tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3403361830170945222024-03-14T00:21:24.578-05:00The Fearless FowlerSketches and rough draft accounts of life's adventuresThe Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-14505952754706222492013-06-26T14:33:00.000-05:002013-06-26T14:33:28.024-05:00These Two...Two boys present exponentially more...<br />
mischief<br />
laughter<br />
sweetness<br />
frustration<br />
mess<br />
chaos<br />
conflict<br />
silliness<br />
fun...<br />
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than one boy. <br />
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But I like it that way. </div>
The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-13974481230272409792013-06-26T14:30:00.000-05:002013-06-26T14:30:30.466-05:00What If?This is my belated birthday to me post. It's already nearly 7 months late. We shall see how many more days pass before I hit the "publish" button. But, I digress...<br />
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Roughly 6 months ago I began the last year of my 20's. That I was standing on such a steep precipice never dawned on me until I heard friends discussing the anxiety they experienced upon turning 29 and how much scarier 29 seemed than 30. Because we all know you're officially old when you hit 30, right? So 29 is your last chance to be young while at every moment feeling 30 breathing down your neck. Or something like that.<br />
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At any rate, it got me thinking about some dramatic changes that have taken place in my life over the past year. And really, it's been the past 19 months, but the ripple effect of these changes has been dramatic. These changes have also been intensely personal, so please read this post as an accounting of my own life and not a blueprint to be handed to others concerning their lives.<br />
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About 19 months ago I was very pregnant with Shields Lee and began to face the reality of once again laboring and delivering a baby. About this time, I began to think about labor and delivery a little differently than I had with Levi, and I could not get away from some questions.<br />
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What if I stopped viewing labor as a horror to be avoided and started viewing it as a rite of passage? What if labor could be the means to not just a beautiful baby, but a beautifully stronger me?<br />
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Ok, for those of you squirming at where this might be going, let me say this is not a birth story post. I will skip that part and just tell you Shields Lee was born, and I didn't have any pain medicine. And it was awesome. I spent the next five weeks in a stupor, partially because I had a newborn, and partially because I had brought that newborn into the world without any medicine to control the pain.<br />
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And then we packed up our lives and moved to PA. As I began to figure out what life looked like with two children while living in someone else's space, I realized I also had some baby weight that I wanted to lose. I wanted to lose it safely and healthfully, but also efficiently.<br />
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Also, I had looming in the not-too-distant future the prospect of donning a strapless gown and walking down the aisle as my sister's matron-of-honor. With these ideas in mind, I asked myself, "What if I could look good at Katherine's wedding? Not good for someone who has a baby, but just good, period?"<br />
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So I started counting calories and exercising regularly. I got a double stroller and walked as much as I could (which made me terribly miss my St. Louis urban neighborhood where I could walk and bike to so many great places). After I had gotten into the walking-with-stroller routine, I had the chance one day to go on a walk all by myself. After weeks of pushing 50 pounds in the stroller, it felt a little boring to walk with no resistance. So, I started jogging. And kept jogging. And somewhere in the jog I thought, "Why am I doing this? I am not a runner?! Running is HARD!" But then I remembered that I had a baby without medicine, so certainly I could jog another mile. And I did.<br />
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From then on, the past year has turned into one of asking myself to do difficult things. Not to do them perfectly, but to try them. Now I am far less inclined to say that I can't do something. I can do more than I think, and I am capable of more than I previously realized.<br />
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Earlier this month, I ran my first ever 5k.When I finished, I got a medal - not because I won something, but because I finished. You know what? I am proud of that medal and what it represents for this heretofore reluctant runner. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is really blurry, but you get the point. Me - covered in foam and mud - wearing my medal. Proudly.</td></tr>
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And now that I am less than six months away from 30, I am filled with more questions. What if my 30's could be even more exciting than my 20's? What if I conquer more fears in the next decade than I did in the last? What if this is just the beginning?</div>
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I don't know the answers to those questions, but I am excited for what I discover. </div>
The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-56505422029368562172013-06-17T13:52:00.000-05:002013-06-17T13:52:16.758-05:00Father's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Dear Lindon,</div>
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Thank you for loving them (and me) so well. You are a blessing to all of us, and we love you. </div>
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Happy Father's Day.</div>
The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-60896722276989613652013-05-24T22:24:00.000-05:002013-05-24T22:24:08.831-05:00Anniversaries of SortsThree years ago this week, my precious husband graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary. Words fail to express how proud I am for how hard he worked on his Master of Divinity and what his graduation meant to me.<br />
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His graduation marked the end of a really special time in our lives, and it ushered in the hardest times of our married life. Words fail to express the discouragement we felt at two years of fruitless job searching. My Lindon is awesome and tremendously gifted in ministry, but despite his diligence and qualifications, no church would hire him. We knew in our heads that God cared about our family, but in our hearts we sometimes felt abandoned.<br />
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One year ago this weekend Lindon received a phone call from a friend who offered Lindon a job. There were some major drawbacks to the job - like 3 months of traveling 4 days a week and a pretty long commute once the traveling was over - but the job seemed like something Lindon could do well and enjoy doing. Turns out, Lindon does enjoy it and is good at it. In fact, after 7 months he got promoted.<br />
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Is this the job I envisioned Lindon having? No way.<br />
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Is this what I had hoped for my family? Not a bit.<br />
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But the fact that my life looks dramatically different than how I had hoped it would look does not change the fact that I am thankful for THIS life - for Lindon enjoying his job and for what his future holds. I am thankful for feeling settled and moving forward instead of feeling stuck in a holding pattern waiting to hear back from another church.<br />
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And I am thankful that the anniversary of Lindon graduating came and went without us pausing to mourn another year of discouragement and desolation. God did not answer our prayers how I had hoped, but He has still shown me and my family great kindness.<br />
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To those who walked with us in our discouragement and to those who God used to provide a way out, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. <br />
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At his graduation Lindon and his classmates processed to the same song as my wedding processional, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty." The middle verses of that song get at some of what I am feeling now, grateful that God has been our merciful Defender and Sustainer, even when life has felt trying.<br />
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Praise to the Lord,<br />
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,<br />
Shelters thee under His wings,<br />
Yea, so gently sustaineth!<br />
Hast thou not seen<br />
How all your longings have been<br />
Granted in what He ordaineth?
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Praise to the Lord,<br />
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;<br />
Surely His goodness<br />
And mercy here daily attend thee.<br />
Ponder anew<br />
What the Almighty can do,<br />
If with His love He befriend thee.</div>
The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-37390987008756360732013-05-02T14:20:00.001-05:002013-05-02T14:20:57.147-05:00Crazy hair gone<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wf8eam4fcmw/UYK8l-ahLHI/AAAAAAAABGg/eOs22iOw-Ws/s640/blogger-image--1947501558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wf8eam4fcmw/UYK8l-ahLHI/AAAAAAAABGg/eOs22iOw-Ws/s640/blogger-image--1947501558.jpg" /></a></div>The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-84942889189399957242013-04-10T13:24:00.005-05:002013-04-10T13:24:47.765-05:00Crazy Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shields' hair is always a little crazy. It always has been, but as he gets older, his hair is getting wilder. A few weeks ago, Lindon decided desperate times called for desperate measures, so he lopped off Shield Lee's bangs and gave our little son a killer mullet. It was awful, so much so that I failed to photograph the ordeal. Shortly thereafter we trimmed the back, so the mullet was gone...for now. But it seems like we are constantly battling to hold off the looming mullet. </div>
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Still, his hair is beautiful. And even when it looks ridiculous, it hardly detracts from his sparkly eyes and brilliant smile.</div>
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-12408638304901289812013-04-10T13:08:00.002-05:002013-04-17T20:48:02.781-05:00Levi Lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you're Levi, life is always an adventure, and often an
emergency. His make-believe world revolves around working with Bob
the Builder or running to fight the most recent fire. Usually the fires are in important places, like his boot or the train table, so he really has to hurry. </div>
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he deigns to join us in the real world, he likes to read and be my
helper. Sometimes he actually helps, too, like when he cleans the
bathtub toys with a cleaning wipe or offers to carry my purse to the car. And then sometimes he just likes to act like he's helping by
speaking authoritatively or wagging his finger at me.<br />
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For all his helpfulness and bravery, though, Levi is still three, and he is still not quite sure what to do with Shields Lee. Sometimes he can
really get Shields laughing and enjoys having someone who is amused by
his antics. And then there are the times he takes the parenting into his
own hands, usually with bad consequences for poor little Shields. While
Levi has really internalized the list of things Shields ought not be
doing, he fails to remember to let me be the parent.<br />
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When
it comes to talking, Levi is in favor of it. All the time. Seems like the only thing that stops his running commentary
on life is asking a question. The way he processes life can be hilarious
and touching, as illustrated by the following stories:<br />
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- Nash's hunting side has come out in full force since we've been in
our new house. As far as I know, he's caught four field mice in our
yard. There might have been more, but it's hard to tell because, well,
he doesn't leave much evidence. Levi had the bad luck
of witnessing two of these catches, and the experiences traumatized him
a bit. In fact, last week I explained to him that hawks (like the ones
that were circling our yard), see mice and swoop down to eat them.
Levi's response: "That's what dogs do." <br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8XWqRCUfbDA/UWWnN44jbII/AAAAAAAABFY/7oOemwCXxSc/s640/blogger-image--117041267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8XWqRCUfbDA/UWWnN44jbII/AAAAAAAABFY/7oOemwCXxSc/s400/blogger-image--117041267.jpg" width="300" /></a> - One
afternoon Levi said he was really tired and wanted to go to bed. We let him read in bed for a bit by himself before coming to tuck him in. Upon entering his room, we saw Levi sitting on his bed looking at a
book...with a pencil in his hand. We deduced that Lindon had
absentmindedly placed the pencil on Levi's dressed when he got Levi
dressed that morning, and Levi just happened to notice it when he
grabbed a book. Levi felt badly for doodling in his storybook,
so we just told him he shouldn't play with pencils.<br />
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"Yes," said Levi somberly. "And Dad, you shouldn't leave your pencil in my room." <br />
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Sometimes mischievous, often encouraging, and usually sweet and refreshing - like a popsicle - that's my Levi. And when he has put out all the fires and fixed all the broken cars he can find, he still has time to snuggle and read a book. <br />
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What a guy. The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-81466809218715785472012-12-18T21:28:00.001-06:002012-12-18T21:28:30.542-06:00A TimelineNovember 6 - Levi's birthday<br />
November 7 - Lindon's birthday<br />
November 9 - Close on our new house<br />
November 9-17 - Prepare new house for move in<br />
November 17 - Move in day<br />
November 22 - Thanksgiving<br />
December 6 - Shields' birthday<br />
December 8 - Car Accident*<br />
December 16 - Megan's birthday<br />
December 24 - Christmas Eve<br />
December 25 - Christmas<br />
December 31 - New Years' Eve/ Our Wedding Anniversary<br />
January 1 - New Years' Day<br />
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*Yes, Levi and I were in a car accident about 10 days ago (not my fault!!). We were not seriously hurt, but it was a very scary accident, especially for Levi. And the accident totaled Lindon's car, so now we must look for another vehicle. But even though that adds something else to our to-do lists, we are just so thankful to be safe. And we are so thankful for that guardrail that kept us out of the creek. And for my long legs that kept me far away from the steering wheel and its airbag. And for Levi's awesome car seat. And that Nash the Wonderdog did not die when he hit the windshield. We are so, so thankful.<br />
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-15394245726541995072012-12-18T21:19:00.000-06:002012-12-18T21:19:02.846-06:00Shields Lee: A Year In Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Day One</div>
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One Month</div>
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Two Months</div>
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Three Months</div>
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Four Months</div>
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Five Months</div>
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Six Months</div>
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Seven Months</div>
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Eight Months</div>
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Nine Months</div>
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Ten Months</div>
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Eleven Months</div>
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Twelve Months</div>
The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-15379665773127161302012-12-06T13:53:00.000-06:002012-12-06T13:53:10.155-06:00To Shields Lee, on his First BirthdayDear Shields Lee,<br />
Oh baby, have we ever had a crazy year together. From moving when you were six weeks old to spending 10 months living with family to your never, ever sleeping in a proper bed, it has been a rollicking first year for you and for us. <br />
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But along the way we have learned so much. In a household like ours where there is so much talking, your squeaks, squeals, shouts, and head bobbles say volumes. Without uttering a word, you have already indicated that you intend to take the world by storm, and it's my job to make sure you don't get too ahead of yourself and fall off the bed (again). Whereas Levi likes to talk about things first and then do them later, you want to act now.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrtOWotEFDw/UMD3Stg2LQI/AAAAAAAABCA/d3Tvd6z9Ks8/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrtOWotEFDw/UMD3Stg2LQI/AAAAAAAABCA/d3Tvd6z9Ks8/s320/IMG_0445.jpg" width="240" /></a>You are one opinionated boy, wild-eyed, daring, and ready to keep apace with your older brother as your amazing hair blows in the wind. And as you keep us all spellbound, I see that one of the joys of parenting is not just watching you grow and change, but seeing how you cause your siblings to grow and change. It is fun to watch your antics, and it's fun to watch Levi respond to your antics, too. You affect all of us, and we love it. You have taught me a deeper meaning of family. The more members we add, the more we strengthen and change each other, and it's a beautiful thing. <br />
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So happy birthday, little lamb. May you know the Lord to be a shield around you, your glory and the lifter of your head. May your fearlessness lead you to do great things for the God who knows your name and made your eyes. I have great hopes for you, dear one, because of Christ.<br />
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All my love,<br />
mom<br />
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PS - I will do your "Year in Pictures" in another post! <br />
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-9854139975688740102012-11-06T20:11:00.000-06:002012-11-06T20:11:13.328-06:00To my Levi, on his Third BirthdayDearest Levi,<br />
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The older you get, the more amazing you become. With your astonishing vocabulary has come a beautiful depth of emotion, and now you have words to express your frustration, sadness, joy, and pride. You are alternately silly and sweet, vibrant and vulnerable, marvelous and maddening. It is disorienting to realize you're developing your own opinions. These independent ideas are fun when your imagination skyrockets, and you decide to give everyone in the family train names; but they make life hard when you decide you don't want to listen to our directions.<br />
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And on top of all these changes, you've become a big brother, a role you have embraced with great relish. Your love for Shields Lee is evident, even when he frustrates you. How you delight in making him giggle and encouraging him in his development. It makes my heart so happy to hear you cheer for him, and my prayer is that throughout your lives, you will continue to celebrate him, even as we all celebrate you.<br />
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This year has been one of transition for our family, and we have indeed asked a lot of you. From sharing your parents with a sibling to relocating to ditching diapers, you've experienced a lot of changes this year. But you know what? You've been incredible with everything we've thrown at you.<br />
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Thank you, Levi Smith, for being so sweet, for keeping me humble, and for making us smile. We love you so much.<br />
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-13284425287730373322012-09-24T20:06:00.000-05:002012-09-24T20:06:03.533-05:00Fowler Family BandYes, I said I was taking a break from this blog, but this story was too fun to not share.<br />
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This afternoon as I fastened Levi into his car seat, he began talking about playing the guitar. Upon further investigation, I discovered that Levi has an entire plan for our family band. It goes something like this: <br />
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Levi: Guitar<br />
Shields Lee: Violin<br />
Mom: Drums<br />
Dad: Guitar and Vocals<br />
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It seems like all we need now is a name. Rock on.<br />
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-15073952691351518292012-09-22T21:04:00.001-05:002012-09-22T21:04:41.985-05:00Summer RecapI've been hesitant to publish life details on the blog this summer, but it will do me and you, dear reader, some good to back it up, write it down, and move on. So, here is our summer recap.<br />
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On Memorial Day weekend, we had some major events happen. First, Lindon preached at a church where we believed there would be a need for a interim pastor, or at least a need for weekly. Turns out, the church was not in a position to talk with Lindon about either of those things. We had hoped this position could be Lindon's transition to pastoral ministry, but at this point it will offer, at best, an occasional chance to preach.<br />
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Before we had a chance to be disappointed about that, Lindon got a phone call from a friend offering him a job in sales. While the job description and salary sounded very interesting, the catch (of course!) was that for the first three months, Lindon would need to work out of the company's office in Lock Haven, about 3 hours from here. After lengthy discussions and a bit of moaning (by me, of course!) about why things could never be easy, we decided that Lindon should take the job. He started July 2.<br />
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In late June, we traveled down to Tennessee for Fowler Family vacation. We discovered that vacationing with small children is exhausting, but loads of fun - especially when there is lots of cousin time and gorgeous mountains.<br />
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In July, Lindon started his new job. We also had Shields baptized and celebrated a few birthdays. Lindon was in his friend Matt's wedding, too. And we got to see the Loaneys, some precious friends from St. Louis who came to the area for Matt's wedding. It was a joy to reconnect with them, even if it was just for an evening.<br />
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In August, my sister got married, and we traveled with Lindon to Lock Haven for a week. Lock Haven is gorgeous, and being there felt peaceful and rejuvinating. We brought along the double stroller and walked everywhere, exploring the many parks and playgrounds throughout this darling town. Every day I thought to myself, "I could definitely live here!" When I saw the Lock Haven Jaycees temple for sale right on the riverfront, I began scheming how we could purchase it and turn it into a Reformed church right in that lovely college town...<br />
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In late July Lindon learned that one of his former classmates urgently needed a place in St. Louis to live. And we had such a place! So now we have tenants for our house, and we are now looking for our own place to live. This process has been emotional, but knowing we are getting close to once again having our of space is comforting. We are so grateful to our families for letting us stay with them for eight months, and we want to show our gratitude by not overstaying our welcome!<br />
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And that, along with lots of trips to the parks, learning to hit a ball with a bat, and figuring out how to crawl, pretty much summarizes our summer.<br />
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So now that we have all of that written down, I plan to take a little break from posting on this blog. There are other things that demanding my attention, so it's better that I not even put this on my to-do list. Hopefully I can still post photos of the boys from time to time, but my longer posts will be gone for a while. But fear not. I will return when life calms down a little bit.<br />
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Don't laugh.The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-7450796162033520632012-09-22T20:35:00.003-05:002012-09-22T20:35:37.736-05:00Moments like ThisIn July I got an evite that made my heart sink. It was an invitation to attend the Missouri Presbytery's installation service for our precious friend Charlie. In layman's terms, this means Charlie had completed the intense, extensive requirements for ordination and was going to be ordained as a minister of the Gospel in the Presbyterian Church in America. Basically, this is a big deal. It represents a lot of effort on Charlie's part and a lot of sacrifice for Charlie and his family (a LOT of sacrifice!).<br />
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And since Charlie and his wife Courtney were some of our dearest St. Louis friends (who we miss very much!), Lindon and I wanted so badly to be able to see the ordination service in person and rejoice with them. Knowing there was no possible way for us to go made me sad. It made me miss St. Louis and those special moments we spent with friends, moments when we could support and love each other because we had no family around to support and love us.<br />
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But that same weekend when Charlie was being ordained in St. Louis, we had a lot going on here in Pennsylvania. Friday marked two family birthdays, my father's and my nephew Avery. Avery turned two. Dad...didn't. And while we couldn't be in St. Louis, we could be here, with Avery and Dad, on their birthdays, for the first time in ages. For Avery it was the first time ever. Being able to give him his gift ON his birthday weekend and to snap photos of him opening his gifts was such a joy. Was it mass chaos to have three small boys in the same room with wrapping paper? Absolutely. But so worth it.<br />
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On that same Sunday when Charlie was ordained, we had a special ceremony of our own. In front of our biological family and church family in Slippery Rock, Dad baptized Shields Lee. It was a sweet moment, and I was so grateful to have so many family members around to witness the event. Afterward we had a luncheon at my parents' house, though Shields slept through the whole thing.<br />
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It was an exhausting weekend, but so much fun. And somewhere in the middle of cousins running through the house, it hit me that THESE are the moments that make me glad we live near family. Having their support and love is a joy and privilege, and I am grateful for the ways they can love on my and Lindon and the wee ones.<br />
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So while we couldn't stand by Charlie and Courtney and their two boys, we still thank the Lord for them and for the moments when we can draw support from the amazing peole God has put in our lives.The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-14594744269944112882012-09-04T20:25:00.001-05:002012-09-04T20:25:32.479-05:00Two boys, one mirror<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is such a treat when I can catch Shields Lee discovering the things I once caught Levi discovering...like a mirror in a hallway.</div>
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Shields Lee, September 2012</div>
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Levi, August 2010</div>
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<br />The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-6208203927132074202012-08-29T20:05:00.002-05:002012-08-29T20:05:44.782-05:00The Wedding, Part 2If you suspect that my grainy iPhone photos might not do justice to my sister's wedding, you're right. They don't. But the photographer's pictures do!<br />
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One of the fun elements of KK's wedding was knowing the photographer from our days as English majors at Grove City. Emily and her husband Jake took gorgeous photos, and Emily's synopsis of the wedding is spot on.<br />
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See Emily's take on the big day <a href="http://www.willajphotographyblog.com/2012/08/katherine-craig-wexford-pa-wedding.html">here.</a><br />
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<br />The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-4229473745499258132012-08-22T21:01:00.001-05:002012-08-22T21:01:33.096-05:00The Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the best parenting decisions my parents ever made was when they decided that, despite the fact that they had two daughters who were close in age and not exactly enough bedrooms for all of the kids and a darling set of bunk beds, my sister and I did NOT need to share a room. Because every second we spent sharing a room was a second spent in a warzone. </div>
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The older I get, the more I see that in many ways my sister and I are as different as two people can be while still coming from the same two parents. She likes people and can have a conversation with anyone while I dislike small talk. She played volleyball all the way through college and even won the college division championship while I gave up volleyball in 10th grade to devote more attention to... marching band. I got a degree in English while Katherine probably hasn't cracked a book since college. She's a nurse; I'm a writer. She tans beautifully. I don't. </div>
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But our differences mattered so very little Friday night when KK, arrayed in white (and pink), pledged to be a loving and faithful wife to Craig. What mattered at that moment was seeing so many prayers answered and so many hopes fulfilled. What mattered was her being surrounded by friends and family and celebrating the Lord bringing together two people who are different, yet work together beautifully. Three people, actually. For now in Craig, little Avery has his father. </div>
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The whole wedding weekend was busy, eventful, exhausting, emotional, and fun. It was a delight to introduce Shields Lee and Levi to special friends we have known at different seasons of life. And those boys were simply amazing with all we asked of them. Lindon officiated his very first wedding, too. As I continue to reflect (and marvel at the fact that my own wedding was nearly eight years ago!), I am just so thankful for God's goodness and faithfulness in the life of my family. </div>
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And this little guy? He looked darling in his seer sucker suit! Really, he looks darling in anything, but this suit was too cute. And he matched cousin Avery. He kept calling it his "swim suit." </div>
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-16447823921565102782012-08-08T18:51:00.000-05:002012-08-08T18:51:35.555-05:00Olympic Junkie[Prologue: I found this blog post when reviewing my unpublished drafts. I wrote this two and a half years ago, but these sentiments are just as true now as they were then...except instead of ice skating, Lindon now watches beach volleyball and gymnastics with only a minor hint of disinterest. And those commercials! Between P&G's "Proud supporter of moms" campaign and GE's commercial about donating incubators for premature babies, the emotions don't let up when the athletics calm down. I am definitely an Olympic junkie. As Visa keeps telling me, Go World!]<br />
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For the past two months the following exchange has occurred countless times at my house:<br />
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[Commercial for the Olympics appears on NBC]<br />
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Me: I cannot wait for the Olympics.<br />
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Lindon: Oh really. Do you like the Olympics?<br />
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M: I LOVE the - oh, I say this a lot don't I?<br />
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L: Yes.<br />
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M: Sorry! I just really like the Olympics.<br />
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L: I know.<br />
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M: I don't really say it that much, do I?<br />
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L: Yes.<br />
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M: Shoot. Sorry. I'll try to not repeat myself so much... I just really like the Olympics!<br />
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My enthusiasm for the Olympics is no secret. I remember watching the 1992 Olympics and wanting so badly to be a gymnast like Kim Zmeskal or Shannon Miller. Unfortunately, by age 8 I had already surpassed the ideal height for Olympic gymnasts. Bummer.<br />
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Despite my all-around lack of athleticism, I love the sportsmanship of the Olympics. The warm fuzzies of the world being united by athletic competition for two weeks every two years suck me in and keep me transfixed. Watching makes me feel a connection to people all over the world. The athletes' stories are compelling to me, and it is so exciting to watch talented people achieve their lifelong dreams. And thanks to my hungry baby, I have had more opportunities to watch the world compete this time than during previous competitions. So nearly every night I have watched a portion of the games. It's been awesome! <br />
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Not surprisingly, my better half does not share my intense, repetitive enthusiasm for the Games of the Olympiad. He claims to not really care, even goes so far as to say they are not really that interesting! And yet he watches with me without putting up much fight. Any objections he might raise at first seem to disappear the moment the athletes begin to do their thing. In fact, he has begun to say things like, "Ok, I have to keep watching to see Apollo Ohno," or "I want to watch Shaun White!" Though he refuses to tolerate a qualifying race, he will watch nearly anything when a medal is on the line (even figure skating!). While desperately trying to maintain his facade of apathy, Lindon is slowly converting to an Olympic enthusiast.<br />
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The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-80940340828565874452012-07-17T18:59:00.000-05:002012-07-17T18:59:03.351-05:00To My House on LibertyAs we prepared to list our house, our agent asked us to fill out some questionnaires to help market the house. I answered questions about what I loved most about the house, features of our area that I liked, and favorite memories of our house. As you might imagine, simple paperwork became a trip down memory lane that ended in a flood of tears.<br />
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Even though our house is still on the market, I thought it time to publish some fond memories of that place. Inspired by another blogger who is saying goodbye to her house, I thought I would write a farewell post to my sweet St. Louis house. <br />
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Dear House on Liberty,</div>
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Admittedly, we were not looking for you when you came into our lives. Lindon and I had not had any conversations about purchasing a house in St. Louis. But apartment life felt so limiting, especially for Nash, and when we regularly walked by your gigantic yard, suddenly home ownership felt like the most natural thing. </div>
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And when I saw your stained glass, rounded archways, and beautiful floors, owning you seemed even more appealing. But behind your initial appeal was a house that needed some help reaching its potential. Lindon poured so much into you - insulating you, freshening your walls with paint, replacing crumbling siding, making your kitchen beautiful and functional, expanding your welcome with a deck. </div>
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You were the site of so many sweet memories. New Year's Eve parties, backyard barbecues, birthday parties, graduation parties, and all manner of informal gatherings with friends. Laughter and cheer echoed through you. When we brought our first two children home from the hospital, we brought them to you. </div>
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Were you perfect? No. As Levi gained mobility, you seemed to shrink. Your bright windows let in an awful lot of heat in the summer and cold in the winter. And the beautiful floors that echoed with laughter when friends came over also echoed with baby cries, even when we tried to avoid them. </div>
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But you were our home, and we loved you. Our departure was horribly unceremonious, with me having the stomach flu and Levi being weepy (not about leaving you), and Lindon having a headache from not eating anything since he had to finish packing and deal with weepy Levi with no help from me.</div>
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So, this letter is to say thank you. Thank you for being our home for five years. You were the site of treasured memories, and we will not forget you. During our stay within your walls we went from a family of 2 (with a dog) to a family of 4 (with a dog). </div>
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What we want now is to hand you off to someone else who for whom you can be the site of happy memories. This is our prayer.</div>
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But no matter what happens, we will always be grateful for how you served our family so well during our time in St. Louis.</div>
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Affectionately yours,</div>
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<br />The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-23731504240596380962012-07-11T20:46:00.000-05:002012-07-11T20:46:14.103-05:00A Few Photos for You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This photo embodies much of our life at this moment. Levi talks while Shields smiles. Levi talks about everything. Shields smiles about everything. Even the blurriness seems to fit life right now.</div>
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Levi loves to interact with Shields, but since the interactions still involve so much boisterous enthusiasm on Levi's part, they also involve a lot of supervision on my part so as to not end in Shields being terrified or injured. That can get tiring, so I cherish the rare chance to capture moments when they are just together. And Levi isn't talking. </div>
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Though I somehow missed the connection when I took this picture, it hits me now how much Levi resembles Lindon here. The body position, the hair, the expression on his face, the plaid shirt, the hat. At moments Levi really does look like a mini-Lindon.</div>
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While this is not a glamorous cover, I have enjoyed reading these brief interviews with Southern writer and historian Shelby Foote. </div>
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I will write more later about what we have been doing and how we have been doing, but until then, enjoy the pictures!</div>The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-27907441212126141782012-06-28T14:44:00.003-05:002012-06-28T14:44:43.193-05:00Is the irony wearing off?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this year Lindon's parents graciously invited us on a Fowler family vacation to the Smoky Mountains. As soon as we agreed to go, I began to worry about the week. </div>
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With four families, seven kids, and eight hours in the car (with a mostly-potty-trained child who still needs some monitoring), there were plenty of reasons to be anxious. Add to that the stress of the first vacation with two kids and trying to get Shields to sleep through the night, and I was a total train wreck. </div>
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To cope with my anxiety, I made lists. Lots of them. Things to pack for Shields, things to occupy Levi in the car, things to do to prepare to occupy Levi in the car, things to eat, things to do once we got there, and timelines for when I wanted to complete all of the aforementioned lists. It was list mania. </div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TjVc1gQe8HE/T-oA2vOrzlI/AAAAAAAAA7E/zJgYNcYrcKw/s1600/blogger-image--570836422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TjVc1gQe8HE/T-oA2vOrzlI/AAAAAAAAA7E/zJgYNcYrcKw/s320/blogger-image--570836422.jpg" width="320" /></a>And then came last Sunday, the day that we left for the much-anticipated vacation. Eight hours in the car turned into 10, and when we arrived, we entered a scene of merry, stir-crazy chaos that made me want to curl up in the fetal position. And even though I had made a list for every scenario I could envision, there was an entire realm of factors that had not crossed my consciousness because I had never vacationed with children. In the first five minutes, I had written the week (and myself) off as a total failure. </div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UC1MBG4rO3M/T-obJGjRq8I/AAAAAAAAA7c/d5D3AMs-F4o/s640/blogger-image--1267541133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UC1MBG4rO3M/T-obJGjRq8I/AAAAAAAAA7c/d5D3AMs-F4o/s320/blogger-image--1267541133.jpg" width="320" /></a>But then something happened. On Monday we had breakfast at Chick-Fil-A and enjoyed lots of quality time at the pool. On Tuesday Lindon and I took our kids on a hike. Lindon carried Levi in the borrowed backpack (or just carried him), and I wore Shields in the Baby Bjorn. We had a great time and even got a glimpse of a bear. The little cousins were getting along, the older cousins were oh-so-helpful, and the grownup time was really refreshing. Suddenl I found myself relaxing and smiling. This failure of a vacation was turning into a very nice time. </div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ij213On2JJs/T-obLg-3lNI/AAAAAAAAA7s/hEOv5NmIgR8/s640/blogger-image-1394321323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ij213On2JJs/T-obLg-3lNI/AAAAAAAAA7s/hEOv5NmIgR8/s320/blogger-image-1394321323.jpg" width="212" /></a>On Friday we even joined everyone else on the strenuous 4-mile hike that I had initially ruled out as too much for our kids. I decided we probably could tag along, but we (I) certainly wouldn't be able to make it to the top. Then we made it to the base of the exposed rock outcrop that must be climbed to reach the summit, and I found myself thinking, "I'd like to pass Shields off to Lindon so I can climb higher." And then I voiced this desire to Lindon who gladly took Shields so I could climb. And THEN I found myself climbing an exposed rock outcrop to reach the top of <a href="http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/chimneytops/Chimneytops.htm" target="_blank">Chimney Tops</a> trail without once asking myself if it was a good idea. </div>
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And you know what? Of course you do. It was awesome, and I am incredibly glad I did it. All of it. I am glad we deprived Shields of a few morning naps and strapped him in the Baby Bjorn for some hikes. I am glad I carried that child on those hikes. I am glad we endured 10+ hours in the car each way with our kids. And I am glad I climbed that mountain without hesitating for a second.</div>
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It was worth it. All of it. So maybe, just maybe, the irony in this blog title is beginning to wear off and I am beginning to actually become a little fearless. Maybe the part of me that says "I will be glad I did this" is learning to holler over the part of me that says, "This is not part of the plan."</div>
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As the photos indicate, this was a great week. I am already thinking about when and where Lindon and I can take the kids for our next hike. At the end of the week Lindon cautiously asked if I might consider one day taking the kids on a camping trip out west. While I did not give him a hearty "yes," I am considering it. And for me, today, that is one step closer to fearless.</div>
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Note: All of these photos are borrowed from Lonnie and Sara Fowler. Thanks! </div>
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</div>The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-87301245273515652312012-06-14T14:58:00.001-05:002012-06-14T15:11:45.679-05:00The Sitter<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LlKitNaGEWs/T9pFgLQKWoI/AAAAAAAAA64/md0-mqrC_lA/s640/blogger-image--1396068813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LlKitNaGEWs/T9pFgLQKWoI/AAAAAAAAA64/md0-mqrC_lA/s640/blogger-image--1396068813.jpg" /></a></div>The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-339237354620345032012-06-09T08:06:00.001-05:002012-06-09T19:01:43.536-05:00Construction equipment working on our street and an impromptu tractor ride at the park make for a happy boy. <br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-trg75G3-QAk/T9NLEXPDZEI/AAAAAAAAA6A/4oM7oQrjjbo/s640/blogger-image--1580873162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-trg75G3-QAk/T9NLEXPDZEI/AAAAAAAAA6A/4oM7oQrjjbo/s400/blogger-image--1580873162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-13992670470378183052012-06-06T20:23:00.004-05:002012-06-07T20:05:27.380-05:00About Levi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Age: 2 years, 7 months</div>
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Occupation: Narrator, Imagineer</div>
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Interests: Adding words to his vocabulary, learning new songs, narrating the world, playing outside, making up stories, using his grandparents to stall at bedtime, playing anywhere, entertaining his brother, riding his bike, asking questions</div>
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Dislikes: Obeying (sometimes), sitting still, being quiet, waking up
from naps, going to the doctor, most vegetables, being gentle</div>
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Current Obsessions: Trains, construction equipment, cars, trucks, bicycles, Curious George, lawn tractors</div>
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Recent Accomplishment: Potty training, Consistently saying 'Please' and 'Thank You.'</div>
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Next Big Goal: Conquering the World</div>
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Favorite Phrases: "What's that?" "We go back to [some place he likes] SOME day. " "Mom, hold you, please [Meaning: Mom, hold me, please.]." "That's a good idea." "Shields is crying. I go check on him.""That would be terrible." "This is deeee-licious!"</div>
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Also, I love pictures like the two above because they show Levi in his natural state: eyes wide open (slightly smiling) observing the world, and mouth open in narration. At this moment he was watching the digger and the dump truck outside and telling me everything they did. This child's verbal skills astound me. </div>
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<br />The Fearless Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993306149815196141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340336183017094522.post-27416473524987641592012-06-06T20:06:00.002-05:002012-06-06T20:13:58.275-05:00About Shields Lee Age: 6 months <br />
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Occupation: Bundle of Joy<br />
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Hobbies: Gnawing on everything, drooling, smiling, laughing at his brother, laughing at his parents, squealing, napping like a pro, sleeping through the (majority of, but not the entire) night, being sweet.<br />
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Recent Accomplishments: Rolling, eating solids<br />
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Next Big Goal: Sitting up unassisted<br />
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Dislikes: 5:20 pm until bedtime, prolonged periods in his car seat. <br />
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