Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

Season’s Greetings 2007! Quoc and I have decided that 2007 is a year of wonderful firsts. The first first was this summer, it was our first wedding anniversary. We traveled to Greece, during peek travel season, a heat wave, and large wildfires for our first anniversary. We had a wonderful time despite the traveling obstacles. Our favorite historic site was Mycenae, and our favorite country side was the island of Naxos. Quoc has pictures posted on-line at

http://picasaweb.google.com/quocster

not only of our trip to Greece but other family events as well.

The second first, is currently underway. December marks our one year anniversary in our house. We have had many adventures as home-owners. Our first weekend living in our house we braved a strong windstorm, and never lost power and only one shingle! We have enjoyed our neighbors and neighborhood, the surprises in the garden, and what seems like an endless supply of hot water. The 1922 craftsman cottage (for it really is a cottage built for two not a house) has so much charm, but is lacking some of the modern conveniences. We hope to update the kitchen a bit too.

Other notable firsts; Quoc received his first Amazon job promotion. He really enjoys his work, though the commute from Tacoma to Seattle does sometimes get to him. Jessica is the first at her school to teach a new class called Field Investigations. She takes 7^th and 8^th grade students out into the vegetated green buffers bordering her school and teaches them outdoor science techniques.

One not so great first was our first series of expensive vet bills for our cat Miara. We were attempting to let her have some outdoor freedom, and she came back with a broken toe. Despite months in a cast, it never did join together properly. She is fine now scampering and causing mischief but her back middle toe sticks out a bit funny.

And that’s life for Quoc and Jess. A year of firsts with the ones we love. Humble and simple but we feel a million times blessed.

Season’s Warmest Wishes, Jess & Quoc

Miscarriage

Jess and I have had a miscarriage. We are both deeply saddened, but it's gone so far as to show how much love and support our family and friends provide us. Jess has been pretty strong through all this and is recovering well. She has taken some time to rest and recuperate; with the timing of it she will go back to school in the new year. Although it's very sad for Jess and I, I guess miscarriages are quite common. In the first month or two, I guess 1 or 2 pregnancies are miscarried and women often don't know. In the first trimester, it's 1 in 5 that are miscarried. And later in the pregnancy it's more like 1 in 10. We are hopeful for the future though, as the doctor says miscarriages are no indicator as to how future pregnancies will go, but it is good news that we are able to.