Christmas 2002

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                       

          Life is good, but as usual, life is also hectic and full of surprises.  No, I am not pregnant.  Whew!!!  Five children is an overflowing handful, especially with these five.  Details to follow.  Now for the year 2002 in a capsule.  Let’s see if I can remember it first of all.  I am getting to be an old lady you know.  The gray hair has been with me since I found that first one at the age of 18.  Yes, you heard me right.  I denied it, but the evidence was there for all to see.  I have always liked the way my hair has had that frosted look, so I just keep it that way.  But when people started thinking I must be a grandma because of the gray hair and the plump physique, I decided to make a change.  The gray hair is still a survivor, but the physique is a little less plump.  Yes, I did it!  I lost 40-some pounds and have been able to lose it and keep most of it off for over a year now.  Yippy!!!  I have been a little lax lately about food and exercise, but I am getting back into it so I don’t undo all of my hard work.  I have ordered aerobics and yoga videos to do the trick.  Now I have to find the time to fit them in!  Now that is a magic trick!  Anyway, I’m sure you want to know about those five children, their pets, boyfriends and school achievements (or lack of).

            Child number one is a senior this year.  Caleb has been taking computer classes at KCTC here in Grand Rapids.  It is a vocational school that high schoolers can attend.  Classes there include topics other than computers, but that is what Caleb is taking.  He has learned how to network and build computers.  He is naturally talented in this area.  It has been a gift and a blessing since he struggles with academics.  We finally got senior pictures taken in order to meet the deadline for the yearbook.  He is taller than, and knows more than mom and dad (the “taller” part is fact, and he thinks the “smarter” part is fact as well).  Wait until he has children!!!  He is 18 and feels that as an 18 year old he should be able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.  But like days of old, while he lives under this roof that we provide (and pay for), he will march to the beat of OUR drum (even if we are stupid).

            Grace is our 16 year old and a junior at Grandville High School.  She is still doing pretty well with her grades, with the exception of Spanish this year.  She diligently does homework every night and it has paid off.  This past summer Grace took driver’s training and also took care of an elderly lady.  That kept her busy and gave her some spending money.  This fall she was asked to the Homecoming dance by a very nice young man named, Brandon.  It was fun shopping for a dress and getting her all beautiful for her first date.  I underestimated how long it would take to do her hair, so they got a late start.  It has been awhile since I used a curling iron you know.  She looked gorgeous in her sparkly red dress and curly long hair.  Grace and Brandon are officially “going out”, but not really going out on dates.  They see each other at school and on Sunday evenings when Caleb and Grace attend Brandon’s church youth group.  Once in a while Brandon stops by.  That  is nice.  I really didn’t want them to go off on a date alone.  We told our children that we really would rather not have them go out on a “date,” but preferred that their date would spend time with our family or they could do activities with their family.  

            Joshua is 14 and in the eighth grade at the charter school where I work (Cross Creek Charter – a National Heritage Academy).  He is on the basketball team.  They just had their first game.  They were ahead, 16 to 8, at halftime, but must have relaxed in the second half to lose by one point.  It was an exciting game.  Joshua wants to be the next Michael Jordan.  When his coach asked him why he didn’t do as well as in practice, his reply was, “They wouldn’t pass the ball to me.  The point-guard was a ball hog.”  Well, there you have it.  It was true that he didn’t get the ball much, but he did make the two free-throws when he was fouled.  That’s my boy!  Joshua has the same problem as his older brother, since he is a teenager too.  Joshua is also taller than us.  I’m glad our children are not as vertically challenged as their parents (except Grace – she hasn’t reached 5 foot yet and probably never will).  This past summer Joshua helped out with some remodeling for some friends of ours, and thought he had broken his finger when a board came flying out from a saw.  It swelled up big-time and was a horrible black and blue color.  The doctor was even amazed when the x-ray said there was no fracture.  It looked hideous!  We still may have to go get it checked since that finger still looks bigger than the rest.  But he is a hard worker and a super duper salesman.  He doesn’t take no when trying to make that sale.  While selling candy bars for his 8^th grade class trip (Washington, D.C.) he easily sold 6 boxes (50 candy bars each).  He definitely has the gift of gab.  I wonder where he got that from?

            Kristi is our 7^th grader.  She just turned 12 on Thanksgiving day.  She is doing fairly well with her grades and has lots of friends at school, church and in the neighborhood.  She attends the charter school too.  Her class will be going to Kentucky to visit some caves later in the school year.  She did the candy bar fund-raiser too.  She sold 5 boxes, with Isaiah’s help (she didn’t like going out in the dark alone).  She has been a good girl and hasn’t had any broken bones, so there isn’t much to tell.

            Isaiah is 10 and in the 4^th grade.  He is doing extremely well with his academics.  He had all A’s and one B on his first report card this year.  You have to have B+’s or above to be on the Honor Roll, so he just missed it, but it isn’t an impossibility for the next report card.  It seems to come easily for him since he doesn’t ask for a lot of help from me.  He does, however, still have a problem in the behavior department.  He has to learn to play less aggressively and learn to not always stir things up.  He isn’t happy unless he is starting or joining in on some trouble.  His teacher says he tries to be the loudest, funniest and grossest to draw attention to himself.  I wish children had the capability to see the big picture of their whole life, so that they would make wiser choices.  I love him dearly, but I wish he would consider how his behavior affects the rest of his family, especially his mother.  It gets pretty embarrassing when we have those meetings with the principal (my boss) to straighten out these mishaps. 

Believe it or not, I had a mom at the school ask me if Isaiah was my oldest.  What a sweetie.  I had to admit that I had a senior in high school, and a junior, and an 8^th grader, and a 7^th grader and then Isaiah.  They always seem amazed that I have 5 children.  I think it makes me look like a saint or martyr or somewhat angelic with such a large family.  I’ll let them think what they want.  I won’t burst their bubble.  It is just plain ole’ HARD WORK bringing up 5 children and working full time.  It doesn’t seem angelic at all, but we will let them think life is just wonderful and all under control.  I love looking like a Super-Wonder-Mom.  It makes me feel better when the daily battles happen and I end up in the bottom of the trench, trampled down flat as a pancake.  (All you moms will know what I am talking about.)  Life is good and I enjoy my work.  I can bring a smile and a happy heart to children’s lives every day at the school.  I am respected by my co-workers and loved by most of the children.  I say, “most,” since naturally the ones who I have to get after are not in agreement with that statement, if you know what I mean.  Now, what more can a person ask for?  I have my cake and can eat it too.  Life must be truly hard on the person who doesn’t enjoy their place of employment.  I didn’t want to call it a “place of work,” because I don’t consider it work.  It is just too much fun and a good thing for my heart and soul.

Now for the pets.  At the last printing of this annual letter, you heard that we had a cockatiel.  We now have two cockatiels and a cat.  As if 5 children weren’t enough!  The second bird was given to us and the cat found us.  She was a little lost kitten out in the September cold rain.  We tried to find her owners, but no one would claim her.  “Can we keep it, can we keep it?” became a yes.  It didn’t take long to get food, litter and a comfy bed for our little black kitty.  Her name is Candy.  The birds are Chuck and Spooky.

  Eric still works at Custom Printers and we still attend Standale Baptist Church.  We are quite busy with activities at church.   Eric has been working many hours the last week or two.  That has been a good thing since work has been slow most of the year.  He wasn’t allowed to work over 40 hours and we were used to several hours of “overtime”.  We felt the pinch this year. 

Well, I think I remembered everything of importance this year.  I hope your year has been a great one and we wish you a GREAT year to come.  Just remember – Life is what we make it.  And I choose to make it a great and fulfilling one.  We can pull ourselves out of those trenches, even if we’ve been flattened to a pancake.

Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow!  Good thing Jesus decided to come as a baby and then grow up – just to die for us!  He did that for us!  We should feel very, very special and grateful.

God bless and have a very Merry Christmas.

            Love,

                  Eric, Susan, Caleb, Grace, Joshua,                                      

                 Kristi, Isaiah, Chuck, Spooky and Candy (meow!)