Dear Family and Friends,

The season of receiving newsletters came and left. We enjoyed each and every one of them looking forward to finding out how your lives have been this year. Three years have passed since we sent our own. We do thank you for remembering us.

We look back with appreciation to God for getting us through these past years.

On the New Year’s Eve of 2001 Eric’s mom fell and suffered a compression fracture on her back. This event brought one and a half years of suffering for Mom going through surgery, post operative infection, other surgery, other infection, surgery… Rodica decided to quit her job in August 2001 to be able to spend more time with Mom and release Eric from some responsibilities. After doing what ever could be done, but not succeeding, Mom died in June of 2002.

We are thankful for our family and friends, especially Magdalena, Rodica’s sister, who supported us throughout this difficult time. One hour before Mom died Pastor Barizo came and had a prayer for Mom and the whole family, which we all appreciated. The memorial took place in our home church in Chula Vista. Family and friends shared memories, Eric presented video clips from Mom’s life, and Pastor Barizo concluded in his presentation that the life style Mom spent in the last one and a half years definitely was not her normal life style! She was a person full of life. We miss mom. Nothing can replace our Mom.

At Mom’s memorial we had all Eric’s siblings in our home enjoying a special time of sharing and rolling over memories.

Going through the experience with mom, we came to realize how the habits we form early in life have such a huge impact on later years, because it is almost impossible to change habits later. We realize we are not doing all that we should to avoid similar things happening to us that happened to mom, and have some improving to do regarding sedentary living. We are hoping with God’s help to change this.

Here is one of the earliest pictures we have found of mom with her mother, who we called Meme. We believe that in heaven we will all be young again.

In July of this year we were in Romania and celebrated Mamica and Taticu’s (Rodica’s parents) 50th year Anniversary. The day happened to be close to Eric’s birthday. We decided to make an Anniversary and Birthday surprise celebration.

Mihai, Rodica, Eric, Mamica, and Taticu.

The fact that the dates were so close together was a great help in organizing the event since neither Mamica nor Eric wanted anything big for themselves, but didn’t mind doing for the other. We reserved a nice restaurant where we brought drinks, deserts, and appetizers and were served the entree and salad by them. It was a great time meeting family, relatives and friends. Christian and Nick, Rodica's 2 brothers with Valentina, Nick’s wife and Mihai their son were there. We missed Magdalena who couldn't come. Eric likes listening to the choir in Rodica's hometown church. So Rodica invited part of the choir also.

The celebration was something very special. Taticu presented a life sketch describing life since he met Mamica, and it was very nice. The other family members shared personal experiences. Rodica appreciates very much how her father taught her since she was very young the importance of praying and studying God’s word. His example of regular morning devotions and prayers, gave her a sense of security that stays with her even now. She also appreciates her mother for teaching the importance of honesty no matter what. Rodica remembered how she and Magdalena, when they were small and would make plans to do things they weren’t supposed to do, and that Mamica in her wisdom always found out, and afterwards if they lied about it, they were made to kneel on grains until they really felt sorry and asked forgiveness.

Over these years, Eric has grown to appreciate Rodica more and more, and is also very thankful for her parents for producing such a jewel. J

While in Romania, we got to meet our neice Krista in person.

On Couch: Mihai (5 yrs), Alina, Christian, Buni (Valentina’s Mom), Mamica, Taticu, Rodica, and Eric.

On Floor: Valentina, Krista (15 mo.), and Nick

Picture taken in Nick’s House.

Also, Eric went with Nick for the opening of a Children’s Camp in the Republic of Moldova where he got a little taste of how it might be to live with fewer conveniences like running water.

Before 2001 Rodica participated in Loma Linda University student choir’s Christmas presentation. This year she joined the Point Loma Nazarene University choir for Handel’s Messiah. It was a great pleasure to be part of this choir and sing Handel’s great music. Also, Rodica and Eric helped to start a Mandolin Orchestra in their church making use of Rodica’s musical expertise. More people wanted to learn the mandolin so an orchestra was formed in the church, with Rodica as the teacher. Although all are just beginners we were asked by the pastor to accompany the congregation for the songs on 16^th November. The opening song was Joyful, Joyful we Adore Thee from Beethoven’s 9^th symphony, and it came out very nice. Eric enjoys very much playing a musical instrument since he never learned to play one and he appreciates very much Rodica teaching him! J

We also started a redecoration project in our home… so, if you come visit us you can see what we have done and hear us play the Mandolin all at the same time. J

For more see http://www.herghelia.org/hillis

We wish you, from our whole heart, a

“Happy and Blessed New Year.”