The Miracle of a Bicycle

Miracle #1 - Great price for a Bicycle Trailer

At a garage sale in Dallas, Glenn purchased a Bicycle Trailer (the ones that haul kids around).  It was a steal at $25.00.  Glenn knows when he can get something in that good of condition and at that good price, he usually springs for it.

Knowing that Uncle Rick was driving up in his pick-up truck to Frisco this week, Glenn asked him to throw in the bicycle trailer in the back.  They figured out how to collapse it and all.  The only thing, we didn't have a kid or grand kid to haul around.

However, Glenn carried David's little puppets in the back.  Glenn said, "I need to test drive this trailer, before I put precious cargo in it!"  So down the hill, Mr. Froggie and Mr. Duckie traveled behind Glenn.

Miracle #2 My Bicycle

On this USA Trip, Glenn and I have been very diligent about walking every morning, and it was no exception on Saturday in Denver.  Garage Sale Day.  We happened to stumbled onto a $30.00 Trek Bicycle, which was hardly ever used and in very good condition.  Glenn also found 2 boxes of racks to mount bikes on top of vehicles at another garage sale.  One we kept and the other we gave to David.  Then Glenn found another bicycle rack for the back of the van.

All within 4 week period, the Lord provided us with a bicycle trailer to have for the grand kids, a bike for me, several bike racks and accessories.  And we were not even asking Him for these things, He just dropped them in our laps. Besides, we love to go garage sales and get great deals.  

Anybody want to go bike riding with us?

Vail Summitt

Glenn and I rode down from the top of Vail Pass Summit 10,662 feet to the city of Vail 8,150 feet.  It was mostly down hill.  The views were spectacular. Towards the village of Vail, the road leveled out, and we bicycled between and around some beautiful golf courses.  We rode through multimillion dollar neighborhoods on the back side of the golf course.

We rode through an Aspen tree forest.

Beautiful!

I stopped along the way frequently to take photos and just to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, wild life, flowers, clear blue sky and fresh mountain air.

We had a picnic lunch along a stream.  This is the 4th day in a row we had ham and cheese sandwiches.  But I'm not complaining, we enjoyed our sack lunches.

Then after c-o-a-s-t-i-n-g downhill to the west, Glenn dropped me off at the Summit again, and I rode my bicycle down in the other direction from 10,662 feet to Frisco at 9,075 feet.  Then Glenn parked and rode his bicycle up towards Copper Mountain and met me and we rode together on home.

I really love this trail.  Easy.  And beautiful.

Tomorrow's blog will be the story about how we got these bicycles.

WOTH Retreat

Last week I was honored and privileged to attend the Women of the Harvest Retreat in Denver, Colorado.

Imagine 85 women who live and serve overseas, gathered in one 5 star resort hotel to be pampered, loved on and the chance to worship and fellowship together.  My roommate was from France.  I met folks from "closed countries", some who have served many years in jungle areas, while others live and work in metropolitan cities such as Mexico City.  The one common factor was that we were all living and serving Christ overseas.

We were lavished with gifts, books, CD's and we could even go to a clothes closet to pick out new outfits to wear.  We had our toenails polished.  Some had new hair-cuts.  I took advantage of the free counseling service.

What a great organization.  Women of the Harvest. 

 Check out their web site. 

WOTH has 3 main areas they concentrate on:  

1) Publication - I receive their electronic magazine and devour it each month.  It contains helpful hints for missionary women

2) Retreats - just like the one I attended in Denver, Colorado

Read about the retreat on the WOTH blog

3) Micro-Loans "Hope for the Harvest"

Colorado Springs

Just over this hill was were 300+ homes burned down.  As we drove through Colorado Springs, we could see signs on homes and store windows, "Thank you fire fighters!"

Reconnecting with Friends

Glenn and I were able to reconnect with some friends and supporters in Colorado Springs and Denver.

 Lori and her family.  We knew Lori when she was single and lived across the street from us in our first house in Santa Cruz, Bolivia some 26 years ago.  This family recently went into evacuation mode, as their house was in Waldo Canyon.  Thankfully it did not burn.  We enjoyed a meal at Ruby Tuesday together.

Deb and Curtis served with us on the Parent Association Council at JBU several years ago.  We were thrilled to hear that their house did not burn in the recent Colorado Springs fire.

Tim and Amy moved from Dallas to Denver last year.  Amy was my Bible Study leader 8+ years ago when we were living in Dallas and attending NBC.

Happy Birthday, Baby David

Happy Birthday, Baby David!  Today, David turns 1 year old.  Last month, when we saw him, he was as sweet as ever.  David has been on the verge of walking on his own for some time.  And I would suspect that he will be walking and probably running very soon.

David and I have a "thing going".  He usually wakes up in his crib and then mummers the words "ugh" ever so softly.  He'll then say "ugh" again.  Over and Over again, until he gets a response.  I then say "ugh" and he responds back.  

It is our special little "Grammie - Baby David" thing we share.

Check out the video I made of Baby David several months ago.

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

Grammie and GrandDad love you

My Wedding Video

Video of Gary and Madison's wedding 

I loved every moment of Gary and Madison's wedding.  It was special, unique and very personal.  It reflected both Gary and Madison's personalities.  It was truly a special day for this lovely couple.  It was special to have friends from Bolivia and Dallas help celebrate the occasion.

click on the video to watch it!

~J

My Life Getting Back to Normal

 Our dear, dear friends, Scott and Carol, now live in Normal, IL.  We count it a privilege to have stayed with them for a couple days.  They welcomed us into their home, fed us like kings and we rolled with laughter  as we recounted memories upon memories from our 20 year friendship. 

Wednesday night, we sat around the fire pit and enjoyed sweet fellowship.  We re-lived memories, spoke of goals and dreams we have.

We found out the next day, that effective that Wednesday, there was a ban on all fires in the city.  Oops. 

S'mores

Ever Been to Shell Knob, Missouri?

 
After the wedding, the Stewart families headed to a private cabin in Shell Knob, Missouri, in the southwest corner of the state.

We spent 3 days there to kick back and relax.  We played Beyond Balderdash, watched TV, read books, went on long morning walks, took a canoe ride, got up early to watch the sunrise, made my famous Mexican Casserole dinner, and totally relaxed.

On the second morning, instead of us doing our morning walk, Glenn took me out for a canoe ride.  The sun was rising, the water was calm and it was relaxing to go out on the water.

Red Cardinal

Family Time in Shell Knob

 The Stewart family

Glenn and Judy

Thomas and Karen plus Snickers

Luke and Ellen along with baby David

 

Before it got too hot during the day, we would sit out on the porch and have breakfast and watch David giggle at Karen's dog, Snickers!

Ellen and Baby David

David
nearly 1 year old

Luke, Ellen and

Baby David

Thomas and Karen

The kids

We enjoyed our extended weekend as a family.  With Ellen living in Nicaragua, Karen up in the Metroplex and us living down in Guatemala, I cherish these moments together as a Stewart family.

Gary and Madison's Grandparents {Part 7}

{photo courtesy of Bev}
GrandMommy and GrandDaddy Marr (my parents) along with Grandma Vi (Gary's step GrandMother) all traveled up from Dallas to enjoy the beautiful wedding. 

We are so proud that they took the time and energy to be at the wedding.  Gary has spent many a day at G'mommy's house over the years.  We have shipped Gary up from Bolivia to her when he was young to spend time with grand parents.  She remembers taking Gary shopping with her and he would hide behind the clothes racks at Dillard's. It got Grandmommy so frustrated, however Gary giggled all the while.

{photo courtesy of Ellen}

Grandma Vi has been the only grandma that Gary has known.  Grandma Shirley died when he was an infant.  Since Gary's grandpa, Donald Glenn Stewart, passed away several years ago, we felt honored that Grandma Vi wanted to come and participate in Gary and Madison's wedding.  Thank you.

Thank you grandparents.  We love you and appreciate your input into Gary and Madison's lives so far.  Thank you for the Godly heritage that y'all are showing to them.

We love you all.

~J

This might be the last of the wedding photos.

Gary and Madison's Family {part 6}

 Uncle Rick (my brother) and Aunt B flew up for the weekend celebration.  Thank you, Rick, for fitting Gary's wedding into your busy schedule.  Thank you Aunt B for your joyful smile and participation in Gary's life over the years.  We love family and we love you.

Uncle Ronnie (my brother), Aunt Kelly and Meredith drove up from Sherman, TX to help us celebrate Gary and Madison's wedding.  We have appreciated Uncle Ronnie's laughs, humor and most importantly, his prayers for Gary over the years.  His prayers for our family are also special.  Thank you Ronnie, Kelly and Meredith for coming and celebrating with us!  We love you.

Aunt Sherrie (my sister) and her 4 kids, Haley, Molly, Stephen and Michelle, drove all the way up from Fredricksburg, TX to be in attendance at the wedding. Haley and Molly both helped out by encouraging folks to sign the Guest Book.  Thank you for your words of affirmation for the new couple.  Thanks for cheering them on.  I will always remember your "toast" at the Rehearsal Dinner where you said you only had 3 words to say - which were "WE LOVE MADISON".  That said it all.  Thank you for your influence in Gary's life over the years.

Thank you Ellen, Luke and Baby David for flying up all the way from Nicaragua to help celebrate your brother's wedding.  I know Ellen, Gary has been special for you over the years, as he has been your special little brother.  And now he is growing up and making a life of his own.  Thanks for the many times you have loved on him, teased him and instilled valuable life principles into his life.  We love you all.

Karen and Thomas celebrated with us.  They helped by driving Grandma Vi up from Dallas to be at the wedding.  Thank you, Karen, for loving on your little brother all these years.  Thank you for helping him grow into a mature young man and your special gift of encouragement to him.  Thank you for loving your little brother and letting him grow up, even though at times when he was young, y'all would fight like cats and dogs.  We love you Karen and Thomas.

~J

Grandparents will be featured in {part 7}

Gary and Madison's Friends {part 5}

We were thrilled to have Jordan's parents, Jeff and Susi, travel up from Grand Prairie to Kansas City for Gary and Madison's wedding.  We have appreciated their influence in Gary's life over the past 23+ years.  Jordan and Gary have been best of friends over the years.  Gary would often stay with the Bertas when we were not home, or traveling or "whatever".  Thank you Jeff and Susi for your love, friendship and now affirmation of Gary and Madison's life together.

Evie and Virginia drove up from Hesston, KS and celebrated with us at Gary's wedding.  Virginia has been a long time friend of the Stewart family. She has seen Gary grow up over the years.  She has celebrated important life events in our family while in Bolivia.  She's been on Samaipata trips with us and she purchased our blue Toyota Hi-Lux pick up truck in Bolivia. She even borrowed our car in the states one time.  Although Virginia was never Gary's HS principal or teacher, she has shared many meals in our home and has watched Gary grow up into a fine young man.  Thank you Virginia and Evie for sharing this precious weekend with us.

Gary and Julie drove up from Duncanville, TX to celebrate the weekend with us too.  We named our Gary after this Gary.  {note, if our Gary was to have been a 'girl', her name would have been Julie!}.  We have known Gary and Julie for 35+ years, plus Gary and Glenn grew up together in Mexico.  We count it an honor for Gary to have celebrated with us this important milestone in our Gary's life.  Our Gary has appreciated his laughter and wit over the years.  Although we haven't spent too much time together, we have welcomed their love and warmth into our family.  Thank you Gary and Julie for being our friends and more importantly for being Gary and Madison's friends!

We have known Don and Janie ever since Glenn and I were married in 1980.  We started attending GPBC, joined their mini-flock, helped with the children's programs and also participated in VBS, Choir and helped out in nursery duty way back 30 years ago.  Don and Janie have been influential in Gary's life throughout his teenage years.  Gary would often stay with them while Glenn and I would travel.  Janie remembers telling Gary to just look up at the fan and NOT take a nap.  Oops, he would :).  Thank you Don and Janie for your special friendship, love and genuine directional influence on our family's life, especially with Gary.

Thank you my friends for making the wedding of Gary and Madison special by your presence.  Each of you are precious.