6-21-26

 Dear Family,

               A lot has happened since I last wrote. The youth group had our end of the school year bash, and I thought it was fun that Bobby was exclaiming how much he loved his job. That’s always good.

               Bobby also lead music a last Sunday while Greg is on Sabbatical. That was neat and fun to watch.

               School is out for Seth, so he has been helping in the garden and that is huge. I borrowed two green bins from our neighbors for the greens haul last week. I appreciate his ability to follow directions, strength and willingness to help.

               Adriel answered the phone on a Tuesday during our lunch break. It was good to talk to her for a little bit, but when she said, “I enjoy chatting with you, but why did you call me on a Tuesday?” I hurriedly exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, I love you but if it’s Tuesday I have to call my mom, bye.” She may have chuckled after that hasty departure, but she was right – I call Adriel’s Grandma on Tuesdays.

               Wednesday my bicycle basket was falling off. I stopped by Ace to get another screw for it and that worked temporarily (5 minutes) because the hole is stripped. When I got home Bobby confirmed what I was hoping. It was time to get a new bicycle. I didn’t sleep well with all the excitement. The possibilities were endless – but my major concern – a giant basket!

               Thursday, I went to my favorite bicycle store Northwest Hub and donated our ‘back up’ bicycle. I then looked around for the biggest basket and there were tricycles with a basket on the back and one on the front. How exciting! The shop people wanted me to try it out a bit before buying and I did. I happily and excitedly drove off with my used purchase. I then noticed I had traded a race car for a semi-truck. Tricycles do not maneuver well. I also noticed that it was much heavier, I was not going that fast. But on the bridge God took control. My backpack and the basket fell off. Oh dear. I turned around and let them know what had happened. Several people swarmed, and yes, the basket had not been installed correctly. They were very kind and pointed me out to a street bicycle that was my size. Although they didn’t have a basket for me, Amazon did and I am very excited to try it out next week. Yay for great transportation that saves us money in gas and parking.

               Camps begin tomorrow so Bobby headed up tonight (Yes, father’s day – every year). Bobby and I assembled something special for a night game Saturday night as he’s the games director this week. I will miss him but am glad he is doing this for God and glad he enjoys what he does. Yay!

                May you also enjoy the work God has for you. May you follow His direction and if you are dead wrong but excited about your bad choice may God make something fall off so you notice – yup – I need to do a 180.

 

Love and hugs,

 

Cristy

6/8/26

 

Dear family,

 

               I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be home. I may be behind in tasks, but at least I can get them done here. Vacations have long been a bane to my existence. When I was 15, my parents took me to Hawaii, and I said, “It’s crowded here, I want to go home.” They just laughed it off, and I was fine. At the age of 13, I remember telling my dad, I never want to go to Disneyland with you ever again. He responded with, “I never want to take you again.” And that was that.

               This latest trip was confirmation that any trip we take will probably be for Bobby’s sake. I really do not enjoy being away from home for long periods of time. Funniest thing – Bobby’s favorite part of the trip was a 5-hour Catamaran tour of various mountain peaks from the water – some snorkeling and yummy food. I enjoyed myself for about 2 hours. After that, I was at the back of the boat emptying my stomach. I’ve never been that motion sick before, and the effects still linger even today. I’m generally a bit queasy in the mornings now. Blegh.

               I am thankful that Bobby understands we are different people and let me stay in the hotel room the next day, the entire day. I’m not at his Energizer Bunny level of living life to the fullest. Wednesday night, I even went to bed at 6 PM Hawaiian time – I was so done.

               We did have fun experiences. I enjoyed zip lining, tubing tunnels, some nice walks, and the cats we met. I still prefer cereal, sandwiches, or McDonald's to any other foods. At least it’s safe (I hope).

               So, yes, Adriel called me, “Seth” and I’ll take it. I like his, “Seattle is enough culture shock for me.” At this moment, the only place I would like to go (next year) would be Canada to visit my relatives there. I don’t care about viewing places – I can see those pictures on my computer screen. People I love, on the other hand. I miss them, their hugs, and some great chats. I haven’t seen my Canadian family in years.

               Coming home to be with church family is like putting on an old, soft favorite sweater in the wintertime. I appreciate our youth, our kids, and our church family. I enjoy prayer requests, digging into God’s word, and asking Him for help with real-world problems. This is home, this is real, this is where I belong.

               May you also feel loved, appreciated, and cozy where you live. Much love,

 

 

Cristy

5/31/26

Dear family,

 

               What fun our youth are. The teens in middle school are delightful to be around and I still enjoy their sweet fellowship as they grow older. The high school group this week had some interesting things to say. After reading Hebrews 10:24-25 Bobby asked, “Does anyone know what exhort means?” No one did but someone mentioned, “I know what extort means, is that similar?”

               Game time had some fun and excitement. We all formed a circle with two blind folded youth in the middle. One blind folded student was to be the catcher with a pool noodle for catching while the other was the hunted who every 5 seconds was supposed to bang on the large metal bowl with their pool noodle and run around evading. I took several fun pictures, and this one is my favorite.

               The next night was High school group. One highschooler said, “Yeah, shut up Jarrod.” Loud enough for everyone to react with concern about using nice words. Bobby sighed and said, “It's ok they graduated” The rude one then replied, “Yeah, we are adults now.”

               I feel very blessed not only that Seth is taking care of the house and cat while we are gone but . . . and this is a big one. Seth enjoys being alone and wants nothing else than that for his Birthday. All that worrying years ago that I would have my baby on the same day as our anniversary for nothing. I understand his desire to be alone. I also enjoy “My” time. I’m very glad he doesn’t feel neglected. Unlike our cat, she will be mad at us when we get back from our anniversary trip. I’ll have to keep her out of our bedroom because last time we went on a trip, she peed on me to show her anger.

               Bobby planned a lovely trip for us, and we even met the cutest set of 18-month-old twins on the flight. Our families helped each other pass the time and the parents were thankful. How fun.

               Bobby is always up for adventure. I am blessed to be pushed to get out more. I have enjoyed this trip already and my favorite event today was before we sat down at a restaurant the waitress asked, “You OK with cats?” She pointed to a yellow tabby sitting near our seats. I said I loved them and we sat down. Of course, the cat chose Bobby and proceeded to walk onto Bobby’s lap which is just like it is at home. How fun. Bobby pretended he didn’t like the attention, but I saw him smile. It’s fun to be chosen.

               When God puts adventure in your path may you embrace it with open arms. May you find strength in knowing Him and joy in the people you meet.  Love and hugs, Cristy

5/25/26

 

Dear family,

               I’m so glad for whimsy. Our youth are fun, being included is special. When the middle school group prays many of them continue their school practice of holding pinkies and it’s very sweet when a pinky is extended to me. Then at the end there is an almost secret handshake style of ending. A fist to the left palm then to the other person’s right palm. Simple, not too hard to learn – but super fun, nevertheless. I am honored to take part in a tradition that dates back (I do not know how long) at Western Christian.

               I must also admit I truly enjoyed the games during youth group. Bobby had pool noodles, 6 small party cups per person, a cat face mask and Mission Impossible music. Whimsy and laughing at the audaciousness of it all. The students circled. Where they able to get a cup without being whacked? Well, for the most part yes. Was it fun to do and watch? Definitely.

               The high school girls didn’t get into the game much because they were busy making hair decorations. It was fun when it was time to go. They became very focused on finishing for their friend. How sweet.

               Adriel was delightful on the phone. She is recovering from a trip with late nights, excited encouraging yelling and the sort. Adriel is like her dad. She knows how to have fun, and I am glad for her.

               Sunday school had some great interactions. When Bobby told the youth we will be gone next Sunday and they would miss us one person said, “Weeeeelll” and I thought that was funny. They might or may not miss us. The group is wonderful either way. When I announced our trip was to celebrate a 30-year marriage they clapped and that was fun.

               There is a white board in the Sunday school room and a person drew this bean room. I don’t quite know what it represents but everyone had questions. My favorite question was. “Which one do you think I am?” A friend said, “I'm thinking maybe the small pea.” For some reason, this seemed to be the funniest thing any of us had heard in a long while. I enjoy laughter.

               May you also delight in laughing. May the time you spend with people be filled with joy and fun. May some whimsy also come your way and may you enjoy it. If you want to find some just watch the YouTube Video “Just for laughs head massage” video. It’s less than two minutes and makes me belly laugh (Free Head Massages in the Mall.. or so you Think!).

 

Love and hugs,

 

Cristy

5/17/26 Better late than never

It took me a while to figure out how to get pictures while having a new phone. Poor Bobby, he's been through the ringer on this one because His phone is the one we have used to get the best pictures. Thank you for your patience :-).

Dear Family

 

My sheltered past shows up and I miss it. Sometimes I say things to be funny but sometimes I’m just innocent and taken wrong. Let’s talk about the word consent. As in, please fill out this consent form to jump into our trampoline house, ski in our lodge etc. We give consent every time an app wants us to say that we read their terms and conditions, etc. It’s just something we do all the time.

               So, after dinner on Mother’s Day Bobby, Seth, Adriel and I visited the Portland Rose test gardens. One cute thing was that for a little bit we couldn’t find parking. A comment was, “Who would have thought that the rose gardens would be busy on Mother’s Day?” A cute fun quip – I don’t even know which of my adult children said it, but it did make me laugh.

               While there we smelled the roses and it was fun. We also saw several fat squirrels. I wanted to pet them. I did get close but never managed to rub any of their backs. The kids did say if I had been faster, I could have gotten one. I said, “No, I wanted the touch to be consensual.” This set them off for some reason. I just didn’t want to get bitten. And I wanted the squirrel to be OK with it. Later I mentioned the family’s reaction to a co-worker. After she explained that ‘consensual’ usually included “sensual” I was aghast. “Ewwww, I don’t feel that way about squirrels at all!” She had to laugh and say, “Well, I’m glad we cleared that up.” Thank goodness for kind coworkers who help me understand the cruel and horrid world around me.

               As part of our walking Adriel did tell a story about a 10-year-old giving a tattoo at the event she had recently gone to. She took a video because she knew the youngster was having a memorable moment. I thought that was funny. Permanent art – here we go.

               I enjoy telling Bobby’s dreams because they are so entertaining. I wake up before him, but when I come back in the room, I think it wakes him up and he’s bursting with the news. This one is an interesting one. Bobby was wrestling with Will Smith when Will knocked over some soapy water onto Bobbys brand new I-pad. This was quite disturbing to Bobby, but Will did not offer to help – he even said, “Sorry there’s nothing I can do” (Unlike his, “I will pay for that” in Men in Black 1.) That was it, Bobby is now a little bit perturbed with Will (Whom he will probably never meet) and about an I-pad that does not exist. Bobby doesn’t own one at all. Now you know.

               Back in the day when Bobby was in seminary, he would have a lot of books lying around. When the semester was over, they would simply exist – on his side of the bed. During the summer Bobby would go to camp three weeks at a time. I would pack his items up and put them under our house in storage. He would be a little upset but knew I wasn’t going to let him be gone for weeks and leave a mess. Bobby and Adriel would ask where things were and I would say, “Where it belongs” then when they asked where that was, I would say, “I don’t remember.” Usually this would motivate them to keep a cleaner room/area.

               That last paragraph was background for this story. I keep winter/summer clothes under the house and rotate them from storage as the seasons pass. I had gotten my summer clothes out when it was warmer weather, but shorts were going a little too far, so I left my sweaters in the closet and put my shorts in a box in the garage for later. Well, we had even warmer weather last week, so I went looking in the garage for a box with my shorts. Nothing. . . I went under the house and found nothing. Friday night Bobby was gone so I tore up our bedroom looking for my shorts. Did I decide I never wanted to wear shorts again? Did I put them under the bed? Above our closet? In the gest room? Nope, none of those. Saturday morning Bobby mentioned he knew where they were! “Where?” I asked. He said, “Where they belong”. Ha ha. So, I went under the house again this week and looked in random boxes. They were in a box labeled “Valentines & St. Patrick’s day decorations.” Oh yeah, I was going to take the shorts out before I put that box under the house. Sigh – wonders never cease. But now I have a lot of shorts – yay!!

               On to youth group fun. Bobby has taken to the field for games, and it was a normal occurrence for him to say, “Ok, last point wins.” What made me chuckle is when another leader said aside to me, “That still could take all night.” Bobby controls things by being an active participant though and it didn’t last too long after that.

               Youth Sunday was a blast. It wasn’t filled with as much bouncing like they normally do (Bobby included) I attribute this to no doughnuts that morning. They were a much calmer crowd and presented themselves well. Only one person looked scared and harried after being aggressively greeted. I’m calling that a win. I loved the testimony, the greeters, ushers, announcements and sermon. Yay for an active youth group.

               If you are Bobby’s Facebook friend, I’m sure he will be sharing pictures of the Youth Sunday soon.

               Love and hugs to you 😊

 

 

Cristy

5/10/26

 

Dear family,

               As I read over my notes from youth group I get to smile all over again. Bobby mentioned a person who was strong in the faith that he knows. “His name is Linus. And no – he’s not names after Charlie brown.” One youth was quite invested and sad about this, “Dang it!” Then Bobby said, “He’s older than Charlie Brown. This brought a common, “Ohhhhh” from the crowd. They found that fascinating.

               The above illustration was lost on both groups. When Bobby asked, “What does that picture remind you of.” Most people said, “A fart?” Oh dear – apparently people aren’t gag sprayed by friends or clowns with fake flowers any more. If you want to revive this tradition, please do it on Youth Sunday. They might get a kick out of it next week.

               Seth wanted more lasagna, so it was fun to have him be part of the thawing process for one of the three that we made a while back. It thawed well and he cooked it while I was at work. Yum! We still have some to eat.

               Bobby mentioned he would take over the raspberry row when I said I was going to tear it out. He has successfully taken over mowing the lawn. I am glad for that. It’s not in my head space. The raspberries are still there though – I try to walk that path. I’m guessing he does look at it and is fine with how it is doing. Me mentioning it means he’s winning somehow. The only way for me to “Win” at letting go is to forget they exist. Just like a game the high schoolers asked me if I wanted to play. You must forget the game. And if you remember then say, “Oh I remembered” and you lose – but then everyone you say it to will loose also because they will remember. I won for that night (so did everyone else???) but today – by writing about it – I Just lost. LOL.

               My coworker has informed me that I sometimes look like the eagle on the Muppets. Apparently saying that makes it funny when I scowl. And – it is, don’t ask me if I’m pregnant – I’ll give you that look too. I’m too old for making babies even if that’s where I pack my fat.

               Sunday school prayer requests were delightful simply because our youth impulsively say the most interesting things. One student asked us to pray for his grandma’s flight. Bobby asked where she was going and another student had a follow up question, “To heaven?” Umm – hopefully not – that’s apparently what we are praying about now (and no – she was going to visit her dad).

               Another student was praying that their healing process would go smoothly. His friend asked, “Do your legs work yet,” and “No” was the answer – for now.

               When Bobby asked for prayer about the sermon he will be doing for youth Sunday next week I gave him an encouraging word, “You can do it!” His answer was, “I have to.”

               Our little family hasn’t gone to Portland yet, so Mother’s day is still ongoing. It’s a much easier day when the kids are grown. Bobby is mowing the lawn. Seth stayed home still a little sick with a cold. When he saw what they had the men do (sing up front to the ladies) he was glad he stayed home.

                I anticipate a lovely reunion with Adriel – it will be fun seeing her 😊. May you also feel joy when you get to visit with loved ones. May your time with family and friends give you delight 😊 Warmly,

 

 

Cristy

5/3/26

 

Dear Family,

 

               I’m so thankful for fun friends, pretty flowers, cats in general and our cat specifically, but most of all I’m thankful for you – those who care to listen and enjoy the treasures God gives us. May you find strength in knowing how very, very much you are appreciated and loved 😊.

                I continually enjoy the fun things our youth say. Sometimes they are so invested in filling out Bobby’s blanks it comes out as a whine, “Bobby, I was just going to say that!” There is a bit of glory – kudos if you will - when we figure out what the blank was going to be before Bobby says it. If Bobby beats us to the punch it’s a sad moment. He gave our youth a chance after that. “Sorry, what’s the next blank?” The whining continued. “I don’t knowwwww.” Such a mournful evening for this tender heart.

               Bobby mentioned, “I have a youth room update.” Someone said, “Did it flood again?” Thank goodness it did not. Repairs are underway, yay!!

               The middle school group also has some fun incidents. This is an age when smells seem to erupt out of people and we are not talking about good smells. This was evidenced after they were playing games a bit. Either way social distancing really helps. When Bobby mentioned that God uses earth as his footstool a teen had to say, “Ooof! The smell of that would kill people.” Yes, feet can smell very bad.

               I had to laugh about the difference between my two grown adults. I texted both of them and asked if we could take them out to dinner for mothers day. Our sweet daughters response was, “Of course, it’s your day, we can do whatever you want.” Our practical son had a question, “What time?” When I told him he said he would have to cancel his Sunday evening plans with friends. In the end, if he’s healthy Seth will join us, yay.

               May you delight in those you know – that they can be family and still be so different from each other. May you enjoy everyone you encounter 😊 May your life be full because God loves you so much 😊.

 

Hugs,

 

Cristy