Thankfulness

Thanksgiving in Michigan with my family (parents, siblings & Katie!) was wonderful. We went around the table giving our thanksgiving with the letters THANKS
T- Tests & tribulations.... without them I would not grow spiritually & materially
H- Hearts for loving, Love is Faith & Love is sustenance
A- Apples, they are so yummy!
N- Neverending love for my husband :)
K- Kaitlyn, my beautiful and amazing niece
S- Sensations & my Soul, to know I am alive today & will endure with God's grace

Thank you to my dear friends & family for your support, genuine love & fun times.

We are doing great in Indiana! We had some snow & it looks beautiful here... feels like winter. Peyton Manning is not doing good though :( 10 interceptions in 3 games... don't know what's happening to the Colts!

Much Love> The McGowans'

Wedding in Seattle

Our dear friends celebrated their marriage in Seattle and it was so amazing. Their story is an amazing love story of deep friendship, beautiful courtship and spiritual union. Caryn is one of my dearest friends & her husband Chris a great friend too. They were our family in Seattle and we miss them A LOT! Eric and I had a great time back in Seattle together again, we miss that place sooooooooo much! It was a refreshing time for both Eric and I. We will never forget our home in between Mt. Rainier & Puget Sound, maybe our life journey will take us back there again some day.

October Birthdays

We celebrated Kaitlyn's 12th Birthday & Eric's 28th!! We met up in northern Indiana for a beatiful autumn day cookout. It was wonderful!

Seasons Changing

This Fall in the midwest has been a beautiful one for the weather at least. (the heat has subsided). But we still have NO rain. The seasons changing symbolizes the changes that have occurred in our lives... life is different than 6 months ago. But will be, as always, transforming for us.

I was so lucky to visit Washington and Oregon a couple weeks ago! I went out the Pacific Ocean- Oregon Beach... was absolutely serene and such a breath-taking escape. I missed my husband though... he didn't come with me. But we will be going out again in a month or less for our friends' wedding! We can't wait (well I know I can't for sure). When I flew into Seattle I saw Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood and another mountain I always forget the name of. 4 peaks in a row & an amazing sunrise along the Cascades. (Why didn't I take a picture??) It was a lovely time to see my dear friend Caryn and be back in the Northwest. Eric and I miss it tremendously!

We also went camping last weekend in the beautiful Brown County State Park in southern Indiana... very beautiful rolling hills. Perfect camping weather and tons of relaxation.

On the homefront, things are going great, Eric is studying and working part-time as a math tutor. I am working two jobs still, but have my weekends to relax. We are finally settling in here in Indiana... this Holiday season will be great because we will finally get to see all of the family. Overall we have nothing too new going on, just reuniting with friendships prior to Indiana. And we said good-bye to our brother & sister-in-law and our little cute nephew Kayleb... they moved across the country.

Our next stop... Seattle one more time this year in November for my dear friend's (Caryn & Chris) wedding!

Have a great rest of the fall season and Happy Trick-or-Treat!

"...when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one." (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 51)

Flip-Flop

Flip-Flop Summer to Fall... at first couldn't tell the difference, but this weekend it's finally a little cooler with some rain. :)

This summer has been a transformation for Eric and I. It is absolutely bewildering how your life can change. We are mostly settled in here in the Midwest, and Eric is going to school full-time, planning on finishing again next Winter (only a year & a second B.S.) and he is finally feeling a little bit of a challenge. I am working out in the rural areas outside of city, commuting every day, enjoy what I'm doing, just a different path I was once on. I continue to study for a BIG exam next spring for furthering my career and taking courses (week long ones :) Life is good, but a flip-flop.

The months of August and September we didn't travel a whole lot. I did finally get to see my Miotke cousins, aunts, uncles during Labor Day weekend (I need pics... didn't take any, don't know why), went to Michigan for an Advanced PT course, saw my bestest friend Angie & her little baby boy finally!, relaxing at the the in-laws, visiting with our nieces and nephews, been to an art festival, disc golfing in the HOT heat, studying with my husband... not as much adventure as the Northwest. But, we are going camping for the first time since we've been back down in Brown County (southern Indiana), I will be out in the Northwest twice this Fall!!

The leaves are just now starting to change... not sure how pretty the colors will be due to the lack of rain this summer, but still is my favorite season in the Midwest.

 Baby Lilcoln

 Meredith (my college roommate) is married!! :)

 Chloe flirting again :)

My SoulFriend & her beautiful little boy Lilcoln

Much love, Jen & Eric 

Let It Rain

Today marks a very memorable day in history, 9/11 occurred 9 years ago, my heartfelt prayers and thoughts go to the families that lost loved ones, and the crew of firefighters & volunteers that sacrified their time and lives to save the injured, deceased, and recover the grounds of the Twin Towers.

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

~Baha'u'llah

It's finally raining in Indianapolis today!! I love it, it reminds me of Seattle! We need the rain so badly.

We are adjusting to our new life here in Indiana, Eric is taking his courses at ISU, slightly bored due to slow schedule now. He is working out & just got through fighting off the evil poison ivy. I am working fully booked at my job & enjoy it. I am getting ready to take a 6 day course in Michigan to learn about the lumbar spine and lower extremity. Hope to visit with family in the evenings while up in Michigan.

To be a Sycamore again...

Big news for us this past week. Eric has decided to go back to school to get his Mechanical Engineering Technology degree with a minor in management starting next week! It will only take him 3 semesters to complete all of his course work, then he will have his second B.S. We are so excited because it has truly been a long road of trials & tribulations. He is going to be loaded with Engineering courses these next 3 semesters, but the end result is definitely worth all the course work! Wish him luck! (although I think he is more than ready to get started)

Summer Heat

It's been in the 90's, heat index in the 100's for what seems like the entire time we've been back from Washington... I miss you Washington!

Well, Indiana life has been going pretty well. Eric continues to be on the job hunt, fierce field out there, and is contemplating other life goals currently. I'd have to say he has been one patient man, which is one of the biggest attributes about him that I love. I've been commuting to work to another county & I'd have to say I sort of like the commute at the end of the day. I get to decompress on the way home! I am taking a few courses this fall NAIOMT to learn more, and will be signing up for my Orthopedic Board Specialist Exam within a month.

A few road trips:
We made a day trip yesterday to see our good friend Meredith get married, she was so happy & it was wonderful to see her & visit Madison, IN.
We also made a trip up to Michigan the weekend of July 30th for my Dad & Lisa's birthday... nice break from hot weather for sure and always good to see my family. My Dad is doing great & his wife found a new job! Congrats!
No more road trips until Labor Day weekend to finally see my mother's grave & visit with her family.

Peace, love & happines ~ Jen & Eric

Ya Mon!

Here are a few photos of Jamaica & our little nephew Kayleb. We are planning on some road trips to see family and friends this weekend and in August, it is great to be back in Indiana!

Eric and I are enjoying the time we have with friends and family. I am really settling into my job and enjoying it more and more each day, I just don't like the commute. I went from 5 minutes to 30 minutes one way :(
Eric continues to have the job of looking for a job, the market is brutal out there, but he continues to be persistent and is picking up small jobs here and there.

My conclusion on life right now is wrapped in this quote:

O SON OF MAN! For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

Uncle Eric & Daddy to Kayleb

Prom pic :)

Warm Ocean water!

Jess & Johnathan Jamaican wedding

Bride & Bridesmaids

beautiful Bride!!

Congratulations!

Action shot!

Juggling July

Hello dear friends. Quick update:
1. Settling in finally in our temporary home with our friends who are the kindest and most fun to live with.
2. Spending time with Terry, Katie, Angie, Mom & Bill
3. Met our little nephew for the first time Kayleb Anthony :)
4. Returned from a Jamaican wedding!! Congrats Jess and Johnathan!!!

We are keeping busy traveling and Jamaica was warm with white beautiful sandy beaches. I am so thankful to have moved home so that I can take a quick drive on the weekend to visit with friends/family without having to book a long flight.

Upcoming and exciting news:
My dear friend Anna will be having her baby girl in 2 months!! Meredith, my college roommate, is getting married, can't wait! Get to see my Mother's family this Labor day weekend :)... it's been a long time. And I have quite a few Continuing Education courses this Fall, take a NAIOMT exam AND I registered for my Board Certification Exam for Orthopedics (big feat) this week. I love being a PT and so grateful to have a job.

Love to you all & I will be posting pictures this weekend
Please stay in touch

Joyful

Well... I was back in Indiana for 2 weeks and already have had a trip back to my second beautiful home in Washington. It was a surprise trip for my friend Caryn's engagement that her now fiance so secretly and meticulously organized for her. She was completely surprised first of all with her engagement and secondly all her friends surprised her shortly after saying "Yes"! I got to spend the day with a good friend climbing Granite Mtn. in the Cascade mountain range, then spend a wonderful evening with Caryn & Chris and company :) I can't wait for the wedding in Seattle which will be in November!!  Congratulations once again! It was a perfect day in Seattle 70 degrees & sunny (only 2 days like this all spring/summer & I got lucky enough to have great weather while I was there!)

As for any other news on the household front, Eric had an interview last week and will be hopefully hearing good news this week. We are holding on tight with prayerful thoughts. But, overall I am settling into my new job which is going good, once again I love being a physical therapist! I am so happy to be near my family once again and feel the summer breeze in the evening listening to the cicadas sing... I love Indiana summer nights!

Mt. Rainier (pic taken from 5,600 ft. elevation)

(whew! end of the climb, snowy in June)

(2 miles into the climb up... a little tired)

Finally made it up to the top (5,600 feet with ~4000 elevation gain in 4 miles up)