Team Stratton 2015

Jason + Aurelia

A.J. | Audrey | Alyssa
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Can you believe how big these kids are?

 I am believing Jesus for lots of growth and new adventures for us and for you too as we look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Best is Yet to Come!
And now, here are a few pictures and thoughts about Team Stratton… enjoy.
DSC_0202-Edit-Edit-2-2 A.J. just celebrated his 14th birthday and is in 8th grade. DSC_0521-Edit-EC-fuji100c

I believe A.J. was the most worried about going into 8th grade after exiting the public school scene in 5th grade. But wow has he impressed us. At his parent/teacher conference I was nearly in tears listening to his teachers tell us how much they adore him and enjoy having him in class. How can I keep such an inspirational influence here at home to myself? He’s showing God’s love and learning to be a bright light to kids every day at school.

“Tell me all about A.J.”

Audrey – “A.J. doesn’t like being annoyed by my loudness. But I like it when he makes weird noises.”

Alyssa – “He’s teaching me how to play football…how to throw the football.”

Dad – “A.J. has helped me see that a stick in the woods can be more than a stick in the woods. Look beyond the obvious.”

“What’s your favorite thing to do with A.J?”

Audrey and Alyssa both – “Play outside!”

Dad – “Explore the world.”

“I want the whole world to know that A.J….”

Audrey – “…is great at painting and fixing things like Dad.”

Alyssa – “…is a great brother, a great basketball player, and a great skateboarder.”

We want the whole world to know that our A.J. is a young man full of faith in the impossible. He loves his family, he loves his church, and he loves his school. If A.J. is your friend, you have found a really great friend. This year A.J. helped me drag two huge tree trunks up the hill at the little church property and rallied everyone until those two trunk pieces came together to form a 20′ cross that is still standing amidst the brokenness over on Farm Rd 168. He bravely stepped into his new middle school and began making friends on day 1 as an 8th grader. He has tremendous talent working with wood. You should see the beautiful walking sticks he is making to raise money for Speed the Light (and buy one)! He’s determined to improve his racing skills as a cyclist. At one of his races this year his tire went flat just before the race began. He and Jason were able to get it aired up again but then it was flat again before the race was over. But he finished the race anyway. A.J. is like his dad in his patience but he’s like his mom in his passion for meaning and beauty in the work he does. Sometimes that means he patiently waits for the right inspiration, but he finishes well… even if it’s at the 11th hour.

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Audrey is now 8 years old and in 2nd grade.DSC_0510-Edit-EC-fuji100c

Audrey was very ready to go to school this year. It troubled her that she didn’t have any friends “who don’t know Jesus yet”. She desperately wanted to be the bearer of good news to kids her age. And she has. Audrey is a prayer warrior. Early in this school year she came home telling me that she was praying for kids on the playground at recess, inviting them to church services, and telling them how much God loves them. This tender heart has been broken this year hearing how some classmates’ families struggle. In tears she has told me that some of the prayer requests she gets are “more than I can handle, Mama.” We’ve walked her through the process of how to listen to painful stories and then give them to Jesus in prayer. She is our little singer, dancer, and performer. She laughs and gets us to laugh too. This girl is absolutely a home-body like her mama but even so, she is our little adventure. Everything turns into an adventure with Audrey.

“Tell me about Audrey.”

A.J. – “Having Audrey around ensures noise, it would just be way too quiet without her.

Alyssa – “I think Audrey probably never gets in trouble at school.”

Dad – “Audrey has taught me that hats are for your head and ‘Bunchums’ are not.”

“What’s your favorite thing to do with Audrey?”

A.J. – “The girls both like playing outside.”

Alyssa – “I like shopping for Barbies with Audrey.”

Dad – “Watching Food Network and creating in the kitchen with Audrey is always fun.”

“I want the whole world to know that Audrey…”

A.J. – “…is really great at making new friends.”

Alyssa – “…is a great sister.”

We want the whole world to know this girl is a force to be reckoned with already. She is determined to know the Word of God and hide it in her heart forever because she knows it can never be taken from her. If Audrey is your friend, listen to this girl’s heart, it will change your life. She takes very seriously our correction and discipline. Often after being corrected she spends an hour in her room alone with Jesus and she always comes back out singing. She’s an amazing cook who follows directions very carefully. She loves to write and read stories and like her mama she has a lot of notebooks filled with words that only make sense to her. She is confident and playful like her daddy. Audrey follows no one but Jesus. She’s a leader. She’s her own thinker. She’s a little woman of influence. And for 8 years old she has a lot of understanding and discernment about people which is turning her into quite a little evangelist for Jesus.

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Alyssa Beth is just about to celebrate her 7th birthday and she is in the 1st grade.DSC_0514-Edit-EC-fuji100c

Alyssa is the real deal “5th element” of Team Stratton. She’s absolutely necessary to bring us all down to earth and she keeps us all together. God knew we needed her and I’m still glad he sent her crashing in to balance us all out almost 7 years ago. There are four extremely hard-headed, stubborn, leader types in our crew, and then there’s Aly Beth – the servant. She wants you to sit down with her, look her in the eyes, snuggle, and just be still. I got the first precious dose of that with her over the course of her first year when I held her all night long, many nights, because she wouldn’t sleep in her crib. Alyssa doesn’t say much, she doesn’t get much opportunity. But like her dad, when she says something, it’s powerful, thought-provoking, honest wisdom. Aly says exactly what she thinks and because God has her heart she speaks His words. There is no filter on Aly’s mouth but you can’t be offended by her sweet smiling delivery of her honesty. She can say anything and all you can say is, “Yea, I know, you’re right.”

“Tell me about Alyssa.”

A.J. – “Aly is a peacemaker, without her none of us would understand what a ‘quiet spirit’ looks like.

Audrey – “Aly is really good at doing back bends.”

Dad – “Aly has taught me to choose my words carefully and remember that very few are needed to deliver the right message.”

“What is your favorite thing to do with Alyssa”

A.J. – “It’s easy to make her laugh.”

Audrey – “I like playing with our toys, especially our stuffed animals.”

Dad – “Drawing pictures with Alyssa is always entertaining.”

“I want the whole world to know that Alyssa…”

A.J. – “…has a servant’s heart.”

Audrey – “…was born on Thanksgiving Day.”

We want the whole world to know our Alyssa is a gift we didn’t know we needed. She’s the picture of Grace to each of us when we are selfishly making demands and she “takes the back seat” to let everyone else have his or her way. She serves and brings peace to all of us. She’s a very hard worker and a very fast learner but she doesn’t care if she’s noticed. Sometimes it’s hard to know what Alyssa enjoys because she just enjoys whatever everyone else is enjoying around her. She loves taking bike rides with her daddy, she loves hanging out with me when I’m in the kitchen or the studio or the office, she loves playing with Audrey no matter what the game is, and she loves being a part of whatever game A.J. is willing to play with her. Alyssa never wants anyone to be left out but never minds being left alone if no one wants to play with her. She is the quietest spirit in the house, even quieter than her dad. But when she does speak up, she always tells the truth. Like her mama she wants to always be brave for Jesus.DSC_0705-EC-fuji100c

“So tell me about Daddy… what have you learned about him this year.”

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A.J. – “I’ve learned a lot about bikes this year from Dad and I hope he keeps teaching me how to race and fix them.”

Audrey – “Dad likes to be on his phone all the time.”

Alyssa – “Nothing.”

“What’s your favorite thing to do with Dad?”

A.J. – Watching T.V. and relaxing is nice when we get the chance to sit down.”

Audrey – “I like going to Orange Leaf with Dad.”

Alyssa – “I like swimming with Daddy.”

“I want the whole world to know that my Dad…”

A.J. – “…is faster than your dad at cycling.”

Audrey – “…will fix things I accidentally break.”

Alyssa – “…can still skate on skates even though he’s like… 18… or wait, how old is Dad?”

“So tell me about Mom…what have you learned about her this year?”

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A.J. – “I’ve learned a lot about light and photography from watching Mom. She likes to make sure there are no shadows on people’s faces.”

Audrey – “I’ve learned that Mom still doesn’t like it when the house is a mess and that will probably never change.”

Alyssa – “Um, I still don’t know.”

“What’s your favorite thing to do with Mom?”

A.J. – “Make desserts… and eat them.”

Audrey – “I like going shopping with mom and then come home and cook dinner.”

Alyssa – “I like going to the playground with Mommy and I like telling her what I am learning at school.”

“I want the whole world to know that my mom…”

A.J. – “…is a great photographer.”

Audrey – “…helps me cook.”

Alyssa – “…plays with me.”

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Dear friends, please know that we are so thankful for each and every one of you!

Thank you for doing life with us in our home, at church, at bike races, dinners, meetings, photo shoots, and online.

Thank you for long bike rides and good conversations.

Thank you for stepping in front of the camera and sharing your story.

Thank you for believing for miracles and for your willingness to help us clean up life’s messes.

Thank you for loving on our kids and encouraging them to be all they can be in Jesus.

Thank you loving us through trials, injuries, wins, losses, joy, disappointments, questions, and answered prayers.

We pray that we will share many victories in Jesus with you all in 2016!

Blessings!! J+A