Stevens Family Christmas Letter: December 2013

December 2013

Dearest loved ones,

I sit here in the sun room with my hot tea watching the snow falling, and trying to think how to summarize this year. I am amazed at God's love and grace.

Bob's Civil War reenacting days came to an end with the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam – very nicely wrapped up since the 140^th of the same was our first big event. We still are involved with fifing and cooking for the Field Music School in June. His Afib was worse at each event and continued to worsen until his meds were changed. He has been symptom free now for six months. In October Bob started going to the gym with Jeremy every day and there is a new bounce to his step – and less weight so it's a higher step!! He and Jeremy just finished building a floor to ceiling book case.

Jeremy has been home – except for travels across the country photographing national parks (to see his entries go to www.sharetheexperience.org and type “Jeremy Stevens” in the search box. Sequester has made it difficult to find the work he wants. He is out plowing snow today!

Lydia is at Sandy Cove. She did Converge with them last year and wanted to continue to work there this year. She works at the front desk and fills in at the Book Store as well.

January saw me traveling to China with BJ, to pick up our granddaughter, Liliana. Five days after returning, Daddy, Carl Smith, was hospitalized with pneumonia. The day they removed over a liter of fluid from his lung, he was sent to a rehab facility. He went down hill so fast there. I brought him home with hospice and he was in “his” sun room until he went home to GLORY, March 9^th. The week before, most of his grandchildren trekked from their homes to celebrate his 95^th birthday. We miss him a lot but so glad for the knowledge that he is with his Savior whom he loved and served for so long.

Twenty-four hours after arriving home from Dad's funeral in Schenectady, I was on a plane to the country of Georgia and Azerbaijan for a month. This was my third year running a program for kids from several countries while their parents gathered for their annual business conference. It was an amazing time. I taught each household I stayed in to make cinnamon rolls!

Arriving home the middle of April, there was much to do. (We had Sarah's kids for the first week.) Estate Stuff, memorial service for Dad on the 28^th at Washington Crossing where Jesus was lifted up – and gardening as well as trying to reorganize the house.

In June, we enjoyed Bob's 55^th high school reunion in Middlebury, VT and enjoyed spending time with family.

We spent the first couple weeks in July traveling. We went to Sandy Cove to celebrate Lydia's 21^st birthday and then to Kentucky for David Cary's wedding to Jeannine where we were his “parents.” Next came Mike and Sally Hupp, in Tennessee, where the friendship begun in our infancy blossomed more. A surprise call from Bob's cousin, Ann and Rich Tanhauser took us back toward Lexington where we enjoyed our stay – especially on the porch with NO MOSQUITOES.

Sandy Cove for a week with all our offspring is always a favorite, but it was over shadowed by Daddy's loss and Amanda needing to use “Grampy's” room due to back issues and needing to stay horizontal the whole time. She just had surgery in November and we are praying for the nerves to be restored as well!!

Liliana had open heart surgery at CHOP in Philadelphia, so I watched the “3 originals” until their Aunt Debbie could take them to Sandy Cove and I went to the hospital to help with the baby, Myla (Miss Smyla) so Rachel and BJ could concentrate on Liliana.

GRANDPARENTS CAMP—Camp Pattersonville was closed this year, so Bob, Jeremy and I had

Stefan, Lexi, Marti, Hunter, Cailey, & Danielle

something similar for our grand kids at World's End State Park. Baking and cooking over an open fire, knot tying, knife safety, creek stomping, hiking, building model boats/rafts, and boat races in the Loyalsock were some of the highlights. Deb's daughter, Corinne, was our kitchen girl and we had 5 campers. Great time!

Debbie will graduate in June from Drexel with a nursing degree. We are so proud of her and her A's. She and Dave always challenge us to stay fit. Their kids are quite grown.

Rachel and BJ have had a full year with their 5 kids. Fourteen month ago, it was just the “three originals.” Liliana is having to learn what a family is, and they do an amazing job as parents.

Sarah just got her realtor's license, and she and Chris are enjoying their home in the mountains along with their 3 kids.

Joel is our handy helper in the family and is always willing to lend a hand and his expertise. I love the way my kids interact and use their gifts. He, Holly, and Sophia are anticipating the arrival of a new little one in a month.

Wes, Amanda's husband, has been a blessing – not only to her and the three kids but to us as well.

In October, I did a heritage tour with two of my cousins to Scotland and Ireland. It was so much fun.

Hymn sings plus supper at our house (5:00 the third Sunday of the month), brunch for the ladies Bible study on Tuesdays and Last Resort Wednesdays as well as the nursery on Sundays are on our regular activities list. A trip for my 40^th homecoming at Columbia International University, the beginning of November, was made more special because I got to introduce my husband to people he's only heard about. We had delightful times visiting friends after the reunion too. Sam and Shakun Elisha were such gracious hosts as were Ted and Beth Ragsdale and Tom and Gail (Bob's cousin) O'Donnell on our way home where we were met with a new front hall that the kids redid for our 40^th Anniversary! They organized and cleaned too! under the management of Jeremy.

You see, we are blessed beyond measure and we have a Savior too!!

With love always,

Bob & Marti