We’re already through the first half of the first month of the first year of the 2020 decade.

Wow!!

As is often the case, we’re flying today as I compose this first blog entry of the new year. And as usual, it is lovely to have six hours of internet and phone free time to reflect. We’ve only been in our own bed for 7 nights since Dec. 12, which accounts for the lack of quiet, reflective time needed to compose this reflection.

We flew to Denver, Colorado, on December 13, to spend 4 days with the Chalay family (see blog post from August 2019). The trip was formed around speaking for two events, held at Cafe du Coco, their European tea house situated in downtown Littleton. Saturday’s sold-out event was a “Happy Birthday Jesus” party, and since it was the first such event at their tea house, no one knew exactly what to expect. Admittedly, we assumed that there would be many children present, but no…besides one table with five children, the tables were filled with grown-up ladies who were thrilled to be focusing on the birth of Christ at this elegant party. It was a smashing success, thankfully, and was dubbed “the first annual.” Women were wanting to buy tickets for next year’s repeat event!!

The “Happy Birthday, Jesus” high tea at Cafe du Coco was a huge successful and we loved partnering with the Chalay family.

Sunday late afternoon we spoke on “All I want for Christmas . . . ” for a Couples’ Date Night high tea. Though this event did not sell out, we had a sweet reunion of many of our friends who live in the area (including one couple who drove up from Colorado Springs!), and it was a very lovely evening. We’re grateful for any and all opportunities to encourage marriages, and especially during the stress and busyness of the holiday season. It was “gift” in itself for couples to have a two-hour escape into a calm, beautiful, and delicious experience, and to be reminded of the tie-in between the greatest expression of love ever (Jesus coming to earth as a baby) and the call to each spouse to continue to grow in Christlike love for one another. Though exhausted at the end of the evening (both days at the tea house were jam packed with serving tea throughout the day, as well as serving tea at the Denver Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet), we loved every minute of it.

The Couples’ Date Night high tea reconnected us with many friends who live in the Denver area.

It was also a great delight to spend time with the Chalays, who continue to grow in their walk with Christ. Not even six months into their journey yet, they are pressing through obstacles, breaking patterns, and proactively pursuing Jesus through Bible study, devotions, church, and mentors. We shared life with them those four days, which culminated with Natasha’s 50th birthday on our last day there. It was truly a joy to join the family in honoring her beautiful life.

We toured the lights in Littleton on a cold December night and were rewarded with a visit with Santa Claus.

We were honored to celebrate Natasha’s 50th birthday with the fam while in Littleton.

On our way to the airport, we had had a brief but oh-so-special visit with Nate and Elsa (Stanley) Blanchard and got to meet their precious Laney. Elsa’s father Mark and I were colleagues at SDSU, and Paul was our IVCF staff worker, so we go way back. It’s given us deep joy to walk closely through life with Elsa, who grew up coming to camp and served many summers at CBS on program staff. She’s in the cream of the crop. How thankful we were when God brought her and Nate together in marriage, and now this. We loved meeting little Laney, who has no idea how blessed she is to have the parents she has.

We had a too short but very sweet visit with Nate, Elsa, and Laney Blanchard on our way to the airport.

And then we were off to California for the next three weeks.

Let the partying begin!!

For most of the three weeks, all 12 of our immediate family were together and, recognizing how rare that it, we treasured every moment. There were so many highlights of these days, but we echo the sentiments of our grandchildren, who each night during our after-dinner “share a high of the day” reflection, always included “being with our cousins.” Brandon (9), Ana and Nathan (both 6), Rachel (4), and Micah (3.5) had the best time (most of the time) playing games, creating, geocaching, baking, jumping on a friend’s well-protected trampoline, riding bikes, going to parks, dressing up, and enjoying being together. They certainly had their moments which revealed their human nature, but overall it was a great celebration of community.

Besides many “little” moments, there were a number of really big moments. Our first day together was spent at Disneyland (all the women and children) and we had a blast. Brandon and Nathan loved the new Star Wars Land and the interacting “real” Storm Troopers certainly made it all seem very, very real. After 32,000 steps on my Fitbit, we closed up the park at 11 pm. and returned, happily exhausted, to the Garcia home in Santa Clarita. The family reunion was underway.

The start of a full and fun day at Disney’s California Adventure, thanks to “Prince Charming".”

Jessie was alive and well and everyone loved seeing her.

The Storm Troopers had quite a conversation with Brandon and Nathan.

Closing up the park . . . after a great day at “the happiest place on earth.”

On Sunday, Dec. 22, we had a reunion within a reunion when Wayne and Carol Herbst (Paul’s youngest sister) and their whole immediate family (three kids, two daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters) joined us at the Garcias’ home for the afternoon. Having shared a duplex home on Catalina Island with them for the first 11 years we were parents, our families were deeply bonded and sadly hadn’t all been together for many years. It was a most delightful afternoon of reconnecting and catching up and we were all so glad it happened. Truly one of the highlights of our reunion.

The Herbsts and Friesens spent a lively afternoon together in Santa Clarita.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were certainly huge highlights. We attended the candlelight Christmas Eve service at Grace Baptist

Church (where Gabe serves as the pastor of discipleship) and were very thankful that our candle-toting crew made it safely through “Silent Night” without any mishaps. It was a beautiful service as we sang Christmas hymns we’ve sung our whole life and heard the Christmas story once again proclaimed as the Best News Ever. Traditions are warp and woof of solidarity and security and bring such comfort as they connect the past with the present in unmistakable ways. There is no mystery related to the one gift we each open on Christmas Eve: the matching jammies . . . “so we’ll look good in the photos.” That was the reason my mother gave when that became our family tradition when I was a young girl, and that’s the reason we gave our girls, and that they’re giving their children.

The candlelight service was inspirational.

What a joy to all be together worshiping the Newborn King.

New jammies opened and donned . . . bring on Christmas morning!

Traditions have to start some time, and a first this year was our grandchildren creatively trying to “catch” Santa’s visit. Brandon, Ana, and Nathan set up an iPhone as a camera with hopes of proving or disproving his visit. Oh have times changed!! I remember listening for the sound of reindeer paws on our rooftop (which my father replicated with coconut half shells clopping on the side of our house), and staying awake as long as I could with hopes of catching a glimpse of Jolly Old St. Nicholas, but this ingenious idea seemed quite . . . well, technological! After they had gone to bed, the parents rescued the iPhone and recorded their own Santa sighting which, when viewed the next morning by the expectant children, was quite believable. And very creatively done, I might add.

Santa did return Christmas morning and found two who still “believe.”

The tradition of reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 on Christmas morning before any gifts are open had a small twist this year: it was read by 9-year-old Brandon instead of Papa. Passing the mantel. Generation to generation. Such a hope-giving expression. How thankful we are that our children are faithfully teaching their children the Good News of Jesus.

Great elation and squeals of delight filled the room as presents were opened and “this is JUST what I wanted” was voiced many, many times. There’s nothing like experiencing Christmas morning with Littles.

Before opening even one gift, my heart was filled with “this is JUST what I wanted!” All together, celebrating the Best Gift Ever, with our beloved children and grandchildren. It honestly doesn’t get any better than that and it is not lost on us just how generously we’ve been blessed.

Besides our "chosen family” friend John joining us for a good part of the day (sadly, his wife, Marilyn, was ill), it was the 12 of us, lounging in our new jammies, enjoying the contents of now-opened packages, eating a five-star steak dinner prepared by son-in-law Derek, and basking in the over-the-top joy of the day celebrating the Christ Child. None of what we are experiencing now would be possible without His coming to earth.

Before the next really big highlight (New Year’s Day), our days were filled with lots of playing indoors and out, going to parks, doing a little after-Christmas shopping, and enjoying just hanging out together with no real pressures or schedule. There were certainly moments when the peace and joy were disturbed by small skirmishes, but those were actually few and far between. The cousins “yoved” being together and declared their “best friend” status over and over.

New Year’s Day 2020 will be etched in our memories of “the best ever” as we spent the morning viewing the Rose Parade, in person, in reserved seats in the grandstands. This “bucket list dream” was facilitated by dear friends of Lisa’s (and now ours) who work in security for such events, and they graciously procured tickets for our entire family to experience this iconic New Year’s Day tradition. The Lord graciously provided a perfect day weather-wise, so not a thing could’ve improved this extravagant day. We were awed by the creativity and magnitude of each of the flower-adorned floats and loved hearing and seeing the marching bands, which triggered story-telling by Papa who marched in the 1967 Rose Parade, playing the slide trombone in the Porterville Union High School band. It was a great morning, and one we’ll enjoy remembering for a long time to come.

The Rose Parade did not disappoint! What a great experience!!

The grand finale of our time together was centered around my mother’s 90th birthday celebration (January 7) so we migrated to San Diego on Jan. 2 and settled into a VRBO in Mission Bay for our final days together. These days held the “highest highlights” as we were all together under one roof for five days. Paul invested dozens of hours finding a place that would accommodate all 12 of us and his efforts paid off. The place was perfect.

The party escalated to a whole new level.

Because we wanted to have time with “Grammie Essie” (as she’s affectionately referred to by our Littles) on a smaller scale than her party would afford, we had a brunch in her honor Friday morning at our rental. It was just what we had hoped it would be. After a yummy brunch, each person had an opportunity to ask her questions about her life, which we video-taped, and to express their heart to her. It was a very sweet and honoring time and we were all so glad it happened.

Honoring Grammie Essie at our VRBO to launch the celebrations.

Later that day, we traveled to Coronado for a sunset photo shoot of the fam, done by my very talented sister Laura. It seemed entirely appropriate to capture these precious family moments at this very special place. Paul and I had numerous dates at this beach back in the day, which led up to the very important date of Dec. 15, 1975, when we got engaged on this beach, which led to April 24, 1976, when we spent the first night of our honeymoon at the Hotel Del Coronado. We’ve walked this beach hundreds of times since, enjoying sunrises, sunsets, and cook-outs. We love Coronado.

The birthday festivities for Mama continued. Saturday morning, my sister Sue treated all the grown up ladies to a high tea at the Amber Rose Tea House and it was lovely. Later that day, we had the larger family party, the highlight of which was honoring her with floral tributes. Each person brought a flower symbolic of their heart for her and presented it to her with an explanation. It was beautifully done, from the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between, and “Queen Esther” was royally feted.

One last celebration happened on her actual birthday, January 7, when the seven original children and their spouses (and unofficially adopted Jackie) took her out for dinner. And she officially turned the page on her 90th year. We are so thankful to be able to celebrate her well.

A day at Legoland with the Johnsons rounded out our days in California, and then we red-eyed it home the night of January 7, hearts full and bodies tired.

In my last blog entry (Dec. 15), I included this comment:

And though we had planned to leave our home both tidy and clean as we begin this several week trip, those plans changed too. We left our home this morning in a state of “neatness” but not necessarily “cleanliness.” We’re pretty sure there’s a light dusting of some form of sugar and flour over everything in our kitchen, there are a few scraps of fabric and maybe a loose pin or two on the wooden floor of our Great Room, there’s more than a light dusting of dust over all furnishings, and dust bunnies are living communally under beds and not under beds. And unless a genie appears, it will be awaiting our return after the new year commences.

Imagine our surprise and delight to return home to a very clean house. No sugar or flour coatings on anything. No fabric scraps or pins errantly scattered about. No dust bunny colonies.

Well, a genie didn’t appear, but our three daughters surprised us by pulling off a covert operation with a friend and a neighbor to welcome us with a clean house upon our return. We were thoroughly surprised and deeply grateful.

Since being home, we’ve done several full days of counseling and a weekend speaking gig in Camden, Maine. It was a delight to return to the Chestnut Avenue Baptist Church to do a Couples’ Dessert Night on Saturday, January 11, and to speak at their Sunday morning service. We love Adam and Leah Kohlstrom, who pastor the church, and Dan and Candy Smiley, who organized the events. This is a gospel-centered, faithful body of Christ and we are honored to partner with them.

Chestnut Avenue Baptist Church did a great job on their couples’ date night and we loved being with them.

Our flight this weekend took us to Spokane, Washington, where we’ve spent five days with the Body of Christ at Moses Lake Alliance Church. For the 11th time in 15 years, we were invited to speak at their annual marriage conference held at Clearwater Lodge in Newport, WA, and to speak into their congregation in Moses Lake. Wednesday night (January 15), we spoke to their adults’ midweek gathering on “Passing the Legacy to the Next Generation.” We loved partnering with their new-to-us pastor, Dave Lachade and his wife, J’lene. We were encouraged by the energy and life of the congregation and are so very thankful for the impact this church is having on Moses Lake. The next night we spent with their pastors and staff and so enjoyed our time with them. We were impressed with their camaraderie, team-ness, and spiritual health. We’ve grieved a number of situations this past year of Christian leadership failure in churches and para-church organizations, so it was refreshing to be with this healthy group.

The conference is held about 2 hours from Moses Lake, just north of Spokane, and this year we were feted with a winter wonderland and snow globe setting. Over two feet of snow was down before we came and snow fell all weekend, adding so much beauty and serenity to the experience. Because of our long history with this group, we have relationships that continue to deepen year by year, even though we have only a few days together every year. About half of the 25 couples (maximum capacity for this conference) were new to the weekend and the mix of “new” and “old” was energizing.

One of the things we love about this conference is the level of honesty and vulnerability expressed. People are very “real” and that contributes to it being a weekend in which people are impacted, challenged, and changed. Among the highlights, which included reconnecting with many people we’ve grown to love deeply, was hearing Phil and Andrea Lawson give their testimony. As they spoke to the entire group, they invited “us" in to the very messiness of their pre-Christ life, and of the less messy but still messy realities of their first years with Christ. They related the presence of strongholds, some of which they have only recently been released from. It was raw, honest, real, and oh-so hope giving. Phil closed by saying, “We’re at the best place we’ve every been now, and all praise is His.” Very powerful.

We are so thankful this church has marriage champions (Justin and Marilyn Shuck and Mark and Sharon Blazer) who are relentlessly pouring in to couple after couple. The Blazers are currently meeting with two couples, going through The Marriage App. Both couples shared with us that their marriages were on the brink of divorce, and that they are now growing in Christ and experiencing healing in their marriages because of the power of God to transform and the mentoring of the Blazers. All praise is His.

The Moses Lake Alliance Church conference was rich and powerful.

And so we’re off and running in the new year. We continue to love what we do and who we do it with. We have many “repeat” conferences in the year ahead, and a number of new opportunities. In all, we want to be faithful to Him and to our call. Pray with us to that end.