I can not believe she is 6 today.

Emery was the blessing that shocked us to our core, but we are forever changed by being her parents. The blessing of Emery revealed anew God’s sovreignty, His mercy, and His delight in giving us an abundant life!

I thought I would share a little of who Emery Kate is and what she like to do!

She loves to dance and make up songs.
She loves to take care of her brother.
She wants to be like her sister.
Her smile changes her entire face and reveals her personality.
She can be shy.
She is a great reader.
She loves to listen to music in her room.
She loves to play teacher to her babies.
She still loves her babies.
She is not that impressed with dogs. Even our own dog.
She likes to think she is older than she is.
She does not take criticism well, no matter how gentle or constructive it is.
She does not like to sleep in her room by herself.
She is lap kid- she loves to be held!
She is fairly easy going.
She has a “chronic cough” aka , we are not calling it asthma.
Don’t laugh at anything she does, no matter how funny, because she thinks you are laughing “at her” not “with her.”
Her dimples are about the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Emery Kate- Your daddy and I are so proud of you. We love the mix of sassy and shy that is you. You bring us joy and make us smile. You are such a precious gift and I love seeing your love for Jesus grow each year. I pray that God continues to draw you to Himself. I pray that you will bold in your choices to put Him first. I pray you will grow in confidence that comes from being a child of the King and not from what others think of you. I pray that you will be a lion chaser, passionate about the things of God, even when it is hard. I pray that you will hold unswervingly to your faith and live out an obedient, adventurous life for the Lord. I pray you will share His loves with all around you. I pray you will be a woman who fears the Lord.

I am so excited to watch your journey……

Here  are some pictures from Emery’s Birthday trip to Atlanta!  We had a great time, but she is totally complaining of wanting a birthday party!  Sorry sister, not gonna happen! Due to scheduling, we went before the birthday, which is Saturday, but we will have a few things up our sleeves!

We went to see the Hannah Montana movie.  It was actually pretty good.  I loved the booster seats for the girls!

Picking out what they want before going tooo……

the American Girl Boutique and Bistro!!!!

We spent a good hour and a half in this place!

Emery did so good.  She was decisive and knew what she wanted.  Parker on the other hand…

not so much!

She decided to get her doll’s hair done and her ears pierced. I let her decide because she

was spending her allotted amount of money!

It turned out cute and she has kept it fixed since then!

Parker decided to have her doll’s hair done, as well.  This is when I learned that she had cut her dolls hair in the past!

When the hair stylist informed me that it had been cut, I defended my oldest child and said, “No, we must have bought it that way!”  Then, I looked at Parker’s face and

she was sooo busted!

Emery and Nana doing a little shopping.  Emery still loves her Bitty Baby and chose some really

cute things for her baby.

Morgan is getting so old.  She does such a great job with her younger cousins!

We took a break before going to eat and went and rode the carousel.

We had a good time eating at the Bistro!  They had their dolls right beside them and were

surrounded by pink. Who could ask for anything more?

The one picture I got with the girls the whole weekend.

We even celebrated with a cake!

The trip had its moments of insanity, but I loved it, and more importantly, I think the girls did, as well.  I can’t wait to take many more girly weekends with this crew as they grow up!

It seems that if you twitter about your tech gurus, switching you to wordpress, switching your url, and then abandoning you, things start to happen!

Last week, I twittered that I was not very impressed with wordpress, and you would have thought I had publically called out hubs and Sully (his tech guru) to a duel!  They were fighthing words, evidently!  Not that we fought, but it did get the conversation going that I needed help!  I had found a free template I liked, so Jason and Sully helped me out a little bit!

It is still a work in progress but I think I will like it much more, especially once I figure out how to really navigate this new format!

I am hoping the new look will inspire me to blog more.  We have had a lot going on, but I have not felt the need to write it all down.  I am realizing that the Grandparents, really need for me blog, becuase they like knowing about the kids!  Not necessarily are the inspired by my writing, they just want the kids!

So, do you like my new look?? Keep checking back as it gets tweaked more and more……..

This past weekend, I took the first, of what I hope will be many, trip with my girls.  Emery is turning 6 in a few weeks and instead of a birthday party, she chose to go to the American Girl store and have a weekend with her cousins, aunt and Nana in Atlanta!  We had a blast, with a bit of girl drama thrown in, but still a great time.  Emery has always been our little mommy and she loves to play with dolls still, so this was right up her ally!

I am going to share a detailed post about our trip, but it will have to wait, because I left my camera in my mom’s van!

While we had a great weekend, I missed being at our church on Sunday.  I knew Pat was sharing some really exciting news and laying out direction for our global initiatives and I wanted to see it all!

I feel so blessed to be at our church and to see God moving in our midst week after week, is exciting.  I can’t wait to see how it continues.  There is so much gloom and doom in our world, our country these days, and it is refreshing to be reminded, each week, that His ways, His plans and His church are to be set apart, to bring Him Glory.   I have been asking what having my “YES” on the table looks like for me, our family.  I know that I am in a stage of life where I am looking and assessing what many of my preconceived notions of being a mom, having a family and the day to day of life and seeking if those line up with what God is revealing to us.  Or, is my YES just for the things that fit in nice and neatly to the life I have planned out?

I pray He continues to bust up all of our safe, content plans and shows us more of WHO HE IS and WHAT HE desires for us to be about!

What about you?

As many of you know, on Good Friday, we had a F4 tornado rip through Murfreesboro, which is just south of where we live. The tornado was absolutely devastating to many, life taking for a mom and her daughter, and damaging to thousands.
Yesterday, I had a chance to take a meal to a family in our small group, the Howards. They live amongst some of the worst of the damage. The area is closed to the public by the police, but I was able to get through to go see them. The neighborhood they live in is beautiful. This area of town was built in the 60′s and has been incredibly maintained and renovated over the years. It is right by our girls’ school and we drive through it daily. We even looked at several houses in this area before we decided to stay in Smyrna.

Needless to say, I was completely amazed by the devastation as I drove through.

I was nauseous by the time I drove up to the Howards house.

Their house backs up to a creek and WAS very shaded by hundred year old trees. Not any more. A huge amount of trees are gone. Bark ripped off of some.

But, what just about sent me to my knees, was seeing the path of the tornado. It literally came right up to their home, and turned to the right. The tops of trees to the left of their home are gone and their home was next, and then it turned.

Kara told me that she was in the hallway, her two daughters covered with a blanket and holding on to them. She said, “I thought we were about to go airborne. Then, it turned.”

Praise you Father.

This family is so dear to us. We have been in small group with them for several years now and they are such rocks. They are solid and Jason and I have said often that we feel like our family is their personal ministry. They have taken care of us in so many ways over these last 3 years. We are so thankful for them and how they serve all those around them. We are blessed to know them and I am forever grateful for how they were kept safe during the tornado.

I also listened to one of the teachers at Parker and Emery’s school, talk about all they lost. Their home has been condemned and they have already been moved to an apartment. She was saying that it was the little things, like her kids homemade Christmas ornaments, that make her the saddest. It truly is the little things.

Here is a glimpse of what I am talking about….

Today was a crazy day.

Basically, we had several tornadoes touch down all around us, especially in North Murfreesboro.  We are fine, but the tornadoes touched down where many of our friends live and very close to the girls’ school. I have no idea if it sustained any damage.  It hit several residential areas and the newly developed outdoor mall.  It is all very surreal.  Please pray for the families that have been affected, our church as we rally to help, our school and for all the people in our area who are without power and homes.

I had planned to go this afternoon and shop for family night.  But, because there were huge tornadoes nearby, that got postponed.  This is a very busy weekend for most of us, and very much so for our family with 5 Easter services.  Being married to a guy who is on a church staff makes most holidays take on a different flavor.  Most of the cool things we would do on Sunday morning, we were planning on doing tonight, so Jason is with us!  Parker has been struggling this week with the Cross and the death of Christ.  Being that she is 7, very analytical and wants to know all the answers, she is having a hard time understanding why Jesus had to die and how could he take the punishment of our sin, without Himself sinning.  Heavy stuff trying to explain that Jesus is our Propitiation (1 John 4:10, 1 John 2:2).  I sound smart using those big fancy words don’t I?  It has been interesting to explain it to her and see her try to grasp it.  I will think we are having a great, deep discussion and then her next statement is about if she can go watch Phineas and Ferb!

Needless to say, it our night got started a little later than I would have liked, but  hey, we rolled with it.

While I was gone, Jason decorated the table.  Some of our bunnies suffered during the move, but it worked!

Next, the kids set out to help me get dinner ready!

We made Resurrection Buns!  Love this and it is super fun and easy!  You take a can of Grands type biscuits, roll them out- this represents the tomb. Next you mix, cinnamon, sugar and melted butter together and spread on the biscuit. We talked about the spices that were used on Jesus. Next, you put a marshmallow in the middle.  This represents Jesus.  You wrap the biscuit up, sealing the dough, just like the tomb was sealed.  Place it crease side down, spread with more spices and bake.  When you bite into it, the Tomb is Empty!!! Great, easy object lesson for the kids. We made a big deal about it and they loved it!

Since these are meant for breakfast, we made breakfast for dinner.  Easy, smeasy.

Next, we dyed our Easter eggs, but before we put them in the dye, we used crayons to write out attributes of Jesus.  The girls liked this and it was fun to hear how they described Jesus.

I loved these two- Eternal and Holy

I love seeing it even more in their sweet little handwriting!

The one where they are all looking!

I wish you could see them up close!  Jesus is written with a backwards J! So cute!

After we were done with our eggs, we sat down and talked about Jesus in the Garden and The Cross.   Even in the craziness and destruction that we experienced or saw today, nothing compares to His death.  It is hard to explain to your kids why Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, a broken, rebellious people.  Many days, I wonder myself.  But, my wondering does not change the fact that He did die for us.  He took our punishment.  He died a cruel death because of MY sin.

I pray I never take His cross lightly or forget the sacrifice He made.

I pray you feel the weight of your sin today…….and worship the Risen Lord this weekend.

This one is for all the locals!

A sweet, precious young friend of ours, Jordan Goen, is trying to raise support to go to India this summer, on a mission trip.  She is in the 8th grade and has a passion and heart for the “least of these.” She is also a PK, which I have a huge place in my heart for, since that is what my kids are , as well!  Jordan has been to Brazil on mission trips and is now planning to go to India and you have a great chance to help her out!

Jordan has teamed up with Chick-fil-A for a special night of raising support for her trip.  All you have to do is eat dinner at Chick-fil-A (Sam Ridley location) on Thursday, April 9, between 5-8 pm and 20% of what you spend will be donated to Jordan’s mission trip to India!  So, not only are you taking a night off from the kitchen, you get to support an amazing teenager is her desire to share the love of Christ with those in India.  I love it!

For Jordan to get credit for your purchase, YOU MUST PRINT AND TAKE THE SPECIAL FLYER that I have attached below!

Thanks so much for helping Jordan out and investing in her life, as well as those she will encounter in India!

download flier

I am officially returning to the land of blogging. I have been so inconsistent lately.  Writing my Africa posts took a lot of time and mental thought for me, so I took my sweet time doing it!  I have hardly posted anything about the family, so I am ready to get back to my fluff writing as opposed to my, in your face, go on a mission trip, share the Word, poverty stinks writing.

We have been busy, of course! The girls had two weeks of Spring Break, which was fun, tiring, and relaxing all rolled into one.  We were able to go see the grandparents in Kville and then went with our peeps, the Hales, to Chattanooga for  a couple of days.  We went to the Children’s Museum, an arcade, Coolidge Park, the Walking Bridge and swam in the indoor pool at our hotel.  It was so funny when we walked in, Parker asked, “Is this it?”  Yes, darling daughter, a one room hotel room is it for your one night away.  She is used to going to the beach and staying in a condo!  Funny.

I did have to jump in the pool with my clothes on (all my clothes, not just a bathing suit clothes) (I am not saying I swim in public places without clothes on normally) to save my daredevil son.  We were at the pool and we had taken his swimmies off (stupid parents) and he was in the hot tub with Jason and Nathaniel.  He, of course, hops on out and hops on into the pool.  I don’t normally freak out in these situations, but after the second drop, come up, gasp for air, I figured I should help the kid out.  Jason was on the other side of the pool, on his way in, but what can I say, I took one for the team and got soaked.  Swimming lessons are on the list for Bradley’s summer activities.

We have also started soccer! Parker is back with her pals, Evan and Peyton for another season.  We also have added Morgan, whom we know from church, to round it out!  Fun times.

Emery decided to give it another go.  She is also taking dance and we are normally a one activity at a time family, but we made an exception, because we so love sports.  We will see how she holds out!

Today the girls both had games and I would have pictures, but I am still not happy about the theft of our amazing camera and I am protesting by not using one at all.  Maturity is my middle name, in case you were wondering!  They both did really well and mixed it up!  They also both scored and played hard, so it was a great day for the Stew girls on the soccer field!  They are both on good teams, so it should bring up their game.  Bradley, of course was filthier than the girls were by the time we left the park.  He is such a boy….. and I love it.

We rounded out the day by going to sister’s house to celebrate Morgan’s birthday.  She is my niece and she turned a whopping 11.  I can’t believe how old she is getting.  She is a beautiful, fun, kind big cousin.  She does a great job of loving on Parker, Emery and Bradley.  I am so proud of her and the young lady she is growing in to.  She is a blessing and I am excited to see how God uses her for His Glory.

So, there is our life, in a brief synopsis.  Kids, school, church, soccer, dance……..

Our last day in the villages were amazing.  I remember sitting in our third village, surrounded by these beautiful, African people and felt so tangibly, the Lord saying, “Take this in.  Look at them and see beyond any physical need, their need for ME.”  He alone is the Living Water who can quench our thirst.  I wanted to sear their faces in  my mind, to see them and realize they are all sinners, separated from God, unredeemed by Jesus Christ.  I looked and realized, their eternity could be spent separated from God.  This was a thought I kept at bay most of the trip.  It is hard to look at them and see their spiritual needs, when the physical ones seem daunting.  The enormity of their lostness did not hit me until I was home, in my church, while worshipping the Living God.  The bleakness of their life, without the hope of Christ, hit me.  And, in that moment, I realized again, that their greatest need is for salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ.  Not food, not clothing, not electricity or running water.  And that, my friends, is why we go.  God is drawing people unto Himself in this beautiful country and although the harvest is not ripe, nor the workers many, the fields are ready for sowing the seed.

As we drove back across the country for 12 hours, I chose to not sleep, so I could take in this place and for a few more hours, be apart of this culture.

I will never be the same.

Thank You, Jesus, for that!