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Dear friends here and there, old and newer, online and offline ~
It's kind of nice that there's no Christmas Card Police who come knocking on your door if you don't send a proper card in a pretty envelope with a festive stamp on it. It's also a bit of relief that we can drop by and say 'hi' online, because I doubt I would have gotten everything written and addressed, stamped and mailed this year.
I know you understand.
All that said, we do appreciate the cards and notes and pictures you're sending our way. And wish we could shrink the miles and live life together again. Wouldn't that be fun?! Those were the days.
This has been a tough year and we are grateful for God's mercy in taking Mom home to be with Him at the end of June. Not a day goes by that we don't think about her, talk about her, miss her. She's been a huge part of our daily lives since we moved to the Cape and we're just now starting to figure out who we are without her living close by. Our deep relief that she is not suffering anymore is matched by the empty space that now remains.
My sister and her husband moved to the Cape in June. I'm so happy to have her nearby for the first time since we left home all those decades ago. We're as different as night and day and she'd be the first to admit that we can make each other crazy but when all is said and done, it means the world even just to have her drop in for a cup of tea.
As you can see, I'm still writing online. I think this might be post #1901 but who's counting? I love it. In all of life's changes and challenges over the years, the rhythm of writing and posting and cultivating community has been a huge gift God has given that has kept me focused and sane, my comfort zone expanded, and my faith deepened. I'm grateful.
Tim continues with Habitat and has gotten involved with their Deconstruction Team. People who are remodeling their kitchens are able to donate their 'old' cabinets to the local Habitat ReStore. The Team goes to donors' houses, remove the cabinets, and then they're sold and the proceeds go to build more homes. Good stuff. Beats falling off a ladder and pretending nothing happened. But that's a story for another day.
Right now, he's building shelves for our little dining area so I can unpack boxes of fun stuff brought from Poughkeepsie 7 1/2 years ago! He does beautiful work. After 46 years, he's a keeper for sure.
I've re-found my niche in co-leading a Stephen Ministry at church. Since I retired from counseling, something had been missing and so it's giving me a lot of joy to train and mentor gifted, kind-hearted volunteers and help match them up with care receivers who need someone to walk with them through a challenging season. I've found my sweet spot again and am grateful to team up with such godly, compassionate caregivers.
Our family usually gets together here in June, at Camp of the Woods in August, and then either Thanksgiving or Christmas. We wish it was a whole lot more, but it is what it is. We lost much during Covid that we'll never regain, so when we can be together, it really is the hugest blessing. With sports and classes and missions trips and work and church stuff and hundreds of miles and 12 people coming and going from Massachusetts to Connecticut to Maryland to South Carolina, it's almost impossible to get everyone in one place anymore. But we try. And when it finally comes together, it's like a dream come true.
Kristin and family got five chickens a few months ago and it's been fun to watch from afar and hear the stories that only she can tell. Her reluctant father joined her in designing and building a chicken coop and since then, their family has been gathering eggs every day. One afternoon a hawk swooped down and tried to fly off with one of her beloved feathered children. But the winged predator didn't stand a chance as Kristin ran through the yard screaming and waving her arms like a crazy person. Such is the life of a vigilant mother hen and her occasionally free-ranging babies.
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Jenn and family always have something going on at their house ... at any given moment there could be foster children, a few midshipmen from the Naval Academy, assorted friends, roommates, or relatives joining the family 'round their table for a boisterously delicious meal. Nothing fazes her and their family is known for their hospitality. When she's not corralling the troops, she's the Nurse Manager for three Crisis Pregnancy Centers and as ever, has risen to the occasion with her superb caring and organizational skills. But the highlight of any month is when Lydia returns home from college for a visit.
Well, that's the family rundown. We're looking forward to being together in a few days. At 12-19 years old, the grandkiddos are growing in their faith and are the most unique and entertaining people (if I say so myself!) In fact, they're so delightful that after we celebrate on the 25th, Tim and I will quickly be heading out to sea for a week to recover from all the festivities.
If you want to keep in touch, please subscribe right here and I'll have the great pleasure of showing up in your inbox once or twice a week. I'd love to have you in my life again. Truly.
And if you know someone who might have known us along the way, please feel free to share this with them.
Comfort and Joy,
Tim and Linda
