A Brand New Day!

It's a brand new season and a brand new look and sound to the Bowman's blog! Happy Spring and enjoy...

Good News

It seems like all I hear about/read about lately is negativity: sickness, job loss, financial instability, accidents and injuries, attempted child abductions, home break-ins, children with unstable home lives, etc...I feel emotionally exhausted and I spend more time than ever praying to God for healing, peace, support, strength, etc...So, I was delighted to hear some good news yesterday. Last summer my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. During the Fall and into the Winter, Dad received hormone therapy shots and radiation therapy. He went to the doctor on Tuesday and the doctor reported that his PSA levels were under 1 (anything under 4 is good). He will continue to go back to the doctor every three months for check-ups, but he is in great shape! It was amazing to hear some good news and thank God for His healing, peace, support and strength! GOD IS GOOD!


Some Favorite Pictures of Dad:

Taken about 29 years ago (since Dane is a newborn here)...I LOVE this pic...it cracks me up!

Taken when I graduated from ISU with my Master's Degree



Cool dude at my wedding rehearsal

With Logan at 1 week old

With Logan last Winter

Reading a book with Logan last Summer

With Peggy and Logan, Halloween of 2010

Love

When I think of February, I think of LOVE! The Bowman home was filled with some ups and downs in the month of February, but it was filled with lots of love! The month started out with the "Blizzard of 2011", but I loved being snowed in and spending quality time with my family. Logan started out the month with a sinus infection that later became an ear infection, but Valentine's Day weekend Jesse's parents came down to watch Logan for an evening so Jesse and I could have a date night and we loved our alone time together! Also, Logan loved spending time with his Grandpa Art and Grandma Debbie! Shortly after Logan recovered from his sinus/ear infection, he came down with a bad stomach virus which lasted about 5 days, but a week later Logan and I visited my dad and loved spending time with family and I loved spending time with friends (thanks for a great night out Tabitha and Kelly!). Also, we attended a train show with Dad and Peggy and after running from exhibit to exhibit, Logan loudly proclaimed, "I LOVE trains!" Today, I had one of those days at work (you know, the kind that makes you think about finding a new career :), but this evening Logan and I met up with some friends to see the Cars 2 characters at State Farm and I loved seeing Logan so excited and happy! I LOVE my life and I can wait for the month of March...I think I'm feeling LUCKY!

Sick boy, cuddling withe Nemo

Once feeling a little better, Logan decided he wanted to spend some time outdoors

Visiting with Grandpa

Checkin' out the trains

Logan and Mater

Logan and Finn McMissile (a new Cars character)

Logan and his favorite character, Lightning McQueen

Potty Training?

Nope! Logan just likes to sit naked on the toliet reading books...

Go Bears!

Jesse dug out this old Bears hat to wear today and Logan decided he wanted to wear it around too! Look who is wearing it in the last picture!

Me, wearing the same Bears hat when I was Logan's age!

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is an awful disease! It can make people sick beyond belief, it can destroy lives and it can lead to death, but there are many things cancer cannot do. Five years ago my mother passed away after a seven-year-long battle with cancer. She underwent multiple surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy and she lived her life to the fullest up the very end. This last summer, my dad was also diagnosed with cancer. Today he completed his 38th and final radiation treatment. Throughout his treatment he has remained positive and hasn't let cancer dictate his way of life. Cancer may have led to sickness and death in my family; however, cancer has not and will not destroy the lives of my family members. Recently, I was going through some of my mom's belongings and I found this poem:

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple Love

It cannot shatter Hope

It cannot corrode Faith

It cannot destroy Peace

It cannot kill Friendship

It cannot suppress Memories

It cannot silence Courage

It cannot invade the Soul

It cannot steal eternal Life

It cannot conquer the Spirit

-Author Unknown

I love you, Mom and Dad...you are both my heroes.

Simple Things in Life

We thought that the year 2011 was going to be a year of great change in our lives, but it turns out that 2011 will be a year to appreciate the simple things in life:
1. Logan saying, "I love you Mommy/Daddy"
2. Date nights
3. A night on the couch with good T.V. shows or a good movie
4. A good laugh (the kind that makes your stomach hurt)
5. Dinner together as a family
6. The moment when I finish a really good book
7. Eating lunch with my co-workers and laughing about our work day
8. A text message or phone call from a friend
9. Garage sales with really good stuff
10. An Illini win
11. Sundays: church together as a family, a nap on the couch and a good meal
12. A trip to the library
13. Snuggling with Nemo (our dog)
14. Hearing Jesse say that something I made for dinner is good
15. Seeing people's pictures that they post on Facebook
16. Opening a package of something that I have ordered online
17. A good hair day
18. Sunny days
19. Snow days
20. Visits with family and friends
21. When I take a really good picture of something/someone
22. Completing a puzzle
23. Pampering and grooming: haircuts, waxings, pedicures and manicures
24. Crossing something off a "To Do" list
25. A clean house