A mother's prayer

Lora Faison's response when asked about her dreams for son Jonathan Stewart's NFL career:

"My prayer is that God would continue to keep him near, that God would continue to mold and make him into the man that (God) wants him to be, and that God would continually help him live out God's purpose for his life. That's what my dream is, because I know if he strives to walk in that, things are going to be much better for him."

Questions and answers

Excerpts from Charlotte Observer staff writer Charles Chandler's interview this week with Panthers rookie running back Jonathan Stewart, a product of Timberline High School in Lacey:

Question: How comfortable are you with the offense?

Answer: I think I've grasped pretty much a big large sum of what's going on. There are still a couple of things, especially as we're game-planning on different teams, kind of acknowledging each team's personality as a defense.

Today, there was a blitz pickup (in practice) where I was kind of asking (quarterback Jake Delhomme) what he called so I could kind of get some feedback from him and put it all together for myself so I could watch film and have it all fit together and make sense totally.

Q: You wept when you got the call from the Panthers on draft day saying they were picking you in the first round. What were you feeling?

A: I was just overjoyed. I was just thankful for God having so much favor on my life.

Q: What are some of your favorite video games?

A: Call of Duty 4, Halo, Rock Band, and Gears of War is about to come out in October.

Q: How has having a distant relationship with your natural father affected you?

A: It's built my character. That has played a large role in me growing as a man and just learning from his situation as a father. Right now, it is what it is. We talk now and just try to keep it as optimistic as possible.

Q: Have you experienced a lot of hurt because he wasn't around much when you were growing up?

A: Oh yeah. And he understands that, too. I don't know that there's much to say about it.

Q: What do you envision for your life after football?

A: Pretty much to serve my community wherever that may be. I'm pretty sure one day I want to get back to my homeland, Lacey.

Charles Chandler, The Charlotte Observer

Postcard from Afghanistan

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart's brother, Cory Faison, is a lieutenant in the Army and is currently serving in Afghanistan. Both are from Lacey. Charlotte Observer staff writer Charles Chandler communicated with Faison via e-mail this week. Here are some of Faison's comments:

"My deployment in Afghanistan has been a good and bad, but a true, experience for me and the rest of my life. I have had the opportunity to get to know the people in this country and try to understand the issues they face within their villages and towns. The issues go from just trying to have a better quality of life, to trying to fight off foreign fighters, and to helping the people of their village understand that the Americans are here to help.

"As far as my brother playing football, I am proud of him and pray that he stays healthy and focused, not only on football, but God first and trying to finish school and get his degree. I e-mail him and my mother when I can, and they understand that I am here to do a job and survive.

"Some of my favorite memories of my brother as we were growing up (are) playing football and getting into constant fights with each other over the craziest things.

"I am not able to watch my brother's football games on television because the area in Afghanistan where I am is very remote. The only window I have to the world is internet through satellite dish.

"Very few people have been to this part of the world where I am and it is truly a struggle to survive. Hopefully, I should be back to the States by next summer, but time will tell."

Be blessed,

Cory