Hello Friends and Family!
Here is a (way too long, way too late) year-end update on our family. Usual disclaimer: I love reading these sorts of things from other people, but I don’t expect everyone to feel that way. If this letter ends up in the recycle bin without being read, you won’t hurt my feelings. At all. Truly.
Bobby is still working as a software engineer at NVIDIA at a smallish facility in the University of Illinois Research Park. The work can be demanding. He tells me that artificial intelligence writes terrible code, but it sometimes saves time to let AI have a go first. Bobby cooked dinner almost every night this year. He invited the missionaries to dinner every week, and sometimes twice when there was a holiday. He accompanied James on a school trip to Boston. I can’t imagine traveling with over 40 11-14 year-olds…airports, hotels, walking around Boston itself…but they both survived.
Bobby in a few words: steady, faithful, confident
Bobby’s superpower: turning to God first when things get tough
Susan is me. I made several trips around the continental U.S. this year, inching closer to my goal of cycling 50 miles with my friend in all 50 states before she turns 50. People always ask how many states we have left (10), which states have been my favorites (North and South Dakota, New Mexico, and Arkansas), and when we are going to Hawaii (Winter 2026/27).
I refurbished almost 50 bikes in my garage this year for a local thrift store. The garden and my church service suffered a little as I just couldn’t give either of them as much time as they needed. Managing Matthew’s anxiety has been a major force in our family this year. It has been very, very difficult. Other interests and relationships have had to wait. I have, however, tried to make time for these things, and I appreciate everyone who’s been there for me in person or in spirit. Walking at the dog park with my sister has been GREAT! And I have fun doing statistics for my clan in my new favorite video game “Total Battle”
Me in a few words: flexible, a little awkward
My superpower: this year, it was resilience. And hope. Sometimes hope is a superpower.
Lukas (formerly Alice/Alex) turned 18 this year and graduated from high school. He worked all summer as a nature camp counselor, which he swears he will do until he graduates from college and moves to Germany. Just before starting college, Lukas sought testing for autism and received a diagnosis. He says it explains a lot. Lukas flexed his adult muscles by getting a few more piercings, taking on a couple of tattoos, and starting testosterone therapy to develop more masculine physical characteristics. And, while I don’t fully understand his choices, I do like to see him becoming an independent and self-directed adult. He’s a freshman at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) majoring in German Studies and Psychology. He’s there on scholarship, which includes one year abroad in Germany or Austria. His friend group is loving and supportive, he’s got the sweetest boyfriend, and his classes are just challenging enough to keep him on his toes. His school is 3 hours away by car: the perfect distance to be home when you want to be home and to be far from home when you want to be far from home.
Lukas in a few words: bold, Gen Z to the core, edgy, colorful
Lukas’ superpower: instant and intense passion for whatever has his attention at the moment
Robert is in 10th grade this year at Urbana High School. When Lukas moved out and Matthew’s anxiety led to a much quieter household, Robert started coming out of his room more. Some people just do better with less stimulation. Robert is deliberate, introspective, and driven to improve every aspect of himself. His humor is dry and understated, clever, mildly sarcastic, and largely based on observation. More than one of his quiet, well-timed comments has made me burst out laughing uncontrollably. Even in public. I feel like he’s a totally new kid this year. Actually, he’s the kid that his teachers and church leaders always told me about, but who never made an appearance at home until now. Robert is doing well in school. He’s pushing himself in every discipline. Math is still his most intuitive subject. He’s in Pre-Calculus, and decided to study Calculus on his own and take the AP exam this May. Robert has made a lot of physical changes this year, too, growing leaner and much, much stronger due to regular workouts at the gym. He’s a pretty good driver and looks forward to getting his license in April.
Robert in a few words: smart, focused, meticulous, driven
Robert’s superpower: a patient focus and an analytical mind that causes him to quickly improve on anything he decides to work on
James started 7th grade this year. He’s carefully shaped his school image into something of a mischievous rascal. He decided this year that he was going to keep up on his assignments and earn decent grades (last year was NOT like that). And he has! Proudly. Another change we saw this year was our painfully shy and self-conscious James suddenly singing solos on stage, in costume, in front of his peers and their families! No sweat. Loved it. Hammed it up with all that rascal charm. James redesigned his bedroom this year into a perfectly normal-looking sitting room with a bedroom hidden in the closet, only accessible through a full-sized dresser that he converted into a secret entrance. He also built a hill cart from scratch out of a 55-gallon drum. He created a personal armory out of scraps of metal, wood, and assorted hardware. He experimented with model rockets. He constructed a raised garden bed. He co-managed a Summer Kid Camp at our home. He took down a tree and butchered it into firewood with a chainsaw (supervised). He spent hours a week at Art Club painting the canvases that now decorate his private sitting room.
James in a few words: rascal, a little stubborn, big ideas, a maker
James’ superpower: creative resilience and a sure-I’ll-try attitude
Matthew started 5th grade this year. It’s been a rocky year for this guy. It started with chronic, disabling anxiety that still hasn’t gotten much better despite 12 months of medication, regular therapy, and an extensive series of accommodations at home. We know these things take time (sometimes a LOT of time) but we’re hopeful there’s a less anxious balance out there for him. Fortunately for us, school is Matthew’s happy place: he has friends, he loves his teachers. His 4th grade teachers noticed some issues that eventually led to a diagnosis of dyslexia. He does NOT enjoy the extra hours of tutoring and reading/spelling therapy this requires, but he does the work. After school, Matthew is in the Dungeons and Dragons Club where he acts as the dungeon master for his group. He likes the story-telling aspects of D&D, and being the dungeon master allows him to shape the narrative and reign in unruly behavior. Matthew competed in archery this year (loved it) and started taking gymnastics (also loved it). He not-so-secretly wants to become Spider-Man.
Matthew in a few words: a pleaser, friendly, anxious, and woefully apologetic for being so anxious
Matthew’s superpower: resisting sweets. He’s just NEVER in the mood for them.
Love,
Susan
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