Southern Living Yankee

Tom starts his new position today as manager of the electrical maintenance shop. It's a position he's held before and enjoyed, so he's looking forward to it. Lisa called last week with the exciting news that she is now in the management training program and the company has created a unique position for her that will highlight her personal shopping skills, customer service/pampering, and lifestyle event planning. Who wouldn't love that? Her store website: www.anthropologie.com Me? I dabble. Little bit of this, little bit of that. At the moment the additional things going on, besides two part time jobs and a book--we've got some 11th grade boys coming here every Sunday night for their "house church." Their leaders arrive by 6, we put out snacks in the kitchen, everyone else arrives, they all disappear down to the rec room, and then Aaron wanders up after 8. We enjoy opening our house up for this, and I'm happy that the house gets a once over with the vac...

Forget the blog this week. I'm making a big pot of chicken soup and cuddling up with a box of kleenex. aa--choo! (Tom wants me to cuddle up with him--what a guy, braving the cold spores just for me).

I received an email from another writer today: ". . . I have a friend who is deeply grieving the loss of her husband. I wish I had your book to give her . . " That's a work of God enlarging my vision and my heart. I can feel it. He's also "hemming me in," if you're familiar with that phrase from Scripture. Not a comfortable place, but a good place to be. Some practical things to pray for: That God will continue to do His work on me. I sense a real urgency to get this done this year. Next year will be too late. I don't know why, but it will. Feel free to prod or drop-kick me anytime to accomplish this. That the right people will come together in my critique group. This week I began presenting it to the little circles of people I've been lead to: Moms In Touch, writers group, grief group, my house church. Pray that God will urge the ones He wants--the ones I need --to join me. Thursday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. is the first meeting. We'll discuss the p...

Don & Ruth Smith say "thank you" for lifting their family up in prayer. Click on my April and May archives to review the horrendous car accident they were in. Imagine driving home from a beautiful family gathering, expecting to be home in a few hours, and not getting home together as a family for over a month . . . God has graciously answered prayers for healing. Everyone is off their crutches by now. Don is back to work. Hannah, the one with the worst injuries, is not only alive, she is playing basketball on the 6th grade girls team! Of course the coach is trying to watch over her a little--her shoulder still has limited movement after being crushed . . . But, basketball?! Praise the Lord! Please pray that this good progress continues. Enzyme levels indicate that her pancreas is still recovering. They are dropping, so it is healing. Her spleen had to be removed so she will need to be cautious and on guard about bacterial infections. Again, they are grateful to God, and t...

On Friday, Sept. 7 we attended the wedding of my niece Megan to Derek Curtis. It was sweet and so good to see my Bowman side of the family. Brooke & Chris came, too, and had a great time. *The first picture is a message for Megan's brother and his family in Shanghai. "Ryan, Aimee, Anna, Elijah, Rachel--Wish You Were Here! We Love You!" *Then you see all who were able to come to a brunch on Saturday morning. *In the last picture we are having fun pelting Megan & Derek with safflower seeds. Funny how the seeds made their way into the little SUV they have, down Megan's shirt. . . and so on. The first Bowman wedding I was in (my own), had me sweeping rice out of cracks and crannies for months. I owe you all an update on my writing and the Smith's car accident recovery. Please continue to check back this week. I intend to play catch up with some additional entries. Thanks for checking on me.

Brooke and Chris visited last weekend, the weather cooperated, and we got the boat out for the second time (boo hoo, only the second time and summer is over!). But we had lots of fun. The first two pictures are of Aaron, then Chris, Brooke, and me and the boys. How do you like my bright orange outfit? I call it "Couture de aero mattresso." Thanks to Brooke for taking a picture that makes me look like I'm wearing an air mattress. Hope you all get a giggle out of it. Thanks for checking in on us. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend! Happy Birthday to Dad and Tammy, Friday, Sept. 7! Happy Wedding to Megan Bowman and Derek Curtis, Friday, Sept. 7!