New Year's greetings are probably more in order since it is already December 21st, 1997.  We have not spent a Christmas in the Bay Area since 1993!   Even with all the extra time this year, since we were not packing for a trip, we still found ourselves behind in our Christmas shopping and card writing.  Last time this year we were in Acapulco with my family where it was a warm 90 degrees!  After living through brutal Chicago winters, we just can't get enough warm weather. 

This past Spring, Brian and I resumed our work in youth ministry.  Our church has a large high school group and my school career finally left breathing room.  I am the Freshman Girls Youth Advisor and Brian is the Senior Guys Youth Advisor and also plays guitar in the high school morning worship band.  We are blessed to have such a super group of kids!

Other than our involvement with the high schoolers at church, our lives have not changed very much.  I received my school psychologist credential, am taking my Qualifying Exams in March and will start working on my dissertation in September.  Year-round I work for the University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports running summer sports camps for youth.  Over the years I have become more involved in developing coach and recreation staff training programs and would like to spin this into a career.  I have begun farming myself out to other agencies who need to train their staff.  This year also began tutoring freshman athletes at the Athletic Study Center.

Brian started his fifth year with Ikon Office Solutions where he is a Team Leader (his team services copiers and fax machines).  The job gives him the opportunity to work on the tough accounts while allowing him to be in a supervisory position.  Brian finds the disadvantages of his job to be the 1 hour commute in and out of the city with a $2.00 per day bridge toll and the irate customers.  The enjoyable aspects of his job are the ability to get a company back on their feet, the novelty of meeting and helping new people every day, and shaping the work ethic of young technicians.

In March our beloved blind adopted cat Jeremiah began to have kidney problems.  After months of special food and weekly fluid treatments (Brian would make a good diabetic) his kidneys failed and we were forced to make the decision to pursue heroic treatments or end his 12 year old life.  We did briefly considerborrowing a kidney from our other cat Jack; however, we decided that it was more humane to end his life.  Jeremiah was a neat cat and it was awful to lose him.  Brian went back to the vet and held his paw `till the end.  Jack was so lonely with out his life long pal.  At this same time our vet rescued 6 week old kittens from under a car near his home.  One was meant for us.  

Huey, now 6 months old, is of great character and a blast.  He has fallen in the bath water 3 times and turned himself orange by sticking his head into a powdered macaroni and cheese package from the garbage.  Huey just learned to flip up the paper cover on the printer.  He wedges himself in the paper tray and tries to stop the printer cartridge as it

 We enjoy keeping in touch with all of you even if it is only through our yearly Christmas letter.  We do much better communicating via e-mail or telephone.