ZIP DRIVE....Zambia Instrument Project

One of the highlights for me in the year 2010 was the kickoff of the ZIP Drive at a national level. You can learn more about this exciting project/ministry which is helping orphans in Zambia, Africa.

Check out the website at www.zambiainstrumentproject.com

2011...Joyful in January

Yes, it's been a while....a long while.
My last posting was May 2010. And I was promising to update more often. Yeah, well. :)
Fortunately, it's January, the month of new beginnings, so I am starting over with this blog posting business. Giving it another try....

So much has happened since I last wrote here in May, there'd be no way I could recap all that took place, and it's almost too much to even summarize the highlights. But in a nutshell: God is good. Even when life is hard, God is good. That's the one constant, always, no matter what. God is good....

I've adjusted to Tyler's leaving home for Cornerstone University. It's a 20 minute drive from our home, but brand a new chapter in our lives nonetheless, as he is living on-campus and we go weeks without seeing each other. He is adjusting well to college life and is happy to be there, which makes the adjustment easier for all of us. He is majoring in The Art of Ministry with a Young Adult emphasis. He leads worship on Friday night college gatherings, and also is involved volunteering in leadership with the High School Ministry at Frontline Church.

Last fall, I spent two weeks in Florida with my parents as Dad had another small setback physically. The setback threatened to make changes in their living environment, but thus far, only minor changes have needed to be made, thankfully, and they are still living on their own, in their own cozy Brooksville home, with some help 5 mornings a week from a dear lady named Shirley. Dad is 80 and Mom will celebrate her 80th birthday in May, so all things considered, they are certainly doing very well, and we are grateful to God for his protective, loving and healing hand that holds them close.

Emily is in her junior year of high school and is studying hard this year. She also is having her best year ever playing basketball for the Girls Varsity Hudsonville Hornets team. Also new for Emily as of this past fall, she is involved weekly leading worship at our church's youth worship service that meets on Sunday night. It's very exciting to see her living out this role for which God has greatly gifted her.

Tim is still blessed to be employed by Spectrum Industries, and the company has had one of their most profitable sales-years yet, even in this very hard econonic time. Tim leads a men's small group that meets weekly at our church and he also is serving the Vice Chairman of the Board of Elders for Kentwood Community Church.

Kentwood Community Church is where I am employed, part-time, and it continues to be a great outlet where God uses my gifts and stretches me in many ways including leadership and serving. Our church has just ended a transitional year going from one beloved pastor...Wayne Schmidt, to the next...Kyle Ray. God is doing fabulous things in the lives of our congregation as we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, and as we commit to becoming a diverse community, where people experience authentic relationships, finding hope and freedom in Jesus Christ, as they unconditionally love, selflessly serve and passionately cultivate life change.

These are among many reasons I have in which to be joyful....I am so very blessed. More later. Have a joyful January.

May 2010

Fast forward from my February post to May...

Two highlights from the month of May 2010:

The first highlight was my parents' one week visit. This was the first time they had been to Michigan in three years. It was wonderful to have them here again in our home and make many wonderful memories together. They flew up from Florida and back this time, instead of driving, as they used to do, and of course, preferred the shorter travel time and are actually talking of flying up again in the future.

While they were here we celebrated (early) the occasion of my parents' 60th Wedding Anniversary (June 2nd, 2010 was the actual date of their anniversary). 60 years is a long time to be married! Congratulations are certainly due to Mom and Dad!
Tim and I surprised Mom and Dad by inviting 30 of their friends for dinner together at the Noel Restaurant in Jamestown Michigan. It was a very festive and special occasion.

The other highlight of the month of May was Tyler's high school graduation. Tyler walked in a graduation ceremony with the West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts Association. It was a very meaningful and memorable ceremony, with music provided by the Northern Lights Chorale, which both Tyler and Emily sing in, and a class song provided by the seniors, with Tyler singing and playing his guitar. The guest speaker for the graduation service was our good friend and former pastor, Dr. Wayne Schmidt, who spoke on the topic, "It's My Privilege".







All in all, a wonderful month, the month of May. :)

coming soon....

Alright, you faithful few who read my blog: coming soon - an update! There's been lots going on and therefore, there is much to write about, but time has been a huge preventative!
Hopefully within a week or so I will be able to update you on things that have been happening in the Stitt Family! I look forward to connecting with you again in this way.
Have a great day!

The Story of the American Tourist and the Mexican Fisherman

I heard this story today...and love it. I want to share it with you. It is not original....

An American tourist was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The tourist complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."
The tourist then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"
The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."
The tourist then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."
The tourist scoffed, " I can help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you could run your ever-expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
The tourist replied, "15 to 20 years."
"But what then?" asked the Mexican.
The tourist laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions?...Then what?"
The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

This makes me think of these verses in I Timothy 6:17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Moses

Today I was reading in Exodus chapters 3 and 4. Everytime I read this section where God called Moses to help free the Israelites, I can relate on a lot of levels.
First of all Moses certainly felt inadequate for this impossible task God was calling him to. Moses wondered if the Israelites would see him as credible (would they believe that God had actually sent him?), as believable (would they even listen to him?, he was worried that he would not know the words to say (what shall I tell them?), and he focused on his physical limitations and inadequacies (he had 'always been' slow of speech and never eloquent).
I can relate to this - can you?
However, this didn't stop God. He assured Moses that he had thought all of this through, and was not surprised nor limited by any of these things.
Moses still, however, after asking questions of God and being answered by Him 4 times, finally just about gave up on the whole thing...He said "Lord, please send someone else."
His fear and lack of faith (in himself - and apparently somewhat in God) almost caused him to miss out on this magnificent plan that God had for him.
Amazingly God was very patient with Moses, and he even agreed to send Aaron to do the speaking. However God assured Moses he was still involved, and was not "off the hook"! He instructed Moses to take the staff and "perform the signs with it".
We all know the rest of the story...the Israelites were miraculously delivered with many signs and wonders, and eventually entered into the land promised to them. Undoubtedly, Moses get great credit - and rightly so - for his role in leading the Israelites.
Here's what I wonder though: how much more might Moses have enjoyed of the remarkable experience of having God's power do amazing things through him, had he not talked God out of the original request? What if Moses would have agreed with God that God could do the speaking through Him? that God could use Moses powerfully just as He was;that God's strength would be made perfect in Moses' weakness?
Here's the challenge for me as I read this scripture....when God calls me to do something remarkably big - seemingly impossible, Oh dear God, help me to agree with you that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And believe that when YOU ask me to do something, you are preparing the way for miracles that will take place as I trust YOU to do the impossible through me, by your Holy Spirit's work, not my own.

Time flies....

...when you're having fun.
Well, using that cliche as a measurement, then I would say that being a parent sure is a lot of fun, because time has flown since Tim and I became parents on Sunday, January 5, 1992. Tyler Jonathan Stitt was born to us that night at 9:02 pm, weighing 7#, 14 oz. and measuring 21 inches long. Today he is tall and thin, dark and handsome and is 6' 1" tall.

Tyler turned 18 years old this past week. And Emily will turn 16 next month. Childhood, where did you go? and what was your hurry?



When my Tyler and Emily were babies people would tell me how fast time would go by, and I truly believed them, but never could I have imagined just how fast the time would go. Honestly, it seems like it has gone by ten times faster than I ever thought that it would.

And to think....since I have chosen to homeschool my kids, I've actually been with them pretty much 24/7 these years. How could time still feel as though it went by too fast? Truly it's a mystery. I just love my two teens so very much!

I've had an amazing time with Tyler and with Emily. I remember thinking many times as did activities together at home or away on an adventure such as the zoo, or hanging out at the mall, or whatever else, "It doesn't get any better than this!" I'm so privileged to have been able to stay home with my two children and raise them in this way. We've done so much together; had so many good times, and I have many treasured memories.

I look forward to making many more treasured memories. Here's to many more good times as I am a parent of young adults!!