The Bowman Family

Beauty

2010-05-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted (busy growing a baby and taking care of family). However, the Mother's Day message at Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, TX was thought provoking and I wanted to share it.

The pastor asked us the question "What is Beauty?" What is beautiful? Today we may define it as certain facial attributes, a certain size, maybe something in nature, a newborn baby.... I can think of many things that are beautiful. It can be different for everyone.

He began to throw some untraditional examples out there..... the human network of nerves is beautiful. The wrinkles on an old man's face are beautiful. Basically, anything you gaze at long enough will reveal it's beauty. Interesting thought.... I believe that. I can find beauty in anything. I can even find beauty in seemingly bad situations. The human spirit can be beautiful as it rises to face impossible scenarios.

Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." The word 'good' is translated from a word that means 'beautiful'. So it reads "Taste and see that the Lord is beautiful". This prompted his statement that "beauty arrives through sustained and adoring attentiveness". This can be applied to our lives by keeping a sustained and adoring gaze on what we know to be true. When things in life don't go the way we expect them to or we feel we are dealt an unfair hand, maintaining a sustained and adoring gaze on God's beauty will help us make it through. He then will pour out his grace to give us strength and restore our beauty.

Think of Leah in the Bible. She was given in marriage as a trick to a husband that loved her sister. Talk about feeling rejected! After she bears her first child, Reuben, she says "The Lord has surely looked upon my affliction" (maybe my husband will love me now). After the second, Simeon, she says "God has heard me" (God has heard that my husband does not love me). After the third, Levi, she says "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons" (If he doesn't love me, he at least has to respect my child-bearing abilities). After the fourth son, Judah, she says "This time I will praise the LORD" (sustained and adoring gaze on God's beauty). This is the key. Through her heartache she longed for love from her husband. Her life was less than ideal. But what she missed in the birth of her first three sons is that God is the only one that can fulfill that need for love. He finds her beautiful. She is his creation. She can find refuge in Him.

Because of her choice to praise instead of focusing on the less than ideal circumstances she lived in, Leah was blessed in life. Look at her legacy! Judah, her fourth son, began the line of kings that contained the likes of David and Solomon.... and, oh yeah, JESUS. From the line of her third son, Levi, came the line of priests (like Aaron). She was buried in honor and at the end of his life, her husband Jacob requested to be buried next to her, not Rachel.

So things turned around for Leah. She chose to praise in the face of adversity, to love in an environment where there was no love, to retain her beauty (not bitterness) through God's grace. What is beautiful? Really, think about it. What is beautiful? Beauty happens when indignities and injustices turn to praise. Beauty happens when we trust and celebrate God's design (not our own). Go be beautiful!

Goodwill to all men...

2009-11-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

The holidays often cause us to think of others less fortunate. We usually organize various food drives, gather coats for kids, or adopt families for Christmas. I wanted to shed some light on another way to bring goodwill during the season. For those who might be tight in your budget this year and are thinking you can't afford to support someone financially, maybe you can give your time in the way of volunteering. It is a great way to gain some perspective and also to show your children what it means to have such blessings in this life.

With our economy struggling there has been an increase in people needing assistance. There are several places that provide assistance for people in need, but I want to highlight two in particular. The Union Rescue Mission of Little Rock provides assistance to the men of our city. They serve over 5,000 meals in a month, provide shelter over 2,000 times a month. The Dorcus House provides assistance to the women of our city - homeless, abused, neglected. They served over 21,000 meals this year and provided shelter over 7,000 times.

The Independent Start estimates that volunteer time is worth $20.25 per hour. Father, mother, and child make up nearly one quarter of the poor and homeless families currently seeking assistance across North America. Ages 46 - 65 were the largest portion of those surveyed (31%). Veterans made up 21% of the men served in these shelters.

These statistics tell us that struggles are everywhere. They touch everyone. But, we can help.... These shelters are always accepting donations of food and supplies. However, I want to encourage you to volunteer your time. Offer a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a handshake and a pat on the back. Have a positive impact on a negative situation. Use your blessings to inspire someone else to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to make it through this season in their life.

Below you will find a listing of some of the places you can provide assistance. Please consider giving of your time this holiday season and throughout the year. It is a great experience! Browse their sites to learn about ministry opportunities and programs they have available to the public.

Union Rescue Mission
3001 Confederate Blvd
Little Rock, AR 72206-3345
http://www.urmission.org/

Dorcus House
823 S Park St
Little Rock, AR 72202-3427
(501) 374-4022
(501) 370-0808
http://www.urmission.org/ministries/dorcas-house/

Our House
302 East Roosevelt Road near I-30 in Central Little Rock
to volunteer : http://www.ourhouseshelter.org/volunteer/index.html

Little Rock Compassion Center, Inc.
3618 West Roosevelt
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: (501)-296-9114
Toll Free: 866-296-3291
Fax: 501-664-6847
http://www.lrcompassioncenter.org/contact.php

Here is another interesting site that lists a directory of homeless shelters and food banks, alchohol/drug recovery programs, etc. in the Little Rock area. http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/city.cgi?city=Little%20Rock&state=AR

2009-10-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a slideshow below of some pics from the first few months in Dallas, including the arrival of my new niece Evie Lynn Voth. There are some from our apartment and the kids. The corley-cylcle even makes an appearance! We are loving it here.

We all have to participate in a student ministry to receive one of our credits each semester. Brad is doing children's ministry and is growing/stretching each week as he learns to relate the stories of the Bible to little kids...not an easy task.

I chose teaching English to international students. I am so amazed at the stories of how these students arrived here. Some waited years to raise enough money to come here. Others left professional careers in engineering, opera/orchestra, medicine, etc to follow a call they had on their lives. I have a particular group of students from South Korea who have come to learn more about ministry so they can go back to a country where Christianity is not common. One couple has had their first child here and will not be able to introduce that child to their family for 3 years. The sacrifices they have made amaze me.

Our neighbors downstairs arrived a few days after us. They spoke very little English and only had a few boxes that held the bare minimum of possessions. I think about the sacrifices we made to get here and they pale in comparison. I think about the challenges of being away from our families and juggling school with two small children. Then, I am reminded of my neighbors who also have two small children, and the fact that they will not go home nor will their family visit for the entire time they are at CFNI. Suddenly, my challenges don't seem so difficult.

I am burdened in my heart for these students and for our culture. I have had my eyes opened to all the things we take for granted. We have the freedom to worship and believe whatever we want. We have the freedom to dispute and fight over whatever we want. We have the freedom to pick apart any decision that is made in our country. No one will put us to death for any of it. In many of the countries that these students are from, they have had to risk their lives, leave everything, in pursuit of God. That is faith. They have had family members disown them for believing in Jesus Christ.

I have to ask myself the question, could I do that for my faith? Could I come from a communist country where it is illegal to own a Bible and dare serve God in spite of that? I wonder if we would find people like that here.

2009-10-08T20:37:00.001-07:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2009-08-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

This is the slideshow that we played at our auction. Brad did such a good job sharing about how this journey began. The slideshow was my contribution :)

The auction was a success! Thank you to all who came and shared that time with us. Your support means so much!

We are preparing to leave on Monday. Saturday will be a big day for all of us. We will officially be out of the house that afternoon. Our minds are constantly on where we are headed. There is a peace in our hearts about this next step. Even though moving can be hectic and unsettling, we are amazingly calmed. I guess that is because we know we are following God's voice in our lives!

Thank you again for you prayers. We will continue to keep you updated on things that are happening.

Silent Auction

2009-07-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our church is hosting a silent auction in the Walker Center for us on Friday, July 24th from 6 to 8pm. Everyone we know is invited to attend! It will be a great time of fellowship with our friends and family before we depart to Dallas on this new journey. We will be auctioning off some of my paintings and photos, as well as some other handmade items by friends of ours. All this in an effort to raise money for our tuition this fall.

Please come out to see us! We will be sharing a slideshow and story of how this all came about and what we feel God is calling us to. Again, everyone is welcome!

Otter Creek Assembly

9415 Stagecoach Rd.

Little Rock, AR 72210

501-455-0946

www.ottercreekag.com

Support

2009-06-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not familiar with Christ for the Nations Institute, I am posting a link to their website and to the site of their music program. Look them up! It is a great place!

Christ for the Nations Institute

Christ for the Nations Music

We also want to thank everyone who has supported us recently. The outpouring of love, encouragement, and financial support we have received is literally leaving us speechless! I am amazed at how God is surrounding us with people that are full of encouraging words. You all seem to wrap your arms around us and hold us up reminding us that we can do it. Your support means so much! Thank you for holding us up in prayer. This journey is a journey of faith and we expect God to do great things. He has already proven Himself multiple times and this is just the beginning.

Some of you have asked about monthly support and auto-draft. I called the Finance department at CFNI to ask what they had available. You can give them your account information, the amount you would like to contribute monthly, and our student ID. They will automatically handle the transaction every month and it will go directly towards the cost of our training. If you are interested in this, please email us at bbowman348@sbcglobal.net and we will forward you our student ID information. Again, thank you for supporting what God is calling us to do. We love and pray for each of you!

Last One Standing...

2009-06-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of Brad's car in the parking lot of Affiliated Foods.... his usual spot. Typically there would be cars everywhere, but with all the layoffs there are none. I have to say "God is so Good!" We originally thought Brad's last day would be May 28th. After several rounds of layoffs, he is still there, working 8 to 5. It's amazing to me how we have survived each round. He has now been told he will be able to work until July 15th. That is only 3 weeks from when we will be moving. How about that? Each time his 'last day' would approach he would get news that he could stay and they still had work for him to do. I am just amazed at how God supplies all of our needs. Thank you to all who have been praying for us.

On that note, I have to say I have the most amazing parents in the world! They are so generous and selfless. As you know, Dad works with Brad at Affiliated Foods. This last layoff came around last week. My Dad was told that someone had to go and it was either him or Brad. Dad gave up his spot so Brad could work a little longer. I hope that I am that kind of parent!

I am just rejoicing in God's provision and praising Him for His direction and plan in our lives. We see Him working daily!

2009-06-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Still Working

2009-05-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

So, a lot has transpired since I last posted. Brad's company is closing. That means he will be without work beginning May 28th. At first, I panicked thinking that we would have to dip into the money we have been working so hard to collect for school. However, I quickly understood how awesome God works! While it is early for us to be without work, we will now be able to apply for unemployment. This normally would not be a great thing. However, it is going to provide us an opportunity to collect some income while Brad is searching for employment in Dallas. I love how He works things out.

Please be in prayer about health insurance. Because Brad is losing his job at the end of May, we will no longer have insurance for the kids or ourselves. I refuse to worry about these things because God has worked it out too many times before. I know He will provide.

I have attached some recent photos of the kids from Easter. They are growing up so quickly! Cash will be a year old in June. Can't believe it!

2009-04-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

Well, as many of you already know, we are planning our move to Dallas in August. We will head out of here on August 10th. We have been making plans and selling just about everything we own. The process you go through when you begin to let go of your material possessions to pursue something bigger than yourself, even with an uncertain outcome, is interesting. At first, you might find yourself eager to clean things out. However, as you start saying goodbye to items and watch them leave your house, you will be surprised at which things you'll want to resist letting go of. It is a liberating process....

I am also surprised at how our relationships have changed with the people around us. I was prepared for the fact that some friends just simply will not understand. Most look at us as if we are crazy. I even understand that some will just fall away from us. Making this choice may make us lose a connection with those that don't understand. It is sad. However, I understand that not everyone will be on board.

I am proud of Brad for having vision for our future and for being willing to take a risk... even without much support. We have the choice to stay here and live a good life, satisfied and content. Or, we can take a chance and find out what God has planned for us. I know this journey will have challenges, but I am so excited to be on it! I can't imagine not going forward at this point. And, I know that those that don't understand now, will have an understanding later.

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers! We appreciate all of those that have encouraging words to share and are cheering us on.

2008-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Just fun....

2008-11-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

Corley wished me a happy birthday today! My birthday is actually tomorrow, but we are celebrating today. I think this song is the best present ever! What a sweet girl :)

The Fam

2008-11-11T21:21:00.001-08:00

We always take part in my annual Christmas card shoot. My parents like to send out cards with their children and grandchildren on them. We took this one at the Farmstead in Bryant. It always makes me sad that my brother, Matt, can't be in the photo every year. He is DC and doesn't come home until Christmas. We do take another family photo with him in it though! He just doesn't make it on the Christmas card. :(

Life is Precious

2008-10-16T22:44:00.001-07:00

Life is precious. Not one moment should be wasted. Thank God for every day we have together.

2008-08-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome baby Cash Bradley Bowman! He was born on June 19, 2008 at 7:44am and came weighing in at 8lbs. 12 oz. After a bout with viral meningitis and another week at the hospital, he is home and doing great! Big sister Corley thinks he's awesome... her very own baby! Thank everyone for your prayers during his illness. It meant the world to us.

2008-05-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

My brother Matt gave Corley a stuffed shark for Christmas. Brad has always acted like JAWS and tickled her, doing the famous bum-bump noise before he gets to her. Well, as you can see.... the tables have turned! Corley is now getting her Daddy back in a big way!

2008-04-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Easter was fun this year! Corley actually understood hunting eggs and filled her basket to the brim. It got so heavy she was actually dragging it on the ground behind her.

We celebrated Paxon's (my nephew) birthday about a week ago. I can't believe he's already a year old! We moved Sarah and Jared out of their house the same day. It was quite a weekend.

Baby Boy Bowman (still no name yet) is measuring 2 weeks ahead. The doctor thinks he is going to be a big baby. No surprise to me! Corley weighed over 8 lbs. two weeks early!

We are beginning to realize that the baby will be here soon and we need to get everything organized. It won't be bad though. If I have a little help, I can get his room together in a weekend. It won't be long now!

Our new blog

2008-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

This is our first post. We do the myspace thing, but this may be easier for everyone to keep up with what is happening in our lives. At least, that is my hope.

We had a great Easter weekend. Corley is old enough to enjoy it a little now. She actually picked up on the concept of hunting eggs. She was so cute! She would find another egg and point to it saying "more". Her basket finally got so heavy she just started dragging it around behind her. Not bad for the first time!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby boy, who still doesn't have a name. I am about 7 months along now and getting bigger by the day. I can't believe we are having another baby. It seems surreal. I'm very happy though. I told Brad that I wouldn't change anything about our family or our life. Everyday I am so grateful to have what we have. We waited long enough to start and I'm so glad our family is growing. Nothing makes my heart sing more than the thought of a house full of kids.

The photography/art business is going great. I've had several large projects that are nearing an end (thank goodness). It's been very exciting. I am going to have to scale back though in preparation for maternity leave. It's been really nice to schedule shoots when it's convenient for me and not feel pressed to the grindstone. I love being able to give my clients something that will bring tears to their eyes. It's good work!

We are almost finished with the upstairs renovation. It's nice to finally have our house finished! As many of you know, my sister and brother-in-law are moving in with us upstairs. They are renting for a couple of years to save up money for construction. I know, we are all crazy, but before you draw too many conclusions, let me tell you how this will work. The upstairs to our house is a complete apartment equipped with a laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and a separate entrance to the house. Our thoughts are that, while this will be close living quarters, the spaces are separate enough that we won't be stepping on each other. There are multi-family homes all over the northeast. If they can do it, so can we!

I'll keep you all posted on how things are progressing. Stay in touch!