SOMETIMES, I JUST WONDER WHY?...then I laff!!

 

At the beginning of PrayerShare, these two were very busy...and certainly not paying any attention to my video camera. I'm having difficulty uploading the video, but the one shot also captures a teen's wonderful ability to ENJOY THE MOMENT and NOT HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD WHILE THEY ENJOY EACH OTHER...
there's a lot to learn from teens, you know?!!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

OVERNIGHT...YEP, OVERNIGHT!

PRAYER CONCERN/ERIN'S bone marrow transplant completed this past Saturday:

praying for minimal side affects from the meds;

praying for a "little bit" of graft versus host disease (GVHD) battling and doing their jobs

*************************

Senior year has begun...it's finally here...

(CLICK EACH PICTURE FOR A LARGER VIEW)

from THIS....

TO THIS...

PRAISE!!

Our friend's Bone marrow TRANSPLANT WAS ACCOMPLISHED TODAY!

May God use both the giver, and the receiver, to His Glory.

THANKFUL THURS., FAVE 5 FRI. & JESUS in my Sneakers!

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY?

JOIN IN WITH SONYA...

AND SUSANNE

(CLICK ON EACH NAME)

TO LIFT THANKFUL PRAYERS, FAVES O' THE Week, AND STEPS IN OUR FAITH walk

ALONG WITH US...

• PRAISING JESUS: My family and I were able to begin our week together in worship and dd gave her heart-felt testimony of what the three days volunteering during the assistance project had meant to her....i have pictures on my phone but haven't been able to download them yet ...but will as soon as I figure out which thingy to put the eentsy little card into that will then fit into the tiny SD card holder that will then fit into the slot on the computer. Interfaces can sometimes be such a pain. :( (have you ever done this?)

• PRAISING JESUS: The summer vegetables are here...and on Monday as I was coming home from the "chiro-cracker"...don't tell my doctor I called it that, he doesn't like it when I say the work "crack" in relations to his expertise while adjusting my spine.) Anyway, just keep swimming, swimming, ... oh yeah, I bought the BEST tomatoes I've had all year :p and we've been licking our lips each time we eat 'em! (Do you have a favorite summer vegetable or recipe?)

  
  
• PRAISING JESUS: My Mother is 77 and still getting around like she did when I was a teenager...kinda, anyway. (She moves more than I do...and yes, Liddie, I'm still doing 30x5/Phase IV, just had a blip on the screen during my literal "pain-in-the-neck" days this past week and a half.) Just keep swimming, swimming...anyway, Mother knew I wasn't feeling good--she left multiple messages on my phone this past week...I love how she loves me. One day I know there will be a time when she won't be here to leave me messages. She's my best friend, EVER!!

• PRAISING JESUS: Today's treadmill test was a test for dealing with "white-coat" anxiety...had to keep repeating, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."... The extra pounds I'm hauling gave much concern about taking this test...yes, I've been working hard since March and gradually it is melting away. Prayers were answered as I made it to the "level" "Doc Ray" had determined for my "age group" (no comments from the peanut gallery or snickers from the back, I know I'm old).

  My heart was pounding and even double-skipped a couple of times--but this good 'ole heart, blood pressure and oxygen did as required (at 165 heartbeats per minute. It's an understatement to say I'm glad it didn't throw me into full cardiac arrest like a couple of people I've known in the past. Yep, I got to a full incline-3 minute-run. (Whew!!!) coining verbal liberty from "Ms. Underwood's" hit song: JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL, ...yes, Jesus took the "sneakers" :)

  ...He took care of me as the walls were starting to wobble, my calves began melting away from each tibia and Doc Ray saved me from the machine's throwing me back into the wall like a wet washrag.) What "out-of-the-

  ordinary" medical test has brought on anxiety, sweaty palms, the inability to swallow, or shaking knees for you?

• COME JOIN IN ON THE THANKFULNESS, FAVES, and STEPS OF FAITH...I'D LOVE TO READ YOURS, TOO

PROJECT 365, Wk 19

JOINING SARA AGAIN...HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S THE 19TH WEEK ALREADY :)

LAST SUNDAY NIGHT

WE SAID 'GOODBYE' TO OUR SENIORS...

SINCE THERE'S NO CRUISE THIS YEAR

THE JUNIORS GAVE THEM A PRETEND CRUISE...

IT WAS ADORABLY CREATIVE (THEY MADE OUR FAMILY CENTER INTO A CRUISE SHIP, DRESSED AS BOAT STEWARDS, MADE 'POSING BACKGROUNDS' & SENIORS POSED FOR PICTURES AS THEY 'BOARDED THE SHIP!

SENIORS GOT TO EAT DINNER AT THE TABLE WITH 'CAPTAIN BOB!

DD HELPED READ THE PARENTS' LETTERS TO "THEIR SENIORS"...

**HAD TO PUSH AWAY FROM THE MYRIAD OF DELICACIES

ESPECIALLY DESSERTS...this was my neighbor's plate...really!

THE SENIORS were sweet, TOO

showed their appreciation to the staff and to the

Juniors!

MONDAY, MONDAY...I'll wash that day!!

WHAT USUALLY TAKES A DAY...TOOK MULTIPLE DAYS

LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY!

WEDNESDAY

GREAT NIECE, 2-YO KATIE (CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT)

ENDURED MAJOR CATH LABS & HEART CHARTING

UPCOMING FONTAN HEART SURGERY IN JUNE

SHE'S MY HERO!

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE, SHE ASKED FOR FOOD (AND SHE ATE IT AND WANTED MORE...THANK YOU, JESUS!)

FRIDAY

AFTER THE RAINS, I CAPTURED MY BACKYARD BIRDS SINGING

**TURN YOUR VOLUME UP**

(also, "disregard the man behind the curtain" and his inability to get the videos to splice in portrait format) but the birds sound nice :)

HAVE A GREAT 20TH WEEK, EVERYONE!

TAKE ME BACK TUESDAY...4EVER, Thomas ; )

You can participate and/or check out other Take Me Back Tuesday posts at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy.



Sunday evening was one of those "monumental moments" for our youth, and for us "old people"...the counselors.

We were blessed to attend our yearly senior banquet which honors our graduating seniors--this year's theme was a "cruise" down memory lane...hats, streamers, noise makers, confetti, mouse ears, stand-up cutout props, balloons, and food, food, food.

The longer I sat...watching the juniors host the event, taking in all the festivities, it was the pictures that took me back:

...remembering the little ones I had diapered

...clapping hands as we sang "Here is the church, here is the steeple..."

...picking up Easter eggs in the tall, green grass at campground

...gathering tons of cans for our local co-operative ministry

...carrying 5-gallon thermos coolers filled with lemonade

...working on the clients' homes (painting, raking, repairing) each summer

...standing on the pews in the arbor as we sang praise songs

...hugging one another as tears of conviction were wept at the altar

...smiling for the cameras during fun, lessons, service projects, anytime!

These soon-to-be adults have been wrestling with life's realities for the last two years...since one of their classmates, Thomas, was killed in an inter-state highway accident.

As we sat viewing slides, letters from their parents were being read, and the graduating seniors were whispering their reactions to one another. That's when I got this shot...I LOVE the silhouette effect, and I love the kids more.

Each memory declaring itself a treasured piece of their past--we saw Thomas in many of the slides and our hearts were tugged with the preciousness of those memories...he was back with us--never to be forgotten.

He had lived, loved and laughed with us for 17 years, seventeen "oh-so-short" years.

The kids reminisced and savored each picture while celebrating this crossroad into newness--the unknown waiting for them the other side of graduation.

We loved you Thomas...We will FOREVER love you, Thomas!
We love you Seniors...we will FOREVER love you, seniors!

Dear Lord,

Bless them daily,

remind them of all the lessons they've been taught

throughout the many years of Sunday School,

worship and UMYF.

Protect their hearts from becoming hardened or lukewarm,

we so want them to continue being in Your presence daily and

have a PASSION for YOU.

May we continue to hold them in our prayers.

Amen

JESUS-JUMPING JOY & MY 200TH BLOG!!

What says SPRING to you?
I'm participating in WriteFromKaren 's picture challenge...posting a picture representing SPRING...
GO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PICTURES AND VOTE FOR MY PICTURE WHILE YOU'RE THERE!! Voting begins April 18th at 5:00 p.m. U.S. central. time. Voting ends April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. U.S. central time.
(You can join in, too, by following the link)


My "spring" picture below reminds me of the JOY I find each Spring when I'm blessed to be a youth counselor at our spring-break youth retreat at the beach.

During planning, praying, skit writing, studying curriculum and buying agape gifts for our cabin mates and small groups, we immerse ourselves in the teen mindset, striving to become part of their world to reach their inner ears, their inner hearts with the love of Christ.
Sometimes throughout the weekend, we're invited to participate in a game or activity we "older ones" aren't too sure we'll be able to finish or accomplish.

My challenge came while taking pictures on the beach. I had easily caught multiple shots of these young, energetic, fit and thin teens jumping for the clouds (some got at least four feet high, hands and feet extending with hair exploding wildly away from their heads!)

How could I say no once the gauntlet was thrown--one of the girls wanted to see OUR jumps. (I realize this looks totally ridiculous...an older, larger lady jumping on the beach. But, I COULD that day, rather I DID that day, and God-willing I will jump again another day!) Another day to possibly embarrass my daughter in another way she never expects (when I do something unexpected, she tilts her head while rolling her eyes, leans in to her friend and moans, 'welcome to my world!').

My goal was not to embarrass but to PARTICIPATE and show I was very happy to be there and be able. There was something very "freeing" when I allowed myself to jump...letting go of inhibitions of dd's reputation and mine, letting go of "they're gonna think I look stupid"...allowing myself to "feel like a kid" for a brief second as I hurled "my all" up in the air.

Being in my "year of jubilee" makes it harder than ever to get up my gumption to do something this daring...I could fall over and break something, step wrong and pull something, or fall backwards into the freezing water and bring up half the sand in my shorts!


I'm glad I didn't listen to my head that day and decided to follow my heart...it was FUN...and it makes me LAUGH when I look at the picture...and I didn't fall or get wet!

May I carry this "Jesus-jumping joy" throughout the remainder of my year, appreciating where I am, what I have, who I have in my life and how His grace covers my human sin for all time! ... now that's something to JUMP about!



So, now I'm gonna use this as a "jumpin' off spot"...jumping into my first-ever give-away!

Have you celebrated your 200th blog?? I enjoy seeing how different people commemorate this point in time. I've enjoyed writing and sharing on my 200 blogs...some written quickly, some written after pondering for days. I've also enjoyed getting to meet many other believers as we share across the web.

So to give something He has given us...
something reliable,
easily accessible,
and applicable to every situation...
God's promises came to mind.






GIVEAWAY:
pocket-sized BIBLE PROMISES FOR YOU (Zondervan's, NIV).
Name 'em and claim 'em...His promises NEVER fail. Leave me a comment between now and Friday, 4/17, to be in the random drawing. (and don't forget to also go vote for my picture @ WriteFromKaren)

2 Peter 1:4 "...given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...."

JUST 4 TODAY...

Joining on this really "peachy"-good idea...JUST 4 TODAY

...focusing on a few and ensuring completion! We are such a society of multi-tasking it's no wonder we have trouble focusing and completing our daily tasks (simple or difficult).

Today my first adventure lies in focusing on "small group discussions, activities" for our up-coming youth retreat (large group outlines, re-reading scriptures, surveying interaction ideas to get the kids talking).

Today's second adventure is in my shopping to pick up little giveaways (gum, candy, granola bars) ... I like surprising them with leaving things on their pillows, throwing it out during discussions and sometimes snacking on it myself :)

Today's third bullet on my list: working out...the elliptical is calling my name for 30x5...getting me into the "habit" again...Thanks, Liddie!!

...and finally, today's dinner won't cook itself ...unfortunately my nose hasn't learned that trick of "twitching my nose" or "folding my arms and bobbing my head" making things "magically" appear...so I must choose a "lighter" fare and cook it. I am excited because I just got my new Weight Watchers Take 5 cookbook in the mail...gonna try out their ideas!

Have a great day...I'm off to accomplish...

WHAT ARE YOUR "4" TODAY??

LITTLE GIRL-2-BIG GIRL!! & PINK SATURDAY...

Thanks to HOW SWEET THE SOUND for hosting PINK SATURDAY

I haven't bought anything pink in a while...until I saw this at a local thrift store and I HAD to have it. It has markings on the bottom which I will one day look up on the net to find out more about its originations, but for today, it will stand alone in its "prettiness"...

&

WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK...

YES, IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN--is it my imagination, it was just here, wasn't it??DD'S BIRTHDAY is this week...hhhhhhmmmmm, memories:

My once-little-sleeping, 11-day old bundle in my doctor's arms --doesn't sleep so much due to 7am school bells...and looks down at her now-shorter mother.

My once-cooing, 2-month-old enjoying a Virginia pool on her first vacation to Jamestown --is saving for her first trip to Italy next summer (without her mother).

My once-rocking-with-her-auntie four-month old , --now babysits 2 newborns and 4 toddlers each Thursday while Christian rocking to The Less.

My once-slapping-on-the-table, newly-walking 13-month old --is now climbing ladders while helping roof houses for a church mission projects.

My once-running-across-the-street-with-her-mother 4-year old (to meet her newest playmates) --is now driving HER car to enjoy a french-onion-soup lunch with friends at Panera.

My once-taking-her-first-airplane-trip-to-Southern-California 6-year old -- just returned from a high school choral singing performance on the INTREPID, @ the TOP OF THE ROCK, and @ ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL in New York City (without EITHER parent as chaperone).

My once-hard-throwing, first-base, softball-playing 9-year old --is now finishing her 3rd year of Latin, 4th year of chorus and doesn't want to play softball anymore.

My once-16 will now be "17"...this is going entirely too quickly!

Enjoy your Birthday week, Skoot...We have certainly continued to enjoy you!!

1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

PHRIDAY PHOTO-PHINISH PHIESTA...& PRAYER REQUEST

Thanks to Carrie for hosting ...

EXTENDING A PRAYER REQUEST...

...SPRING BREAK'S UP-COMING RETREAT

...150 HIGH SCHOOLERS

...ENERGY, ENDURE, ENJOY

...EXCITEMENT IN EVERY MOMENT

...EARS HEARING NEEDS OF PRECIOUS GROWING SPIRITS

...EYES RESEMBLING EAGLES, SAFETY

...EMBRACING ARMS, COMPASSIONATELY AND LOVINGLY

ALL FOR HIS GLORY! !

(COLLAGE FROM '08 )

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FROM A YOUTH RETREAT?

Psalm 69:33-35
The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them!

Project 365, Week 6

Time's marching on...we're in week six of Project 365...for more, go here:

http://thebowyers.blogspot.com/2009/02/project-365-week-6_06.html

We had about 270 kids at our youth Super Bowl event...

they loved the big blow-ups...they had to take their shoes off, so there was a great opportunity to have a "foot" contest...this group won for most colorful!

I just didn't understand why the teens weren't as "into Bruce" as we were...his music did NOTHING for them...yet we found ourselves cheering and dancing...it was fun...not pretty...fun!

Monday was "grocery day"...so off to Wally World. I usually don't go there, but I was on that side of town. The main reason I was going there was to get the 3d glasses so we could watch CHUCK!


Tuesday was spent steam cleaning my carpets....absolutely wore me out from head to toe.

Wednesday started with a wonderfully warm cup of joe as I blogged ...

later was lunch with a girlfriend at the local Wendy's...it was only 17* outside, so we felt we HAD to have chili for lunch.



Our prayer share with the senior high teens went very well...they sing like angels...and one of the boys brought the message. They had good discussion and sharing...and they ate, and ate!!


Thursday followed with dental appointments...aaaahhhh, good job, no cavities...

Friday was supposed to be a counselors' social...but it turned into a surprise birthday party for me!...boy, does time fly.
Friends and family were very kind to me...we laughed a lot...DS posed with me and "Weston" who kept us company during the party...he's so precious!

Games, cards, presents, food, an absolutely beautiful cake (except for the larger-than-life, big blue 50 staring at me)



And, finally, the week ended with my doing laundry all day...no picture of that because I know you know what that looks like. Hope you had a great week, too!

SEEING HIS LIGHT...IN THE LAUGHS

CHRISTMAS EVE WAS...

Singing "Silent Night" as we lit candles...love, love, love it...we welcome His arrival in PEACE...the world so needs His PEACE. 

The darkness becomes light as more and more RECEIVE His Light...

we can now truly see each other in HIS light! "I am the Truth and the Life", is what He said.

Sharing time with family and friends...we think of those we cannot be with at this time and our hearts are sad; yet we know the love we share, and He settles the separation.

Christmas morning brings opening the presents (and I think of His PRESENCE)...HE gave it ALL for us...to have relation with each one of us...

Jesus would have celebrated Hanukkah as a boy...so, I know he would have loved lighting the candles with his mother and enjoying time with family. She would have laughed and taught him about the legacy of his family and their traditions. 

One of our traditions...we always give something funny...this year, my DD 

received a crochet cap with ear warmers....all the teens are wearing them yet they seem to me to take them back to their earlier childhoods...they pull on the fringe and pull the caps down tightly over their heads and it just makes you laugh! Reminders of a childhood not so long ago, yet on some days they want to be so grown up and ready to leave home.

One of my fun gifts is a "ceramic single-cup tea set of penguins sitting on a plate shaped like an igloo" (By the way, she didn't know I had started a penguin collection this year in my dining room...somehow, she always reads my mind).

...DH received 5 bottles of "1905 honey mustard"...which is his favorite for ham and turkey sandwiches.  Sometimes, looking back at Christmases of old, the presents remembered the most are the funny, cute ones...how soon we forget the big-dollar items.

WHAT LAUGHS DID YOU HAVE THIS HOLIDAY?  

PLEASE LEAVE A NOTE, POST A PIC ON YOUR SITE...I'D ENJOYING HEARING AND SEEING HOW YOU LAUGH DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME.

Deuteronomy 6:2

So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Funny Faces '08...LOVE ME SOME TEENS!

They sing like angels...

They dance to any beat known to man...

We've spent thousands on getting their teeth straight...

and they can't have a get-together without FISH FACES!

Even the guys get in on it...birthday parties, Halloween parties...the event doesn't matter.  It's all about the face poses...the most abnormal expression tends to be the most cherished...

They steal each other's hats or caps and begin taking on a new personality...they growl, jump up and down, posing as we take tons of pictures.  They truly enjoy their time together, just being silly, loving life! 

New faces also appear when they're not thinking about themselves...

when they challenge each other in GUITAR HERO!

...they chew on their lips, bite their tongues, raise their eyebrows and jump around the room while doing it all.  

It seems something would get hurt, but they pull it off without a hitch!

And, in the end, the pics don't always have WEIRD faces...they sometimes have new faces...a trip to Disney World brought a fun time with KYLE XY (Matt Dallas).

What kind of funny face pics of family or friends do you want to share...to end the year with a laugh and an appreciation for EVERY MOMENT we have with friends and family??

(thanks Liddie, at 2nd Cup, for giving me the idea for this post...)

3 John 1:2

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.