Wolfe Stew

Whether you consider yourself a poet or not, poetry is and will always be a part of your life. It is in the music we listen to, the books we read, and the history we study. Poets enable us to feel deeply, see sensationally, and dream impossibly. A poem can embed its way into your heart and mind and reproduce the same emotions, vision, and inspiration each time you remember it. What a positive tool, then, to carry a JOY-invoking poem with us wherever we go. Poet's Day | August 21st Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Five poetry facts we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  with God's poetry. Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by poetry. Activity Suggestions  Poetry exploration and composition; Discussion questions; Family challenge UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Speak Kind Words Saturday  (August's Fourth Saturday) Pierce Your Ears Day (September 2nd Annually) Labor Day (September's First Monday) Did You Know: Poetry predates written language?  It was created to help

                  My grandma on my father’s side was just as amazing as my mother’s side.  She lived in that same town that my grandpa did, the one like Mayberry.  Apparently, they met at a hatchery.  Grandma Wolfe was beautiful and petite, she was French.  Her line is where I get my green eyes from.  Yeah, I thought it would be from the Irish side too, but nope, they are from the French line.  I could always tell they loved each other a lot.  We got to see them when I was little, up until my parents divorced.                 I remember quite a bit really.  She would cook amazing country meals with all kinds of starchy food.  We would always eat butter bread with jelly on it for our dinners.  It was always quiet and comfortable there.  We were only allowed to watch tv, maybe for an hour after dinner.  Sometimes we would just draw or read, depending on the day.  She always tucked us in, and always, always gave us hugs and kisses.                 Grandma was a sweet soul, and my grandfat

My grandmother, on my mother’s side, was a Saint.  Not that my grandmother on my father’s side wasn’t awesome as well, but this story is about Grandma Weber.  We will talk about Grandma Wolfe later on.  Grandma Weber was so tied to God, it is almost unbelievable.  She had joy that filled her cup and overflowed it into other people’s lives.  I remember when we first moved to town, we would go to church with my grandmother, but we got bored with it pretty fast.  None of us really felt what she did.  We were kinda wrapped up in our own sins, and we enjoyed them.  I feel like we looked at her like she was crazy.  We would go over to their house and my brother and I would compete with sitting on the couch next to grandma first.  She would sit next to us and rub our back, it was soo comforting.  My grandfather was a tough man to deal with.  I feel it took her amazing faith to deal with him on a daily basis.  My grandmother was always there for us, even when he wasn’t.  One memory is of how s

                  I was spoiled.  Not like a little bit either.  I know it was my dad that kept me from being punished.  He was a good guy and cared a lot.  But, it spoiled me.  I remember so well from just a few events.                 The first event was actually two events.  They have to do with each other.  I would shout that I was running away to my parents.  My father would be there and I would run out the door and hide behind a tree.  He would come running out and find me and bring me back.  My mom, when she was there, would get a bag, pack it, and set me out on the porch.  I wouldn’t run away, because she would pack the ugliest bag available.  Well, and of course, I never really wanted to leave, I just wanted someone to care enough to catch me.                 My mother spanked me with the wooden spoon, once my dad was out of the picture. I realized soon after how spoiled I had been.  But, when I think about it, that spoon caused some fear too.  I don’t know if I could have

               I have always been looking for someone that can replace the father I lost.  I knew it couldn’t be Randy, he was the guy my mother ended up with after the divorce.  He was a jerk.  At least, I felt he was because deep in my heart I knew he had stolen my family.  Destroyed it!  He was a bartender from one of the places my mom worked at when I was young.  It just happened too fast.  I felt it in my bones.  I hated him.  Another theme in my life, anger.                I was so angry and fearful.  I would have nightmares about my stepfather, and I could never fight back.  It was like I was drowning, and my arms were pinned to my sides.  I would wake up with my jaw clenched so tight I would have to work the muscles out to loosen them.  I never really gave Randy a chance.  I never would.  And, possibly, I made it harder for him to be that part of our family.  But there is more to the story than just that.  I don’t really remember a ton of it, but what I do remember is strongl

(Updated 4/25/2024.) That love conquers all, I have no doubt. It breaks down barriers, lights up the darkest nights, and finds a way in to warm even the coldest of hearts. Love will always win in the end but knowing love along the way adds JOY to the journey. Love Conquers All Day - June 3rd Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To the power of love. Bible Verses and Quotes  Related to love. Activity Suggestions  Heart Map, Song List, Story Prompt, Would You Rather, and Family Challenge UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: Hot Air Balloon Day (June 5th Annually) Sewing Machine Day (June 13th Annually) Flag Day (June 14th Annually) Did You Know: Love conquers definitions?  We struggle to find one suitable definition for love so use it to describe a variety of feelings and actions. Merriam-Webster defines love nine ways as a noun and four as a verb. National Today  identifies thirteen types of love. Love conquers death? When you spend time with peo

                 I didn’t have many friends when I was growing up.  Attachment wasn’t a thing I trusted.  My Dad and Mom split up when I was 8, and I ended up having to go to a public school not long after.  I had some friends in Calvary Christian, they were like family.  Mrs. Blamb was like a mother to me.  I remember the security I felt in that place.  I remember the Christian flag that meant a lot to me, with its pure white dove.  I remembered the Lord’s prayer, at least part of it.  I remembered them because they were given to me by God.  I had a perilous path to follow, and he equipped me with faith that would never leave me, though I would turn my face from it through anger and fear.                  So, all I had was my brother really.  I loved him like the most precious person, probably because we needed each other.  I probably needed him more than he needed me.  I remember pulling the little red wagon with him in it, all around Sherwood, Ohio.  We even entered the parade, wh

                    I am the Divorced Son.  I was born in the early 70s, to a man and woman who probably should never have gotten together.  Hence, why I know God was involved.  I was a little, old man, baby.  My mother was a diabetic, which probably has to do with why I was small and a preemie.  I was born into the world with a vision defect.  My eye muscles would pull so hard I would be cross-eyed.  They fixed this when I was 2, and I still remember being in the hospital with the plastic eyepatches over my eyes.  They say you shouldn’t remember things from when you were two.                 There are many things that happened in my life that guided me toward God.  First, and foremost, I went to a Christian school.  This is odd to me, because neither of my parents seem overly religious.  They act like they are the center of everything that happens, and it pains me to feel this way about them.  Never-the-less, Calvary Christian school had a profound and lasting effect on me.  I love

What's your favorite fairy tale? What part of it brings you JOY? Now, find a way to connect that JOY to your life. While you may not encounter any dragons, fairies, or poisoned apples today, we do believe your happily ever after is coming. JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Three we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To a fairy tale life. Bible Verses and Quotes  About fairy tales. Activity Suggestions  for telling and discussing fairy tales. Last Year's Post : Ash Wednesday Day (46 days before Easter) Did You Know: Fairy tales are not just for kids? Fairy tales, loosely defined, are stories with mythical creatures, a plot centered on good versus evil, and are told from generation to generation. Some fairy tales are written with children in mind, and others for adults. Many of the popular fairy tales we know today were originally written for adults but altered for children. ( American Literature   and Love to Know ) The Grimm Brother's tales and Hans Christian Anderson

John Chapman, commonly known as Johnny Appleseed, was a man who lived his life serving others - in word and deed. Serving others brings JOY to you and the person served. Think about the others you already connect with in your life, how might you serve them even better  today? Apple tree picture from pxhere.com JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  Musings from the Mrs. Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by Johnny Appleseed. Activity Suggestions  Book, craft, math, research, writing, and family challenge. Did You Know: John Chapman is Johnny Appleseed's real name?  John Chapman was the second child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Chapman. He was born on September 26, 1774 in Leominster Massachusetts. ( Wikipedia ) By selling seedlings to settlers, Chapman helped establish their land claims? In Ohio and Indiana, planting an orchard showed your intent to stay on the land which persuaded the government to recognize your claim. By selling seedling

It is here! We're excited to announce the closing chapter of  Mission Born: Space Twins is ready for your reading pleasure.  If you need a refresher, or are new to the story, find all previous chapters here: Chapter 1  Ghosts Chapter 2  The Adventure Continues Chapter 3  Sound the Alarm! Chapter 4  Will Wally Make It? Chapter 5  Twins Divided Chapter 6  Worlds Apart Chapter 7  Escape from Planet Orc Chapter 8  Twin's Flight Chapter 9  Docked in Space Chapter 10  Knowledge Unbound Chapter 11  Decisions Chapter 12  Training Chapter 13  An Unexpected Adventure Chapter 14  Old Friends Chapter 15  Destination Unknown Chapter 16  Urlanna's Favor Chapter 17  Project: Shield Chapter 18  Countdown Chapter 19  Bright Lights Otherwise, welcome to the end: As they entered the underwater castle, Jess could see a giant screen above the queen’s throne.  On the display was a very thin man with sharp, pointed ears.  His face seemed to gleam with a golden glow.  “Yes, we have disabled all sh