Hey Kittie, I agree....Maw that was a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing. We all need that comfort right now.

Love, Blair

Thanks mother for the poem...it pretty well says it all...
love to all,
kittie

Little we knew that morning,
God was going to call your name,
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you,
You are always by our side.
Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
We love and miss you very much!
Your family.
(author unknown)
Copied by Maw

Just wanted to check in and send my love and prayers to all of you. I know you are all having such a hard time and I am so sorry. I love all of you so much and pray that God will hold you in his arms and that you will receive the peace and comfort you need right now.
Love,
Peg

Good evening to all of you.

It too has been an extremely hard weekend for me. The weekends are the worst. I am having to work from 8-6 last week and this week at work. I wake up around 4 or so, so I go ahead and get ready for work and drink me a cup of coffee and then nothing else to do, so I just go ahead and go on to work about 630 or so and that is a long long day. But atleast my mind is busy for 12 hours or so. I had to work Sat morning, went in at 6 and left at 10. I almost whipped so ass before I left. Boy, she sure better be glad I didnt take all my flustrations out on her. I have got the house up for sale. It would be next to impossible for me to keep. Besides it was mine and Mikes dream house and just that!! So why should I stay there, even if I could. The kids all have nice homes and I plan on staying with each of them for a while. I hope it sales real real soon. I have a friend that has it list for me. The pickup or car one, or both are up for sale also. Which ever one goes first, I will keep the other. I also hope it goes real soon. The insurance said it would be another two to three weeks before I know anything and as you all kn0w, bills just go on and on and on. Oh well, do the best I can and to heck with them all. Things are just things.
I have check on the head stone and can get it at Browns for Mikes cost and then talked to Slaton and they can set it for me. I will have to wait a little while to do this, but the headstone is the first item on my agenda. I think I know what I want on it.
I know Maw that all is so hard for you too. I just wonder sometimes why I have lost so so many loved ones so so young.
The kids are all so good to me and I love them dearly. Blair, Jay, Jared, Betsy, April and Zac are the best kids a person could have. I hope they dont get too tired of me.

Hope to see all you guys real soon. Love Eletia

Hey Family
This weekend has been really hard for me. I can't speak for everyone else, we all hurt in our own personal ways. I guess it always sounds fake for someone to say they know how we feel. No one knows how you feel except YOU. All I know is that my heart is broken and will never heal. I am pulled in so many different directions at the same time.

It was good to talk to Jared yesterday. Eletia, sorry you could not talk but that's okay. I love you and pray for you all the time. If there is ever anything I can do, please let me know. Only you knows what is racing through your mind right now and only you knows what feels right for you. I'm sure you are totally lost right now. I am so sorry!!!!!!!!!! Of course all the kids are on my mind as well, that goes unsaid.

Maggie, Kraig, Boston and Maddie were at Kittie and Gary's yesterday. I went by a few minutes to check out Maddie. They were having a birthday party for Montana and I wanted to leave before her party started.Maddie is just so cute and still tiny. To me she looks like Boston when he was little and also looks like Kraig. Guess she just looks like herself.

Jill came by yesterday campaigning for her race for Mayor. She said Stormy wanted to come over today to have me "fix" her Little Pony dress and play with my toys. I will look forward to that.Talked to Gary and Susan yesterday afternoon and Gary had been working on his fence. Seems their dogs had been getting out so time for repairs. They ask me over for supper with them and the Henry's but I opted to stay home. I am not very good company right now.

Got to find something to do today to stay busy so just know, everyone, Eletia, Blair, Jared, April, Gary Lee and Kittie, you are all in my thoughts right now.
Love
Maw

Hey everyone! It's been a while but we haven't forgot about you all. Things have been so hectic around here. James and I are both trying like crazy to get jobs, I am searching really hard now that the end of the school year is closing in.
The gold scramble looks like it will be a blast!!! Hopefully we'll be able to make it but if not we'll be there in spirit!
I hope everyone is doing well and getting back into a routine of daily functioning, I know it's tough. Losing a loved one is never easy but that person would never want our lives to just stop over them. There are so many precious memories of Mike that I, alone, have and I know the memories we all hold will carry us through. Just know that James, Brock, and I love you all very much and we're here if you need anything.
God Bless,
The Gowens Family Trio

Big Weekend.....June 14th and 15th......Okay, plans are being made for Mike's Memorial Golf scramble on June 15th...Fathers Day.....in Fort Worth at one of Dad's favorite courses. Look at the webpage on some details. Love, Blair

Hey Everybody.....Well Ft. Worth crew is here. We all got together at my house on Sunday night and then last night at Aprils. We are doing okay......We're all trying to do the normal daily things, go to work, etc. I've been doing a lot of yard work and that has been good. Makes me closer to Dad. Thanks Kittie for checking up on me in your email. Also thanks Maw and Kittie for taking some new flowers out there.

Well I hope everyone's week is going okay.....
Love,
Blair

Hey Family
Where is everyone??Have you all crawled off to your cave to lick your wounds and heal??That is all I feel like doing. It has been 3 weeks today since Mike left us and 4 months yesterday since
J W left. Time seems to be just standing still. I am not sure what I am suppose to be doing, thinking or saying? I feel like I have been through a war or run over by a semi truck. Everyone tells me it will get better but I don't know at this point.
We got a little rain today which we needed very badly. Things have been slow at the office so that does not help either. As long as I am busy, it helps. My van is in the shop. The window on the driver side would not roll up and of course it was the motor so Gilbert had to order one. Proably be 300 or 400 dollars. Anyway I am driving the pickup right now. Went to the cemetery Sat and the old flowers had been cleared off so I came back to town and fixed up a big basket of flowers and Kittie went back out there with me to put them out. She made a pic to email to Blair but has not been able to find her software to load the program on her new computer abd it won't work on her old one---maybe coming soon. Mixed up Round-up in the sprayer and sprayed weeds in the backyard. Ryan bagged up 8 big bags of leaves but there is still plenty more to do. Everyone is on my mind and in my prayers and I love my fasmily so much. I realize this is so hard on all. Love, Maw

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. We went to see Brock and His Ama & Da. He is really growing and talking. He loves bubbles and enjoyed playing outside. It is nice to visit when we have a chance. The Henry's are all good and well. Stormy scraped her knee and came to our house Sunday evening in tears. A little Poppy and Nana love seemed to fix everything. Take care and come see us anytime. Love, Susan

HI Everyone. Maw, thanks for listening to me the other night when I was a little down and blue. Love, Blair

I hope everyone has a good weekend...Blair I am glad you are showing an interest in golf and in the yard...both can be good for the body and the mind...I think the golf tourney is a great idea I would love to play...
love,
k

Maw, thanks so much for those words. Very true about God. When I get down I just think about him wrapping his arms around me. A great thought to keep with you. I realize more and more everyday what a wonderful family I married into. Everyone is so supportive and loving. A good blessing for every one at a time like this.

Love to all
Betsy

Hey Family
Saw on the news that Ft Worth and Dallas had storms again with wind and hail. Hope all the Ft Worth bunch is okay and didn't have damage to life or property? Thank goodness this is Friday!! Time is just marching on even if we would like it to stand still sometimes when we are feeling numb and don't want to deal with a new day. We just have to lean on our awesome and wonderful God and see all of His beauty and how fresh everything seems early morning with a brand new day for us. Cherish today, hug someone, tell someone how much you love them and just claim God in your heart, close to you, to comfort you today. He is always there and He knows how badly we all hurt. God gave His only son to die for us and that alone should show us how much He loves us.
Love
Maw

Hey Family
Just got on and read Blair's "I miss my Dad today". Today has also been such a hard day for me as well. There is nothing like the ache and pain of grief in our hearts. It is going to take a lot of time to start top heal. Funny, Blair was talking about planting flowers, working in the yard. I too was thinking today about maybe getting a couple of tomato plants and set them out as a memorial to J W. He always had to have some tomato plants. I will wait for the weather to warm up some more tho. Outside work seems to clear your head some and Spring gives a hope of a new beginning. Just look at the two new little girls we all have to love on. Megan is working with me at the office for awhile until she can start back in school but I need her there with me right now. It is hard to be alone and I need her comfort of just being near. Example of how my brain is working, I made me a bowl of chicken salad for supper and after I had eaten over half of it, I realized I did not put the chicken in it so I had celery, apple, walnuts and pickle relish. I guess I need a keeper. Hang in there everyone, it is going to be rough but we have each other, Love, Maw

Hey all. Well I went back to work this week. I am having to decide if I want to take another position with the city with a new project they are doing. It involves being a part of HR and it is a project that they've hand selected me for, but I don't know if it is the right move, because no salary or anything like has been discussed because they don't know the exact funds to appropriate yet. Also, wild weather week. Wednesday night had a really wild experience with Dad and electricity went off for a little while. Then, on Thursday middle of the night, got hit by a small tornado that was confirmed. Knocked part of my fence down and some shingles off. Mom's electricity went off that same night and so the next day they spent the night Thursday night. NOw their electrcity is back on. Love, Blair

Hey,
Just wanted to touch base and say Hi to everyone....I hope everyone is doing well....

love,
kittie

CT, goodmorning.
Of course it is early and I just want to sit here and reflect the last week. It has probably been the most challenging week I have ever had in my life. The emotions just run rampid and then there is peace. It is the hardest thing to try and explain. You just want to run as hard as you can and then you just want to sit and just collapse.
I am planning on going back to work tomorrow and try to get on with some kind of a routine and get back to working out. I know Mike would want me to do so. Everything is just so so hard. I made a trip to Wal-Mart just for my green teas and what an emotional trip. We just did so many things together, even though Mike worked so hard.
It is stormy and rainy outside and this morning was very tough and emotional for Blair. We talked around 4 am and his electricity had gone off. I am sure we will have many times like this. The business part of this is tough but too, we will make it through. Just having to be patient is so hard on a family that is not too patient. It is amazing what I am having to learn daily and how I am having to learn to change. Please keep me in your prayers, as I know you will.
Love to all,
Eletia

Love to everyone

Just wanted all the families to know our thoughts and prayers are with everyone constantly. All of our hearts are broken with the loss of Mike, but we have each other to lean on for love and support. Take care of all the loved ones and call Gary or I if anyone needs anything. Love to all, Susan

Hey Family
I feel like we have been hit by a tornado and I am still reeling!!I am thankful for the wonderful celebration of Mike's life and as I try to remember all that has happened in the past 3 days, I can see that Mike was pleased that it all played out the way he wanted it to. I always wondered how anyone could handle losing one of their children and now it is my turn to find out. I could ask, why me? Why not me? When will we learn that the book of life is in God's hands and ALL of the book is already written. So God chose to allow Mike's illness to take him at this time therefore God , by the same token, will give us just exactly what we need each day to accept this. Our hearts will ache, we will cry, we will feel his presence , we will miss him so much and my prayer right now is, Thank You God for giving me this child for what a wonderful blessing he has been to my life. I can't imagine life without having him. Thank you God, Thank you God, You always know just what we need.
Love
Maw

Hey CTown......Wow, what a ride this week....First, congratulations to Kraig and Maggie....Woohooh!! Madelynn is here. I saw some first pictures and man, she is precious. Can't wait to get some for the website.

Next, thanks Crosbyton for all of your love....We Love You all so much.

Next, family is GOOD......All of you are AWESOME!!!! Enough said.

CHO PO LO AND A HALF BONE THOU!!! James Lee angels spoke through u...

Aunt Peg and Maw, (Guns Up) Leading us out from the cemetery to Silver Falls.....WOW!!!!

Kittie, Love you Love you.....Gary Lee, Love you Love you....

Susan and Gary Dale, Love you Love you!

Cousins (no my brothers and sisters) - You are my rock, u know that!!!!

Maw, Gary and Kittie ( Love You!!) Gary Lee, I got my driver now cause of you!! Thank u!

Mom (Dad loves you still and always!!)

So when are we gonna get together again?

Love u all!
Bear

CT Family,
Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart for the love and concern that was showed me during our terrible time of loss. Miles seperated us during Mikes brief illness and death, but I knew that you were with us every step of the way and the pain was unbearable for you also. I always felt this and knew you were there for us. It was so meaningful for us here to have you guys at the Memorial in FT Worth. I know it warmed your hearts to see the love and kindness Mike gave to his fellow man the short time he lived in Ft.Worth. He got to live his dream for a short while and I know he was happy doing this. He loved you guys dearly and thought of you so very often.
I was so honored to be his wife for 34 years and to carry on the Gowens name. I love you all with all my heart and pray for me to be strong and have courage.
Thanks for all you did in Crosbyton for such a very lovely service, Mike would have loved it.
I will see you guys soon.

Love always, Eletia