Playing Mama For A Day... Or 3 :)

I finished school a week early that way I could watch the kids so my mom could go visit Lashae, see Lashae's ultra sound, and also bring my dad truck home that Lashae and Chaney were borrowing. I was thrilled at the idea when my mom first presented it because I am not a big fan of school. I kind of wanted to finish a little early in the beginning of the semester but didn't have very much motivation. After it was a settled plan I jumped on my school work and even got to finish a week and a half early! Reece doesn't like that I had to go to school everyday so when I told him that I was done this is the face he gave me....

This week was supposed to be my last week of school. But instead I am playing mommy while my mommy and youngest sister are gone.... :)

Moo wanted to be sure mom didn't for get her 

while she was packing last night

I knew going into this, that being a mom was difficult, especially with how many kids my mom has. BUT I did not realize how difficult it actually is! And I have only been pretending for the past 10 hours! I don't even have to do half the stuff my mom does when she is home... So I am very appreciative of how much she does!

Today is day one... and...

I got the kids out to the car on time for school. It was slightly stressful (for me more then the kids) but we did it!

Then Reece and I went to my moms bible study where I babysit in the nursery every Wednesday. That felt just like normal... until lunch time. When instead of going out like my mom and I do every Wednesday I had to make Reece and me food. (which was fine! Just different)

We then cleaned the kitchen together (which again my mom usually does)

The kids got home earlier than usual from school since today was early release and that threw my mind for a loop again (even though my mom warned me in advance) 

I must have been doing something right though! and  not so right all at the same time because the kids hit the books right away and even got all A's and B's on their state and capital tests (that was what I did correctly) 

But apparently at the same time that I was proud of myself for getting them to do their homework I turned around and things with Reece went haywire!!! (a funny haywire)

He apparently thought that since Maezie's high chair was vacant then it needed a "baby" to occupy it... And he sat his little booty down in her chair and in a baby voice began chanting "dada dada!!! Mama! Mama! Waaaaa"

To say the least, I am extremely thankful for an AMAZING mom for doing all the things she does! I am also extremely thankful for getting school done early that way I can have fun experiences like this... and make fun blog posts too! 

I even get to play tooth fairy tonight! :)

Count down!!!!

Dear followers, I am sorry that I have been such a bad blogger. I have been very busy with school, my wonderful family, sports, friends, and all the other crazy things life brings. But I am going to try and be better!!! :) 
So lately I have had a LOT of things that I am counting down for! We thought that this would be the summer that we get to relax a little bit but NOPE we are as busy as ever! and I LOVE it!!! SO I thought I would share all of our exciting things and how many days until then!!! :) And as they come I will give updates on them that way I have to blog!!! :) (I am going to include pictures because I rarely read things with out pictures!)
The first thing that I have been counting down for is the number of days left of school. School and I do not get along very well so I am SOOOOO looking forward to our break from each other. There is nothing I love more then to wear my swim suit all day ever day and i only get that oppurtunity in the summers! I LOVE riding my horses every day, and swimming, and biking, and running with my dog! So I only have 15 school days left. I am finishing a week early too! So I am sooooooo close to my favorite time of year!

(I am almost able to do this again in 15 school days!!!!!)

As I mentioned before I am finishing a week early that way my mom can fly up to Montana and see Lashae!!! None of us have seen her since February and it has been very hard especially for my mom. I have missed Lashae incredibly a lot but I had the opportunity to drive up there with her at the end of Feb. and help her pack before she moved. So even though I am jealous I am extremely happy mom gets to go up there to see her! The day my mom gets there Lashae is scheduled to have an ultra sound so my mom can see her first grand baby!!! :) So there is only 24 days left until they get to be together!!! :) 

(Only 24 days until my mom can hug her oldest)

(and only 24 days until Lashae can love on Moo)

Then after that I get to see Lashae!!! I have been missing her and Chaney SOOOOO much!!! Ever since the first time I went to Montana I have adopted myself into there family! So in about 27-28 days I get to see my sister!!! :) 

(Yes, I freak her out! But she loves me!!!)

It has been since my oldest cousin gradutaed that my moms whole side of the family has been together. We have had several additions to the family since then and I am SOOOOO looking forward to see all of them! They are all coming to Oregon to celebrate for Kole's graduation. I think they are coming about a day or two early so it will be in about 39 days until I get to see ALL of my cousins. 

           (39 days until we can take a full family picture like this and we have added a lot of kids since this picture was taken so it shall be much larger!)

Next we only have 40 days until Kole Graduates from high school and continues his education at the University of Texas. Home of the long horns. We are all SOOOO excited for Kole but we are going to miss him sooo much! 

(Only 40 days until Kole can claim himself as a long horn)

The last time we had a "shower" of gifts for Lashae was when she was she was getting married. That was only last summer! Now we are going to shower her with gifts again and have a baby shower! We are going to have it so that all the Aunties, grandma's, sisters, and cousins can attend. We will have that 2 days after Kole's graduation! So in 42 days!!!

       (42 days until we can celebrate Lashae being pregnant together as a family!)

(Just a warning I did not proof read this blog post. I am sure there are 1000 mistakes but I don't have anyone grading it so I just wanted to post as is!!! :) Sorry if it makes no since!!!)

I have SOOOOOO many things that I am looking forward to! Even though I am SO happy with the everyday life I can't help but look forward to whats coming up! I am going to try my hardest to keep this blog updated with all the up coming events but I forget! hahahaha! :)

Hello New Year, Goodbye Old

So obviously its a new year and it is fun to recap and remember what happened in the past. In 2011 SO many memories were made, many additions were added, and a few things taken away. But it all is good and God is constantly blessing me and my family. :) So here is a little recap of 2011.
To kick off 2011 in Feb. my parents found out they were headed to Africa to have a court date with my sister but they also found out that they were pregnant with my baby sister.

Then not to long after in March we welcomed Esther home to be in our family forever! (this is the team that brought my sister home)

In April Lashae and Chaney got engaged!

Then in July I got to go to Montana and see where Lashae and Chaney would live when they got married SO much fun!

And only weeks later Lashae and Chaney got married!

In August we loaded the car with the dog and all and headed to Montana to see Chaney and Lashae and where they lived. We had a blast and mom and dad felt even more at ease at seeing where she lived. 

Then again only a few weeks later in September Lashae flew down so she could see the birth of Miss Maezie Ann-Grace

In November we loaded the Suburban again and headed to Montana (We left the dog this time) that we could have Thanksgiving all together and man was it fun!

Sadly on this computer I don't have any pictures but we went sledding, we ate A LOT we prayed and man did we LAUGH!

In December Reece turned 4 and we had a good Christmas and a good relaxed New year! 

And here are a few randoms :)

 And finally the whole wonderful family!

Running The Race

Hey Followers,
So sorry it has been such a long time since I have posted! I have been crazy busy trying to get used to going to school :/ and my new sister Maezie being born and all. But I will try to stay caught up now. :)
So I got to go to state in Cross Country as a Freshmen. I loved the whole cross country season and always have loved running but even more so now. I had an AWESOME coach who went to the Olympics and even broke records. He loves the Lord and was just an all around fun coach. His story about running his record breaking race was incredible. We (as a team) got the opportunity to watch the tape of him running. He said during the race he couldn't get the picture out of his head of how Jesus suffered on the Cross for our sins and how long he suffered for us. His thought was that he could finish a race and suffer for a short amount of time.
Hearing that right before my state race was such a fun thought. So during my race I would continuously think about how life is so similar to a simple run. Through life we struggle through so much, death of loved ones, finances, work (for me school), and so much more. During a race your legs burn on up hills, your tired but have to continue, you so badly want to do well but without getting hurt. At the end of the race you take a breath and feel so good about what you just accomplished. You feel good about the distance you just ran without stopping, the time you finished, and just feeling healthy from exercise.
In life I feel like when we die, and go to heaven it will be such a similar feeling. A feeling of accomplishment. serving the Lord while dealing with the normal life struggle. I am so looking forward to that feeling that I am sure will come. :)
 Sorry this is a VERY scattered post but I do not really feel like writing an A paper. This is a good place just to put down my thoughts and not worry about a grade. :) I just kind of whipped it out and pressed "publish post". So thank you for allowing me to put down my thoughts and walk away. :)
Charsie

New Blog

So I just have to pop in here and say that I lied...my new blog is clbowenbarn.blogspot.com

Oh and Charsie is the best sister ever.

And I love my family.

The end. =)

New Season

I know I haven't been very good about keeping this blog very updated....My life has gone crazy in the best possible way in the last few months! I never thought that in one year I would fall in love. Be getting married. Have a new sister from Uganda. I never thought my mom would be pregnant with another little sister for me. Or that I would get to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch again. Or that I would be moving to Montana. I would have never guessed that I would be able to go back to MY Uganda and fall in love with a precious babe that is now being adopted by some of our very dear friends. I never thought that I would be so close to my sweet sweet sister Charsie. OR that I would get so close to my mom. They are my girls. They make me laugh. Make me cry. Make me laugh again. They offer incredible advice and they are always they for me.

My post is feeling scattered but so is my heart and my head. Right now is a season of BIG change. GOOD change. hard change. It is simply the end of one beautiful and incredible season and the beginning of a whole new  exciting crazy amazing season. And my heart is right in the middle. I can't wait to be with Chaney everyday for the rest of my life. He is seriously God's best for me and I am way beyond thankful, blessed and ready!!! But at the same time, this is the first time I will be leaving my family and it's not easy. They are all awesome and have made me who I am today and I will miss watching them grow up and cheer them on. But I will just have to be their biggest fan from a distance. I will miss my church and the people who have loved both Chaney and Me for so long. But especially in the past year. Thank you for your prayers! The prayer group on Wednesday nights has rocked my world!

Change can be so bittersweet. But it's only bitter because of how sweet it was before. And it's going to be even sweeter. I wouldn't trade anything for the past year. And I won't trade anything for the upcoming years.

Part of why I decided to post today is because it will be my last past on Sisters Serving Him. I am handing it over to miss amazing charsie and starting a new blog... www.bowenbarn.blogspot.com

Follow what Chaney and I are up to on our new blog but keep updated with Chars on here! Thanks.

Psalm 75:9  But as for me I will proclaim what God has done. I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

May all my life be for God's glory. Past, Present and Future. New and Old. Forever.

Wedding Bells!!

(aren't we made for each other?? HA)

I am getting married to the love of my life. and best friend. in 94 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!! I can't wait. I am so excited. So blessed. So in love. So thankful. In just 94 days I will be Mrs. Bowen....FOREVER!!! I love my Chaney!!!