Stephanie Bycroft plans to spend Mother’s Day in Kansas City with her family watching her two sons play baseball.
“My boys are on a traveling team and I can’t think of a better way to spend the day than watching them play baseball and go out for supper after the game,” she said. “We don’t have any set Mother’s Day traditions. Who knows what we may be doing next year at this time.”
For the Bycrofts, teamwork in marriage makes for happier Mother’s and Father’s Days.
Bycroft says she is able to work a full-time job and be a full-time mom because she and her husband, Luke, work as a team.
“There is no way I could accomplish all I do in a day without Luke,” she said. “If I cook supper, Luke does the dishes. I don’t have to ask him to help. He just seems to know what I need and gets it done.”
Stephanie grew up in Caney and met Luke while in high school. He was three years older. She also attended Tyro Christian Church’s youth group. Luke also was a member of the group. His father is pastor of the church.
“I know it sounds like a cliche but it’s true, Luke and I were high school sweethearts who married the year after my graduation in 1999,” she said.
Luke wanted to pursue a career in the ministry so the family moved to Joplin, Mo., where he attended Ozark Christian College.
It was while they were in Joplin that Luke received a call from his brother, Matt, asking him to come help start what was to become RiverTree Christian Church.
The couple were excited at the prospect of moving to Iola and were also preparing for the birth of their second child, Dillon, who is 8. The couple have an older son, Derek, 10, and a daughter, Kyndal, 4.
Luke became the associate pastor and recreation leader at RiverTree. Having two small children, Stephanie became a stay-at-home mom.
Three years ago Stephanie was contacted by USD 257 to see if she would like to fill in as secretary at Jefferson Elementary School while its secretary was on maternity leave.
“I thought about it and said yes. It has worked out so well for me. My two boys are students here and my sister, Kyleigh Leonard, cares for my daughter,” she said.
Working as the school’s secretary has allowed her to go on field trips with her children, attend sporting events and have summers at home with her family.
This summer the Bycrofts will spend a lot of time at the ball fields.
“My kids are following in their father’s footsteps. Luke loves to play and organize sports,” she said.
Luke has worked the past three years as director of the Iola Recreation Department. Their boys are on a soccer team and like to play football, baseball and basketball, often times under the watchful eye of their father who serves as their coach.
“We are fortunate this summer because both of our boys are on the same baseball team so we don’t have to run from field to field, but with that being said our daughter begins T-ball this year,” she said.
Sporting events are also an excellent opportunity for Stephanie to pursue her favorite hobby, photography.
“I would like to one day start my own photography studio with my sister. Until that time I just take photos of my family,” she said.
The Bycrofts are a faith-based family who now attend Fellowship Regional Church. They are friends with Jared Ellis who pastors the Saturday night service “The Crux.”
It is much easier getting three children around on a Saturday night for church than early Sunday morning, she said.
Marriage and family are hard work, Stephanie said, but it is much easier when you are married to your best friend.
Local couple says teamwork works
