Houghton Graduate!

May 8, 2021 | Stacy

Life is weird.
I’ve run out of ways to express how much so.

Here we are… John and I… social distanced in a class room watching graduation on a screen.

There’s Stewart. Only he wasn’t actually watching from the chapel, either. They, too, were in socially distant classrooms coming in here and there for their “moment.”

Sweet Noelle.

And now we are outside. On the only cold day in weeks, it seems.

We have boxed lunches.

They were very good, all things considered!

We gave Stewart a mug.

While his roommate Dustyn couldn’t be bothered with the weird graduation, he did don his cap and gown and come around for pictures.

In this painfully-miserable two years to be at college, these two people are the reason I haven’t said, “I wish you’d never gone.” God was so good to Stewart.

We had steak and Nan’s famous beans for dinner.

And now for the cake story…

Johanna was talking for a week about how she wanted to make Stewart’s cake. She baked the cake on Friday. She preheated the oven and somehow turned it off and forgot it. So it didn’t burn, but it didn’t really cook, either. THEN we realized it and made our best guess how long to cook it.

Saturday morning John and I had to leave early (7AM ish) and Johanna was prepping to frost the cake. About an hour later Marie called me laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe. We were almost to Mt. Morris, where my cell service always stops, so I couldn’t understand everything she was saying as the call patched in and out. Essentially, she was saying they were struggling to frost the cake, can they do something creative? Well, what else am I going to say. I wouldn’t have time to start over. Sure – do what you have to do.

After we got to campus and my Wi-Fi was turned on, Marie texted they did the best they could and they saved some frosting so I could try to fix the cake when I got home if I wanted to try.

I don’t know what superpower she thought I had that I could fix this cake with two ounces of frosting.

Honestly, it is his third graduation in four years…. it’s apropos.

My 20 year old, first born, homeschooled son has a Bachelors Degree.

I’m more than a lot proud and humbled.

GOD IS SO GOOD!
ALL THE TIME!!!!!

Houghton 2020

August 29, 2020 | Stacy

College drop off day. He’s a SENIOR already. Unlike last year’s celebratory feel, this time it was somber. No mascot or musicians when you pulled onto campus. No teams to help unload and carry bags and boxes. No last lunch in the dining hall. No chapel service, nor President’s address. Today we were met at the car with a thermometer and on our way. I’m so grateful for God making Houghton a possibility. I’m proud of Stewart for juggling multiple jobs. I’m trusting God will open the next set of doors in life. And I’m praying that Houghton won’t send him home before thanksgiving break.

Look at the smile on his face. He is so happy to be back with his friends.
We are going to miss him like crazy.

I feel very strongly this coronavirus is being overstated in an effort to promote mail-in ballots for the election. I am so grateful that Houghton has been following the CDC guidelines, without being over-the-top reactionary. The plan is the students from NY have to stick to their rooms for one week (students from out of NY have already been there in “quarantine” for one week). And if all goes well they can hang out together come 9/7.

You Stic

May 5, 2020 | Stacy

Stewart had some mail today.
The envelope even had a “stamp” on it.

When he opened his letter, he found this:

Dear Stewart, we dont
nedyou be cause
your bad and
youstic
love hoten

[sic]
Dear Stewart,
We don’t need you because you’re bad and you stink.
Love Houghton.

I think Katriel likes to have him home.

Home from Houghton…

March 16, 2020 | Stacy

Stewart is home. The little girls are so excited he’s able to stay for FIVE WHOLE MONTHS. As happy as I am to have my beautiful family all back under one roof I just want to wake up from this nightmare

President Butler

February 3, 2020 | Stacy

So this kid barely got back to campus and was heading up the Houghton College Republicans chapter.

I’m both impressed and scared. Some crazy things have been happening to young people who express conservative beliefs. I’m leaving him to God’s hands.

1 Timothy 2: 1-2
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Houghton Prism

December 7, 2019 | Stacy

I know I was more excited than Stewart was.

Last year, Stewart was invited to send in an audition for the men’s choir for Houghton. If accepted, he would receive a small scholarship. He sent in an audition clip and has been singing with the men’s choir this semester.

This weekend his group (as well as women’s choir, college choir, an orchestra and some soloists) performed their Prism concert. Their first performance was at Browncroft Community Church and their second was on campus.

How nice for us that we could not only hear him perform, but that we could do it without going all the way to campus!

AND – he is right behind the harp. Not even kidding.

Then I could see him!

The music was excellent and it really put me into a proper state of mind for Christmas.

SO SO good to see their big brother. ♥

Fun fact? –

The first place I ever enjoyed Stewart singing from a stage was in the same building back in 2002. Of course I didn’t realize he’d be singing that day and camera phones weren’t something I’d have for another 10 years. The earliest photo I have of Stewart singing with CBS that I can find on my computer is from 2003. I love that when I was first sitting in that sanctuary in December 2002, struggling as a mom of two little boys, and wondering how long it would be til I figured this parenting thing out (still no sign of that!) God already knew that one day I would hear my college-attending son sing from that same stage. I am sure I was berating myself that I was so flustered that I didn’t even know he’d be singing that day…

Clearly I did know in May 2004, because I had my camera that day.

That thing where you send your oldest off to college…

August 30, 2019 | Stacy

And it was surprisingly joyous.

Sent this guy off to college today. Do you see his smile? For years I’ve wondered about this day were it to come. Would I hold it together? Would it feel like my heart was being ripped out? I have to say, other than a tear or two I have been fine. I’m sure part of it is that our family has been slowly transitioning into this zone. We got used to him missing meals when he got a job at 15, and he eased into college classes since 16. His schedule has been heavy these last two years as he’s balanced FLCC and 2-3 jobs at a time. This past summer we barely saw him as he went to Costa Rica for 10 days and otherwise worked 60+ hours a week. I think it’ll be the little things that trip us up, but technology will make it easy to keep in touch. I’m rejoicing for how God even made Houghton a possibility. I see the ways God has just totally had his hand on Stewart.
Love you Stewart. I’m praying that you’ll do good AND you’ll do well.
(Oh. And he’s only 90 minutes away.)

These are two drawings Marie had me leave for him in his room.

John and I also attended a message from the President. It was remarkable. I was tremendously blessed.

We headed home, grabbed the rest of the family and used up our last guest passes for Seabreeze with the purpose of getting out of the house and focusing on fun, not the empty spot at the table.