Where did 2007 go! This has been a very busy year. A month did not go by without Pat & I taking at least one trip - some short & some several weeks long. In February we had visits from our daughter, Kathy, & our oldest son Jim & his family - Michelle, Joe (12), Katie (10) & Steve (6). Their visits included enjoying time with Great Grandma Russell & Great Grandma Britton.

In March we drove to Oakland CA to visit with our son Andy & Daughter-in-law Spon. Andy had given Nita a very interesting 2006 Christmas gift - a gift card to Babies-R-Us. It took Nita a few moments to realize she was to spend the card on a new grand child! The baby was due in August (more later).

In April Nita visited Jim, Michelle, Joe, Katie & Steve in Tempe, & Kathy in Phoenix to help Kathy prepare for her new job as a Traveling Nurse.

May 4th found us on the road to Tempe for Granddaughter Katie's 1st Communion & Confirmation on May 5th. We left Tempe on the 6th for a short 5-day vacation in San Marcos TX at Nita's sister Judy's 71/2 acre "Ranch"; an overnight visit with AF friends, Faye & Arch Archibald in San Antonio; & to attend our nephew, Mark Russell's, graduation from Trinity University. All was going well until we receive a call from son, Andy letting us know that Spon was in labor. Later that evening, May 7th, we received a call that Naomi Amara was born weighting 2 pounds 10 ounces & 14 inches long. Andy's wedding ring looked like a fancy bracelet on her tiny wrist. She was 13 weeks premature.

June 15th-17th found us in Taylor NE for the 5th Britton Cousins' Reunion. Approximately 100 cousins, spouses & children gathered to celebrate the rich heritage that our ancestors had passed on to us. June 21st, Nita's Mom, Ethel Britton, came to NV again to "doggy-sit" for granddaughter Cheyenne's three dogs while Cheyenne taught a summer course at Stanford. The last weekend in June we drove to Oakland to meet Granddaughter Naomi. She was still in the hospital, but progressing well. Spon & Andy were looking forward to getting Naomi home & starting a more normal routine. With great parents & great nursing care, Naomi left the hospital on July 13th.

In July, Marybelle Russell (Pat's Mom), Pat & I drove to Pinedale WY to attend the Green River Rendezvous. Jim, Michelle, Joe, Katie & Steve met us there & we all stayed in the Chamber's House B&B. We were able to visit Stan & Madeline Murdock at their Ranch. We are grateful for the time spent with Stan as he passed away in November. Don't put off visiting with family and friends-you never know when you'll no longer have the opportunity.

On August 21st, Pat drove Nita & her Mom, Ethel Britton, to Flagstaff AZ to board Amtrak's Southern Chief for Mom's return to Ft. Madison IA. The middle of October we drove to Lake Tahoe & spent 3-days at Zephyr Cove. We took a lake cruise, drove around the lake & to Carson City & Virginia City. The aspens were bright yellow & there was a sprinkling of snow - BEAUTIFUL! After that we headed north to visit Kathy in Puyallup WA. On the way, Pat got to relearn how to drive on SNOW & ICE for 60 miles in the Avalanche. After this experience, Pat's definitely staying in the Southwest. While in WA we visited AF friends, Jane & Terry Dielman. From WA, we stopped in Oakland to visit Naomi & her Mom & Dad. She had really grown & of course, is adorable.

For Thanksgiving, we drove to Palm Springs CA to spend time with daughter Kathy. She had just moved from WA for a new nursing job. We enjoyed the area - great restaurants, great tram ride to San Jacinto Park & yummy dates from the Shields Date Farm.

To update you on our "RV" status, here is what we've been doing with the Vette. Pat currently has over 27,000 miles on the CAR. We continue to enjoy the Vette & all the activities & trips we take with the Las Vegas Corvettes Association (LVCA). Our club is the largest in the West & 3rd largest in the USA. January: Pat won the coveted Clean Car Award. February: Presidents' Weekend, 33 Vettes drove to Casa Grande AZ We toured Old Tucson Studios, & parked in front of the High Chaparral TV/Movie set. Pat also drove his 1st drag race in over 45 years, winning a $75 certificate for best reaction time! April: 15 Vettes traveled to Lancaster CA for the annual Antelope Valley Poppy Rally & tour of Edwards AFB. Edwards had really changed in the 10 years since we last visited. May: Pat drove north to Ely NV to help with the Nevada Open Road Challenge. This 90 mile race from Lund to Hiko is on Highway 318, which is closed for the race. Cars are in average speed classes from 95 mph to unlimited, 180+mph. LVCA assists with race registration, the car show & car inspection on race day. August: An overnight LVCA trip to St George UT for Broadway in the Desert at the Tuachan outdoor theater. The real highlight of the trip was the pre-party at a member's house in St George - how about having over 30 Corvettes parked in your backyard! September: 2nd Annual Corvette Roulette club event over Labor Day weekend - Car Show, Autocross, Poker Rally & PARTIES! LVCA had a Lake Mead Cruise, & we helped with the Silver State Challenge, which is the Fall equivalent of the NV Open Road Challenge. November: LVCA trip to the Grand Canyon with train ride to the South Rim. Weather was perfect, & we saw Golden Eagles & CA Condors soaring over the Canyon - AWESOME! Pat's highlight for the year was a 3-day course at Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School in Pahrump NV 3 glorious days filled with learning & driving 2004 thru 2008 C5, C6 & Z06 Corvettes. Pat learned a lot - especially respect for professional race car drivers.

We will spend Christmas in Palm Springs with Kathy, Andy, Spon & Naomi and Spon's family. After Christmas, we'll drive to Tempe to start the New Year with Jim, Michelle, Joe, Katie & Steve.

We have been very blessed this year. We pray that 2008 will be as blessed for all our family and friends.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year

Pat & Nita Russell