Dearest Family and Friends
Greetings to all of you. There have been many changes in our lives since last year that bid us to express a letter to catch up. The 2006 year brought in the birth of our little Lucy on Jan. 13. It was a 70 degree day when Nichole and I walked to the hospital. The whole experience was one of what some people would say was a circus. Lucky for us it was our third time going through the whole experience we were not alarmed one bit. The year went on with lots of firsts again.
February and March came and went quickly as we were anticipating a move out of state for vicarage. Well as most know by now we are still in MO, but we did end up moving. (we'll explain more later). We were greatly blessed this last year to find a place that would help us out financially and provide more room for the kids to play and enjoy each other. A friend and his wife at the Seminary told us about the opportunity to move and thankfully we were able to do so.(the address will be sent out through snail mail, just don't write it in your books in ink)
The summer months went by quickly to0. We helped Paul's parents pack some of their belongings for a big move into a beautiful senior citizen apartment. We went to Chicago to surprise My mother for her 50th birthday. In between all the moving and partying, we managed to go to the wading pools to cool off from the summer heat. Then the school year came and is now almost done!
Nichole spent the first months of this school year watching our three children, Tim, Lily, and Lucy, along with three other children around the ages of 11 months to 14 months old. They were wonderful kids, each with a different personality that sparked much laughter and excitement. However, we found that our three children were missing their mom’s attention. We decided to notify the parents of the three young children that we needed to spend more time as a family and so at the end of January we found time to spend with each other. Nichole is really enjoying her time home with our own kids and helps a fellow seminarian’s wife clean houses on occasion.
Tim started Pre-Kindergarten this year and really loves it. He comes home and tells us all about his day and the new things he learned. He turned five this last October and finds the world of dragons, knights, and swords fascinating. We still have a great time wrestling with each other and of course he gets to play the hero and save his sisters, who are the princesses, from the bad man (that would be me). Tim started to read and sounded out his first word.
Lily dresses up almost everyday as Shanti or Cinderella or some other Disney princess. She enjoys being rescued and loves to play with her Barbies. Her talent extends well beyond her imagination as her memory beats out just about anybody when playing the memory game. She colors and started to get a handle on her alphabet and numbers. She turns four this April and is turning into quiet a wonderful little girl. She had her tonsils and adenoids taken out this last fall and now just lost her first tooth. She also helps with feeding and taking care of Lucy.
Lucy followed in the same footsteps as Lily. Ear infection after ear infection prompted the doctors to recommend tubes. While the number of ear infections has decreased she occasionally still has them. She is still very content in life but those days of separation anxiety arrived. That just means she gets more hugs and love. She just turned One year old in January.
This last year presented the opportunity for a delayed vicarage. The Seminary sent out letters requesting 18 guys to defer their vicarage for one year due to a shortage of vicarage assignments. We were fortunate enough to be able to stay and finish out the course work. That means we receive our vicarage assignment on April 25th of this year and immediately receive our first call (placement) upon completion of our one-year vicarage assignment. I picked up some hours working security on campus and now work about 12 hours per week at Concordia Publishing House in their Information Services Department. I am certainly blessed with a great boss.
Now that we are already into two months of 2007 we find ourselves getting ready for the upcoming events of this year. There is only a handful of things of course. With getting a call and yes, more than likely we will be moving out of state, we will once again be packing. Saying goodbyes will be hard for we have really enjoyed the friendships we have made here in St. Louis. We know that no matter what the distance is we will always be connected in Christ. Also this year we are looking forward to going to CO to see Sarah graduate from High School. A Few new arrivals is certainly making this year 2007 the record breaking year for the Brook side of the family. On January 26 we welcomed Baby Elizabeth to the Wheeler family. She makes number one for the 2007 baby. In May we wait patiently for the arrival of Baby Beves. He/she will make number two for the 2007 year. And speaking of babies, We are excited to share with you the news of another addition to our family. Baby #4 is due this coming September 19, 2007. He /she will be number 3 for the 2007 babies on the brook side of the family. How blessed we all are. We praise and glorify our Lord for the gift of life and for the joy that he has added to our lives.
