To Our Family, Loved Ones and Friends, we wish to say that we’ve finally learned to go with the flow of whatever life tosses our way. As your heroes signed off last year, we were looking forward to fun and good cheer and ringing in 2006 in Trinidad for the first time in at least 8 years. January 1st started off promisingly enough, surrounded by friends and family, and enough wine to make the world a merry place indeed. We returned to Florida the following day and began our adventures anew.

In January, Kim’s mom, Chalice, arrived to stay with us for 4 months to help with the children, as Kim’s chemotherapy was making her increasingly exhausted.

It seems that almost every year since 2000 we’ve written about moving our household hither and yon. 2000- Miami/Doral FL; 2002-Doral FL; 2003-UK; 2004- Plantation FL; 2005-Davie FL, and this year is no different. The apartment we moved to, in 2005 had decided to raise the rent by 20% to bring the property housing costs in line with Florida’s super-heated market values. We decide to buy a house and settle down so that Celeste would have some stability as she enrolled in Elementary school in the Fall. After our previous attempts in 2004 and 2005 to purchase a house, we decided to look at other states. Derek accepted a job in Wisconsin and, as we prepared to move, his existing employer asked him to reconsider and offered him the option to move anywhere in the US and telecommute.

A frantic weekend of researching housing, taxes, school districts, quality of life AND equally import, proximity to a major airport prompted a decision. In March we contacted a real estate agent, flew out, and instructed her to find us a house to sign a contract on by the following day. Mission accomplished, we closed via FedEx and received keys to our new home. Our stuff was freighted, Kim completed her final chemotherapy session on April 19th and, on April 21st, we packed the cars and, like the Old West pioneers, went West. We drove through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Two hours after crossing the Louisiana/Texas border, we drove onto the driveway of our new home. 2006 – Grand Prairie, TEXAS.

Everything was a whirlwind of activity that comes with having a new house, new school, new environment and learning our way around. This blur of activity was punctuated with a few memorable highlights. Having helped us immeasurably during the past 4 months and particularly during the unpacking and settling into Texas, Chalice returned to Trinidad. Celeste turned 5 and we registered her for Elementary School for the Fall semester.

Major changes are sometimes made more palatable by the arrival of the familiar, and, we were pleased that Derek’s parents and siblings and their loved ones, made the time to visit us this year. Among the major changes was Derek’s decision in June to get into shape. He set an initial goal of weighing 180 lbs by Christmas (a weight loss goal of 50 lbs).

In the months of July and August we had two bits of great news. Kim’s doctor gave her the option of removing her implanted IV port and she jumped at the opportunity to get rid of it. Then, in August, at her follow-up colonoscopy, her colon was pronounced as normal.

Celeste went trick-or-treating for the first time this year. It was hilarious watching her and her friends see how much candy they could get. Normally shy Celeste, was a candy demon, boldly knocking on doors. Brendan had the sniffles, so he stayed at home with Derek and handed out candy. Every time the doorbell rang he’d jump up, grab a handful of candy and hand it out.

Derek started running as part of his weight loss plan and eventually participated in a 5K race and placed 5th in his age category. On December 3rd, Derek achieved his weight goal of 180 lbs and has now set his sights on his final weight goal of 160 lbs. He runs a minimum of 25 miles per week with a 10-mile long run on Sundays and is in the best condition of his life.

Brendan turned 2 and started playing soccer (SoccerTots). He enjoys, and insists on, being involved in everything his sister does, including decorating the Christmas tree.

So far life in Texas hasn’t been dull. When we started drafting this letter, the roof was covered in snow and ice. What’s remarkable about that, is that the previous day we had temperatures near the 80’s F (26C). Texans tell us that only fools and newcomers try to predict the Texas weather and we’re learning that they’re right. We’re taking into 2007 the ability to go with the flow of life, including the Texas weather.

We wish you all, a Happy and Holy Christmas and a Prosperous and Blessed 2007.

Derek, Kim, Celeste, & Brendan