We wrote out this letter to summarize the year. It’s been a crazy and wonderful one!
2009 – A year of new experiences
This year was a year of new experiences! And we feel very fortunate. Here are some of our 2009 milestones.
New Continent! We moved from Oslo Norway to Moscow Idaho (when Brooke was 7 months pregnant, btw). Even though we were moving back to America after only 14 months, it felt like culture shock to return. Norway fit us so well and we will always cherish our memories there.


New jobs! Mike started working at the University of Idaho, ending his long journey as a student, and happy to be giving tests rather than taking them! Brooke loves being a full-time mother and enjoys teaching PE badminton for 3 hrs/week at the university. She enjoys instructing this new age-group of students and Mike enjoys the time he gets with Hannah in the middle of his day.

New Baby! Hannah Joy Lowry was born April 3rd, 2009. She is the newest love of our lives! Hannah is an explorer. Since birth Hannah has always wanted to move and face forward to find new things to look at (or put in her mouth!) She loves looking at trees and being outside. She has two teeth that she loves showing to people when she smiles. Hannah lives up to her middle name Joy. She is a very happy baby and we love that she has joined us in our adventures!

New town! Moscow, Idaho is in the middle of the Palouse, a unique landscape of rolling farming hills. With a population of 24,000 and a two hour drive to the closest big city, we were a bit nervous about living in such a small town, but we have been pleasantly surprised at every turn! We love that we can bike across town in just 20 minutes and that the university ensures there is always something interesting happening. Fun fact: The Palouse produces 95% of the nation’s lentils and peas.

New home! In June we moved in and immediately felt so comfortably “at home”. It feels new inside yet it was built in 1944. We love our yard with fruit trees in the back and our neighborhood is great. We also enjoy being able to walk to Main Street from our house. A definite novelty in America!

New life! All in all this year has been quite a ride! We are glad to say we are very happy with the changes. We thank our family and friends in Norway, Seattle, and now Moscow for helping us get here!

May the Lord bless you during this Christmas Season and throughout 2010!

Love, The Lowrys (Brooke, Mike and Hannah).