It seems impossible that we are already preparing again for the celebration of Christmass - time and events are rushing by so terribly fast. On the other hand, so much has happened lately that it seems more like ten years ago than two since we sent our last Christmass newsletter.

First things first - Jessica is growing happily, finding new excitements in life every say. Although still restricted to words of two syllables, she has assembled a great variety of them, mostly in French. Her most disconcerting (and, to be honest, most entertaining) habit is, whenever caught misbehaving, to search out some amusing or sweet distraction to divert the attention of her audience. I, like many fathers, have not yet learned to keep a straight face after reprimanding her, since she puts on such an amusing act.

We spent Christmass vacation in Needham last winter with all the Hogarths. David called on the Bishop of Connecticut at that time, to see if there were any openings in the diocese. We celebrated New Year's Eve on the train, returning to our last winter at Nashotah House.

We somehow managed to survive Canonical Exams in March (they correspond roughly to college comprehensive exams).

We had almost forgotten the visit with the Bishop of Connecticut when, in April. a letter came from the Rector of Saint Alban's Church here in Simsbury, inquiring whether we would be interested in his Parish. It isn't hard to imagine our excitement et the possibility of our being located so near home, since the only other concrete inquiries had been for work wish a parochial school in Cocoa, Florida, and for a curacy in Marshall, Texas.

Finally, the week before the Seminary's final exams, it became necessary to make a definite decision. David telephoned Simsbury on a Friday, flew to Connecticut that Saturday, and returned to Nashotah late Sunday night as the Curate-elect of the Parish.

After final exams and Commencement at Nashotah House, we went up to Marshfield, Wisconsin, where David was ordained Deacon by Bishop Brady on the first of June, in another Saint AIban's Church. We went back to Nashotah that day; the mover came the next; and we bid a final farewell to our three years' family at the seminary.

Our first week-end in Connecticut was spent in Cheshire. David's first service as a Deacon took place at Saint Peter's Church where he had been Baptized, and where we were married.

We were introduced to our Parish in Simsbury on June 21, Saint Alban's Day. Our home was built over two hundred years ago as a school-house; it was bought and completely modernized by the Parish seven years ago. It is a one-story house: kitchen, living-dining-bedroom combination, Jessica's bedroom, bathroom, and entrance hall. We have plenty of closet space and built-in bookshelves. A lovely yard surrounds the house. The Parishioners were most generous to us: they gave us an electric stove, a TV set, a washing machine and dryer. and a refrigerator. The ladies of the Parish filled our cupboards with canned goods, preserves, relishes, cake mixes, and a bottle of champagne.

Claudine and Jessica flew to Brussels on June 30th, to spend a wonderful summer with the Diwalds and all of Claudine's old friends in Belgium, ending with a few days with David's relatives in London. It was her first trip back home in five years, but most of the excitement of the visit was over Jessica.

Dave spent the summer getting to know the Parish. He was lavishly entertained by all the members of the Church. He spent only a few dinners at home alone, since the Parish had committed itself to taking extra good care of their temporary bachelor.

After Claudine and Jessica's return at the beginning of September, we spent a few days on Cape Cod before the beginning of our busy work: David concentrating on the teen-agers of the Parish and of Simsbury, and Claudine teaching one French class each day at the Ethel Walker School, a fine private girls' school nearby.

Our work and fun continue - Claudine is singing in the Church choir; besides his regular work with the Parish, David drives one of the engines for the volunteer fire company, also making some effort with the local Recreation Council to find more opportunities for the local teen-agers, and deepening his knowledge of the work of the Church in the world, which a life-time of book-learning cannot replace.

We hope you will have a Blessed Christmass, full of the hope and joy brought by this most wonderful Feast; and we wish you health and prosperity for 1965. We would enjoy hearing from you. Much love from the three of us.