December 2025

Hi everyone,

Another year has gone by so quickly.  Everyone is another year older and life is still pretty busy.  I'm (Sue) still working as an interventionist/paraprofessional at a local charter school.  Eric and I are still busy at church, but with a few less responsibilities. Eric is still enjoying retirement.  Shortly after I wrote the Christmas letter last year, we lost our new puppy.  She got loose and ran into the road.  It was a dark cold rainy evening and there was no way the car could have seen her.  I've never been a fan of pets living in the house due to my allergies, but I felt really bad for Eric and the grandkids who loved Sheba. 

In leu of talking about our grown children, I have a much more interesting topic - their offspring.

We now have a teenager grandchild. Gavin turned 13 this year.  He's already talking about a job and driver's training for next year.  Way to plan ahead...this lad is going places.  He has kept us all busy with his activities: baseball, tennis, band, jazz band, robotics, and now going to some meetings for volleyball.  He's looking pretty grownup to boot. 

 

Emma is 12 and plays the violin and does lots of artsy types of things.  She paints, crochets, knits, crafts with beads and rubber bands.  If she can find it on YouTube, she can figure out how to do it. She uses just about every spare moment working on her crafts. In February, she fell on the ice while running to the bus one morning and fractured her ankle, which required surgery and a cast.   

It's hard to believe that Carter is 11 years old.  He is still basically non-verbal, but is learning so much academically and socially in his special autism classroom and general ed classroom.  

Clara is also 11 years old.  She is very dedicated to her dance classes and plays the clarinet. She also loves arts and crafts and learns a lot from Emma when they hang out together.  

           

James is 6 years old and Lucas is 4 years old. They are very well behaved boys.  James loves otters and Lucas loves Sonic.

Caitlin is 2 years old and is just adorable! 

Here's a few Christmas pictures of Josh & Lisa's kids:

Elli is 7 years old and Lilli is 3 years old.  Elli is doing well in school and gets awards for being good and kind.  She struggles a bit with her reading though.  Lilli is very strong-willed and struggles with listening to authority.  

A few more family photos:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

Eric and Sue

2024

Christmas Greetings,

We now have a 4o year old child, so that officially makes us OLD! Also, this is the second year that Eric has been retired. So, that makes him older than me...not that I'm keeping score or anything. Since somebody needs to support this family, I continue to work at the school as an academic interventionist (fancy word for a paraprofessional that helps the struggling kids with reading and math). Eric does get social security, but I just have to tease.

Caleb is still working at Gentex in Zeeland where they make electronic parts for car mirrors (rearview and outside door mirrors). He's our Mr. High-Tech and thrives at this kind or work. He works the 2^nd shift. He also helps in the sound booth and the internet streaming of our church services. Caleb is renting at a friend's house, but is saving up for his own place. He has a good nest-egg and wants to buy now, but we are encouraging him to wait and see if the prices will come down a bit first.

Grace & Vic are still living with us. With the cost of houses right now, they aren't able to get one at this time. Vic works for a company that trouble-shoots and networks computers for businesses and schools. He is a computer and electronics geek like Caleb. He is also a very good handy-man and helps out with jobs around the house. Grace stays at home and does a lot of the cooking and cleanup after meals. (I appreciate that A LOT!!!) Gavin is in the 7^th grade and plays the trumpet in regular band

and jazz band at the Jr High in Grandville. He also plays baseball in the spring. Emma is in 6^th grade and just started playing the violin.  She had her first orchestra concert this week. She also dabbles at sewing, crocheting, and painting (acrylics on canvas).

She is taller than Gavin at this point, but he may catch up later. Carter is in 4^thgrade and is at an elementary school in Grandville that has a program for autistic kids. He has been non-verbal until this past year. It's still hard to figure out what he is saying and sounds more like a deaf person talking (even
though he can hear). He's really smart and his teachers just love him. He has his moments of emotional outbursts, but is normally a very good-natured kid.

Josh & Lisa live in Greenville, MI (about 40 minutes from us). They have 4 kids, two dogs, one cat, one turtle, and a beautiful in-ground swimming pool that we frequent quite a bit in the summer. We love our summer cook-outs at their house. Clara is in 4th grade, James is in Pre-K, Lucas is 3 years old, and Caitlin just turned one this past May.

The kids go to a private Catholic school there in Greenville. Clara is quite the dancer. She started at a dance school a couple
years ago and she is progressing nicely. She will be part of a Nutcracker ballet through her dance school in a couple weeks. She is also taking private lessons and will have a recital soon there also. We go to most of her dance recitals and productions.

Kristi has her two girls. Ellianna just turned 6 years old at the beginning of November and started Kindergarten this year. Lillianna just turned 2 years old at the end of October.  Kristi is a single mom and they live with us right now, so we support that little family in any way we can. They love their grandma and grandpa and we love helping Kristi out when she gets overwhelmed. Kristi is still working with her friend cleaning houses. They mainly work for builders after they build a new home, for Realtors before selling or renting houses, and clean for a couple client's personal homes.

Isaiah still lives at home. The Inn is full! Good thing we have the room, but it is a tight squeeze. Each room is filled to the max. Isaiah is Josh's attendant. He helps out a lot around their house. Lisa works as a P.A. and Josh stays home with the kids. The insurance company pays Isaiah to help Josh with his personal needs and also helps with the kids, housework, mowing and shoveling.

Eric is enjoying his retirement and helps watch Lillianna when Kristi is working and all the other kids are at school. And if our house wasn't bursting at the seams enough, he got a German Shepherd puppy this past spring. Josh and Lisa's two dogs died last year and when Josh was talking about looking at shepherd puppies, Eric had to go along. They both got a puppy from the same litter; so, our puppies are sisters.

                                   Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

Christmas 2019

Dear Family & Friends,

It’s good to catch up with all of you at this time of the year.  Let’s take a moment to remember all the good (and bad) things that brought us together this year.  We also need to remember that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  There are no words powerful enough to thank Jesus for leaving the comforts of heaven to be born on earth as a baby, live a sinless life, and then die on a criminal's cross so that our sins could be wiped clean.  I am so thankful for the life God has given me...a mom and dad who loved me and siblings that are so loving, kind, and generous;  A husband, children, and grandchildren who love me; Loads of extended family and friends that love and support me;  Also, a friend who prayed with me on a public high school bus to invite Jesus into my heart and make him Lord and Savior of my life.  Being born in America has been at the top of my thankful list as well.  God is so good!

These past 12 months had a beginning and an end, but not only January 1st and December 31st.  In May we had the beginning of a little beautiful life (grandson) and in November we had an end of a beautiful life here on earth (my mom).  Both were in God's plan bringing great joy and great grief.  The good news is that I will see my mom again when I get to heaven someday.  She knew Jesus as her Savior and lived out a quiet beautiful life for all to see.  I miss her so much!  I sometimes call her home phone just to hear her voice on the answering machine.  It's good to hear her voice.

Eric and I still attend the same church where we met and are both very involved.  Eric still works at a print shop just north of Grand Rapids and I am at the charter school I started working at last year.  I am really enjoying the time I get to spend with these kids.  Some are really hurting and I try to bring some love and joy to their lives.  They know I care about them individually and know they can get a hug anytime they need it...and they need hugs daily!  I display a poster with a positive quote every week and then talk about it with the students.  We all need positive in our lives to build us up when the world tries to knock us down.  We remind each other daily that our attitudes are a choice and positive thinking will get us further in life than negative thinking.  I love my job! 

Caleb is our oldest child and has been busy with his job and new residence.  Caleb works at a factory that makes high-tech gadgets for cars.  This is right up his alley since he loves computers, electronics, and new technology.  He can be found watching cutting-edge technology videos online in his spare time.  He has also moved in with a friend renting a room in his friend's house.  

Emma, Elli, Gavin

Grace, Vic, and their three kids are still living with us while they are between homes.  Fortunately, our house is big enough to give all of us our own space.  The kids have been enjoying the new friends they've made at their new school and in our neighborhood.  Gavin is 7 years old and in 2nd grade.  Emma is 6 years old and in 1st grade.  Carter is now 5 years old and is in a special school for autism.  We are seeing some progress with his socialization, but he is still non-verbal.  He has amazed us when he "plays" at our computer.  One time I was watching him from across the room as he carefully looked at the keyboard and then plunked his finger down on a key.  After a few plunks I went to see what mess he was making on my computer.  To my amazement he had typed out the entire alphabet... in order.  Another time he had typed out the numbers 1-10... in order.  There is a genius in that silent little boy!  Grace is a stay-at-home mom and babysits two kids a couple days a week.  Vic is enjoying his new job as an IT guy for schools and businesses.  Vic is a great handyman to have around as well.  We have enjoyed his expertise in making improvements to our home.  

Carter, Elli, Emma, Clara holding James, Gavin

James & Clara

Me & James

Josh, Lisa, and their 2 kids live the furthest away from us (45 minutes away).  I am a very lucky grandma having my grandkids so close.  Little baby James was born in May - our new beginning.  He's a great little brother for Clara.  We love him to pieces, just like our other grandchildren.  Clara is 5 years old and in preschool.  I love seeing all the "cousin's" get together and have sleepovers together.  We also enjoy family gatherings at Josh & Lisa's house in the summer time chilling in their pool.  Family time is so precious and gives me great joy seeing the whole family together.  Josh had a tough time with pressure sores and infections that started last year, but this past May it came to a head.  A couple weeks before James was born, Josh had to have his lower legs and feet amputated.  He handled it very well.   He already has new prosthetic lower legs that not only give him a more natural look, but helps him get leverage when he transfers in and out of his wheelchair. Lisa is enjoying her new job working at a family practice as a P.A. instead of a hectic walk-in clinic.  Her hours are better for family life and her stress level has lowered.

Elli

Emma, Gavin, Clara

Kristi is working for a cleaning company that cleans up after new construction.  She is a hard worker and very task oriented, so she does a great job.  Some builders even request her due to her hard work ethic.  A few weeks ago she cleaned a home built for a very prominent family here in Grand Rapids.  She has seen some very beautiful huge homes.  Her baby girl, Ellianna, turned 1 year old a few weeks ago.  Elli is walking and starting to say a few basic words (only we can understand at this point).  Kristi will be going to Thailand in January.  A friend invited her to come along on her trip.  We will be watching Elli while she is gone.  This will be a great experience for Kristi!

Emma, Elli, Clara, Gavin

Isaiah is still Josh's care attendant.  There is so much Josh can't do and Isaiah has been a wonderful help to him.  Isaiah travels back and forth from Josh's home, 45 minutes away, and a dependable car is a must.  His car was starting to have some issues and then to make things even worse,  a couple weeks ago. a deer decided to prance right in front of his ailing vehicle.  He was able to drive it a week or so before it started overheating.  So, that forced the issue of  purchasing a new ride.  He is now sporting a dark blue Chevy Malibu.  Now he's smilin' and stylin'!

That's the scoop on the Holt family.  I hope all of you are enjoying your wonderful families and
friends God has placed in your life.  Even if life is very hard right now, be comforted that God knows

you and your situation and your every need.  Give your cares to God and He will give you peace and rest as you go through your struggles.  Merry Christmas and have a very blessed New Year!

Josh & Lisa (James), Isaiah, Kristi, Emma, Clara, Gavin

Emma, Clara, Gavin

All our love,   

The Holts

Eric & Susan