11/30/2020 What are you Thankful for?

 

Dear Family,

                Wow, when Bobby takes time off of work he is super helpful!  He helped me put items in and out of storage, cleaned, and cooked.  Bobby enjoys cooking and I don’t mind cleaning.  I continue to marvel at how well this arrangement works for us.  He made hamburgers, Thanksgiving dinner, and a casserole this week.  YUM!  Amazingly, I don’t weigh more.  He also helped when I got out Christmas decorations.  He cares more than I do about how things are arranged. 

                We saw Adriel this week and heard how her life is.  She showed us videos of her skateboarding process and talked about her online learning experience.  I am glad she is sticking through to the end of this school year.  Adriel introduced us to a documentary on Netflix about Social Media and how it can be addictive.  It was super interesting and brought up some points that were new to me. 

                Seth noticed a drink I gave him at 6 PM had caffeine in it.  I was impressed that he decided to save it for the next day.  Seth continues to crack us up with his quips from the chair.  He’s always listening even when we forget he is there.

                I enjoyed visiting with my parents this week.  It was very fun to take walks, play board games and catch up on life.  They are delightful and I loved that everyone played dominoes together.  Yay!

                What impacted me most this week was sitting at church on Sunday and hearing baby noises.  I wondered who’s that was and looked around.  When I figured it out I gasped with excitement and surprise then my eyes started leaking.  I have prayed daily for several years that a family in our church would be able to adopt.  The waitlist is long.  They had a roller coaster ride to Florida and back this month.  They had prayed for 4 years for a baby girl.  I remember their kindergarten son also praying for his baby sister.  That baby in her home church this Sunday.  My heart exploded.

The sermon was about faith being perfected in waiting.  How appropriate.  Our church is blessed with a new person.  I am thankful for new life.

                What are you thankful for?  Let me know, Hugs,

 

Cristy

PS, the picture was requested by one of our kids.  Do a T pose!  LOL

11/24/2020

 

Dear Family,

                This week has been uneventful and filled with peace.  I must admit, we did have a saga.  Seth has been wearing the same shirt to church (washed each week) for over a month.  I have asked him to stop wearing it because he has grown out of it.  It’s time.  He smiled and refused.  His reasons are that he likes the pattern and the feel of the shirt.  If I can find the same shirt in a bigger size he will wear it.  The next week I went on my knees and pleaded to no avail.  The last-ditch effort after that was resorting to threats, “I will hide that shirt.”  Seth said he would sue.

11/15 was the day Seth’s favorite Sunday shirt moved from the dry laundry to a hidden place.  11/18 I typed a letter that started with, “You will have to get a lawyer.”  I handed this letter to him as I was walking out the door.  My words were, “Read this later.”  He read it immediately and as I was driving away I heard fast angry footsteps racing upstairs to our rooms.  I worked and then went to our Thanksgiving prayer event at church where Seth was volunteering.  Chagrined, I avoided him.  Later when I saw him at home I started with, “I don’t want to make you mad . . .”  Seth smiled and said, “I was mad at first, but you are going to have to hide things way better than that.  I have it now and it is hidden from you.”  Hmmm – I laughed and knew once again, I have met my match.  I recounted this story to Bobby as Seth listened in.  Seth said, “I tried looking for a new one and you are right, it’s impossible to find in any size.  I’ll wear a different shirt.”  Pleased the next Sunday morning I said, “Thank you for wearing a new shirt!”  His response, “Get used to it, I’ll be wearing it a lot.”

Seth’s outlook on life is so interesting.  We were watching, “The Good Doctor season 2” when Seth mentioned that the new boss needed to know Shaun’s reason for being a surgeon.  I had to ask what it was and Seth verbatim told me.  “Wow, Seth I am impressed you remember that.”  Off-handed Seth said, “You must know Medical Practice has Lore.”

Adriel was not excited to put all her items from the floor to the bed Wednesday morning because she woke up around the time I had carpet cleaners working hard.  She did it though and said, “Thank you” for their hard work.  I love the clean smell that Chem-dry leaves.  I am grateful Adriel was quick to clean.

I enjoyed Adriel’s company Sunday night for a take out dinner.  We had a great talk and I love her company.

Bobby made several yummy dinners and we enjoyed eating together.  I am so glad I have a wonderful family to come home to after work. 

Bobby had an excellent Friendsgiving event for the youth Group Tuesday night.  We all played an online game called among us.  I enjoyed watching people excited to be together and laughing about their suspicions over who was an intruder or not.  Bobby provided masks with cute people in Astronaut outfits.  This became everyone's new favorite mask.  Bobby is a master at creating a group identity.  I have received many compliments on the mask as I do my Instacart shopping.

Bobby was glad to visit his dad in Bend overnight.  I am very glad he came back home safe.  Bobby is a good son and I am glad his parents enjoy his company.  Yay for family.

May you find joy in visiting family.  May God keep us safe as the holidays approach.  Much love,

 

 

 

Cristy

PS, I saw these Turkeys - they don't know how dangerous it is to be wandering around!

11/16/2020

 

Dear Family,

With the beautiful rain comes the joy that we have a roof over our heads, dry beds to sleep in, and central heating.  Jesus did not live with most of these luxuries!  May we never take them for granted.

Adriel has brought the same friend over several times.  I think she likes us!  We had a great talk about the fruit of the spirit, church, and faith.  Adriel continues to work and is now officially full time.  Adriel is also in school full time.  She is surviving this year and does a happy dance every so often.  Adriel is darling and wonderful.  She cleaned the bathrooms this week and they are sparkling clean!

Seth remains content to be home, volunteer, and work at church.  He remains kind and sweet.

Bobby led a wonderful lesson for the youth group two times.  Seth and Bobby both mentioned how they enjoyed it.  Rich cheated twice on the game.  Seth said, “He was disqualified 5 minutes into it.”  Thankfulness was the theme.  Bobby had 10 sticky notes for people to write on.  The goal was to write, run, and stick it on the wall, run back make another and run to the wall again.  Whoever was the fastest won.  There was joy, excitement, and a beautiful sticky note collage of things we are thankful for in the end.  This is the secret to feeling good.  Remembering what we are thankful for, getting up, letting everyone know, and remembering again.

Homegroup was delightful.  Bobby was very happy to provide some snacks.  He remains enamored with smoking things and made bacon-wrapped peanut butter Oreos.  It was too much for me but other people liked them. 

Bobby remains tickled about the Mandalorian.  I must watch without multi-tasking.  I usually triple task – but I love Bobby so I endure.  The show is good.  I am sure themes are interwoven with themes that I don’t care to understand.  I just like cute baby Yoda.

Bobby cooked bean soup and we ate as a family once this week.  It was very yummy.  Leftovers are a blessing. 

Bobby visited his mom and brought back blankets and towels.  You know, I don’t buy things unless we are in need so hers (now ours) are much nicer and fluffier.  The family agreed to let go of some of our older things.  On Facebook, someone asked West Salem Moms, “What is something you NEED but can’t afford right now?”  Someone said a 2x jacket, another person clothes for her little one, and someone else said, “Blankets.”  What a blessing to pass on!  She was happy, I am happy, all is well.  Thanks, Mom J!

May your blessings contain more for later.  May you be glad for the roof and warmth God has given you.  May you find strength from above.  Much love,

 

 

Cristy

11/9/2020

 

Dear Family,

                This week brought weird feelings!  While driving past the Capital Saturday afternoon I saw a bunch of flags, heard yelling, and saw signs about counting votes.  That was interesting.  I felt their energy. 

                Saturday at dusk I was driving the same area but this time I saw police lights and a bunch of police holding onto a truck – 9 on each side.  I thought that was weird and wondered what kind of accident happened.  Then I looked at the other side of the street and saw a bunch of people dressed in dark clothing.  This brought chills.  OH, they are expecting riots.  Stores boarded up their glass windows and were now boarding up the entryways.  Salem was expecting an attack.  I looked it up just now online.  People were arrested on Saturday.  What crazy times we live in.

                At home we have peace.  I was thrilled that Bobby went onto the roof to scrape away growing moss.  Bobby also made chicken pot pie this week and it is still delicious.  I enjoy Bobby’s cuddles and coziness.  I am now driving for instacart and am taking Monday off to be with Bobby.  How wonderful that it doesn’t feel like I am intruding.  He remains loving even though we see each other more than ever before.

                Bobby enjoys leading the youth group and bought a game called nine square.  It was warmly received and several youths had “Nine square” as a praise in their praise and prayer requests.  How fun!

                Adriel is sweet and joined us at a friend's Birthday party.  It was wonderful to celebrate in a small way.  Adriel also had a friend over Sunday night.  Such sweet people – Adriel has amazing choices when it comes to the company she keeps.

                Seth was given an award last week.  He downplayed it. Later I read the text.  Seth is the Tech Pro of the Month – the explanation is that “He has proven himself very capable in editing many different projects in Digital Arts.  He is consistently seeking to help with whatever work needs to be done.  His ability to work with a variety of programs gives his expertise a higher value during the distance learning time.  Seth also adds his own creative aspects to a project as is helpful.”  Well, bowl me over with a feather J I am tickled pink. 

                I also noticed Seth is kind to me.  When I was little my dad did aerobics for about a week.  My sister and I hid behind the couch, watched him, and laughed hysterically.  Watching dad do aerobics not only made me laugh then but it took about 2 months of doing a class in college for me not to giggle the whole class through.  For some reason jumping around was the funniest thing ever.  I have been doing aerobics of some form since before the kids were born.  They don’t usually see me because everyone is sleeping but my schedule is different now and Seth has been in the room when I am working out.  I find it very kind of him to simply ignore me like nothing is going on.  This is much nicer than my sister and I were to my poor father.

                As you ponder your kindness factor please remember we are all just trying to make it through this year.  May you find peace as you pray your worries away.  May you find strength as you follow God and his will.  May your love be great and may it cover a multitude of bad.  May you forgive, be forgiven, and find the strength to carry on!  Love and hugs,

 

 

Cristy

PS thank you to Sarah DuVal for a lovely walk and this fun picture :-).

               

11/3/2020

 Dear Family,

 

The survival of the fittest was demonstrated in our house this week.  Skyra our cat has been doing her job too well.  She brought in 4 live mice and one dead within two days.  She would then drop and play with the live ones while the mouse hid and the entire family had to help by moving furniture around.  Everything is fully swept.  UGH!  The solution was simple.  Our cat door locks.  Now she can get out no problem but Skyra needs permission to get in.  Now I check every time she wants in.  If she has a mouse she’s not allowed in.  She did have a mouse a couple of days ago and I was very glad to see it run away and her give chase.  Too many presents for my taste. 

In all this Adriel rescued me once and Bobby did twice with the live critters.  Ugh. 

On another note, we had several wonderful family dinners this week.  Bobby enjoys choosing the menu and I continue to be glad to clean up.  It is good to have peace.

Adriel had a fever for a couple of days.  She was afraid it was COVID so she was tested.  Her happy dance when the test came back negative was heartfelt and wonderful.  We have a healthy fear and Adriel does not want to hurt anyone.

To differentiate her skateboard from another person who had the same board, Adriel painted some of the grip tape on top of her skateboard.  I mentioned that to an employee at a skate shop called Caake and he became excited.  Art is fun.  Adriel has great talent.

Adriel made me proud this weekend.  Seth felt concerned because he crunched her car a little with the truck he drives.  He was willing to pay for repairs but didn’t know how much it would cost.  After talking with me about if he should tell her or not he went to Adriel and confessed.  She looked at it the next day and told him not to worry about it.  She is not concerned with imperfections or anything that is only cosmetic.  I delight that she is down to earth.  People are way more important than things and Adriel modeled this beautifully.

Our church’s Trunk or Treat event was delightful.  I have such fond memories of days gone by.  The happy smiling, “Thank you’s” melted my heart and reminded me of when my kids were small.  The smiles, excitement, and delight warmed my heart.  What a fun holiday! 

May you find joy in each season and each special day.  May you delight in all God has for you, may his peace that passes understanding be in and with you through and through.

 

Much love!  Cristy