July 17, 2016

The memorial service for my sister Janet was held on Monday evening, July 11. With all of us brothers (and some of our children) arriving from Texas and Illinois on Sunday, we met at an informal family potluck at the home of my youngest brother Leon.

David, Jim, Bo and Others (Not Shown) Sat, Ate and Talked (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

My Dad, Leroy, Was at the Table (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Dale and I Were Also There (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Our Granddaughter Sydney Enjoyed the Pool (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Daddy Holden Holds Their Youngest, Kiara(10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Grandparents, Jim and Lin, Help Agnes Get Wet (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Was the Floating Hot Air Balloon a Reminder of Janet's Spirit Rising to God? (10-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

The following evening was the memorial service at Janet's church just east of Washington, DC. First we brothers and dad met for a country breakfast. There will never again be six siblings at a table with Dad. A sadness to contemplate. 

Bo, Dale, Me, Leon, Dad and Jim at Breakfast (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

In the Midst of Sorrow, Dad Smiles (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Leon and Bo Make Their Food Choices (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

After driving from the Lancaster, PA, area to Lanham, MD, we arrived in time for the time of visitation with the family and to hear and share condolences with others. 

Welcoming Entrance to Capital Christian Fellowship (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Andrew and Maryam Williams and Sanaa and Andrew Myers (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Sanaa Shared about Her Mother's Life (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Close-up of the Podium from Where Sanaa Shared (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Assistant Pastor Caleb Kaye Led Us in Singing "I'll Fly Away" (11-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Heidi, Holden, Sydney and Kiara stayed overnight in the Hampton Inn in which we stayed. In fact their room was right next to ours. Fun for all! So the next morning we had a slow start to our day, and Holden, Sydney and Elsie seven got some swimming done in the outside pool

We All Filled Up at the Hampton Inn's Breakfast Buffet (12-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

So how do parents carry their small children these days?

Mother Heidi Sometimes Uses the Football Carry with Kiara (12-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Father Holden Makes His Arms into a Baby Seat (12-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

How to help kids not be too engrossed in TV? Watch it with them and talk about it. (12-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

I am sure that it will seem very strange to all of us for days, weeks, months and years ahead as we notice that Janet is no longer with us. But we pray that God will give a gift of grace to all who interacted with her to live in peace with her death.

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July 9, 2016

On Monday, June 27, after visiting with my sister Janet for an hour and a half, wee drove from outside of Washington, DC, to the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania where three of our children and their families live . We spent the next week living in the three different homes and having many good conversations with the adults and children.

These are our children and their families from the oldest to the youngest. Todd and Maria Bowman (Leah, Nathan, and Jared) live in Lancaster. Jonathan and Beth Bowman (Caleb and Naomi) live in Landisville. Jennifer and Matt Sauder (Maya, Ty, and Luke) also live in Landisville. Heidi and Holden Byler (Sydney and Kiara) live outside of Harrisonburg, VA.

Jennifer Fries Eggs and Sausage Patties on Our First Morning with Them (28-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Jennifer Planted Many Flowers on the Deck and around the Yard (28-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Ty's Full Leg Cast Did Not Stop Him from Swinging (28-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Maya captured a Lightning Bug on Her Arm (28-Jnl-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Thirteen-year-old Leah Has a Ready Smile (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Maya Clings to the Swings (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Jared Seems to Ponder Something (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Luke Checks Out Some Food (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

A Long-shot of Nathan in the Yard (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Naomi Appears Ready for Lunch (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Ty Tackles His Lunch (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Elsie and Todd Relax at the End of the Day (30-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

The Next Day Nathan Is Engrossed in a Book (1-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Jared Checks Me Out (1-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Three Brothers (Me, Leon, Jim) and Our Dad (Leroy) (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

How Does a Sale on Ketchup Get Us to Shop in a Grocery Store? (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Luke Considers Something (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Ty Also Ponders (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Caleb Weighs a Subject (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Naomi Is Also in a Daze? (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Ty and Caleb Are Often Two Peas in a Pod (2-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Maybe the Saturday lunch and sunshine made all of the kids a bit loopy.

 Sunday was a relaxed day with church, lunch, and naps.

Todd Leads the Worship at Rossmere Mennonite Church (3-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Naomi Monkeys on the Swings (3-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Naomi Models Her Brother Caleb Working on a "Project" (3-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Jonathan Assists His Son on the Project (3-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Pennsylvania offers two free days of fishing each year when no fishing license is required. So I was eager to take advantage of the free day on July 4 with some of the grandchildren. (Matt, Jennifer and their family and Holden, Heidi and their family were away on vacation.)

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Todd and Sons Jared and Nathan Try Some Fishing (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Naomi Inspects Her Bait-less Line (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Great Grandpa (My Dad) Concentrates on His Fishing (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Dad, an Avid Fisherman, Enjoys His Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Nathan Is Intent on His Fishing (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Todd Enjoys Fishing, Too, But Keeps an Eye on the Children (4-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

While we did not catch any fish on July 4 at Grub Lake, we all had a fun two hours together.

Elsie and I appreciate all of our friends even if I do n ot have photos of them all to put in my blog. Here are just two samples.

Paul Kratz Watches as I Take His Picture (8-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Nate Yoder, on the Other Hand, Seems Not to Notice my Picture-taking (8-Jul-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

While my sister's death has reminded us of how short and uncertain life can be, our time with family and friends reminds us of how blessed we are with God's gifts of supportive relationships. 

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July 8, 2016

Thursday evening (one and a half days ago), my sister Janet Elbalghiti died from breast cancer that had advanced to her lungs. At 62 years old, she was five years younger than me--too young to leave us. She was a sister, a woman, of deep character, courage and faith in God through Jesus Christ. Here are some pictures from 2010 and when we visited her a week and a half ago.

Carla, Elsie, Sanaa, Andrew, and Janet in a Mall, San Antonio, TX, USA (4-Apr-10; © Richard L. Bowman)

Here is a short video taken in April 2010, from which the above screenshot was taken, showing Janet having fun telling others to ignore the photographer (me). Next to Janet is Sanaa, her daughter married to Andrew Myers. They now have two children--Janet's only grandchildren.

The Last Picture of My Sister and Me (27-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Sanaa's and Andrew's son, Clive, is the youngest progeny in my dad's line and the youngest grandchild of Janet. 

Janet Shows Her Caring as Grandma and Her Years of NICU Experience (27-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Elsie Shows Her Experience as Grandma and Nurse, Also (27-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Recalling our time with Janet, Sanaa, Clive and Conrad, reminds me of the blessings God has granted us in the lives of our 10 grandchildren. Here are photos of Heidi's and Holden's two children, Kiara and Sydney.

Elsie and I arrived in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, early (12:30 a.m.) on Thursday, June 23. That evening Heidi, Holden, Sydney and Kiara came to visit us and to share supper. It was truly fun to see all of them again.

Kiara Puzzles Oveer Who I Am (23-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Kiara Also Let the Smiles Emerge (23-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Exuberant Sydney Is What I Would Call Her (23-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Two days later we again met with Heidi and Holden and their girls and with Jonathan and Beth and their two chhildren. It was great to see that Kiara had warmed up to Grandma.

 

Kiara Is Happy in Grandma's Lap (25-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Caleb Came Over to Say Hello to Kiara (25-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

It was also good to be worshipping back at Mt. Clinton Mennonite Church again. 

 

Dick Good Led Us in Our Sunday School Discussions (26-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

Eli Miller and His Granddaughter Provide the Prelude Music (26-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

 

The Bread and Grape Juice of Holy Communion Join a Lit Candle (26-Jun-16; © Richard L. Bowman)

Communion reminds us of Christ's suffering and death on our behalf. While we often do not understand death and evil in the world, remembering Jesus' suffering and resurrection helps us to put our pain in perspective.

--©2014-16, Richard L. Bowman)

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