Stewart Community Home

In love with this shirt that a sweet friend made for me at my request. A few months ago, a new resident came in who is as unique as each person who graces the doorway of the Stewart Home. Ms. T. spends a great deal of time shuffling down the hallways talking to herself (or to people she sees/hears that I do not.) She’s rarely if ever loud or problematic, but she’s definitely in her own world the vast majority of the time. She doesn’t seem to have formed any significant bonds ...Continue reading

My husband and I both had birthdays this month and it got me to thinking about the lives of people. Lately, he and I mostly live in different countries and see each other when the government allows him to be home, but that does not make him any less important to me. I find myself thinking about him in every situation that comes up and I try to make our home-life decisions based on what would Patrick do? or what would Patrick think? We have been together for 27 years an...Continue reading

As all of us know and have witnessed, these are unprecedented times. I have heard my grandmother speak of living under a curfew during World War II and then again when Phenix City was better known as Sin City, but I am quite sure that if she were here, she would be just as shocked and stir-crazy as the rest of us as we sit at home and try to wait out this virus. Because the Stewart Home is a licensed personal care home and therefore, a long-term care facility, we operat...Continue reading

From one of our families.

Thank you to our National Guard! They have been cleaning and disinfecting nursing homes and personal care homes all over the country to help keep some of the most at-risk people safe during this pandemic. They came to the Home on Monday to do the same for us as well as test our residents for Covid 19. We are so thankful to share that the report came back on the tests today, and we have ZERO POSITIVES at the Stewart Home! GOD IS GOOD INDEED! Prayers for our wonderful community to stay safe as well!

As all of us know and have witnessed, these are unprecedented times. I have heard my grandmother speak of living under a curfew during World War II and then again when Phenix City was better known as Sin City, but I am quite sure that if she were here, she would be just as shocked and stir-crazy as the rest of us as we sit at home and try to wait out this virus. Because the Stewart Home is a licensed personal care home and therefore, a long-term care facility, we operat...Continue reading

While walking down the hall on Friday afternoon, I overheard one of the residents talking on the phone and he stated, Talk about timing, here she is now. Puzzled, I kept walking towards him, and he held the phone out to me. Reluctantly, I took the phone from him. My mind was focused on Coronavirus, school closures, and how to make sure we keep the residents safe, but certainly not on this phone call. Hello? I asked....Continue reading

Sometimes I think my heart probably looks like one of those china plates that has been broken 1000 times and glued back together, but eventually there are little gaps because the broken pieces are too small to find and glue into place. I feel too much. I know I do. It’s a weakness, and it can be exhausting, but I’d still rather feel too much than too little. ~ The loss of a longtime friend and classmate hit me hard this week. Even though I only saw him a few times a year, I ...Continue reading

Humans are very attached to outcomes. We say we trust God but behind the scenes we work our fingers to the bone and our emotions into a tangled fray trying to control our outcomes. We praise God when our normal looks like what we thought it would. We question God when it doesn’t. And walk away from Him when we have a sinking suspicion that God is the one who set fire to the hope that was holding us together. The truth is, we cannot control our outcomes. We cannot formulate h...ow the promises of God will actually take shape. And we will never be able to demand any of the healing from all the hurt to hurry up. But, there is the hope. Though we can’t predict or control or demand the outcome of our circumstances, we can know with great certainty we will be okay. Better than okay. Better than normal. We will be victorious because Jesus is victorious. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:17 Father, I admit that so often I have held tightly to my own plans and to the outcomes that I think should come to pass. But I know the story you’re writing for me is so much better than any story I could ever write for myself. Help me to cling to this truth when my circumstances are uncertain and unpredictable. I declare my trust in You above it all. In Jesus’ name, amen. -L. Teurkheurst

Stewart Home Wish List of current needs: twin sheets standard pillowcases comforters (twin, full, and queen all work) bath towels... sturdy laundry baskets (all can be gently used) We are also in need of a good washer and dryer if you know of someone who'd like to donate a good used one of either/both. (We do a lot of laundry with 60 residents!) Here is an amazon list if you'd like to send something from our list that way. Thank you for your support!! We could not do what we do without YOU! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/GTVJZTTUQTC4

Miss Sue is one of those people you might not notice at first. Or ever actually. Most of the time, especially when she is on the proper medication, she is very quiet. She reads and walks and minds her own business. She does talk to herself as if having a full-blown conversation with someone that no one else can see, but she is pleasant and cheerful. She laughs to herself frequently (a little maniacally at times but still cheerful.) Other times, when she has not had her medica...Continue reading

I know that normally, our posts are about our residents and their stories, but this one is down a different path. This morning, my Sunday School teacher asked the question, When do you know you have enough? His response was, when you can be comfortable saying ‘no.’ My teacher was using this quote to make a different point in our lesson, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized this is exactly where we should be when dealing with our own decisions and our fai...Continue reading

They were sitting on the railroad tracks under the highway bridge by the river. John had called the Stewart Home and give us directions so that we would know where to find them. Antwone and I jumped in my truck and headed to meet the men. We drove down Brickyard Road and saw both men on the tracks, bundled up in hoodies and coats, waiting expectantly. I pulled the truck over, hit the flashers, and we met our new friends. John has been homeless for about five months. He...Continue reading

It was an amazing Christmas at the Stewart Home. Fifty-eight residents with a warm, caring place to call home. Thank you for helping us make some magic to provide some special needs and wants to our Stewart Home family. They were so humbled and grateful, and so are we. We hope your Christmas was equally blessed with peace, joy, and plenty of magic too. Thank you for your kind, compassionate servant’s hearts. We could not help them without you.