HAPPY NEW YEAR
Here in the Easter Time Zone we are less than 3 hours away from the New Year!
The Stade’s would like to take a quick moment to say a belated MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As we look back over this past year, it sure has been a full one!
I (Jud) have been pressing into this new role with YWAM; still providing lots of the day-to-day family stuff like most of the grocery shopping and meal prep and such; and I’ve scaled way back in my role at Starbucks, but still love being there and getting to be the “Store Dad.” Things can feel full, but it’s all great stuff!
Family stuff continues to roll on, even as we come into new seasons for the boys.
Corbyn recently turned 16 and has his learners drivers license and a part-time job. He’s quite involved in various school activities like Band and Swimming.
Brennan is in his last year of Elementary School and stays busy with friends. He’s looking at getting back into rowing and can’t wait until he’s old enough to get a job and eventually his drivers license too!
At times it feels like Aiden has already grown up and moved away. Haha. Not really! He quite often heads to a friends house right after school and we don’t see him until dinner! It’s a real gift to have some great families we are living life with these days.
We for sure have had a great year.
In February the whole family had the opportunity to attend the YWAM San Diego / Baja Staff Conference and then take a week of family vacation in Cabo, MX. What an amazing time that was! All of us hope to return someday!
I (Jud) was in Tijuana or Ensenada a handful of other times also. And Brennan and Corbyn also came to Tijuana/Ensenada in August to participate in their own Mission Adventures Missions Trips.
Each of the kids have been able to head down to Grandma and Grandpa Cowell’s place in Kingsville to spend some time on the farm and build great relationships with their Grandparents - something we really missed while living in Alberta.
We’ve got lots to be thankful for in this season of life.
Jesus has been good to us to be sure. The boys are excited about their faith journeys and continue to challenge us in our pursuit of Jesus as well!
Being a youth pastor for so long, I got a front row seat to a lot of families going through the adolescent years. I always wondered what it would be like for our family. Of course, things are never perfect, but I am ridiculously proud of the young men living in our home and am so extremely grateful for this season in our lives! Care has always been a phenomenal mother, but has somehow even found a next level in this season of parenting teenage boys - she’s an all-star!
We’re excited for what is to come in 2024!
If you’re reading this, I want to say a HUGE thank you for being a part of our lives. Relocating across a country as large as ours with as many time zones as ours has not been easy by any means. At the same time, it means we have “family” all across the country and countless people we have been privileged to share life with!
So again, if you’re still reading this - I assume you might actually like us too … hear me say, THANK YOU for who you are in our lives.
Much love, and may you truly experience the Presence of Jesus in your lives now and in the seasons to come!
Jesus is King.
The Stades
