All of these people are a HUGE part of Ryan and Julie's lives, and are now getting to know Sam, too. They were all here for us before Sam came along, and have been so loving and supportive now that Sam is here. It is awesome that they will be a part of Sam's life, and we will share with him how important these people are to us.
Bob and Patricia are living in Ukraine right now, where Bob heads up the "Institute". Patricia is studying hard to learn Russian in order to serve the Ukrainians around her. They are so excited to be grandparents to 2 gorgeous baby boys so far! They have such a rich history and so much has happened in their lives....it's almost too much to write here. Bob has been a Pastor, he's worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and he's been a missionary for IV-LINK in Eastern Europe. Patricia has been a French Teacher, worked with IVCF also, and has been the best mom any kids could ever have!
Julie's Mom's sister Linda (Auntie Linda)
Julie and Auntie Linda haven't seen each other in over 10 years, and this summer they were reunited. It was a great visit, and Sam learned a TON of fun things from his great Aunt!
Steven is 3 years younger than Julie. He and Jessica have been married since June of 2000. They are a sweet, sweet couple that has been an incredible inspiration for Julie and Ryan. They work as InterVarsity staff on the campus of UW- Eau Claire, and Jessica works primarily with the International Students. They have an amazing ministry, and now they also have an amazing baby boy, Noah Alex (born October 2, 2003).
Alex is 4 years younger than Julie. He and Erin just recently got married, in December of 2002. They are the cutest couple! And they are in the midst of really starting an incredible life in Minnesota where they both went to the University. Alex is now a Youth Pastor and Erin is about to graduate from school, ready to begin a career as a High School English Teacher. They are so in love with each other and with Jesus!
Paula is Julie's younger sister. She's 9 years younger, to be exact, so she came along and was the absolute baby of the family. She is an incredible girl, a talented dancer and the smartest person we know! She just finished her sophomore year at Julie's alma mater, Hope College. She is studying to be a Physical Therapist, and she is also totally involved in the dance program at Hope. Watching her dance would make anyone cry, she's so good. We are all excited to see where God takes her in the next couple years...
Ryan's Dad Side
Calvin and Donna Haack
Ryan's Dad and Stepmom
Calvin and Donna live in Middleton, WI where Cal is the parks foreman for the City of Middleton Parks Department. He's worked with the Parks Department for a very long time and takes pride in his cities fine parks and baseball diamonds. Donna works at the UW Hospital with the School of Nursing where she has been for quite some time as well. They clearly love their new grandson and Donna has the distinct honor of getting Sam to laugh on purpose more than one time in a row!
Billy and Joey Haack
Ryan's half-brothers
Billy is a sophomore at Middleton High School. Billy takes his studies seriously, and he loves astronomy, baseball, and working on his amazing train set. He also works at the Bruce Company on the weekends and can finally drive there, since he just got his LISCENSE!! Joey is in the 8th grade, and he loves to talk to Julie about how great he's doing in German. He plays baseball, too, and his summer is already full of practices and games. They are both awesome guys.
Ryan's Mom Side
Karen Praksti
Ryan's mom
Karen lives and works in Verona, WI. She loves talking with people and finding ways to help them. She enjoys her new grandson and claims he is "just like his dad was when he was little."
Michael ("Eddie"/"Mikey") Praksti
Ryan's half-brother
Eddie is a bright young man with super karate skills. He was just accepted into the 2nd Degree blackbelt courses after a grueling test of strength and endurance. He loves playing with his friends and being an uncle!
Lauren Praksti
Ryan's Step-sister
Lauren lives and works in the Madison area and just celebrated her birthday on April 20th!
Nick Praksti
Ryan's Step-brother
Nick lives and works in Verona, WI.
"The Journey" Team
Steve and Kim Cecil
Pastors
Steve and Kim are 2 of the most important and influential people in our lives. Steve was the Youth Pastor at Victory Life Church and ran the infamous Youth Group there. He loves Jesus. Plain and simple. And he wants only to serve him, and by doing so, he changed our lives and the lives of almost everyone we know. He and Kim and their daughter (and baby on the way) are moving back to Madison to start a new and unique church, and we know they are going to shake things up there.
Marcie and Brandon Brazee
Home Missionaries
Marcie and Brandon came from WA to help start this church and they are super fun people. Marcie is actually Canadian, and we are so thrilled that she's down here with us. We can't wait to get to know them better as they really have a passion for the coffee shop aspect of the church and for reaching Madison.
Tamar!
Administrator
Tamar is such a sweet girl all the way from WA. She is ready to help lead us right to where God wants us. She is so good at all the details that the rest of us are not! She really loves the Lord and we are so happy that she's really going to take care of so much that we couldn't do without her!
Jeff Potts
Worship Leader
Jeff is 19 and adds such an awesome addition to our team. He's actually studying at Edgewood College and he came out from WA also, just because he knows it's the right thing to do. He has such amazing talent as a musician, and worship is going to be so awesome with him leading!
Our Awesome Friends!
Tiffany, Cali, Dolly
Former Students and Cheerleaders at WHS
These 3 girls really shaped who Julie was as a teacher and coach. They are 3 of the most special girls in her life, and now they are living and going to school in Madison!! It's a great coincidence, and such a treat!! Each girl has a unique spirit, and has touched Julie's life in a positive way. They are all grown up and there is so much more to learn about them! We are looking forward to spending quality time with them.
Chad Kemp
Chad. He's one of our funniest friends. He LOVES sports, and he and Ryan will always be talking sports. It's guaranteed that we'll get a call from him everytime an important sporting event is on. Chad's come a long way from High School and he's on his way to Law School this year. He constantly makes us laugh. Constantly.
Brian and Andrea Krause
Brian has been a part of our lives since High School. We don't know Andrea well, yet, but we are excited to. Brian is now the Youth Pastor of Capel Valley Foursquare Church, after he went to school in California and got ordained and everything. No matter what big and exciting things happen in his life (marriage, becoming a Youth Pastor), he still would rather spend all his time beating every computer game known to man, or entertaining kids with his yo-yo tricks. Yeah, he's a funny dude.
Gretchen Krause
Gretchen is Brian's sister, and we got to know her because she was a part of our youth group. Let's face it, she practically ran the whole thing with all the help and love she put into it. She is an incredible girl, ready to graduate college and make the most money of anyone we know by becoming a graphic designer. She's a quiet, but HILARIOUS friend of ours.
Laura Marquardt
Dear friend, former Youth at Chapel Valley Church
Laura was one of the best, hardest-working, and compassionate youth we had when Ryan and Julie worked as Youth Leaders at Chapel Valley Foursquare Church in Madison. Now that we are back in Madison, it has been a blessing to spend more time with her again. She helped us paint our condo and has been so wonderful in our transition back to Madison.
Mike, Marla, and Madison Coumerillh
Good friends at Chapel Valley Church, Care for Sam
Mike and Marla have been in our lives since we left our roles as Youth Leaders at Chapel Valley Church. Now that we are back, Marla is giving her time and love to Sam 2 days a week while Ryan and Julie both work. She and little Madison work hard to take such good care of Sam, and it is a HUGE blessing to our family. Nother Juli or Ryan have to worry about him getting tons of love in their home.
Jaye Barbeau
Jaye is one of our greatest and oldest friends from Madison. He works as a teacher in Madiaon, and he has been such a part of our lives since we worked together in the Youth Group over 7 years ago. He's a hilarious guy who always brings the party with him.
Anthony and Erin Georgeson
Anthony and Erin just recently got married and they live in New York now. That's because Anthony is one of the most talented musicians ever, the most talented we've ever met, so he's studying at JULIARD. It's amazing. He was a good friend of Ryan's in High School when they both played in the school band. Anthony is also one of the funniest people we know. Maybe THE funniest. Erin matches his humor with her maturity and beauty, and we miss them since they are so far away from us now...
Christa and Nate Miller
Nate and Christa became our close friends when Ryan was in the band "Catalyst" with them in college. That's where they fell in love, and now they've been married for 3 years and already have 2 cool sons, Chase and Eli. They live in the Milwaukee area, so we get to hang out and eat out and just chill with them. Christa is a working-teacher-mom, too, and it's so nice to just chat about our busy lives!
Brenda Murphy
Brenda lives down in Chicago now, near her sister Maureen, but we've been friends with her since High School. She was in the Youth Group with Ryan and is one of the funniest people we know. She's traveled all over the place on mission trips, and works so hard to try to bring Jesus to people. She teaches in the inner city now, and that's incredible. It's funny that she's the same girl who took BOTH Ryan AND Chad to a dance once, both as her dates, and spent the whole time dancing with a different dude! Ahhh...memories.
Maureen and Dan Huang
Dan and Maureen met while in school, and Maureen has completely soaked up Dan's Asian culture. They are perfect for each other, and they work for IVCF in Chicago at 2 different campuses. Maureen was in the Youth Group, too, and played piano in the worship band. She's one of our closest friends, and never hesitates to inspire us with her passion for Jesus.
Julie's Awesome Friends at WHS!
Denise Bauer
Fellow German Teacher, WHS
Denise is only in her first year of teaching, and I helped get her hired! I needed her, because our German program is big enough for 2 teachers now. I'm her mentor, but she spends most of her time teaching me things. She's SUPER TALL, especially compared to me, and she's just as sweet. She and I spend a lot of time in the library during our prep hour chatting and whining and not getting a lot of stuff done. :)
Christine Grochowski
Business Teacher, WHS
Christy is another one of our "Lunch Buddies". She sits at the head of the table and keeps us posted on the latest American Idol losers or what's happening on the Bachelor. Her favorite snack is portable pudding (in the little tubes) which she treats herself to almost every day at 7th hour, and sometimes she cracks us up by just eating a bag of popcorn for lunch. She loves to knit, and sometimes even wears her creations to school! She definitely keeps our lunchtime lively.
Angie Hagen
Math Teacher, WHS
Angie is one of my "lunch buddies". She loves sports and almost cried when the Minnesota women's team lost in their basketball tournament. She also loves watching "Law and Order" or "Who's Line is It Anyway", she separates her M&M's into colors before she eats them, and she is practically fluent in American Sign Language. She cracks me up...
Dawn and Mandi have been in my life only a short amount of time. Dawn lives with her husband Scott in Trevor, and Mandi just moved in with them after living in Kenosha and Oakfield before that. They both have a passion(that's an understatement!) for kids and Cheerleading. Dawn is the coach of the JV Cheerleaders at Wilmot, and Mandi is now the head coach of the Varsity team, since I recently resigned. I coached with Dawn and Mandi this year, and both of them are very special to me. I learned so much from coaching with them - since I was never a cheerleader and both of them have so much experience, they taught me a lot. We had a great time together, and now we are great friends. I'm so excited for the next season so I can be in the crowd as their #1 fan!
Jennifer Serkowski
Business Teacher, WHS
Jen and I got to know each other when I worked as her assistant cheerleading coach. She was dating a teacher (Don Serkowski) at the time, and decided to go off and get married to him and leave me with the cheerleaders!!! Little did she know that I would stick with it so long!! She and Don just bought and house, and it's amazing that they are so cute and so mature - homeowners! Jen is an inspiration to me since she is a master at weight loss and such a tough cookie when it comes to teaching and controlling a classroom. She and I started at the same time, and it was fun to be rookies together.
MaryAnn Witberler
Special Ed, WHS
Maryann is a spitfire if there ever was one. She doesn't eat lunch with us, so we don't get to spend as much time together as I'd like. But we've had some fun, long conversations at Subway, that's for sure! She also loves basketball and was the assistant Varsity girls B-ball coach this year. They had a tough season, but she works so hard. Funny thing - she actually moved into Ryan and my first apartment in Lake Geneva! It's just the right size for her, but what a coincidence!
