Janet's Blog

Do you remember Aesop's story of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse ? You may know that Aesop was a slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece more than 2500 years ago. It's amazing that his tales are still being told, and elaborated upon, so many years later.  In a nutshell, this story is about a country mouse who invites his city cousin to visit him in the country. The country mouse offers simple, country food to his visitor, who turns up his nose at the humble provisions. The city mouse, in turn, invites his poor country cousin to visit him in the city, where the country mouse is amazed at the abundance and variety of food to be found there. However, as the two cousins sit down to eat, their lavish meal is interrupted by a murderous cat. After the country mouse flees to the safety of his own home, the tale ends with a moral, as all of Aesop's fables do: It's better to live happily with little and be content, rather than live with abundance or a lot of someth

I hope our newest little blessing enjoyed her first, quiet hours at the hospital, before she went home to her busy, noisy family because, for the rest of her early childhood, she will have to nap in spite of the daily commotion that is always present in a large, home-schooling family.  Ruthie Mae was born on Saturday, January 9th, six days past her due date, at 1:37 a.m. With her scant, light hair, deep, blue eyes, and long, slender fingers, Ruthie certainly looks like her brothers and sisters. At 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and 20 3/4 inches long, she was the smallest of the Stobel babies, although her birth weight was exactly the same as her mother's.  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 In this unprecedented time of a worldwide pandemic, Meagan was a bit concerned about staying in the hospital for Ruthie's birth. She most c

No doubt about it, 2020 was a year to remember--and, for many of us, a year we would rather forget. We were broadsided with the sudden pandemic and all of the restrictions that have come with it. At the beginning of the year, we were hoping to see more clearly, with 20/20 vision, as prompted by the year itself. Then, when we began to see some things much more clearly than we expected, it was natural for us to long for better days and, in fact, a better year.  No one expected so many instantaneous rules: Wear your mask; stay 6 feet apart; stay home; stay away from other people; don't go out to eat;  disinfect all surfaces, but don't hoard toilet paper and cleaning supplies; wash your hands; don't touch your face; stay away from funerals and weddings; get your vaccination. In a year when we were hoping for clearer vision, we got to see our innate selfishness and lack of concern for others, our "my way or the highway" mentalities. Unfortunately, 2020 showed us the s