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. 

Lewis or Mike?

In my younger days I thought going through any adversity was a result of bad choices.  I was ashamed of any crisis I went through.  This could be true.  We are all only human and make mistakes.  Life is a learning process.  We should all learn from our mistakes.  What I am talking about is life.  Life happens to all of us; life is about how each of us deals with adversity.

There are many recorded lives of people in the Bible.  Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, Esther, and Paul are examples of people who had great faith and trust in God during their time of crisis.  Each of their lives was recorded for a purpose.  I believe that purpose is to help each of us to understand that everybody is either in a crisis, headed for a crisis, or coming out of a crisis, and has an opportunity to grow into a stronger person and to become a better Christian.

I am describing two different people I have encountered in this world today.  I can describe and share about them because have displayed similar characteristics in my life.  They have been given fictional names, Mike and Lewis.  Mike says, “I do not need anything, and I do not want anymore for me, or my family or friends.”  When Mike faces a storm, large and small, he grumbles, grips, and complains.  “Lord, just take this storm away!  I do not want to deal with the inconvenience.”  Later, when Mike realizes that God isn’t going to take the storm away, he just asks God to help him get through the storm.

Lewis, is grateful to God for meeting all of his needs.  When Lewis, faces a storm, Lewis finds something to be grateful for.  He says, “I know I am growing from this adversity.  I want God to mold me into the person He wants me to be, so that I can help someone else.”    Lewis is going with the storm. He chooses to be happy everyday. 

Someone I admire in the New Testament is Paul.  We read of a storm and shipwreck in Acts 27:13.  It say, “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.  But not long after, there arose a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. When the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.  And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat; Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quick sands, stake sail, and so were driven.  And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship, and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackle of the ship.  And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest, lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, ‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them, that sail with thee.’  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

I have no idea what it is like to experience such a storm as not seeing the sun nor stars for many days and being tossed on the ocean.  The only comparison I have would be when my family traveled to Fort Jefferson on an Island in the Dry Tortugas.  It was a beautiful day traveling on the Atlantic Ocean, but the Atlantic Ocean is very rough and we were being thrown around.  One passenger was so scared she was hyperventilating.  She had lost her father and she lived life in constant fear.  This was one way for her to face her fears and help her to become stronger mentally.

Through the great storm, Paul trusted God to take care of him. 

We read in Acts 28:1-10 the following.  “And when they were escaped then they knew that the island was called Melita.  And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.  And hs shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.  In the same quarters where possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.  And it cam to pass, that the father of Publius la sick of a fever and of a bloody flux; to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.  So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”

I, also, cannot imagine what it would be like to be shipwrecked on a island with people you have never met before.  Are they friendly?  The closest I can relate would be a time Steve and I planned to attend an event in Atlanta, Ga.  Steve had forgotten his dress shirt, so we decided to travel by subway to Five Points in Atlanta.  When we walked off the dark subway to the bright street, we were a minority.  There were people just standing on the street.  I felt out of place.  We pretended to know exactly where we were going.  In a few minutes we found the shirt shop, bought the shirt, and traveled back to our motel.

Paul trusted God, when the viper bit him.  Because of Paul’s great attitude and faith, he suffered no harm and was able to heal many people on the island.

Are we put here on the earth just to enjoy life?  Don’t get me wrong, we are to enjoy life; it is not to be drudgery.  We are no different from Paul.  God had a plan and purpose for Paul.  I do believe that God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.  How many people truly find their God given purpose?  Have you?  I am only now discovering mine. 

Are we a Lewis or a Mike?  Life is a journey filled with choices: we can complain or be thankful, we can be sad or we can be happy, we can have doubts or we can have faith.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Doing The Little Things Matter

We are responsible for the choices we make and the actions we take in this life.  These choices and actions seem quite insignificant and inconsequential at times.  People say or think, “This won’t really matter; it will not make any difference in my life or anyone”.  Gravely, people fail to understand that it is the doing of the little things that matter the most.    

Within a short period of time I was an innocent bystander in the neglect of a couple people not doing a little thing that mattered in two situations.  Hannah and I were traveling to Kansas City for a gymnastics meet.  As were drove through Clinton, I told Hannah that we were going to stop for a bathroom break.  Feeling the pain, I rushed into the women’s restroom.  I peered under the stalls to look for feet.  I saw feet in the first stall, but none in the second.  “Oh, I am so glad I don’t have to wait!” I thought.  I pushed on the door and suddenly a loud screeching scream filled the room.  The scream came from an Asian woman who did not lock the door.  Startled, I jumped and almost did not need to use the restroom anymore!  The Asian woman came out muttering something I could not understand.  I replied, “Sorry, I did not know anyone was in there and the door was unlocked.”  She replied with an accent that “It is okay.”

Another extremely embarrassing unlocked bathroom door incident occurred.  Finishing my lunch at a local restaurant, I informed my friend I was headed to the restroom and would return shortly.  The restroom in this particular restaurant was unisex.  I am not overly thrilled by this, but I would make it work.  I pushed on the door and low and behold there was a man standing there!  I was so very EMBARRASSED.  I wanted to run and hide from the world.  I wanted to rewind the clock and start all over.  When the man came out, I did the only thing I knew and apologized.  He said, “It was my fault for not locking the door!”

Why did these situations happen?  Better yet these situations should not have happened if these two individuals would have done the important little thing such as locking the restroom door which took approximately a tenth or a hundredth of a second.  I wondered, “Were these people so disparate and in a hurry they did not take the personal responsibility to lock the door?  It was seemingly such a minor task to omit, but the results were major, to me.  All of us could have been spared major embarrassment, at least on my part. 

Most of us choose to watch TV everyday.  An insignificant decision many people say, “It is only a TV show.  What will it hurt?”  Let me ask you, “What are you watching and how much are you watching?”  It is estimated that people, ages 12 and older watch around 5 hours of TV per day.  That is 35 hours per week; it is over one day a week wasted in watching other people live their lives.  I can say all this because I have been a TV watcher to some degree.  This could have been time spent with family, helping someone, or reading a quality personal growth book.  Earl Nightingale says that “if you will spend an extra hour each day in study of your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less.”  Isn’t that amazing?  To read one hour everyday is a small decision which produces huge results.  You can learn and go out to make a difference in others lives.

Over the last two years that is exactly what I have been doing.  Instead of watching mindless TV, I have spent an hour a day reading a personal development book, listening to an encouraging CD, and being a part of a personal development group.  I have learned a great deal and I have been applying what I have learned to my life.  During these past two years I have been able to do things I never thought possible. 

Just an hour a day of personal development and building a home business over a period of two years has transformed me into a stronger person and a better Christian.  For instance, I truly understood that everyday is “thanksgiving”.  I began to really be grateful for everything God has given me even when situations in life are challenging.  I developed positive thinking more and more; I began teaching my children this as well.  I set the example.  The change in my behavior shocked my parents, my brother, and others.  My brother informed me, “I do not think it is right to say you feel great, when you are not.”  I asked him, “Why am I not feeling great?  God has blessed me with an awesome family.  The sun is shining today.  I am healthy.  I have a beautiful home.  You tell me is that not enough to be happy about?”  Others would complain and I would step away from the complaining by changing the subject, finding something that could get me off the phone, or just tell them that if it is negative I do not want to hear about it.

Another transformation is that I stopped worrying about what people thought of me.  Previously, I just wanted everyone to like me.  I had become a people pleaser in order to accomplish this.  My people pleasing efforts did not work.  In I Thessalonians 2:4 it says, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, Which trieth our hearts.” 

One example of my people pleasing adventures is certain friends would ask for my services.  I wanted to please them so much that I would sacrifice family time in order to help!  I even recall saying, “I just want everyone to be happy!”  Thankfully, I came to understand that I should take care of my family first.  Life suddenly became simpler.

Another change I observed in myself was becoming more and more assertive.  Nearing the end of my homeschooling endeavors, I became strong enough to say I will no longer be offering Iowa Basic Skills Testing even though no one is stepping up to continue the testing.  I made a decision that was best for my family.  Our goals were changing and I needed to adjust accordingly.  Without the personal development this decision would have been a challenge.

I have felt much personal freedom in developing these character traits.  I am grateful for all the obstacles I have overcome.  Just think, it was all because of a simple decision to read for an hour a day instead of watching TV.  This is life changing and worth all effort.  I truly believe that doing the small things really do matter.  I will continue doing the small things for I do want to be even stronger and better.            

Cattails!!

You know how it is.  Sometimes in life when you learn the wrong name for an object or a person, it is, then, difficult to replace it with the correct one.  It can be done over time.  This happened to me on a particular occasion only I learned the correct name first and later replaced it with the wrong one accidentally.

“Let’s go to Sonic for lunch!  Please!” plead Stephanie.  “Okay, let’s go!” agreed Steve.  Sonic has always been a favorite.  We especially enjoy their fountain drinks.  My family of five was sitting in our 1984 blue Oldsmobile one cold spring day at lunch.  Steve and I were sitting in the front with our three children in the back.  The approximate ages were eight, five, and two.  We were munching on cheeseburgers and corn dogs, when Stephanie, our oldest daughter, made a comparison.  “Dad and Mom, corn dogs look like the cattails at the pond.”  Steve replied, “Well, yes, I guess they do!”

We had been studying different plants.  Many times we would walk around our property looking at wild flowers, tree leaves, and so forth.  Stephanie was intrigued with cattails.  They are a unique looking tall plant with the tips brown and soft.  She had learned that American Indians prepare bread by grinding up the roots; and she wanted to do the same just to try it.

There were numerous times we would dine at Sonic.  Stephanie now insisted calling a corn dog by her new name, cattails.  When I placed the order I would just remember to say corn dog.  It was no problem until one particular lunch time.  Four people were informing me what they wanted to eat at the same time.  “I want a cheeseburger with a Dr. Pepper, I want a fish sandwich with a Coke, I want a Sonic Wacky Pack with a Strawberry Limeade, and I want two corn dogs!” my sweet and starving family aggressively placed their order with me.  “Wait a minute, slow down!” I said.  Have you ever tried to take so many orders all at the same time without getting confused?

I pushed the red button on the order screen.  “Good afternoon.  Welcome to Sonic.  May I take your order?” asked the Sonic Drive Inn worker.  “Yes, please, I want a cheeseburger without onions and with ketchup, mustard, and mayo.  Next I want a cheeseburger with onion minus the mayonnaise.  Next I would like two wacky packs.  And lastly I would like two cattails with a Strawberry Lemonade!”  Steve and the kids were laughing and laughing.  “Please everyone hold it down so I can hear.” I said.

 

“Maim, we don’t have cattails here!” replied the Sonic Drive Inn worker.  I was silent for a few seconds thinking, “Oh, that is what all the hysteria was about!  Did I actually say cattails without realizing it?  This cannot be happening, but yes it was!”  My family roared in laughter.  Ignoring my ornery family and my embarrassment I said, “Sir, I’m sorry.  I mean to say that I would like 2 corn dogs please.”  The gentleman repeated my order and the cost.  “Thank you for dining with us!”  I turned around to look intently at my family.  “You are all a lot of help!”   We all laughed together. After all, it was hilarious!

As I continue to write and post my stories, I realize that God has blessed my life with many fun-filled and joyous moments even though they are at my expense some of the time.  Just about the time I think I have exhausted my memory of stories to share with you, a ton of stories flood my mind like a wave on the ocean along the beach.  Someone once said, “We do not remember days.  We remember moments in our lives.”  A life filled with hundreds and thousands of blessed moments. 

How about you?  Do you have a special fun-filled moment you would like to share with?  I would love to hear from you!