Merry Christmas from Overland Park 

      We’ve had a busy year with work, school and enjoying family and friends.  Eric and Margie traveled to California in February to celebrate the life of Karen Dyck, Eric’s brother Harold’s wife.  It was quite a shock to leave our worst ice storm in years and arrive in sunny California, but we adapted well.  The men in the family have enjoyed some paintball outings.  Eric and Margie both celebrated 50^th birthdays this year.   

      Eric got back on the bike this summer after recovering from his second knee surgery.  He continues with GeoCaching, and he’s managed to entice everyone he meets into at least one cache search.  In April, Carondelet Health announced they were closing their family practice offices by July 1.  So Eric again went through the job hunting shuffle.  Luckily, Olathe Medical Center decided to open an office in Louisburg for Eric to continue practicing there.  He spent two months at an office in another town while a mobile office could be set up in Louisburg.  He’s in temporary quarters, but he continues with some of the same staff and happy patients. 

      Margie still enjoys playing at KU MED with a new class of students each year.  She traveled to Manhattan one to two times a month through the winter and spring to share time with her Mom at chemotherapy sessions.  We received the good news this summer that the main tumor is smaller, so chemo is on hold for now.  These trips also afforded Alan and nephew Todd some good meals out. 

      Alan received a grant this summer from the American Institute of Steel Construction Foundation.  His computer crashed this fall, so he was able to get a new computer with some of the grant money.  He’s a senior, again, with a graduation target date of December, 2003 with his master’s.  This fall Alan’s roommates included his cousins Todd and Shayla.   

      Daniel finished a full year at Johnson County JuCo, and then he moved into the dorm at Emporia State.  His major this fall has been chemistry, but he’s still open on future career plans.  He’s enjoyed dorm life for the most part; he has three roommates, which is a bit of a challenge.  Emporia State’s football team played in a bowl this year; we won’t discuss the basketball team.