Project 365 - week 44

Week 44.

Ok, well I am running late this week.  I think my whole week was like this....I just seemed to always be a step behind.

So here's my week:

Sunday

Our Hall of Faith is growing!

This week we studied Noah and the kids got to build and ark with food and then eat it!!!

 Monday 

 Happy Birthday to my son!!!

Tuesday

 Our marching band taking the field at regional competition

This was our very 1st competition and we took all 1st in each category!!!!

The kids were so pumped!!!

Wednesday

Got this recipe off of Pioneer Woman's blog this week.

Beef and snow peas......SO GOOD!!!

Thursday

No picture today.

I worked a full day and honestly can't even remember what I did other than that!

Friday 

 Our church hosted a conference on the book of Romans this weekend.

We had a professor from DTS come to teach it.

My brain is not used to working this hard, but it is so great!!!

I am just soaking it up!  I will have to post on it once I get all my thoughts together.

Saturday

We hosted a family that came in for the conference.

It was so much funny having small children in my house and getting to know this family!!!  I really can't wait to be a grandmother!!  And kids, if you are reading this...that doesn't mean any time soon!!  :)

So how was your week? Link up so we can see and be sure and visit everyone else's!!!

Flashback Friday

I'm joining Linda @ Mocha with Linda for Flashback Friday today!

What  was Halloween like when you were growing up? Did your family participate? If not, was there a substitute activity? Did your school or church have a fall festival or carnival? Were there stipulations regarding costumes? What sorts of activities did they have? What about Halloween parties? Have you ever bobbed for apples or been on a hayride? What are your memories of "haunted houses"? (I'm not referring to the ultra-scary, secular ones, just the fun kid ones, with bowls of grapes and cold spaghetti!) If you went trick-or-treating, what were the rules, both for trick-or-treating and for candy consumption? What types of costumes did you wear? Were they store-bought or homemade? Did you carve a jack-o-lantern? How are your children's experiences similar or different to yours? And the most important question: Do you like candy corn? What is your favorite (and least favorite!) Halloween candy?

 Halloween was a much anticipated event in our home growing up.  We would spend weeks deciding what costume we would wear and then making it!  I think in my younger years, my mom bought all my costumes but as I got older, I made my own.  My favorite memory of Halloween was trick or treating with my big brother.  We used a pillow case as a bag and usually came home with it filled to the brim!!  Sometimes my brother had to carry my bag for me!!!  lots of candy!

As soon as we got home, my brother and I would sit on the floor and separate out our candy.....and then the trading deals would begin!!!  

Once all the deals were done, the candy was placed in bags with your name on them.....the chocolate bags went into the freezer to keep longer.  We ate candy for a LONG time and I suspect that mom snagged a few pieces when we weren't looking!!!

 

With my kids, I made all their costumes and we would trick or treat just around our immediate neighborhood.  By the time I had my own kids, I had decided that eating that much candy (until Christmas) was not a great idea.  So my kids were allowed to eat on their candy for 3 days and then the Candy Fairy would come overnight, take the candy to give to someone who needed it (does anyone "need" candy?), and leave a small prize in it's place.  Worked great for us!!!  

Once we moved to Indiana, we started a new tradition we still do today.  We put our fire pit in the driveway and offer the kids a choice.....candy or a s'more.  It was always fun to sit out by the fire and visit with everyone as they came by and stopped to get warm!!  Now that we are in the south...it is sometimes too hot for the fire, but we still do it!!!  It is one of the best ways we have found to get to know new neighbors!!  This year it will be iffy.  There has been a strict burn ban in place for a while.  It has been rainy a bit this week, so I am hopeful the ban will be lifted so we can continue our tradition!!

By the way, I really dislike candy corn!!!

Thank you very much!!

 I'm joining The Daily Driblbes for Thank you very much! Thursday!

Dear son,
 
Thank you very much son for taking the fun out of my surprise to have your favorite ice cream pie delivered to your dorm for your birthday.  You were so down about not being able to have it and I was so excited to have found someone up there to deliver it to you!!  After talking to you that morning and our agreeing you would be at your dorm at 2:30 that afternoon, it didn't occur to me that you would forget.  Especially since I repeated it THREE times.  You really are very lucky that your roommate walked out of the dorm just at the right time.  I hope you enjoyed it because I wouldn't be expecting that pie in the up coming years.........just sayin'. 

However, I do love you like crazy and am glad you had a such a great first birthday away from home!!!

Love,

Mom

Happy Birthday to Jason

Happy Birthday to my boy!!!

I hope your day is as great as or better than it would be if you were here.  Though you don't have anyone to decorate your door, make you your favorite breakfast and dinner or have the birthday plate to eat off of........you will now be making new memories and traditions!

I hope the box you receive today will help with that! :)

So enjoy your day and know that I am thinking of you, praying for you and pretty much missing (like crazy) being able to celebrate with you!!

I love you!!!!

Project 365 - Week 43

 Week 43.

It was a crazy week.  I saw the best and worst in people and had a "first" in the Bowyer household.

The best:  spending time with all 3 of my kids this week.  Seeing how grown up they are and what amazing kids they are.  Knowing each one walks with God.  So proud of them.

The worst:  Someone stealing $$ from our tip jar at work.  Knowing who it is and knowing they didn't need that money.  Wishing I'd never found out.

The "first":  Went to parent teacher conferences for Jared on Friday.  All the teachers, except one, had only one thing they wanted Jared to work on........they wanted him to talk more in class!!!!  I am pretty sure that has never been said of one of us before!  ha!

Here's my week:

 Sunday

 Had to say goodbye to my sweet daughter this morning.  But it's just over a month till Thanksgiving when I will see her again!!!!

Then my Besties took me to dinner for my birthday since we were all together!  

I love these ladies!!!

Monday

 Jason is home for fall break and he brought a friend of his.  So of course that means a game of Settlers!!!

Tuesday

Saying goodbye to Jason and Seth.

goof balls!!!

Wednesday

 We had someone steal money from our tip jar at work...really?!  It really made me sad that an adult would stoop so low.  So we have now come up with a more tamper-free tip jar.

Thursday

 Our football game was an hour away and televised tonight!  

All the band parents caravaned down there....so fun!!!

The band did GREAT!!  I love these kids!!!

Friday

Tonight we attended an evening out for couples put on by MOPS.

There was, of course, a Halloween theme.  

They had planned to have a big fire out on the patio with hay bales to sit on and s'mores to enjoy........but since it has been scorching HOT here in AR with NO rain....there is a burn ban in place.  So this measly little gas burner had to suffice.  It was actually pretty funny and seeing as it did not cool off much tonight, this was much more pleasant!!!

Saturday

I am making lasagna for our life group tomorrow and one of the ladies is on a gluten free diet.  So I got these to use instead of regular noodles.  Anyone ever try these?  I guess I will let you know tomorrow how they are!

That was my week.  How did yours go?

Thank you very much!!

I'm joining The Daily Driblbes for Thank you very much! Thursday!

1. Thank you very much to my son who brought a friend home for fall break from college and ate me out of house and home...thank you very much!  Okay, so I really love that he did that!

2.  Thank you very much to the woman who stole $5 out of our tip jar at work.  REALLY?! You have forced us to get a bigger, better and much more tamper friendly tip jar, which we shouldn't have to do but should have done after the last person stole from us.  Though we can't prove 100% that you did it, we know you did and we will be watching you like a hawk from now on....thank you very much!

3.  Thank you very much to my friends who were supposed to come visit for my big birthday but have  canceled.....now I have to go to work that week.......thank you very much!  I really do completely understand....I just don't like it!

4.  Thank you very much to my other son who is upstairs at this moment sleeping in because there is no school while I am up early because I forgot that there is no school.....thank you very much!

For some free therapy and/or laughs for the day, go to The Daily Dribbles and join in!

Tag....I'm it!

I have been tagged for a fun meme by my friend Linda @ Mocha with Linda.  She has given me the following 7 questions to answer...

1. Do you prefer to read the book or see the movie?

Read the book for sure!!!  

And then I go see the movie and am disappointed because it doesn't square up with my imagination!!

2. What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas.  I love, LOVE the holidays.  The decorations, using my Christmas dishes all month, the parties, being with family, the smells...but most importantly celebrating the birth of my Savior.

3. Which do you like better - the mountains or the beach?

hands down...BEACH!!!

 
4. If money were no consideration, what vehicle would you drive?

I am really not a car person and have never just "wanted" a specific car.  I just want one that is comfortable, safe and gets me where I want to go!

 
5. What is your favorite cold-weather beverage?

Salted caramel hot chocolate from SB.

But at home....hot cider!

6. How do you communicate most often with your friends: phone, email, text, face-to-face?

All of the above!

 
7. How do you receive your mail? Mailbox on the porch, at the end of the driveway, down the street, or post office box?

We have a mail box at the end of the drive way.

Now I am supposed to come up with seven different questions and tag seven people, which I always hate doing. And you are not obligated to participate. And if I don't tag you, you can grab the questions and play along, or answer them in the comments! I'm tagging the following:

Linda @ growing with it

Stephanie @ cozy corner

Tori @ Yoder yada-yada

Lori @ The Davidson Den

Mimi @ Sreaming Mimi

Karin @ Treasures from Afar

Rita @ Meemaw moments 

Here are my questions for you:

 

1.  What are you fixing for dinner tonight?

2.  What is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving?

3.  What are you most thankful for right at this moment?

4.  Do you think 50 is the new 40?

5.  What age do you dread the most?

6.  If you could have/do anything for your birthday, what would it be?

7.  What kind of cake do you choose for your birthday?

 

 Have fun!!!

I have the greatest friends!!!

 While in Houston, my friends celebrated my upcoming
big birthday by taking me to the Melting Pot for dinner.....one of my favorite places!!
Fondue is sooooo much fun!!!

We started with a cheese fondue......YUMMO!!!!

They bring you bread, apples and veggies to dip.  This could be a meal in itself!!

Then came the main course.  A spread of beef, chicken, salmon and shrimp that cooks in an amazing beef/red wine broth......so good!

Of course you MUST end the evening with chocolate fondue.  This is the dipping plate and my birthday candle.....strawberries, bananas, pound cake, brownies, cheesecake and marshmellows....oh my!!

We chose the chocolate turtle fondue!  Here is a video of the waiter making it at the table.  Sorry it is sideways, I couldn't figure out how to rotate it!!!

What a great night we had laughing, joking about "age", and reminiscing. These ladies have been my friends for 20 years and they know me so well.  They know my love of a good party out with the girls, they know when I need encouragement and how to give it, they know when I need to be held accountable and they push me to be a better follower of Christ.....I love them!

Thanks guys for a wonderful evening and a great weekend!!!

I miss you already!!!!

Project 365 - Week 42

Week 42.

This week was a true roller coaster.  Starting out with a huge disappointment of Jared getting sick and missing his marching band competition.  And yet ending with so much excitement.  Seeing my daughter and getting to meet 2 blogging friends.

At this moment I am sitting at my friends house, relaxing.  She is a HUGE Auburn fan and my other friend who came with me is a HUGE Arkansas fan.  I am having more fun watching the two of them than I am watching the game!!!  They have drawn lines on the sofa!!!  Sports fans are so funny!

Here's my week:

Sunday

Our dear friends the Schellhases are back for a very quick visit.  It has been a year since we have seen them and it was so good to give them a hug!!!  They are missionaries in Niger.

After a great visit with Jason, I had to sadly say goodbye to him.

Monday

These 3 items = one sick boy!  :(

Tuesday

 Since Jared is sick (and I am not feeling to good myself), I am home for the day.  So I spent the afternoon putting together a photo book of my Boston trip.

Wednesday

My college boy will be home this weekend.

I will be seeing my college girl.  

So I decided everyone needed some homemade cookies!

Thursday

Flying to Houston tonight to see my girl!

The sunset was so beautiful landing in Dallas!!

Friday

What a GREAT day!!!!

Alyssa and I spent the morning touring and interviewing at the University of Houston.  She really likes the program and it was a great morning!

 

 Then we met two of my blogging friends for lunch...

H-Mama and Linda

 You know it is a strange phenomena spending time with someone you have never met and yet you feel like you have known each other forever.  Two hours went by in a blink.  I loved getting to know these two ladies in person and also talking about our ministry connection.   They are both as sweet in person as they are on their blogs and I am so thrilled that they took the time to meet me!!!

Saturday
Today was very fun.

A lot of hanging out.  

Watching football.

We ended the day with a wonderful dinner at a Tai restaurant...yum!

 My great friends Susan and Wendi

My awesome daughter and me!

From disappointment in the house to EXCITEMENT!!

 Cookies are made...

 PW's lasagna is made.....

Mimi's Oatmeal bread is made.....

....that is a big accomplishment but that is not what it is about...

The excitement is ....

...getting to hug this girl tonight...

....AND getting to spend the weekend with 2 of my oldest BFFs (not their age, but how long I have known them!!! sheesh!).  The one in the front with pink and the one to her left.......

......AND then the added excitement of meeting for the first time...

H-Mama and Linda!!!

Ya'll, I can hardly contain myself!!!!

Disappointments

Disappointments are hard to take sometimes.

Especially when they seem unfair.

We have a big disappointment today....my youngest is sick and will miss his 1st marching band competition.

What makes it so hard is that for years, while we lived in Indiana, he went to all his sibling's marching competitions with great expectation of being there one day.  Even as a young boy, he loved being in the stands and never complained about the many hours spent there!

And just about the time he was almost ready to be part of the band, we moved.  And we moved to a school without a marching band.   One was started the year we moved here (with 12 kids) and over the years has gotten bigger and better.

Well, they are finally to a place to participate in their first big competition.  They have worked SO hard....every morning before school....and Jared has been so excited!

And then last night he started throwing up.....violently.

My heart hurt for him last night as he realized he would miss the competition.  It hurts for me too as I think I was almost just as excited as he was for this.

No, I don't understand why he would have to get sick the night before such a big event.  But life throws us some curve balls at times and it is how we handle those that shows our character.  

I am so proud of my son.

He is definitely disappointed.

But is not mad, or crying or pouting or wallowing in self pity.

He is accepting it and cheering his fellow band members on.

I wish I could say I always handle myself so well in the face of disappointment!

...of course it does mean more PS3 time! ;)

Project 365 - Week 41

Week 41.

I have spent a good part of the weekend listening to this:

Oh my word have I missed that sound!! I know I am biased, but ya'll he is GOOD!!! I have so enjoyed listening to the new songs he has written and hearing about college life. Mostly, I enjoyed hearing him say how good it was to be home and how much he missed us!!!! :)

Music to my ears!!!

Really, this weekend was perfect...minus one thing.....my girl. I have not seen her since June and let me tell you that I can not wait to get my arms around her next weekend!!!

You moms of young ones.....I know you hear it all the time and I know you know the time will go fast......but hug those babies of yours and love on them. Tell them all the time how special they are in God's eyes and yours and how much you love them. You really can't understand how fast it goes....until it is gone.

Don't get me wrong....I am NOT sad. I really wouldn't trade this time. I love it as much as I loved when they were young, it is just different. I am so proud of my kids, how they each love God and are finding their paths. And right now, my heart is pretty full!!!

Here's my week:

Sunday

Our Hall of Faith is growing!!!

Monday

Can you tell what time of year it is?
signs are popping up everywhere!

Tuesday

We had our worship pastor and his family over for dinner tonight. They just had twins and Steve and I enjoyed holding them and cuddling them. Steve put M down long enough to eat his dessert. I think she wanted some!! She's a girl....she's got to love chocolate!

Wednesday

My friend decorated for Halloween.
But she did it in a way that would cause someone to ask questions and then she could share the gospel. See the cross in the center...

What a great idea!

Thursday
This one will be home tomorrow!!!!
yipee!!!

Friday
So many great things happened today....
homecoming
marching band
parade....

...but this was the BEST part for this mama!!!
my college boy asleep on my lap.

Saturday

While I made pumpkin bread, I listened to Jason practice for a voice exam next week. Then later in the day, we went to hear Jared play in the all-region orchestra. They were awesome!

So, that was my week. How was yours?!