December 1999

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems like just yesterday that I was writing the 1998 letter. At that time, we were preparing for a trip to visit Terri's family for Christmas. Nashville gave us the first white Christmas we've seen in a long time. The snow and ice nearly shut the city down but we crept along in our rental car and made it to our destinations, despite a minor car collision on the day of a Tennessee Oilers (now Titans) football game. Well 1999 has been quite a year. We have lots of news to share.

Most of you are aware of the ordeal we went through with Kelsey beginning in January and continuing until May. The problems leading to the complications of her omphalocele birth defect were corrected surgically for the most part and we anticipate that she will have a happy and healthy future. Please let us take this opportunity to once again thank all of you who provided so much emotional and spiritual support during those angst-filled weeks. We truly could not have made it without you and without God, who saw us through and answered our prayers.

Kelsey, age 3 now, came through this year remarkably well. Despite digestive problems she had after surgery, she's gained 6 pounds this year. Also this year she made the transition from a crib to a bed, fell in love with Barbie dolls, and has decided to be a doctor when she grows up. She had her very first haircut in June and is potty training. She also loves to wrestle her brother, try on makeup, and watch cartoons.

Trey is now 6 3/4 years old. Highlights of his year include losing 2 more teeth, learning how to read, participating in Indian Guides and children's choir, and attending golf camp over the summer. He has been nominated for the Talented and Gifted program at his school, undergoing testing for it this past semester. Surfing the Internet is a new pasttime of his, and he enjoys bowling and basketball.

Allen has worked at SMU for 10 years now. He's begun a startup online travel agency (www.itravel.com) in his spare time, when he isn't helping with the Dads Club at Trey's school, YMCA Indian Guides, or United Methodist Men. Also this past year he has taken golf lessons, bought a new Honda CR-V, and continued driving the McKinney Avenue Trolley. This fall he began writing a technical book on virtual private networking (VPN). He worked at Networld+InterOp this past Spring in Las Vegas and in Atlanta in September, where he also taught a daily class on VPN. This month he completes his term as our neighborhood association's president.

Terri is continuing to love her job in the ethics center at SMU. In April she got to meet former president George Bush when he stopped by the office. She serves on the Board of Trustees at her church, rings in a handbell choir, and sports a shorter hairstyle. Her financial background has proven useful as she's waded through a tremendous amount of medical bills. She updates the www.gwinn.org site when time permits.

Our travels this year took us to Vail, CO with all of Allen's family over the 4th of July weekend. The kids loved riding up the mountain in a gondola and watching a big parade on the 4th; the men enjoyed playing golf. The Dallas Gwinns attended the annual Symank reunion again in Crawford, Texas. Terri got to escape for a weekend in September and join Allen in Atlanta for some R & R and sightseeing. Terri's brother Mike came to visit in November for a weekend. Allen's brother Dan's family was here for Thanksgiving.

We welcomed a new nephew/cousin, Logan Asher Gwinn, into the family in March. Our local hockey team won the Stanley Cup. Our church has built and moved into a new large sanctuary. The road construction in our neighborhood is complete. This Christmas we celebrate our 13th anniversary then ring in a new decade, century, and millenium. Obviously we have lots to be thankful for and we hope all of us have a new year that is the best ever. Happy Holidays!

Yours truly,
Terri, Allen, Trey, and Kelsey Gwinn