January
Younger son’s wedding in Corpus Christi and two weeks with son Richard and family in California kept me ‘off-Island’ for seven weeks. Ben was there for the wedding week, and he is planning our vacation together in New Zealand as I write this in March. The wedding was a wonderful family gathering for the Helmers, and a welcome for and by Diane's family and friends. Thank you.

February
This month’s highlight is son Steve’s graduation from Advanced Flight School. Jane was there as he landed from the last training flight; after the ice-water (which he said he needed!), an instructor stuck his ‘soft wings’ badge on Steve’s flight suit. How did this happen before Velcro?
The official Winging ceremony was the following week. Steve and Diane are now at home in Virginia Beach.
Jane returned to Guam mid-February, for six weeks of warmth and Guam-style activity.

2007 holiday season
For seven weeks, mid-November to late December, we dog-sat on the shore of the Philippine Ocean. This gave us lovely home and two cars to use, so our town-home and car were available for use by visitors.

November
We learn to live in the jungle: I’ll tolerate such ‘hardships’ any time!
At Thanksgiving the Presiding Bishop stopped here on her way back from the World Peace Conference in Korea. She saw all three Episcopal Churches on Guam, confirmed and received a number of candidates on Thanksgiving Day, and enjoyed the island hospitality that accompanied a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

December
Delivering the Noble Fir Christmas tree among flowering ginger, orchids, and coconut palms is certainly different.
We spent a day touring and visited several historic sites in the east and south coasts: from the Pacific to the Philippine, via Tartuguan Point, Talofofo Bay, Inarajan and Merizo to Umatac and home to Agat.
Christmas came quickly, with 80-degree temperatures, parties, and church events.

If I remember right, you'll see dogs on terrace, some of the garden, the Christmas tree when I brought it 'home' atop SUV among palms, sports car with top down, on December 4, on hill between Umatac (Magellan's landing place) and where we stayed at Agat, and the shoreline one evening on ‘our’ property.