4/27/2020

Dear Family,

                Focusing on God may not be that easy.  Sometimes when I feel pain or find that my world is caving in – focusing on God is not as hard.  I am needy and willing to look up.  I am desperate for answers.  Those times bring laser-like clarity.  Other times distractions loom, things are shiny, I am laughing, having fun.  But am I close to God when I am happy?  Do I constantly thank him for my friends, nature, and food?  I want to say I do.  I enjoy writing blessings and thinking of all the good God has given me.  Does the extra time I have now give me the ability to focus on God more or do I remain easily distracted, flittering from one meaningless activity to another?  Search my heart God – bring me closer to you.

                I miss hugging friends, doing group activities, finding fun in life.  I garden 15 minutes a day.  Right now the gardening is pruning back, thinning, and weeding.  So much death.  Yet it brings so much life.  And profit.  Every year I sell perennials and it is fun.  May I accept the good from God as well as the bad.  May I be OK with being pruned.  I’ll admit I do not like COVID.  Yet, when I think of it as a time of pruning it helps me rethink and draws me into a better state of mind.

                Now to focus on what God has blessed us with: 

Bobby made several yummy meals this week and we are blessed.  We ate as a family several times.  A friend asked me if our kids still live at home.  When I replied to the affirmative she was visibly jealous.  I might look back on this time as “The good old days”?  I just might.  We have extra adults in the house and they are very sweet.  I love their deep voices, great manners, and smiles.

Bobby thanked me for helping out at youth group.  I am glad he appreciates what I do.  At the moment it doesn’t seem like much.  I can’t sit beside anyone who is being disruptive in a zoom chat.

                Bobby works hard and remains sweet.  I am glad to be his.

                I was walking in the park the other day and Adriel came up behind me to tap me on the shoulder.  It was nice to walk with her a bit.  She was sweet and kind.  I enjoy her company.  Adriel also made some yummy food this week and shared it with me.  How fun!

                Seth laughs and has a great time at Zoom Youth Group nights.  I love seeing him having fun.  Seth also mowed the lawn again.  I am glad he can help.

                 May we find that even in these hard times there is joy.  The time of waiting brings a laser focus on God and in our desperation, we can cry out to him and feel his loving arms wrap around us.  May we cry out like Revelation 22:20 “Come, Lord Jesus.”  Can you tell I am excited for heaven J.  May you also look forward to a wonderful future!

Much love, Cristy

4/20/2020

Dear Family,

                Reminiscing about the good old days can be happy-sad.  Remember when we used to hug each other?  Those were the days.

                Bobby is making a treehouse in Minecraft and the kids both reminisced about how Bobby made an amazing treehouse in Minecraft when they were younger.  I remember the Sunday school teacher pulling me aside to tell of a prayer request.  Seth did not mention Minecraft but he did ask them to pray Adriel would stop pushing him off cliffs.    

                Seth is happy to do his homework.  By his calculations, he is doing a lot less school and he is completely fine with that.  Bobby and Seth watched a historical movie for a class and enjoyed their time together.

                Seth noticed I was having a hard day.  He asked if I was OK and then asked if I wanted a hug.  Wow, to notice is impressive.  My sweet son!  He was empathetic and helpful.

                Seth mowed the lawn this week.  Yay, Seth!  He also helped the church with their slides last Sunday.  Now that they are doing Facebook live it’s a whole new ball game.  I am proud that he has stepped up and is doing the work well.

                Bobby made several yummy dinners and Adriel was excited about bean soup.  I am glad he enjoys cooking.  I am completely fine with cleaning up.

                Bobby destroyed a wasp nest and dealt with about 5 wasps rolling around on top of the roof.  It was scary to watch.  He stomped away in a fury of excitement and adrenaline.  I am thankful he did not fall off the roof. 

                I enjoyed an indoor date with Bobby.  We are blessed to have a roof over our heads.  We are blessed with good health and with the knowledge that heaven is going to be so much better.

                Youth Group continues to be pleasant online.  Bobby said his boss Pastor Marcus is pleased with the zoom meetings and how Bobby continues to lead well with COVID.  Sometimes the question is, “What else can I do?”  Options feel so limited!

                Adriel has started cooking a bit.  She makes beautiful one or two-person dishes.  She remains sweet and lovely. 

                During breakfast, Adriel and I were listening to Pastor Marcus do a devotional.  He mentioned that God is one of a kind.  Adriel began thinking.  She came up with, “What if there was an alternate universe where Jesus was a twin?”  I just laughed.  Wouldn’t that be interesting?

                I am so glad flowers are blooming.  I know life is going on.  I hear the clock ticking.  I know we will hug again.  May you find joy in smiles.  Peace in our Lord and faith that though we struggle we will prevail.  Much Love, Cristy

4/13/2020

Dear Family,

            Going on week three of staying in the house is interesting.  We are taking walks together and I like that.  Bobby remains good company.  Thank goodness none of us are turning on each other. 

            As we have been reflecting on God’s power over death and love for us it is interesting to note – He will work all of this out for the good of those who love him.  Looking into History I do see many bad times, dark ages, earthquakes, hardships.  Last Easter people were bombed.  I am so thankful I am not in control of the world.  I trust God.  Habakkuk 3:18 says, “17Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, 18yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! “  I eagerly await till I meet Him face to face and I will hug Him!  OH to hug you all!  I miss hugging everyone.

            Here are the blessings of this week – or some interesting tidbits; things my kids said that made me laugh, times I smiled and felt my heart warm.  Have you seen the flowers!  Our world is exploding with joy, it doesn’t care about the stay in place order.  It calls out, walk in us, immerse yourself in our beauty.  And the governor did say we can go outside and exercise.  So, some of our family have walked and tried skateboarding tricks.

            Adriel was happy to clean her room this week.  She enjoys the finished result with satisfaction.  She also replaced her car sticker – how grown up.  This is her car, she is taking care of maintenance, fees and paid for it herself.  Go Adriel!

            Adriel has expressed how people wearing masks creeps her out.  It makes our world feel dystopic.  I’ll admit, it is weird.

            Adriel invited Bobby to go outside to teach her how to skateboard.  I insisted on coming to take pictures.  It was fun to see them enjoy parks and try to Ollie.  They are adorable! 

            Seth went outside this week to mow the lawn.  He also did dishes and is looking into the new long-distance learning he will be doing.  His teachers are great, on top of it and encouraging.  May the rest of this year bring growth, learning and be over SOON!

            Bobby and Seth are both enjoying the throwback of Minecraft.  I tried playing for about 10 minutes.  It was too boring for me!  They are playing with youth group people so it is good for them to continue life together.  How fun.

            Youth group continues to meet on Zoom.  I enjoy participating.  It will be so much better when we can be face to face.  I wonder how many will come with excitement and joy simply because they can!

            Seth played a game with the youth group and he played so brilliantly I was impressed.  Isn’t it fun when we see our children shine?  They, on the other hand, find us embarrassing.  Sometimes I hiss at the cat if she is on the counter.  Seth said, “Every time you do that a bit of me dies inside.”

            Seth also loved some pizza Bobby bought for our family.  He said, “The best part of that pizza is how easy it is to pick the pineapple off.

            Bobby cooked several amazing dishes this week.  The fun of social media is that one of his friends cooked the same thing because of the inspirational food pictures.  Good times!

            Bobby and the kids are a blessing to live with.  May you also bless your family and find love, grace, and peace in your homes.  Much love,

Cristy

4/6/2020

Dear Family,

                Does this new normal find you well?  I find joy in knowing that time flies.  Yesterday it seemed like my children were little.  Two days ago Adriel turned 19.  Thank you, friends and family, who sang to her on Zoom and facetime.  She said this Birthday was better than her 18^th.  She enjoyed the calls, well wishes, and outpouring of love.  She thanked me for making pancakes and decorating.  She thanked Bobby for his special attention and she felt loved.  Yay!

I feel blessed when Adriel takes time to chat with me.  She is fun and is figuring life out.  I found it interesting that she makes a master list for all college assignments by the date due.  I also did that in college!  Chagrined Adriel said,  “I thought I was original.”  Little does she know my mother also made a master list.  Personality comes out in the most fascinating ways.  Being cut from the same cloth may be disappointing.  “Oh no, I’m turning into my mother.”  

Bobby and I did enjoy a nice walk this week.  I gave up social distancing from him outside because it was too depressing.  We are close in our home.  I am not concerned about how it looks outside for now.

I enjoyed playing a new Lord of the Rings board game with Bobby.  It is always fun to explore new things even if they aren’t that exciting.  I gave the board game to a family that is excited about it.   Not all games are a good fit for our family.

Thursday brought excitement.  Bobby brought home Toilet paper.  He was shopping for other things but saw TP available.  Ta Daaaaaaa!!!!

Seth remains sweet and understanding.  He was willing to give a hug when he saw I was down.  I appreciate my steady Seth.  He said, “I’m sleeping well now, it only took a global pandemic.”  To me, this shows who the true introverts are.  It also shows that Seth is not worried about the future.  Wow.

The youth group continues to meet on Zoom.  I enjoy seeing their faces.  Bobby still gives a wonderful relevant message.  I am enjoying the silly games we play after the message as well.  Listening to Seth laugh and enjoy warmed my heart.

Seth said, “I hope Golden Crown doesn’t go out of business.”  We reacted with, “Awww,” and smiles.  Then he said, “I’m not just saying that because I like their food.  I like the people too.”  What a blessing to hear Seth’s heart reach out in compassion.  We had to order some of their food!  Golden Crown is our family’s favorite restaurant in Salem.  I’ll have to look into how I can help their business grow.

May you find joy in the blessing of salvation, love, peace, and beauty all around us.  May your faith grow and may God hold you in his arms.  Much love,

Cristy