Category: Totally Tatum

And from my ballot to God. May He bless this election.

It’s always amazing to see how your child is growing up and developing. To watch Tatum mature and handle her own problems is quite rewarding. The Holy Spirit is strong in this girl. (and I’m not the only one who sees it).

I picked up Tatum for school on Monday, and Mrs. Phillips stopped me to chat. She wanted to share that Tatum had a tough afternoon. Apparently, Tatum went to the bathroom with a buddy, and played hide and go seek (hid in the stall). Mrs. Phillips was very disappointed in her choices (including her choice of a buddy to accompany her to the bathroom). (they always have to have a buddy to accompany them and she chose a friend who is not the best influence on her).

Tatum could not stop crying telling me the story. She said she had so much guilt. We had to go directly to swimming class, so she had to hold it in. While at swimming class, I emailed Mrs. Phillips:

Hi, 
Well I got the whole story in between cries. She admitted playing at the not so optimal time  and also choosing not the right partner to accompany her. 

She kept saying how guilty she feels. We prayed in the car so she could clear with God. She asked me to take away her iPad time tonight. That is a sign she feels awful. 

We will discuss this as a family. Again I thank you for your leading and coaching in her life.  I pray you have a nice evening.

Now, within ten minutes, she responded.

“Steph, It hurt me more than it hurt her! Please tell her that I am proud of her for admitting the truth. I want you to know that when I confronted her she admitted it right away. One thing I love about Tatum is she is trustworthy. I can always count on her to be honest with me. I am also glad to see that she came up with her own consequence. That lets me know that she is taking responsibility for her actions. Thank you for letting me know, I really appreciate it. I will be praying for her tonight. I know that this was a hard lesson for her and I am sure that she won’t repeat it. Please tell her that I care for her and only want the best for her. Thank you for all of your support. Blessings, Mrs. Phillips

When we got home, Tatum did her homework, then she went right to her desk while I made dinner. She usually draws pictures, but she was busy writing. At dinner, she couldn’t wait to read it to us.

Doug and I were amazed by this because it was so heartfelt. She usually doesn’t write this many words! (and we had nothing to do with this…it was all her).
She included a bag with a little red bull stuffy in it.

She cares about relationship. She cares about being a light in the classroom. As a mommy, this is what you pray for…that your child gets what you’ve been teaching her!

I love her heart and her desire to follow Jesus. To be a light as her verse Matthew 5:16 says…Let your light shine! I love you, Tatum. I’m proud of you and your heart. May you continue to make good choices and let your light shine.

Our sponsored child from Food for the Hungry, Sandrine, has written us back!

We are so excited since we have known her now for a few months. We pray for her family every Monday evening at dinner. This Monday, I showed Tatum the letter she wrote us back.

She just turned 14, and we hope to visit her one day.

We love you Sandrine from Rwanda.

I love driving Tatum to school. Sometimes we talk and sometimes we just listen to Focus on the Family. However, when we arrive at school, she holds my hand as we walk up to the gate. They take her temperature (because of the Chinese virus), gel her hands, and she enters. Before she goes in, we spend a few minutes hugging. It’s a wonderful long, drawn out goodbye which I relish, knowing that this won’t last forever.

I say the same thing daily. Make it a great day, Tot! We always have started the morning with prayers, devotion and a good breakfast, so when she is sent off to school, she is armed and ready to face the day.

When I drive off, she waits by the fence waving. I’m so grateful for our relationship, and again, I know this long send off won’t be forever, so I will bask in it as long as it comes.

I love you to pieces, sweet girl.

Our little guy. We just love him. He cuddles with Daddy…

With Tot…

And when I’m on the phone, he pines for a cuddle from the Mommy.

Patience Coopy…

And what better way to commemorate this concept than with a T-shirt!

A few weeks ago, we had a HAY HAPPENS meeting and discussed that we wanted to be a family who CONTRIBUTES, ENCOURAGES, and INFLUENCES. As a teacher, I believe in keeping things visual and out front. This way, we are reminded constantly of what we want to learn. (and be!)

The T-shirt idea was born. In addition to our HAY HAPPENS T, now we have this one.

I took the fam to the park and presented them with the garb.

You like Tot?

Now, you two, let’s play some soccer as a TEAM.

I love you two so much. May we be the TEAM God smiles about and upon. (and may our soccer skills not be representative of our character traits). GO HAYS!

My mom has been writing to President Trump. She is so passionate about him staying President as is our whole family.

Here is one of her letters:

Dear Mr. President,

 From before you went down the escalator, I have supported you from my 

heart. I immediately recognized that God has equipped you with talents that 

are needed to sustain our nation. More than those talents is your steadfast 

character and heart for people who need it, not as a handout, but to lift them

up and enable them. You are REAL, not a façade.

You fight for our nation and its people by making and keeping promises

 never needing a writer or teleprompter, never deviating from your goals.  

This behavior exemplifies your steadfastness or “steel in your spine” (SOTU 

speech of yours).  You never change mid-course.  You are reliable.  These are 

Christian qualities. God inspired. It doesn’t just happen. But oh does it take

focus and constancy to purpose!

During your achievement years, you used your talents to deliver state of the 

art quality and the best innovations possible for the client.  Your business 

never would have escalated to worldwide status without respect and honor 

for each worker’s input, and your recognition of it. Who would work so hard 

for a curmudgeon? Word would get out and sabotage your magnificent 

projects.  But everyone took pride in his part instead. People skills. Do unto

 others.

 Thus, your assessment skills and teamwork were honed in your building 

career. Workmanship, performed in an incredible time frame, produced an 

architectural landmark! It takes many gears working together to make a 

watch run. So it is with architectural wonders. (At least I think so.) 

Management talent is key. You value your people and it shows. Kindness! 

(My father developed his business from the ground up and he respected 

every worker. He went into the Hall of Fame at his University for his 

bacteriological research. Then he set out to do every facet of his business

 himself and taught others and eventually became the national President; so I 

do have some perspective.)

You speak about winning…not for yourself, for you have already massively 

achieved; but winning by giving back… for the little guy who needs 

knowhow, jobs, and lifting up. He doesn’t want a handout that robs his 

dignity and gives no future growth.

Your ethics have been to help people more effectively than the phlegmatic 

efforts of government as exemplified in the skating rink fiasco which you 

delivered with unimaginable speed and expertise. You feel government 

wastes our taxes and can’t do what business can. You oppose big government

limiting our freedom. Patriotic value vs the Swamp.

          You grow our GDP with more jobs than there are people.  You cut through     

          regulation red tape, and overcome impediments of policies, which hoodwink 

          our progress. The economy soars. 

         Now, who else has this resume? There are others who are smooth in manner, but 

         they would fold when met with the onslaught of evil confrontation of lies, fake news, 

         threats, and manufactured legal charges. Answer: No one.

         Your habits of no drinking, no smoking, of dressing properly to respect

         others and the office have been an example for your family, and for leadership 

         which elevates you to function effectively. 

         Our nation looks up to you…those who stay away from liberal lies of the media, 

         largely financed externally.

         You have protected our nation against ISIS, terrorists, foreign threats 

          such as North Korea, started a Space Force in our Defense Dept. with a planned

         Mars trip, and recently you have met the challenge of the Corona virus by   

        getting a vaccine “faster than possible.”  The vaccine, I understand, is in its third 

         stage of testing: a double- blind type, within about six months of its occurrence

         In the handling of the virus, you allowed each state to control its own strategy   

        by its Governor.  By allowing the states to control themselves, you enabled 50 

        approaches that displayed a marked difference in Democratic and Republican 

       strategies and helped us see which results worked.  

      We have seen how the defunding the police has resulted in widespread looting and

       killing of the innocent, fires, and very scared people asking for help, which never

       comes.   You have offered federal help, if only it is requested.  Outsiders coming to 

       our country have everything to gain, (“parasites who feed off those who produce… 

       Thomas Sowell). Meanwhile the American people have only you and our heavenly 

       Father to save us. 

       You do all this for free! Your service to this country is saving our patriotic 

       heritage born in the documents of our Christian founding fathers. You have the 

       heart-felt love of America’s people! Thank you for your service and for that of your 

       family and of Mike Pence.

       I hope you will nominate 3 more Justices to the Supreme Court so we can 

      establish a new birth of freedom in America.

      My prayers and those in my Bible Studies go out to you and your administration     

      and your family daily. Please read Ps 21:6 and Ps 37:7-9. 

      Most Respectfully,

      Charon Lee Scharf

      August 20, 2020 

Well, Halloween 2020, she got a response.

And a pic. He truly signed it!

She is over the moon. So grateful for her heart and passion. (and action!)

November 3, 2020. We pray for you, President, to continue your work in our country!