Happy Holidays family & friends! 2024 Is about to be in our rear view and we're not sad to see it go. As we approach the close of 2024, we reflect on a year that brought its fair share of challenges and triumphs. Through the storms and uncertainty, we've been shown time and time again how resilient we are.
This holiday season, we hope you find moments of joy, connection, and peace, surrounded by the people who matter most. May your home be filled with warmth, love, and the comforting reminder that brighter days lie ahead.
From our family to yours, we send heartfelt wishes for an amazing holiday season and a New Year filled with hope, healing, and happiness.
With gratitude and best wishes,
Team Lewis
Here's a look back for at 2024
a look back
2024
Kid# 1 Jonathan Elijah
Nickname: J
J has found his new sports passion: Track! Specifically the 400m race.
He is also still passionate about Computer Engineering and is active in our local NSBE Jr. Chapter.
This is is final full semester as a Cub Scout and he'll advance in February to Boy Scouts with his Dad.
In his final year of Elementary Schoo he's been recognized on multiple occaisions for his leadership skills and gentle, helpful spirit.
He still holds the household record for completing a 400pg book in less than a week.
Kid# 2 Laila Larue
Nickname: Lai
Laila is still very passionate about acting and pageants and just completed her 5th show in early December.
This Summer she competed in National American Miss and placed 5th out of 55 contestants in the State of Texas. She also took home several medals in the Javelin and Shot during Track & Field Season. She has so many trophies at 8yrs old she needs two shelves to hold them all.
She still loves her Girl Scouts Troop and has definately learned a lot about responsibility this year as a big sister this year.
And while performing on Broadway is still a dream of hers she's added becoming a Teacher to her dream career list.
Kid#3 Bliss Elizabeth
Nickname: Tinks (aka Boss Baby)
I mean...she'll be 3 in just 30 days, not sure I still call her a baby but she is definately a little Boss! She knows her role and how to motivate everyone else in the family to fulfill the precise roles she wants them to have in the family.
She LOVES art and LOVES her teachers and her friend Desi at school. She makes sure she is never left out around here.
Currently in swimming with her brother and sister she'll start gymnastics soon to carve her own path of after shcool activites.
Anshwa Larue
Nickname: Mama Bear
This year was rough ya'll. I started the year in recovery from ankle repair surgery and hip replacement but there have been so many other challenging moments that I feel really far removed from my physical healing journey. I'm grateful to have movement in my body and have been working out again since August! (5ks here I come ;)
I've sruvived 2024 with the mantra to 'Cast my cares on the Lord and fix my thoughts on what is good and true'.
I've experienced personal losses and professional wins and I'm really thankful to have had moments to reconnect in person with people who mean a lot to me.
Looking forward to relaxing the next couple of weeks and creating a lot of white space to have some sincere down time.
Anshwa
2024 in review
Stephen
Nickname: Pappa Smurf
Okay, I am being told by the Lady of the Family that I have to sit down and write this thing again. So let's see ... how would I sum up 2024? I would say TIME IS FASTER THAN LIGHTNING.
I know at the end of each year everyone says wow, it's time for another year. But 2024 really has flown by! From my perspective every aspect of life has seemed to progress, then back track a bit, then progress even further. You all know I am a realist and realisticly 2024 blessed the Lewis family so much, so often it is hard to quantify. Meanwhile, the kids are really starting to bud!
Jonathan the Intellect, is starting to outshine me! Don't tell him that though, not yet. He is reading faster than the old man, running longer than the old man, and starting to contemplate the problems of life to which I have given up years ago. I'm so proud of him.
Lovely Laila is everything that God said she would when I prayed for her in her mother's belly bump. She is delightful, caring, smart, and such a big sister. I really thought she was a spoiled little thing a year ago, now she is keeping us all on task with what we need to do in life! And doing so with such grace and spirit.
Boss Babby Bliss, the Lewis Family COO. She is learning at a pace none of us are teaching her at. The Boss in every aspect, demanding we pray at meals, brush our teeth, and read nightly. She holds no punches, literally. But has staked her claim in the family and isn't taking any back talk.
And My Queen Bee, Swa. I prayed for a woman I can build with and I recieved the engineer, architect, planner, contractor, and executor of my heart's desires. She wears multiple hats and I'm running around bald as an eagle. This angel has a heart of gold and keeps me always striving in the right direction.
I intended to list out 2024's lightning speed and our progression in spite of it but looks like I just spoke about my family. So that is what my spirit defines as progress in this moment. I love my little clan, I'm proud of my little clan, and all other progress is a distant second to my life's biggest progression - Swa, Jay, Lai, & Bliss.
Stephen
2024 in review
