Merry Christmas!

From the Stewarts

Adam, Jennifer, Andrew, Darci, Matthew, Haleigh,

Jim, Susan, Jonathan, Shylah, and David

One More Person to Love

In May, this sweet family...

this BIG brother...

and this BIG sister...

will welcome this LITTLE sister to the world!

Just look at that sweet little foot.

Congratulations and love to Andrew, Darci, Matthew and Haleigh, 

as they anticipate the arrival of a new little blessing.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, 
coming down from the Father."
James 1:17

Rudolph and Friends

Matthew and I decided to try a little cookie project after school on Friday.  I found instructions for several different kinds of reindeer cookies, and I thought these were the cutest (and the easiest!).  Of course, I simplified it even more by using packaged peanut butter cookie dough.  All you overachievers out there can go ahead and make your own from scratch.
 

I used a cookie scoop to make balls, then pinched and flattened into the shape of a reindeer head.  Of course that's what it is, can't you tell?

When they came out of the oven, Matthew was ready to add eyes, noses, and antlers.  I helped since we had to do it while the dough was still hot.  That's the only tricky part, since we didn't want anyone to get burned.

We used M & M's for the noses, chocolate chips for the eyes, and regular and chocolate covered pretzels for the antlers.  Matthew wanted some of each.  He also wanted both brown-nosed and red-nosed reindeer.  I would have probably made them all Rudolph without thinking of the other eight.

Of course, we had to sample a bit of candy in the process.

Quick and easy, and very cute.  These guys look like they might be ready for some reindeer games.  Like monopoly (or maybe a round of 'eat the antler off the reindeer')!

A First Grade Christmas

Matthew had his Christmas program this week, the first at the brand new Arlington Elementary School.  I didn't really get any good pictures.  It's a big room, and there wasn't much light.  This is a group shot of the first graders ready for their part of the program.  Matthew is in the white shirt and tie, front and center.

We did get a video of their songs.  The quality is not great, but it's still enjoyable.  Matthew and three of his classmates had a little ensemble part for the intro to Rudolph.  Be sure to turn off the blog music to enjoy the show!

After the show, he posed for his fans.  As usual, he had a great group of supporters there to cheer him on.

 What a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit!

Merry Stewart Christmas

On Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with the extended Stewart family.  Making the day extra special this year was a visit from Natalie, Becca, and Jack, who came from New York to join in the fun.  The snowy day prompted a small change in location, and we all gathered at Grandma and Grandpa's so that they didn't have to get out in the cold.

Natalie and her sweet daughter Becca pose with Grandma Stewart.

Natalie's son Jack was entertaining the little boys with some kind of hand held gizmo.

They asked if I wanted a nice picture, and posed for this one.  Jack, Matthew, and Carter.

Riley was keeping watch over sweet baby Shayne, almost three months old.

Haleigh was watching everyone, and practicing her walking.

Emerson and Gramps Steve.

He introduced her to sugar cream pie.

Haleigh got some too, from Grandpa Jim.  Yummy!

Josh and his girls, Arden and Emerson.

Baby Shayne.

Jessica, Jennifer, and Elizabeth.

Jim was getting ready to read the Christmas Story, and was showing Matthew which verses he would be reading, when it was suggested that one of the children do the reading.  Through the years, the grandchildren have taken turns, and now the honor falls to the great-grandchildren.

Matthew and Riley got together, and decided they would read as a team.



Something gave them the giggles before they started.

But they were very serious about their reading.  They alternated verses, and did a great job.  Jack served as prompter when needed.



The group listened intently to that special story of the birth of our Savior, who came to us as a baby, Jesus.

Harper listened too.



Barbara and Pat dropped in via Skype, as did Neal.  We enjoyed the view from his NYC apartment.  Oh the wonder of technology.

Harper shares a bite of cupcake with Gramps.

Susan holds sleeping Shayne, while Jennifer and Natalie snuggle.

Becca and Haleigh share a laugh.

And as I've said before, a full house makes a mom's-grandma's-great-grandma's (and grandpa's) heart full.  Celebrating the birth of our Savior, surrounded by loved ones, is one of the best blessings of all.



Family Fuel

Jennifer became a member of St. Luke's UMC on Sunday, and I went to worship with her and celebrate her membership.  After the 9:30 service, I got to see their "Family Fuel" program, which is a ministry for families and children.  Jennifer's involvement came about when she called Jamalyn one evening to see if she wanted to meet for supper.  Jamalyn was in a bit of a panic because one of the "actors" she had lined up for the skits had backed out.  Jennifer asked if there was anything she could do to help, and, well, the rest is history.  Note to self, "Use caution when asking a pastor what you can do to help." : )

This is the set they use.  You can just catch a glimpse of Pastor Dave through the door.

Jamalyn welcomes the group and starts the lesson, when she is interrupted by...



 Jen, who is all hopped up on energy drink and won't stop running around the stage.

Dave joins in the fun.



 I got a kick out of Margaret watching.  She's taking it all in, but somehow she seems to be thinking, "who are these people, and what have you done with my parents?"

 A blurry picture, but I had to post one of Dave in his tutu.

 That got a hint of a smile from Margaret.

 The virtue this month is JOY: finding a way to be happy even when things don't go your way.  Jennifer gave all the kids kazoos to take home to help them remember to have JOY.  Oh, was there ever JOY!

 There was music, and singing, and dancing, and energy, and kazoos, and scripture, and fun!

 Which just goes to show, when recruiting participants for skits, the scripture says:

My Hope is Built

This is a picture of our friend Jesula and her family that I took on my second trip to Haiti, in 2008. She is standing in front of her house with her children. I think I felt a connection to her because we are both mothers of five children.

I learned that Jesula and Jamalyn became good friends during the time that David and Jamalyn lived in Haiti. Each time they take a group to Haiti, they are welcomed to Jesula's home and served delicious Haitian pate. Jesula's house is right across the road from the guest house. At least it was.

This was Jesula's house in the late afternoon of January 12, 2010.  Jesula's house and the guest house were just two of the buildings destroyed by the earthquake that hit Haiti that day.

The family lived temporarily in a tent following the earthquake until they could build a shelter. They are now living up the road a bit in a small tin structure, where they hope to build a new home. Still, Jesula welcomed Jamalyn's group of ten for pate when they were there last month.

Jennifer was able to go back that evening to take some pictures of the family. This is Jesula and her younger daughter, Diane.

This is Jesula's husband Boss with their youngest. Boss was seriously injured in the earthquake at the school, where he was working that day. One of the men with him was killed when the school collapsed.

This is the whole family. Well, minus one son who was off somewhere, and plus the three little ones in front. I think they are nieces.

This is their oldest daughter, Joanne. Jamalyn's mom and I were prayer partners while the group was gone last month, and one of her text messages said that maybe Jon would "decide to be a missionary to Fondwa because he fell in love with Jesula's tall beautiful daughter... tee hee." She is beautiful.

She liked posing for Jennifer. We will get these photos printed for her and send them down on the next trip.

Jesula and Boss even posed for Jennifer. Boss was never around during my visits to Haiti. I'm not sure I have ever met him, as he was always away working. It seems like he has spent more time at home since the earthquake, and has been working right there in Fondwa to help rebuild their community. Jamalyn heard him call Jesula "his wife" for the first time. God works in mysterious ways.

This is Jon and their son Dadou. Our family has the opportunity to sponsor some of the students at the school in Fondwa. This sponsorship helps provide teachers' salaries, classroom supplies, textbooks and a school nutrition program that provides food, milk, vitamins and deworming medication. Sponsorship opportunities are available through Family Health Ministries.

Jonathan sponsors Dadou, and they enjoyed the chance to meet and spend some time together. Jon took him a soccer ball, and it was fun for him to see Dadou light up when he gave him the ball. Jon also gave him the air pump for the ball, and after kicking it around a bit, Dadou took the pin and deflated the ball. Jon asked Jamalyn what he was doing, and when Jamalyn asked him, Dadou said "so it won't roll down the mountain." Smart kid.

Jesula and Boss hope to build a new house soon. Here, you can see the plan for the house, with several rooms. To the left, you can see the house where they are currently living. Straight ahead in the picture, is the edge of the mountain. You can see why Dadou was worried about his ball!

This is another angle of their current home, and the floor plan of the home they hope to build.


When I think of Jesula and her family, of our friends in Fondwa, and all of Haiti, my heart is broken for them.  On my trips to Haiti, we often spent time in the evening reflecting on the day, and sharing our experiences.  I could never get my words past the tears in my eyes and the tightness of my throat.  Even by the last day of my third trip, I had to walk up to the gazebo to have my day to cry in Haiti.  And yet, despite unthinkable hardship, there is joy.  There is joy in the Haiti that brings tears to my eyes. 

This morning, I read a reflection by David Williamson from his Fuel 2 Go blog on the St. Luke's website.  The Family Fuel definition of joy is  "finding a way to be happy, even when things don't go your way."  To say that things haven't gone their way in Haiti would be more than an understatement.  And yet, there is joy.

As Christmas approaches, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what brings joy.  I am inspired by the beautiful words of Ann Voskamp who shares how her young family has chosen to focus on the joy of Jesus instead of presents.

When our family gathers this Christmas, there will be a few presents,  some pretty decorations, and way too much food to eat.  But the joy will come in the welcome home hugs, the laughter of siblings, the energy and excitement of children, the wisdom of age, and the time shared together.  It will also come with the opportunity to give hope to a family in Haiti to help build a house.

And there is joy.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord; 

in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message 

with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.  
1 Thessalonians 1:6

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, 

whatever you did for one of the least of these 
brothers of mine, you did for me.'  
Matthew 25:40