Hey, wanted to let everyone know that Maggie set Madelynn up a page on the totsite that Shavonne has for Brock. If you want to check her out it is, www.totsites.com/tot/madelynn_dae and her password is maddie.

Hope everyone is good.
love,
kittie

Hey Family
Guess everyone is too busy to Blog??Somehow, time just keeps marching on and I am surviving.
Hot weather is finally upon us. My yard needs to be mowed so I dragged the mower out this morning and pulled the rope and it STARTED!!!! I was so shocked. I got about 1/4 of the backyard mowed and it died . I think it ran out of gas so I put in gas and tried to start it again but no luck. Will try later when it cools off and get Ryan to pull the rope for me. One good tug is about all I have. That said, I came back inside to see what I can get into here.
It was good to talk to Jared and Eletia this week. You both sounded good! Hope things work out with you on your house, Jared (here in Crosbyton). Maybe you will get some good tenants.
Great news for Shavonne. Way to go girl. I know you will be a great teacher. Will certainly be thinking of James for his job interview.
Things are going on at Peggy's house. Seems she has little elfs doing some really hard chores for her while she is gone. Peggy you are blessed (if you don't know it) Will be glad when you get yourself back home. We all miss you so much!!
My uncle Delbert from Okla called me last night. He said Verna and her son and grandkids will be coming to Shawnee sometime toward the end of June and wished I could come up. I would love to see him and Verna too while she is in OK. Where she lives now (Edinburgh) is further away from me than when she was in Shawnee. I believe she is 89 now.
Last Sat I fixed a notebook with pics, cards and etc with things I received when Mike passed away. It was a good thing to do on the Memorial Day weekend. Just to reflect on him.
Kittie ask me to come over tonight. Maggie, Kraig, Boston and Madelynn are coming over and Maggie had ask for enchiladas and choc cake so sound good, eh?
Was wondering if Kate has started trying to crawl yet? Bet she has really grown since I saw her. Saw Stormy last night and she had a pet snail in a little cage. She took it out to show me. She was so proud of that snail. It was a fine looking one alright. Too bad Jill didn't let her take our hampster when I offered. Ha
Okay, guess I'll get back to doing something. To all of you out of town, I miss you and love you very much. To you here is town, thnks for putting up with me! I love you very much too.
Love, Maw

Hey everybody....I sent out a confirmation email to all that are coming to participate in the Golf Scramble June 15th. We are looking forward to that.

I love seeing all the pics of all the little one's too. Uncle Blair loves them all!!!
Love,
Blair

Hey,

Hope everyone is well and doing good...just wanted to tell all the "moms" that I enjoy your pics and comments so much....We cannot see each other much, so getting regular updates on everyone is really great....Maggie and Kraig are taking Boston to see Indiana Jones tomorrow night and I get to babysit Miss Madelynn!!!!! I am so excited!! Boston will be out of school next Friday and I am excited for him to come and spend alot here this summer....I love my grandbabies!!!
love,
kittie

Hey everyone! Just me. . . thought I'd take the time to actually stop in and write something!
Sounds like everyone is finally gettting back into somewhat of a routine.
Ours seems to get more and more scrambled but we are managing! We just take it day by day and continue to thank God for all that we have and ask that he lead us in the right direction. You would think that since James and I already did the long distance relationship thing this would be easy but it's not, and for some reason it only seems to get tougher. (Oh poor, poor us!) The school year is slowing coming to an end, and hopefully my hard work will pay off when it comes time to hire for next year. It seems like they would be ontop of the hiring process but they haven't even posted any openings, and as of now I know of at least 3 openings at the school that I currently am at. . .say a prayer. James had an interview for AllState on Friday, so now we play the waiting game. They told him that he should know in about 1-2 whether or not they would like him to join the team or not.
Kraig, Maggie, and Boston: Miss Maddie is so sweet! I love the new pictures that Blair posted! She looks more and more like Boston every picture I see, can't wait to meet her in person.
Jared and Betsy: Hope to see you guys soon! I just didn't get to spend enough cuddle time with Miss Kate!!! Oh yeah, I'd enjoy getting to chat with the two of you too! I'm sure you've learned that becoming a parent means for now on you will be referred to as Kate's Mommy and Daddy! Those are words from a wise OLD WOMAN (Aunt Peggy told James and I that soon after Brock was born)!!!. . .Love you Aunt Peggy! ;)
Blair, Jay, and Eletia: Can't wait to see you three in Florida! We too are super excited!
To everyone: We love you all and we hope to see you soon!

God Bless,
The Gowens Family Trio

*Sorry about the novel, I guess that's proof that I need to stop in more often! Happy Reading*

Aunt Peg and Judy good talking to you on the phone last night. Me, Mom and Jay can't wait to go to Floriday in July to meet ya'll there. Woohooh!!

Getting ready for the Golf Scramble. Most of everybody has told me whether or not they will get to come. We will have supper for everyone on that Saturday night and then the golf scramble on Sunday. For those out of town you will get the earliest tee times Can't wait to see everyone.
Love,
Blair

All I have to say is this: you know it's been TOO long when you can't even recognize your own family member's voice!!!!! Maw and I got a pretty big kick outta me thinkin that Jared was a telemarketer when he called the office this morning :) SORRY!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! Either he sounded too professional or I was a little out of it and well....a little blonde too :) I'm gonna go with the latter lol Hope everyone has a great start to their week!!!!!!

XOXO-Megan Lee

HEY BLAIR!!!!!!

Yes I will MOST DEFINATELY be blogging now :) Especially since none of yall have the infamous Myspace or anything like that :) Well hope everyone is having a grrrrrrrrrrrreat day!!!!!

XOXO- Megan Lee

Hey MEGAN!!!!! hehehe...Hey, yeah, you blogged!! Welcome to the group. About time girl. We missed you. Love you bunches and bunches!!! Your big CUZ!!! Blair

Thanks Mama!!!! I feel TONS better now :)

p.s......My name looks really good in all caps! Maybe that's how I'll start spelling it :)

LOVE YALL!!!

XOXO---MEGAN Lee ;)

Oh I almost forgot to mention that MEGAN was also at the house for mother's day....I am sure you all remember Megan, she is my shy, bashful daughter....
I am sorry I didn't mention your name, MEGAN.....MEGAN......MEGAN.....MEGAN.....MEGAN....MEGAN.....

Ok I hope you feel better now!!
Love ya,
mama

Well....HEY HEY HEY!!!

Soooo I've never posted a blog on here lol. I thought I'd give it a try...mainly because I read Mama's blog regarding Mother's Day, and I just HAD to point out that I too was there hahahahahahaha LOVE YOU MAMA!!!! I mean ya know...if you're going to make the correction known that you forgot Gran-ma-ma then by all means it should be known that my name wasn't mentioned either :) Obviously I'm being a total smart-@$$. I'm assuming the family would appreciate that because lets face it...we all pretty well have that same sense of humor :) But anyways, sooooooo I hope that everyone is doing well. Even though I don't or haven't kept in touch, I'll sure try my hardest now that I have Maw to keep me on my toes :) Well I guess I'd better get back to the busy world of insurance! (wink wink) I love all of yall and constantly have yall in my thoughts.....XOXOXOXOXO

-Megan Lee :)

It is early morning about 3:40. I have slept the last bit I can. Of course I went to sleep around 9:00, so guess that is pretty good. I am working 10 hour days this week, so that I can be off this Friday to attend John Watsons pharmacy school graduation. I plan on leaving after work on Thursday and going to Waco and then Friday morning to Austin. I will probably be back here in Ft Worth either on Friday night or Saturday Morning. I have open house again this Sunday afternoon on the house, so I will need to do some more prep and clean up work on it. Everythings is just about out and hoping, not much more to do except to clean it up sometimes for people walking through it. Mikes pickup sits in the driveway, until open house and then I move it to Aprils or Blairs, then back again. I wish I could come and visit the cemetary soon. I think I need that, even though I know he is not there. I know Mike is at peace and very very happy, but the last eight months of our lives together were probably the best times we had ever had together. We sat and talked and learned so much about each other, that we had never taken the time to share. We had had some beautiful moments together and I just want more. Valentines Day was the most heartwarming experience I have ever experienced. This was our first HOLIDAY EVER TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE and he made our last one together so so special and beautiful. We had some very hard and trying times together but we also had some very loving and special times together also. How can it get easier, we were together almost evey day for 34 years. Mike and I were learning how to be best friends as well as soul mates. I guess I am lucky in that we did get to have some of this time together. Not all are that fortunate. I do know that he loved me and he tried so hard to make me know just that. We wished we had come to Ft Worth so many years earlier and maybe we would of had so many more years of this, but you just dont know. I have to keep going as I know he would want me to, but some times the pain is so hard to bear. He was not perfect, as I am not, but I loved him with all my heart and I will never ever quit missing and loving him. Eletia

Hey Family
All in all I had a very nice Mother's Day (even tho it will never seem the same without Mike's call). Morning started off with Blair calling, thanks Blair for filling in. Then I went to church and sat with Pat McClure, Linda Guy Hardy and Carolyn Dewbre. There were not very many there (?) Then to Kittie and Gary D for lunch with them and Megan and J & J Hamersley. Kittie had a great lunch and topped it off with banana pudding, uummmm. Mid afternoon I went over to GaryL and Susan. Savonne and Brock had already left so I was glad I got to visit with them on Sat. Janie, David, Judy, Jo, Connie, Brice and James were there. Peggy called while I was there so talked to her a few minutes. About 5:30 I went back to Kittie & Gary D to see Maggie, Kraig, Boston and Maddie. Left about 6:30 and came home. I had been gone all day and was tired. But it was a nice day to see everyone.

Went out to the cemetery just now and they have worked Mike's grave over. It is level with the ground now and looks so much better. It had those big heavy clods of dirt before. It won't take long to cover with grass now. Of course it still has the big basket of flowers on it. I just still can't believe it. When I go out there it does not seem real why I am going there. Eletia, you said you thought it should be getting easier everyday but hasn't. Most likely, the worst time has not even come yet. I can only speak for myself but around the 3rd or 4th month are the hardest for me. That is when reality really sets in. People sort of back off, letting you be strong by yourself again and now you fully understand that they are not coming back ever.(the person that is gone on) But don't fight it, just let it come on in, look it right in the face, let it engulf your very soul, cry, scream, yell but above all, don't try to block it out or you will never heal. There is no way you can pretend that things are okay because they are not so that is a lie to yourself and the world. You will start to heal someday but there is no telling when that will be for you, everyone is different. I just know you can't heal until you peel the scab off the top, let everything ooze out and then the sore can start to heal. I hope some of this makes sense ?????? Right now I am missing J W so very very badly and I need him here with me to help me through all of this.
Guess I better get off for now. I love all of you so very very much. Maw

ok....correction on my previous note....Jimmie Lynn was here too!! How could I forget that?!?!?!?


haha,
kittie

Hey,

I hope everyone had a good mothers day....Mother, Jackie were here for lunch and Maggie, Kraig, Boston and Madelynn came over later in the day when Kraig got off of work....It is always a wonderful day for me to see my mom, my kids and my grandbabies!!!!
Eletia, I think of you, I love you, I pray for you and you are in my thoughts constantly....I don't know what it must be like for you, but I just wanted you to know that I love you and if there is anything that I can ever do for you just let me know. I know that we all must take for granted those around us. You never know how much you depend on someone or love someone until they are gone.....I am sure the "little things" are probably the worst....
I hope everyone is well....
I love you all,
kittie

Good Morning to all,
Hope all you Moms have a special day.
Love you guys, Eletia

Hey Everyone....I haven't blogged in a few days. I hope all you Mom's have a wonderful Mother's day. I feel really special with my Mom in my home. With Dad being gone, it's really tough, but I am so glad that I still have my precious Mom.

It's been really tough with getting my Mom and Dad's house cleaned out. We cleaned out the attic and backyard today.

Aunt Peg, we are looking forward to coming to Florida in July....Can't wait...

Hope everyone is getting ready for the June 14th-15th Golf Scramble. I will make sure that all the family gets the earliest tee times so you can get home in plenty of time on that Sunday

Hey, Jill, did you win the Mayor Election? I sure hope so. You got 7 votes here in Fort Worth!!!

Well, Love everyone very much!!!
Blair

It is good to hear from Maw and Kittie. I wish I could say or do more. It seems all I do is go to work and go back to Blairs, Jareds or Aprils. It is really good to have such three lovely caring places to go to. Most of the time I am just running. Running and running, from what I dont know. To what I dont know. I find myself crying a lot of the time, just because. I dont really know where home is. I know what I want home to be but it will never be again. I have nearly beat up some ass. I have to be careful or all my frustrations will come out on some unexpected and unknowing person. I try to be strong, but some days, I just cry. Monday was a horrible day and if anyone talked to me I just cried. I know people at work will be glad if and when I get it all together. I miss Mike so much. I thought it would get better daily, but it doesnt. I have learned to go on and that is just that. Go on today. If not for my sweet kids and babies, what would I be? I finally got the acknowledgements out and it felt good to do this. I still have got no news from insurance or any indications if I will. Oh well, I am trying to just keep what we had and try not to go under to far. I have had several showings on the house, but as of yet either the back yard is too small or the house is too big. Of course nothing I can do about this. I got a real good surprise on my cell phone bill. $800., Hummm. Hopefully I got it half way figured out. Every time I turn around there is something. This is partly what keeps me so busy and upset, just wish Mike could handle it. He handled everything!!! I will try to let you guys know when the head stone is ordered and maybe when I will be back down. Would like to come now, but will have to wait, due to gas. Sorry this is such a downer, but.........
Love to you all. Eletia

Hey Everybody,

I hope this finds everyone at a good place today. Life is hard.....death I guess is easy....The ones that pass are at peace...but those of us left here to miss them have a hard time....
Things will get better.....but it will take time....
I just wanted to tell everyone that I love them....

I went to Lubbock yesterday and saw Boston and Madelynn and I have to say that they bring so much joy to my life....as do Maggie, Megan and Kraig....Madelynn is growing so fast already and Boston is such a good big brother....They are all doing good and are very happy, so that comforts my heart....
I hope all the "moms" have a good mother' day this Sunday....I will be thinking of everyone and wishing everyone a wonderful Mother's Day!!!
love to all,
kittie

Hey Family
Seems like I do not get much news anymore??Hope everyone is finding their own comfort zone??Not sure this is possible. We had rain the last two days and that has really been good. However, now my yard needs lots of attention. Many I will see what I can do when it dries up a bit. The race for Mayor will be over this weekend. Wishing you good luck Jill! I voted early voting so that is already done. This weekend is Mother's Day but I am not looking forward to it. It makes me so very very sad to know one of my "little ones" is no longer here. I will miss his call...Yesterday morning, Gary Lee came by the office for a visit and that was so very nice and then later in the morning, Kittie stopped by on her way to Lubbock so it felt good to see both of them. I just try to hold on to everyone I can to keep from slipping under.Looking at the pics of Kate and Maddie, in some ways they look alike. I guess it is the family popping out in them. Ha. Anyway they are so sweet. Wish they were living closer so they could play together. Brock is moving up to "big" boy now so he can fit right in with playing with Stormy.Stormy is getting ready to go to Pre-K in the fall, can you believe? I got her Little Pony dress fixed for her trip to Houston with Don & Linda. She will have a ball this week being spoiled by them. Everyone here misses her tho.
This is all I know for now. Eletia, I think of you every day and night, just so you know. Love, Maw

Maw and Kittie thanks for new pics. I put the new pics up of Madelynn. She is growing so fast.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Let me know if you haven't already if you are going to plan on coming for the Golf Scramble on June 14th-15th.

Love,
Blair

Good morning family
I spend the whole day yesterday looking through pictures. I was looking for some quilt pics (still have not found) and wound up looking at every album and "not" album pics I have. Now they are on the dining room table waiting to be put into albums.When doing this task, your life really unfolds before you and you realize just how short life is. I also realized just how blessed I have been to have so many "loves" in my life, starting with my mother and grandparents. Inside I still feel like the young girl in some of the pics and then with the terrible pain in my heart, I am feeling old. I was thinking this morning, I do not have a mother anymore to bring a present to or hug and kiss for next Sunday. I just thank God for all the years I did have her.

May try to go to church this morning. I have not been back in this past month. It is too hard for me emotionally, but I need to bite the bullet and get back. There is so much work that needs to be done in my yard to clean it up so maybe if the weather is okay, I may try to do that this afternoon. Blair, there is a reason you and I never did much yard work. It is called allergies.
I would like to put out a couple of tomato plants for J W. That was his thing to do. I founds some pics of Mike and Eletia's back yard here in Crosbyton with all the petunia's and they were so pretty!! We are still having cold weather, near freezing some nights so I have not been in a hurry to put out plants. I just rambling here so guess I'll get off. Be glad when Peggy comes home. It seems lonesome with her gone.
Wishing a good Sunday for all, believe the C town bunch are all busy, Gary Lee working on fence
and Kittie was putting things in a garage sale with the Van Hoose's in Lubbock.
Love to All
Maw