, it pulls the heart strings. I don't think his friends will ever know how much it means. They haven't left his side since the day it all happened. They were there for him when he was in the ICU, when he was in the the Nuero Rehab Unit, and they are here for him now. I really admired them at first for caring and believing in him the way they did. I knew they were such good boys with a lot of love for my brother. But i still and that worry in the back of my mind that maybe one day they would just stop showing up, or forget about him. It scared me so bad. The thought that he might not have them around all the time, and things might not be the same with them. I could understand how it would be easy to react different ways to what happened to my brother. Some people just handle traumatic stuff like this in different ways. They could have easily said this is too much and kept their distance, but they did the exact opposite. They don't treat him any differently, they just treat him like the same old Britton. I was so scared my little brother would one day feel like a project. And i was scared they his friends would feel obligated to continue being his friends. Because Britton obviously is much different than before in certain aspects, and i didn't want that to effect the same boy he was inside. Scary thought right? So to see these friends texting him "Hey bro, we are coming by tonight to pick you up!" or "Britt, can we hang out?"…them coming over to just sit on the couch and talk with him, or taking him away for a couple hours to just hang out like old times…I could never explain how much it means to not only him, but me. All i want for him is to have a normal life, to do normal things, ya know. Im so so very thankful for the friends he has, and for their character. You guys are so special. They go to Buffalo Wild Wings at least twice a week, or out to get a milkshake from Dairy Queen, or maybe its just a cruise around town listening to music. But it makes my heart so happy to see all of it.

We headed up to Park City for the week of the 4th! My littlest brother Ledger had a baseball tournament up there. We stayed in Heber at a family friends cabin, who was so generous to offer it to us! We had the greatest time just hang in out with each other and a few other families we are really close with! It was so much fun. To just enjoy each other company, joke around and laugh while being in such a beautiful place. My family went to the lake one day ( i was at a wedding) but it seemed like they had such a great time. Britton even got to drive the boat (glad i wasn't there hahahah) they went fishing and just spent the day on the water!

We watched tons of baseball games, and on the 4th we went to the Stadium of Fire in Provo! Journey was performing, which was awesome. My dad and Britton love them! They sang along to every song together. It was hilarious, Britton got stopped by soooo many people while we were there who knew him and his story! I just laughed as i watched a bunch of cute dance girls get together for a picture with him, because i knew that he was just thinking "Aweee yeah, perks of having a brain injury baby." hahahahha. It was so cool though, to see how many people knew him and were cheering for him! It is so good for him to see and meet all these believers because it helps him to understand and realize how many people truly care about him and love him even though they have never met him before. I hope someday he comes to understand how inspiring and incredible he is. Oh yeah, and then somehow Greyson became a celebrity too…I'd look over and id see a bunch of random people or dancer girls taking a selfie with greyson…hahaha.

We took Britt shopping at his favorite outlets in Park City, and we got him some new school clothes. He definitely didn't lose the shopper in him, that is for sure. We ran into so many people there too, who knew Britt and just wanted to say hi or give him a hug. It really is so amazing to see how many people care, near or far, friend or stranger, it means more than they'll ever know.

The other night i was up in Brittons room with him, and i could see he was scrolling through something on his phone. It was a bunch of old messages on Facebook from when he was in the hospital. He had to zoom in all the way, the screenshot the messages then zoom in some more in order for him to read them clearly. But i was able to creep over his shoulder long enough to see what some of them said. They were all messages from a wide variety of people, but they all had in common one thing. They were so uplifting, and positive, and touching. As he read one of them i could tell it was from one of his friends from school, Ina…she said something along the lines, of "Britton i know you are sleeping right now, but i can't wait for you to wake up and see this! I love you buddy, keep fighting." I couldn't help but cry…knowing that these people all had the faith that he would wake up and one day be able to read their messages. Britt put his phone down, and i could tell he was trying to hold back the tears, but he couldn't. He cried for a little bit, and then i asked him to say a prayer. It was the sweetest prayer i have ever heard. I can't remember all that he said, but i do know that it touched me so deeply, the spirit was so strong. He said one line "I never knew how grateful i was until now."

My mom puts a baby monitor up in Brittons room so she can hear him when he needs to go to the bathroom. Ledger was sleeping with him, and i was down in my mom's room and i could hear them talking to each other through the other monitor. I sat down next to it and just listened for awhile. I couldn't help but laugh and cry all at the same time. 9 year old ledger asking for advice from his older brother, who he has always wanted to be just like. They talked and talked and talked about who knows what, girls, sports, life. Some of the things they said to each other were so sweet. I was so so so happy to be in that moment. Listening to them. It is just another example of how precious the little things are, because they mean so much.

We took these pictures the day we left Park City.

 I didn't think much of them until i was looking back on them. I was overcome with emotion. Because i was standing in a picture with the 3 most important people in my life. Not, just 2 of them, but all 3. I don't know how i got so lucky, to still have that 3rd one in my life, and for him to be standing in that picture, and being all goofy and crazy like he is…but i did. And i will never ever stop thanking my heavenly father, and all of the amazing people who have played a part in his journey. I think every day about how the circumstances could be so incredibly different. He could be a vegetable, constantly in a wheel chair, paralyzed, unable to talk or move or do anything for that matter. But look at him. He is as close to the old Britt than i could've ever hoped or prayed for. And that is such a miracle. I will never understand why we were so blessed. or why we continue to be. But that boy is a simple reminder to me every single second of every single day that God is good, people are great, and life is so precious and amazing. Hold the ones you love and care about close to your heart, don't let the imperfections and disruptions of every day life take away from the big picture and what is really important. Go the extra mile to be a little better and to love a little harder. Don't wait for reality or tragedy to come knocking on your doorstep. Chances are it will, eventually, at some point, in some way or another. And you'll get through it. I love this family of mine. I love all of you. I love that boy i call my hero and my brother. I love the strength and happiness I am able to have through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

heres some clips front he past month, of britt just being britt