As you know, Britta’s family has been looking to expand from seven kids to nine.  The Monson-Alms have been seeking to adopt 5-year-old Russian Eskimo twin boys.  Mom and Gene visited the boys in Nar’yan-mar in March for their birthday and dropped off a book of pictures explaining their new family.  Their eyes got bigger and bigger as they were told they would have five sisters and two brothers.  But what sent them over the top with glee was the idea of having a dog.  Unfortunately, Russia has been slowing foreign adoptions in the last year and our family is still awaiting Stephen and Jonathon.  They remain hopeful for a 2006 arrival and appreciate your prayers.

Here’s the sibling run down:

Greta – engaged to Pablo and spending Christmas with him in Chile (where he’s from).  Works in Gibbon, MN, and has purchased a home there. 

Briana – senior at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  She’s finishing up her student teaching for her education degree.  She came to visit us during her J-term break and helped us move.  She gave a rocking senior vocal recital in Nov.

Lauren – sophomore at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.  She’s trying to juggle it all with a job at Charlotte Russe, starting a modeling career, a boyfriend and about 20 campus groups.

Krista – sophomore at Augustana Lutheran College in Sioux Falls, MN.  She rode with us several times from Sioux Falls to Lake Crystal.  Our talks have proved that she is really into Philosophy.  She’s hoping to visit us in 2006.

Garrett -  A junior at Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial High School.  He’s showing an interest in engineering, so his oldest sister is busy telling him the wonders of the Colorado School of Mines.  In the meantime he is busy with basketball, football, choir and Scouts.

Zach – he’s driving!  Probably for the best with all his practices for football and basketball.  He also got confirmed this year.

In other news, everyone is glad that Uncle Jim got home safe and sound from Iraq in January.  It has been a tough year for the generation of great’s in Britta’s life.  Britta was fortunate to know several of her great-grandparents and has now lost her last great-grandparent, Ur Oma in Germany.  In addition she is losing some of her great grandma’s siblings, including Great Great Aunt Mary and Great Great Uncle Ed.  They are all missed and Britta feels blessed to have known so many generations in her family.

Tom & Cheryl, Shane, Kyle and Amy Harjes visited this summer.  It was great to see them.  The highlights included a picnic and hike in Genesee Park and treats from the neighborhood ice cream wagon.

Britta & Ryan went back to Minnesota for a couple events.  The first was a very meaningful 10-year memorial service for Britta’s father, Mark.  Family members and close friends of Mark gathered to tell stories and remember him in the presence of his children.  Briana, Krista and Garrett were 10, 8 and 6 at the time of the accident and Britta really wanted them to have a space to remember their dad now that they were older.  Britta is very thankful to everyone who made that time so meaningful.  If any family members or friends would like a copy of the pictures shown in the slideshow, they are available at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcNWzlu5Zt3FA

We also went back to see the family in November. We listened to Briana’s senior vocal recital and celebrated Grandma Norma’s 91^st birthday.  It was great to spend time with the immediate family, tour Greta’s new house, and see lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.