The "Funny Farm" of the Cowles family.
When I first started adding plants my living room window sill, I thought I was just filling my home with pretty leaves, but over time, I’ve realized that tending to them has been teaching me something much bigger. As my small window sill of a few succulents grew into quite a collection now needing plant… Continue reading Leaves, Light and Lessons
Grief has a way of pulling you into the darkest of shadows you didn’t know existed.Even on the clearest of days, it felt like a storm was hovering. The familiar routines of my faith... talking with Jesus, daily devotionals, and even coporate worship on Sunday mornings suddenly felt like I was trying to climb a… Continue reading But God…
Sometimes your life changes so slowly you don't see the change until you wake up one day and you're questioning how you got here. When you have been hit with a quick tragedy or a slow daily loss, whichever way it happens you still feel like your guts have been ripped out and you either… Continue reading When God feels silent
I've been in this box of grief for so long that I began to feel myself detach from others, and I've been just trying to survive the days. I've struggled to see the Lord working in my life or anything around me, even though I could speak words of comfort to others around me. It… Continue reading Share the Burden
We had two weddings this weekend. One a cousin and one a family so close, for many years, my girls believed they were actually cousins. One thing stood out to me this wedding weekend, looking at the guests in attendance. Our faith has been passed from generation to generation, and our God has been the… Continue reading From Generation to Generation
I was one of those people who would hear others talk about the amount time that had ticked by since their loved one had passed away and I would think to myself, "Well I'm never going to keep track, that sounds depressing!" On the 24th of August, I was working in the store of our… Continue reading Death Date
I joined a club. It's a club that no one signs up for and no one wants to be a part of. This club SUCKS (Sorry, Momma, I know you hate that word)! I joined the "Grief Club" on August 4, 2024, the day my Daddy ran to the arms of Jesus. I never wanted… Continue reading I joined a club.
Some legends are created and told for decades. The story changes, the facts are distorted and embellished, and the people in the stories become heroic, mysterious, and mythical. When legends are born, they create a life filled with unforgettable memories. They follow their calling, all the while touching lives and inspiring others to learn from… Continue reading Legends Never Die – The life of Fireball Brown
At age 22, I walked down the aisle to a man who made me feel good about myself, made me think life could be fun, and he was really cute to look at! I was full of young love, romance, and dreams. When we first got married, all we wanted was to be together. We… Continue reading What a Beautiful Life!
This "whole blog thing" started with letters to my girls. It began as simple notes to them when they were babies. I wrote about their milestones and how much I loved being their Mom! As they grew, my writing grew. The simple notes turned into letters for their big birthdays and things I wanted them… Continue reading Letters to my Daughters
Lately, I have allowed the enemy sit at my table. He pulled a chair up across the table from me and has held my gaze. I've allowed him to tell me I'm not good enough. I've allowed him to bring doubt back into my daily life. I've allowed him to steal time from my day… Continue reading Not Today Satan!
Take just a minute, and go back in your mind to when someone hurt you. Think of that person and the hurt and the pain they inflicted on you. Maybe it was their insecurity, or lack of time they gave you, they criticized you, or betrayed your trust, or even abuse. NOW, imagine back to… Continue reading Jesus Loved Judas.
Talking about the smallest verse in the Bible today. John 11:35. "Jesus wept." The Bible records the story of resurrection of Lazarus. If you don't know the story here is a quick synopsis. Close friends of Jesus- Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus was ill and Lazarus' sisters had sent word to Jesus, knowing… Continue reading Jesus grieves with us
Sunday morning was Christmas Sunday, the Sunday right before Christmas. Little girls in frilly dresses. Little boys tugging at the tie mom made him wear. It is the last Sunday that we can hand out our gifts and Christmas cards to our church friends. The Sunday service is for rejoicing and remembering the real reason… Continue reading Christmas Sunday Moms
Have you ever waited a long time for an answer that felt like it was never going to come? Have you shared a concern to a friend, only to discover that you are now more impatient than you were before you shared your fears? Have you talked about your problem to friends more than you… Continue reading Jesus First
In June, I found out my youngest threw away her art pieces... in the school dumpster!!!... on the last day of school. I was not happy! She said they "weren't good". I told her that "I deem what is good". She just smirked at me and I said her full name and shook my head. … Continue reading See Yourself Through My Eyes
My youngest starts her senior year of high school this week, and my oldest starts her first year of college. I feel like I'm the mom in the driver's seat that has just slammed on the breaks of the car and thrust my arm out to stop her and protect her. I'm wanting to hold… Continue reading Holding back from moving forward.
One of my personality goals is "to be a help". It's how I view the world. I see needs, I fill them. You are stressed? Have a sick one in your family? Out of work? Whatever it may be, let me take some of it from you. I'll make you a meal. I'll watch your… Continue reading Sitting in the Grief
When the girls were little, as we did our bedtime routine, one of the last things I would say before I walked out of their room was, "What was the best part of your day?" I started saying it as a way to distract them from the desire to stay awake. What kid doesn't hate… Continue reading Best Part of Your Day?
I read about a lady who decided that she was going to be completely still for a few minutes a day for 14 days. I read through her daily notes while she was trying this experiment. The first few days were hard. She would wiggle. She would try to not think, but thinking happened. She… Continue reading Be still… so God can move
My favorite day of the week is Thursday. When I tell people that, they usually laugh and ask, "Why Thursday?" My response has always been, "because it's so close to the weekend and the anticipation of what's to come is so great.... ... but then Friday comes and goes and before we know it's Sunday… Continue reading Simply “Thursdays”
I like happy and joyful things, so writing this is hard for me. I claim to be "real". I claim to want to share my thoughts and feelings about my motherhood and I encourage others to "just be real". However there is this part of my thought life that I don't like to share. The… Continue reading Living a lie or Desiring God?
I am a wife of a very caring, loving husband who is my friend and we are raising our girls to recognize that the household does not run itself! We all work together to keep it going. You've heard me say before, this family does life together. That includes working together, (YES, we work at… Continue reading “This house does not run Itself!”
I just heard my youngest say to a group of boys, "Yes, I'm a girl!". She said it with pride. See, she was playing a video game with some friends and they couldn't believe that "a girl" was "THAT GOOD" at video games. (She also got the passion award in school for geometry this year.)… Continue reading I am Woman hear me roar!
There is this very common phrase out there that says, "She believed she could, so she did." This is my new favorite shirt. While I believe that we women can do anything we put our minds to, I do believe that I can NOT do it without the Lord. I need Him in every aspect… Continue reading She Believed She Could
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in… Continue reading Keep your eyes on Jesus
I'm the Nursery Director at our church. I love being the Nursery Director. I love the kids. I love the parents. I love the volunteers. I enjoy getting to know each of them. My desire for the parents of these little ones, is that they get a chance to step into the worship service and… Continue reading Do Battle with Worship
Some dear friends introduced me to the ENNEAGRAM and I'm learning a lot about myself. I'm learning about what motivates me and why I do the things I do. It's helped give a "name" to things and helps me correct certain behaviors. Enneagram in the Greek language simply is Ennea=9, Gram=Diagram. The Enneagram is a 9… Continue reading Enneagram and Christians
I've heard it said that when you get married, you marry the whole family. For some people that is terrifying. For me it wasn't. You want your spouse's family to like you and it can be so nerve-racking when you "meet the family". Hubby kept telling me "they will love you" but of course I… Continue reading Marrying the WHOLE family
My sister is one of the strongest, funniest, sassiest, beautiful women you will ever meet. She is goofy, and fun and tries makes everyone have a good time. She hates awkward moments and will try to make a joke and make the moment more lighthearted. I lived with her for almost 22 years and she… Continue reading What I’ve learned from my Little Sister
T passed her driver's permit test this morning. Mom's of little ones... you won't have a date to mark the "last bath", the last time you "pick them up for snuggle", the last time "they come running to grab onto your knees when you walk in the door". Cherish those moments. Even when it's a… Continue reading Mother’s Day
I am a pessimist. I don't love being a pessimist but I have embraced the fact that I am one. I tend to look at life and see what could go wrong. When people ask how we are doing, my first reaction is to tell them the negative things going on in our lives. It's… Continue reading The Joyful Pessimist
Confession time! I have a big problem with fear. Now, I'm not talking about the times when you "walk around a corner and almost bump into someone fear". I'm talking about the fear that takes your breath away. The heart pounding, paralyzing fear. Here's an example: In my mind: I hear a bump in the… Continue reading FAITH OVER FEAR
The girls and I teach preschool once a month at our church with two other fabulous ladies. The five of us have become a "well oiled machine". Before the preschoolers have their snack, I ask them a series of questions. They have gotten so used my questions they almost ask them with me. 1. "Who… Continue reading Prayers with Preschoolers
T had an art project due in a few days. She was working steadily on it but was getting so frustrated with the look of it because it wasn't the perfect image that she had in her head. I came home to a very frustrated girl. To me it was beautiful. The piece was just… Continue reading The Bigger Picture
T had to write a poem for her English Literature class. The topic was to be choices, serious, and personal. With her permission, I am sharing her poem. Two choices that day: Tell my mom or hide away. I bury my cries in my pillow. Everyone asks if something is wrong. I say no, and… Continue reading Two choices
This time of year, with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, life can be super busy and sometimes stressful. When you have a business that thrives in the 4th quarter, your days can be so full with simply answering questions and solving problems that you can't even check your emails from the day before. The incessant… Continue reading Lord, run my day.
I remember being a kid and thinking that 40 was old. Now I'm 40 and let me tell you, 40 is NOT OLD! My mom is turning 70 this week! I hope I'm as healthy and happy as she is, when I hit 70. I've learned a lot from watching my mom. Some things I… Continue reading Things I’ve learned from my Mom
40 years... 40 years is a long time. 40 years is a short time. It's all about perspective. Some days I feel ALL of those 40 years. Other days I feel like a kid. I've heard the first 40 years of childhood are the hardest. At least I did all the stupid stuff before… Continue reading I am 40
No person is good enough to be loved by God. No one sin is "greater" than another. We all are "failures" when it comes to being good enough. The best part of all of that...God loves us anyway. He loves us despite our failures and faults. He loves us regardless of how we behave. He… Continue reading The Leaning Process
You've heard the phrase, "Live like it's your last", but I would suggest to you to "LOVE like it's your last" day on earth. We are not promised tomorrow. If I have learned anything in my short 39 years, I've learned that life is short and fast. If today was your last day on earth, … Continue reading Love for Today
I was recently asked to write down words of encouragement for a mom to be. Some of this I have written before, but "it bears repeating". I do not have it all figured out. I am not one to "go to" for all parenting advice. I am just a mom, trying to do my… Continue reading New Mom Advice
God is Alive! (Written by 11 year old S. Written from her heart. We have a little missionary.) People think God is dead but I believe He is right next to you now. Do you? It may seem He is not there but He is there every step of your life. If you are a… Continue reading God is Alive!
(This was written by 12 year old T. She wrote what was in her heart.) If you don’t remember the meaning of Christmas I’ll tell you what the meaning is. The meaning of Christmas isn’t presents or family games. It’s not all about Santa Claus or hanging out with friends. It’s not about eggnog or… Continue reading Remember the Meaning of Christmas?
"Smile from the Heart." My very own, made up by myself, true to my life, MOTTO. Ok, so it doesn't sound like I could have made it up on my own, but I did. Maybe someone, some where out there in the big wide world said it first, but I had never heard it before… Continue reading Smile from the Heart
I had a meltdown today. Probably could call it a temper tantrum, but it was minus the laying down and kicking part. It was like the world was against me today. Like I could do nothing right! Then I picked up my girls from soccer practice this evening to find out they have "TONS" of… Continue reading Momma’s having a Meltdown
We are approaching that time again in the year, the time of year I dread. SCHOOL IS STARTING AGAIN! Every morning, ever since the girls' first day of kindergarten, we pray on the way to school. I pray for different things every day, but I always end it with a specific phrase. "Lord, give them… Continue reading Strength, Wisdom, and Courage
Cowles Farm 