{"id":1157,"date":"2013-12-22T04:05:55","date_gmt":"2013-12-22T04:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kandynolesstevens.com\/?p=1157"},"modified":"2013-12-22T04:05:55","modified_gmt":"2013-12-22T04:05:55","slug":"may-your-christmas-be-merry-bright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/?p=1157","title":{"rendered":"May your Christmas be Merry & Bright!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Inspired Portrait Photography<\/p><\/div>\n

This is the first family picture we have taken by a photographer who was not a close family friend because we struggle so much not having Reed in the picture.\u00a0 The empty chair melted our hearts.\u00a0 And if you know me at all, the photographer is now<\/b> a friend.<\/p>\n

I have finally found a few minutes to sit down and write our family\u2019s newsletter.\u00a0 We have gone from one sports season to another, and it seems that we are never too far from the bleacher view of the world. It is a good thing that Santa gave us bleacher seats a few years ago.\u00a0 Recently, I have been teaching 2nd<\/sup> grade again at a local charter school which has certainly kept me busy.\u00a0 I loved every minute of it. Other than adjunct teaching at the university, I have kept busy with writing, gardening, crafting, and working in my new ministry, Sweet Grace \u2013 all things that I love.\u00a0 Following God\u2019s will, my ministry took me all the way to Kentucky to meet new sisters in Christ.\u00a0 It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I returned to a long lost love this year, as I took on the position of Cheer Coach for a football team Sawyer coaches.\u00a0 After sewing skirts and a huge breakaway banner, I discovered \u2013 once a cheerleader might have some merit.<\/p>\n

Daniel is still with the Schwan Food Company, working as an analyst. \u00a0He enjoys hunting, including the annual trip to Montana for mule deer.\u00a0 He has snuck in some motorcycling, fishing, and volunteering with the Hunter Safety classes.\u00a0 He enjoys a good project, and this year he finished the remodeling of our basement as well as the upstairs bathroom, laying new flooring for Cloie\u2019s room, \u00a0and building a new fence for the hot tub.\u00a0 However, if our kids are playing somewhere, all that goes on the backburner.\u00a0 Following our kids\u2019 activities is his number one hobby \u2013 hands down.<\/p>\n

We all loved attending the Nowatzki family reunion, going to the Brookings Children Museum, and our super fun Easter weekend day trip to Sioux Falls.\u00a0 For Reed\u2019s birthday, we went hiking in his favorite state park and made cheetahs for his legacy program at the hospital where he passed. We made a special trip to the Ronald McDonald House to donate stuffed cheetahs and golden retrievers.\u00a0 It was an amazing day to remember and to count our blessings.<\/p>\n

\"Sawyer<\/a>

Sawyer and Rachel took Brayden (one of Reed’s friends) to the prom.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sawyer is still our gentle giant.\u00a0 It is rare to meet a kid that isn\u2019t instantly drawn to him. He is now a junior in high school, and he is so active that we seldom see him.\u00a0 He earned letters in Math League and Football this year.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t able to participate in golf this past spring.\u00a0 (More on that below) He enjoyed attending HOBY Leadership and \u201cmed school\u201d camp this summer. \u00a0He is president of our 4H club, FCA leader, Jazz Band Member, president of the Junior class, and a youth leader for his youth group.\u00a0 If you were to ask him, he would probably list two things as his greatest accomplishments this year.\u00a0 First, he is almost done with reading through the Bible in a year, and second, he led the Pumas (the Special Olympics football team he coaches) to an undefeated season, including a trip to play at the Minnesota Vikings Winter Park.\u00a0 All too soon, we will be making college visits, and he works very hard to stay up on his studies.<\/p>\n

\"Erin<\/a><\/p>\n

Erin is a freshman this year. Playing college basketball is her dream, and she has spent countless hours to work toward that goal.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0She played on her AAU team last spring in the Twin Cities, where she was nicknamed Super Star by her coach, and spent the summer trying to reach a goal of 20,000 made shots.\u00a0 She did it, and we are seeing all that hard work pay off as she currently plays one half of the B squad and both halves of the varsity game. \u00a0Erin is a much sought after babysitter, and she has some neighborhood kids who adore her.\u00a0 Aside from basketball, Erin plays first base in softball, is a Student Council Member, Vice-President of the 4H club, and active in youth group & FCA.\u00a0 Daniel is not thrilled that boys have discovered her as more than one of the ball playing chums. Seriously, he doesn\u2019t like it all.<\/p>\n

Cloie turned 9 years old a week ago.\u00a0 Where did the time go?\u00a0 I think all of us big people are really struggling to see our baby grow up.\u00a0 Following her big sister\u2019s footsteps, she played basketball last winter and is looking forward to that again in the New Year.\u00a0 She has been drug along to watch her siblings play sports since she was born, but we never realized how much she actually took in.\u00a0 During a game last year, she had her hand in the face of the girl she was guarding.\u00a0 The girl swatted her hand and told her to stop doing that.\u00a0 She responded with \u201cYou must not know a lot about basketball because this is how you defend someone.\u201d Her biggest goal is to become a professional singer like her musical idol \u2013 Taylor Swift. Erin & I surprised her with a trip to Fargo to see Taylor in concert, which she loved every minute. Currently, she takes piano, ukulele, and voice lessons.\u00a0 Three times, she has sung the National Anthem at our school, and each time received uproarious applause. She is also active in 4H with the big kids, loves all things Lego, and writing her own songs.\u00a0 One of the highlights of her year was having both Grandmas at her house for a few days \u2013 at the same time.<\/p>\n