Merry Christmas! We hope you and your loved ones are safe and in good health this winter season. As we approach the holidays and a new year begins, it is one of our family traditions to reflect upon the closing year.
David has been completing his coursework for his Master’s degree in Business at Rice University. He has only one semester left as he is set to graduate in May 2008. David completed a summer internship for Cooper Industries in the Mergers & Acquisitions group. He recently accepted a full-time job offer with Cooper Industries in the Advanced Leadership Program, which he will begin next summer. It will be a rotational program which will give us the opportunity to relocate for a few years before bringing us back to Houston permanently.
As for me, I continue to work three nights a week in my private practice doing therapy with couples and families in the northwest Houston area. What I love the most about working part-time is that while I do earn money for our family, it allows me the opportunity to stay home with Drew and be his mom. Being a mom is truly what gives me the greatest joy.
Drew is 2 ½ years old now. This past summer the doctor put tubes in his ears and removed his adenoids due to repeated ear infections. As a result, Drew is talking so much more and learning new words on a daily basis. Drew loves Thomas the Tank Engine and plays with his trains every day. He has learned his colors and enjoys pointing out objects that are yellow most of all. He adores Beva, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, (or “Bubba” as he calls her) and has the most fun running around the house with food in his hand so she will chase him!
While our family has been extremely fortunate this year, we have also experienced some losses. David’s father passed away in the summer from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We miss him greatly, and we feel extremely privileged to have spent so much time with him this past year. He was a good father to David and grandfather to Drew. Just recently, David’s maternal grandmother, Etta Miller, died as well. David had the opportunity to reunite with his extended family for the funeral services in Colorado. He really enjoyed reconnecting with aunts, uncles and cousins. Indeed, we are grateful for the wonderful memories we created with David’s dad and his grandmother, and we will always cherish them. We have faith that one day we will see them both again.
Looking ahead to the New Year, David and I will be celebrating 7 years of marriage the first week of January. We look forward to the possibilities 2008 brings! May your holidays and New Year be filled with joy and happiness!
With all our love,
The Pistorius Family