10/25/2020

 Dear Family,

Hard work should pay off.  I see Adriel working hard and I pray she feels blessed.  Adriel is always good for a hug.  She is a blessing!  Adriel knows that I desire to pay for her college.  When she sees how much stress I have she said, “I don’t expect you to pay for my college.”  She doesn’t like seeing me like that.  Adriel is very sweet.

Seth, Bobby, and I experienced some wonderful parent-teacher conferences.  Seth is very good at attention to detail when it comes to programming for his robotics class.  How fun!  He also may graduate early.  Yet, the excuse to stay home might be lost so Seth will probably continue with the classes he has now just longer.  This week Seth mowed the lawn, did dishes, and continued to be wonderful.  

Bobby and I enjoyed playing some board games and had a lovely date night this week.  I also enjoyed the youth group and homegroup.  Bobby is an amazing leader.  I am glad to be his.  During a lovely walk at Riverfront, we saw a bunch of dinosaurs playing frisbee.  I loved hearing their laughter.

May you focus on the good.  We have food.  We have each other.  We have God.  May you find strength in each breath you breathe,  Much love,

Cristy

Growing up

 Dear Family,

 

            No matter what, God is with us.  This was the resounding theme I heard this week from devotionals, messages, and Bible reading.  Be reassured – we are not alone in this hard struggle.  We are loved, cared for, precious, and not guaranteed an easy life.  This is how it is, hardships come.  Struggle result in strength.

            Seth continues to do his school work and enjoy the extra time saved from commuting and class changes.  He is doing well in school and his job.  Seth also had senior pictures done.  Wow, he is a senior already.   I am thankful to Wendee Schmitke for the great pictures.

            Adriel is having friends over which delights me.  She enjoys skateboarding outside.  She said it is a great core workout.  She loves to show off her bruises, scrapes, and gore.  Adriel keeps at her job and school work.  I am proud of her strength in adversity.  She hates online school but has no other option so she does it.

            Bobby cooked an immense amount of chicken and dumplings for our family and his mom and sister.  Mom is recovering from shoulder surgery so it makes sense that a food delivery would be kind of him.  He made so much I thought he hadn’t brought it yet.  Thank goodness Seth loves chicken and dumplings.  It’s almost gone now.

            The youth group continues to engage our church youth.  They come, sing, listen, and chat.  Bobby will stop the online youth group in November.  This is good, meeting in person is better.  We also had a fun youth group event where he had amazing rice with pineapple meatballs.  YUM.  He even had pineapple dole whip for dessert.  How fun.

            If you have ever woken up to an immense amount of skittering in your bedroom at 4 am you might have a cat.  At first, we were going to sleep through it but Skyra gave up the chase and began to meow at us. There are a lot of items under our bed.  Ugh.  I brought items all out one by one and then the rat decided to run into the closet! 

I did the rat dance and jumped onto the bed.  I tried to catch it in a box but I am not that fast with putting the lid on.  UGH!  Finally, Skyra had it cornered but then she began to love on it!

Bobby took over.  He is very fast and my hero.  He had it in a clear organizer box.  But what to do with a live rat?  I couldn’t kill it.  So, I put it on Craigslist free with directions on where it was.  I put the clear box under a light on the corner of Hemlock and Holly.  No one picked it up.  No one wanted a wild rat for their new pet.  Sigh.  I kept checking on it.  By about 1 PM the box was open.  I can only imagine the surprise.

            Oh family, may you be careful when opening random things on the street.  May you find peace in your everyday life.  May you enjoy every breath God gifts you – especially now that the air is clean.  God bless you!  Much Love,

 

 

Cristy

Blessed Birthday 10/12/2020

 

Dear Family,

 

            Thank you for your over the top love, affection, and wonderful Birthday wishes.  You gave me blessings and I feel blessed.  Truly, God's blessing to me is you.  I am thankful and filled with joy.

            Bobby initiated a trip to visit my parents.  He asked if I would like to, booked the hotel, and drove me.  I have been so busy with work I would have worked through my Birthday if it hadn’t been for his forethought.  I am so glad Bobby wants to drive.  I can sleep the time away and this is a huge blessing.

            Bobby cooked several meals this week and we ate happily.  I enjoyed several wonderful walks with Bobby and am glad he remains good company. 

            Homegroup was enjoyable.  Bobby leads well and we enjoy meeting in small groups.  The youth group was also pleasant.  I enjoy Bobby’s teaching and felt very glad that my friend was prayed for in both groups.  Emilio is having a hard time and my heart goes out to him.  I truly believe that the job I have now is for such a time as this.  I enter into businesses, reach out, and help.  I truly believe praying for people is helpful.  I am not just selling credit card processing.  I am helping people by bouncing business ideas back and forth regarding COVID and in general.  Also, referring to people is the most fun.  I know a guy who does what you need and is good at it.  This is great for everyone.

            In the Bothell area, Bobby was chagrined that he forgot his mask.  At first, he was borrowing a light teal one.  Lucky for him I had borrowed a star wars mask earlier and found it tucked in my coat pocket.  His words of appreciation, “Now I feel like a man.” 

            My parents were tickled to have their first visitors in their new home.  We sat in the living room (which hadn’t been used much since they moved in last month).  We enjoyed chatting with them.  We also went out to eat with them several times and played 12 rounds of dominoes.  We had a blessed cameo appearance by my sister and her kids who are only four blocks away.  The socially distant meeting was sweet and lovely.

            Seth saw a game Bobby bought and mentioned that any EA game is trash.  Later he was playing it with joy.  “Well, it’s not that bad.  Games are better when I don’t have to pay for them.”  Isn’t that the truth J?

            Seth is complying with senior pictures and even said he wouldn’t mind being in the rain.  “Rain is nice.”  He shaved his face and looks great.  He even signed the Birthday card Adriel had for me. 

            Adriel gave a sweet card, gift, and cleaned the house for my Birthday while we were gone.  She is a blessing to me!  What a sweet, wonderful woman!

            May you find joy in love and relationships.  May your joy be so full it spills out onto others and may you be a light this world so much needs.  Love and hugs,

 

 

Cristy

We are blessed 10/4/2020

 Dear Family,

             Do we have a roof over our heads?  Do we have food?  Do we have a purpose?  If you answer yes, you are blessed.  Numbers in accounts are just numbers.  We will all die – it’s a matter of time.  God’s love is present in hard times and in good.  We are loved even when disciplined.  Is our nation turning to God?  Are we seeking Him?  Or are we distracted, worried, thinking of other things?  I have to smile when people compliment me on my clothing.  (I only care if something is comfortable.)  God says not to worry about such things – and I don’t.  Most of my clothes are second hand.  I look at retail prices and it pains me that anyone would buy new (except underwear). 

            I noticed most of my excitement this week was focused on yummy food.  God continues to give people talent when it comes to preparing food.  Talent in growing, shipping, receiving, preparing, and even presentation.  Phew!  As a former food service worker – I know some of what goes on behind the scenes.  Food goes through so much just to get to our table.  Are we thankful for the people who made harvesting machines?  Do we praise the driver who delivers?  The manager who trains and is trained in safety?  We took clean air for granted.  Let’s thank God for our food.

            I am also thankful for the Youth Group.  As a teen, I enjoyed being part of a group that loves Jesus.  As a leader, I am blessed by the singing and sweet teens that come.  I know God is at work and I am blessed to watch and participate.

            Bobby prepared three meals this week, yum!  He enjoys the process and I am glad.  I enjoy cleaning up and reclaiming the kitchen.  We have found our rhythm (after over 20 years together) and I am blessed.

            Adriel is recovering well from having four wisdom teeth removed.  She is still on softer food but enjoys going out with friends and skateboarding.  She is tough! 

            Adriel carved a pumpkin with friends and put it on our porch!  How fun!  I appreciate Adriel’s efforts.  Her kindness inspired me to put up our decorations just now.   Adriel continues to prioritize our hug of the day and I am blessed when I see her.

            Seth plugs away at school and is then happy to do what he wants.  He did mow the lawn this week and I am very glad he helps out.  Seth says, “Good luck” as I head to work.  This makes me feel loved and appreciated.  I do tell him I need prayer more than luck and he assures me he will pray.  Yay!

            May you enjoy the clean Air God gave us.  May you find peace in your innermost being.  May we all put God first, give Him our worries and find joy in His love.  Hugs,

 

 

Cristy