Update

The school year is almost finished, the new CD is almost finished, and I am nearly finished meeting with a 12-week weight-loss group once a week.  I can honestly say I've enjoyed all of these things but it feels good to finish.  There are so many things that are never finished, like cleaning up the house or doing the laundry but I am looking forward to finishing school (at least for a couple of months) and having a completed CD project and meeting the goal to reach my desired weight...kind of.  I'v'e got more to lose but I've almost reached my first goal.

Although it's a wonderful thing to finish things and finish well, I'm so thankful that God is NOT finished with ME!  I'm happy about completing things and meeting goals but I am ever aware of the countless "projects" in me that are still being perfected by my Creator.  I am definitely a work in progress with a perfect ending.  Phil. 1:6. 

Back from a 10-day trip and I feel...behind!  It just dawned on me that every time we return from a long trip I feel behind in every area of my life.  I feel behind in laundry, sleep, health, school work,  and relationships.  It may not be as bad as my mind might try to convince me but none the less, I AM behind here and there.  Short post because I have a lot of catching up to do.

January 11-14, 2013

Warmer Weather

 

A little longer weekend but easier to depart for simply because we were headed to a much warmer climate.  Easier, because warm weather meant packing was lighter and warm weather was a welcome break from the mid-January blues.  We could have waited until early Saturday morning to leave but leaving on Friday and only driving 8 of the 12 hours to Auburndale, Florida made a lot more sense, especially when given the fact that our van has 310,000 miles on it.  We sang at Central Assembly of God’s coffee house that meets one Saturday night each month.  They served chili dogs and desserts as well as iced tea and coffee.  A good-sized group gathered and we had a lot of fun.  Justis debuted his thrift store guitar and what a show he put on.  The little man, all of 21 months, has his daddy’s moves down pat.  After getting his guitar strapped on with assistance from big brother, Landis, he waited for his daddy to hand him a pick.  I can’t say there was much ministry done that night but there sure was some great family entertainment!  There was a lot of laughter in the room as Justis watched and mimicked not only his dad, but his siblings as well.  The best part though, was when Justis took a few steps around mic stands but tripped mid-song, got a little help from Faith in getting back to his feet and jumped right back into his guitar playing and lip syncing.  I wish I could say I have video but I was kept busy at a corner table feeding Grace.

We drove nearly 2 hours to Ocala to sleep and then sang Sunday morning in Citra, an impoverished community with 80% unemployment.  Pastor Joe and his family live in the parsonage which was formerly the church fellowship hall.  In spite of the fact that the area was poor the church interior was very attractive and well-cared for, and the folks were very friendly. 

After church I met a woman whose son had been killed while riding a bicycle at age 15.  In tears she told me of how she was very angry with God but eventually repented.  However, she still questioned God about “why” this happened to her son.  “He was a good son!” she reasoned with God.  She was having one of these conversations with God as she worked on her property one day when she said the presence of God came into the woods where she worked and the Spirit of God spoke to her clearly saying, “What about MY good Son?”  She repented fully that day and has been testifying of His goodness and mercy ever since. 

That wasn’t all to her story.  The Lord gave her a husband about 3 years ago and within the last year, her husband’s 20-year-old son also died unexpectedly.  She was there for her husband, knowing exactly what he was feeling.  He, too, has struggled with anger at God and questioning Him but she has encouraged her husband and continues to do so. 

Our Sunday evening concert was at a Nazarene Church in De Land where I met yet another woman who approached me and told me she wept more during the concert while watching Justis imitate his dad than she did at her son’s funeral 3 years ago.  Hers was a healthy little boy that had a brain aneurism while running across the yard after being called to dinner.  Through her experience she and her husband started a ministry helping children with handicaps obtain the equipment they need.

We had to buy all of our meals with the exception of our coffee house dinner Saturday night and all of our lodging for the weekend. (And we ate cheap. Taco Bell, $1 items from Burger King’s value menu, $5 Little Caesar’s pizza).  The greatest expense was our fuel which was more than a whopping $500.  Bobby told me on the way home as we were passing through Chattanooga that for the first time in 5 years of traveling and ministering across the country, we were actually coming home with less money than what we started out with.  About $50 less.  In spite of this he hasn’t been a grouch on the drive home like I might have actually expected based on similar situations. 

Oh, and Bobby (and I) had our talk with Landis as we drove north of Atlanta and the rain poured down.  Bobby asked him some questions about his choices he’s made of sticking things in his pocket that didn’t belong to him and told him to write letters of apology to the offended and buy them more of what was stolen and send it to them.  This didn’t please Landis but I think he accepted his father’s words.

January 5-6, 2013

BY GEORGIA!

I wrote several things down from last year but never got them published.  Somehow I will record some of the highlights from last year but there are several things from last year that I’d just as soon leave where they are ….in 2012.  A new year, even though we’re just going from one day to the next – new year’s eve to New Year’s Day – causes us to resolve to put the past behind us and make a new start.  I praise God that He collectively takes all of the things we experience, good and bad, and weaves them together with His promises for us and creates a beautiful future that benefits us and glorifies Himself…when we love Him freely and trust Him completely.

The first weekend of 2013 out with the Bowen Arrows started with a bang.  I forgot my phone and this laptop that I blog on. The blog that in December I had resolved to begin writing again.  So much for a great start. 

On Saturday, January 5, we drove to Cumming, Georgia to get a good night’s rest.  We always intend to get a good night’s rest on Saturday night but so many times Grace refuses to sleep until well after midnight on Saturday nights.  I’m not sure if it’s the anticipation of a big day the next day or what.  Midnight was the last time I checked the clock and didn’t know anything else until the alarm went off. 

After a decent night of sleep I realized that my phone wasn’t the only thing I had forgotten on this first trip of the year.  I was without the appropriate shoes for church.  I had my suede snow boots but they just didn’t look right with my black slacks.  We’d already stopped at Walmart across the street from the hotel the night before to get yet another pacifier for Justis as…well, we forgot that too.  Bobby talked like I was going to have to wear the hideous tan suede boots with my black slacks because we did not have time to spare but when he made a “wrong” turn after leaving the hotel I questioned where he was going.  He told me he didn’t want me mad at him the rest of the day because he didn’t stop and allow me to get another pair of shoes.  I thanked him, relieved, but asked him not to be mad at me for causing all the trouble. 

I always meet people that I can relate to or admire or am lead to pray for and this first Sunday of the year was no exception.  I met Carrie who tried for many years to have a child and finally, after totally giving up on ever having a baby, conceived and had a beautiful daughter that is just a year younger than Grace.  Then her second daughter came along 13 months later, also very beautiful.  Finally, she and husband, Keith, had their son who, at 6, is quite handsome and talented as well.  While Keith played drums in the worship service, his son stood nearby and played percussion never missing a beat. 

After service at the CD table, a lady approached me, shook my hand and asked me to pray for her daughter who has tried for years to conceive.  I was able to acquaint her with Carrie’s testimony and suggest that she ask Carrie to pray for this need as well.

We enjoyed a fine lunch with the pastor, his family and a few more church friends.  The pastor introduced us to a drink enhancer called Mio.  Just add a few drops of whatever flavor of Mio you prefer and viola!  You have an instant flavored tea/drink.  Pastor’s daughter borrowed one of his Mio bottles and set it down on her table right next to ours.  When we’d finished eating and were leaving our tables, Landis noticed the Mio drops still sitting on the table where the pastor’s daughter had left them.  Since no one remembered the drops Landis felt they were fair game and put them in his pocket. He had plenty of opportunity to give them back to the pastor but chose not to. I found the drops after we’d said goodbye and had driven several miles north to Chatsworth.  To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.  This was not the first time he’d taken something that wasn’t his but it had only happened at home.  I knew this was getting serious and that something had to be done.  Bobby is not usually one for confrontation and that carries over to disciplining the children.  He would just as soon, tell them not to do something again and go on with life.  I’m just the opposite and want contracts written, oaths taken and blood drawn.  Bobby and I talked on the drive home from Chatsworth after the children were asleep and discussed the “problem.”  I couldn’t emphasize enough to him how I believed this could turn into a huge societal problem with Landis if we didn’t nip it in the bud now and discipline him in a way that he’d never forget. 

We arrived home at 1:00 A.M. and after making sure the girls got to bed I came upon Bobby standing just inside Landis’ bedroom and I could tell the conversation was serious.  Come to find out Bobby had just discovered that some cash he’d thrown into a jar wasn’t there any longer.  He asked Landis about it right then and Landis confessed he’d taken it.  I stood there, jaw agape, not believing what I was hearing.  I wanted to say, “I rest my case.”  But I didn’t. 

I had a little trouble falling asleep in spite of the late hour because my heart was troubled and when I awoke the next morning, Landis’ “condition” was the first thing on my mind.  I washed my face, donned a robe, grabbed my Bible and sat at my desk.  After sharing my heart with God and laying Landis on the altar, I spent some time looking to see how God handled theft.  In the Old Testament in the book of Proverbs it talks about returning seven times what was taken and in Matthew we read how the converted tax collector returned four times the amount he’d stolen. I took some notes and showed them to Bobby later that morning and he agreed to look it over and consider everything.  I also handed Bobby a book that he found and purchased at a home school convention in May of 2011.  I’d noticed the book recently and thought what a shame for such a great book to not be put to use.  The book is written by a dad with 6 sons and 1 daughter who wanted to put together a biblical study for fathers and their sons of what it means to be a man complete in Christ.  Not only did the author write a book, but he started an organization similar to Boy Scouts, with chapters all over the country.  The organization is called, “Teleo Scouts.”  Bobby had forgotten the book and, that night, brought it to bed with him to look over before going to sleep.  On Wednesday, our day off school, he planned to take Landis to breakfast and start their weekly study together.

At Bobby’s suggestion I printed out a Bible study on stealing and put it in a binder to present to Landis to use in his morning devotional time.  And when Bobby announced to him that the two of them would be going to breakfast the next morning, Landis couldn’t help but grin but questioned why.  Bobby explained to him what his motives were and I couldn’t help but be amazed at the excitement that showed on Landis’ face at the thought of his dad wanting to spend time with him.  Powerful stuff. 

Christmas Concerts
Part 1: Ohio and Michigan

Bobby said he wanted to do Christmas concerts this year. The funny part of that is we had planned a year ago to set aside money for this December, and we did, but it was spent on that beast of a motor home sitting in our driveway. We made a decision to just take December off for this year since it was hard to book dates in December anyway and taking the month off would be good for us. However, because of the the motor home expenses Bobby changed his mind and booked dates by advertising Christmas concerts with the participation of the entire family. It went over pretty well and by mid November, he had 14 Christmas concerts booked! I thought it was ironic that last year I made plans for this year to work 11 months and take the last one off. Instead, I took 11 months off and am working the last month!

We took the songs from our Christmas CD and made out a program and assigned scripture for the kids to memorize to introduce a few of the songs and threw in something new...a skit! We sat around the kitchen table as a family and timed the whole thing, going over it a few times and we all agreed that by the time we did the last concert on December 18th, we'd finally be getting the hang of it.

It's gone well. We started the Sunday after Thanksgiving in Adger, Alabama and drove on to Carthage, Mississippi for the Sunday evening service. I had to get past myself in the first few concerts. Self-consciousness and all. The following weekend Bobby had a private Christmas party booked on Friday night, nothing on Saturday, a cowboy church on Sunday morning where they only wanted us to do 3 or 4 songs, and a family concert Sunday evening. The Sunday evening booking canceled and so Bobby decided to rent a car and just take Landis. I really wasn't disappointed in staying home with all the girls and Justis. We had a nice time at home even though it wasn't nearly as restful as my weekends with just Grace and Justis. I had a lot more schooling to do plus I had to keep track of Landis getting his work done out there on the road. Not to mention all the work that children are at home. Don't get me wrong, it's good work. I'd much rather have them here and causing me work than for them to not be around. But it is funny how when Bobby and 1 child are gone I tend to think there's no need for me to cook dinner and that I'll be having a mini vacation. Hello! I still have four children I'm responsible for! When Bobby and the 3 children leave for a trip, the house usually needs a lot of picking up but by the time they get home on Monday, I've had time to pick everything up, catch up on all laundry, and clean a closet or sew or bake something. Not so with most of the children home, but still, I was very glad to be at home.

It wasn't until Monday, the 5th, as we were awaiting the arrival of Bobby and Landis from Texas that I realized that we'd be leaving that coming Friday and would be gone nearly 2 weeks. I had to let that sink in a little as I'm not used to being gone that long lately.

On Tuesday, we had no home school as we were gone all day long doing Christmas concerts. One at 11:00 at Crossroads Baptist Church in Greenbrier and Tuesday evening at Life Assembly in Mount Juliet, where my sister, Mary, joined us, contributing her humor and clever writing. There were meals provided at both places so we ended leaving the house at 9:00 that morning, coming home at 3:00 to make a couple of wardrobe changes including changing Grace's diaper and leaving again at 3:30 to be gone until 10:00! Long day.

We headed out Friday morning, the 9th, about 1 hour after the planned departure time. However, my husband, who chides me about "always" having to wait on me was just as busy as me with his running around and getting that one last item or making sure something was tightened or turned off...something he doesn't have to worry about if I stay home. We drove to Columbus, Ohio and made it in time for the 5:30 Kickback at the Drury. Bobby had reserved a two-room suite at my favorite hotel chain for the second time in two weeks. I teased him that he's trying to romance me back to being on the road. On Saturday morning we drove the remainder of the trip to Cleveland and checked into the Hilton Garden where we had adjoining rooms. We sang that evening at Willoughby Baptist Church. Bobby and the kids had just been there in August but he was successful in booking a Christmas concert.

The kids can't get around doing school on the road.

Glenda was such a blessing. She booked the concert, arranged for the great hotel rooms and brought Chik-fil-A nuggets, slaw, waffle fries and brownies for us for dinner in the church fellowship hall! Mmmmm. Our concert had improved much since the previous Tuesday and the folks seemed to enjoy it.

We didn't get much sleep because of Justis waking up at 4:20 Sunday morning. Was I ever thankful for having two rooms as I closed the door to the girls' room so Grace wouldn't be awakened. I was up with Justis for an hour and then dozed off and on until my alarm went off at 6:00. We were able to get everyone up and ready by 7:00 in order to enjoy a long and leisure breakfast bar in the hotel restaurant. From Cleveland we drove east about 90 minutes to a little Methodist church near Jefferson, Ohio. The pastor there was older but very young at heart with a desire to minister to the children. They were advertising "Breakfast With Santa" and provided breakfast as well as clay gingerbread men for the children to paint. And although he didn't preach Sunday morning, he still had a mini sermon for the children at the front of the sanctuary before we sang.




Again, the Christmas concert improved but I started hearing regular reports of the short blonde to my left. Faith was beginning to steal the entire show with her lip syncing of every song, yawns, leg-crossings, animated faces and various and peculiar facial expressions she would use in response to mine or Bobby's singing.

We enjoyed a delicious meal with our friend, Connie Smith in her home as she graciously received us and allowed us to just watch the football game and rest. She outdid herself with the rigatoni, garlic bread, salad and pumpkin roll. What a nice autumn comfort meal.

The Sunday evening concert was another visit to Pastor Bob Terasiak's church, Family Fellowship Church in Conneaut. You can actually see Lake Erie from the church - I love it. I enjoy going to Conneaut because of it's unique personality and beauty. We love being able to befriend some folks over the years and Pastor Bob and Sister Marianna are two people we look forward to seeing.

Again the concert went even better than the last one and again, I heard a few reports of our drama queen but a surprise was after Pastor Bob introduced Justis, who was sitting next to Grace in his stroller, I had to ask our friend Connie to take Justis and change his diaper because I could tell by his face that he had just pooped. I knew there was no way that poop would all stay in his diaper if too much time elapsed. So I had to tell Connie from the stage right there in front of God and everybody that Justis had serious troubles in his diaper and would she please take him out to change?

The folks at Family Fellowship brought in some great snacks for after church and we filled up before driving two hours to Milan to our not-so-favorite hotel chain, Super 8! The nice thing about this place was it was yet another two-room suite with no less than three double beds! It was very basic yet clean. The kids did see a couple of lady bugs though. We got to sleep in a little bit, enjoy a more simple breakfast, and then hit the Ohio Turnpike, headed west toward my Dad's home in Burr Oak, Michigan.

No Sense Crying Over No Sleep

Monday/Tuesday, November 14 & 15, 2011

It's been a tight season, financially speaking and I have had to keep putting off buying the "supplies" I needed for the upcoming long trip that Bobby and the kids would take when I would be left at home to paint the living room and bake ahead for Christmas. Finally, on Monday, the 14th, I saw an opportunity (my last one) to go to the store. I proposed to Bobby that after our company left Monday evening, I would pack the kids clothes, prepare their school lessons, cut coupons and prepare my grocery lists which would all cause me to go to bed very late and then rise as early as necessary to get to Wal Mart and Publix and be back home no later than 9:00 to get him to the airport by 10:00 so that he could pick up his rental car at the airport and they could be on their way to Oklahoma. He wasn't fond of the idea because he knows me and was afraid I would run late which would cause him to be late which meant he would have to choose from leftovers at the car rental place. I reminded him that I hadn't been able to get to the store before now because of not having the extra money and that there was no way I could go and get the things I needed once they left. I CAN push the wheelchair and pull Justis in the cart through Wal Mart but I can't get a cart-full of groceries at the same time. I'm not THAT good. He gave permission and after the company left Monday night, I dug in with packing clothes, preparing lessons, etc. I didn't get to bed until 3:45. Actually, I didn't go to bed. I kept my clothes on, my contacts in, my makeup on and laid on the recliner for an hour and a half. Rising at 5:15 I put my shoes on, made sure I had my wits about me and my purse before leaving the house and drove off in the dark of the night to Wal Mart.

I LOVE going to Wal Mart at that hour. I was the only customer. I was a dizzy, sleepy customer but I was alone with all the cleaning, straightening, organizing employees. On the way to the store I realized I wasn't going to be able to buy any paint as there wouldn't be anyone at the paint desk to mix it for me at that early hour.

"Oh well," I thought, "I'll get everything else I need and worry about the actual paint later."

I grabbed a biscuit at Hardees before driving to Publix which opens at 7:00. Again, I enjoyed being one of only a handful of customers as the store employees hustled and bustled around me saying "Good morning!" By the way, I spent $87.10 and saved over $62 after all the buy-one-get-one deals, other sales, and coupons! My cart was nearly full and I always compare to Wal Mart, thinking that if my cart looked like that at Wal Mart my bill would be well over $150. Ha! Which, I just realized, is what my spending plus my savings was at Publix!

It was raining so I was hurrying but trying to be careful and made it home by 9:00! I walked in damp, sleepy, and my arms loaded down with grocery sacks only to hear my husband say, "I think I'll just wait until tomorrow to leave."

I hung my head and all kinds of thoughts ran through my mind very quickly, like, "REALLY!?!" and, "Ha ha! For a minute there I thought you said you were going to wait until tomorrow to leave," and "What is WRONG with you?" and "That's a low blow!" and, "I can't believe you just said that!!!" Nah, I didn't even consider back-handing him like one friend asked me later. I hung my head down and didn't say anything for a second and then said, "I should have seen this coming." My husband changes his mind more than any woman I know.

Getting upset about the whole thing really wouldn't make much difference in his decision. I didn't blame him for not wanting to drive in the rain. They had time to leave at 4:00 the next morning and still make it to Moore, Oklahoma in time to sing.

And that's what they did. But you know, it was still raining. I had an uneasy or unsettled feeling when they left and let's just be real. Whenever you say goodbye to your family when they get in a car there's always the thought waaaay in the back of your mind that it could be the last time you see them. That thought was pushed aside and I prayed with faith for them as I laid back down to sleep after they left, knowing that staying awake and "thinking" about them would do no good.

Bobby called me at 7:20 to say they were still 30 miles EAST of Jackson sitting still on the Interstate and had been there since before 6:00! A cattle truck had turned over and there were dead cows everywhere! He said the first thing that happened was the trucks in front of him tapped their breaks, then slowed down. If he hadn't slowed down it could have been so much worse because he said about 10 cows came running toward him. He slammed on his brakes and swerved a few times missing them all. The trucks in front of him turned their flashers on and then finally everyone came to a complete stop.

We kept talking to each other over the next few hours and he watched as the arrival time on his GPS got later and later. He got in touch with the pastor from Highland Baptist Church and told him of his predicament.

By 9:30 I began to lose hope that they would make it to Moore in time to sing but at 9:45 Bobby called me and said they were moving again and he intended to stop only once and do some speeding. They did stop only the one time, 10 minutes to fuel up and use the bathroom. They made it to the church before 6:00 - plenty of time to set up and change clothes. The funny thing was Bobby, who normally showers before getting in the car, chose not to shower that morning - I think because he knew it was raining and he knew it would mess up his hair. So he had to wash his hair in the sink and put on a little extra cologne.

Like Bobby said, "It was only by the grace of God that (he) didn't hit one of those cows." God is faithful. Now...if Bobby would have just left when he had originally planned...then again...God might not have had the opportunity to show Himself like He did this way.