Merry Christmas from Phoenix! We are spending our first Christmas ever, without snow. It does seem strange and we all have had to keep reminding ourselves it really is December. Today is December 22, 1982,  the temperature is 70-something ABOVE zero and the kids are in the pool. We are more used to Fairbanks and having a minus in front of it.

This is heavenly though and we still haven't gotten past opening the curtains in the morning and saying "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!"   We left Fairbanks on a cold night at 49 BELOW zero and arrived in Phoenix to sunshine and 70's,  January 2, 1982.....120 degrees difference!    We'd watched the Fiesta Bowl, held in Tempe, sitting in a Fairbanks friend's house that was SO COLD that we wrapped in sleeping bags;  caught the flight that night at midnight and landed midday in warmth!   After 15 years in Fairbanks this is almost incomprehensible.  

We have found a wonderful church after searching for six months. That was the hardest part of the move. Our church in Fairbanks was central to our lives for so many years. 

I suppose our cards will be late this year. We have had a lot of company and just yesterday took the last lady to the airport. Don is here for the holidays and we have been madly working to get things ready for National Amateur Sport Council to open on February 1st. We have rented offices and things are progressing nicely.

The kids are as busy as they were in Fairbanks. Have we ever enjoyed having the whole family together again after the two older boys stayed in Fairbanks to finish school last winter when we moved. Steve and Scott are enrolled in ASU.   Scott has been teaching me computer.   He is setting up the new system for NASC.   Steve is working with the ASU baseball program doing the PA and anything else they need.   Teena is a Junior in Westwood High School, Mesa, and has been busy in plays and dance productions.   Todd is a 6th grader, active in band and many activities. They keep the cars constantly on the road. We appreciate gas at 99c here.

Don flies down often. When the kids and I flew to Alaska this summer we were bumped from a flight that had been overbooked.  They gave us EACH a round-trip ticket anywhere in the system, so Don has 5 free trips down this winter.

We love hearing from old friends.... know very few people here so the Christmas cards and letters have been especially appreciated.   Everyone have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.... and many blessings in 1983.