Off to El Salvador....
Hello everyone - late tonight, or early tomorrow, however you look at it, our team will be heading to El Salvador for 10 days of teaching english and outreaching to the students. Here are some details.
El Salvador Team 2008
April 19th-28th
Seth Rosenzweig
Ben Robison
Christine Grue
Jon Dordal
Beth Biesaida
Jamie Radich
Kim Wells
Lindsey Siegfried
Eli Murphy
Leon Dehnke
Rob Gianotti
Kevin Meyer
Ryan Stahl
Flight Info
Saturday 19th
Leave MSP 5:30 am
Arrive Atlanta 8:58 am
Leave Atlanta 10:05 am
Arrive San Salvador 11:56 am
Monday 28th
Leave San Salvador 12:56 pm
Arrive Atlanta 6:29 pm
Leave Atlanta 9:45 pm
Arrive MSP 11:30 pm
Here's what to pray for!
El Salvador Prayer List
1. Safety of the team (God's hand of protection).
2. Smooth travels (on-time flights)
3. Team Unity
4. Our hearts (open to God's plan and His leading)
5. Prepared hearts of those in El Salvador.
6. Opportunities to witness
7. Effectiveness in teaching English and sharing the Gospel.
8. That we would be a blessing to the local church.
9. Changed lives (ours and theirs).
10.Culture shock (pray for our transition when we come back).
Christine will be updating her blog - so check it out here....
christineone.wordpress.com
Jude @ Two
Here is one photo of Jude's 2-year photo shoot. He is such a cheese. He has a great smile and sense of humor. He can really light up a room.
The Great Upset....
The Great Upset put on a great show Saturday Night. My wife and I had a blast. Maybe it is because we don't get out much. Needless to say, the show was phenomenal. Thanks for the great show guys! I love the new album.
We took a trip to Alabama to visit Laura's Dad and step Mom. One day we went fishing, we didn't manage to get any bites since I spent the entire time removing tangles, fixing lines etc. I didn't have many expectations, but I had know idea I would spend my entire time hooking them up, pun intended. This photo is of Jakin's fine work on getting his line tangled.
Happy Son!
Josh says he loves me all the time. Everyday. He loves momma all the time, everyday. This is the look he gives when he is in a great mood. Way to go Josh - Great attitude!
Mom's Away Explanation
My lovely wife Laura left us all alone one weekend way back in November of 2006. We did survive, barely. She left us with no money, no food and just the clothes on our back. Our boys learned to be tough and to survive on next to nothing. We are all stronger from the experience.
Very Sick Indeed
A few weeks ago, I spent the entire saturday being sick on the floor. It is a good thing I have 3 very capable "doctors" looking after me. The tape on my face is a bandage from the shot I received. I got quite a few shots that day, and there were many I got in the face. Not sure why I would get a shot in the face? Did I mention they were "doctors?" In this picture Jakin is checking my teeth. Not sure why, but evidently good dental health is good for overall health. Jude is listening to see how my food is digesting. Not sure on that one either, but who am I to argue with these fine medical/dental professionals?
Keem
Here are some funny happenings from The Stahlhouse.
MALL
A few weeks back I took the boys to the Mall of Hysteria. It was a cold night and they needed to get some energy out. I did take a stroller, but my intent was for Josh and Jake to walk the whole time. This worked quite well and they walked and walked and walked. When we were towards the end, Jakin asked if he could go on my shoulders. I said sure and when I did this I noticed that his shoes were on the wrong feet. Very uncomfortable for 2 laps around the mall.
Mushrooms at Fort Smelling
I decided to take another boys adventure, this time to Fort Snelling to roast some marshmallows. They have this really cool shelter with a fireplace. Well Jakin for some reason kept saying mushrooms instead of marshmallows. The boys also have the habit of calling Fort Snelling, Fort Smelling.
Keem
We were all downstairs playing legos and Jude disappears. He proceeds to come back downstairs with the pitcher. He puts it in front of me and says "Daddy, KEEM!" I chuckled, but Jude didn't seem to impressed from my lack of action. He then went back upstairs to get the blender base and say again "Daddy, KEEM!" Needless to say, I got the hint that Jude wanted malts made with Ice Cream (Keem).
Good
Jude has a cute, but sometimes overboard habit of telling you something over and over. When having dinner, Jude with either say Daddy or Mama and when we say "yes JuJu", he says "good". The food is good? we say. He says "good." Jude will repeat this at least 5 times before he tires of it. It is great that he likes the food, but when he yells "DADDY or MAMA" just to tell you the food is good for the fifth time, it can be rough. Am I being selfish? I am thankful that he likes the food, but man can that be tough to hear repeatedly.
Grace says hi!
This cute little outfit came to us a gift. Grace is getting really big, fast. Her cheeks are getting nice and puffy. We are so blessed to have such a great family. Thanks for reading!
Christmas Card 2007
We wish you a very merry Christmas! Let us not forget the reason for the season.
Luke 2:8-14
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[
Luke 2:8-14
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[
Birth Announcement Review IV
Grace - Our Beaner. She is getting quite plump. She sure does like her food, although not as much as her brothers. This photo was also taken in the garage. Yes, i built a fruit stand, yes those are real vegetables and yes, Grace is really in a pile of beans. Any other questions?
Birth Announcement Review III
Jude - Ahh, our little 20 month old. He is turning out to be quite the character. This picture was taken in the living room. Too cold to be in the garage.
Birth Announcement Review II
Jakin - he is 3. I got a little more elaborat with this photo. Similar to Josh, this was taken in the garage. It is cool that he is in the toolbox I got for Christmas when I was 8.
Birth Announcement Review
Josh's Birth Announcement - Sometimes I can't believe that this was 4 years ago. Man time does fly for sure!
Jude @ 18months
So I am late - he is over 19months now. But here is a shot of his unfinished pictures
Introducing.....
We welcomed Grace Bean Stahl into the world at 7:10AM. She weighed 7lbs 5 oz, 20 in long. Mom and baby are doing well. Laura is really good a giving birth, it must be from all the practice. Now to answer the name question, we chose Bean for a middle name not because we are huge fans of produce, but because it is a family name on my side. My Grandma Joyce Stahl's Maiden name was Bean. My grandma came from a family of 4 girls, so no-one carried on the Bean name. This was our way of honoring my grandma and to carry on a family name. Gracie Bean has a nice ring to it, besides who wouldn't want to remember that my Great Grandpa was Mr. Bean?
