Decebmer 28th got here in quite a hurry. Perhaps it heard Christmas was over and the roads are full of ice and snow so now is a good time to go back to work. Well everyone but me. This is the final fourlough week of the year meaning the plant is shut down for the week and we all remain unpaid and sitting at home making snowmen. At the beginning of the year someone remakarked 2009 would be the year from hell - now looking back i agree more so than i did before.

We cannot look ahead without looking back and learning from out mistakes and faults. Every trial, every accomplishment, every moment is preparing us for the next. If we do not learn from our mistakes and acheivements we lose the value and experience we could gain.

The year included a lot of false starts and set backs to plans. As i look back though even when the time was a struggle, there was always a provision to take us through to the next moment. We still end up on our feet by the end of the day because the Lord is the one in control. This world is in chaos, but He is always firm and in control.

We must look ahead with hope and trust into the new year, not fear, not doubt. Difficulties have been on the rise of course. Ecomominically, finaicially, spiritual darkness in ths world. I must trust the Lord with all my heard and trust not in my own understanding. 2010 will be a year to hope to rise back up from dissapointment. I decided to quit trying to sell Avon for one. They claim to be there and helpful when you need it but that didnt work out well. They also kept messing up the orders i put in, or putting things on back order constantly. So for now at least I am pulling out. Now i will concentrate more on school, on my Bible study, and on my family.

Christmas was another amazing time, busy, and enjoyable. We had a white Christmas, the snow is still very present for that matter. All is done and a whole house is left to be cleaned. Might also need to start purging some of these clothes and toys this kid never wears or plays with. So much to be said, we might need to do the old missionary clean sweep. You know like when you have to leave on a trip and can only take so much. We will see. So the year ahead we are praying for blessings, for things we did not get this year. With all the set backs we had we hope for even more doors to be open ahead of us in the time ahead.

Holidays are always a very busy time of year for all of us here in the Bowlby house! We spent a week during Thanksgiving in California with my parents which was a lot of fun. Now we are getting ready for Christmas with very much activity and excitment! This weekend we went to the light show at Rhema, and the Christmas Train. Got so much ahead of us this season, hopefully i will get a chance to update some more. Avery is talking up a storm these days.