Stewart

A Monster Among Us

| Stacy

I can’t remember when my kids weren’t performing.  As youngsters they would retell their favorite movies, much as all kids do.

Then it was reenacting favorite stories with stuffed animals. 

Somewhere in the mix they got involved with Music Makers at Webster Bible Church.

And then it was using video cameras to make sweet stories.

And acquiring better cameras.

Then writing scripts.

And getting better software.

And now – it is entering independent projects into Film Festivals.

And tonight we got a sneak preview of their movie.

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I’m exceedingly proud of them.  This final movie represents at least (at LEAST) 200 hours.  There are a few things that ended up on the cutting room floor.  And a few things that I wish had gone differently.  But, mostly, I am over the moon.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

VBS 2017

| Stacy

While Nigel served in Costa Rica this past week, Stewart, Marie and I had been serving the campers at the VBS at Pittsford Community Church.  Tabitha, Johanna, and Katriel all got to embark on Operation Arctic.  The emphasis all week was the Bible. 
B = Book of Books
I = Incredible Impact
B = Bedrock Base
L = God’s Love Letter to us
E = Exciting to Explore

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Marie worked in the four-year-old group (Katriel’s group).
I led group 1A (Johanna’s group).
Stewart was a Bible teacher.
Tabitha was in her final year as a camper.  Fifth graders get to do their camping out in the “Garage” where they follow a slightly different rotation and dig a lot deeper into the work.  Next year Tabitha gets to come back to VBS as an assistant. 

Prom 2018

| Stacy

Stewart was invited to the Fairport High School prom by his friend Leah.

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They had a great time.  (He’s so handsome.)

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He’s always cleaned up nicely.  ♥

Flower City Work Camp – 2017

| Stacy

This was the boys’ second year participating in Flower City Work Camp.  It was the first year I participated.  The boys each served on Work Sites and I was an adult leader of a Sidewalk Club.

I have very few photos of the boys, but I have a lot of my time with Sidewalk Club.  Our club presented two VBS-like programs at two different vacant lots in the city to the kids in the neighborhoods with the goal of sharing the gospel to them. 

 

These photos are from throughout the week.
I reported Monday afternoon to get some group work done with our team and to decorate our vehicles.

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Here’s my team.  ♥

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Tuesday morning I had my first taste of “send off.”  This is when the Sidewalk Club teams encourage the work site kids on their way to their work sites.

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Sidewalk Club teams work on their presentations for the day, and have devotions.  I must say I was blown away by the devotions our student shepherds led.

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We ate lunch at 10:30 A.M., loaded our cars, and went to our sites. 
Our first day the weather was gorgeous.   We only had a few kids at our first site, and maybe double at our second site.

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Wednesday morning I got to visit a bit with Gabby, who was on another Sidewalk club.  She’s from our church and I’ve know here since she was in 3rd grade. 

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LoDestri Foods had donated gobs and gobs and gobs of tea to the ministry.  We did what we could to knock down the pile every day.  We handed them out to everyone we met.

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Elena being Barrabas.

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Micah with some of the tea we took to the sites to give away.

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Wednesday – was wet.  And cold.

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We got more tea on Thursday

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And a ton more rain.

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It was a great week.  I believe seven kids came to Christ on our Sidewalk Sites.

And Nigel and Stewart had a great week on their sites, as well.

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Meanwhile, Marie and Tab held down the fort at home.

THE WIZARD OF OZ

| Stacy

There was co-op. 
A lot of driving.
To and from Toto.
Kids to and from buildings.
A video camera for Economics class.
Piano lessons.  Chocolate brownies.  Ibuprofen.

And – I want to remember every moment of it, because it was one of the happiest days of my life.

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Kids’ last CBS concert together (?) and caroling

| Stacy

As my kids prepared for CBS this morning I had to offer my oldest kids a little in the way of a pep talk.  For reasons I can’t quite explain this puts them out of their comfort zone. 

As they climbed out of the van to head in, it dawned on me this was very likely the only time all six of them would be on a stage together, ever.  This is the first year Katriel was up there, and probably the last year Stewart would be.  Frankly, it is a blessing they are even all there together this once.

So yeah. 

A big Christmas blessing for this Mama.

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Later the youngest three and I went to church to go out caroling.

Do you see that look on Katriel’s face? 
Yes… that just about describes how it went, too.

 

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You dough-n’t say…

| Stacy

When Stewart mentioned one day in passing that he wished he could eat more doughnuts I got it in my head to make him some.

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The dough didn’t rise.  Then it took FORevER to cook them.

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They said they were yummy… but they did not turn out like I’d hoped.