Sorry but we just didn’t get to the newsletter and Christmas cards last year! Life just keeps moving along and we are always trying to catch up, so Mom and I (Rebekah) finally decided to just let it slide, and we’d send a spring letter out, when we had lots more to tell.

First: Dad aka Bill has received his Request For Orders to stay here in Huntsville, AL. *YES!!* That means it’s 99.9% sure that the by-name request is good to go, and we’ll be staying here. Bill started a new job the first of December and LOVES it! He is working in the same program that he originally was when we arrived here, but in a different office. He was working on the American side of this program, but has moved and is working on the international side of things, with the Germans and Italians. He is actually in a NATO office. He is the Executive Officer to the General Manager. He has traveled to Germany a couple of times and to Italy a couple of times as well. He went to Rome in January. Mom wanted to go with him but she had work to do… Now that we’re staying put and he’ll be in this job (he wears civilian clothes and will retire form this office hopefully in three years, so… we may never have to buy a set of the new ACU’s), * I think I’m actually gunna miss them…* we hope there will be another chance for Mom to go over to Rome with Dad some day!

Second: Another addition has been made to our little…oops I mean big familyJ . Mom had been praying (or should I say she had been asking) if we were done, and Dad was receiving an answer but wasn’t listening for a while. J Finally the Lord let us know that our family was not yet complete! Mom was a little apprehensive to tell the girls the news; but when she told us there was to be another baby we were all so excited that we were literally doing cartwheels in the living room! Liam arrived on 29 April to a loving family. 

As for our family news over the past year (and a half):

I have finally made it to High school! I’m currently a Freshman and I am looking forward to moving up to the high school next year. They have stuck the 9^th graders in the middle school until they build another high school (projected in the next couple of years) and I’m hoping I won’t have to move my senior year…. But for now I’m working hard and striving to meet the high standards for my classes. I am currently in Wind Ensemble ( the highest band in my school) and we just received high marks *straight ones!!!* In an all-state competition. *pathetically the 2 middle schools did better in the competition than the high school we will soon be attending J * I’m also looking forward to my two upcoming BIG trips. I’m going to Disney World in May for a week to perform in concert and to have fun; and in June I’m going on a trip to England and France with the People to People student ambassador’s organization. I have also turned 15 and just got my drivers permit. I’m now learning to drive so watch out! The roads aren’t safe any more! :-P

Amanda entered the teenage world by turning 13 and she’s currently at the middle school in 7^th grade and thinks life is pretty cool. She started the year playing the French Horn in beginning band and was able to move ahead to concert band. She has really grown up in the past year and now serves as some competition! ;-) Her band is supposed to go to Disney as well, but the class as a whole has really been acting up for the young teacher, so they may not get to go now. We’ll see. However she did take a trip to Washington D.C. with the 7^th graders at school and she had a lot of fun.

Sariah is 10 and in 4^th grade. She’s gotten taller and will most definitely outgrow me. L Haha. She loves to write stories and is very creative! She also enjoys reading but doesn’t want to admit it. Her class is reading a book out loud and she wanted to read more so we had to go out and buy her a copy of it, and she is several chapters ahead of the class. Sariah has also gone through some big hurdles this new year. We finally got a Dr. to take us seriously about her knees causing her problems, and so she now has knee braces. She is even thinking about playing basket ball now that she won’t have to worry about her knee cap sliding out of place. *finally she can use those long legs of hers to her advantage :-P* She’s supposed to be going to physical therapy several times a week as well, but with the baby coming Mom’s sort of put that off for a little while.

Hannah is 7 and in First grade. She is reading really well, and has a lot of fun at school. She loves to go play with friends and is always on the go. She lost her front teeth a while ago, and finally the second one is growing in. I will miss her cute toothless grin! J

Marissa is 5 and loves going to school. She has been in a private church school for kindergarten this year, but now that we are staying here in Alabama she will have to attend kindergarten again next year, but at the public school. She LOVES to play outside, ride her bike, play Barbies, and dress up. When she knew we were having a new baby she said she wanted twin boys "because she will be the boss of them for a very long time!" She definitely thinks she’s in charge of things; and uses that spunky attitude and cute face to try to get what she wants.

Mom aka Wendy has been working hard as a doula and also as a midwife apprentice. In 2005 she attended 13 births!!! This year she actually caught a baby when the mom had her baby really fast at home before they could get to the Hospital. We called 911, and the EMT’s showed up but let mom catch the baby. She was definitely excited. Amanda and I were both there as well, since we had come to watch the two year old while mom and the family went off to the hospital. It was pretty awesome. The last mom she helped at a birth was just days/weeks before she had her own baby. But she’s a little sad that now some things will have to be put on hold until later notice. She’s already had to turn down at least 4 mom’s so far that called and wanted her to be their doula. For now other than helping out occasionally with the midwife births up in Tennessee (depending on the baby’s temperament and if the family doesn’t mind mom showing up with her new baby as well…), she will just be a mom again taking care of our family and our baby.