Random Dozen

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps? yuck!

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down? prayer and slow deep breaths.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains? "spring rains" sounds so "happy". However, here in AR spring rains usually bring spring tornadoes......not so fun.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why? I really don't think I would want a tattoo of a face...just think how the face would change as you got older....ugh! But if I were "forced"...which is the only way it would happen....I guess.....maybe one of my kids....but then I would have to have all three...no favorites you know.......okay so maybe my husband....since I am already going to see him get older and wrinkled, it won't matter if his face gets wrinkled on me!!! :)

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring? tattoo for sure! I think I would feel like I had a booger in my nose all the time with a ring in it!

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter? Calling my daughter early and wishing her a happy 21st birthday! then church and then an Easter dinner with company!

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs? neither.....jelly beans all the way!

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of? my dinner tonight for P365....yum!

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one? almost finished with Same Kind of Different as Me. Before that I read Sarah's key.....both VERY good!

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning? spring cleaning? what is that? ha ha!!! Really I think the mini blinds are the hardest...that's why I don't do them! :)

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own? without going to my closet to count, I would say at least 6....possibly more....I love flip flops!

12. Which color makes you happiest? any bright color!!

Praise before Victory

We have countless examples in the bible of God's people praising His name before the victory came.

Praise is honoring to God!!

I was reminded of this in my devotion this morning as I read Mark 14:26

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus was about to go to the cross where God's greatest victory would happen. The disciples were about to fail Him and He was about to be cruelly crucified, yet Jesus led them all to sing a hymn and praise God.

I was reminded that "praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God."

So what are you singing today?
Is your focus on God or on your circumstances?

If you want direction on some beautiful hymns this week, head over to Linda's. She is posting some wonderful ones.


Today I am choosing to rejoice in God!!

Remembering and missing....

One year ago today, my Aunt slipped into the arms of Jesus.

This was one of the hardest weeks of my life and it is difficult to believe that a year has gone by.

A year without her smile.

I miss her so much.

I miss...

*her infectious laugh
*her wisdom
*the way she hated me taking bites of food off her plate (but let me anyway)
*tomato gravy
*her beautiful backyard that could have graced the cover of Southern Living
*her prayer support
*her listening ear
*chili dogs at Fuddruckers
*a stick of gum in birthday cards
*finding all the expired food in her kitchen
*checking her dryer lint catcher
*shopping for great deals
*eating at Dixie House Cafe
*just visiting on the phone ....or in person
*how much she loved me

I miss her.

Project 365 - Week 13

Week 13

What a great vacation we had!!!

Get ready, there are A LOT of pictures this week!

Saturday

We left VERY early this morning to drive to New Orleans to catch the ship. We were rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise!!

First thing they make you do on the ship is gather at your muster stations and go over evacuation procedures. We were in the back against the wall and they kept telling every one to take a step back. This elderly lady was practically on top of Jason!! He was a little creeped out! ha!

Sunday

We left NOLA in the rain and it stormed all night. Most of the ship it seems was sea sick! Fortunately none of us were. Today was cold and overcast, but still very relaxing!!!

We spent the day playing cards together....

...playing the guitar....

.....reading and looking out over the beautiful ocean!

It was formal night at dinner.....Jason got a hold of my camera and had some fun!

Monday

We got off the ship and were greeted by a Mariachi band.....very fun!

We spent the day at the beach. The boys had fun being kids again and building sand castles.

We got back on the ship in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day on a deck chair..perfect day!!!

Jason got a hold of my camera...again. :)

Tuesday
Today we are in Cozumel

Is that water an amazing color of blue?! It was spectacular!

We took a speed boat to a private beach where we snorkeled, kayaked, enjoyed the pristine white sand and had an amazing lunch.

The boys enjoyed building another sand castle!

What a GREAT day!!!

As we were heading back to the ship, we stopped at a restaurant for a drink and on the back patio, they had these two tubs....not quite sure why but we thought they were funny!!

Wednesday

in the morning, Jared and I went to a towel folding class. So now if any of ya'll visit, I can have a wonderful creation on your bed each night!!!
you know you want to come now!

We learned to make a dog, elephant, stingray, and a swan....it was really fun!

This was our table at dinner.
We got seated with a wonderful family from Jonesboro.
We had a lot of fun getting to know them!

you know there is no limit to the fun we Bowyers have!
while waiting for the show to start we goofed around with the camera! I'm sure those around us thought we were a bit strange.

Thursday
We debarked today to very grey skies and rain. We were hoping to walk around downtown NOLA and see some sights but none of us wanted to do it in the rain.

However, I was determined to try my first beignet!!

I got to cap off a wonderful trip by meeting a great blogging friend!
Rachel from Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife!!!
She directed us (our GPS got us lost, go figure) to Cafe Du Monde and met us there for coffee and beignets!

How fun is that?!
She brought along her beautiful daughter.....who was a bit shy at first.
I think all these boys overwhelmed her! :)

What a perfect ending to our vacation!!
...and the beignets?
A.MA.ZING

My son got in the car and said "wow, those bengays were so good"
ya, we're from Arkansas! ha!

Friday
Do you know what this is?

Doing this for children's church Sunday....

It's a close up of a nail like the one that would have been used to nail Christ to the cross...

Saturday

First time my son has ever peeled...really. he has olive skin that doesn't usually burn.
He didn't believe me that the sun in Mexico is stronger..
...he chose not to use sunscreen because he has never burned before..
...and burn he did
...next time he will listen to his mama!!!

Now it's your turn....how was your week?

I need a vacation from my vacation....

Do you ever come home from a vacation feeling totally refreshed, full of energy and raring to go the first morning back?

We got back last night and I feel like a truck hit me!

As I look around at my men....I see they do too.

What is it about vacations that you feel you have to cram as much fun into it as possible..
...like you will never have fun again....
....or maybe it's the fear of missing some fun?

We had a BLAST on our vacation!!!
I wouldn't change a thing....

....well maybe I would change the fact that we went over spring break, because spring break on a cruise somehow means being completely drunk and foolish for a lot of college students.

...just a lot of great opportunities for life discussions with my boys,
full of real life illustrations!!

...and of course I would have added our girl if we could have..

...but other than that, we had so much fun!
I loved every minute being with my guys and was reminded just how blessed I am and how much I love my family!

However, I now need a few days to recoup....

...good thing spring break lasts till Sunday!

Project 365 - Week 12

Week 12

No, you are not off on your days.

It is only Friday.

However, we are leaving VERY early in the morning for our vacation!! We are driving 7 hours to New Orleans to hop on a cruise!! Sun here I come!!!

More importantly, my family is getting some much needed down time. So, I will be completely unplugging and not posting for the next week.....but focusing solely on my family and having fun with them!

I didn't want to miss my P365 post, so it is up and ready for you to link up to when you get your week posted. Have a great weekend and I will see you in 7 days!!

Here's my week:

Sunday

The kids made "He Lives" yard signs in church today.

Monday

Spring is definitely here!!!
I LOVE it!

Tuesday

Jared and I went out looking for sandals for him for vacation. After going to 5 stores, we finally found a pair that will work....sheesh, it's the south...why aren't sandals out yet?!!!
It took us so long, we had to drive through Sonic for dinner.

Wednesday

A friend of mine has been asking me how to explain Easter to her 6 year old. So while the youth were at our house tonight, I went out and bought her some resurrection eggs and a few books to help her out!

Thursday

We had some friends over for dinner tonight. I was having so much fun visiting, that I forgot to take a picture while they were here...we even talked about it!! So here is what was left that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher!

Friday
My bags are packed...I'm ready to go...I'm standing here outside your door....
....oh wait, wrong song!!!
We're off!

Hope your week was great too! Link up when you can!

Random Dozen

Well, I haven't been blogging much this week.

I am in countdown mode.....countdown to vacation on Saturday!!! And to be honest, it is about all I can think about....I am beyond ready for it. I am working very hard to focus and get everything done I need to before we leave....

.....this time next week I will be in a deck chair........


1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly? maybe a .5 ...honestly.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe? Writing our children's ministries curriculum with 3 other ladies......but it would go....I was called, I came, I saw, I conquered with God's help!!

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging? in the morning and then again at night.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for? I am typically early or on time to most things......and off the top of my head, can't come up with anything I was really late for, though I'm sure there has been something!

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring? warmth!!! I love the sun and I love the hot weather! All the flowers in my yard aren't too bad either!

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? when I was younger, I wore green on St. Patty's day to keep from getting pinched...now not so much.

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable? It is completely beyond me how some adults act like children and then expect their children to act like adults.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live? after the tornado and hail storm we had last week....I would say lion.

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it? I am sure I would do something different each day with it...but I know I would NOT spend it cleaning!!!

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold? maybe a kindle?

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day. I have a BIG glass of water near me...it is something very essential and something that I don't really think too much about. However, I can walk to the faucet at any time and get a full glass of it, fresh and without disease. There are many people around the earth that can't do that.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Nuala O'Donovan.....how do you even pronounce that first name?

Project 365 - Week 11

Week 11.

My week started out with putting out fires....ugh. But ended up great as my 3 co-workers and I finished writing the curriculum for our next unit in children's church.....and it is awesome!!! It is so cool to see God show up when working like that. He has gifted each of us in very different ways and when we come together........it's just plain amazing. I am so privileged to be used by Him in this way...what a joy!

So here's my week:

Sunday

Celebrating the end of our Daniel unit in Children's Church.
These are my Lion cupcakes...cute huh?!

Monday

Seems like I spent most of the morning on this..
...putting out fires. argh.
I even had to take this picture on tuesday b/c I was so busy.

Tuesday

Spring....
...I am SO happy to see you!!!

Wednesday

This is the hail that hit our house tonight!!!
It was CRAZY and a tornado went over us!

Thursday

Starting a new unit this Sunday on Christ the Lamb
we set up the stage of the triumphal entry.

Friday

started a 2-day curriculum writing retreat at 8:00 am today.
I love these 3 ladies that work with me. All 3 have an heart for God and for kids.
It is a joy to work with them!

Saturday

14 hours of hard work, but our curriculum is finished!!!
a 12 week study on the miracles of Christ.
my brain is mush.

So what kind of week did you have?