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