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Archive for September, 2010

Jenna. Sep 30. Other plans.

This is what I did during the A&M vs. OSU [football] game, instead of “really” watching it.

My parents were awesome to invite us over for dinner and a game-watching party. It would just be more awesome if the Ags wouldn’t have so many darn turnovers.

Add comment September 30th, 2010

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [New Living Translation]

My grandfather believed what Jesus said in these verses and I believe with all my heart that he is walking with Jesus right now. John was his favorite book in the Bible, and our preacher did a fantastic job of preaching about Jesus losing his great friend Lazarus. Today we laid my grandfather’s earthly body to rest in the ground, but we know that on Sunday night he woke up in Heaven with a new mind and a new body, neither one troubled with Alzheimer’s.

[By the way, the extended Stephenson family has a tradition of taking pictures of their dead inside the casket. Personally, I think that's a little creepy. This was about as far as I could go.]

Also – I took Colby to the funeral today but not to the viewing last night. He kept asking to see Grandfather’s body, but Kevin and I agreed that it would not be a good idea. Colby and Kennedy have had a lot of questions about Heaven and death.

In talking about death, we have been really careful to NOT use words such as “tired” or “sick” or “asleep”… because they get tired, sick, and fall asleep. Instead, we presented it as, “Grandfather’s body was so old and worn out; Jesus had to give him a new body in Heaven.” Colby initially reacted by saying, “I don’t want him in Heaven; I want him here with me!” :(

The past few days we’ve been driving by Hudson Creek (Alzheimer’s facility) and Kennedy will say things like, “That’s where grandfather lives, but now he’s not there he’s in Heaven.” AND “Grandfather is in my heart, just like Jesus lives in my heart.”

1 comment September 29th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 28. Obit.

Also found at theeagle.com until October 28th, 2010.

October 25, 1931 – September 26, 2010

Dr. Eddie R. Stephenson, 78, passed away Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Hudson Creek Alzheimer Care in Bryan.
Funeral services are set for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 29, at First Baptist Church in Bryan. Interment will follow in Rest-Ever Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan.
Dr. Stephenson was born October 25, 1931 to Elmore and Emmie (Flynt) Stephenson. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He fell in love with Henrietta Blanchette at the ripe age of 18 and married her at 19, with children soon to follow. He fell in love with chiropractic when he was a little boy and his mother had back trouble and became a Chiropractor when he was 23.

Dr. Stephenson along with his son was the owner of Stephenson Chiropractic; he worked at his practice until his health started to fail him in January of this year. He was a member of the Texas Chiropractic Alumni Association and Texas Chiropractic Association. Dr. Stephenson was a member of First Baptist Church in Bryan and the Business Men’s Bible study. He and his wife spent months at a time doing missionary work, traveling all over world including, Brazil, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Estonia and California. Dr. Stephenson was also a member of The Shriner’s and the Brazos Union Lodge.

His hobbies were more numerous than his children, and ever changing but there was usually a good book involved, a horse, or a camping trip and sometimes all the above. Dr. Stephenson was a participating member of the National Cutting Horse Association for ten years. He loved listening to music, hunting, fishing and being outdoors, raising cattle and watching a good western on TV.

He fell in love with Jesus as an infant, when his parents would tell his Bible stories. The last great and most important love stayed with him throughout his life, and he was never ashamed to tell of how God changed his life. If you knew Eddie Stephenson, you knew how much he loved His Lord. Other than Jesus, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the twinkle in his eye. Being honest with his emotions, they never had to guess whether he was proud of them, they knew he was! He loved his family, his profession, and his Savior Jesus Christ.

Dr. Stephenson was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lazell Cihal and Ellene Rivers; brothers, Dr. J. E. Stephenson and Richard Ted Stephenson.

He is survived by his wife, Henrietta Stephenson of Bryan; sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Ted and Jackie Sue Stephenson of Bryan, Terry and Jeanie Stephenson of Rockwall, Bill and Debra Stephenson of College Station, Phillip and Susie Stephenson of Bryan; daughter, Charlotte Stephenson of Bryan; brothers, Joe Stephenson of Houston, Louis Stephenson of Ganado, Dr. Stewart Stephenson of Bryan; sisters, Delila Petersen of Boone, N.C., Virginia Mosley of Waller; grandchildren, Jenna Grubbs and husband Kevin, Alicia and Katrina Stephenson, Natalie and Victoria Stephenson, Aynsley, Brent and Chase Stephenson, Heather and Alexandria Stephenson; great-grandchildren, Colby, Kennedy and Carlee Grubbs and numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be left at www.memorialfuneralchapelbryan.com

3 comments September 28th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 27. Couponing Attempt #7.

All the Kroger’s in the BCS area ran Super Doubles this week, which means all coupons $1 and less were doubled. For me, it meant I got to take a lot of items out of the store for free or better than free. Here are my receipts – I had to do 2 transactions because I could only have one like coupon. I shopped late tonight – probably got there at 10 pm and left around 11. The college girls at the checkout line were amazed at how much I saved so late at night.

Still not sure why I got charged the 2% phonecard fee…?

PS – This morning I learned that my Grandfather passed away late last night. Today was a long day – besides, you know, keeping a “normal” schedule for the kids, I spent time writing his obituary, meeting with my parents aunt grandmother & pastor to discuss the funeral service, and overall mourning his passing. Eventually I want to write some of the great things about my grandfather but I did want you all to know what’s been consuming a lot of my thoughts lately.

I had already well-planned this trip to Kroger’s but it sure was hard dragging myself out of the house to do it.

Add comment September 27th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 26. Driving Miss Carlee.

Look who accompanied me to church this morning! Isn’t she beautiful?

Complete with her snack, because shouldn’t every kid in church smell like goldfish?

Add comment September 26th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 25. Bread Crumbs.

Apparently my kids have decided that the crust on their bread must be toxic. While this is not a sentiment I share with them, I don’t despair and happily cut off the crusts. Why? Because then we get to use the crusts to make bread crumbs!

Instead of paying lots of moolah for seasoned bread crumbs, I save these tasty morsels in a Ziploc in my freezer. Then I use them in:
- meatballs
- chicken parmigiana
- eggplant parmigiana
- dressing (as in “turkey & ___”)
- breakfast/egg casseroles

Here’s some of the During pics of breadcrumb assembly.

And FYI, I crumble the bread [frozen, because I usually forget to thaw first] in the food processor along with any other leftover bread I’ve been saving. Then, whatever crumbs I don’t use, I put back in the freezer in the same gallon Ziploc bag, only the bag is less bulky. It saves me the time of having to pull out my food processor for the next time I want bread crumbs.

Add comment September 25th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 24. Rainbow/Storm.

Kevin thought this was a very cool view – rainbow & sun on the left and storm clouds & dark on the right.

We were driving into the storm… about 5 minutes later it hit hard and heavy with high winds.

Add comment September 24th, 2010

Jenna. Sep 23. Soccer Help.

After Colby’s first soccer practice today, he needed a little help getting his socks off. Carlee’s even there for moral support… and a snack.

Add comment September 23rd, 2010

Jenna. Sep 22. Dancing Dum-Dums.

[I promise I'm not calling my daughters "dum-dums" - at Kennedy's dance studio, the teacher gives out dum-dum lollipops at the end of each class. I went and bought a bag at Walgreens so that Carlee wouldn't feel left out. Now all she can say is "tuck-ah" when we walk in to dance.]