Sweet Suite Life

Oh my friends. I have been a bad blogger lately. I think I've been too busy living life to sit down and write about it. I think having a roommate contributes too, because now there is always someone around to talk to, so I'm not sitting alone with time to reflect as much. I do miss blogging, and I hope that I'll get back in the swing of things again starting now.

Today I've lost my voice and so I can't talk. Probably why I'm more inclined to write. Here's a recap of things lately. Two weekends ago I went to Dallas and saw Lady Antebellum in concert with Candice and her parents. It was SO much fun! They are an awesome band (even if they do sing country, haha) and they actually won the Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA's a few days later. After the concert I went over to DBU and stayed with my sister Jamie for the weekend, which was great! We had such a wonderful time catching up, shopping and enjoying the city of Dallas. I love my little sister and am so proud of the amazing woman she is becoming.


That Sunday I headed to McAllen, Texas (way south, practically on the border) for the Baptist General Convention Texas Annual Meeting. This was the last year for my dad to president and to preside over the meeting and I was sooo proud! The convention was actually my favorite one that I've been to. There was such a great spirit in the services, the sermons were great, music was so good and we even had the opportunity to participate in mission projects in the city. I went with my parents to the border to pray on an international bridge. Being that close to the danger and violence on the border was really eye-opening and humbling. There is definitely a war being fought on the border everyday and so we came together as believers to pray for the Prince of Peace to come and heal the land. We prayed for the violence to end and for God to be glorified.

I came back to Brownwood for a couple of days before I headed to San Antonio to celebrate my 26th birthday. Candice and I drove down and spent the day with my college buddy Maria. We strolled the Riverwalk, stopped by the Alamo and then went to a Spurs game. There was an HPU alumni event at the game that night and we got to watch the game from a private suite, which was really sweet! :) I was the photographer, which was fun. The game was pretty exciting and afterward we stayed to watch HPU alum Coffey Anderson perform a concert. All in all it was a really fun birthday! Definitely exciting!


I really will be writing more often from now on! Sorry for the silence. I'm excited about being 26 now and seeing all of the great things God has in store for me this year. 25 was really awesome. I grew so much, had a lot major changes happen and made some great new friends. I'm going to keep delighting myself in the Lord and look forward to seeing Him giving me the desires of my heart.

Party all the time

Over the past week we have been quite the party animals. In addition to celebrating Christmas and New Years, we also celebrated Lorin's 23rd birthday, Jamie's 19th birthday and Madie's 16th birthday. Jamie and Madie's birthday's actually aren't for a few more weeks, but we wanted to celebrate while we were all together, so we did. Lots of cake was eaten, presents were opened and fun was had.

Lorin's Bday Lunch at Johnny Carinos

Cristal and Lor on her birthdayMadie and Jamie's birthday party

Perfect Day

It's official - my dad is over the hill! Yesterday he turned 50 years old and so to celebrate, my family and I planned his "perfect day." The whole day involved all of us getting together to do his favorite things.

1. Run with the fam - Dad loves to run, so we all joined him for his "cool down" around the block. We were quite the site!

2. Golf - Mom gave Dad a year membership at the Canyon Country Club, so we all went and played a scramble round together.

The Jean Team

The Girls in Black (and Mom)

3. Steak and Potatoes - for dinner we made a delicious dinner including red velvet cake!

4. Presents - We gave Dad a new leather briefcase for all his traveling. He liked it! :)

5. Movie - we ended the day with Dad's choice of a movie. He picked Top Gun, which I think was a good choice! All in all it was a wonderful day! I am so thankful for my daddy and I hope he is blessed with another 50 years!

Second box of candles and the BGCT

Did you know that birthday candles only come in boxes of 24? I learned that the hard way when Lorin had to buy two boxes of candles for my birthday cake on Friday. haha, it's so funny getting older! I had such a wonderful birthday! I drove down to Galveston and took Lorin's guided tour of the Moody mansion, then Lor, Phil and I drove into Houston to meet Mom, Dad, Jamie and Madison at Outback Steakhouse to celebrate! I don't think I could have asked for a better present than to have all of my family together! (I did get a GPS, Sleeping Beauty, the new Carrie Underwood CD and a beautiful mirror as well!)

The rest of the weekend we spent together (in the executive suite at the Hilton - which was definitely a sweet suite!) at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual Meeting. Since Dad is president, he presided over the entire meeting and did such a wonderful job! People kept telling me how much they appreciated his leadership, his kind and gentle spirit and the way that he has brought about so much peace to the convention over the past year. The Lord has truly gifted Dad is so many ways and I was beaming with pride for him these past few days. Dad was re-elected to serve as president for another year through a vote of acclimation. It served as a great affirmation to his great leadership this past year. Here's a story about it!

It was also a mini family reunion - my grandparents were there along with my uncles John and Steve, aunt Debbie, and to our great surprise, my great aunt Debbie and uncle David! Monday night was really special because my mom sang in the praise team, my sisters and I read scripture on stage right before Dad preached a sermon on compassion, and then my Papa closed the session in prayer. Three generations of Lowrie's were present, representing a wonderful heritage of faith.

In addition to being the first daughter of the convention, I also had several other jobs. I worked at the HPU booth, helped with our alumni dinner (where my college roommate Meredith got to come and lead the prayer!) and wrote an article for about one of the general sessions. You can read it if you click here. It was a great convention and such a blessing to be a part of! So far, being 25 has been pretty wonderful! I look forward to all adventures to come!

25

This Friday I will be turning 25 years old. It is so hard to believe that I'm that old already! For some reason I have been dwelling on this birthday for a long time, or should I say dreading it? ha ha. Growing up, I think that I always imagined 25 as this magical age where everything that I had dreamed about would become a reality. My mom was married and had me by the time she was 25, so logically, I would be married and already be a mom as well. But, you know, life doesn't always (OK it rarely ever) turns out the way you imagine, and I'm finding that it's really okay, and actually better that way. God has plans for my life that I would never have thought of, and His plans are SO much better than mine! While I may not be married yet or have any kids, I do have so much to be thankful for! And so, in honor of my 25th birthday, I decided I would share 25 things that I am thankful for.

1. My Savior Jesus Christ - he gave his life for me and he loves me more than I deserve or can comprehend. I would be nothing without him!
2. Dad - an amazing father and incredible man of God! I am so honored to call him my dad! He has taught me so much and I am so proud of all that he has done!
3. Mom - my mom has invested so much into my life. I am so amazed how resilient she is and how amazing she is! Her thirst for knowledge is unquenchable and I am always learning something new from her! She is so much fun to be around and I know that she prays for me every single day!
4. Lorin - my sister, my friend! Lorin knows me better than anyone! She is such a blessing in my life and I am so proud of the woman that she has become! She has such a tender, compassionate heart and loves with everything inside of her!
5. Jamie - also my sister and my friend! She is so much fun to be around and has so much to add to my life! I love hanging out with her and am so proud of the woman she is becoming!
6. Madison - my baby sister that is all grown up! Sometimes I think she is so much like me, and other times we are so different. I love her so much and can't wait to see all that she will do!
7. Phillip - my brother-in-law. He loves my sister so much and it has been so wonderful to add him to our family! He is truly the man God designed for Lorin and I am blessed to know him!
8. HPU - I don't think I can put into words how much this school has changed my life! I never dreamed I would've gone to college at this small Baptist school in central Texas, but God sure had other plans in mind. The people at HPU have forever made an impact on my life!
9. My job - I never knew I would be working as an "alumni and media relations assistant," but I am able to use the talents God has given me to share the good news about a school that I love. I am especially thankful for a job in our economy right now! Praise God for a secure paycheck!
10. The Herd - you know who you are! I was starving for friendship when I met each of you amazing girls and you are so much more amazing than I could have imagined! I know that you will always be part of my life and I can't wait for our reunion in January! Bran, Jess, Cass, Mere, Becca, Kate, Steph, April, Katie, Maria, Hannah, Sarah - I love you all!
11. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin - really, the people in this suburb! Again, I never dreamed that the Lowrie pilgrimage way up north would change my life, but it sure did. I learned so much during my time living there and I will forever treasure my memories! Katie, Erie, Jen McT, Jenny P, Erin, Courtney, Sarah, Erin- you bless my life!
12. Shelley and Amanda - we have been friends since we were 3 years old! We were all baptized on the same day, and I was blessed to stand up in both of your weddings. You will always be part of my life!
13. Family - I have come from such a rich heritage and I am so thankful for each of my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I was thinking about my Papa Crane today - on Veteran's Day. He served in the Navy during WWII and I am so proud of his service! I really miss him so much!
14. Travel - God has blessed me with the ability to travel around the world, and I am so thankful for each of the opportunities! I love travelling so much and can't wait for my next adventure.
15. Books - I absolutely LOVE to read and I am so thankful for books! I just don't know what I would do without them.
16. Great co-workers - God has blessed me with great co-workers and student workers that are wonderful to work with! I never dread going to work in the morning, because I get to see great people everyday!
17. America - I know, of course I would say this as a political science nerd - but truthfully I am very thankful for this country I live in.
18. Surprise friendships - (Danielle and Candice) God has provided me with surprise friendships exactly when I needed them!
19. Education - I am so thankful for the education that I have received! I wouldn't be where I am without it!
20. My apartment - this has been such a wonderful arrangement since I graduated! It is so close to everything and living here rent free has been incredible! Thank you God for my little home!
21. The Mitchell Family - Jeff, Kristy and Tyler - I am thankful for the blessing they are in my life! They are great friends that I know I can always rely on! I don't know what I would do without them in Brownwood!
22. Facebook - haha, I know it's kind of a frivilous thing to be thankful for, but I really am grateful for it because I am able to stay connected with so many people in my life!
23. My good old cellphone - another great communication tool that allows me to stay connected with everyone I love while they are spread out all over the place!
24. Musical nights - with Lorin, Cristal and Brittany! Definitely a wonderful addition to my life. I love you girls and am so thankful for you!
25. Twenty-five wonderful years of life - for the good times, the bad times and the inbetween. God has remained constant everyday and I am so extremely blessed! Thank you, sweet Jesus for all of these blessings!!!