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March 19, 2002 Dear Family, It is always a pleasure to read about the many interesting things that are going on in our extended family. Especially with us being on the west coast again, we don't get a chance to see most of you, but the letters are a nice way to stay in touch. I recently completed my first year at the California Institute of Technology. I am enjoying the fact that I am not constantly on the road, as I was for over 20 years. Because I am home regularly, I have been able to get involved with some new activities. I teach 7th and 8th grade students on Monday evenings at Bible Study Fellowship. For those of you not familiar with BSF, it is an international non-denominational Bible program. Darby and I also have a small group from our church that meets in our home on Wednesday evenings. I had a chance to attend several interesting sporting events this year. I went up to my brother Jim's home in Oregon and saw the opening Ducks football win over Wisconsin. He then flew down and we saw Oregon beat UCLA in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl stadium. We then, along with his wife Sarah and daughter Beth, and our mother Sally, enjoyed seeing the Ducks beat Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. I also got to see UCLA beat Ohio State in Pasadena and San Diego State lose to Air Force in San Diego. I also saw a few Dodger games. Darby, Kristen, and I attended the U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles this year. Darby continues to serve as a discussion leader in Bible Study Fellowship. She also has continued with china painting and gardening. Darby also has participated as an artist the past two years in street painting festivals. She and two ladies from our church "paint" large beautiful pictures in chalk on the street at these festivals. This past year she did this in our community and in San Diego. She seems to be adapting to southern California, and even enjoys Mexican food. Kristen is having a great first year at San Diego State University. She is majoring in broadcast journalism, and hopes to become a sportscaster. She already is working with a woman from Fox Sports who is serving as her mentor. She is still dancing. She made the SDSU dance team. Darby and I had a chance to see her compete with her team in Las Vegas and at Disneyland. She also is very active with church and other Christian organizations at school. I am very sad to report that Michelle is going through a divorce. It has been heartbreaking for all of us. She is still living in Virginia and is completing her third year of teaching. She teaches 7th grade and enjoys it. She served as the captain on a woman's soccer team in her town that won the league championship. We pray that you will all have a blessed, healthy, and happy year. Love, Rick and Darby Kristen and Michelle |