Oh, to be walking along the shores of New Zealand again! (the dream trip) We have just finished a wonderful Christmas holiday with our family all together. Funny stories, great food, family and old friends sharing their experiences of the past year. Thomas..I love your comment and I can't wait to visit your new city! Jay..I hope Ecuador is all you dreamed it to be! Love, Mom

So, the first member of the Gifford Clan has departed after enjoying an incrediable holiday together. It is difficult to find words to express how wonderful it was to have our family together. Last christmas i spent to holidays in Karamea, which is located on the north west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Karamea is an incrediable place, but it cannot compare to being home among friends and family. The Photo inset was taken at the Karamea Christmas parade. This is my first post,as our family embarks into the world of online journaling. so i feel obligated to introduce myself. I am the elder son of our clan, and presently live in western North Carolina. I graduated from Appalachian State University two years ago, and have been attempting to further my education through traveling, and engauging in high energy lifestyle activites. I feel this process is a vital component of my furthering education, so thats my rationale.....and i'm sticking too it! I am presently packing for a trip to Ecuador, where i will meet a few friends. And hopefully have the opporturnity to explore some of the regions finest rivers. While being exposed to the unique culture that exists in the post-incan regions of the Ecuadorian highlands. Several of my good paddling friends have been traveling to this region for some time, so i am very excited to have the opportuinty to experience this unique region. And finally, be on sending, as opposed to the recieving, end of a postcard.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a web based journal for our family to stay in touch with each other on a daily or more frequent basis than we now do. I hope that each member will take some time each day to add some of the main thoughts, experiences and impressions of their day to this blog. That way the freshness of life we are having will be transferred to each member as close to the event as possible.

As I sit here and reflect on the last couple of days of having the boys home and seeing the people in their lives passing throughit has been all that I expected and more. I often find that when I am with each of you I cannot articulate what I would like for you to hear. That is why I hope this format will add some richness to our lives.