We hope you are enjoying this Christmas and holiday season and finding time to spend with friends and family.

Tim and I are watching as our family continues to change and grow. A big event for the Morgan family was on April 14^th, when Jocelyn wed Martin Arango Lopez. They are very happy, living outside of Santa Rosa, and we are expecting our first grandchild on March 25^th!

The wedding was outside on a beautiful spring afternoon (we try to forget the gale force winds) attended by family. Martin's brother Alejandro was the best man and Amanda was the maid of honor. As with most weddings, there were some mishaps, fortunately minor, which added to the memories. Amanda, with bridesmaids Lauren and Katherine wore lavender dresses and Alejandro, brother Jose, and Terry wore tuxes. One of the funniest scenes was seeing some of the guys, including Amanda's boyfriend Justin, who is usually seen in jeans, leather jacket and lots of metal, meticulously cutting lavender and red tulle several days before the wedding for the favors. On the wedding day, we watched the very heavy and rich tres leches cake, on its pedestal, slowly sliding to one side – no, it didn't fall! A highlight for me was being able to make Jocelyn's wedding dress. It was probably one of my most involved sewing projects, but strangely therapeutic. Amanda finished the dress by sewing seed pearls on the top layer of organza. Tim had a big moment, if not mixed feelings, walking his daughter down the aisle. After a short, rained out honeymoon in Oregon, Martin and Jocelyn returned to Santa Rosa. During their rare days off together, they enjoy fishing, hiking and camping.

Terry is still with his girlfriend Lauren and living in Santa Rosa. He works for Beringer Winery as a fermentation analyst and is also going to Sonoma State. He forgets he needs time to sleep. The two of them went to Barbados last January, where they encountered many friendly vendors and were served much macaroni pie. Terry still enjoys rare moments backpacking or hiking, often with his life-long friend Craig. The two of them spend hours discussing various research projects, which the rest of us don't understand. In August, at the beginning of the grape crush and harvest (60+hour weeks), and the beginning of school, Terry and Lauren received notice to vacate their house. Somehow, they managed to find another very cute house, and keep up with school and work. Lauren is a voice major, and teaches preschool music and piano.

Tim has had a very busy year. His job at ESA has kept him going with several big contracts, and he also has been taking some classes in web design, with the idea of launching his own business. He hasn't been brewing beer as much lately, but since I've been in school and he's taken over some of the domestic chores, he realized he wanted more culinary inspiration. He has taken a series of cooking classes at our local junior college, in everything from vegetarian cuisine to cooking with game! We're never sure what we're going to find in the fridge.

Amanda, at 19, is very happy with her life right now. It may not be what WE want, but we're just Mom and Dad. She still works at Whole Foods, but transferred to a different store, where she works in the meat department. She loves the styles of the '50s, and to prove it she bought a '57 Chevy, which she named the Dead End Cruiser, and which now adorns our driveway. Her boyfriend, Justin, and some other friends talk about how great the Chevy is going to be when it's fixed up. We think it will be great, too. Amanda still plays bass in a band, and is interested in being a radiological technician, for which she has to take classes, we remind her. She recently moved out to live with her friends, but as she said, "I don't really have a reason to move out. I get along fine with you and Dad. And I have free internet, cable, lots of space, and food in the fridge....." She lives here in Petaluma, and we see her every few days, but I still miss her. After all, I'm losing my fashion consultant, sometime-caterer, and an audience for my clinical adventures. We love her individuality and watching her grow in her own way.

My main focus remains my studies in the University of California, Davis, Physician Assistant program. Graduation is June 8, 2003! This course continues to be an incredibly challenging but satisfying journey. Six short months and I'll be on my own, but not really, as that’s when the real learning begins. I'm fortunate to work at a local clinic with several doctors, and other PAs, and with another doctor in private practice. I attend classes in Sacramento one week per month, and also have to complete four rotations. Last summer I spent several weeks working in a local emergency room ... and loved it!

When I started last year, I asked the kids – please no weddings or babies for two years! But Jocelyn had other ideas, so at the end of winter quarter, I found myself planning a wedding and making a wedding dress! Somehow, we all made it through. It's very hard to stay focused on my studies and not family activities, but without support I couldn’t do this. Tim, Amanda and everyone have kept me going!

Tim planned a vacation for us last June. We went back to one of our favorite spots from our climbing days, Bridgeport, east of Yosemite, and then explored the eastern backbone of the Sierra Nevada. We canoed on Mono Lake, hiked at 10,000 feet in the Bristlecone Pine Forest, and found several hot springs. In Bishop, California, we visited Galen Rowell's gallery, and saw his photos of the "Range of Light." Tragically, he was killed in a plane crash shortly after. On July 4th, we hiked to Horse Camp, at 8000 feet at the base of Mt Shasta in northern California. Friends Gretchen and Stuart met us there. We spent several days just enjoying the 70 yr-old alpine hut, and watch teams of climbers go for the summit. My father and uncle climbed the peak in the '30s, so it held some nostalgia.

These trips were a relaxing break from the grind, but as is often the case these days, our kids were unable to go with us. One of my goals after graduation is to get to know my new grandbaby and just generally spend more time with friends and family. Of course, there's remodeling the house and purging the house of the three children's belongings. I actually considered wrapping up some of their stuff to give as Christmas presents!

We continue to be thankful for little things – our totally spoiled cat who now sleeps at the foot of our bed (at the risk of being CATapulted off!), a few hours here or there to hike or go to the beach, our friends and family, student financial aid....and my Palm pilot!!!

Have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season! We would love to hear from you by email (or snail mail.)

The Morgans:
Tim, Sharon, Amanda, Terry, Lauren, Jocelyn, Martín and Kyra