2008: Year in Review

This morning on NPR several commentators bid "good riddance" to 2008, a very bad year for financial markets (and political corruption, and natural disasters . . .). Thinking back on my personal experiences this year, I bid a much fonder farewell to 2008. It was a good year in the Bowles-Terry household.

Mike and I had a lot of fun following the presidential campaign. It consumed much of our free time and conversation all year long. Political drama is really some of the best entertainment available. And, as most of you know, we were thrilled with the way the campaign came out in the end and are hoping for good things in the year to come.

We took several short road trips in 2008: Carthage, Nauvoo, Chicago, (and Chicago and Chicago again), and Indianapolis. We had a wonderful visit from the Terrys in May and a fun-filled visit from my Mom and Dad in October. We spent time in Cache Valley during the summer and we're going to be there again in just a couple of weeks.

Mike has been very successful in his position at the bank, and my career as a librarian is getting ready to take off. I attended and presented at two different conferences in 2008, had a job interview and a job offer (that I didn't take), and will graduate in four months!

Our church activities have kept us busy over the past year. I lead the children's music program and love it. I'm also the pianist for the church choir and for our regular Sunday meetings. I love teaching music to the children -- I learn so much from them! Mike does a bit of everything in our congregation: he makes a lot of visits to people who need assistance, teaches in our Sunday meetings, and generally helps out wherever necessary.

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Mike's former Logan roommate, Karl, in Lafayette, Indiana where Karl is working on a PhD at Purdue. We had a fabulous time catching up with him and sharing an excellent meal.

Digging delicious cornbread/sage stuffing out of the turkey's body cavity. Yum!Karl & Mike coming up with a plan of attack for the carvin' of the bird.

We feel very blessed to have good friends in our church congregation; the George family invited us over for Christmas this year and we had a really wonderful time. We had a delicious turkey dinner, played games, and had a huge show-and-tell session of gifts received by G (6), M (4), A (2), and E (9 months). Actually, E didn't show off her toys. She got a bit overexcited and napped for much of the afternoon while we were there. :)

We wish the very best to all of our friends and family in 2009!