Adventures in the grocery store. I took Avery to get some food items we need at home, just me and the little one. Since she did not want to get in the cart i offered to push her around in one of those little kiddie carts shapped like the front of a car with a smaller basket. She enjoyed being pushed around. Though after a short while she decided she would have more fun getting out of the car and pushing it, then after she had it good and rolling she would jump back in. I am not sure but mommy thinks she is practing how to hot wire a car, a little early for grand theft auto. Anyway she was adorable as always. No pictures of this one though since for once i didnt have the camera.

Avery had moved up to the next room at her daycare. We have noticed since that change, we have a daugther who comes home with dirt in the strangest places. I guess she gets out into the sand more now and is learning how to potty train. Not that she is quite there yet, but she knows about it at least. The other problem we have had since moving her into a toddler bed is not being able to keep her in her room. No matter how tired she is once i lay her down on her bed she starts crying her head off and running into our room. Its so hard to not give in and let her sleep in the big bed. But its bad for her and she needs to learn. She climbs the gates i have put up so i really do not know what i should try. We will see what is ahead.

We bought a new computer which has the latest system on it so its pretty cool. I just like having a new system finally it seems like its been a while. I woudnt mind getting the other one fixed still but i wont make it a priority. At any rate its time for sleep so i will be getting to it now.

I turned 27 yesterday! I don't really feel too much older. Its good though to have a birthday every so often to remind you how precious life is. Life and people in it of course family and friends. I have my loving wonderful wife and daugther. They went through a lot of trouble getting a hold of the Kids Left Behind Audio Drama. Apparently it is out of print so they had to go through a website that sells out of print material. With the help of my sister in law and her hubby they got them downloaded to CD's. We pay for copyrights and everything. Its just so awesome i have wanted to listen to them for a long time. I never finished reading the kids series and since i have so much driving time, it works out great. Im going to start this morning! Avery also bought daddy a backpack for school since he needed a new one. The colorful bag just wouldnt do! I got a few other things and family came over to celebrate. All in all good. Other than the stomach flu but this morning i feel much better so I am going to enjoy a lot of cookie cake. Holly had them put an Ace of Spade's card on the cookie cake! Makes me smile. Wish we could get out to California and visit everyone. Well the time will come soon enough. For now we have the weekend ahead and a new job for Holly come Monday. So more stress to begin.

I finished Matthew in my Word of Truth and will begin James on Monday. I have been listening to the book in my car so i would have a general taste of it, now its time to start going through it more. Im off to get ready for the day...

Those words have finally left my mouth. Not only the words but the whole standing in the hall way pointing toward the room and expecting my daugther to walk her own two feet down and sit on her floor. Temper tantrums are not good, but they do happen. We have a kid of our own running around here now. After Church today she was holding her little frog and growling, makes me wonder what boy she hung out with at sunday school. Too adorable though, even if i had to send her to her room for time out. She came out on her own later and better behaved, for Avery. I bought her a new pet net to throw her animal toys into, its pretty heavy. Momma and daddy are so very loved. She gets so excited to see us, throws her arms around our necks, gives lots of kisses and just enjoys us so much. I love my daugther!

A new week begins, i believe my ninth week at my new job. Its actually working out nice, i enjoy walking around stocking, storying, logging all the material that comes in. Sure its a lot to do, but its all good. Plus i get home at a good time of night and actually see my family. Except for my class night and my Saturday class as well. I am talking Operating systems midweek and Strategies for Technical Proffessionals on Saturday. I am remembering how much work college life really is. I did it for five years, still it seems like its more. I was also madly in love with my new girlfriend which eventually became my wife. So i think i spent my first few years of college on cloud nine. Now i have Avery along with my Holly, so is there a cloud way above nine somewhere... I am there.

We went to a partnership class last night at the Pastor's house. It is all a part of our Church trying to get the people to know the church and what things about about. Its important to be a family of believers working in the community to serve. I like it a lot, everything about the church. Now its morning and my new day is starting. Holly is off this week in preparation for her new job which starts next Monday. Other than that, i turn 27 in a few days! Anyhow i best be getting ready now.

Exciting weekend for us all. We finally had our vacation and enjoyed a little time away. Since we are in the middle of so much job change and life stress it was a good plan to get away. So we left Avery with Grandma Joey and headed out to Branson. Holly and I were able to celebrate out five year anniversary, a few months late but still. We went to Silver Dollar city, got rained on, went shopping, saw a very funny Russian comedian. We also went to the Showboat, took a tour of the Titanic museam. So much to see so little time. All in all a great weekend. Avery had a lot of fun as well, she had her nails painted, made cookies, played in the yard, and started sleeping in a toddler bed. Our little darling is growing up so fast. Now we are here onto a new week and see what is in store.

Midweek and almost the end of the month. So we need some updates for our blog then do we not. Seems harder to post really, not that there is not a whole lot to say. We have been busy and there is much going on. My parents flew in last night and will be here a week. Its going to be great having them here, and gives them some good vacation time. Plus they get to see Avery which is a plus always.

Avery is growing more and more. She still loves the word 'No' and pretty much uses it for everything. There are other words she loves including her mimi blanket and her doggie or froggie, among other things she knows now. We bought her some foam letters for the tub, those are fun since they stick to the wall when wet. Daddy is trying to make her a castle but has not gotten very far in the process. I have been collecting cardboard tubes for this. We will see if i can get it done, i got some rope to tie them together but now i need to remember where i put that.

Our church is growing more and more, I went for a work day last weekend. That was fun. Avery enjoys going. She also likes prayin too with a hardy amen at the end. We love our little angel so much.

What a week but now it has come to an end. We had a lot of fun with Diane out, Avery most of all since she had a new toy to play with. But she had to fly home this evening to start back to school. She is going to be teaching 8th grade this year. It is always good to have family come out and we will be excited to see my parents in a few weeks and then hopefully head out there next Feburary. That is the plan currently of course. There is still time here and there and we we realized you can count on things changing. Still the Lord takes care of His own. Makes me sad and i hate goodbye, but we know soon enough the days just need to pass by. Meanwhile its still August and not has hot as it was. Avery and Hol and Diane went to see the fishies yesterday, that was good. Today we just hung out and enjoyed our time together. I wish we could see more of each other and not be so far apart, but that is how it works for now. I love my darling wife and baby girl and am so glad to have them by my side through each day.

Stuck in the morning calm, I am sitting at my computer looking at a blank page on my blog. Here only because sleep is always disturbed around this time in the morning so i figure I might as well get up and type. Things have been pretty busy and hot. After all it is summer so being in the tripe digits is not to hard to believe. This would be okay if it were not for the fact I work in a warehouse now with no AC. Just plenty of water and hard shipping work. Actually it is a good job that i do enjoy. I appreaciate the labor more now and look forward to fall which is approaching.

Meanwhile Holly's job continues to be keeping a float for the moment. We are busy trying to figure out what will be next but God will provide as He always has. This has been a trial for us and we are seeing the Lord move in many ways. Yesterday the builders told us they would give us our money back on the land we were holding onto to build. That is a blessing but its hard at the same time. The Lord will indeed someday give us a land but I believe it will be like the Children of Israel in the promise land, the house will be built and the garden will be dug. I look forward to that.

So last week we had Haylie's 19 birthday, Isaac turned 30, and Aydan turned 6. So we had a lot of cake. I also went and saw a movie with the guys after the party on Friday which was a lot of fun. I wish i hung out more with guys my age, i did not realize how much i miss that fellowship. I need more of that, must see about getting together again. Hol and Avery and I went to the zoo Sunday which Avery enjoyed greatly, she is getting more and more into seeing new things. Even those which she does not remember seeing before.

My big sis came into town Monday to spend the week with us and have a lot of fun with Avery along the way. The two of them have been enjoying themselves a lot. Mostly because Avery has a new toy, being her Aunt Diane. Even though I have to work its good for them to enjoy the time. Hol will take the two of them to see some fishy's Friday. Diane leaves on Saturday which is going to be hard. I really miss having her and the rest of the family around. Tommrow Hol and I celebrate eight years of dating which is exciting. Time goes so fast. Well much to do before the work day begins.

We had a tree house in our backyard that was there when we moved in two years ago. It stood back there unsafe for the most part as it did not look very sturdy and leaned up next to a tree in the yard. Well we kept it up thinking it would help sell the house, now that we have taken the house off the market for time being, we decided it was time for the tree house to come down as well. I made sure to never let Hollys sisters or neice on the tree house as well. Of course the neighbor kids were harder to control. The last thing we wanted was for someone to fall off it and us get in trouble.

So last night when i got home from work i did some mowing and then took care of our little sore thumb tree house. I took a shovel and put it under one of the legs. Then i gave it a shove and down it went. Suddenly I was very thankful i never let anyone play on it, for it to come down that easy made me glad it was down. OF course it fell so the next step was moving it to the curb. It was full of red ants and spider nests. The whole thing was unsafe and dirty. The neighbors behind us came out and helped us saw everything up and take it to the front. A couple Mormon kids even came by and asked if they could help, of course I was happy to have them move some stuff a little. Very good of them to be helpful, even if they are not on the right path. I pray they will find our Lord though.

Tree house down now we have a much nicer yard to look out at. And it will be better once we put a table out there or something else we can enjoy. Its great to have it down though as we really have not gone out in our yard much with it there. Now if i could just find a fence real cheap we would be all set.

Holly and I went and saw Mama Mia this evening> Great movie. I love being able to go out sometimes and movies are fun even though Avery is just a little too young for the movies just yet. There are plenty more movies out we want to see. But it was a great film, i look forward to Avery seeing it. Anyway I love my wife...

She is growing up so fast, time just slips by without even notice. Our little Avery the sweet and adorable one is always provbing she is a strong little girl. This so she has her blanket she calls mimi' and other toys she wont part with. She just loves those too much. Her routine is set and she enjoys having her mommy and daddy to love on her, along with everyone else. I am so thankful to have our little princess.

Things have been crazy around the Bowlby house these days. We took the house off the market since it is clear we couldnt sell it at this time and really due to other work issues its just not the right time anyway. God made that clear enough. I started my new job at the manufacturing plant Monday. So far its going well. There is a lot to learn but i think i am geting the hang of everything. Now we just need to get back on target. I will get some more time to post later. Between my classes and work though its hard to find any spare time anymore.

In July now and its getting to be even hotter around here. The fourth was good even though i was not able to enjoy it with my girls. They had to go to a family gathering in another town to far for me to join after work. I did however get to go enjoy some fireworks and food at my sister in laws inlaws house, that was a blast (pun intended). Anyway now i just look forward to starting my new job and hoping all works out well. Our house is still on the market and we are praying for it to sell so we can move into the house we want to live in. Its such a nice place. And this neighborhood and our neighbors are something to get away from. Well not all of them, but just enough. Meanwhile I look forward to seeing what is ahead. For me now its just taking one step at a time, with school a new job and hopefully a new house soon.

Just wanted to peek in here and give some exciting news. We are moving! A few blocks away to a better part of town. We have sold out house and found a perfect home to move into. The Lord has led us through this whole thing and we are very excited. Even in the midst of all that is going on with my job and that stress. Its good to see this open door for us to move finally. We have looked forward to it and know that this home will be good for us and Avery. Ill go into more later and keep you posted. We just signed a offer today on the house and its been accepted. So we are very thrilled.

Happy 5 year anniversary and Father's day. Yesterday we celebrated five years of marriage and all the Lord has done with us up to this point. What a wonderful thing we have each other and our darling Avery. We went out to dinner last night to an Italin resturante that served Hollys favorite ice cream dessert. I gave her a necklace with an A on it for Avery. It looks so good on her too. Today is Fathers day and we will head out to breakfast. Avery gave me a card and some books that will encourage me. I love my girls and am so blessed.

Another day is here, and once again I need to update this blog more often. I guess its just been busy with me working at the hardware store now. Its a good job, not to difficult and other then the schedual i like it for the most part. I am however looking into my options right now as far as my career goals. Im thinking about starting at a Technical school to get training in computers. I need to pray about it still but i feel it might be where i am supposed to go next. Seems i need to get another degree anyway to take care of my family. They are so wonderful. My darling wife and i have been married five years tommrow! What a thought. And of course my lovely daugther is growing too fast for her own good. Anyway just wanted to catch up a little here.

Despite everyting going on with us right now, Avery is growing and being as precious as ever. I am glad she is too young to see the stress and all that. Her latestest antics are getting her in trouble everywhere. She loves to get into everything she shouldnt be into and of course enjoys being silly. Still a girl of few words, her favorites are no, and nose. She says nose alot and points out where your nose is. She also knows shoes and several others. We got her to say please the other day as well. So its a learning experience for all of us. I got a job currently working as cashier for a hardware store in town. A job is a job for now while i try to figure out what God would have me do next. I dont know what direction i should go in. Meanwhile Avery is adorable.

Bus plant lasted me a day and a couple hours on tuesday. Now im off to look elsewhere still praying for right job to come along. Still trusting God to take care of us, I know He will and know He cared for our needs. Just gets hard in days like this when it seems dark, its hard to look past the darkness and see the hope of Jesus. But He is there and cares for our needs moment by moment. I just pray for a call any moment from someone saying they want to hire me. It just going to take time.

Well there is a lot going on around here right now as usual. At least things are better then they were. I had been down and out pretty much all week long, going into all sorts of places and being told no over and over. I have had the hardest time with the whole jobless thing. Finally thursday I went down to another staffing agency recommended by our Pastor. Several of the other guys in our Church went there and got on board with a School Bus manufacturing plant in town. Of course you start out temp and have to work to get hired. It is completly manual labor and very intense. But i feel its going to work out well and be the right place for the moment.

So this morning i woke up really early and drove into the plant. Feels strange in this different part of the world. I really have never done anything like this before so its very new and scary for me. But it felt good to work hard all day and get off at five. Now i just have to make sure i work hard so i can go from temp to hire. Its all about working hard, Im sure with the Lords help i can do it. Still i will keep my options open and still go for interviews if they come. And i also need to step up to the plate regarding my desire to teach. Everything about what we are going through now is for a reason and I want to not miss a moment of what God wants to do.

I love to see my precious Avery smile and my love. Its another birthday treat for Miss Avery. I know she doesnt understand all her daddy and mommy are dealing with. Thankfully for that. But still the lessons are important for her to learn as well. We must press through to what is ahead, not look back with any sorrow or regret. We need to see what God will do for He is faithful and loves us in every season of our lives. When we make mistakes and mess things up, He is always in control of even our own faults. I just hope that now I can do a good job where I am at and stick with it for now. It may last only a while, but hopefully teach me while I am there.

What matters most in this world is that i take care of my family as God has told me to. He has given me them and they are in my charge. So today i begin the process of trying to find another job. I really do not know how this is going to turn out one way or another. What is out there for me to do. He is in control. What makes me so sad is that i was finally in a place where i was able to be home with my family finally, and not things are going to change again. I had it all figured out. But i guess nothing is solid, anything can change on you. Except the Lord and His promises. At least He is faithful in all things. Even the hard things we have to do in life. He will keep us strong and going.