Holt Christmas Letters

Christmas 2010
Merry Christmas everyone,
How do you like the new Christmas letter website? I thought it would be a great idea since we have blogs for everything else. This way you can read all the past year's letters as well. If I find more letters that were not already saved on the computer, I will add them later.

Caleb is 26 and in the Navy. He is still on shore duty and living in Norfolk, VA. His big purchase this year was a beautiful black corvette. He had been looking on the internet for just the right corvette and tried to find one in his area, but ended up finding the one he liked in near by Comstock Park, MI. He surprised us and flew to MI and had a friend pick him up from the airport and drive him to Comstock Park, which is just a few miles NW of Grand Rapids. He then drove into our driveway in his new sports car. I happened to be away when he came home, and by the time I arrived, he was out with friends. The other kids quickly told me that Caleb was home. I said, "No he's not. He's in VA." They then said that he came home in a corvette. My response was, "Yeah, right?" He sure surprised us! He came in the early part of July and spent the 4th of July with us.

Grace is 24 and still working at the day care. She loves it. She started bringing her work home this year. Grace had grown quite close to one toddler at the day care and offered to have him come over sometime. That worked out perfect, since his mom just started working in the evenings, so Jonas and his twin brother, Aiden, started spending a lot of time at our house. They have spent many nights as well. They are now my surrogate grandchildren. I have grandpuppies too, but more about them later.

Grace and Vic are still living with us. He is continuously looking for work. He has had several interviews, and some seemed very promising, but no luck yet. Keep him in your prayers about that issue. I know they would like to get a place of their own, but that will have to wait till he gets a job. They are both very helpful around the house - that is a huge help for me.

Joshua is 22 years old. He is still figuring out what he wants to do in life. He stopped going to physical therapy, but did get a membership to the YMCA to get some exercise. Josh's big purchase this year was an all-black King Shepherd named Buddy. King Shepherds are bigger than German Shepherds. Buddy is still just a puppy, but is already almost the size of a small pony. He will be a BIG dog. Buddy and Lisa's golden retriever puppy named, Izzy, are my grandpuppies. Josh and Lisa are engaged and are working on setting a date for the wedding. They thought maybe June 2011 would be a good month, but are still trying to work out a time that will fit the budget as well. Lisa graduated with her masters from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI this past August and started working as a physician's assistant for an orthopedic doctor here in Grand Rapids.

Kristi is back home and is getting closer to finding a job she would like. She applied at the assisted-living home where Grandma Holt stays. Kristi has a very compassionate heart for children and the elderly, and this would be right up her alley. Another plus, is that one of her aunts works there. Knowing someone at a job site is a huge advantage as well, especially in this bad economy. We are hoping to hear soon whether or not she got the job. Cross your fingers.

Isaiah just turned 18 this month. He is going to the Grandville High School. He is not sure what he will do next after high school. My Isaiah still has a great sense of humor and keeps me laughing. He still gives me hugs and tells me he loves me, even when his friends are around. He does have flaws and can be a "teenager" at times, in word and deed, but underneath it all, there is a great young man.

Eric is still working nights at Wynalda Litho in Rockford, MI. It will soon be changing its name to Wynalda Packaging. They specialize in printing a lot of DVD covers and other types of packaging materials, so they are changing their name this coming year. I am still at Vredevoogd Heating and Cooling in Grandville, MI. I am very comfortable now as a CSR (customer service representative) and am told I am a great asset with my compassionate demeanor with the customers. Eric and I are still very involved at our church. We both added a Bible Study to our already busy schedules. Eric meets Monday mornings with a group of men and I gather with a small group of ladies on Thursday nights. It has been a great way to grow closer to others in our church.

Merry Christmas and God bless all of you this next year,

Eric, Sue, Caleb, Grace & Vic, Josh & Lisa, Kristi, and Isaiah