7/27/25

 

Dear Family,

 

               Taking time off to visit family for a Birthday is not only the right thing to do but a fabulous, wholesome, feel good adventure.  I can’t express how fulfilling it is to be with people that love you to the depths of your toes and tippy top of your head.  My parents seem to hang on our every words and it is a large dose of encouragement just because we took time to be there.  I am glad we went.  Dad enjoyed his Birthday and we all enjoyed spending time together.

I must admit, this is a funny blessing.  I enjoy staying at the Holiday Inn in Bothell not only because of points but because answering their question of the week can get more points.  Here is the question.  “What breaks even if you don’t touch it?” I’ll give some answers and the right answer at the end.

               What a blessing to see my sister and her offspring.  I can’t say children since half of them are grown up.  It was wonderful to hear how their plans are clipping along.  We enjoy seeing them and giving good long hugs.  We are so blessed to know them and be a part of their lives. 

               OK the answer to the riddle wasn’t, your heart – (which was my initial guess but they said no).  A next guess was a funny one – wind.  I had to mention it because there was a chuckle.  I also asked family to chime in and Adriel asked if it was, “A car?”  (This, because of her many car troubles.)  No, the answer is a promise.  Well, I think all of them were good answers, but a promise worked for the points and that was fun.

               May you also enjoy family, friends, riddles and just plain wonderful times,

 

Much love,

 

Cristy

              

 

7/21/22

 Dear Family,

 

               Can we call it good that another week passed without anything bad happening?  Adriel is eating solids again.  Yay! Seth continues to help with the garden and I truly, truly appreciate that.  Bobby came home safe from his third week of camp.  There were no problems with Bees this week.  I enjoyed visiting several friends and work continues to be delightful.  The Gladiolas are so happy and in three places in the yard.  I am glad my body still works well enough to maintain the yard. 

               I do have several funny stories.  The service today (Sunday) was wonderful.  Not just because of a baptism service but because the pastor asked us to remember last week and how we were supposed to study the Bible like a ______.  I answered "Chicken" loud enough that the people around me heard and gave me some curious looks.  When pastor said, "Like a chicken" I was so excited I shouted, "Yes!  I was right!"  This brought laughter (It is a midsized around 2-300 people church so usually the congregation doesn't shout like that) but it was funny.  The pastor mentioned, "Just so you don't wonder about our church's theology, what we mean is that instead of studying a verse or two here or there - like chicken nuggets - we should also study the Bible in totality.  This way we see all the themes woven throughout it - so we know what the whole Bible is.  Studying the Bible like a chicken means to study the whole Bible - not just nuggets here or there."  I was excited that I remembered something from last week.  My memory isn't always the best, but I guess when you bring food into the conversation, I will remember it better. 

               Another fun story.  I was able to gift my book “Star’s Big Fight” to a friend’s 7 year old for his Birthday.  He was reading it in his room and excitedly said, “Mom!  This is a real family!  It’s a real story.”  It was at that time my friend figured out I had written the book.  That was fun.  I did feel joy that the story took on new meaning when they figured out,they knew the author. 

               May you also find more meaning in our Bible, knowing God makes it an even better book.  Much love,

 

 

Cristy

7/13/25

 

Dear Family,

 

               It’s amazing how breaks really do inspire us.  Because I had a week off from picking raspberries I was ok with picking them most of this week AND since there is only one row, it’s not really that big of a deal.  Another interesting thing – I’m back to watering again.  I am so excited about Gladiolus.  They are showing signs of being amazingly beautiful.  I can’t wait to see what other colors pop up.

               Friends had me over this week and I enjoyed chatting, sitting and being blessed by their company.  I also am teaching a former coworker from Freddies how to drive.  That is super fun.  I forgot how much I enjoyed her company.

               Adriel suffered from bad health so much that she lost enough weight to go down a couple of pants sizes.  She is on the mend but please pray with us for her health.

               Bobby came back safe and sound.  He wasn’t as tired this time because they went to bed around 10 instead of 11 every night.  Poor High Schoolers!  Either way he had stories to tell, and it was interesting to hear them.  There was an incident with bees.

               Seth continues to help in the garden and I am blessed. 

               May you also bless others, just like Seth does 😊.  May you find strength from God and may it flow with power out to all you encounter.  This is so that Matthew 5:16 might be fulfilled, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  If you want a purpose statement, there it is 😊.  Love and hugs,

 

 

Cristy

7/6/25

 

Dear Family,

 

               This week the youth group enjoyed visiting the Duval household for a night of root beer floats, smores and hot dogs.  It was a lovely time.  I did have to ask about bottles upside down on sticks.  That looked weird to me.  (Pictured above).  Rich said, “That’s for the tree coats.”  I was intrigued – was this a coat rack?  “Oh you put coats on there?”  No, not human coats, tree or bush coats – I guess to keep the bush warm. What an interesting Idea.  One person did get a chuckle out of the mental imagery of me putting human coats all over a bush.

               Having Bobby home was nice.  I didn’t pick raspberries at all, and he did pick several times.  He used a lot of them for Raspberry Ginger pie which is very yummy.  I am still enjoying the fruits of his labor.  I like that he is nice to me. 

               God taught me a lesson last week and it’s been thought provoking.  Last week the raspberries went four days without being picked.  I usually panic a bit thinking they will fall on the path, become not only a sticky mess BUT create more vines that will attack anyone who wants to pick.  This did not happen.  They were hanging on just fine and presented themselves quite well.  A tiny bit overdone but that is the way Bobby likes them.  I felt God saying, “See, I hold them together for you.  This verse sums it up.  “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34 NIV

               That verse was also something that sums up the interaction I saw as I was driving home at 9pm on the 4^th.  I saw a weeping child.  His dad was trying to give him a sparkler.  That ties in with this verse to me.  Sometimes Gods plans are more than we think we can handle.  Yet, God is trying to bless us.  If we let go of our anxiety, put our hands out and take what he gives, it might just be fun.

               Love and hugs,

 

 

Cristy