Virginia Friesen
Plan Fail: The Christmas Reunion That Wasn't

We were home the WHOLE month of December and it was good.

We continued walking five miles a day, praying for snow, and preparing for our family Christmas reunion: the first one in New England since 2015 and the first all being together for Christmas since 2019.

We had very high expectations.

Ministry events in December included Engagement Matters, the Patriots women’s study, and LOTS of counseling, but that left plenty of time for decorating the house inside and out, getting together with friends, wrapping and sending packages, sewing Christmas jammies, making gingerbread houses, and preparing for our long-awaited reunion which was to commence the 22nd of December.

Plan Fail: The Christmas Reunion That Wasn't
Virginia Friesen
Around the Country in 22 Days

Since my last post on Dec. 27, we’ve only been home eight days.

Maybe that contributes to me forgetting that when I last wrote, my reflections ended with Engagement Matters (EM), which was held Dec. 4–5, and not after Christmas, which the blog post date would indicate.
Whatever the reasons, before I write about our most recent last three weeks—which literally took us to the four corners of our great nation—we must finish December. Strangely, that seems SO long ago already. But what fun to sift back through my December photo library and have many sweet memories surface.

Around the Country in 22 Days
Virginia Friesen
A Bit of Heaven on Earth

It happened.

The “decades birthday-family reunion” celebration, postponed for a full year, is now in the books, but even more deeply, in our hearts.

It was uncertain until an hour before the six flying from Oakland were to depart due to two lost Covid tests, but mercifully, new tests were done at 6 am, the results of which were registered less than 60 minutes prior to boarding.

The trip was on.

A Bit of Heaven on Earth
Virginia Friesen
More Than a Cookbook

It was a sweltering summer day in Louisiana. My 8-year-old self stood in the kitchen of my paternal grandparents’ home in Shreveport, watching with fascination as Grandma Collins stirred the hot pot of boiling figs, on their way to becoming preserves. With sweat running down her brow, just beneath the thin brown elastic that kept her hair net in place over her thinning curly hair, she turned to me and said, “You know, Virginia, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” With that piece of wisdom pronounced, she simultaneously clicked her cheek and winked her eye at her wide-eyed granddaughter, leaving an unforgettable impression.

More Than a Cookbook
Paul and Virginia
On the Move (Part 2)

My plans to write “Part 2” have been derailed by the maelstrom of craziness driven by the Coronavirus Pandemic. I’m taking a break from all Coronavirus talk to take us back a month ago, when "Life as We Always Knew It” was all we really knew. What a difference a month has made!!

After speaking in Maine for the Valentine’s event, we flew to California for the annual ProAthletes Outreach “Increase” conference, which we fronted by spending two days with my dear mama. As per usual, I “made" her go on a field trip each day because getting out is good for everyone. Off to Coronado we went for Paul to get his every 4–6 week haircut by his favorite barber, and while he was getting shorn, my mom and I rolled through town. This photo was taken by accidental tourists, who just happened to be from Lexington, MA!! Small world moment. The time with my mom is never enough but we’re always so grateful for any time we have with her.

On the Move (Part 2)

pool party

Sweet Summertime

Sweet Summertime

We’ve enjoyed a somewhat slower pace since returning from our two-month ministry tour, which ended May 20 when we re-settled in Fairfax. In fact we’ve racked up 21 days out of the past 42 sleeping in our own bed! That’s some kind of a record!!

During the first few days we were home, we had a day of counseling and we did a podcast with Jim Ramos of “Men in the Arena.” It can be found here. We also walked the kids to or from school as often as possible and kept them overnight while their parents snuck away. These are the joys of living only 2 miles apart. We’re loving it!

Wrapping it up in New England ’til September

Forty-eight hours ago we landed on the sacred shores of Campus by the Sea to begin our 36th summer of ministry together in this very special place.  Thankfully, some things never change here.  Like the sound of the ebb and flow of the tide rolling over the rocky beach, or the chirping of birds whose sounds, which are mostly lost in the noisy world we live in, pierce the silence in this place of quiet, or the sounds of worship that make their way from the Main Deck and echo off the ridges which form the protective boundaries of this safe place.  Or the lack of cars, cell phones, traffic, stuff, etc.  In a world in which text messages invade focus and concentration, and headlines and news flashes constantly disturb our peace, we are breathing deeply and allowing this quiet retreat to wash over us restoratively.

We left anything but quiet.  As is always true, it's a race to the finish to be ready for a summer of family camps.  This year was no exception.

After the camping trip at Myles Standish over Memorial Day weekend, we celebrated Julie's upcoming nuptials with a wonderfully meaningful shower.  The "chosen family" friends who came brought gifts wrapped in receiving blankets for her to take to the CURE hospital in Mbale, Uganda, for which her fiance serves as the executive director.  Julie was as excited about the prospect of bringing the blankets to the mamas at the hospital as she was about her own shower gifts.  It was a wonderful night of celebrating all that is good.

The shower gifts came wrapped in receiving blankets for the CURE hospital in Mbale, Uganda.

Julie flew back to San Diego on Tuesday, but Paul, Lisa, and I continued on to Fenway Park to see the Boys of Summer who wear Red Sox uniforms drop one to the White Sox.  We had a blast nonetheless as we enjoyed perfect baseball weather, on street parking, and a refund for our tickets, bought through Stub Hub, because we had received tickets that were 10 rows behind the ones we had purchased.  Sweet.

We got there in time for a close up view of our players as they warmed up.  Very fun.

Early the next morning we drove to W. Cornwall, CT, to speak at the fifth annual pastors and staff conference for Avon Community Baptist Church.  Jay and Liz Abramson lead this church, ably assisted by Tim and Sharon Ponzani.  What a refreshing group!  Their staff has had no turn-over in the five years we've been doing this, which is quite remarkable in itself and reflects the level of health in this church.  We love partnering with them.  The conference is rather low-key in terms of teaching, very interactive, and is scheduled to have plenty of "hang" time.  Walks, croquet, table games, and a little Brian Regan (a great comedian) via DVD filled in the spaces.  This is one of the rare conferences we do that feels as beneficial to us spiritually and emotionally as it is for the group.  A bit of calm in the midst of craziness.


Ever the competitor, Paul came close to winning two different rounds of croquet, but had to be satisfied with two second place finishes.


The team, with Paul standing next to the champion on his left, Tim Ponzani.  Fun was had by all.

Some of the staff had already departed, but this is the remnant of those who attended the pastors’ conference.

We returned home Friday afternoon in time to prepare for the H.I.M. pool party on Saturday, June 4th.  A more beautiful day would be hard to find, and a very happy group of around 80 invaded the Macraes' "retreat-like" property and had a blast.  Jim and Sue Martis did a great cook-out for everyone and the pool, trampoline, soccer field, and legos were enjoyed.  This 8th annual event was a big hit and a great way to launch summertime.


David Swaim explains to Kimary, Lisa, and Barbara why their family showed up at the pool party with a 4-day-old foster baby.

Hard to improve on this venue!

Matthew captures the attention of Lydia and Abby with a good idea (hopefully)!

So much fun was had by all ages in the pool.

Lisa, Paul, and I drove up to Woodstock, VT, that evening so we'd be in the right place to run the Covered Bridges Half Marathon early the next morning. We ran this last year in the pouring rain, and survived, but we were elated that God graced us this year with perfect weather.  We really couldn't have improved on the day:  gorgeous vistas throughout all 13.1 miles, unbelievably lovely weather, and great company. We felt very blessed. Top it off with having a photographer and a driver in Paul, and we could find nothing to complain about.

Except maybe the challenge of running 13.1 miles.  That's a long way!  Before the race, I picture myself as a fleet-footed runner.  That fantasy is quickly dispelled and I return to my reality of being a sure-footed plodder.  At various moments during the race, I question my sanity for choosing to do such a thing and I struggle to believe that I can do it.  I keep plodding.  Lisa cheers me on.  I sing silently "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me . . ."  I keep plodding.  I check my running watch to make sure I'm making progress.  I win another mental battle as I get a second wind, which I mistakenly believe will carry me painlessly through the rest of the race.  I'm wrong.  I fight to finish.  I cross the line 4 minutes slower than I did a year ago, but very, very thankful to have done it.

And then I begin to think "That wasn't so bad.  I can do this!  When is the next race for this fleet-footed runner?"  :)


All smiles after we've run 13.1 miles together . . .
. . . and even bigger smiles when we hit Dunkin' Donuts after we're cleaned up and on the way home.
I've now logged 4 half-marathons since November of 2009.  It's funny now to think of how I reacted to Lisa's suggestion in Nov. 2008, as I watched her run a half-marathon in Kitty Hawk, NC, that we run together the next year.  “Impossible!” I told her then. I guess it wasn't.

Two days later we put Lisa on a plane to Tel Aviv for her two-weeks-long missions trip with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Reports from her, though scarce due to infrequent Internet opportunities, are glowing.  She's loving being able to serve as the athletic trainer for the athletes running evangelistic sports camps in Israel.  We'll love hearing all about it when she arrives at CBS next Friday.

Lisa's off to Israel as a short-term missionary.

We spent the next two days wrapping it up in New England until we return in September. Counseling filled most of the time, but we managed to get packed up and cleaned up before we flew to California for yet another summer of family camps.

How blessed we are!