Whose Birthday Came Yesterday??

My sweet baby boy was 21 yesterday!! I am so sorry I didn't get around to giving him the "Tribute Blog"!!!

He has definitely been a blessing in our lives!! Dad loved him with all his heart and was very protective of him. When I would lose my cool with Ryan's irresponsibility and want to give him a piece of my mind, Mike wouldn't let me. Sometimes I slipped and did it anyway but Mike would shame me about it. I know Ryan will miss those periodic calls to warn him of pending disasters on the highway!

I remember so well when I realized that I was going to have another child. I knew instantly it was going to be a boy. I don't know why I knew that but I did.

He was completely different from the other two. Perhaps he was a "Bowden"!!! He was much more open with his feelings. Sometimes that was good and sometimes that was bad. I used to comment that there was no middle ground for him. He was either really happy or really sad.

He was my baby and was a "cuddly" one at that. All you have to do is look at all the family pictures to see that he was loved by all.

We had our times, didn't we Ry!! Remember all the belts hanging on the doors to get cooperation from you!!!

Remember when you came in that day and told me that you needed to ask Jesus in your heart? We kneeled at that big brown chair and you prayed your sweet little prayer. I remember your going out with your little bible and telling Steve and Jonathan how they could go to heaven. You were only 4 and already a soul-winner!

Remember those traumatic services at church...well, maybe you don;t but I do!!! You cried EVERY time I left you in the nursery or junior church until you were 5 years old.

Remember watching "Benjy the Hunted" over and over and over and over!! Remember the little toy dog collection I found at Aldi's that you played with and imagined all around my bed.

I remember the times you rode with me back and forth to pick the kids up from school when we knew every dog in every fence along the way.

I remember homeschooling. That was a trip!!!! Not sure we would either one want to relive that but there were some good things that went on. Especially when we video homeschooled. Remember our train trip to Texas. I think that was one of my favorite memories. Remember that I dropped my billfold as we were boarding the train and some old man found it and had it returned to me. Wasn't God's protection so real!!! Remember the sound of that train whistle as we jostled along in the night in our private sleeper car!!! So neat!!!

I remember the third grade forest project. Didn't we have fun with that one!! I still have that video of your resulting book report.

Now you are a man! I look forward to seeing what you do with your life. Remember I will always be praying for you and encouraging you to give everything to the Lord. Just remember Dad's funeral and that will help you. He did so many things in his life that caused him stress but he did them for the glory of the Lord. And wasn't it so evident how many lives he had touched by doing so. Please use him for an example of how to live your life.

I love you with all my heart!!! Happy 21st Birthday!!!!

Your life verse that you picked out yourself!!!

Philippians 3:10
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."