December 2017
NOTE: you can click photos to enlarge them. Wow!
To our family and friends,
We hope this letter finds you and your family happy, healthy and enjoying the holiday season! Continuing the Neader tradition, here is the 2017 Year in Review.
Unfortunately, 2017 was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for our family. In January, Laurie’s mom transitioned from an Assisted Living center to a Memory Care facility. We spent time during the spring and summer to help prepare her house for sale, which took place in August. A week before the closing on that house, Scott’s mom passed away (obit here). We worked in preparing her house for sale in the fall, and closed on it in November. Later that month, Laurie’s dad passed away (obit here). While losing two of our parents this year was heartbreaking, we were so thankful that they both lived long, fulfilling lives and were able to pursue their passions, right up until near the end. We should all be so lucky.
Now for a little summary about what each of us is up to:
Cameron is 20 years old and is a Sophomore at UW-La Crosse. His current plan is to graduate with a major in Communications and minors in International Business and Economics. Cameron is also working part-time at a local grocery store, Festival Foods. He really loves college life and has been able to successfully balance work and school. He wanted a taste of dorm life, so he lived in Hutch Hall at UW-L for the first semester year, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He’ll be moving back home for the next semester, to save money. In addition to college life, Cameron enjoys photography, playing piano, composing songs and singing. He’s also picked up an interest in learning how to sew!
Ashlyn is 17 years old and is a Senior at Central High School in La Crosse. In July, she wrapped up her year-long Rotary youth exchange in Austria, which started in August 2016 (see her Blog). We were very happy to have her back home! While she returned fairly fluent in German, she is taking a higher level German course online, in order to improve her language abilities even further. Ashlyn is considering the possibility of a teaching career, perhaps teaching German. Ashlyn has decided to apply again through Rotary to go on another exchange during the 2018-2019 school year (she would delay college by one year, as her brother did). Since this would be her second exchange, she is toward the bottom of the list of candidates. We are waiting to find out, any day now, if there is an open spot for her, and what country she has been assigned. Ashlyn also recently started working at Festival Foods.
Macy is 14 years old and is a Freshman at Central High School. Macy is still very much into being a Percussionist. She is involved with the school band, and especially enjoys marching band. She likes to participate in Honor Band and Solo/Ensemble events, too, when possible. Macy likes the idea of international student exchange so, like her brother and sister, will start the application process next year, with the hopes of going her Junior year of high school.
Scott and Laurie continue to stay very busy; Scott, with his QTH.com web hosting business, and Laurie, managing the Neader house. Scott installed a new camera on the back of the house, and they have been having fun putting scrap food out to see what critters come to eat. So far, the camera has caught opossums, raccoons, skunks, deer, a fox, a ferel cat and the neighbor’s dog (see video of Skunk vs Cat). Scott and Laurie have also been finding new regional wineries to visit, learning about wine and which types they enjoy the most. Scott still gets on his ham radio occasionally, and Laurie continues to be an avid book reader, especially enjoying audio books while driving and working around the house.
Well, that’s the 2017 year-in-review. Until next year… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are very much looking forward to 2018!
Love,
Scott, Laurie, Cameron, Ashlyn & Macy Neader
