5/29/23

 Dear Family,

 

                I was so hungry when I got off work Monday at 6:15. I didn’t know what I would eat but didn’t care.  How delightful to find out Bobby had made yummy chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits.  I am so blessed to have a man interested in slaving away all day starting with the shopping and then to the food preparation.  I really enjoy eating after a full day at work 😉.

                Middle school group had some great humor.  One person was sharing with another about how the Azteks would take hearts out of people.  “And they sacrificed children!”  The response was, “That’s horrible!  They could at least wait till they were older.”   Later in the evening, someone mentioned how they needed a hat like someone else in the group that says, “I paused my game to be here.”  Their friend asserted they also wanted one by saying, “Real!” in affirmation.

                Bobby was serving snacks, “Ladies first!”  Someone asked, “What if I don’t identify as any gender?  What if I identify as an attack helicopter?”

                High school group also had some funny moments.  A male was acting rowdy and Bobby told him to, “Quiet down or I’ll move you next to the girls and I know they won’t talk with you.”  Yikes.  Later in the lesson, Bobby talked about how blessed they all were to live in stable families.  One had to point to her sibling and say, “Stable families doesn’t mean stable offspring.”  Oh, dear.  They weren’t that mean the entire time.  Those two were just the funniest. 

                I enjoy my time with Bobby in the evenings.  We have been watching “Young Sheldon” and I love how quirky personalities are portrayed.  I am glad to sit after a full day of work.  But even better Bobby cooked Spaghetti for us Thursday night and I was blessed.

                Adriel and Seth continue to do school and work.  As finals are looming, please pray with us that they retain what they are studying and can do well on the tests that come their way.  Please also pray for Adriel as she might have strep throat which is going around on her college campus.

Thank you all for your love and prayers!  We are so blessed to have you in our lives.  May you enjoy the warm days and beautiful flowers that shine forth God’s glory.  Much love,

 

Cristy  

PS, this is the group that prayed with me for Adriel among other things on Sunday morning.  It's a blessing that we can bring our requests to God young and old.  I am thankful for our church people.

5/22/23

 

Dear Family,

                I love peanut sauce.  Bobby made a dish around that Monday, and I have been happy for days because of leftovers.  YUM!  We all have delighted every time we eat it.  Bobby is such a great cook.

                Middle school group was fun and entertaining.  The youth were especially excited about root beer floats.  Fabulous!!  What a great treat on a hot day.  Thanks to those who give to the youth group for snacks!  The lesson was good for the thinker.  I was filling in blanks as Bobby was starting.  One youth was amazed at how much I was pre-filling.  I had to comment that I married the guy and have a degree in Bible.  Bobby asked a student to read Matthew 5:14-16.  When the student started talking about pigs Bobby said, “That’s Mark” and had him switch books in the Bible.  Again, complete amazement, “How did he know that?”.  Folks, if you want to awe and inspire middle schoolers – know your Bible.  That’s all it takes.

                High school group had major intensity.  One student throws the carpet ball so hard it might make other balls jump up and attack.  Everyone knows to back away from the playing area when he throws.  He met his match Wednesday night with a newer young lady.  So many exclamations of awe!  One person had to comment, “You don’t have to throw the ball that hard!”  The rebuttal was, “This is the only way I know how to throw it.”  Back came, “Who hurt you as a child?  This is not good therapy.”

                I am so glad Bobby doesn’t make me go to the various concerts, games, graduations, and events he attends.  My job is physical, and in the evenings, I need to rest.  Thank you all for understanding if I don’t attend.  I like going to bed around 8 PM which is when some of these things start!   Bobby wakes up way later than I do so it works out for him to stay up late. 

                I do enjoy the times he stays home from events to be with me.  We relax together and it is nice to sit, chat about our day, eat and pray together.  Good time apart means even better time together.

                Youth Sunday was fantastic as usual.  I enjoy the excitement youth generate.  I also love taking pictures of our youth in action.  Several favorite moments were two young men smiling happily when their mother figure mentioned how proud she was of her boys who were helping.  The female who bowed when there was clapping.  And the man who commented that the picture of Waldo was a picture of Bobby.  How fun.

                Seth is showing his abilities in so many ways.  Not only is he self-driven to get his schoolwork done but he is willing and able to ask for help when Calculus doesn’t make sense.  I am impressed by his desire and ability to get good grades, apply himself and do well.

                He also gives me a hug when I ask for one, cleans bathrooms and is a fun movie critic.  The new Tron was impressive, but the water and smoke effects were too expensive in his eyes.

                Adriel remains delightful and alive.  She tried a random e-scooter which got her to work in a record 7 minutes!  She also was entertained by a person with a pig on the metro.  Pig on a leash in the METRO!!  Ahhhhhhh ha ha ha ha ha.  That’s too much.

                May you delight in those who serve.  May you also be glad to be of service whenever you can.  Much love,

 

 

Cristy

5/15/23

 Dear family,

 

                I delight in looking at the beautiful outdoors.  Especially when I see a nicely mowed lawn and don’t even know who done it.  Bobby is taking the initiative to be helpful around the house and I am blessed that he mowed the lawn.

                Middle School group had a lot of youth playing soccer.  I enjoyed making daisy chains while almost everyone else got hot and sweaty.  I would much rather create something pretty than take a second shower in the day.  I also enjoy chatting about life with the youth and that was very nice.  Several people learned how to make chains and it was a fun creative time.

                 High School group had me laughing during some games.  Playing chess with a crowd can be unnerving.  A person made a move, and someone said, “Ohhhh” with chagrin.  They mentioned they were playing ‘next level’ above what the actual players were playing, and they saw the future of those moves to be horrible.  Talk about insulting.  Another comment was, “You should move there!”  “Why should I move there?”  “Because it would be funny.” 

                Making checkers pieces set up to be a smile has become a bit of a past time for me.  Somehow it always gets set right.  How disturbing.

                I enjoyed the lesson time because it made people want to play fruit ninja with a real sword and real fruit.  Talking about God’s word being a sword brings out interesting subjects.

                We also talked about sword drills, and it was fun to try it out.  Some people are fast at finding passages in the Bible.  It was fun to find out who won and who started trying after a bit.  They got into it, and I loved the interactions.

                Home group was lovely.  I enjoy singing, talking about God’s word, and figuring out things more in-depth with adults.  Jonah is a plot-twisting page-turner.  It’s fun to discuss what Jonah and God thought when they did things.

                Bobby cooked tuna fish sandwiches one night and pork, asparagus, and potatoes another night.  All were super yummy dishes, and I am so glad for his initiative.  I am also glad for nights we can just sit after a long day of work.  Relaxing is truly wonderful.

                Adriel consistently answers the phone with, “I’m alive!”  It’s so good to hear her voice and know she is alive and well.  She says she misses us so that is also touching.  What a bright spot she is in our lives.  We were delighted in her joining us for a family meal at Golden Crown on Mother’s Day.   That she wants to be with us is heartwarming. 

                Seth continues to plug away at work and school.  He is learning calculus which makes Bobby and I both think he’s smarter than us.  He also cleaned the bathrooms Sunday and that is wonderful.   We enjoyed watching The Matrix with him.  He picks movies apart when it comes to their cinematography so it’s interesting to see the movie through his eyes.  Fewer cut scenes would have made the movie better for him 😉.   He also joined us at our families’ favorite restaurant for Mother’s Day.   I love reminiscing and delighting in each life.

                May you enjoy the beauty around you and feel God smiling in his downright, amazing love for you.

 

Love and hugs,

 

Cristy

                

5/8/23

 Dear Family,

 

                Time to decompress is so important.  I was glad to have Monday evening with Bobby.  Last week we were out most nights, and it was enjoyable, but I was tired.  God is good 😊 I am glad for days or evenings off.

                Bobby mowed the lawn before the rain came.  It was amazing that it only took one battery (instead of the 3 it can take when the lawn is still wet and long).   

                We enjoyed a quick visit on the first of the month.  One youth chose to ring the doorbell and then get Bobby with, “Rabbits.”  How fun! 

                Middle school group had some hilarious entertainment during game times.  Bobby believes he has pastor privilege when it comes to being the rule maker, umpire, and general person who makes things happen.  When someone was frustrated with how a game was going Bobby asked, “Is your name umpire?”  Another random person had to say, “Well, technically, Bobby’s name isn’t umpire either.”

                Someone gifted the youth group with unicorn marshmallows.  Bobby had a game where four volunteers lay down, licked a marshmallow, and stuck it to their foreheads.    The goal was to see how high they could stack the marshmallows.  Several people became jealous and said, “I want to be a unicorn!”  Bobby invited all who wanted to lie down to go ahead, there were plenty of marshmallows to go around.  Boom, most of the youth were now lying down.  It was funny to see.

                High school group had so much laughter I enjoyed watching the youth doubled over.  They bring amazing humor with them, and I love the interactions.  Here are some of the things we laughed about.  When some asked for water I mentioned there are plastic cups by the sink and, “You can name the cups if you want.”  One youth announced, “I name this cup Jarrod.”  Another announced, “I name this cup Billy Bob.” 

                The lesson was about how the saying or thought that “Bad things don’t happen to good people” is not in the Bible.  An example Bobby brought up was, “Say someone did something really bad and then got into a car accident.  What would you call that?”  This was supposed to bring up Karma, but the kids jokingly agreed that this was a “Skill issue.” 

                Another concept about this is, “What is your definition of good?”  We all want to declare ourselves good, Well, at least better than Hitler.  One student shot out with, “I am good according to the US law.”  Another, “Have you ever pirated something?  Be honest.”  The first then smiled and said, “I am pretty OK according to the US law.”  In all reality, Romans 3:10 is spot on when it says, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” 

                Another example was how doing the right thing can get you into trouble.  Paul and Silas were put into jail because they cast a demon out of a girl who made her owner’s money.  This brought up how God lets bad things happen and sometimes good comes out of it.  There was an earthquake and the jailer thought everyone had run away.  He was about to kill himself . . . but Bobby forgot to mention that, so I interjected with, what was the jailer doing?  This brought up sword placement (he has a sword to his mouth, no to his belly) and then erupted when someone said, “He was taking a toaster bath.” 

                In the end, the jailer and his family found faith in God through that hardship.  God works in ways we don’t expect.  There is Job, Hosea, Jonah, and more.  There are stories that include plot twists, things that seem so wrong and yet end up so amazingly right.  Joseph, Moses, and David to name a few.

                Thursday, I enjoyed time with a friend and an amazing deep conversation with humor mixed in.  How delightful it is to share life with friends and help each other grow.

                Friday Bobby and I enjoyed our time at Pho Keizer.  We had fun conversation, fabulous food, and a great atmosphere.  I love date nights.  We are happy to be together and that is lovely. 

                Saturday, I picked up Adriel in Portland to bring her to Ryland’s graduation party.  We had time to thrift store shop, so we went to a couple.  I enjoyed Adriel’s excitement and that she drives for us.  Our conversation was enlightening, and I love finding out how she thinks.  It’s fabulous how smart she is.  Being at the party was great!  How wonderful to be in a place we are so loved celebrating such a great accomplishment.  Yay, Ryland. 

                Seth also came to the party, and I was glad to see him.  He is so fun to be around, and I love his smile.  Seth also cleaned the bathroom this week and I am glad he chips in.  I’ll admit I did ask him to pray while he was on the computer.  I happened to have a silly mask on so when he did look at me, we had a chuckle.  I am glad we have fun.

                May you also find joy in relating to those you love.  May you give and find out that gift multiplied and has helped in more ways than you could have imagined.  May you delight in God and his creation.  Much love,

 

 

 

 

Cristy

5/1/23

 Dear Family,

            When we all pull together, things get done!  Bobby blessed me on Monday by cooking Teriyaki Salmon, rice, and veggies.  He also mowed the lawn and went with me into the garden after dinner.  We shared excitement over how many sunflower starts exist all over the garden.  Bobby also likes the blue bells, and we have a lot of those everywhere.   Spring is a time of anticipation, potential and beauty.  Some Columbines have bloomed because they receive more sun.  some are still coming in and some are babies.  How fun to see all three stages in one garden.

            Middle School group was filled with laughter, fun and good times.  Bobby starts out youth group with outdoor games in the warmer months, so they were throwing balls with tails back and forth.  One foxtail (ball with a tail) got stuck in a tree and then we saw the jackpot.  So many things were already in that tree!  We found out who is good at climbing trees!  So many things came down.  Basketballs, a soccer ball and the two fox tails from our group.  There is still treasure for later.  That tree holds so much.

            After outdoor games we went downstairs and the announcements had a picture that had me say, “I see candy corn.” 

 

This brought chuckles and, “I do too!  Now I’m hungry.”

            The lesson was about a mis-quoted phrase, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”  This is disproved in 2 Cor 1:8 when the apostle said he despaired even to death.  (This is also disproved every time a person dies!)  Bobby had to mention school pressures and how teachers load people up with homework.  “Don’t they know you have games to play?  Stuff to do?”  Then Bobby asked a student, “How do you goof off?”  After a bit of thought there was, “By laughing.” 

            High school group was also filled with laughter, smiles and good-natured ribbing.  One poor student made a decision he immediately regretted and will never make again.  Eating the hottest chip in the world is not for everyone.  It gave the poor person a nosebleed and discomfort that lasted into the night.

            During the lesson Bobby asked what are some ways people deal negatively with pressure?  The answers came at a rapid pace, overeating, undereating, over sleeping, under sleeping and on.  Then Bobby asked, “What are healthy ways to deal with pressure.”  One said, “Exercise” another, “Unless it’s overexercising!”

            Thursday night was homegroup and I sense with this group a deep desire to share life together.  The conversation flows and we find strength in sharing our stories.  God is as work, and we are growing closer to Him as we discuss His word and how it applies to our lives.

            Friday night our Youth Group pitted against Englewood Baptist in Nerf Wars.  It was an adrenaline filled night that brought joy to many.  I had fun taking pictures and chatting with several people who delighted in the shots they took, and the zombie attacks they survived.  This was an outreach as someone walking by had to ask how to start attending youth group.  How fun!

            Seth gave me a hug Tuesday night at church because he hadn’t on his way out the door.  He even said, “I love you” to go with it.  Yay, not embarrassed to hug mom in front of the youth group, my heart is full.  He also cleaned the bathroom and chatted with me a bit.  I am blessed to have him close still.

            Adriel continues to let me know she is alive.  I am so glad she answers the phone.  She remains deep in my heart as one of my very favorite people in the whole world.

            She said she was excited to see me for lunch on Friday and I enjoy her company.  She is so focused and determined it inspires me to consider my plot in life and how I can better myself as well. 

            The cherry tree has blossomed beautifully, the raspberry and grape vine have buds.  God preserves seeds that were thrown out into the garden last fall.  He deepens their roots and gives them motivation and grace to grow.  May he also do this with us.

 

Much love, Cristy