Greetings to everyone.

         Boy did that year go by fast! Our biggest and best praise of the year was the arrival of a Most Precious Gift, "Claire Vanessa". Some of you got our announcement regarding her but others not. It is so hard to believe she is almost 12 months old. She is now sitting up on her own, trying to pull up to the couch, and doing the "army" crawl. She is going for re-check just before Christmas, after she had her ear tubes put in and thank many for prayers as God watched over her and she came out of anesthesia very good with no bad after effects.

         She is now following the footsteps of brother Connor Lee now 2 years old, sister Camille Julia who just turned 4 years old and Cora Naomi, the BIG 5 already.

         With the older children, it's a different kind of curiousity. They are each growing so quickly.

         Caleb is going to turn 8 years old just before Christmas - tough little 90 pound guy, Charles uses Caleb for P. E., weightlifting, especially when changing diapers. When Caleb giggles it is contagious and his little smile is precious. He is able to eat most foods, working on using fork and spoon, also can drink from sippy cup and with a straw.

         Candace just turned 10 and is truly becoming a young lady - the Lord closed a situation at school this year, along with some staff changes and a new Principal so she is now enrolled at OCS (Osborne Christian School) along with Charles, Charlotte and Cora - Thank you all at OCS for prayer and support. She has a real gift for singing she and Charlotte performed in a church play called "Amerikids", practicing every Saturday and some Friday nights for almost 3 months. Charlotte was blessed to sing a "Solo" and did a GREAT job. Grandma claimed they wouldn’t have had a program without her.

         Charlotte has also been blessed with a gift of singing, art and tries most things. She is 10 1/2 and growing into a little young lady also. She enjoys talking, climbing trees, talking, roller blading, talking and reading too! The Lord has brought some "Mighty Powerful reading material" into our life ( I also enjoy it) and it teaches so much about "The Lord" and "His" desires for us. We have another "Praise", Charlotte accepted Jesus as her Personal Lord and Savior at the end of October this year. Charlie and I were blessed to pray with her the same way I was blessed to pray with Charles many years ago when he took that step. Chris accepted the Lord a few years ago also and we continue to teach them both on communion before they partake.

         Curtis will be turning 12 the month after Christmas, which seems even harder to grasp. This year he has an Extra Special Teacher, who is deaf and signs but speaks so beautiful, her heart truly cares for the children. Curtis is communicating more and more through sign language. Curtis has also had a year of toileting more than 50% of the time so diapers only for nap and bed, with only a few accidents. This has been a real "Praise."

         Charles, now 16, is enjoying many things from reading, riding his bike, loves Book Stores and Libraries. He is involved with the church part of Osborne Neighborhood Church - OO - Osborne Outreach, sharing with those who have visited or shared an interest in the church, this is his 2^nd year. Speakers come and share, these are interesting and learning times also. Charles Loves computers and is learning more and more, this year he attended the LUGFEST, an all day event with Seminars, Demonstrations, Info on Linux (If you know what that is great, if not, ask someone that does.) He updated his Babysitting/CPR class again this year. The Lord is helping him learn more patience when helping around the house and babysitting some of his brothers and sisters, he has also been blessed with a job that started late summer, babysitting for a Pastor friend and his wife, they have 2 children, a daughter that just turned 4 and son that is 6 or 7 years old.

         Chris (Christopher) our oldest at 16 1/2 , but not tallest as we tease him and Charles, is still attending Miller Special Ed High School, directly across the street from Cleveland High School. Chris has the same teacher as last year and is in an Academic class which is soooo… FUN. He has homework every night, anything from Current Events, cut out, glue, and we go over together then the class discusses them more at school. Our desire is to pick something uplifting and not all the Bad News. Other homework is practicing spelling words, a small list, and how they are used in context of sentences, clock practice is another practice. Chris is doing great at telling time on the "Old Fashioned" clock. He loves sports, you pick the type he loves it, basketball, soccer, kickball, bike riding. Chris has now received both his hearing aids and even his ear with the conductive loss, when the hearing aid is turned up, is hearing a LOT better. We hope this allows for him to feel he fits in better by hearing better and then enunciating better. He does try to work on roller blading with sister Charlotte too!

         Instead of even trying to arrange Birthday parties or get togethers every other month, we combined one earlier this year which a great time was had by all and great to see many friends and their families. The other get together we had October 14, 2000 Grpa Pete's Birthday, buffet style combining Charles, Candace, Connor Lee, Camille and Grpa Petes Birthdays, again we missed all you who couldn't come.

         The house had not been painted for several years, so that was done this summer. After a couple estimates we were able to work out the right time , and had the job done. No major changes, same color, just brighter that we were accustomed to.

         We took a week off this summer to do a few family things together. The week started out on a Saturday at Universal Studios Tours. This event was sponsored and mostly paid for by Charlies’ work, Nortel Networks. The older children went, yes, it was hot, yes it was crowded, there was some learning to be done and much fun. We did need to make decisions to stay away from many things we knew were not pleasing to God. We enjoyed walking through City Walk, some Live Music, stores and we ate at Tony Roma's which both the children and Charlie and I enjoyed. Then we spent a couple nights in a motel. The first night with only the 4 older kids so we all got in a little time in the pool. We had a few of the larger floaties, (tubes) so even the ones that couldn’t swim got to spend time in the pool, afternoon, night and again in the morning, any time they could. The sitters stayed till evening then Mom and Dad spent the night with the children at home until we returned the next day at lunch. Then we re-packed , had lunch and went back with all of us, this time to two rooms. We took the kids for walks around the Motel, some for longer walks and used the jogger and stroller, we sang, picked up dinner, played in the showers and just enjoyed being together. After 2 nights and 3 days we were all glad to be back home, catching up on laundry, chores etc. Another day we visited the Local Corn Maze and Animal Reserve, which also had a Big Climb & Slide and petting Zoo. Curtis enjoyed the slide more than anyone. Enjoyed a picnic, later over to the other side for paddle boat fun. GREAT DAY! Next day, included the Zoo, hadn’t seen that for a few years. This year we put off Magic Mountain and "Lord willing" will enjoy at another time. The Zoo was great fun, not enough time to see all.

         All the kids get some private time at Grpa and Grma’s house over the summer and this one was no exception. They went to a few live plays during the summer, also joining them for one of the plays was their two cousins, Joannie and Jocelyn visiting from Canada. They were able to get together about 3 times this summer and had a great time.

         Charlie is still working at the same place for the last 17+ years. Different name now but basically the same place. Carol is also still working hard at the same place for the last 20+ years. She works hard here in the home just taking care of the daily happenings in the home. She has been having some problems with her feet and has seen an orthopedic surgeon, 2 podiatrists and is now considering alternative medicine for what the doctors call a "mortons neuroma" in her left foot, (and spreading to the other foot also). We celebrated our 20^th Anniversary in April, are praying for many, many more healthy, happy years together and yes, we would do it all over.

         Mom and Dad celebrated their 46^th Anniversary in June, they are truly an example how they care for each other and spend time together , sharing and talking. Dad is now updated and modern and is learning computer, internet and E-mail (cwgrpa@juno.com), Mom by listening is learning and dictating, letters to Aunts and Uncles in Canada. Dad's health has been well and we give "Praise" for that. Mom's Eye Surgery went well, passed her driver's test, Realizing my foot problem and fears has opened a compassion for what she deals with and she is so supportive in understanding - God is good to us in that all her cancer tests have come back "Negative", our prayer is that the Lord will allow all cancer cells to die. Diabetes is the main struggle for mom at this time.

         Mom and Dad help much with the get togethers, couldn't do it without their organizational skills, both still involved in Neighborhood watch, their area, us in our area. They go to live plays and take the older kids to the ones that are appropriate.

         The church we had been attending for over a year had a BIG change. The pastor resigned due to some personal reasons. We are thankful that we are able to remain in contact with them and have times of fellowship, this is also one of the couples' children that Charles baby sits for. During the interim period which is still going on nine months later we found that we, as a family could not go against Biblical teaching and sit under a woman pastor, even if only for a month or so at a time. This has led us to a place, again, where it is that desert and searching and being open to where God wants us.

         Handicapped programs are not to be found and conservative churches are not real popular in a fast-paced like Los Angeles. We continue to attend a few local churches, at the same time praying for clarity and peacefulness and help for the Lord to lead our families direction. No, life is not easy, we have had the blessing this time that through sharing we are seeing how many other couples and families are struggling through prayer regarding Church situations also.

         Thank you to all who have shared all those new and used hand-me-downs with us. Sent us notes of encouragement. Also to our special sitter, Berta, and all the special people in our life too many to mention, from Vista Del Mar to Lawyers and especially to all of you who have lifted us in prayer. Prayer is so very important and has brought us through this year. Thank you for all your special ways in our life. God has blessed us through you all. May next year have even more peacefulness with the Lord's help. God bless,