Another year! They sure seem to fly by, and as the kids get ready to fledge...well it just doesn't seem possible that we have adult and near adult children. An astonishing thought is that we may actually find ourselves with an empty nest (albeit briefly) next year. Read on.

Meghan & David will both turn 19 in the new year and both will graduate from high school in June. They find themselves in very different positions.

Although David will have earned enough credits to graduate this year, he really doesn't know what he wants to do next, not an uncommon problem for a young man. He is really enjoying high school, particularly the social aspect. He took a semester of outdoor ed (Tamarack), played on the football team and is involved as co-president of the school council. The academic aspect is secondary - mind you, he has recently been experimenting with more study and finds he likes knowing what's going on in his classes. He'd really like to keep going to high school next year, but his parents feel it is time for him to get out in the world, try something new and gain some experience.

Biniyam continues to live in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with Leslie's sister & brother-in-law. He's doing some very interesting things in grade 11. He's in a special trades program and is spending his entire first semester going to work rather than to school, where he is participating in the construction of a house for Habitat for Humanity. He's feeling particular satisfaction in knowing that this house will provide a home and a real opportunity for a less fortunate family to improve their circumstances. Next semester will be school as usual, but he will be able to apply his first semester work hours to a future trade certificate should he choose to earn one. He also joined the Armed Forces Reserves in the fall. Although he's unsure that this is a career direction that interests him, he is earning some money and doing some interesting training.

As previously mentioned, they should all be away next year. Lauren has been accepted to go on a Rotary International Student Exchange in grade 11, so we expect her to be abroad for the entire school year. As of yet, we don't know where she will go. At her first orientation in January, she will be able to list her top three choices of countries (selected from a list our Rotary District exchanges with). So far she is thinking Spain, Switzerland or Croatia.

Rotary Exchanges have provided a number of wonderful experiences for our family from both the hosting and exchanging ends. While Meghan had a great year in Khabarovsk, Eastern Russia, we've also had the pleasure of hosting three students: Babi from Brazil, Eveliina from Finland (David paid a return visit and spent a month with Eveliina's family in the summer), and now another Brazilian student - Bruno de Mello. Bruno has been with us since early September and we will be sorry to give him up to his next host family after Christmas. He is a fine young man with a great sense of humour and has been a welcome addition to our growing international family.

Leslie's brother Mike & his family are following their own adventure having successfully (after much paperwork and planning) emigrated to New Zealand in September. Mike is doing less programming and handling most of the homeschooling/parent-at-home responsibilities in addition to milking cows for the farmer across the road, while Lisa has started a job with Habitat for Humanity. Those of you who know them can follow along on their occasionally update blog at maplekiwi.com.

And speaking of international adventures, our family will be sharing one in February. We are travelling to Ethiopia (Andrew, Leslie & all four kids) on a volunteer excursion with Canadian Humanitarian, where we expect to participate in the provision of free medical & dental clinics, recreation programs for youth, and gardening & micro-business support to adults in and around the capital city of Addis Ababa. We feel that as the boys reach adulthood, it is time to take them back to see where they came from. We hope that it will be valuable for them, perhaps helping them to better understand their own experiences, as well as a really interesting opportunity for us all. Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world with a fascinating history and culture, unfortunately still struggling with poverty and development issues. As part of our commitment to Canadian Humanitarian, we are required to raise a donation of $4000 per person. While we are fully prepared to do this on our own, we would be most grateful to anyone who feels moved to make their own tax-deductable contribution on our behalf.

(To make a donation, go to canadianhumanitarian.com & click "Donate". Donations are made securely online through PayPal, which can be done without setting up an account. At the last step you will able to add a note directing your donation to the White family/February excursion. We will be paying our balance by December 30, so if you wish to help, please be prompt.)

Andrew has been tremendously relieved at work since the NRU reactor has been successfully repaired & was restarted in July. He has actually managed a little time off after missing two summer vacations and spending evenings and weekends pretty much chained to his computer. Licensing renewal is ahead and will continue to keep him busy, but hopefully not with the intensity of the 15-month outage!

Leslie continues her busy life, juggling support for the kids in their various activities with her art quilting. She is active with the school council, goes in as a supply teacher at the high school once in a while and is president & webmaster for the local Valley Artisan's Co-op where her quilts are displayed and sold. Leslie thinks that a year of empty nesting might be a welcome change!

As always, we wish you the very best of everything for the coming year.

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want. ~ Traditional Irish toast

The White family: Leslie, Andrew, Meghan, David, Biniyam & Lauren