Holiday Greetings!

All but 2 of our beautiful grandchildren

Hello to friends and family! Happy Holidays!

I'm taking the internet route to bring you our yearly update. It's virtually the easiest way to communicate.  How did we do life before online conveniences, our cell phones and instant access to knowledge? 

No big changes to report this year, other than I've visited the social security office twice and am making decisions I feel too young to make. Kevin is a few years behind, in fact just a brand new 60s-er. He had a month of celebrations with several small gatherings of friends and a day and overnight with me at the beach along Lake Michigan. It was a late September day with cool breezes tugging at our sweatshirts and jeans and a bright sun warming our backs as we sat in the sand. I had never experienced the Lake with waves the height of ocean crests. It satisfied my sea-loving heart and an extra bonus was having the beach mostly to ourselves. We stayed at a Airbnb with a 15 minute walk away from Warren Dunes. While there, the tallest dune begged to be climbed and we succumbed, in spite of our bodies' protests the entire way up.  I highly recommend a fall time visit to the Lake!

March began with a trip to Virginia to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday. It was a simple, yet wonderful time with family. We are thankful for the good health Dad enjoys.  He still creates furniture in the woodshop of the retirement community they live in! Anyone need a walker fixed? Call Omar.  He even has a spare for you to use while yours is in repair. Dad freely expresses his love for Jesus and it's a pleasure to be with him and Lena.

Memorial Day weekend brought a trip to CA to visit Austin, Ashley, Rowan(3) and Wesley (1). It was my first visit to CA and we enjoyed a few wonderful days together in the Sacramento area, which included a visit to the Jesus Culture church where they attend. 

July 4th was the highlight of the year as all our children and grandchildren were together for a day at our house. The weather was frightfully hot and foiled some of our plan to be outside most of the day.. But we made use of the outdoor space for bocce ball competitions for the youth and adults and a bouncy house for the younger kids. We hired our neighbors to cater the evening meal of BBQ chicken and fixins' and homemade ice cream. Every kind of bed from sleeper sofa to pack 'n play was put to use for the families who stayed over during that week. I had prepared some meals ahead, and for others we visited favorite restaurants in town. Evenings were filled with fun games of Up and Down the River and 4 Up, 4 Down. Most of the grandkids are old enough to play with the adults now which means a large reach for the dealer to hand out cards to all the players around the big table. What a blessing to be together and I'm thankful for all the awesome people I get to call family!

Josh and Kira have three high schoolers in their household- Brayden, Jill and Elle. Cody, their oldest, has his own place.  Dan and Kristina, our one local family, have one teenager, Aubrey, 12 year old Shawn and 8 year old Rebecca. 

Jodi and kids (Ian 10, Dominic 8 and Noah 3) remained here longer, and I got to travel with them back to Florida for a week. Amanda and Auron (11), Elika (8) and Zane (3) remained for an extended stay for the rest of the summer. Lots of cousin and grandkid time! Dads (Emmanuel and A.J.), came and went as work schedules allowed.

Kevin continues at his job with Tri-State Compressed Air, and I returned to work at the GC Library after my summer break. Kevin devotes weekly time to caring for his parents who live in the retirement village in town. They have health challenges, but keep as active as possible, participating in some of the activities the village provides.

Our church is attracting younger families now, and it is exciting to be a part of what God is doing among us.  Kevin and I hosted a small group this Fall for step parents. I highly recommend any of Ron Deal's materials for how to successfully navigate a second time marriage and all the challenges that go with it, for kids and parents. Ron's message is practical and full of God's grace. 

October found us on another trip to VA where we spent time with Amanda and her family in Williamsburg and a long weekend with Dad and Lena and most of my siblings. Family ties can't be beat!

This month Kevin and I were privileged to be part of a gathering of Schrock siblings in southern Indiana. It is a joy to be connected to Joe's family.  His parents live in a house with 24 hour home care and the care of Joe's sister who lives nearby. 

Aside from these highlights, life is full of the usual work schedules, visits with friends, and learning more about trusting in and surrendering to our Lord Jesus Christ.  It's a lifetime adventure.

The Lord bless and keep you;  the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face to you and give you peace. Num. 6:24-26

Our love,

Ruth and Kevin

November Reflections

I'm reflecting over the last month and here are some things to note that were significant or things I learned.

Thoughts on sleep:
Does anyone else find it hard to get to bed to sleep the recommended 7-8 hours a night.  I'm in bed a decent time, but the allure of  quiet moments to do what I want to do , trumps the need to get a good night's sleep.  It's finally time to catch up on emails on my phone, or follow those Pinterest notices that put suggestive thoughts into my head. I have time to browse on Amazon and put things in my cart-there's always a reason to shop-birthdays coming up, time to replenish supplies...And the Google searches to satisfy some question that I didn't have time to pursue earlier.  Of course, several links later I am head deep into some article or blogger's expressions. As I turn off the light to go sleep the stimuli of whatever I was doing won't go away and I lie with eyes closed begging for slumber to overtake me. I listen to the grandmother's clock in the next room chiming away each quarter hour of those necessary sleep benefits, and I berate my delinquency.   You'd think I'd learn to ward off those temptations and actually obey the adult voice of wisdom. I keep working on this one.

This month finished up an 8 week step-parenting small group we hosted. I highly recommend any materials from Ron Deal. He has worked with a myriad of remarried families and knows those of us in that category very well. Be prepared to sniffle through some of his sessions as his gentle spirit offers hope and needed encouragement. Step parents are prone to rejection and conflict, children suffer through great losses from their past, and marriage the second time around slides right over the honeymoon stage looking for the merry-go-round, but instead lands on the teeter totter. Ron's assurance of God's mercy and forgiveness, the rewards coming for the non-quitters and his practical steps to navigate the sea of opposition will provide balance for the  journey. Rewards include giving children a positive view of a marriage that thrives and endures. Success comes over time, giving each family member the time they need to accept their circumstances and warm up to those that call them family.

Tis the season.  I am so thankful for online shopping!  No lines to wait in, post office visits, or miles to drive to find just the right gift. Plus I can review the items before I buy them. Best money spent ever,  paying a yearly fee for Amazon  Prime. It still is a challenge to keep stress and anxiety at bay, while I choose each Christmas gift for each person and to plan far enough ahead to mail out the packages for the things I don't buy online. I'll be finished by the end of November this year and that feels good.

I took online shopping to a new level this week. National news declared the Wednesday before Thanksgiving not only the worse traveling day of the year, but the worse grocery shopping day of the year. I decided to give the local grocer a chance to prove their delivery efficiency as I clicked the grocery list items into my virtual cart. The process of selecting groceries was smooth and, oh, so easy. The first delivery is free and the added 5% tip seemed reasonable for the convenient service.  It rounded out to a good experience- pros outweighed the glitches of which there were two. I chose the delivery drop off time; the driver came an hour too early. Glitch number one.  Kevin happened to come home from work early that day, so someone was here to accept the groceries, but he had no clue of my smart shopping. When the doorbell rang he peered inconspicuously through the blinds to identify the car in the driveway. It wasn't familiar and few things can make my husband more disgruntled than a solicitor or survey taker. He had decided to ignore the door.  Thankfully, the driver didn't give up easy (they need to wait a full 10 mins. he later explained) and finally, Kevin decided to find out who had arrived. There stood a young man carrying sacks from the grocery store and an insulated tote bag.  He must have the wrong house; nope, the address checks out. Then it must be a mistake; nope, Ruth's name is on the order. Now convinced, Kevin brought the groceries into the house and set them on the counter, wisely waiting to put them away until I could confirm their correctness. When I later emptied the sacks I discovered the second glitch--regular chocolate chips instead of minis.  I can live with that. Avoiding grocery cart side-swiping in a crowded store and long lines at checkout was a win for me.  I will try it again, soon.

November is the colorful month outdoors. This year I added color to my grooming with nail strips from Color Street.  My daughter hosted a Facebook party and I indulged, for myself, and knocked off some Christmas gifts. Check them out.  I'm not in for time-consuming maintenance of nail care.  That's why I like Color Street.  It does take time to learn how to apply the color, but it is fairly long- lasting once on your nails, and it only requires regular acetone to take off the polish.

One last thought:  My Bible Study in Mark is getting me more acquainted with Jesus and his mission, not just during his life on earth, but for us in 2018. It took a long time for the disciples to understand that Jesus was the Messiah and then to accept that this would mean something far different from what they were expecting. Jesus kept revealing himself to them and showing them God's heart of love for people. His miracles demonstrated his mission to set captives free and bring life to those in need. All along he planned to groom these chosen men to continue the work he had initiated. And that's still his call and desire for each of us who follow him. Those who repent and receive his life pass it on until all have heard the good news. Are we listening in order to understand more of the one we follow? So we stay on the path and not give in to temptation to stop off and stay at Good Enough, or take the short cut the devil offers. Do we welcome his download of love to give to the needy around us? Am I serious about losing my life for his sake, which means not gaining the world?  I won't set my sights on pursing the world's wealth, importance or acceptance. Even when it would be so much easier to let society influence my beliefs.  Only by staying immersed in His Word, being filled with His Spirit, communing with other Jesus followers and praying for His help will we be able to stand firm to the end.

I wish you a joyous December!