Hello, It is Christmas time and, therefore, time to bore you with the condensed version of our year. Other than wonderful times with family and friends, the only extra fun part of my year was that one of our daughters and I went on a tour. My billfold was 'lifted' in London, and yet I still found the city fascinating. My favorite part of this trip to England, France, and Spain, however, was the ferry ride on the English channel. I have always loved being on the water and spent most of the hour and a half crossing out on the deck, in spite of the foul weather! As we grew ever distant from those beautiful white cliffs at the port of Dover, I could not help but wonder how the English civilians must have felt as they were leaving, in their private craft, during WWII, to rescue the military men from the shores of France. Our second grandchild joined the family (a whole month early) on March 30th. Our niece and her children were arriving from our homestate of MO. My husband had plans to take Mother to her dental appointment so that I could collect the 3 of them from the airport. Instead, one of our daughters headed for the airport (unbeknownst to our niece) while I stayed to help this sweet and small, but healthy, baby come safely into this world. She and our other grandaughter (born Sept '99) are the highlights of this grandmother's and granddaddy's lives! Sadly for us, one of my husband's brothers was called to be with the Lord on March 7th. Naturally we went to MO for his funeral. But, that definitely was not a fun way to get to see the other siblings. (We hope to do better in 2001.) This brother would have been 75 yrs old on the very day our 2nd grandchild was born, and we miss him so much! Then, on October 2nd, my dear mother died, only 36 hours after the birth of my sister's third grandchild. (This baby also arrived small and healthy, but a month ahead of schedule!) Mother's advanced cancer was detected, very unexpectantly, only one month before her flight Home to Heaven. We were in MO at the time, so she died right there where she had been born, in our hometown of Carrollton. My husband and I were with her until after she drew her final breath, and for that I will always be thankful. Being an 'orphan', with no living siblings, is a scary thing for me. And, frankly I do not feel that I am wise enough to be the lead generation of the family! We continue to be blissfully spoiled by having all of our young-adult children living right here in the Phoenix metro area. All were here for Thanksgiving and will be for Christmas! The only thing better would be for my sister's children and grandchildren to be as close at hand. Luckily, we get to spend time with them when we go to MO. Christmas will be difficult without Mother and my brother-in-law, but we will persevere. After all, at least we know (as a friend so wisely told me) that they are attending the ultimate birthday party for Christ. Best wishes and much love to all for this Holy Holiday season and for 2001. Leslie