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'
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
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!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
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)
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)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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.
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
Saturday, September 11, 2010
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.
Friday, August 20, 2010
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)
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