A True Friend

Today my mind keeps thinking, "they have actually left".  The Bowen family has actually moved now.  I am sad when I think of it, but not down.  When Michelle had first informed me of Billy getting a job and making San Antonio a final destination for them to live it hurt so much.  My heart was heavy for a few days, until one morning as I was fixing my breakfast and began to cry, I simply whispered, "God if this is your will for them please give me a peace about it", and that is exactly what He did.  From that moment on I have been dealing with my friend leaving very well.  We both moved to Wichita Falls about 6 years ago within a 6 month period, and became really good friends about 5 years ago along with our girls, Abigail & Breann.

We have shared so much over the last few years.  Just as our speaker stated at our Life Tabernacle ladies tea, "there is just something special when your moms are friends", this is so true!  Michelle and I have shared so much, and she has truly been there for me at all times.  Michelle truly is one of the sweetest ladies I know.  She is so kind and always giving in some way.  She's the friend I'd sit and talk about anything with.  We shared good deals, good products, shopping trips, blessings and trials, better ways to be good mothers and good wives, ways we should get closer to God, and so much more.  Michelle is one when we talked she stated the good in others no matter what.  Her sweet spirit has truly helped me change some things about myself over the years, and I will be ever grateful for that.

We have been happy for each other in the good times and blessings from God.  Even at this time I am happy for my friend.  I'm excited for her and the house they bought and how God worked everything out for them.  I can't wait to here of how God uses them in their family and new church in San Antonio.  I know they are going to be such a blessing to people there, and that is just a wonderful thing!  Breann and I are both looking forward to girl trips in the years to come, and what special bonding moments that will be for me and my daughter as well.  Abigail and Breann will most likely spend a week here or there every summer, just as Austin and Haiden have done the past 6 years we have lived here.  So no matter the situation now I know there are good times ahead of us!

Last week we went out to eat taking Abigail and Breann, and they just loved it!  I got the girls matching purses.

Then Wednesday night we got some last time pictures of them in matching outfit they have.

....they didn't match but had to get there pic too!

                            
Looking forward to our trip to San Antonio in July!  We plan to go when Chris & Haiden are on the Colorado trip.

FRIENDS AT CAMP MEETING

Well I typed out this great post a few nights ago, but then computer had issues and I lost it. So, here I am trying again! One of the biggest highlights at camp meeting for me is getting to see friends and spend some time with those you don't always get to be with. It was so wonderful to be able to get together with Andrew, Mandy and the girls for just a moment at camp. It was refreshing to visit with them. It just seemed as if it had been FOREVER since we seen them, especially the girls! I guess when your used to seeing such a beautiful family at church on Sunday and Wednesday you don't realize how big of a light they shine until they are gone for so long. It was very exciting to see quiet a few people from our home church of Center. We miss everyone there so much and it is always great to go visit or see the people from there. It was an honor to be able to have lunch with Kassie, Priscilla, Kim and Joseph from our church in Wichita. My husband and I both agreed after leaving that we enjoyed being around them all because they make us laugh, of course in a good joyful way. It is always good to be with people you can cut up with, and these are the people for that, LOL! I must say the moment I looked forward to the most was being with my best friend from high school, Ashley. She is the won who shared this wonderful truth with my husband and I. Some of you may remember me asking prayer for my friend Ashley at times due to her not being where she needed to be with God, but I can say now that her focus is now where it needs to be and she is serving God to the fullest once again and I can't explain to you what a joy that brings to my soul. It the past seven years we had not had much of any contact with each other due to the situation, but at camp meeting it was just like old times being together. It seems as if those seven years never once separated us. We picked up wherever we left off and I'm thankful to God we were able to that. Hope you enjoy the pics! (I forgot to take pics when we were with folks from Wichita, sorry. I did get one of Kassie and it is on here by request,lol)

PICS FROM CAMP MEETING

Well I finally feel rested up enough to make a post from Camp Meeting. I was surprised at how drained I was this year from it all. Not getting to bed til after 1 in the morning for 5 nights in a row was pretty rough on us all. We stayed in Jasper for the weekend to get some visiting in with our family and Chris brother got married at Midnight Saturday. We didn't get to bed til after 4 on that Sunday morning, and then didn't leave Jasper until 7:30 Sunday evening to head back home. Needless to say we had a long tiring trip home and made it in at 3 o'clock in the morning. I don't know how my husband got up and went to work cause I slept til 1 o'clock and felt awful when I did get up. Oh, anyway, enough about the lack of sleep! We had Punkin keep Breann and Colten, and just the rest of us attended camp. We knew Ryan would love it and he did! He was preaching about stones yesterday morning. Don't remember if his message aligned with Brother Grahams but he remembered the stones and had his own message going. I want all my children to have a desire to attend special camp meetings like this and to just love the house of God. Oh, and how Brother Graham got down to that thought of mine. Friday night did speak to me the loudest I believe and it was about fighting for our kids, and hiding them from the devil. My husband and I hear from various people all the time about how we can't shelter our children forever. I can't tell you how many times I've thought to myself maybe we do shelter them to much, maybe they wont be able to cope with different things when they grow up, should we just let them do this or that. Oh, thank God for a minister like Brother Graham who just flat out told it like it is. Like he said, the problem is that we CAN'T shelter them enough! I just know I'm fighting for my kids soul and I'm looking forward to God using each one of them in a special way. I'm gonna shelter them and their minds as long as I can and make it a point to know whats going on in there life. If Chris and I have anything to do with it our children are gonna be hid from the things the devil would want to fill their minds and hearts with, and we are gonna be busy filling their hearts with God's word. The devil can not have my children because they belong to God and they are going to be used in God's kingdom. I just get all stirred up thinking about Brother Grahams message. The devil can't stand the fact that Haiden has learned over 500 bible verses and has been doing this for 4 years, he gets so mad everyday when Ryan wakes up and the first thing he is doing is preaching and worshiping God to the top of his lungs, he doesn't like Breann worshiping and singing with all her heart to God and taking all her baby dolls to church and having church with her brothers, and he sure won't like whatever it is that Colten does, but I don't care! This is what I want to see my children doing. I want them to love this life they have and dedicate it to God. I don't want the devil having pleasure or thinking he's got one on my child if they are on a ball field or at a theater or anywhere that could possible be a down fall for any child of God. Why take a chance, no I can't help it, I'm not willing to give the devil a chance for my children to desire something else more than the house of God. Maybe these are things that are not wrong, but to Chris and I we don't want to give the devil the slightest chance at our children's walk with God. Okay, most people are done reading and if you are still reading you have read enough about all this. So I will stop! Well all the services were incredible and here are a few pics!

CAMP WEEK

Well we are excited to be heading to Lufkin tomorrow morning for Family Camp. It seems as if we are up in the air about whether or not we are going every year, but always manage to pull it off and go. We love going to camp meeting! We have had the privelage of being a part of Family Camp every since we got into church because we used to only be one hour away from the camp grounds. Now it seems to be more of a challege to attend camp, but there is such a huge desire to be there that we make it work! Every year it amazes me the crowd that gathers in the santuary on the camp grounds during family camp. It is just awesome to have that many people together worshiping the one true living God, Jesus Christ. It is just a fact that you know God is going to move in a mighty way in every single service. I think there are just so many people that come expecting something great to happen and so therefore it does. This life I live is so AWESOME! I could never turn back after what my God has done for me, and where he has brought me from. I love the life I live for Jesus Christ. I am so thankful God drew me to him and I chose to live for him. You see we all have a choice and I beleive God draws every single person to him, but then it is up to us as to what we choose when we feel God tugging at us. Will we turn our lives over to him or will we say no and live our lives how we want to. Anyway, I don't know where all that came from, but I just know I'm glad to be living my life for God and living it according to his word the best that I can. He is my focus in life and I daily strive to be more like him and seperate my self from this world. I am filled with joy from God, and choose to be happy with this life he has blessed me with. Thank you Jesus! Hope everyone has a great week!

Jump for Joy

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Well until Alaynas birthday party the only one from our family that had been to Jump for Joy was Haiden. We all had so much fun! I'm only posting some of the pics so our family can see what we did.