I would like to think 2007 has been a slow year, but the calendar is reminding me otherwise.

  Christopher started out the year on a ski trip in January with his fraternity brothers at Delta Chi and will be heading back to the slopes in December after finals. He spent spring break in Miami, finished up his second year at Georgia Tech, then headed off to France to study and travel for the summer. He was at Georgia Tech's campus in Lorraine, taking classes during the week and then traveling all over Europe on the weekends. His pictures are available at: picasaweb.google.com/cludersgt. He was the Chairman of Team Buzz this fall, a campus and nationwide effort by students and alumni to provide a day of community service in their local communities. He also made a change in majors, switching from Chemical Engineering to Industrial Engineering. There's currently some noise about him moving off campus and getting a dog...we'll see how that plays itself out. He turns 21 in March...

  Brandon continues with his Masters work at MIT (May '08) and research in the Aero-Astro lab on autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs have great potential for use in matters of warfare and homeland security. On top of that, he's getting ready for his qualifying exams in January, to further his education and earn his PhD. Brandon also spent spring break in Miami. He and a friend moved off campus this summer and now have an apartment just off Harvard Square. He's taken great pleasure in following the successes of some the hometown teams in Boston...the Red Sox, Patriots, and even the ACC's lone bastion of Yankee-based football, Boston College. He's even playing hockey at MIT. Go Beavers! I'm not sure if he's ready to give up his Southern heritage, but he's finding himself in the right place to pursue his future. We all paid him a visit in August when Chris got back from France (picture on card) and enjoyed the rare opportunity for our family to be together as one.

  Our  other children are doing fine as well. My niece, Laura, continues in her second year of pharmacy school at LECOM in Erie, Pennsylvania. I sense that her life has finally settled down, and she's chasing her dreams with a commitment that would make her parents and grandparents very proud!

  In July, Lori's niece, Rachel, moved down to Georgia to start her career teaching 5th grade at nearby Suwanee Elementary School. She moved into Brandon's room for the first few months, until getting her own apartment in early October. We very much enjoy having her close by and  she's even gotten involved with our youth group at church. Having her around also provides Aunt Lori with a shopping buddy which Uncle Brian really appreciates. She desperately wants a dog too!?!

  Lori finally got her mom's house sold in February, but her day-to-day life remains committed to looking after her mother's welfare. I always thought the long-distance care of my mom was very stressful, but I have gained new respect for the burden on one's soul in caring for a loved one that is ever so close.

  In September, I had the unique experience of being initiated into the Delta Chi fraternity with my sons! A surprise visit by Brandon, coupled with a fairly stressful initiation process, offered this proud dad an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Our new office building (lpbatlanta.com) is just about finished and we are planning a move right after Christmas. Ho Ho (heave) Ho !

  Coda (now 3 years old) is a constant source of joy and takes full advantage of her only child status. All these kids wanting dogs are more than welcome to visit Coda more often...she loves it!

  I make an effort to keep up with our lives at: theluders.us. Come see us!

  May our hearts be filled with the spirit of Christmas...every day of the year!

Brian, Lori, Brandon, Chris & Coda