Wolfe Stew

As a lighthouse beckons ships to safe harbor, Jesus invites us to live in his JOY. Linger here; you're safe on these shores. National Lighthouse Day | August 7th Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Five lighthouse facts we didn't know. Wolfe Stew Connects  To finding our light.  Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by lighthouses. Activity Suggestions  Music, art, design, science, history, literature, discussion questions, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Global Sleep Under the Stars Night  (August 8th Annually) National Roller Coaster Day (August 16th Annually) Speak Kind Words Saturday (August's Fourth Saturday) Did You Know: The first lighthouse was in Egypt?  Built in 300 BC on the island of Pharos, fire on a platform over 100 meters high directed sailors to the port entrance in Alexandria. ( CNN Travel   & WorldHistory.org ) The United States has more lighthouses than any other country? We reached a peak at around 850 in operation at once an

(Updated 5/23/2024.) List machines that have made significant improvements to your life. Is a sewing machine on your list? If not, might I convince you that it should be? The sewing machine binds pieces together to produce a functional whole. There's JOY waiting in the lesson this machine teaches. Sewing Machine Day | June 13th, August 12th, and September 10th Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To a God who sews. Bible Verses and Quotes  Related to sewing. Activity Suggestions  Sewing project, history, diagram, would you rather, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Flag Day  (June 14th Annually) Father's Day (June's Third Sunday) Forgiveness Day (June 26th Annually) Did You Know: The sewing machine is Gandhi approved?  Though Gandhi disapproved of all other machines, Gandhi declared the sewing machine, "one of the most useful things ever invented." ( Time ) Singer didn't invent the first sewing m

(Updated 11.16.2023) With a heart full of praise, that's how we hope you're entering this Thanksgiving season. There are many reasons to be thankful in every circumstance. Challenge yourselves (and others) to find those reasons - even in the difficult moments. This is how we stay rooted in JOY, friends! JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Five Thanksgiving facts we didn't know. Wolfe Stew Connects  To the difficulty of thanksgiving.  Bible Verses and Quotes  About giving thanks. Activity Suggestions  for classrooms organized in grade level bands, "Would you rather..." questions, and a family challenge. Did You Know: There were only four women present at the first Thanksgiving? While there were around 140 attendees - 90 Wampanoag and 50 colonists - only four of them were women. ( The Fact File  & History.com ) Turkey is now the most commonly served food on Thanksgiving?  So much so that Thanksgiving is often referred to as "Turkey Day." As a cou

What about Halloween brings you JOY? Is it costumes? Candy? Spending time with family and friends? Challenging your fears? This year, I find myself distanced from Halloween and, surprisingly, am learning to embrace the JOY in that. JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Three we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To celebrate or not to celebrate? Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by Halloween. Activity Suggestions  Costumes, trick-or-treating tips, pumpkin life cycle, writing, crafts, games, discussion questions, and family challenge. Did You Know: Halloween began as the Celtic festival Samhain?  October 31st was the last day of their year and represented the transition from harvest to winter. Moreover, this time of year was often associated with death. The Celtic belief was that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the living and dead was weakened which permitted ghosts entry to earth. To ward off ghosts and help predict the future, Samhain (pronounced sow-in) parti

(Updated 11.28.2023) She welcomes immigrants coming to our shore and serves to remind us of the freedom we've obtained. I ask: are you spreading that hope? Are you living in that freedom? When we learn to, we discover profound JOY. JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Two we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  Musings from the Mrs. Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by the Statue of Liberty and freedom. Activity Suggestions  Art, history, discussion, and family challenge. Did You Know: The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France? Originally named Liberty Enlightening the World , the statue was the dream child of Edouard de Laboulaye and was sculpted by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. It simultaneously memorializes the centennial of our independence and abolition of slavery. ( StatueofLiberty.org ) Fundraisers in both France and the United States paid for the statue? France gathered money from public fees, entertainment, and a lottery, while the U.S. relied mostly on entertainment eve

Oh, Columbus Day, the years have not been kind to you. Once, this federally recognized holiday meant schools and all other government agencies closed so we could celebrate the Renaissance era discovery of the Americas that shifted the course of history. Now, it is a source of conflict and many of us avoid the topic altogether. To find JOY for this day, I challenge you to embrace Columbus' spirit of adventure, his persistence in pursuing his dreams, and extending grace to others as you remember the abundant grace that has been extended to you. October 14, 2024 JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Two we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  Musings from the Mrs. Bible Verses and Quotes  Inspired by and from Christopher Columbus. Activity Suggestions  Books, poems, activities, discussion questions, and family challenge. Did You Know: Columbus survived a pirate attack?  As a teenager he worked on a merchant ship and remained at sea until 25 when pirates attacked his ship off the Portu