After the reception, we flew to Thailand for a week of relaxation. Al has been working so hard, he really needed it. We got some diving in at some of the sites I'd used in UNBROKEN CONNECTION. That was fun. I caught the stomach flu on the way home, so between that at jet lag, I've been out of it for a couple weeks.
Al has accepted an offer to return to IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. He'll finish up with INSEAD in the next few months and start with IMD this fall. He's going to commute back and forth so Will can finish high school here, and then Al and I will get an apartment in Lausanne. The plan is to make the move Summer 2013. We'll keep our house in Arizona and come home for Thanksgiving/Christmas and some time in the spring and summer. Looks like I've got more jet lag to look forward to--but Al and I will have lots more time together this way. It's worth it.
We're going to miss Rob, Shante, and Jack when they leave us for Charlotte, North Carolina after Rob graduates. Rachel graduated from BYU in December. She's in Washington, D.C. interning. She was selected for Teach for America and will train in Oklahoma this summer and teach in Charlotte starting in September. Will keeps getting straight A's in his AP classes. My agent is looking for a publisher for my new book, SLIPPED. Looking forward to seeing lots of you at Sidney's wedding.
Merrily. Robert is making progress on our house. The concrete slab was poured yesterday. We’ll be framed and roofed in about two weeks.
Kelsey leaves this week for the mainland. She’ll stay in Tekoa with her dad and figure out the next step in her big adventures. Kaela is on Oahu living with cousins on the North Shore. She’s looking for work.
Victor and Eliahs have February birthdays. Victor is 19 and Eliahs is 17. Solomon attends Kea’au Middle School and plays basketball for a community team. That keeps him busy, happy, and constantly hungry. He’s starting his Eagle project building signs for the Pana’ewa Zoo. The zoo gardens are beautiful. I’d be happy to walk around even if there were no animals. See http://www.hilozoo.com/.
It turns out Abraham has a wonderful temperament for home school. I’m looking at a couple of options for grade 5 next year. If they don’t work out I’ll continue to home school. HI public schools rank about 46th of 50 in the nation for academic achievement and I’m unwilling to go down that road. (Rachel, Teach for America is here and we'll have room for you. We miss the big sisters!)
Laurie. Hello, Family. We have had several exciting things happen recently. On February 13th, little Breann Elizabeth was born to Greg and Kandice. We will meet her this coming weekend and can't wait for that.
Another bit of exciting news is that Camille (who has had a very weak voice since last August) had a surgery on February 17th that has improved her voice. She still can't sing, but now she can be heard when she speaks. Her voice is stronger, has more volume and she said she shouted across the gym the other day at a Junior Miss practice and someone actually heard her! While she was recovering in the hospital, she learned that she has been accepted to BYU Provo and so that is very exciting, too!
In case everyone doesn't get a chance to write, I will give a quick update. DaNeill is working hard for a title company and the Air Force. Her little girls are darling and keep her very busy. Nick, Rachel & Alexa just celebrated Alexa's first birthday. They are beginning the adoption process again. Greg, Kandice, Zachary & Joshua added Breann to their family and are happy at WSU. Chris is student teaching, working with another high school's drum line and working at the MTC while Jessica is the steady income winner at her apartment managing job. They have some exciting news to share... Cassidy and Jesse have been blessed with a great job offer from a company called Varian in Salt Lake City. Jesse interned with them, is working part-time until graduation and now has been hired full-time as an Engineer II. They really like him (and so does Cassidy).
We had everyone but DaNeill home at Christmas. They came and went at different times, but there was one day when we were all together and our children presented us with the most wonderful DVD and books for us to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I watch the video and look at the books all the time. Thanks to those of you who contributed to them. It means so much to us.
By the time we have another WPN, Neil and I will be "empty-nesters". I can remember thirty years ago when I wished for that day to come, and now I just want all my kids to move close by! It's a good thing I'm still in love with Neil! Our lives are filled with good things, including challenges that help us to grow. I am thankful for that. And I am thankful for each member of our wonderful "Wolf Pack" family.
Cassidy & Jesse. Hello Family! Jesse and I are doing well. We're living in Provo and both attending BYU. Jesse graduates in April (in Mechanical Engineering), and received a job offer from his current employer, Varian Medical Systems, in Salt Lake City which he'll start on the 27th of this month. We're house shopping in the Salt Lake area right now and we're really excited to start this new chapter of our life together. Married life is the best. We love you all!
Amy. Larry took a great job as Vice President at Sonic Restaurants at their headquarters in Oklahoma City, so we're getting ready to move. We were so worried about selling the house in this economy, but thankfully it sold quickly and we close in a few weeks. The boys and I are going to move into an apartment here for a couple months to finish out the school year. OK is not the most exciting place I can think of to live, but we took a trip up over New Years and had a great time. There are some really beautiful areas with actual hills and trees, not how I imagined it at all. I'm pretty excited!
Colton and Brian are both into lacrosse season now. Colton loves playing for the high school team, and Brian decided to try it for the first time after watching his brothers for so many years. Sean and Brittany & Steven are doing great in Utah. We miss them sooo much! We're planning a trip out there to see Britt's art show at BYU this summer.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in AZ for Sidney's wedding. I'm also looking forward to a trip to Spokane in May to see Ken and run the marathon on Lilac weekend and watch the parade!
I'm really thankful to be a part of your lives. I learn so much from your examples and the way you guys handle life's many ups and downs.
Melody. Leap year. to leap: v. intr. 1. to jump off the ground with a spring of the legs. 2. to jump forward; to vault; bound. 3. to move quickly, abruptly, or impulsively. tr. 1. to jump over; to hurdle. 2. to cause to vault or jump. n. 1. The act of springing up or forward; vault; bound. 2. The distance cleared in a forward spring. 3. An abrupt or precipitous passage, shift, or transition. (My favorite.)
Examples: 1. Melody leaped out of bed this morning to get her news in. 2. Ken leaped on a plane from Spokane to come visit Melody on January 23 but did not leap back onto the plane when he returned to Spokane on February 6 at the prospect of catching up at work and shoveling snow out of the back of his truck. 3. Melody bounded into Waimea, February 4 for Cherry Blossom Festival, family in tow, to celebrate the coming of Spring. Fantastic to have family here.
My other job offer is still on hold. I've been invited to be a presence, especially overnight, “to keep an eye on Grandpa" rent free. My landlords are buying a house next door. Grandpa is in good health and mobile, a 90-year-old former state Senator who is almost 5 feet tall and able to carry on a dinner conversation. It's iffy. IF the sale of the house goes through. IF Grandpa survives the move, etc.
Work is good. We've been busy with “Snowbirds” sick of the snow, who don't need a lot of entertaining, but packed light or forgot to pack something, and Japanese who want off their islands. Also Koreans, Chinese, Europeans, and Australians. I made 27 years with Liberty House/Macy's on Feb. 13th.
Rob & Shante. We have good news! Rob graduates in May from ASU with a Masters in Business Administration. He accepted a job with Bank of America at their corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC at the end of May. For the first two years he will be in their Leadership Development Rotation Program. His title will be Assistant Vice President. There may be 5,000 other Assistant Vice Presidents at BofA, but it still sounds pretty cool! We're so excited for this new adventure.
Jack turned 3 in December. He says the most hilarious things and is probably the most stubborn child you'll ever meet. I'm not sure where he gets it from. He loved having a visit from his only second cousin he's ever met, Alexa -- Rachael and Nicolas' daughter. He still talks about her. He keeps hoping she'll come and visit again. Jack loves other kids, and especially babies. Even though he's the ultimate boy, he's very nurturing.
Lucy. Our big new is that the wedding is only one month away! We are getting very excited for Sidney and Taylor. They are going to have a beautiful wedding, honeymoon in Hawaii, and then move into their new home. Sidney is getting a great guy and we couldn't be happier. We are so excited to see all of you that can make it for the wedding. The best part for me is spending time with my family. If you need hotel info let me know.
Carly is busy with club volleyball. She has tournaments every other week so she and I get that time to spend together. It's been fun. She is the libero so she gets to stand out in her bright blue shirt. She turns 16 on March 23rd and she is so excited to get her drivers license! I think the worst thing in the world is to have to teach your kids how to drive. It's just not natural to put your children in control of your life. Once Sidney got her license it took me two years to get back into a car with her in the drivers seat and I think it will be the same with Carly.
Adri has discovered that she loves drama. This didn't come as a surprise to Matt and me since she is a 13 year old. Her middle name is drama. She is taking a drama class at school as well as one down at the Mesa Arts Center. She is having a lot of fun with it. She is also the Beehive president at church and has shown she has a responsible side to her.
We love you all so very much and we are so grateful to be a part of this family. Hope to see you all the end of this month!
Dan. Hello to everyone.
Nadya and the kids are heading to Flagstaff this weekend to play in the snow one last time before it is all gone. We had a busy winter with lots of work, Nadya's ongoing school, and the kids in their various activities. We are petitioning to have the days increased to 48 hours so we can fit everything in. I'm sure you all feel the same from time to time.
Danil is growing and just got shoes larger than mine. Wow! Sofia is in dance class and wears her pink leotard for days (and nights) at a time. [Yes we wash it, Merrily!] She had her third birthday party and each day she wants to have it again.
Giselle is beautiful and loves to laugh. It is amazing how your children's laughs fill you with joy.
All my kids are so big already. Will someone tell me how to stop this, please. We may need to continue to have babies if they are going to grow up so fast.
Nadya is doing great in school and before I know it I will have my own nurse in the house. I'm so proud of her, I don't know how she does it. She is a machine when it comes to studying and keeping the family going.
I'm working to keep milk in the fridge. Dang! How did we ever have enough food for our family when we were growing up? Did Mom and Dad shop everyday?
I've been kicking around eventually becoming a pastor in my old age and have become even more serious about it lately. I'm even considering responding to some job opportunities. I planned on it maybe in ten years but who knows, maybe sooner.
We bought a rental property and just finished fixing it up and have some new renters.
Ahhh, it's good to be a slum lord again! :) Working on buying another now. Because we have lots of time on our hands.
Hope to see you at the wedding reception! We love and pray for you all.
Greg & Kandice. Hello family! We are in Pullman, WA right now while Greg is attending grad school. He will be done this summer and then it is on to a job somewhere. I get to stay home with our children. We love to have preschool and make
different things. Zachary is four and is excited to turn five this summer. He is busy and loves to learn. He is looking forward to kindergarten in the fall. Joshua just turned three. He is loves to move and play. He is very active and has a great imagination. Breann was born February 13 of this year. We are so happy to have her in our family. She is a great baby. She loves to eat and loves to sleep. To see more of what our family is up to you can check out our family blog at: gregandkandice.blogspot.com.
