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)

On the Move (Part 2)

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 1)

On the Move (Part 1)

We’ve been on the move.

We felt a bit like a ping pong ball as we flew from Spokane, WA, on January 19 (following the Moses Lake Alliance Church ministry trip) directly to Northern Virginia, where we spent the next three days hanging out with Derek and Julie and kids, helping them get settled at their newest address. When they left Uganda four years ago, the last thing they expected was to live in three different states in the next four years, but that has been their journey. They are happily working with International Justice Mission (IJM) now and are hoping this will be a long term call. Nathan and Rachel are adjusting well, aided by the gift of having my youngest sister and her husband, Laura and David, living just 2 miles from them. Built-in family-neighbors. Hard to beat that!!

Traditions and Highlights

Traditions and Highlights

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.

Changing Plans

Changing Plans

It’s Dec. 13 and we have whiplash from the speed which with the past six weeks have flown since I last wrote.

It’s good to be flying today, during which we’ll sit longer than we’ve sat in a while (at least since our last flight!). These weeks have unfolded much differently than we had “planned” and as the photos reflect, we weren’t in Lebanon where we were supposed to be at this time.

It's "Falling!"

It's "Falling!"

"Good morning Lord, this is your day. I am your child. Show me your way!”

This song ran through my head and heart on this early September morning as I feasted on this incredibly beautiful sunrise while doing my Quiet Time in our great room. The six weeks that have passed since I last wrote have been full of such color, as summer has gently faded into a most extraordinary fall, and minutes of sunlight have been chipped off each day.

What a glorious time of year in New England!! How thankful we are it’s “falling."

Family Camp, Resurrected (Part 2)

Family Camp, Resurrected (Part 2)

With 26 hours between Family Camps 1 and 2, we relaxed with the staff (some great pool time, dinner in Ventura on the beach, and hanging out in a coffee shop in downtown Ojai) and then prepared for the second camp. We were very ready when the campers began arriving at 4 pm on Sunday and we were so happy to welcome them with cold water bottles and ice pops, help them register, and walk them to their “home away from home.” Everyone was checked in by dinner time and we were off and running.

We were so grateful for the reinforcements who joined the staff team for week 2, as a number of our week 1 staff had to return to work. God graciously brought together a phenomenal group for camp 2 and we quickly jelled as a team.

Family Camp, Resurrected (Part 1)

Family Camp, Resurrected (Part 1)

As the long days of summer wane, we’re enjoyed some days of “rest” following 5 amazing weeks on the road. I’m finding it hard to capture with words what we’ve experienced this past month as it’s been so extraordinary, but I’ll give it a try. Just know my words will fall short.

We flew to California on Thursday, July 18, after spending three days at home upon our return from Uganda. It was just enough time to get done what we needed to get done (with no time to spare) and we were off for three weeks of family camps. Prior to family camp starting at Forest Home on July 21, we managed a daylong trip to hang with my mom, and a day with Garcias, and then family camp.

Life-Changing Moments, from St. Louis to Uganda

Life-Changing Moments, from St. Louis to Uganda

Once home from my mom’s in San Diego on Wednesday, June 26, we had 36 hours before flying to St Louis to perform Meegan Williams and Ezra Talbert’s wedding.  Unfortunately, this brief two-day trip was marked by “if it could go wrong, it did” in terms of air travel, and what should’ve been a easy 5-hour trip (Boston–Newark–St Louis) turned out to be a nightmare of delayed flights, a closed airport due to an emergency landing, canceled flights, and eventually, long after we had missed the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, we caught a flight into Chicago and ended up driving to St Louis at midnight, arriving at 4 am Sunday to make SURE we would be at the 11 am wedding.

Full Hearts, Ohana Style

Full Hearts, Ohana Style

With full hearts and tired bodies, we returned from Vietnam and enjoyed two days in Bedford prior to flying to Kona, Hawaii, for two weeks. Admittedly, as we flew over Hawaii as we traveled home from Vietnam via Chang Hai and Los Angeles prior to our final destination in Boston, we had second thoughts about the decision to return home for two days . . . but, at least one of us was happy with that decision. :) I love to be home at least occasionally.

Expanded Hearts

Expanded Hearts

In the two days we were home after our 2.5-week California tour and before we left for Vietnam, this sweet little gathering of “bleeding hearts” caught my eye as we walked through our neighborhood. It speaks to me of how the heart multiplies with love. I’m writing this as we journey home from spending just under two weeks in Vietnam, and this rings so true. Our hearts were so full of love and gratitude before we left on this trip, it was hard to imagine how it could continue expanding. 

The dash between Uganda and Viet Nam

The dash between Uganda and Viet Nam

If it’s Wednesday, we must be on our way to Viet Nam.

And we are!

The three weeks between the end of our Uganda trip and the beginning of our Viet Nam trip were full! Shocking, I know.

As I write, I’m thoroughly enjoying this 14-hour Toronto to Seoul leg of the trip, as it is providing a much needed “break” following a fairly intense, post-Uganda pace. Our very generous Vietnamese hosts have ensured a restful, renewing journey to their land by booking us in business class, which is a euphemism for “hotel room in the sky.” We’re loving it!

Short, But So Sweet

Short, But So Sweet

When our trip to Uganda was canceled by my doctor last year due to my unresolved pneumonia, our already-purchased tickets had to be used within the year. But by the time we were looking to rebook them, we found only one 10-day span open before May 2019, so we had to settle for a very short trip to our beloved Mbale, departing Boston on April 2 and returning April 11. With travel days removed, that left us with 5.5 days fully open for ministry, so pack it in we did. As we fly the final leg of this long journey, from Frankfurt to Boston, and reflect on this past whirlwind of a week, we’re amazed at random “only God” moments of this very “short but sweet” trip. And we are oh, so grateful.

Super Bloom, Super Trip

Super Bloom, Super Trip

While California is showcasing the once-in-a-lifetime “Super Bloom” as a result of Super Rains this winter (officially ending the decades-old drought), we’ve been “Super Traveling.” Since my last blog post, written as we arrived in Kauai on Feb. 26, we have traveled 9000 miles by air, and driven over 2500 miles all over Southern California and Arizona. We’ve spent 35 nights away from home. We’ve spoken at three marriage conferences, one church service, two moms’ groups, been unofficial “counselors at large” at another conference, spoken 3 times at the Southwest Thrive Leadership Conference, spoken for a couples’ Date Night in La Crescenta, a Date Night for an Armenian Couples’ gathering, spent 7 days with my mom in San Diego, spent 6 “in between” days with Kari and Gabe and their three children in Santa Clarita, and spent a night in the hospital.

We’ve been Super Busy.

Highs and Lows

Highs and Lows

The “Campfire” scented candle burning in our Great Room today fills my head with thoughts of summer camping, but the 20 degrees of mercury on our outdoor thermometer reminds me we’re actually in the dead of winter. Writing while in a window-wrapped room, I’m hoping that snow will dance in on this cold stage, but if the forecast is to be believed, there will be no such luck. 

Hitting Pause

Hitting Pause

Sitting in Derek and Julie’s cozy living room next to a lit Christmas tree and a roaring (gas-fueled) fire in the fireplace, I’ve finally found the “pause” button. Truly, that button has been “MIA” for the past two months and it feels really good to carve out a few moments to reflect on the the past two months which have been on the huber fast track.

Dog Days of Summer

Dog Days of Summer

There have been years in which Labor Day weekend signals an abrupt end to summer as the crisp to cold winds of fall arrive as if in a hurry.

Not this year. “Dog days” describe most of the month of September and the beginning of October, as summery temps belie the calendar dates, and pools buttoned up for the season seem “missing in action” as the endless summer unfolds.

Our summer ended with huge exclamation points. Invited by our dear friends John and Marilyn Nugent to share their rental cottage with them in Ogunquit, Maine, we enjoyed the unusually warm ocean (67 degrees), fresh lobster off the fishing boats, and miles of walking on the Marginal Way and on the Ogunquit Beach. It was the perfect beach holiday, and we hated to see it come to an end.

Family Camps! Different Venues, Same Heart

Family Camps! Different Venues, Same Heart

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!”    Psalm 34:3

This verses aptly sums up the past month for us as we have been privileged to speak at 4 different family camp weeks.  Though it should go without saying that the deepest desire of our hearts would be fulfilled by a reinstatement of our lifelong ministry at Campus by the Sea, we are so very grateful that our passion for encouraging and strengthening families through family camp found expression again this summer in four wonderful weeks of camp.

Vietnam: Behind and Before

Vietnam: Behind and Before

It all started at the H.I.M. marriage conference in 2011, when Sonny Vu and his wife Christy were introduced to us.  In the years since, their journey has taken them back to their homeland of Vietnam and our knowledge of them has grown only through third party mention.  The “third parties” began to mention that the Vus would be interested in bringing us to Vietnam for a marriage conference if we were game, and, in the words of Brian Reagan, “…and one thing led to another…” and on June 27, we were on our way to Vietnam!