Tribute Tuesday: Jennifer Lynn Bowman

Tribute Tuesday to
Jennifer Lynn Bowman

I don't even know where to begin with this wonderful girl! When I left the Brunson home I went down to college where I met 5 wonderful roommates. I felt like we all clicked very quickly and I now know they all were godsend. LITERALLY! I want to start off tonight with Jen. When I went down to college I was still a broken person. Felt like no one cared and were at times very depressed. My roommates were there for me and never gave up.

Jen at my Bridal shower

Jen though.... Man... she will always have a chunk of my heart. She is in Korea right now teaching English and if she said "Julie I really need you here, I just need someone." I would. No questions, no thought about it. I would find the cheapest way I could but I would go.

When I would fight and have struggles with my mother, when I felt like I didn't want to continue, when I felt so horrible, when I loathed myself, when I was confused- JEN was there to talk to me. To bring light into my soul. To help me see something different in me than I claimed there was. I remember countless days of patients, love and encouragement. I mean seriously who really wants to be around someone that is depressed? Its not fun. I look back and can't imagine how I would now act! (I thank all my roommates for this!)Isn't she so beautiful

I would constantly put myself down and Jen would say the most surprising things back to me. (I don't know if you have ever been there but, I honestly was convinced I wasn't worth a darn. I felt like I was forever crippled and everyone saw it.) The things Jen would say to me have stuck me even to today. No matter how I explain it, no one will understand, but she would say things like, "don't say that it hurts my soul" "you are so gorgeous" she would say how fun I was, how great, how beautiful...ect. Though I was a slab of stone only begun to be carved out, she saw the finished piece. She still does. Her words penetrate to the deepest part of me. I think of her often. Miss her dearly and one day hope to do something HUGE for this girl. I want to change her life like she has changed mine.

NOPE I am not done. Jen and I were roommates for 1 & 1/2 years and still good friends after. We still had amazing talks and go out to lunches. We went snowshoeing. (picture) I treasure every moment I get with her. She is an ambitious soul. She has gone to India because she loves Yoga.t Traveler of the world. Loves everyone, loves their culture. Takes everything in and loves every minute of learning and newness that she encounters. She has a dream and does it. She is my inspiration! I have never known someone so vibrant and so touching.

A few years after living together we both (at different times) decided to serve a mission. I am so happy we had served at the same time. We didn't write on a consistent basis to each other but when I got her letters they were ones of encouragement, love, understanding, upliftment. She knew where I was coming from and was feeling the same things as I was.
I was so happy to be able to go to the airport and see her on the day she got home. oh how much that has gone since this day!
Jen and I have had so much fun. We have had multiple times of laughter until we cry, our stomachs hurt, and we can't even stop to breath.

Laughter=crying even when we are doing face masks

Sometimes when I can't or don't feel like I am fully expressing my feelings, how deep it really is I start to babble and repeat myself because I want to reexplain it to suffice my feelings but its not working. Just know how amazing this little lady is. If any of you get the chance to be friends with her you better realize how blessed you are!
Ok its killing me not to mention Emily. As you see she is part of our TRIO! I sure love her but stay tuned! There is always next week!





















She was a brides maid for me.
SO GLAD she was. Aren't I blessed?

Tribute Tuesdays

TRIBUTE TO THE BRUNSON'S

I have been thinking lately about different people and experiences in my life that has molded and shaped me. So here comes the beginning of TRIBUTE TUESDAYS. I want to express everything with my experiences my love for the people and gratitude for my life. Now I know today is Wednesday but I missed doing it yesterday so its just gonna be a belated one.

Tribute to THE BRUNSON'S (namely Rick and Julie... but the entire family has been accepting and great)


First off, TO RICK! This man is one of the most amazing men I know. I look up to him, adore him, respect him, would do anything for him, and absolutely love him.
He shaped who I wanted to look for in a husband and man of my dreams. He has the kindest heart I know out of any man. He is generous. Wants anyone and everyone to be happy and goes to great lengths to help anyone. He would (and has) given clothes off his back for others.

At a very difficult time in my life Rick and Julie were the ones that saved me. When I was 18 I fought a lot with my mother. I wasn't happy at home and just wanted to do everything they didn't want me to do. I was dating a 26 year old that didn't have the same values that I held. During this time I tried alcohol (YUCK) and did some stupid things. But alas, I could get out~! How? Rick and Julie opened their home to me. It was like heaven. I could do what I wanted and they loved me nonetheless. Come to find out I didn't really want to be dating this guy and didn't want to do the things I was because now it didn't matter what I did I just needed to find my stance and not just go against the pricks. (I know I know... Your gonna have a child just like you)

Their house was a haven. I would come visit my family and without fail for the longest time I would just fight. I could come home and sit on Rick and Julies bed and tell them everything. Cry at times, feel so sad and they would listen, care and encourage me to be strong and bite my tongue more. They always encouraged my relationship with my mother and helped me see the good in me.

NOW to JULIE! Julie is under appreciated and at times can be seen not as the amazing person she is. Not only did she let me come and live (and eat and use their things, and be invited to family dinners) for those of you that don't know she has 3 of her biological children, AND 4 older children from Rick. So not only housing 3 children they had 4 others coming over at various times. Sometimes to eat, to live, to be a part of their life too. Brittany moved in and out, Jerilyn came home from school, all would come and eat dinners and lots of left overs. She had a lot to take on. To top it all off their is this random girl also living there.... OK not really random. I met Rick and Julie when I was in 4th grade. When they had their sweet girl Brianna I would go over a lot and play with her and then they had Brooke and moved east. I kept in contact mostly with Rick and that's how this all happened.

They both made such a difference in my life. (AND my mothers) They always saw the potential in me that I was too much in pain to realize. I don't know where I would be if I didn't move there. It led to where I went which led to the transformation of ME.

Not only did these people let me live there. They treated me as family, even now they still do. I have gone to Disneyland, Hawaii (a few times), and lots of bear lake trips with them. They invite me to family events, Christmas and Thanksgiving, trips and much more. I just can't tell you how much it means to me and how much they mean to me.

SO for my first Tribute is to the ones that shaped my future to being one of potential and happiness when I wasn't headed that direction.

Boating at bear lake!

Disneyland, Tower of terror! Rick, Michelle, Bryce, Me. Yes this is really how Michelle reacted on this ride. It was more fun to watch her than the ride itself.
Besties! Jerilyn and Brittany in Hawaii Hawaii's sunset. BEAUTIFUL