Bountiful

2012

In August we had a special opportunity to have a Bowen Family reunion up at the old farmhouse in Driggs. Blake Hall gave us permission to stay there for the weekend, and we had such a wonderful time reminiscing about what fun memories we shared.

(Updated Bowen Ranch Home 2012)

(Nada Bowen with Emily Christensen and Shaelyn Critchfield)

(Pam, Nada, and Dana playing cards)

(Visiting Garry Bowen's Gravesite)

(Nada with a few of her grandchildren in Driggs, Idaho)

(Craig and Pam Bartschi, Nada Bowen, and Cindy and Jed Christensen)

Jason and Christina Bartschi had their second child, Luke Bowen Bartschi, in October.

(Luke Bowen Bartschi)

2013

(Chelsea Critchfield)

Dana gave birth to her third child, Chelsea Critchfield, in January, and Hilary and Adam welcomed their first child, Mackenzie Lynn Barrett in May.

(Kim, Nada, and Hilary with Mackenzie Lynn Barrett)

 That makes 10 great-grandchildren!
At the beginning of June, Cindy, Pam and I flew to California to celebrate my sister Ruth's 85th birthday. It was so great to see all of her children and grandchildren together. It was held at the church with displays of all Ruth's pictures, and they had a "Remembrance" program where everyone shared their fondest memories of her. Then we went out to the cemetery where we stood by her graveside and released balloons into the air, just like they had done at her funeral in 1988.
I celebrated my 75th birthday in June, and was taken by surprise when my entire family was waiting for me at the church!

(Nada Bowen's 75th Birthday Celebration)

 They had organized a wonderful celebration, and it was so neat to see everyone there!

(Dan Hemsley, Nada Bowen, and Ellis Hemsley)

(My Wonderful Children)

(13 of my 16 Grandchildren)

(Nine of Ten Great-Grandchildren)

Scott and Julie Bowen gave birth to their second child, Tate Bowen, in December.

(Tate Bowen 2013)

2014

Jordan Bartschi received his mission call to Puebla, Mexico and left for the mission field in January.

(Elder Jordan Bartschi 2014)

Pam's son, Jared, married Megan Tanner on June 7th in the Boise, Idaho Temple.

(Megan Tanner and Jared Bartschi 2014)

Christina gave birth to her fourth child, Brock Bowen Mitchem, on July 19th. 

(Brock Bowen Mitchem)

Dana's husband John was accessioned as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves in October. He seems to be following closely in Kim's footsteps!

(Craig and Pam Bartschi with John and Dana Critchfield 2014)

2015

Gregg and Emily Bowen had their first child, Cora Bowen, the first week of October. 

(Sandy and Kim with granddaughter Cora Bowen)

 Scott and Julie had their third child, Rory Bowen, just three weeks later!

(Scott and Tate with Rory Bowen)

Both Cora and Rory were blessed in December. What a wonderful Bowen family gathering!

(Scott and Julie Bowen family with Gregg and Emily Bowen Family 2015)

John and Dana had their fourth baby, Leah Critchfield, on December 1st.

(John and Dana Critchfield Family 2015)

2016

Pam's son Jordan, returned from his mission to Puebla, Mexico in January.

(Elder Jordan Bowen Bartschi)

(Pam and Cindy's Family gathering for Jordan's Mission Report)

Hilary and Adam had their second child, Porter Barrett, in March.

(Mackenzie and Porter Barrett)

In June I flew to Orlando, Florida with Cindy's family to visit Kim and Sandy at Disney World! After we arrived at the airport we got a rental car and drove to meet Kim and Sandy. On our way to the motel Jed got sleepy and dozed off, but Merinda screamed to wake him up just before he hit the barrier. We slid sideways, scraping the side of the car, then crossed three lanes of traffic without hitting any cars before we could stop. Cindy had a black eye where she bumped it on the seat belt knob, but no one else was injured. It was an exciting way to start our vacation, but we had a wonderful week with Kim and Sandy showing us around. They were so kind to get a wheelchair for me.

(Nada with Sandy and Kim Bowen and Granddaughter Janalyn Mitchem in Florida)

Jared and Megan Bartschi had their first baby girl, Regan, in September.

(Regan Bartschi)

2017

On March 12th we received the devastating news that our sweet granddaughter, Jenessa L'e Bowen, passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. She complained to her mom of chest pains the night before, and when her brother Joseph went to check on her the next morning, she had already passed.

(Jenessa L'e Bowen)

(Jenessa and Joseph Bowen)

Her theater friends posted so many wonderful tributes to her on Facebook, and Cindy organized a memorial gathering for the family at her house. 

(Sandy Bowen, Sherri Kitchen, and Pam Bartschi)

(Kim and Craig Bowen)

(Cindy Christensen, Craig Bowen, Pam Bartschi, Nada Bowen, and Kim Bowen)

There was no funeral, and her mother chose to cremate her after a brief viewing with close family, but she had a beautiful memorial celebration at the Hale Theater in West Valley.

 Scott and Julie had their fourth child, Lincoln Bowen, in June.

(Scott and Lincoln Bowen)

(Scott and Julie Bowen Family 2017)

Jason and Christina had their third child, Brookelyn Bartschi, in September.

That brings my total of great-grandchildren to nineteen!

(Brookelyn Bartschi)

I spent Thanksgiving in Idaho with Pam's family and joined them to hear her youngest son Cameron's mission report. He returned from the Utica, New York Mission in September.

(Pam and Nada at Thanksgiving)

(Elder Cameron Bartschi)

I enjoyed watching Cindy and Emily in their theater production of The Christmas Carol this year.

(Cindy and Emily Christensen with Nada Bowen)