Big News!

I really am thankful I've blogged over the years.  There are times, I've probably shared too much and displayed too much of our life to the world, but I honestly have thoroughly enjoyed being able to look back over the years.  Things get busy with 5 kids and life zips by fast and I really don't have a great memory anyway, so this blog, this space I've shared our lives, our photos, and our stories of God's faithfulness has been a treasure to me.

It gets tricky as the kids get older.  I'm excited and I want to share so much of what is happening in each of their lives, but I also want to honor their confidences and I don't want to share anything that would make others feel left out.  I also don't want to come across as prideful or as having it all together.  I will tell you now, I don't have it together at all.  I don't mind sharing some of my struggles, but I'm very guarded in sharing my kids and others struggles.  I don't think that is my stuff to share, so I do share the highlights for the most part.  Trust me.....the people I live with don't have it together......and neither do I.   I don't think they are perfect but I sure do love them and I know I'm not perfect either!  So this blog is honest and its real and I do my best to make it unscripted, but its not everything.  Its a snapshot.

My children LOVE to read my blog, when they are bored, especially Lyds and Audrey.  They are constantly begging me to blog.  So I am thinking that I may give it another whirl.  I was telling Lydia, the problem was I really have nothing left to say.....she assured me that I did and encouraged me to blog.....for a record of our family history.  So.....here it goes.

First I'll do a super quick intro because it has been so long......

Randy is still working for the City as a building inspector.  He is not running right now due to a pretty persistent injury, but hopes to ease back into his routine in the new year.  He is still a coffee loving Steelers' fanatic and excited about an opportunity he has to work with a specially selected group of individuals chosen by the city for their innovation to help solve problems.  I'm really proud of him!  Oh, and now he wears bifocals, so that is exciting!

I am home full time now, as working full time and caring for the kids and trying to help with my extended families needs was a strain on me.  I am LOVING being home and being able to minister better to my people and to others.  I still love ERA and may return there at a different season in my life, but I am happy to still be connected through the kids.  ERA is a wonderful school filled with wonderful people, many of whom I consider dear friends.  I spend my days doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and driving.

Andrew is a junior in college.  He is going to be 21 in a couple weeks which is CRAZY!   I can honestly say 3 John 1:4 is TRUTH.  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth."  Andrew is making major life decisions in the coming weeks. Decisions that could take him far from home for extended times, decisions about life and career and I can honestly say I am totally at peace.  He loves the Lord and he is seeking his will and consulting wise counsel and that brings me such peace and such joy and such assurance.  I am excited that I get a front row seat to his life!




Sophia is a 15 year old sophomore in high school.  She is an excellent student.  She has her permit!  She is swimming for her schools swim team and is spending her free time working very hard on a Congressional Award.  She is a life guard at Duke and a social butterfly.





















Jackson is 12....almost 13.  He is in seventh grade.  He is really enjoying playing basketball for his school and spends most of his free time shooting hoops and eating cereal.  He has matured so much this last year!  It is very fun to see!  One of my favorite things about him is how he is not self conscious.  He is who he is and he is not one bit ashamed.  I love that and hope it never changes!  He's enjoying having Andrew home for Christmas and I love hearing Jackson parrot Andrew, "Is it luck or is it God's providence?"




Lydia is also 12.....and almost 13.  She too is in seventh grade and playing basketball for the school.  She is not shy, but she is the quietest Stewart.  She is also the only Stewart that will have a room to themselves in the new house (more on that later).  She really enjoys creating a beautiful space.  She makes our dinner table beautiful.  She keeps her room beautiful.  She adds little touches to life that just make things special.  Even her penmanship is beautiful!










Audrey is 11.  She is in the sixth grade.  She is an absolute hoot.  She has such a quick wit and is hilarious. She still loves blankets, dogs, and anything soft.  She is in a singing group at school.....at least I guess that is what you would call it.....maybe they are a comedy troupe.....I'm really not sure.  They call themselves The Ugly Ducklings.  It is made up of Audrey and 2 of her very cute friends.  They do concerts during recess.  They have quite the following.  It is actually too funny!  They are on Instagram, have recently been sponsored by a fellow classmate, and enjoy signing autographs.



Mindy is our almost 11 year old golden.  She has arthritis and is really slowing down.  She is as sweet as can be.  She likes to eat, take naps on the sofa, sit in the sun, and be rubbed.






Duke is our cousin dog.  We have been dog sitting him since September and he will return home in January.  He is a huge and energetic 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle mix.  Duke likes to eat socks, chase rabbits, bark at delivery people, and wrestle.  The kids love him and are very sad he is leaving.  .  I think Mindy will miss him too.




















The big news is......

Randy and I have been wanting to move to Hillsborough.  I spend a lot of time driving back and forth to school and it seems so much of our life is in Hillsborough now.  So we started looking and thought we had found our dream home.  It was a short sale and seemed too good to be true.  We spent several weeks chasing that dream, but in the end decided to move across the street to a smaller home on a smaller lot that cost more money but was move in ready.  We put the house under contract on Saturday. Our house is already sold and we are planning to move by the end of January.  So if I do decided to resurrect this blog....it will mostly be about moving in the coming days!



We have moved a lot in our years of marriage.  When Randy and I first married we lived in a cute yellow house in Wilmington, NC.  A few years later we moved to Oxford, NC and lived in an old farm house on a piece of property that the Stewart's owned while we built our first house in Durham.  About every two years we would build and move, one of the joys of being married to a builder.  Moving was a great way to make money....Neff Street, Lipscomb Drive, Callahan Circle, Garcia Drive, Old Buggy Trail, Bivins, and then Fox Run Court.  When we got to Fox Run Court we had 5 kids under 10 and I was exhausted and we stayed put, for about 10 years.  Then 2 years ago we built a home right next door and that is the home we currently live in.  We thought we may stay in this house forever.....but it was just a couple years.  This will be house #11 in our 22.4 years of marriage!

I am spending an average of 2 hours going to and from school each day.  It is only 20 minutes away, but 3 round trips....drop off, pick up, sports pick up.....adds up quickly.  If one of the kids forgets something, or has an appointment, or there is an after school performance, it can quickly turn into 4 trips.......So we are going to cut the commute down to a 90 second commute and I am thrilled!

So as Christmas kicks into full gear I am trying to focus on the festivities and the joy and the food and the family, but to be honest I am also making lists.....of everything that needs to be done between now and January 22!