Hannah's 2012 Graduation

My husband and I presented our youngest daughter, Hannah, with a homeschool high school diploma on Saturday, April 28^th.  It was a day to celebrate, to reflect on the past 17+ years, and to encourage our daughter to stretch in her endeavors to reach her goals and to continue to live a Godly life.

Hannah assembled a DVD of pictures of her life with the song, “Here I am” sung by artist Brian Adams.  As we watched Hannah’s personal DVD from birth to present I smiled at all the fun we had.  I glance at Steve.  He is wiping a tear from his eye. “Are you alright?” I ask.  He says, “This is much too big of a production!”  But I know he feels what I am at this moment.  We blinked and 17+ years are gone. 

After the DVD we held hands and took the long walk to the podium to present Hannah a well earned diploma.  With much emotion I had a heart felt message for Hannah from us. 

“Hannah, here you are!  We are excited to celebrate your homeschool high school graduation day!  Like your older brother and sister, it has been a joy and a blessing for you to be a part of our lives and to watch you grow these past 17+ years.

There is a scripture found in Isaiah 50:30 it reads, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.”  This verse is speaking of a strong person.  God has planted all the talent, skill, intelligence, and the dream inside of you.  You have all you need.  Be persistent and persevere and trust God in your journey.  Hang onto that great big fat hairy audacious stupendous dream and NEVER allow anyone, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE to steal it from you. We are going to watch you SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE!!

We love you!  Congratulations!!!!”

                                            Instead of marching out Hannah flipped out!  

                                                

After visiting with fellow homeschoolers at the reception we took a short jog to Napoli’s Italian Restaurant to really get down and party with family: Stephanie (older sister), Jeff (Stephanie’s boyfriend), Chris (brother), Hannah (graduate and younger sister), and Twyla (Mother and Grams).  It says in Romans 12:15 to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice…”  It was an awesome day of celebrating Hannah’s achievements.  Steve and I are truly happy for Hannah and we are looking forward to making many more wonderful memories with our children.  God has blessed us so much!

                                               Back Row: Chris, Jeff, and Stephanie
                                        Front Row:  Teresa, Hannah, Steve, and Twyla     
                                         

4-H Helps Youth Make Better Choices

By Hannah Stewart

“Youth dies in auto accident due to being intoxicated.”  This typical article, appearing in local newspapers across the United States, is an example of a youth who made a wrong choice.  What influences the choices our youth make today?  Statistics prove youth that are 4-H members make better choices in life.

What is 4-H?  It seems that many youth and adults think 4-H is a small club for rural farm people who raise farm animals, such as cows and swine, but 4-H is so much more!  There are a wide variety of 4-H projects ranging from Sewing to Robotics to Public Speaking.  4-H has over 7 million members, and can be found in every state in the U.S.  Believe it or not, 4-H is one of the largest youth organizations in the U.S.  4-H enriches our youth in a wide variety of subjects and it is for everyone everywhere!

Individuals might say, “There are clubs in the public school that allows youth to learn; for example, the Spanish club.”  These clubs are great; they aid youth in learning a language and culture of a country.  However, 4-H includes not only learning the project, but provides hands-on learning opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment.  This helps youth in developing life skills; such as, decision-making, goal-setting, communication and leadership.  Youth who volunteer at the club and county levels build even stronger life skills.  4-H youth are two-times more likely to get better grades in school and attend college.  Does the Spanish club or other clubs include this?

4-H has definitely helped me with my leadership skills in many situations.  For instance, during a gym practice some of the girls were making fun of another girl named Celia.  Even though Celia was insecure and came off as a little bit rude sometimes; it still was not right to make fun of her.  After all she is our teammate and a person with feelings.  I walked over to the girls and told them, “Guys, you need to stop making fun of Celia.”  When they asked why I said, “For one thing she is our teammate and we should be nice to her even if she is not nice to us.”  Without 4-H I would not have had the courage or the leadership to walkover there, and teach them to respect other people.

I have shared a small part of 4-H’s purpose, how it helps; youth build life skills, and a personal experience, where I have applied it to my life.  These are only a few drops in the bucket of how 4-H influences and helps youth make better choices

More "I Just Have To Scream" Stories!

A few months ago, I posted a story about a time that I rode an amusement ride and I could not keep from screaming.  My cousin, Linda Benso, responded to my posting, “Screaming relieves stress!”

My response was, “Hey, Linda!  You make me laugh at your comments, cousin!  I do relate to the rare occasions that I have to just scream from being so stressed.  I remember one particular weekend Hannah and I spent with some girls and a mother.  The girls were great; the mother was complaining and murmuring the whole time and very, very strict.  When we dropped them at their home and traveled home a certain amount of distance, I rolled the window down and screamed.  Hannah and I just drove around for awhile so I could relax before I went home to my family.  I wanted to be in a happy state of mind.  I am grateful that does not happen often.  I am learning to take control of situations like this and put a STOP TO ALL THE NEGATIVITY!  Life is too short.”

Linda’s responded with her “I Just Have To Scream Story!”  She said, “I was about 2 months pregnant and having morning sickness.  It was just days before my sister, Terri’s wedding and I needed to clean house and go for a dress fitting along with just taking care of three other preschoolers, which I already had among other things going on.  We had family coming in from out of town etc.  The day started with breakfast and I quickly cleared off the table, but I decided to take just 5 minutes and run downstairs to finish the vacuuming before doing the dishes and cleaning the upstairs.  The kids usually followed me wherever I went and I thought it was odd that Katie was not with me, but figured I would check on her when I finished in just about 2 minutes.  When I went upstairs, there was Katie – she had pulled a chair over to the kitchen counter and proceeded to empty an entire pitcher of grape juice all over herself, all over the chair and all over the carpet!  AARRGGHH!  In order to relieve the stress, I decided to just scream three times at the top of my lungs.  I felt better and went to work cleaning up.  I stripped Katie and set her in the crib and just then about three neighbors showed up to check on me and be sure I was not being raped or anything!  Embarrassing!  You know how God says that before we call he will answer?  One of the neighbors had JUST gotten home and had rented a steam cleaner.  She proceeded to clean my dining room carpet while I took care of Katie and cleaned the kitchen!  My Bible verse by the way is Psalm 116:6.  It reads, “The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.”  This episode cured me of screaming by the way!”

I love this story my cousin Linda shared!  Linda was preparing for a momentous day with a sister getting married and caring for young children; she had a lot of responsibility on this particular day.  Linda did not hurt anyone by relieving her stress in this way.  In fact, it was more of a distress signal.  This story does demonstrate how much people care and how much people help each other.  God works through people. 

After thinking about relieving my stress with screaming, I have learned something.  For my stress, I should stop the negativity before it builds to such a high point that I have to scream to relieve it.  I could make subject changes or politely say, “Can we talk about something more positive?”  One of my favorite verses is found in Philippians 4:8.  It says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I Am Sorry Easter Bunny!

Practical jokes in my family were just an ornery trick played on someone causing the victim to feel slightly foolish or embarrassed; but, seldom causing the victim to be hurt emotionally.  The pranks were intended for everyone to have a good laugh.  The difficult part with practical jokes is that they can be taken to the point in becoming hurtful to some degree or other.  Practical jokers must ever be aware of the continuing and developing situation as to be cognizant of the victim’s feelings.

“There is no Easter Bunny!  I do not believe there is an Easter Bunny!” my younger brother emphatically proclaimed as we finished our lunch one beautiful spring day.  “You better watch what you say.  The Easter Bunny can hear.  He may decide not to bring you an Easter Basket filled with candy.” informed my parents as they smiled with a twinkle in their eyes.  My brother looked at my parents in unbelief, stood up, turned, and ran out the back door to play in the yard.  I followed my brother knowing full well there was no Easter Bunny, but deciding to play along with my parents’ little game.  What harm did it do?  We just searched around our home for a basket filled with candy on Easter Morning!  It was fun and the candy was delicious.

In fact, I was a pro at this.  I played the make believe game at Christmas with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and now the Easter Bunny!  These games just brought presents, money for baby teeth, and candy.  In the end we were the winners and had the last laugh.

Like the Grinch without the intention of being cruel, my parents’ devised a perfectly silly and fun scheme to trick Buddy.    

On this particular Easter morning my brother and I jumped out of bed to eat breakfast.  “I saw the Easter Bunny in the field early this morning!  Peter Rabbit has already been here!” shared my Dad.  Stuffing the last bite of toast in my mouth, I pulled away from the table to look for my basket of sweet treats.  I looked under the beds, behind the couches, inside the cabinets, under chairs, and behind the curtains in the living room.  Finally, I found the purple basket filled with jelly beans, marshmallow chicks, solid chocolate bunnies, and coconut filled green eggs behind the reclining chair in the corner!  These candies were all of my favorites that would last for weeks.

As I began unwinding the ribbon my basket, I observed that Buddy began searching more diligently for his basket.  I stopped and I thought that it would not be much fun until Buddy found his basket.  I searched in other places with Buddy.  To his dismay a basket was not to be found.  Actually Buddy’s basket seemed to be more difficult to find.  I looked up at my parents questioningly.  Where did they hide it?  Did they get him a basket? 

My Dad then said, “Peter Rabbit probably had his feelings hurt when you said there is no Easter Bunny!  He may have decided not to leave a basket?!”  Buddy continued to search for the coveted basket.  My Mom suggested, “Maybe if you say you are sorry, then he can still bring you a basket?”  My brother broke down crying and said, “I’m sorry Easter Bunny!  I guess you are real after all!”  Immediately, my Dad began making suggestions as to the location of the basket.  “Did you look in the dryer?” asked my Dad.  “Yes,” answered Buddy wiping a tear from his eyes.  “Did you look under the clothes?” prodded my Dad.  Buddy looked again moving the clothes out of the way and sure enough there his Easter basket was! 

Relieved my brother picked the basket up and carried it to the table.  “I guess the Easter Bunny is forgiving!” said my Mom.  I was just glad my brother and I each had a basket to enjoy.

The years following this practical joke, I noticed the baskets were never hidden anymore, but instead were just given to us.  I am sure my parents never intended or expected my brother to react quite the way he did and they had no intention of hurting him.

Just this Easter Week my family and I reminisced about the joys of sweet memories.  There is no Easter Bunny was just one.  All of us laugh including my good natured brother.