5 years ago...

I received the BEST Christmas gift anyone could ever receive. I opened it while I was in active labor with our last baby. At the time I loved it, but didn't realize how much. It was a bosch, complete with a wheat grinder, all the beaters, and even a blender. I can't tell you how much I love, love, love this gift now! It is something I use nearly every day. I can mix cookies, blend, make cakes, and best of all make home made bread. I start buy grinding my own wheat. Yes I truly feel like betty crocker. Then I pour the ingredients in my bosch and let it do ALL the work. In 10 minutes I have dough, lay it out on my counter, divide it into 4 equal parts and try to make each part look pretty. Then I place each piece in a loaf pan and let it rise for an hour. In an hour and 20 minutes I have 4 loaves of heavenly whole wheat bread. YUMMY! While the dough is rising I usually clean up my mess. Grinding wheat usually leaves a nice little flour mess everywhere. But it cleans up so fast. Delicious, homemade hot bread anyone????
Now I just have to figure out why it separates a little on the top and pray there are no holes inside! :)

In Loving Memory of Ona Hycle Kanniard

Last Friday we said goodbye to a man filled with Integrity, hard work, and a love for family. Eric's Grandpa passed away at the age of 99 years. In August we would have celebrated his 100th Birthday. Grandpa had already had to bury his wife and daughter (Eric's Mom) so I'm sure it was a joyous reunion when he passed. Unfortunately the rest of us left on earth miss him. He left behind a daughter Mary Lou, and many Grand and Great Grand children. The funeral was back in Ohio and Eric and I were able to be there.The Pall Bearers
It was my first time ever driving in the snow, and the first time ever attending a funeral in snowy conditions. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many family members. Uncle Jim, Becky, Aunt Mary Lou, Steve, and CindyEric's Family: Betsy, David, Dad, Michelle, Tim, Lynne, Me, Eric, Michael, Cassandra, Levi, and Suzanne
What an important thing Families are. I am grateful to be apart of a family and to have a family of my own. I missed my kiddos terribly and was so glad to be home back in warm sunny AZ.

Introducing the New & Improved Zachary!

Zachary was beaming from ear to ear as he transformed for the 1st time from Boy to Cub Scout! That boy will not put down his book for 1 day. He has already earned his Bobcat and well on his way in earning his Wolf! Way to go Zach Man!

I'm a BIG Slacker!

The goings on:
December 24th- Grandpa & Grandma Lowe arrive from CO.

December 25th- Christmas, we awoke to find Santa had paid a visit. Eric turned 37 and Olivia 5.

December 25th- A visit to the ER with Sara's little guy Brandon. He had an absess on his neck that kept getting bigger and more red. They informed us that he would need surgery the next day.

December 26th- To the hospital for surgery. Unfortunately we had to go through the ER so the wait was long and poor Brandon was hungry and thirsty. Successful surgery but because of the large amount of pus Brandon had to be admitted. This was the last thing Sara needed or wanted. She (and the rest of us) thought our family would be done with hospitals for awhile now. That is not so. Brandon had to stay in the hospital for 5 days. I was only there to be somewhat of a support for Sara. I couldn't see her sitting down there alone waiting for or with Brandon. Sara is a trooper and some how she manages to cope and deal with the impossible.

December 27th- Zachary turned 8 years old. He was baptized at 11:00 am. We have stake baptisms so Zach was one of 6 children being baptized. The Stake Primary asked Zach to choose someone to give the talk on the Holy Ghost. It took Zach about 1 second to say I want Aunt Debbie. :) She was nervous because there were so many people there, but she did an excellent job. Zach had a huge crowd of supporters there for him on his special day. Even Grandpa & Grandma Lowe were able to drive in on Christmas Eve to be at his baptism.

December 29th- Holiday Wrestling Camp began. We had cousins join with us in this fun camp. The boys get to learn moves and techniques for 3 days and then the last day is the tournament. They have such a good time at camp. This year our wrestlers were Derick Lowe, Devon, Caden, and Braxton Owens (Tiffani Baum Owens boys, and Cameron Bowles. They all wrestled tough and had a blast.

December 31st- Eric and I were able to break away for a fun New Years Eve party at some good friends home. It was a fun night and the first time since we've been married that we were able to go to a party and ring in the new year. It was a memorable evening filled with good food, fun games, and awesome entertainment!

The holidays are over now and I feel renewed and refreshed for this new year. I am grateful for this past year, for all of it's challenges, heartache, and the abundance of blessings that I have received. I know that God knows and loves each of us. That he gives us challenges so that we can learn to become better servants. I look at this past year and I marvel at how much I've learned, things that without my trials I would never have been able to learn them. I pray that this new year will be a prosperous and joyous one for each of you! Filled with trials, blessings, heartache, and love!

Our little lady!

Last night our Home Teachers came by for a visit. One of our home teachers lives down the street and our families are good friends. My kiddos are all very comfortable with him. He brought with him a new companion. A young man in our ward. He is a priest and a real nice young man. At the end of our visit and lesson, Eric called on Kimberlee to give the closing prayer. As Kimberlee got ready to begin our little lady, Olivia decided it was a good time to let a stinker fly. It was the loudest fart I've ever heard come out of her. We all started laughing including her. It was really embarrassing but funny. Anyway today I was helping her get ready for the day and I told her Olivia it just isn't polite to do that. You have to hold them in, especially when there's company. She said, "Mom I don't know how to do that. Maybe when I am 5 I will know how." That made my day! You see Olivia will be 5 in just a week and half. I hope she's right and will learn how! :)

PS: On a side note; The results are in for Zach. It is a miraculous gift to hear that his chest is perfectly clear. The enlarged lymph node is still present but the Dr. isn't too concerned because it is slight and only one lymph node is enlarged. Thanks to each of you for your prayers and faith!

This is just "SICK" and "WRONG"

So it has been awhile since I posted anything. Mainly because I have been too busy to post. I thought that after this past week I would have time to do things like blog and clean my home. Yes my home is a filthy disaster. I'm surprised that the county health inspectors haven't been called in yet. Now I have another mess on my hands instead of a nice relaxing week. I have 3 sick kids and a sick husband. I think if I hear anymore coughing my ears just might explode. It has been over a month that my kids have been sharing so freely their icky germs. I don't get that, they don't want to share what they should but have no problems sharing their yucky germs. Anyway today I finally hauled the three of them, Olivia is mysteriously well, to the pediatrician. He refilled their ashma medicine and gave Zach a steroid and then sent us to get three pictures of their lovely chests. The results are in: Kimberlee, virus of some sort; Derick, virus of some sort; Zachary, something else... We aren't really sure as of yet what that something is. The Doctor calls it a dark area on his lung looks something like a lymph node. He said he wants a CT scan to rule out lymphadenopathy. Which I guess means a lymph node infection. The imaging place wouldn't do a CT on Zach because of his age and weight. So I get to take him to the radiology dept. at Banner Desert tomorrow. I am praying it is nothing serious, but it's hard to not think the worse when you hear dark area on right lung. This would definitely explain why the past month my son hasn't been able to breathe and the fact that he is progressively getting worse. It is just sick and wrong isn't it? I wish they would get sick one at a time so I could adequately care for them. As I type this Kimberlee is serenading me with her hacking cough that sounds almost like she's going to cough out some sort of organ. I feel bad for her. Keep us in your prayers if you can. Especially little Zach tomorrow. He's not so excited about having to get an IV tomorrow.

Thanks to all of you for your kindness, generosity, and many prayers on behalf of me, and my family. This past month has been trying but much has been accomplished because of each of you. I want you all to know how much you mean to me. Much love to you all.

Benefit Sale/ Bake Sale

Benefit Garage Sale and Bake Sale

For Jeremy's Family

Saturday December 6^th at 6:00am

1704 N. Gentry Cir. Mesa, AZ 85213

East of Gilbert Rd./ South of McKellips

Jeremy George Bowles passed away on November 3rd, 2008, after a 14-year battle with Crohn’s disease.

We are hoping to help raise enough money for Sara and her 4 children to stay afloat. They have medical expenses, funeral expenses and normal day to day bills to pay.

If you have anything to donate to this sale please contact Leah Lowe 480-226-8972 or drop off any items at the Lowe Home 1704 N. Gentry Cir. Mesa, AZ 85213

When Jeremy was in High School he had a two week period of intense abdominal symptoms and discomfort. At the age of 21 he went into the hospital after a 2 month period of strait pain thinking he had appendicitis. While there they found much more. They learned that Jeremy had Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily involves the small and large intestine, but can also affect other areas of the digestive system. Crohn’s is usually found in people while in their teens or twenties. One of the most difficult potentials of Crohn’s is the element that it can create small, scattered and shallow crater-like erosions in the inner surface of the bowel. This can create scarring and stiffness that along with narrowing of the bowel, can also lead to obstruction. Now after 28 surgeries, and years of suffering through this process, Jeremy and his family are no closer to peace than when it had all began. Jeremy has had a difficult time keeping employment due to his frequent hospital stays, and this past year has been his attempt to return to the workforce when he took over as manager of Dairy Queen. This year has been what seems like one of the most challenging for the Bowles family, and Jeremy has been in and out of the hospital several times. He has been sick since summer and Sara has managed to keep things going. Unfortunately the disease, took Jeremy’s life.