Sunday, April 22, 2012

friend.

I have learned and I have grown in this adult version of myself in many ways I wouldn't have predicted. Hurts and praises. Babies and death. Betrayal and love. In the last four years the path R.Jay and I ventured out on as newlyweds, over seven years ago, took a whole new route. Not a day goes by I don't count my blessings for that unclear, bumpy new route and one specific soul that crossed our family's new path.

See, I have this friend. A best friend. A friend I wondered for years if she might surface in my life. It almost feels too much. An incredible husband? Two beautiful, healthy, wonderful children? And now this amazing friend, Lord? Blessing overload. But I'll take it. Every bit of it. The good, the bad, and even the scary moments. Let me tell you why...

My friend is constant. In four years she hasn't let me down with this character trait. She holds her ground in her faith and in her family with a strength I sometimes envy.

She is loving. She gives far more often than she receives.

Her humility is catching and she wears a smile of transparency in her life. She's the real deal.

When she says she's praying for me. She really is. A lot.

She listens, deeply, when I vent and seems to always have that perfect response. Maybe that's because she also loves Jesus and listens to His voice in every matter. I think so.

She puts up with me. Let's face it, I never know just how I want my hair or what style I want to decorate with. But she's there, giving her input, letting me be me. Letting our differences shape us instead of letting them become a barrier. I have three sisters, who I love like crazy, that are stuck with me. (Hopefully this makes them happy!) This woman chooses to love me like a sister. No blood ties, no family history. Wow.

In all that wonderfulness about my friend, do you know the most wonderful reason why I love her so dearly? Here it is:

In everything she points me to Christ. She strengthens me with His truths and keeps me accountable in His love. Her every action points me to God and her words are ever challenging me to seek His face. Can there possibly be any better gift a friend could give?

So, because life is short, I wanted a few words out in the vast expanse so that people will now know and always know what an amazing friend I have. That my family is so blessed to share in Christ's love with her family.

Everyone should have a friend like that. Everyone.

Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Heather Dowling at 8:36 PM

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

silhouette fun

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Heather Dowling at 10:32 PM

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Saturday, February 04, 2012

Today marks seven years of marriage for us. Seven! When I stretch those seven years out in my mind they feel like a wink and a century all in the same pot. It never fails to amaze me how fast life flies by, even though we've been warned countless times by family and friends. At the very same time, I'm in awe of where these seven years have taken us, who we're growing to be, and how much God has shaped the ashes that trail behind the two of us into absolute beauty.
Tomorrow will mark six months. Six months since my baby sister lost her husband. Something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy has happened to a favorite friend. If you saw her today, you would weep. Not for pity's sake or even the sheer volume of sadness in it all. You would weep at the unmistakable grace of God in her life. You would well up inside to hear her speak of forgiveness, loving your enemies, and relying on God's best - even if that means it doesn't line up with what you wanted. It's probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. "A crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3 This, is His goodness in her life.
Jared's death, and Gina's life have made me look at this seven year anniversary mark in a much brighter light. More than that, they have made me look at my husband and this marriage in a much brighter light. Days are sweeter, moments are more cherished, and I am constantly reminded to never take for granted R.Jay's presence in my life. So, let me tell you just a bit of the wonderfulness that is my husband:

He loves Jesus more than me, and more than the little people we are blessed to raise. This has got to be my most favorite thing about him. He rises early to bathe this family, this home, in prayer. He chooses wisdom and peace in every circumstance. He teaches me countless times how patience, stillness, and prayer is sometimes the heaviest workload of a Christian, but always brings the clearest outcome. He, daily, tells me I'm beautiful and refuses to leave the house or hang up the phone without a heartfelt "I love you". Sometimes just the way he says something makes me laugh until my face truly aches.

He dances with Annabelle almost every evening. I don't mean a little waltz either. A full blown ballet production takes place in the living room with these two and, I'll be honest, I still choke up every single time they dance together. He is constant at encouraging their little hearts and pointing them to Jesus. He is gentle, but firm. He boasts in Bennett's guitar skills and is quick to say yes to a wrestling challenge.

His eyes light up when he speaks of his humble, honorable parents. His gratefulness for them is unmistakable and my gratefulness runs deep too. Their years of shaping him into this wonderful man now pays off in this marriage, this family, and now onto another growing little-man Dowling.

He puts his all in his work. Whether that be in the Church, at his job as a welder/pipefitter, or the (many) projects I find for him around this little house. He is diligent and takes his time at each and every project, no matter the importance.

He never complains. I mean, never. He wears rose-colored glasses around every person he meets. An eternal optimist and loyal to the core. If you talk with our close, small group of friends he holds the title of "Alpha Male'. A wilderness buff who makes knives, shoots guns awfully precise, and can fix and make just about anything. The running joke is that R.Jay only has to glance at problems with a car, house, etc. and they're fixed. Just like that.

There you have it, just a bit of my most favorite things about my most favorite guy. So, here's to being thankful for these seven years of God's best and seven more of growing in Christ, growing as a family, and laughing at lots of "R.Jay-isms"! Happy 7 year anniversary to us!

"And I'd just like to say
I thank God that you're here with me.
And I know you too well to say that you're perfect,
but you'll see, oh my sweet love, you're perfect for me."

Heather Dowling at 10:06 AM

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Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Annabelle is four.

Inexcusably too late, but she's worth the page time even if I'm almost two months behind. After all, this blog is for me to cherish who they are, where they're going, and what we've accomplished. All tucked away in my own little corner of the 'www' to remember and read in years to come.

So here it goes:

My big (little) girl turned 4 years old on September 15th. Her birthday party boasted a whole lot of princess-ness and she lit up the room with all her excitement. After the worst Summer in my friend's and family's history, her princess extravaganza steered us away from sadness and helped us focus on the beauty of life. Her life.

Annabelle is full of life... and drama. I tell R. jay constantly that the very thing I adore about her - the enthusiastic expressions at color/furniture/decor changes, pretty clothes, music, and seeing familiar faces- can sometimes be the thing I pull my hair out over with her - dramatic tears over a scratched knee or food not being placed perfectly on her plate. At the end of each day I still wouldn't change a thing about her.

She loves dress up and probably always will. Most days I can't convince to wear normal clothes. If you stop over at any given moment she will most likely show you her latest frilly choice in clothing and newest dance moves. Dance class is the highlight of her week and her third year into it is showing some great progress!

Give her a pencil and (a lot of) paper and she will sit for hours. She can spell her first name and is now learning to keep those 9 letters in some sort of form on a line instead of strewn in various sizes across the page.

She begs to do "school" almost constantly. School work consists of alphabet, letters, and shapes. Weather, calendar, and patterns. She has one large workbook she zips through and is almost full of her learning! Simple but fun.

I have to remind her almost daily that I am Bennett's mother and she isn't, but she is an amazing helper. Dinner or baking cannot be done without her. I swear she hears me set a bowl down on the counter and she comes running.

She has a quiet (sometimes not!) voice and a tiny body. She is gentle and kind. She praises others when they succeed and loves to tell people how beautiful they are.

We are so blessed to call this 4-year-old Annabelle Rose ours!

Heather Dowling at 1:25 PM

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Sunday, June 12, 2011

R. Bennett Dowling

In just one (quick) year my chubby, round, squishy baby has grown into a handsome little boy. *Sigh* This fast approaching 2 year old birthday is pretty bittersweet for this Mama.

June 15, 2010