11/25/19

Dear Family,

                I am blessed by reading my Grandparent's missionary story.  I gave away 68 books this week and it felt wonderful.  Some people were very excited to have this story in their hands.  People said, “I love Missionary stories!” Vic & Edith Leng were amazing Grandparents who loved God and raised children to love Him.

I gave away, “Once upon a Mountain.”  I find it ironic that I have looked in my bookshelf and see that I kept none of those books for myself.  It is OK.  That story is out and good and in our church library.  Even better is the book my Grandparents wrote.  “Tell it to the Next Generation.”  This book was so amazing and fabulous I typed it into the computer, published it on Amazon and, if you want to buy it in softcover it’s there, on Amazon.com.  If you want a PDF or Word version I can e-mail it to you for free.  Just ask.  I love the thought of giving away a beautiful faith story.  God is at work all around us!  Looking at the past shows this is true.

I feel so much joy just thinking about how God is at work right now.  I had a good interview with the School District.  How exciting!  I interviewed for a Librarian job.  Knowing that I am not blocked from working for the School District gives me great joy.  I can sub (I applied for that as well) and this will get my foot in the door if nothing else.

Selling books was fun.  This weekend I sold several.  I enjoyed interacting with everyone and sharing God’s love through the written word.

Bobby made a great yummy dinner this week.  I love it when he chooses to cook.

Bobby is wonderful at counseling teens.  He brought me out to ice cream this week because the two teens were female and he wanted me along.  How fun.  I observed him helping people grow in God over ice cream.  Yum!

Bobby’s Sinus infection is getting better.  He is not coughing in the middle of the night anymore.  Seth has a cold but he says, “It is nothing.”  Seth is good at going to bed early if he doesn’t feel well.  I love seeing him take good care of himself.

Adriel cleaned her room this week.  I loved it.  She said she doesn’t like it that way.  Oh dear.  Such is life.

As we focus on Thanksgiving and as we travel may God’s Angels keep us safe.  May our thoughts turn to God’s blessings and His work in our lives.  I do have to tell you a funny story from Sunday School.  I didn’t catch the type of car but several of the gray-haired people from our group tore up a stretch of highway.  The engine is so powerful it made such a loud noise that police were later stretched across the highway trying to find out who had been joyriding.  The person who confessed believed God was protecting them from consequences.  They ran out of gas.  They were just sitting on the side of the road instead of getting pulled over.  I have to laugh – they were acting like teens.  I never do know how God works in these situations.

What I do know is that God’s ways are not mine.  He does the unexpected.  He sent rain when it had never rained before.  He has sent Hail, Fire, and turned a person into salt.  He has parted waters, shut the mouths of lions and saved people from the middle of a fire.  My God is a God of surprises!  May you look and see what he has done for you.  Much love, Cristy 

11/18/19

Dear Family,

I find wisdom in gardening.  I prune things back with no mercy and they still survive.  This makes me think of my relationship with God.  He cuts me back sometimes.  I felt called to write children's books. I felt called to blog.  For some reason, I felt blocked when it came to advertising.  I believe I overstepped when I started buying my own books to sell them. 

Like a person who finds joy in buying things they don’t need, I found myself collecting.  Little by little, month after month, my pile under the house grew.  I didn’t even know how many books I had until this month when I took inventory.

I have over 300 books that I want to sell.

Saturday I sold zero of those.

I find it interesting that I am not sad.  I am humbled.  I am not confused because I would not buy my books for the price I put on them.  Why did I expect others to?  Either way, next Saturday I will try to sell the books for less.  I am learning.  I will try to break even from my buying extravaganzas.

My thinking is that purchasing something has to follow a felt need or excitement.  Something has to compel the buyer.  People did come over and tell me they liked the books.  Several took my name and number.   

                I felt excitement when I bought the books in the first place.  I used money that was not for the family so I am letting myself have that joy.  I am letting myself keep the joy of purchasing and now I am letting go of the items.  Just like items put in a garage sale – things were exciting when we bought them.  Now we do not want those items anymore.  That is how I am beginning to feel.  I do NOT want to haul 300 books under my house again.

                This week I had a highlight of my dad calling me.  I used to call him daily on my going home from work commute.  My dad missed talking to me.  How sweet.  Please pray for him as he is now on a mission trip to Chili.

                I enjoyed walking with Bobby on Monday morning.  He bought me breakfast and was great company.  He continues to make the bed daily (I still beat him up every morning). 

Bobby is excited about a new show called, “The Mandalorian.”  I like it.  Seth is not impressed. 

Please pray for Bobby as he is sick.

                Seth drove and purchased food for sick Bobby.  I appreciate that Seth did that while I was away.  What a great son we have.  He continues to cook eggs and make grape juice.  I love his initiative.

                Adriel continues to be sweet and willing to talk even though she is tired.  Working two jobs and going to school full time is hard.  She manages somehow.  Adriel enjoyed a concert this week and texted me while she was there.  I am glad that she is willing to let me know she is still alive.

                I would love to hear from you all as well.  Just a little note saying you are still alive would be wonderful. 

Thank you for your prayers.  I did have a phone interview with MAPS for a teller job.   I do not know how it went but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough. 

                May you find joy in your journey.  May God’s gentle pruning not hurt too much.  May your focus be first and foremost on God – so that all other things will fall into place as it says in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

                Much Love J

Cristy

11/11/2019

Dear Family,

            Feelings are funny.  Honestly, no one needs to be sad for me.  Not yet.  Lately, my feelings have been interesting.  I have felt; elation at finding out book four is ready to be worked on, excitement for every job application I have filled and joy in the freedom God has given us financially.  We are going to be OK. 

            Being home more has shown me something amazing.  Our house is peaceful.  No one is hollering at each other to get out the door.  Everyone has their own schedule and car.  If someone is late the only person that notices is them.  No one needs me except the cat.  How freeing!

            I have reveled in the wonderful meal Bobby made on Monday.  Turkey, gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes.  Yum!  We have plenty of leftovers and I love that.

            Bobby thanked me for helping with the youth group and I am glad to be available.  God created me to do good works.  That working for God helps my Bobby is a wonderful bonus.

            Seth stopped playing his computer game to search for a computer mouse.  He was looking for a friend who goes to his school.  I was impressed that he wanted to help.

            Seth and Adriel both cleaned bathrooms.  What a treasure it is to have things clean!

            Adriel was willing to help Seth with his math.  I also was willing but I probably would have needed to spend half an hour reviewing how to do the math.  Seth declined both offers.  He said he would ask his teacher the next day.  Seth is surrounded by people who love him.

            Adriel and Chris came home Friday just to give me a hug.  They said it was to pick something up but I know better.

            Adriel has started making clay figurines again.  How fun!  I love it!  Chris and Adriel hung out at our house being creative for a while and it felt homey.

            In all, I truly believe God has wonderful things in store for our family.  I have two craft fairs where I can sell my books (and I have over 300 to sell).  If you are available any of these days it would be amazing to see you.  Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 9 AM – 3 PM at Western Christian School 9045 Wallace Rd NW, Salem, OR.  Saturday, November 23, 9 AM – 3 PM at West Hills Community Church 1650 Brush College Rd. NW Salem, OR 97304. 

            Thanksgiving is coming up, may your eyes be opened to all the amazing things already around us.  May you feel joy as you ponder how loved you are.  Hugs,

Cristy

I lost my job today

I believe I would take a bullet for anyone, I work with.  I truly do.  BUT I would have to see it coming first.  My mistake was that I can be super focused.  I did not notice danger even when someone was trying to tell me about it.  I had two lines coming to my till punching their numbers in.  I was saying thank you and making sure everyone had fruit.  Someone came to me and said, “There are pills in the fruit.”  I thought they were messing with me and I ignored the threat.

Because of this loss, I have been given three gifts by God.

#1 Humility.  I am not the right person for this job and I have to acknowledge that.

#2 Time.  I have the gift of time and can finish book #4.  I also have time to love on my family (if they will let me) and to sell my books at the two book fairs coming up this month.

#3 a fresh start.  I am applying for new jobs and am excited to see what God has for my future.

I am able to re-evaluate myself now.  Who am I?  What am I good at?  What fuels me?

I love to organize and I love structure.  I love people for a time.  I present as an extrovert but need time by myself to refuel. 

I know I enjoyed being a secretary at the ESD in Gold Beach Oregon and I enjoyed being a teller there as well.  I will be applying for those types of jobs.  I also like writing but don’t know what kind of job that would be a part of.

If you know of any jobs that you think might be a good fit, let me know. 

Thanks for your love and prayers about today’s meeting.  I truly believe there are no hard feelings.  They wanted to keep me but that incident could have blown up in all our faces.  It is scary what I did not do.  I do not plan on working food service ever again.

Hugs, Cristy

Happy Harvest time!

Dear Family,

            Being surrounded by God’s people is so wonderful!  I pondered how I would get everything done this week and God gave me the gift of time.  It would be lovely if Halloween didn’t fall on the end of the month.  Who do we contact to get holidays changed?

I had some great conversations with Adriel this week.  Not only did she draw for me but another book is almost complete on her end.  How exciting to start working on book number four!

Adriel thanked Bobby for cooking veggies on Monday.  I want to say that only Bobby (who is a fabulous cook) can elicit that kind of response from a teen about vegetables.

Adriel was excited to get the largest paycheck in her life this month.  She also started another job and is still full time at Chemeketa.  I shouldn’t wonder why I don’t see her often.  She said she is busier than she ever has been.  This includes the 12-hour Marching Band days she used to do!  Poor girl!  She still is pulling in good grades and I am proud of her.

Seth decides when to go to bed on his own.  He gets up, gets ready for school and drives himself.  Seth is getting good grades and is managing relationships well.  Yay Seth!

Seth served alongside me at the Harvest Party on the 31st.  He stayed the whole time, received his candy reward and was happy to drive himself home.  I am tickled that Seth continues to give a hug and prayer when I go to bed.

Bobby and I enjoyed some great walks, making new friends and catching new monsters on Pokémon Go.  I love walking.  Salem is starting to feel like Gold Beach.  Wherever we go we know people.  Bobby was even joking with someone stopped at a stoplight who hollered his name, “Aren’t you in the wrong state?”  Being in ministry 13 years at one spot does bring many friendships.

    Bobby made yummy soup and Spaghetti this week.  He is even taking time to prepare a turkey for Monday.  I wanted more freezer space so he decided to cook it.  Thank you Fairchild family for sharing your delicious bounty from the farm.

I enjoyed youth group this week.  The topic flyer asked; ‘What areas in your life do you need help to stand against the Devil’s schemes?’  Bobby said, “Is it talking during Youth Group?”  A girl said, “Savage,” because that application was spot on.

May you find joy in all God has for you.  May your speech be seasoned with love and patience.  May you find that casting all your cares on Him does end with a feeling of being cared for (1 Peter 5:7).  Much Love,

Cristy