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

                                                                                                                                         Christmas 2018
                                                                                                                     written on January 28, 2019

Greetings,

Now that the busyness of the Christmas season is over...and I have a snow day, I would like to take the time to update you on our family.  There have been a few changes this year.  I have a new job, we have a new addition, and another new addition coming in 2019. 

                   God is good all the time!  All the time God is good!

We still attend and serve in the same church that we met and also raised our children in.  Eric has the same job that he started in 2003.  I (Sue) worked the last 10 years in the office of a local heating and cooling company setting appointments, but this past fall I returned to my dream job at a local school as a paraprofessional.  I had always worked with children my whole life, except for these last 10 years.  This past year I had prayed a lot about what God wanted me to do with the time I have left on this earth and He gave me some answers.  As I have aged, I think more and more about using my time and talents wisely.  My dad passed away when he was only 54 years old and I have eased past that age...unbelievable, I know!  None of  us know how much time we have on this earth and once I passed the age of 54, I have been a little more mindful of my time.  

So, with much prayer asking for a clear sign of what God wanted me to do, I left my office job in August without another job lined up.  I had never done that before. It had been ingrained in me as a teenager that you don't leave one job until you have another one lined up. But with a clear sign to leave my job, I knew God had something else for me.  I applied for jobs in schools and mission- minded agencies. I even had an interview at a school for the disabled before I left my job.  That one didn't pan out, but it wasn't long before God led me to the school where I am now working.  I had 4 glorious weeks of vacation (or I like to call it a brief time of retirement, which I could get used to real quick...LOL) before I started my job at Walker Charter Academy.  Due to the wintry storms in Michigan, I am enjoying a snow day at home today.

Enough about me.....Let me tell you about our kids and their families.

Caleb has been working at Gentex in Zeeland (MI) this past year.  It is right up his alley of technology.  They make high-tech parts for cars.  If you have a car with special features on your rear-view mirror or side mirrors, then you are benefiting from his hard work.  Caleb has always been naturally talented with computers and anything electronic.  Not sure where he got it from, but it wasn't from Eric or me.  Caleb and our son-in-law, Vic, are our go-to guys when the TV, cable, or other electronic devices have troubles.  
Speaking of technology....Eric and I have even joined the tech- age with a Google Home.  How about that?  We can turn the Christmas tree lights on or play Christmas music by just asking a little device on our table.  Aren't we on the cutting-edge?  😎

Ninja, Zombie, & Batman

Sue, Carter, & Grace

Grace and her family are doing well.  Vic has a great job with AT&T and supports the family while Grace stays home with the three kids.  We are loving them a little closer this year.  They are staying with us while they are between houses.  The kids are going to the local school while they stay here.  Gavin is in first grade and Emma is in Kindergarten. Their youngest, Carter,  has been diagnosed with autism.  He started school when he was three years old to help him try to talk and learn social and academic skills.  He is now 4 years old and is in his second year of school.  He is still non-verbal, but he sure does love to cuddle.  Grandma loves those cuddles!  
Our house is big enough that they can have the upstairs and Eric and I have the downstairs (my knees are thankful for that).  We now occupy the bedroom-bathroom suite that had been modified for Josh a few years back.  We love having our grandkids so close.  It has worked out well since everyone has been very respectful about giving each family their space.

Cousins:  Clara & Emma

  

Vic & Emma

                                      
                                                             

Josh and Lisa are expecting a brother for Clara in June.  They are pretty excited! They are the ones that live the furthest away from us in Greenville, MI, which is only 45 minutes away.  I am the luckiest grandma in the whole-wide world with grandchildren that live so close by.  Lisa is a PA in Greenville while Josh is a stay-at-home dad.  Josh has had some major and minor health issues the last few years, but has been doing better lately.  I mentioned in last year's letter that they were staying in an extended stay hotel while their house was being modified and around February 2018 they were able to move back home.  Their house is very lovely and very useful for Josh's needs.  I know they are all thankful to be back home.  Clara attends pre-school in Greenville.  Clara has stayed overnight a few times with her cousins at our house.  I love seeing the cousins hang out together like that.  It brings back a lot of memories of all the fun times I spent with my cousins growing up.  Special times for sure!

Gavin, Carter, Clara, & Emma

Eric, Kristi, & Ellianna

Kristi is now a mama.  Ellianna is our new addition in 2018.  She is a cutie!  Ellianna's dad's name is Eric, so it does get confusing at times when the name Eric is mentioned.  Now we have a grandpa Eric and an Uncle Eric.  Kristi and Eric met many years ago when Josh and Eric played wheelchair basketball together.  They have been seeing each other now for 10-12 years.  Kristi works at a company that cleans up new construction homes.  She will go back to work this next month.  I think it will be hard since she has been with Elli 24/7 for almost three months.  She loves her little baby girl!

Ellianna

Selfie:  Eric, Isaiah, Sue

Isaiah is our youngest child.  Our baby is 26 years old now.  How did that happen?  I guess they say we are as old as we feel and most days lately, I do feel like the mother of a 26 year old (thanks to my arthritic knees).  Actually, I am the mother of a 34 year old too and some other numbers in between.  Anyway, back to Isaiah...as I have mentioned in other recent Christmas letters, Isaiah has turned out to be a nice young man.  He is very generous and kind, which may be surprising to those that knew him as a rascally youngster.  He is so very helpful around the house making sure the lawn is mowed, the driveway is shoveled/snow blown, the dishes are done, etc.  I do hope he will find that special girl someday and start his own family, but for right now we will immensely enjoy all his help around here.  He also helps Josh with many things at his house as Josh's attendant.  


Thank you for listening to the joyous moments in my life. I hope your 2018 was good and your 2019 even greater.   And if you haven't done already, please open your eyes and heart to God.  Let him lead you through the ups and downs of your life.  He will give you a PEACE that this world could never give.  Wishing you that PEACE that passes all understanding this year.  

                                  With much love,

                                             Eric & Sue (Susan or Susie to some of you)

                             *** If you need more encouragement in your life, check out
                                        my blog listed in the Family Links on the right. ***

                                              Also listen to this song by clicking on the link below.
                                                     Come As You Are - by David Crowder

Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas Everyone,

This year has been a very good year.  Hope your 2017 was good for you as well.  Eric and I are still at the same jobs and same church.  Eric has been with Wynalda Litho for the past 14 years and I have been with Vredevoogd Heating & Cooling for 9 years.  Standale Baptist Church has been home for our family since we met there in 1981 (Eric started there with his family many years before that.)  We love our church as you can see by our longevity there.  God has been good to us and blessed us with a great church family and many opportunities to serve!

Caleb is in between jobs right now, but looking for just the right opportunity working with computers.  That is definitely his talent.  As I have mentioned many times before, he is our go-to guy for all things electronic!  It is good to have that tech-guy so close by.  I just wish we had a mechanic and handyman in the family as well..

Grace and Vic have three kids.  Gavin started Kindergarten this year.  Emma started pre-school, and Carter started his school in November after his 3rd birthday.  Carter was born 6 weeks early and has been behind on everything and since he is not talking yet and there are a few other concerns, they have decided to put him in a special school to see if he can catch up or determine if there are other factors in play.  We are enjoying our grandchildren a lot and take them to church with us as much as we can..

Josh, Lisa, and Clara are presently living in an extended-stay Residence Inn in Grand Rapids while their house in Greenville is finally being modified for Josh.  They have been in their home in Greenville for 2.5 years and the insurance company is finally getting around to modifying it to fit Josh's needs.  The inn does accept pets so they are able to keep their 2 dogs there with them.  It's like deja vu from 13 years ago.  The pros are the indoor pool and hot tub, hot breakfast in the lobby every morning and sometimes a light dinner provided in the evenings as well.  There are walking paths for a stroll or for walking the dogs. They are closer to doctors and other amenities they were used to when they lived in the Grand Rapids area.  The big con is the long wintery drive for Lisa to get to work in Greenville.  It will be really nice once the house is done so Josh can shower in his own home.   Josh had another bout with pressure sores this year but this time they were on his feet, ankles, and lower legs.  There was a scare that he might lose his feet, but things are healed up and his feet are still at the end of his legs. 

Kristi is in between jobs now.  She was caring for an elderly man in his home.  He was like part of our family.  We had him over for dinner and lunches a few times and I even had a special lunch with Kristi and Bernie at Arnie's restaurant. He passed a way last month and we miss him dearly.  Kristi got really attached to Bernie and she was quite torn up about his passing.  Now she will either go to school for nursing or possibly find another job at a nursing home,  

 

Isaiah is working for Josh.  Since Josh was in very poor health this past year, Isaiah quit his job to be Josh's attendant.  Josh still needs a lot of help since this last episode with pressure sores took its toll on his strength and health.  Isaiah helps Josh on the days that Lisa works.  He is a hard worker and Eric and I miss him around here for all the jobs that we are too tired to do after working all day.  We aren't as young as we used to be....I know that is hard to imagine, but it is true. 

We were fortunate to have everyone here for Thanksgiving.  Next year the in-laws will have some of them.  We have made a new tradition for Christmas.  We have started having our Christmas get-together on New Year's Eve so that there isn't a worry about in-law time at Christmas.  I want my grandchildren to have time with both sides of their families at Christmas.  Family is so important!  Eric and I (and sometimes some of our kids and grandkids) usually go to our New Year's Eve church potluck and then come home to spend time with the kids and grandkids.  We have snacks, games, open presents, and ring in the new year with sparkling juice. 

Thank you for listening.  I love my family and I love talking about them!  I love my Lord and Savior for leaving heaven to come here as a baby and then to die for my sins.   Now, that is LOVE!  And He loves you too!

Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Eric & Sue 

My favorite Christmas song this year!

"Mary Did You Know" by Evie Clair (a new talent on America's Got talent this year)

Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas Family & Friends,

Sorry I haven't written a Christmas letter since 2010.  Haven't had the urge to write, plus the kids are grown and don't always like mom writing about them.  But here goes....

2015 finds us all healthy and well.  Eric and I are both at the same jobs as we were in 2010.  Eric is with Wynalda Litho (now called Wynalda Packaging).  He is their best paper-cutter extraordinaire! In other words, he is very good at what he does and is a great asset to the productiveness and success of the company.  I am with Vredevoogd Heating & Cooling as a CSR (customer service representative).  I am the cheery voice at the other end of the phone when you have a heating or cooling need.  I love what I do.  I feel like I am making a difference in people's lives - the clients and co-workers.  I will continue to let my light shine with a compassionate heart no matter where God places me.

Eric and I are still very involved at Standale Baptist Church.  We both teach Sunday School.  I am also co-leader and teacher of our Wednesday night kids club (Good News Club).  Eric has been a deacon since he was eligible to be one (25 yrs old), but has taken a year off every now and then, and 2016 will be one of them.  We are very blessed to have a wonderful Pastor (and his wife) who preaches from God's Word and never veers from the truth.  We are spiritual fed each week in order to do what God has planned for us each day.  Did I say, we are blessed?

Caleb is now 31 years old.  He is our own personal technology geek...and that is a very proud endearing title for him.  He can build a computer, network with other computers, repair computers, hook up sound systems to a TV or computer, and many more things that could fill up pages and pages.  He recently bought a Raspberry Pie online for $60.  What?  That is what I said!  Ok, that doesn't sound too intelligent.  I can make one cheaper than that...if I made pies.  LOL   It is actually a Raspberry Pi.  There is a difference you know.  If you didn't know...now you know.  It is a little device that you hook up to your TV and it allows you to see information that you normally only see on your computer online.  We can watch online TV programs and movies on our TV.  We can watch Youtube videos or anything else on the internet on our TV.  I think when our contract is up with our cable provider this next summer, we will cut ties for good.  I just have to find a way to get the local channels and then will have no need for cable TV ever again. Anyway, Caleb is a very talented young man.

Grace is 29 years old and a stay-at-home mom.  She has three children now.  Gavin is 3 years old,  Emma is 2 years old, and Carter is 1 year old.  Yes...she has her hands full with three children 3 years and under.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.  We have had Gavin and Emma overnight several times and I find myself wondering how I ever had the energy for my own five children.  Good thing we have more energy when we are in those child-bearing years.  Grace is very blessed to be married to a wonderful man (Vic).  He is a great provider and a loving husband and father.  He is our secondary technology geek.  In some areas, he knows more than Caleb.  Between the two of them, we will never ever need to call the Geek Squad from Best Buy!

 October 2015

Gavin  3 yrs
Emma  2 yrs
Carter   11 months












Josh is 27 and happily married to Lisa.  They have a 1 year old daughter named Clara.  They lived with us for a few months this year while they were between houses.  It was a bit crowded since they brought their two big dogs with them.  Buddy is a huge black King Shepherd and Izzy is a Golden Retriever.  We all got along nicely and we loved seeing Clara everyday.  They now live about an hour away from us.  We don't see them as much as we used to, but we have enjoyed a couple summer pool parties at their new home.


Sept & Oct 2015
Clara

Kristi is 25 years old.  She is still my stubborn take-charge child.  This is a much better combination as an adult.  She is going to do great things as she applies her God-given leadership skills to her life.   I love her compassion and heart for me and others.  She LOVES her role as Aunt.  She can't get enough of her nieces and nephews and they love her just as much.  She is a great help to Grace and spends a lot of time at her house playing with the kids.

Isaiah is 23 years old.  This can't be!!!  It is hard to believe my baby is 23 years old!  Then I look in the mirror and see the wisdom highlights to prove it.  Where did all the years go?  Isaiah still keeps me laughing.  I love his humor!  The others may think he is annoying, but I just love playing along with his antics.  This too has been a much better trait for him as an adult than when he was younger.  He had a lot of trouble in school being the class clown, but now he has learned to hone in those bursts of craziness in order to be a responsible adult.  He has worked at a metal laser cutting shop for a year and a half and has made us proud.

As you can see,  Eric and I are blessed.  We do have our struggles that are only mentioned between the lines, just like any other family.  But all in all, we are a blessed people.

Our prayer is that you will see the blessings in your lives as you go through your daily struggles.  God is there to help us through.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Eric & Susan

Enjoy some of my favorite Christmas songs below...

This is Christmas - by Kutless

Mary Did You Know? - by Pentatonix