OCTOBER!

We left home at the beginning of October for AGENDA events down South.
As many of you know, we have also been praying for Daddy's lungs
to get better, and the Lord worked out the details for us to leave town during
harvest season. We are considering many options and would love for you to
join us in praying for healing and direction! God has always been so very
faithful and we know He will continue to take care of everything.  

Several months ago the Lord graciously provided a different bus for us.
Since no Bowers departure would be complete without a great repair moment, 
this one included the last minute order and replacement of all eight batteries. :)

Home away from home. :)
One of the boys' favorite places to pass out tracts. Many amazing conversations. 

If you ever need a speaker, we highly recommend Daddy!
Grateful to dear friends who set up an entire week of events all over Alabama.

This boy looks like he's ready to twirl down the sidewalk and burst into song!

Great day visiting the George Washington Carver Museum!

G.W. Carver studied nature here and found hundreds of uses for the peanut and the sweet potato.

Our very own in house Carver is named for John Carver, first governor of 
Plymouth Plantation, and of course, for George Washington Carver!

Not all playgrounds have a tank like this!

Lovely thing about homeschooling is we can set up shop in the park... 

....or on the floor of the bus! :)

A week or two of crockpot dinners and veggie wraps eventually inspires us
to celebrate SOMETHING at the Cracker Barrel! 

Bowers children are definitely flexible, but naps on the tank. Fabulous.
We shall have to try this again. :)

Getting used to our houseful of big boys.

Ever grateful for energy burning opportunities! 

Serious leafy greens. :)

Hike at our favorite park in Columbia, TN.

Some children just need trees with vines to swing from!

More energy burning at a college practice field in MO.

Carver. Practicing his bus driving. Home education takes many forms. :)

Got to visit with this sweet neighbor on our way through Tennessee.

Working on yummy things for a shared meal after church. Note the signature series...second row. :)

Found this neat old tractor at a campground in AL.

Let's just say this moment was brief because... there is
 nothing quite like having a whole BUS full of backseat drivers!

Keeping the guys wrinkle free and spiffy. :)

Very fun time ice skating. Campbell was grateful to have a personal assistant.

Loved our afternoon with these friends from Texas and Alabama.

Swimming! Adorable girls.

A church where we showed the film had this really amazing white piano.
But still...our favorite Carver episode of sudden inspired hymn playing: Costco in Nashville. :)

Note to self. Avoid things with too many options. :)

Sometimes we still show the first film to groups that are totally new to our work.
This was a great event. Thankful to the Lord for providing each person who came.

Playing EMPIRE after church and lunch on Sunday.

The Daddies. Much to discuss.

Children's Play! Written by our dear friend Maggie. 70 children got together for lunch, practiced the play all afternoon and performed it after a Thanksgiving supper that night.
 Lines were sent out several weeks before and we all had a MARVELOUS time!

Desperate times, girls.

Backstage in the hall.

 A  house with 7 girls must have a pink jeep! Campbell was most grateful anyway.

Think this is what they call a Crawdad in the deep South. Quite glad no child got these pinchers!

Grown up visiting. Very fun.

Surprise! Celebrated Daddy's Birthday.

Sunglasses optional. :)

Wonderful historical walking tour all together in downtown Montgomery.

Boys' favorite perch is right next to Daddy.

Grilled burgers and ultimate frisbee before a Q & A event at this dear TN church. 

Our photographer thought this neck bending angle on the meeting was
 rather charming. Ha. :)

No trip to TN would be complete without visiting with these dear friends!

Yet another clan we know who plays that crazy little game called Dutch Blitz!
Fun visit with this dear family.

And these sweet sisters!

Wild and wooly game of tag between the brothers.

And continuing encouraging conversations between parents.
These amazing missionaries are such an inspiration to our family! 

Showing that film! :)

Boys' book table.

Seems someone is always eating around here!

And here, too! B'day party following a wonderful conference in North Carolina.

Hiking!! Love the Smoky Mountains, especially when the leaves are changing. Soo beautiful.

Leading a hymn sing. 3 hours. Very fun. :)

Loved time listening, learning and catching up with people we've met from all over the US!

Our other new bus driver, who definitely had the most driving time with the
 LEAST amount of exhortation (!) from his passengers.

 This trucker had an incredible life story.
Grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn from so many people.

Dates! Parents must have dates!  :)

Beautiful morning on the way home.

Traffic on Sunday night in Atlanta! One final reminder why we really LOVE being rural. :)
Praise the Lord for an amazing month of fellowship, ministry and working together.