Backing Up to Baseball

 For the sake of this being my online recollection of the Owen family life, I must back up to Mason's 2012 baseball season.  In Alabama, they have middle school baseball teams but because we arrived at the end of February, tryouts had already taken place and being on the team was not an option for Mason.  So he had to wait around for Sylcauga Rec league to start up which was in May.  He was put on the Marlins team and knew several of his teammates from school.

I will confess that this season was a huge challenge for us.  As great of a pitcher as Mason is, they never gave him a chance to pitch until the 7th (out of 9 games total) game!  He pitched an awesome game and showed them what he had.  He started every game in center field and did  great job.  They had an ending tournament and he pitched another game but they took him out when we had a nice lead and then we lost lead and got beaten.  Up until then, we were tied with another team as 1st place for the season.

The season seemed very short but during this time, he was also trying out for basketball and practicing basketball, trying out for the high school baseball team, and doing football workouts!  Some days he had all 4 things going, one right after the other!

Mason is one tough kiddo but he sure misses the comradorey of his Bayfield teams.  It was the same group of boys on his football, baseball, and basketball team.  Here it's different kids on each team.  It will take a little getting use to.  I am so proud of how he's transitioned here (against his will) without the rebellious attitude that he could have had.  We're hoping one day he'll forgive us and embrace being a Sylacauga Aggie!

SUMMER 2012

WOW!  Summer 2012 is coming to a close next week and it has been a crazy busy yet wonderful summer!  We began the summer with VBS the first week of June as we did "Courage in Captivity: Babylon" as we studied how Daniel trusted God through all his trials.

This is a picture at the kick off.  I hate I didn't take a picture of how the gym was decorated as the Bablyon Marketplce but Jane did awesome job and Mike made a fantastic Daniel!

July hit and Mason traveled to Colorado...alone.  It's was a tough week on the ol' mom's heart but he made it back safely and I am so glad that is over and behind us. 

Then I got to spend a week with this crew at CENTRIFUGE!

Centrifuge is a discipleship youth camp and we attended the one in Jackson, TN.

  It was a very uplifting week and I was so proud to see how God worked and moved in this boy...

Then the next week we got spend time with this crew at Student Life for Kids.....



It was for children 3-6 grades and it was a fantastic week for the kids to grow and learn more about how BIG our God really is!

This kid loved every minute of it and I was proud to see God moving in his life as well!

If you get a chance to take your kid to camp, it is worth every minute you sacrifice to be there and every dime you sacrifice to get them there because it is an unforgettable life experience!

New Family Members

We had to leave behind our cat "Socks" when we left Colorado because I was not about to travel 3 days with a cat.  So we promised Haven a new kitten in Alabama but because I don't like for them to be lonely, we got 2...........

Meet Bama and BB......and meet a very happy little girl

Colton's Graduation

My brother Robby's oldest child, Colton, graduated from Sylacauga High School on May 22nd!
CONGRATULATIONS COLTON!

I was very thankful that we were here and could be a part of his special day.   Patti threw an awesome after graduation party at their house.  And we got to see Hannah, Haidee, Hallie, and Kerry!

 Nuna came up for the whole week to help out Patti and spend some time with her grandchildren....

 It was short visit with H, H, & H and I had to get these dramatic goodbyes on film!

We are very happy for you Colton and pray that your life will be full of happiness and success!

SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA!!

We live 1 hour and 45 minutes from Six Flags so we bought season tickets!

We went on Memorial Day and the weather was perfect and the lines were not long. 

It was perfect!

Look who won 2 huge stuffed animals with one chance at Bazooka Blast!

It's going to be a fun summer!

Landon's Blessing

On May 22nd, my Landon completed his time in elementary school and graduated from the 5th grade.  (My heart hurts a little as I write this!)  Where has the time gone? 
This picture is before the graduation started.  They are standing in front of Nichols-Lawson Middle School, the school Mason is finishing and Landon will be starting.

The graduation service was very well done but what was such a blessing was that Landon was chosen for the Star award in his class!  One girl and one boy is chosen from each class and Landon got it! 

Another reason Landon hated to leave Bayfield besides finishing his year as Student Council President, is that he wanted to see if he would be chosen for Citizen of the Year.  While that is something that his teacher chooses, the Star award is voted on by the students and then the teacher has to approve it.  How exciting that was for us to see God blessing his move to Alabama!

He also got the Presidental Academic Excellence Award for his all A's and an All A award.  He finally got some recognition for all his hard work.  Bayfield does not give academic awards out until 5th grade so he hasn't gotten any award since 1st grade when he was at Parkside.

This is Landon's teacher, Mrs. Harmon

And I was very happy that his Nuna was here for the graduation....

This is Landon with his best friend Max and Max's big brother Brooks

It's kind of neat that his best friend in Bayfield's name is Max and his best friend here is Max.  Not that they replace each by any means but it just seems that God is showing him that if we are faithful to obey, He is faithful to bless us...even in friendships!

CONGRATULATIONS LANDON!!

So Long Kindergarten!

Amazing how fast the school seems to pass by.......

Seems I just posted this picture of her first day at Kindergarten

And now she is an official KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE!

They have 8 Kindergarten classes so they broke up the graduation into 2 days so this is 4 classes performing together

They sang some really cute songs and then received their little "diplomas"

Look at the screen behind them and you can see Haven on the screen and her answers to her "favorites".

This is her classmates

And her teacher Mrs. Heath....

 Congratulations my Haven!  You learned so much this year and survived a move and change in schools beautifully!  We love you!