Gowin Family Blog

When you’re young you get the opportunity to chances that come less frequently as you age. Things like going to Japan or Russia for a couple months, or doing a road trip to New York City to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square. For a number of reasons, these kinds of things get harder to do when you have to work, take care of kids, pay bills, etc.

In 1975 a photographer had the opportunity to ride on a train from Louisville to San Francisco. Not just any train: this was the Ringling Brothers Circus train. And he was invited to ride in the clown car.

Did he take it?

The title sorta gives it away.

The Worst Photographic Mistake I Ever Made

Today I (Suzanne) was coloring with Erin and Liam, and Erin was frustrated that her page wasn’t looking as good as mine. I told her that the main difference was that she was doing it very quickly and that I was taking my time. I reminded her of the Col. 3:23 verse: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” We took that time to talk about how we should try to do our best at everything we do, like we were coloring for the Lord, not just to show off to others. We said the verse a couple times and Erin expounded on it—talking of other instances where we try to do our best, not just to show off for others. I could see she was “getting it.”

A few minutes later, Liam and I finished the picture we were doing together and he asked, “Mom, can we keep this picture forever and ever till we are dead?” “Why, Buddy?” “Because I want to give it to Jesus when I die.”

The kids are on spring break this week so we’d planned to visit the Discovery Museum yesterday. Liam has been asking to do this for months. Some friends have a daughter in the hospital in Springfield, however, so we adjusted our day to spend some time with them.

We met at the hospital and took their older kids with us to the Jungle O Fun. It’s one of those tube/slide/net/ball places that runs about two stories high. All told, the kids played together for more than four hours. Personally, I’d have lost interest after about 20 minutes–but I’m not six.

Four hours of play takes its toll–the two girls didn’t last for the ride home.

A few more photos here.

Brian joined us for lunch and the afternoon. He appreciated the diversion, I’m sure, but is worn out (as is Chantell) from all they’ve endured in the last two weeks. Please keep this dear family in prayer.

Most mornings follow a predictable pattern:

1. Liam gets up (6:15-6:30)
2. Liam walks into our room, goes to Suzanne’s side of the bed.
3. Asks, “Mom, can I watch TV?”
4. Response: “Go to the bathroom and then you can watch TV.”
5. Liam heads downstairs, does his bathroom business, turns on the TV.

Nearly every day is like this. Exceptions occur rarely, and mostly because something else is going on–like we need to go somewhere and we’re up earlier than usual. But, again, this doesn’t happen often.

Today should have been like any other day.

For some reason, today was different.

I was lying awake in bed when Liam got up, and he didn’t come into our room. Not typical. Instead, he was poised at the top of the stairs. He appeared to be thinking about what to do next.

“What are you doing, Bud?” I ask.

He walks into the room, over to my side of the bed.

“Dad, can we eat breakfast together, you and me?”

I’m groggy, puzzled. “Why do you want to do that?”

“‘Cause sometimes we do that. Can we, Dad?”

What am I going to say? No?

“Sure, Bud. We’ll have breakfast together. You and me.”

As I mentioned the other day, Suzanne and I have logged eleven years together. To celebrate, we spent an overnight at the Mark Twain Hotel in Peoria. Here are a couple views from our ninth-floor room.

And a view from the window light in our room.

Though it had rained much of the morning and almost the entire drive up to Peoria, the rain stopped after our arrival, allowing us a chance to stroll up and down the riverfront for a few hours.

We enjoyed a great dinner at the newly reopened River Station on Friday night. Our server, Julie, had just completed her training the previous week and we were her very first table. She did an excellent job–she was attentive, personable, and courteous.
We spent Saturday stopping in at a couple garage sales, visiting some parks around town, talking, reading, relaxing.
It was really nice to spend time bumming around, no particular destination, no agenda, no pressure. A very relaxing weekend. And yes, I was there–those are my feet above.