All I can say is WOW. I have been thinking about writing most every day, and life gets in the way. I want to blog about my son turning 16 and learning to drive; my transition in my new job and the challenges; and my current relationship, where I can honestly say that I have gone on my last "first" date....
For now, here is a copy of my holiday letter that goes out with my Christmas cards. I will be writing more soon.....
Schappell-holiday letter 2011
“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. Today
in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2: 10-11
Greetings to you and your
family during this Christmas Season….it has been an incredible year in many
ways and I wanted to share some of what God has been doing in our lives.
August 20th marked
one year in my townhouse, and working on a weekly rotation with my kids. I am slowly working on improvements, first
doing landscaping out front in the spring, and then re-doing my patio over the
summer. I am in the process of finishing
the basement for additional space.
Drew and Ariana continue to
do well in school and sports activities.
Drew recently turned 16, is in 10th grade, and now has his
permit. We are slowly teaching him how
to drive and recording the 50+ hours he needs before a license. Drew has been playing soccer for over 8 years now and played JV on the HS soccer team and was a varsity “swinger,” attending all the varsity games and
getting some playing time. He continues
to play school lacrosse in the spring.
Between videogames and his girlfriend, he worked over the summer and is
a regular teenager in all respects.
Ariana is 12 and started
middle school this fall. She received a
4.0 in her first semester and is transitioning well. She continues to play club soccer almost all year round. Her team
finished first in their league and won their 2 tournaments. The core of her team has been together 4
years and is exciting to watch. Her
skills as an artist continue to improve and she is a wonderful young lady.
Our vacation was our annual
roller coaster trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. For 3 years,
I have found something that my kids will do together. This year, we traveled to Kings Island in Cincinnati for the first time; hit the Cincinnati Zoo, back to Kennywood Park in PA and Knoebel’s Grove Amusement Park. It was
whirlwind week. We had a change to meet
old friends and make new ones.
For me, it has been a year of
change and growth. I was in a 5 month
relationship (my first since the divorce) that ended in January. I focused on work and the kids, while enjoying
my alone time. My next change came in
August, 2 days before my 2nd anniversary at the Credit Union, I was
let go as the Branch Manager due to management changes. I dug deep, pressed into God, and 6 weeks
later found work 2.5 miles from home and working weekdays only. I was able to pay off my car a year early and
adjusting to a new reality of lower salary and building myself back up.
I am grateful, because God is
faithful and has promised to meet our needs and he did. I was fortunate not to fall behind, and happy
to be driving less and spending more time with my kids...being able to attend
their games and activities. I am still
the manager for my daughter’s soccer team and
in the process of writing my first novel.
The job change also opened up
a new door, and that is my current relationship with a wonderful woman. We met online through a friend (Facebook no
less), met in person Labor Day weekend, and have not stopped talking ever
since. She lives across the state in
Beaver, PA, so we see each other about 2x a month. God is working in a big way and I am blessed to
have found someone I love very much.
My prayer for you is that you
will continue to be blessed during the coming year. Tell your kids you love them…remember what
you have and be thankful…every day is a gift and know that life is meant to be
shared.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year!
Steve, Drew and Ariana
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