Questions, Questions and More Questions

Our daughter, Elizabeth, has her own blog (http://lizzier.blogspot.com) and yesterday she tagged us in her post. She wants us to answer some questions - personal questions!

I'm a little hesitant to bear my soul on the world wide web, but I'll try to be as honest as I can knowing Elizabeth will probably be the only person who reads this. :)

1. What is one of your fondest childhood memories?

I had a great childhood, so I have many wonderful childhood memories. The night I received Jesus as my Savior stands out as my sweetest and most life-changing memory. I thank God that my friend, Jan, cared enough about me to share her love for Jesus with me when I was 16. My life changed forever that night and I am so thankful God gave me the faith to believe!

2. What do you love most about your spouse/significant other?

I've known Tony since I was a young girl. The things I admired in him over 30 years ago, are character qualities I still love most about him. He is a very hard worker and a servant who puts other's needs before his own (including mine!). He's also very loving and affectionate. I can't think of a day I haven't heard "I love you" and been blessed with a warm hug and many kisses. I have to admit I'm a spoiled wife - but I'm also very thankful! :)

3. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Oh, my, I will be almost 60 in 10 years. That's strange to think about. I pray I will be a healthy, loving grandma, mother and wife. I hope to spend my days as I do now, busy with many household tasks and ministry opportunities.

4. What is your favorite book?

Honestly, the Bible is the book I love and cherish most. The more I read and study it, the more I am blessed by it. I don't enjoy reading fiction, so my favorite books are theology books that reveal Biblical truth or books that help me in my relationships like Love and Respect or Shepherding a Childs's Heart.

5. Who is someone you look up to, and why?

I admire my parents for their long, loving marriage. I also look up to our friend, Jeff Olson, who lost his wife 2 months ago. He has shown so much faith and trust in Jesus throughout the past year, and I am humbled by his desire to be obedient each day, even in these days of deep grief. I also look up to my daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Joe. They have suffered such heartache the past 4 years as they have tried to have a baby and grieved the loss of their first child through miscarriage. I am so proud of them for trusting God to provide children and opening their hearts so quickly to receiving a child through adoption.

6. If you had unlimited funds and could plan a dream vacation, where would you go & what would you do?

I used to have so many places I wanted to visit, but lately, I like home best. If I truly felt permission to take a vacation, I think I would choose to travel down the east coast, from Maine to New York. I'd love to see lighthouses in Main and historical places in Boston and New York City.

7. What character traits do you have that are most like your mother? What ones are like your father?

My mother and I both enjoy making holidays special for our children. We love to buy gifts for them and create and continue family traditions. My Dad and I are both storytellers. I love to hear him tell stories of his childhood and the interesting people in his life.

8. What has been the biggest challenge you've faced this year?

Our youngest child left for college in August. He graduated from high school a year early and I am so proud of him! Very suddenly I was finished with one of my most-loved careers, being a homeschool teacher. The same week Sam left for college, one of my best friends died of cancer. I have never lost anyone so "every day" to me, someone I loved so much. I I quickly found myself thrust into a new career, as her children's part-time nanny. I feel so blessed to be able to serve them and help their family, but the grief is overwhelming at times. I'm so thankful for God's comfort during difficult times!

There you go, Elizabeth. Let's see if your dad responds now...

Josephine Rose

Josie was born in April, 1978. She's married to Derek and due with their first child, a girl, any day now. I found these old pictures of her and thought seeing them would inspire us to pray for a safe delivery and get us excited about a new cousin/niece/granddaughter/etc.! (Above: that's Great Grandpa Wendell with little Josie)

Grandma Mary feeding Josie

Uncle John reading Josie a book

Grandpa Charles with Josie (It's so strange to see him with a cigarette now!)

Josie watching TV (Her head is sooooo round!)

Josie and Linda the morning following her birth.

Josie and Aunt Lisa (me!)

Josie and Great Grandma Norman

Courtin' Grandparents

I've been looking through old papers and photos the past few days and I ran across some compositions I wrote in college. Most of them weren't interesting AT ALL but I thought my family members might find this one interesting.

It was an assignment for a freshman composition class at Mt. Mercy. Grandpa Wendell and Grandma Marie lived close to my dorm, so I interviewed them for the paper. I've copied it just as I wrote it, mistakes and poor-writing and all!

(By the way, the picture above shows Grandma and Grandpa meeting 6-week old Elizabeth for the first time. Can't you just hear their voices? Grandma sure loved babies.)

(Also, I don't know why, but Grandma's birth-year is wrong - it was actually 1904. I'm not sure why I said they were the same age when they met - that doesn't make sense. And there are 11 grandchildren now - I need help figuring out how many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren!)

Forty Years and Still Makin’ It

My idea to write this paper on my Grandparent’s “courting year” had high expectations. I had the vision of funny memories and long forgotten information leaping from their mouths and me having to slow them down just so I could get it all written. Wrong. Those memories that could be recalled were choppy and incomplete because of loss through the years and many of the moments relayed didn’t seem interesting enough for a paper. Could it be that my grandparent’s lives were that boring? Or was I expecting too much excitement from two people who had lived a comfortable, and quite unexciting life together the past forty years?

Marie Driscoll, born Nov. 6, 1900, and Wendell Stuelke, born August 29, 1906, were married on June 28, 1940 in a tiny chapel in Kohaka, Missouri. Grandpa had been married before and received his divorce only a day before the wedding. The quick, simple ceremony was the kind seen on TV in which the two young runaways wake up the preacher and get married in the middle of the night. Grandpa remembered that the preacher’s wife stood up with them and grandma recalled the hot, humid weather. A three hour ride home and a little too much to drink creates a blurry ending to the blissful union.

My grandparents first met at a dance in Nashua, Iowa, when they were both about 19 years old. Grandpa recalls noticing her red hair right away and being introduced to his future wife by a mutual friend. They danced every dance and it was the beginning of a love that would last another fifty years. Grandma remembers that Wendell was wearing a dark blue suit and tie the first time she saw him and his “shoes were all shined up”. As she said during the interview, “They were just really ballroom style”. It was a “classy” evening and one never forgotten.

Grandpa asked Marie to marry him in a letter. They lived seven miles apart and because Wendell didn’t have a car, his dates with her were infrequent. I wondered why he didn’t propose in person and Grandpa’s comment was, “I was afraid she’d meet someone else.” That unusual courtship must have worked because Marie said, “yes” to Wendell’s proposal and they were married not long afterward.

In the newlywed’s first apartment, a strange incident happened one morning after Grandpa had gone fishing with a buddy. Grandma was asleep when he got home and the snails he captured as a surprise for her were deposited in a goldfish bowl in the living room. The next morning Marie woke to find crawling creatures leaving slime trails up the curtains, across the floor, and there were even a few in bed with her! By the end of the day there were no more snails and I’m sure, nearly the end of a husband!

Being together for the sake of love has been the reason for my grandparent’s happiness the past forty years. They bicker a lot and sometimes seem to drive each other crazy but the reason isn’t any kind of dislike for the other partner, but a feeling of such complete commitment there’s no worry about showing feelings. Three children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren are carrying on that love. It’s a nice feeling to be a part of that tradition.

Lisa Stuelke
March 5, 1981

Veggie-Man!

I can't say much - other than I was bored, and my sister-in-law brought over some very nice vegetables that her husband grew. Struck with about as much creativity as I ever have, I was "inspired" to lay the vegetables on the counter in this particular order. Thus "Veggie-Man" was born.

-t

Family Togetherness in the Mosquito State

Lisa's extended family met at a cabin in Minnesota to celebrate her parent's 80th birthdays and their 50th year of marriage. It was cold the entire time we were there so we enjoyed time together sans the lake.

...except for a die-hard niece and nephews who braved the cold water to swim the first morning.

One afternoon we watched the musical, Fiddler on the Roof.

See if can figure out who were the most enraptured with the movie - the older women...

or the younger generation?

The oldest generation enjoyed a little romantic time while they watched!

Maybe we can blame it on the chilly weather...

or

maybe this is just what our family is really like when we're together in a confined place...

but

there were strange things like this going on the whole time we were at the cabin!

We enjoyed yummy s'mores...

A rousing game of Texas Hold'em...
A hike in the woods...

Fireworks ala Sam...

Prime Rib dinner ala Larry ...
and lots of Stories ala Grandpa!!



We're looking forward to the movie ala Andrew!

Happy 21st Birthday!

Only a little brother's card can make his sister smile this big!
(Sorry it's sideways - I couldn't figure out how to straighten the video out.)

Why the cross?

So many people I know are suffering today. Their hearts have been broken by the loss of a loved one. Or they stand at the bedside of someone who is very sick. My prayers cry out for God to comfort them and hold them in the palm of His hand.

As Believers we are called to put our hope in God. In this human existence, it's difficult to take our eyes off our earthly circumstances and trials and fix them on Jesus, whom the Bible tells us is our hope.

At this time of year we remember Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

Why did Jesus die on that cross anyway?

It wasn't so our lives here on earth would be void of pain and sorrow. In fact, He promised that here we will have trouble.

Our family has endured trouble lately. We are grieving the loss of my lovable, sweet uncle who suddenly passed away. We are grieving the loss of our first grand baby who we prayed for and longed for. Now things that brought joy a few weeks ago only bring searing pain.

In what do I put my hope?

When Jesus said we would have trouble here on earth, he ended by saying, "But take heart - I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33)

That's why He died on that cross. That's why He rose again. To overcome the world.

My hope is in Jesus because otherwise, I have NO hope at all.

My Uncle Doug is in Heaven today. He didn't have to convince God to let him in. His ticket was purchased by Jesus at the cross. Although Doug wasn't perfect, he put his faith in the One who was. He trusted Christ's righteousness to be his own. When God looked on Doug, He saw his own, sinless Son.

This hymn sums it all up...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!