9/24/18 Staying Alive

Dear Family,

Neither of us felt like we were going to die this week.  Last week I had Seth drive Brush college road (his second time ever driving after 45 minutes the week before).  He knows people don’t like slow drivers.  I mentioned the sign that said, “End speed limit” and then a car came behind us.  There are no shoulders on Brush college road!  He was driving fast because he didn’t want to bug the person behind us.  We both were scared for our lives!  He pulled over after a couple of miles into a driveway, and we just sat there breathing!  The owner was doing landscaping and came over to investigate.  I asked Seth to roll down the window, and that provided a little stress, but he figured it out.  We mentioned we were catching our breath.  We do have magnets put on the car that say, “Student driver” so the man just laughed and walked away. 

This week I just had Seth drive taking right turns over and over till he was bored with that.  Then he took left turns till he was bored with that.  Then I had him drive the W streets, but whenever I mentioned he should drive by friends houses, he avoided those streets.  Sigh – I guess he’s not ready for that kind of attention.  Either way, Seth is doing great.  We had a calm, even boring time and that is what was needed this week.  Phew!

Seth did homework at home.  Usually, he gets it done at school, so he has more screen time with his computer, but I am glad to see him working hard at home as well.

Adriel was gone Tuesday after I came home from work.  I texted her saying that she needed to send me a picture of parents if she was at her boyfriend's house.  Well, low and behold she texted back a picture of Abiqua falls because Dad had said they could go there!  Not fair!  She said, “That’s what you can do when school is over at 10 AM!”  Well!  Having releases must be nice for our senior who only needs two credits to graduate!  I am jealous, BUT Adriel mentioned she would tell her work she can do the lunch shift on those days because of the amount of her last paycheck. 

Please do pray for our Adriel as she has a cold and does not like it.

Bobby and I enjoyed a night out Thursday.  On the way home I told Bobby he could have easily turned before that car.  He mentioned my fool hearty ways would be the reason I die first.  I had to disagree because God has more for me to do than He has for Bobby.  After rethinking this, I mentioned that we might be one of those old couples that die within hours of each other.  Bobby said that wouldn’t happen because I’m not sappy enough to do that.  We will see.  We will see.

Bobby and I also enjoyed an evening out with friends at an annual Banquet for Western Christian school  We heard many heart wrenching yet wonderful stories about what God is doing, and we were able to give to a wonderful cause.  Bobby thanked me for being generous with some of the extra money I earn.  When he thanked me, I realized that God refuses to let me outgive Him!  That night an Item I had just bought the day before sold on eBay. Nice!  Have you tried this?  When we decided to give more monthly to the church building project – mysteriously God upped our income.  Our God is a generous and loving God.

May you try outgiving God and may you find out you can’t.  May you feel abundantly blessed, loved and may you rejoice in His goodness.  Hugs J

Cristy

9/17/18 Harvest Blessings

Dear Family,

                I told Bobby, “If you feel me jump in the middle of the night it’s because our cat licked me on the mouth.”  He laughed, but I did have to look up on the internet, ‘Why does my cat lick me?’  I found out it’s a sign or love or boredom.  I also read a comment, “I lick my cat because she purrs and likes it.”  People are so odd!  I will never lick Skyra.  She randomly bites!

                Bobby cooked eggs Monday, and I was so pleased.  It used up leftover chopped onions and cheese.  He cooked eggs at my request.  What a guy!

                Bobby was able to pull off his annual BBQ parties again this year.  One at our house for the Junior high and one at the Nagle residence.  I was very pleased with how polite the Junior High group was to me.  Several kids thanked me for hosting at our house.  That was very sweet of them.  That the Nagles gave of their home for a night is also a great blessing.  Thanks, Nagle family!

                Bobby lead a fun game during the BBQ at our house.  I love two truths and a lie.  Life is so varied, and it’s fun to hear what people want to share. 

                Seth is glad when we give him a ride home.  He can normally walk, but if it’s raining, we are willing to drive him.  I like how he always says thanks.  That is very nice of him.  Seth also went to the High school BBQ, and I am glad he was willing to socialize. 

                Teaching Seth to drive is scary for both of us.  Please pray for our safety.  He’s learning, and that is good.  He mentioned that a pedestrian on the side of the road made him nervous.  I said, “They can run.”  He didn’t think that was very reassuring.

                I usually try to have the family pick 100 fruit or weeds a day.  Saturday I asked Seth to pick grapes but told him a cluster only counts as one.  After picking a HUGE bowl full, he announced, “I am done.”  He also argued each cluster should count as more than one.  Bobby agreed.  They outnumber me.  I am pleased that Seth picked 1/3 of the grapes!

                Adriel bought herself a coffee maker.  We don’t drink coffee – well – didn’t.  I don’t; it’s just Adriel.  Yuck.  It makes me shakey.  I don’t like that feeling.  She is so independent.  I am proud of her and miss her already.  I do love her hugs and chatting with her.  We don’t see her much because of work, school, and marching band.  She is so grown up! 

                Funny, as parents our job is happy sad.  We want them to grow up.  Right?

                May your heart fill with God’s love and may you be able to enjoy all God has for you.  May you feel joy at the beautiful, wonderful smelling rain!  The rain that quenches fires.  The rain that feeds our plants.  The rain that falls and leaves rainbows! 

Much love J

Cristy

                

First week of school 9/10/18

Dear Family,

                I usually cry when Marching Band performs.  I don’t know why!  It’s so beautiful.  I am overwhelmed but can’t put my finger on it.  My emotions are so mixed.  I hate how much time and effort and finances are put in.  I grump that usually hard work equals being paid – not having to pay out.  I hate all the time Adriel is gone.  But then I hear the music and see them perform, and I cry.  Maybe it’s like Sunday morning during the service; when the little ones go up to read the Bible or to sing – I cry for that also.  I know kids usually are out just to run and play but seeing them perform, seeing young people glad to be up front and giving of themselves for God touches my heart.  When my heart is touched my eyes leak.

                Adriel wants to take her “Senior Pictures” with the seniors at Gibson Creek where she serves the elderly food.  I love her heart!  She cracks me up with her fashion choices.  She has decided she likes grandma sweaters and even wears some.  Adorable!

                Adriel is best in our family with flexibility, stamina, and fine motor skills to fix our washing machine whenever something gets sucked down into the trap.  This is usually smaller socks, and it’s a pain.  I can do it but it hurts my back, and I’m just too old.  We could call a repair person, but they have to fit us into their schedule, and we have to pay them.  So Adriel came home after we had spent about 45 minutes on it.  She took over, and Bobby said, “She can’t leave!  We need her to fix the washer.”  Sigh – and yet both kids will leave us – we know it’s true. 

                Adriel is very excited about a laptop computer she bought off Craigslist.  This, of course, is for school.  Oddly it can also play games.  What do you know!?

                Adriel said school is easy.  She only needs one credit each semester to graduate.  She has some releases and will be able to work the lunch and dinner shifts when marching band is over.  Yay her!  She seems to have life pretty well figured out.

                I was able to volunteer during Music day and enjoyed that Adriel gave me a couple of hugs and said, “Hi,” and, “I love you.”  This warms a mom’s heart, and I’m glad I could be there for her.

                Bobby helped me peel and core some apples.  He enjoyed how they just popped off the crank machine.  It was a novelty to him.  He added this skill to cooking dinner for us.  He’s such a blessing. 

                Bobby also was blessed by friends coming over for his Birthday.  He enjoys people.  It’s fun seeing him surrounded by them.

                Bobby and I enjoyed playing board games with the Fenn adults.  I love being able to enjoy another couple.  Now that the kids won’t play board games as much I sure am glad we can enjoy the company of friends.

                Seth mentioned that our cat might be a broken robot.  Her voice sounds like a broken speaker.  She is cute and little.  Seth’s cracks me up about his privacy issues.  He would think our cat is a spy. 

                Because I had forewarned Seth, he resigned himself for a driving appointment with me.  I took him to the Harritt parking lot, and he explored all buttons, going forward and backward and parking both ways.  I enjoy how methodical he is.  I didn’t enjoy how much he wanted to go backward.  I am purposeful about not pushing him beyond his limits.  He didn’t drive out of the parking lot that day, and I didn’t push him too much.  Patience is key.  I delight in watching him grow up.  My son.

                Seth is surviving school. Yay.  He also mowed the lawn, and I love that. 

                I bought “Young Sheldon” the day it came out.  I truly enjoy the humor.  Sometimes I also enjoy remembering some funny things from the kid's childhood.  When Seth was seven years old I was able to have him meet his teacher the week before school started.  She was setting up the classroom and very sweet.  After initial greetings, she said, “So, what do you think?”  He looked around the room that wasn’t ready yet and said, “It’s a little messy.”  What a silly guy.  The teacher and I had a good chuckle.

                I am enjoying this time when the kids are still living at home.  I love seeing them often and getting my one hug a day.  I know this time is fleeting.  May you also enjoy family as you see them.  May theirs smiles warm your heart.  May your eyes light up with the beauty of each day and may you know that the Lord of this Universe – the creator of all things – loves you to Saturn and back.

Much Love,

Cristy

9/3/18 Bad haircut

9/2/18 Dear Family,

This time I didn’t cry.  Every time I go to a salon with my hair in a ponytail to donate, I must prepare for battle.  I forget because I only donate every two years and that is the normal time of forgetting.  People have babies about two years apart right?  Yes, she forgot about giving birth – that’s why she does it again.  So the haircut was not what I wanted because I trusted someone else who had a different plan than mine.

                The blessing I get from this is my Bobby.  He said, “I would still love you even if you had no hair.”  He is wonderful.  When I weighed 200 lbs, he just called me his Roman Goddess and let the Dr. tell me I needed to lose weight.  I have a very smart husband!  He is comforting and sweet.

                That Bobby loves to cook is a blessing for us all.  He was cooking for several days because he is hosting his Birthday party.  What a guy!  He knows several of his friends are on a diet, so he cooked several items just for them.  Bobby cooked dinner for us on Monday. 

                Bobby rescued Adriel when she ran out of gas.  I was in Keizer getting Claggett Creek’s kitchen ready, so she opted for the closest parent.  Yeah, Bobby.

                Bobby thanked me for bringing towels to him two times this week.  The first time was for youth group (color wars is very messy) and once when he was fixing the garbage disposal.  I am blessed that for both of these I was not required to get messy. 

                Adriel decided to use her savings and pay off marching band.  She is glad to start getting half of what she makes for spending again.  I think running out of gas was a lesson learned.  Adriel also wants to buy herself a laptop for homework.  School has not even started, yet she is starting to do homework for an English class.  Goodness.  Poor child!

                Adriel felt very encouraged by Jerry one day this week.  She was introduced to him Tuesday morning and “Developed such a tight bond over these past couple hours; he helped me stay hyped up and focused when it came to marching out in the hot sun.”  Jerry was a praying mantis that hung out on her horn and her hand. 

                Adriel’s Boyfriend came over for dinner.  I enjoy that our family reminisces and jokes with the audience.  He seemed sweet but didn’t get too many words in.

                Seth has been studying his permit book this entire summer.  I told him that Thursday was his deadline.  We know he is smart.  Even though he does not want to get his permit he has to.  If he didn’t pass his test, we would limit screen time until he did pass it.  There are disadvantages to being tested as smart.  People expect more of you.  So I brought him on Thursday.  I enjoyed several questions that stumped Seth.  “Are you here because you want your permit?”  Another one was, “Do you want a permit today?”  He did great.  I told him, “Now you can legally drive us home!”  I did not make him.  We will have to find time to do the whole parking lot start. 

                I did insist we go out somewhere special for a treat.  “Oh mom, I just want to go to my favorite place.”  Home.  Finally, he capitulated, and we ended up at Lime Berry where he refused to smile for the camera but had a big grin as he held his hand in front of the camera lens.  He is adorable.  I wish I had gotten a picture of that huge grin.

                God has blessed me with family, friends, natures beauty and hair that continues to grow back.  May you experience the joy of knowing that your family, friends, and hair are also a blessing from God.  Much Love,

Cristy