We hope this letter finds your family in good health and fine spirits. Though we are not constantly in touch, you are remembered when we think of our good friends and relatives.

We moved from Memphis in the Spring. We are very pleased with our house and neighborhood and hope to never have to move again. Having lived in Fort Smith before, we were especially excited about renewing old friendships.

Michael stays busy along with his Christian partner at the Roland (Oklahoma) Family Medical Clinic. The Lord has provided us with a rapidly growing medical practice. We are happy to be free from the Navy after eleven years.

Jeannie is still employed full time as wife and mother. She did many hours of volunteer secretarial work at church and at Michael's office. She regularly teaches a ladies' Bible class at church. She sings with the Fort Smith Chorale. She was involved in a small accident where she was driving like in Italy, but the other driver didn't know those rules.

Changing schools in the middle of the second grade, Angelique had to learn cursive writing in only two weeks. She took swimming lessons during the summer. She is now 8 years old and in the third grade at the elementary school about a mile from our house. She is especially interested in science. After school she takes music and gymnastic lessons. She is about to forget how to walk; instead, she gets about by doing cartwheels. She was chosen to sing a solo in the Christmas play at school.

Steven is 6 and has started kindergarten. He is really pleased with his teacher, but has a terrible time trying not to talk constantly in class. He reads excellently for his age. He takes gymnastic lessons, but does not do acrobatics in the house as his sister does. Riding his bike and eating pasta with tomato sauce are his favorite pastimes. Recently, he lost his first tooth. In June, we had our first need for the emergency room and a few stitches after Steven got his finger closed in a door. A few months later we thought we might have to go again after Steven was knocked out in a bicycle accident.

"Goldie," a six-week-old yellow tabby kitten, was chosen by Angelique in the Spring and is now an inseparable part of the family.

Having settled into a routine, we often miss the constant excitement, confusion, and unexpected events of our daily lives in Europe. We are happy to be in America, but life certainly gets dull at times. When it gets too boring we will stop sending a December newsletter.

May you find excitement and contentment in the year ahead. We would love to hear from you. If you make it to Fort Smith, please let us know.