Christmas Card 2011

Merry Christmas!

Without further adieu, we’d like to announce the newest addition to our family, Baby Girl Fors #3, due to arrive to our family somewhere around April 3, 2012! Mommy and Daddy are very excited and baby girl’s two BIG sisters are simply ecstatic! Since we last wrote, Eric graduated from BYU’s MBA Program and our family moved to St. Joseph Michigan where Eric took a job with Whirlpool Corporation in their leadership development program. He’s currently in their treasury department. We have enjoyed getting to know the great southwest Michigan area (we are 90 miles east of Chicago/30 minutes north of South Bend), but, we sure miss being closer to family and friends like you. Now for notable updates on each family member:

Gretchen:  Lived the last few months in Utah to the fullest. She loved living close to BYU, the mountains and family, but has enjoyed spending time at Lake Michigan, blueberry picking, and spending more time with the girls.  To keep busy she serves as secretary in our church’s women’s organization, joined the local MOMS Club and had a temporary job teaching nursing students at Andrews University. In April we traveled to Hong Kong to visit Gretchen’s mission. She has been home for 10 years, and still has a great love Hong Kong. We enjoyed visiting with people she met while serving there. We also enjoyed visits from two of Gretchen’s mission friends this year from Hong Kong and Australia.

Gretta: She recently started her first year of formal public education in Kindergarten at EP Clarke. It has been great to see her become excited about learning math, science, reading and, her favorite, recess! She also just recently became a Daisy Scout in Girl Scouts. This summer we had a wonderful time going around Lake Michigan on dad’s 11 foot paddleboard. Gretta was able to paddle around all on her own. I see water and waves in that girl’s future!

Eliza: She is our comedian. If you ever need a laugh, just look to Eliza to do something funny and to make you smile. She has enjoyed learning from her big sister’s example and doing at-home preschool with mommy. She also enjoys creative dance and playing with Gretta in the basement for hours. She’s excited to finally not be the little sister anymore J

Eric: He misses BYU’s MBA Program and the friends made there. But, he is enjoying being “in the black” again and helping Whirlpool improve its cash management efforts. He also watches over their 401k plan, which can be challenging in times like these! He has been asked to work with the cub scouts in our church group, which is always entertaining. He’s brought one of his favorite California games – Chubby Bunny to Michigan! The biggest thing to share about Michigan is that there are waves on Lake Michigan and they are surfable!  He hopes to go overseas for work with Whirlpool and see more of this beautiful world of ours.

Most of all, we hope that this letter finds you well at this special time of year. We recognize God’s hand in our lives and yours. May the Spirit of Christ be with you now and always!

Merry Christmas!

Eric, Gretchen, Gretta, Eliza and Baby Girl Fors #3!

P.S. Our new address is 4566 Lauren Lane, St. Joseph MI 49085