Track Life

So, Timothy's taken up a new sport this semester - he made his school's Track & Field Team!!
After a month of grueling (by my standards) practices, the meets have finally started. 
The first was last Tuesday afternoon out in Oak Mountain & the second was Friday in Homewood. 
The third was a long, cold night last night in Homewood.

Between these practices & meets, plus keeping up w/ the other boys' activities (as a single momma at the moment) I feel like I'm the one constantly running!!  :)

Timothy is running the 100 and 200, plus the 300 hurdles. 
With natural speed & talent, inherited from BOTH parents, he's off to a pretty good start!
Here are a few pics from the past few meets...

I just had to include a pic of his humongous track shoes...he now wears a 10 1/2, but since these run small, we had to get an 11 1/2! Good gracious!! I don't know how tall this child is gonna be or how long those feet are gonna get...he's growing like a weed!! And I love the bright color because they help us see him anywhere on the track!

Here are his loyal supporters braving the intense cold & long hours of the last meet...

#HMSTrackAndField  #RunJumpThrow  #TrackLife

Suzy Homemaker

I remember when I was young.
My mother would make meals & just call us down to eat when everything was ready.
It was so nice.  Those were the days.

Now, I'm the mother.
I have to think of what to cook...EVERY NIGHT.
I have to cook.  Then I have to clean everything up.

You would think the cooking & cleaning would be the worst parts, but I don't actually mind that so much. 
The worst is trying to come up with something to make every night.  And, I hate feeling like I'm making the same (quick, easy) things all of the time.

So, with the new year I came up with a new plan!
I love pinning things on Pinterest & I find a lot of great meal ideas...but I usually fail to follow through by actually making them.
I decided that when I find meals that look tasty & like something I could make, I would do just that.
Now I pin meals, make sure I have the ingredients, & my goal has been to make 2-3 new recipes each week. 
If we like them, I add them into the "meal rotation."
I've actually been enjoying this challenge & my family has been enjoying some new meals! Win win!!
Here are some of the new things I've made lately...

 

Poppyseed Chicken

Taco Soup

Sesame Chicken

Crescent Pizzas

Pesto Chicken

Walking Taco Casserole

I usually post them on Instagram & they're all pinned on Pinterest.

You can follow me there (@kbowens78) to get the recipes!

Yummers!!!

Superwoman

A school friend of mine, Johnny, recently asked me to come & speak at a Women's Fellowship at her church.
I AM NOT SPEAKER - at least that's what I keep telling people - but people keep asking me to come speak at things!!
I know it was a "God thing" though because in the month leading up to the Fellowship, He was giving me things to share with the ladies. 
I'd be getting out of the shower, or laying in bed, or talking to someone...& BOOM!! Something would just pop into my mind & I'd race to add it to my notes.

I went to her church, along with my wonderfully supportive mother & grandmother, on the 1st Saturday in March.
(Yes, this was also the day of Tanner's birthday party! Why do I continue to overbook myself?!)
My topic was "Superwoman" & I talked about all of the (exhausting, yet rewarding) roles women play & all of the hats we wear -- mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, friend, taxi driver, referee, and so on.
I definitely spoke from my experience as I related how overwhelmed we get & how we have to rely on God during those times.
I shared some scriptures (2 Corinthians 12:9; Exodus 14:13,14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:4) & then talked about how God gives us new names -- like blessed, rich, healthy, joyful, forgiven, victorious...
When we're covered with these new names, & realize that God is our strength even when we feel weak, things feel much more bearable. 
And we can appreciate the Superwoman that we can be through Him!

What do you think of my Superwoman cape?!

And check out all of the roles we're covered with!!

There's my grandmother & mother!

Me & Johnny!!

I think the ladies truly got something out of what I shared...I think it was more for me than them!!
I appreciate Johnny for inviting me & enjoyed this time of fellowship!

FOUR!!!

MY BABY BOY IS FOUR!!!

Can you believe it?! 

Seems like just yesterday he was born & today he's 4!!

His big football birthday bash was this past Saturday,

but we had a couple small celebrations today.

I went to his school during morning snacktime
w/ cupcakes & juice pouches.
Tanner was so excited to show his friends the cupcakes
& pass out the juice.

We all sang "Happy Birthday" & had fun chit chatting, enjoying the snack, & celebrating w/ Tanner!

After school

(& before Daddy had to head back to Mobile
after a couple days off)

we had an early b'day dinner at Zaxby's.  

We ate dinner, had cupcakes, & Tanner read his card

(he loves to read the signatures because he can recognize names)

& opened his present!

 

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, TANNER!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!