Are you IN???

Our friends Carlos and Heather have a dear friend who has endured a very tragic life threatening accident. Some of you may have read about it elsewhere. Tomorrow the family is requesting a day of fasting in honor of the couples 10th wedding anniversary. Can you do it??? Are you willing to give up that "thing" that keeps you from the throne of our Savior. I know it is hard and I am not asking you to do this without giving up myself. I will be taking a fasting break from all things computer related. No blogging, no reading blogs, no personal emails, no twitter, facebook. None of it. I am really excited about it. I think I have needed to "unplug", if you will, for some time.



Read below what Carlos wrote

Hey guys.
This Friday is a special day.
It is Mark and Angie’s 10 year wedding anniversary!!!
So what a perfect time to give them a gift with eternal significance.
For everyone involved.
We are asking everybody to fast for God to work in this situation with Mark.
Healing. Comfort. Strength. Peace.
All those things and more.
What is fasting?
In the simplest form, it is giving up of something you desire to focus on God and His way.
So for you that may be food, drink, television, internet, phone calls, ect.
You choose.
Here are some good scriptures on fasting… Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18: 9-14.

So THIS FRIDAY, from 10 am until 10 pm, on Mark and Angie’s 10 Year Anniversary, we will focus all our attention of God and His work in this situation.

Let me know if you will join me. I won't be able to read your comments tomorrow but you know what, it can wait!!! Life is too short. Join me!!!!

What did you do today???

Here is what I did. I went on a crazy adventure with my brother. He got word of this crazy, auction on all this high end technology. Well I wake up at 6:30 to head out.

(Let me say in the words of my befri Brooke, "you don't get up at 6:30 for anything!!!).

Well to begin with I had to have cash to pay for my loot at this auction. I go to the ATM to pull out some cash. I get my "maximum". What I didn't know there was a cap on how much of MY money I could get out. This is really not cool.

Anyway I figure out how to get some more money and we head down to the "preview" site. We get to this office complex, head to the 8th floor, get off the elevator and hit a computer geeks Mecca. This place had high end computers, laptops, TV's, servers, mack daddy chairs, plasma TV's, external hard drives, internal hard drives, IP phones, Video servers.... the list goes on. To the tune of 561 items. I am here to tell you my mind was completely blown. Some of this stuff was so over my head. The place used to be some sort of Surveillance Company so they had all these cameras and what not. (If you read the Janet Evonovich books is reminded me of what Ranger's office in the Plum series would look like. Black, silver, sleek and $$$$$). The company was being liquidated by the bank and I was there to get a DEAL!!!

We "investigate" the items and head over the the "bid" site and it starts. It was totally what you would expect from an auction. Fast talking, fast paced, intimidating, and FUN. Out of the shoot I get a deal. Quickly I pick up this:

Did i NEED it probably not but hey, it's Christmas!!

Did I mention that this was online in real time as well.... My sweet, darling husband let me go to this and he stayed back with the miniature one. He wanted in on the action, so he logs on, tries to make sure his account is working and he sweeps up this baby for a whopping $25.00

I know, right it's a beauty. In my head as they are saying sold to online bidder # so and so I am thinking "who would pay $25.00 for that thing, who sends faxes anymore???", then I get a text from my man saying, "um, I think I just bought that fax machine on accident". Great, what are we gonna do with that (especially since we have one in the garage sale pile in the basement!!!)

Moving on. They get to the good stuff and I sweep up this new MacBook for about half of the cost.


Can you tell I am in heaven at this point!!! They go through some boring computer server stuff, I nod off for a bit, check my twitter, email, facebook, & TCB as my brother scoops up a Dell laptop, desktop and other items.

Then it comes, the moment. I found this huge recycling bin in one of the break rooms. It had a lovely hole in the top for cans (which we consume a few of on a daily basis). I am stoked, this puppy isn't getting away. So for $10.00 I get the bin (not seen in photo, a 33 gallon wheeled trashcan and the rest of the contents of the break room) Anyone need a coffee mug, can you say BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!???


Mark then wanted some flat screen monitors to go on the wall in his studio so I bid on this for him.

I then realized it was the wrong size. This is a 19" he wanted it bigger and in widescreen. (NOTE: you might want to take a look on ebay for this after Sunday as it will be up for auction!!!)

so I wait a few and score 2 of these instead


Not able to contain myself I pick up 2 of these at $25.00, my brother wanted one and I needed a family gift exchange for our Christmas party, best of all it meets the limit of $25.00!!!


To end my day I bid on item: 509. This is the prize to beat all prizes. In the auction list it states, "remaining contents of room, not already tagged". AWWW YEAH!!! I won a bunch of junk.


I get all the stuff on the counter, in the cabinets, on the floor, in the drawers. If I EVER have to buy another office supply it will be too soon. They had paper, envelopes, staplers, scissors, crap, crap, a hat, more crap, a trashcan.... you get the idea. I don't really know what is in there, but come Sunday when I pick it up and load it into boxes, we shall see. Don't worry it will be well documented for those sitting on the edge of your seat. Do i hear ANOTHER BLOG GIVEAWAY???

It was a great day, we got some great deals, had fun, experienced something new, and mostly I spent an ENTIRE day with my brother and that was worth any of the money I spent. I would pay 10X that just to be with him. It was a special memory. Can't wait till the next one!!! Hope they don't offer any FAX machines.

****You notice I left the link for the auction site out. That if for a reason. If you know about it you might bid against me and well, nothing comes between me and shopping- of ANY KIND!

Abbie's Christmas Greeting

I just love my little girl.  She has the most fun!!!

  
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Abbie Jingle Bells.aiff (282 KB)

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My new BUDDY!!

Meet baby Levi. He is wonderful. I have had the pleasure of coming to Florida and helping these new parents out. It has been wonderful. Thanks to my sweet husband for being full time daddy of a couple of days. I am going home in a few days and I will miss this little boy until I get to see him again. I know he will be loved on by the rest of his family and friends that are so excited to meet this little dude. We are so happy he is here and happy and healthy and just the cutest ever.

Answer #2

Traci Ward said...
Where do you like to shop? Do you have a fave label or line? Shopping. WOW. What a problem I have in this area. I LOVE to shop. Funny thing is that my mom HATES to shop. My daddy- we are kindred spirits in this area. I would have to say that he gave me my love for "finer" things. I really like nice quality things. My father always had really great suits and ties and I would often go shopping with him. It was a favorite of ours. Now since he is retired and doesn't have to dress up we love to go to outlet malls together. My mom just refuses to go. It is our daddy/daughter time!!
Back to the question, My favorite stores are: Anthropologie, Bloomingdales and anything boutique and original. As far as "brands" go I really love Joe's Jeans for good denim, Free People is a great funky hobo chic brand that I like. I like BCBG and Nanette Lepore. Anything designer makes me drool, but most of the time I just "look and don't touch!!!" I do have my limits!!! I do enjoy the great finds at Forever 21 and Target. Cheap is not always the best quality but very fun. If it is cute and stylish I will go for it!

Where did you get those divine black knee boots I saw you in last winter? :) I really don't know b/c I have like 3 pairs but either DSW (where all shoe lovers should go), Nordstrom (I am also a major SHOE SNOB!!!) or Target- gotta love a bargain.

Answer 1

I am beginning to answer all of your questions. Some of you have the same question so I will only respond once if I can remember that I have answered it that is.

SirMax said...
Which part of Hawaii? We went to Maui for 4 days and Oahu 4 days. It was wonderful
Have you ever been? I went once before when I laid over there when we were coming home from Australia

Okay what would I like to ask? Do you like to read? Yes, I like to read. It has become harder with the birth of my two girls. My problem is when I get hooked on a book, I can't put it down. I have been known to pick up a book and then 8 hours later be done with it. I am a fast reader and I do actually comprehend what I am reading (little note, it REALLY ticks my husband off b/c he is SLOW reader!!!)

If so, who? I am a little ashamed to answer. I really love alot of the British Lit. The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. I am totally addicted to the Janet Evanovich books (the Stephanie Plum series), I will read ANYTHING by John Grisham, I like Mary Kay Andrews (she writes about Southern folks). Most of these are not what you would call "good" books. They make me laugh but they don't have the best "morals" shall we say. I have made a resolution to start reading Christian Fiction. What goes in comes out right??? I used to read it "back in the day" but it was a bit cheesy and too Prairie Home Companion for me. Now I hear there are some great authors out there. Time to get back on it.

I like to get other's opinions about authors and then check them out for myself.

Oh...have a GREAT time!

11/22/2008 8:46 PM

Great question and hope I satisfied your curiosity!!!

BABY MAMA

I know I owe you some answers to questions but this just happened and I HAD to blog. I just posted this at my friends blog. Please Pray!!!

SHE'S HAVING A BABY!!!
Hello friends, my name is Stephanie and I am taking over the Cowen blog for a few days. You see, today December 3 at around 10 PM, Brooke and BJ got "the call". How appropriate and what a sense of humor our Lord has. Brooke lays it out there in her last post and BAM!!! Most of you will not see this until after Levi is born. He is due to become a Cowen around 1 AM on 12/4. BJ had predicted 12/3 so not a bad guess.


Brooke and BJ are driving down to Tampa as I type. Brooke asked me to keep everyone up to date. So here goes.

10 PM- Brooke calls saying Ashley's water broke and she is standing in the closest and doesn't know what to do.
10:01 PM- I jump online to book flights for them and realize that the last flight out leaves at 10:30 PM.
10:15 PM- Brooke calls back and we run down what she needs to take with her. (See she was having a shower her at my house on Sunday and would hopefully "get" what she needed. )
10:20 PM- I begin frantically searching for car seat, pack n play, moses basket, diapers, bottles, wipes, mylicon, passies, alchohol swabs (for umbilical cord), powder, diaper cream, blankets, clothes..... (thankfully I have a 4 month old and she has just gotten out of all the "newborn" things so we are good to go!!!!)
10:37 PM- BJ arrives and gets a crash course on baby equipment. Hugs, I LOVE YOU'S and off he goes
10:50 PM- I call Brooke and run over all the stuff b/c I think BJ will not remember, then realize, neither will Brooke... oh well....
12:31 AM- I am sitting here blogging and praying with all my heart that in a few days I will get to kiss Levi on the head, tell him I love him and that he can't ever look at another woman b/c my Kitty is his girl!!!!

Please when you read this drop to your knees and pray for this family. The NEEDS ARE HUGE. I know many have done all they can but if you have even $20.00 to spare hit the donate now button and let's not make finances be the reason that Levi can't come home. I KNOW the Lord will provide, but I also know there is a true need.

Also, pray specifically for Ashley's heart. Let it love Levi so much that she knows with everything in her that this baby was destined to become a Cowen. He is so loved and will be so well cared for. Sadly, she is not at the point in life that she can do this.

The next 48 hours will be bittersweet. They will be joyous, stressful and chaotic. Let's give the Cowen's our love via emails, comments and facebook messages. I will do my BEST to keep this blog updated for those in the virtual world.

Know you are loved and appreciated for your support during this time. The roller coaster is not over, but man we have climbed the last hill and we are about to come flying down. Stomach's queasy and then it will be over. What a ride it has been!!!!

FROG