Happy Birthday Darien

On May 12th 34 years ago in Wooster, Ohio Darien was born and every year since has been a celebration of his life sustained and maintained by God's grace and mercy. As his wife, I am so thankful for the day of Darien's birth that afforded us the last eleven years as husband and wife.

On Darien's birthday we enjoyed some time together in the evening; dining with the Boeck's and enjoying dessert with the Boeck's, Christianson's and DeBurgh's. As Darien's birthday came and went I found myself often reflecting on the gift from God that he is to me, our family, and Racine Bible Church where he is privileged to work. Darien is a true man of God; he rises early each day of the week to spend time reading and studying the Bible and praying. His love for the Lord is not contained in his early morning hour with the Lord but spills over into every facet of life. Darien has incredible integrity, wisdom, knowledge (I call him the "King of Useless Facts"), patience, perserverence, and humility....this sounds like a eulogy, but it is not...he is very much alive!

I am particularly thankful that in our home Darien is the spiritual leader. He places significance on his role given by God and before God to lead our family well. He leads me and our family in decisions always consulting the best resources available-the Bible and the Lord. He loves our children and is an incredible father. Darien has a unique ability to balance being a very fun dad with the God-given responsibility to train and discipline the kids honorably.

I thank God too for the gifts that He has given Darien that he is in turn able to share with our local church, Racine Bible Church. Darien has an insatiable passion for teaching the truth of God's Word and seeing the Bible accompanied by the Holy Spirit's transforming lives.

Happy Birthday Darien!

River Bend Nature Center

Yesterday the kids and I enjoyed the beautiful spring weather in Wisconsin at River Bend Nature Center. We enjoyed hiking many different trails and saw a few different animals in their element....wild turkeys, deer, turtles, woodpecker to name a few.

We sure enjoyed the fresh air, quiet of the woods and time together. I brought the camera along but somehow failed to use it...so the pictures below are borrowed from their website.

Yesterday afternoon Darien and I took Taryn up to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee to see a hematologist. Taryn has anemia that appears to be related to an iron deficiency. We have been treating her under the care of our pediatrician in town but Taryn has been slow in responding to traditional therapy therefore our pediatrician referred her to a hematologist. We were impressed with the care Taryn received. We will know more this week as her diagnostic tests are in process.

Taryn's little health issue has been a reminder to our family to thank God for the gift of health we generally experience and to praise Him for how excellently He has woven our bodies together. Beyond this, it has been great to realize that even if Taryn did have a significant health issue (which we really don't believe is the case) that God is good and He is still to be praised. Each day we, as parents, are given the privilege of raising the next generation to love and reverence God it is an awesome gift and responsibility!

....It Has Been Too Long

Often my mind turns to desiring to post on this blog but the activities of life with young children and the busyness of our lives over the past few months have prevented my good intentions from becoming realities.

I feel the magnitude of writing a Christmas letter as I want to summarize all that has gone on in our lives over the past few months but I will suffice it to say that God has been good (isn't He always)...He has cared for our family perfectly in sickness and health, we enjoyed three separate weeks of visits from three grandparents, Darien was blessed with the opportunity to attend two very rich conferences, and I have been privileged to be surrounded by three young children who are so full of life. I will allow the pictures below to speak about our daily lives over the past three months....

Taryn is at that age and stage where there are many training opportunities (she is in to everything). I snapped a quick picture of her squandering her father's toothbrush and giving it a try before I reminded her that she has her own.

This is Luke following a playdate full of laughter and "all boy" play with Glendon Schulz. Luke ceased napping about a year ago so this was a rare moment- thanks Glendon for wearing Luke out!

Noelle and Luke are quite the helping hands in the kitchen. Luke is the "dish cleaner offer" and Noelle claims the title of the "dishwasher loader"

We enjoyed two nights and three days up at Wisconsin Dells. The Groeber Family was up there part of the time we were there and our families enjoyed time together. Taryn has NO fear!

Another Wisconsin Dells picture

Luke loves to be outside and spends hours re-arranging the snow. He is King of the Snow Mountain in this picture.

The spring time weather wet our appetites for being outdoors working on the yard and in the garden. The kids planted lots of veggies and flowers seeds when my mother was here.

The kids are enjoying time with Grandpa Bowers

Luke joined daddy and Grandpa Bowers in helping to paint the basement.

So much more has taken place over the past few months; these pictures are an incomplete representation but are better than nothing! Darien and I enjoyed our first overnight away without any children since before Taryn's birth; we went overnight to Chicago. Luke is in swim lessons and recently started t-ball too. Noelle has officially claimed the title of "lil' mama"- when I awakened her from her nap the other day she had a baby doll concealed under her shirt and informed me that a baby was going to pop out of her belly. Taryn is walking, running, and starting to really communicate; she if very fun loving and does amazingly well keeping up with her siblings.

Our latest stats:

What I am reading- studying the book of Colossians, reading for pleasure Future Grace by John Piper, my work out times have been saturated by Jack Hughes preaching from the Book of Luke, and Darien and I have enjoyed an online marriage seminar by Voddie Baucham.

What Darien is up to- he is doing a topical study on grumbling and complaining (he is in Numbers 11 at present), He is reading The Peacemaker by Ken Sande, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and Contending for Our All by John Piper. He mingles among John Piper, Jack Hughes and Voddie Baucham podcasts during his exercise time.

Family Devotional- The Building of the Rock Series, How God Sent a Dog to Save a Family

January 21st: Happy First Birthday Taryn Joy Bowers

Dear Taryn "our Joy" Bowers:

Happy Birthday! I can hardly believe you have been with us for one year. You have truly been a gift to our family- bringing us much joy! I thank God for the privilege of being your "mama" and venturing through this first year with you. I remain amazed at the handiwork of God not only in forming and sculpting you so wonderfully at birth but also in growing and developing you in these first 365 days of life. Before my eyes you were transformed from a tiny, dependent newborn into a little toddler with a personality all her own.

Taryn, I recall penning these words to your dad eighteen months ago on Father's Day "The last gift I have for you is not one that I was planning on giving you. Then again, I did not give it to you….God did. "Behold, children are a gift from the Lord"….I found out last Friday that we are expecting number three. I realize that this is not the timing we would have chosen but God has something different/better in our future plans. Congratulations!" Indeed, God provided a huge blessing to our family when you joined us; I can't imagine life without you!

Taryn, I enjoy recalling the surprising entrance you made into our world. After a wonderful and sleepless time at the Women's Retreat and one fun game of marshmallow dodgeball you made your appearance into our lives. The surprises didn't stop on the day of your birth….I was expecting an eight or nine pound boy and we were blessed with a five pound 12oz. girl. I thought "terrific, a girl…she will be sleeping through the night by eight weeks"….you provided your dad and I with special bonding opportunities in the wee hours of the morning throughout the next four months. Despite the fact that you made your appearance a little earlier than imagined, your dad had the cradle set up and ready to go….you surprised us again- you slept in your car seat for the first five months of your life and spent little time in your cradle. A little after six months, we got out the baby food and were ready to initiate solid food….you surprised us by eating a tremendous first meal for Miss Woodpecker (aka. Terri) and then went on strike for your parents for the next two months. Each Sunday I think you surprise the nursery workers….you are small but have one mighty voice. Another surprise, one could have never guess how much Luke and Noelle would love and adore you and you surprise us by lighting up for them in a special way. I am also overjoyed and filled with thanksgiving for the way that many if our church family have showered you with love. Taryn, your surprises have humbled me and keep me dependent on the Lord for His strength and wisdom in mothering you.

Taryn as you enter this next year of life and venture towards many new developmental milestones, it is my prayer that God would grant your father and me wisdom in parenting you. Our desire has been and continues to be to "Train up (Taryn Joy) in the way she should go, and when she is old she will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6). As your parents we have been endowed with the responsibility of teaching you right vs. wrong, wisdom vs. foolishness, obedience vs. disobedience. The Lord chastens those that He loves in the same manner a father a child in whom he delights. We love you Taryn and desire to direct your heart towards obedience to your parents and ultimately towards love and obedience for the Lord Jesus. Taryn, I hope and pray that ultimately you will know true joy (your middle name) found only in a thriving and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Psalm 95:1-2 O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Lord willing, Taryn, it will be a privilege to be your mommy in the year ahead.
Love you,
Mama

Sunny News for the Grey Days of January: Medical Advice You Didn't Ask For....

I have not to date posted anything "medical" in nature and certainly don't plan to use this blogspot as a platform for opening up shop/practice. However, as a wife, mom and trained, but not currently practicing NP I do care about physical health and wellness. I attempt to keep up peripherally with medical research in an attempt to be a good steward of the body I have been given and those lives that I am responsible to care for physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. So, read on at your own risk....

A plethora of research abounds in the scientific realm warning of the epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency and the resulting consequences. Although called a vitamin, vitamin D funtions more like a hormone (a substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs). Vitamin D, best know for its role in promoting teeth and bone health, also plays a foundational role in the function of the immune system and preventing inflammation; these two functions are tied to the majority of health ailments!

Our skin manufactures vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. However, most of us don't live in the tropics and our skin has likely been hidden from regular sun exposure since August. Compounding the problem further are warnings to avoid sun exposure or lather up in sunscreen and inhibit the UVB rays the skin needs to manufacture vitamin D (I share concern for skin cancer and would advocate all the more strongly for vitamin D supplementation rather than baking in the sun for a prolonged time). Of particular interest is a study conducted on people who live in sun-drenched Hawaii who had an average of 11 hours a week of total body exposure to sunlight without sunscreen. Interestingly, over half of the study participants had low levels of vitamin D!

So why should you care about vitamin D? Current scientific research concludes that a huge host of health problems arise or progress in direct correlation with vitamin D deficiency. The list of health problems that research ties to vitamin D deficiency include:

autism
autoimmune illness
cancer (17 types of cancer so a tie with vitamin D deficiency)
chronic pain
depression
diabetes
heart disease
hyperparathyroidism
hypertension
influenza

multiple sclerosis
myopathy
osteoporosis

I really am not one to easily jump on any ole' medical bandwagon. However, the research I have waded through in the past year continues to be very compelling, enough so that I provide supplementation for my own family and even purchased vitamin D (1000 IU tablets) for several close friends at Christmas. The traditional mulitvitamin on your shelf will only provide 400IU a day of vitamin D and the milk you purchase contains far less- ALL the research indicates we need far more in sun starved areas of the country like Wisconsin! I care about your health and would encourage you to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider heightened supplementation of vitamin D for you and your family. Ofcourse, we will not lengthen the days appointed for us by our Maker but in properly and thoughtfully caring for the life, breath and bodies He has given to us for a season we will be better able to serve Him.

The Vitamin D Council has asssembled very conservative recommendations for Vitamin D supplementation. Health experts urge all adults to have regular (at least annual) checks of vitamin D levels in their blood. There is a good chance that you will be deficient for at least part of the year if you live in North America.

The Family Band and an Obstacle Course

Last weekend when we looked at the week ahead we thought to ourselves..."wow, what a busy week it appears to be." However, in God's sovereign plan two of our evening outings were postponed and we enjoyed a few nights at home.

Here is how we filled some of our time.... THE FAMILY BAND!

Okay, what you don't see here is Taryn with her maracas and mama singing accompaniment.

Another event that created an evening of fun was our HOMEMADE OBSTACLE COURSE. We call this "burning energy Wisconsin, cold weather style." I don't have pictures but another evening we found time for flashlight tag. All in all, we enjoyed more family time this week than is anticipated!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

Happy New Year! Our hope and prayer for the new year is that we would have eternity set in our hearts, redeeming the minutes, hours and days, all the while maturing in Christlikeness.

We welcomed in the new year with a two year old tradition of having the Beth's over for a dish we only serve once a year- Pork and Sauerkraut. We have one willing family who will enjoy this dish with us. Last year Megan was about two weeks old and Taryn wasn't even born yet. Below, the girls are enjoying time together. Family Game Night...

We have been looking forward to this time for a long time. We pulled out the game of Sorry (we had it stored away for such a time as this) and Luke, Noelle, mom and dad all played it together. We sure enjoy the growing knowledge base and understanding in our two oldest that allows them to participate in new activities like this.

Matching Girls...

Over the past week Noelle and Taryn enjoyed matching outfits. Grandma Kae was very generous and thoughtful in giving the girls several sets of matching outfits.
We failed to take pictures once again but Darien and I were able to get away on a date to undertake some purposeful planning for the new year. Our overarching goal is to give God the glory that belongs to Him in how we invest the time He has given us.....in our marrage, family, parenting, home and ministry.