Us at South Dakota State Capitol

A week ago Wednesday night, Crystal played half hour of Christmas piano music at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.

 After that, White River Community Band played and the cantata sang.

The White River band, just four people this time, did an outstanding job! We're proud that our little town of barely over 500 people can produce something this special!

I loved that nativity scenes were prominent at the capitol!

Jonathan and Crystal participated in the cantata. Sorry the photos are not really clear. The enormous tree to the left is celebrating our nation's 250th anniversary this coming year, with placards for each state and various things related to each state. 

Here's a bit closer scene with Crystal in the white sweater, and Jonathan in middle of the back row.

Jonathan and I strolled around admiring all the trees--each one sponsored by some organization or group or family. This one Jonathan is looking at was sponsored by Life Serve--the blood donation organization that he and Danny have donated to recently.

Jonathan seemed fascinated by the dozens of testimonials or thanks of recipients of the blood donations hung on that tree.

This one was sponsored by Operation Christmas Child. 

One of my favorites was sponsored by Wesleyan Lakota Chapel with Lakota decor.

Songs and Christmas carols in Lakota were hung on it!

For our daughter Rose's benefit, I took a photo of this tree sponsored by Buzz'n Coffee Co Coffee Club. 

It was decorated with all things buzzing and bees, with a beehive for a tree topper! Cutest thing ever!

Another was sponsored by a Pest Control company and was hung with all kinds of little fuzzy Christmas mice, squirrels, and other creatures! Also incredibly cute!

But my favorite scene was this one--our beautiful daughter playing fabulous Christmas music.

And the New Truck Broke--in Florida!

And so there we were--very, very long story short--in Florida with a "new" used truck shockingly won in online auction-- that was screaming and shaking too violently to drive very fast.

It started Monday morning when, having arrived home from Colorado at Thanksgiving, Jonathan showed me a picture of a truck on his phone. I thought it looked nice but had a sneaky suspicion something was afoot. 

It was. 

Jonathan had accidentally won the truck on online auction by bidding a ridiculously low price to try to feel out the minimum, and he won it already because no one else bid!

I actually felt good about it, especially because of the price. The only problem being that a couple of us would have to fly to Florida (on Allegiant Air's $69 tickets) and drive it back. We hoped there would be no other problems. 

(Laugh hysterically with us.) 

 I, of course ended up being the first driver because the car we'd rented for the 3-hour drive from the airport could only be driven by Jonathan, the only insured driver. (And the 3-hour drive to the truck in Ft. Lauderdale turned into 4 1/2 hours due to a terrible accident.)  

As soon as the car was back to the rental (and if you want an even longer story, I could tell you all about that!), we headed to O'Reillys for power steering fluid to settle the screeching steering. Then Jonathan bought WD-40 to settle the screeching door hinges, and we were shaking on our way. We did not go far--not with all those shakes!

While finding the cheapest hotel room we could find, I snapped a few photos of Florida's Christmas lights--netting on palm tree trunks, blue dolphins and red octopus, for a few things. And when we arrived at the motel, Jonathan noted a maintenance guy standing there and mentioned about our truck issues. 

"There's a good mechanic right around the corner," the man said. "He's reasonable and fair." And he gave us the name, Garden Auto Shop, or something like that. 

Believing God had led us to this mechanic in our distress, we crashed for the night, rising early at 6 so we could rush to the beach for one beautiful hour to see the sunrise in Florida before waiting out repairs (hopefully) at the mechanic. 

Married to this man, I never know what I will run into--whether an airport, a native reservation, a snowy mountain road, or a Florida beach! Like it or not, I rarely worry about boredom (except wondering how many hours or days we might spend at the mechanic shop). I went barefoot for one amazing hour on a Florida beach before about 36 hours of travel to reach home in South Dakota.

But at that mechanic shop, God had another surprise for us. The mechanic, who already had a day's work ahead of him, put our truck on the lift and discovered that the ball joints were about to break at any moment. He was willing to put our need ahead of others he was working on, and he spent part of the morning working on our truck. 

Meanwhile, another customer came in and had to wait along with us. She pulled out a baby blanket she was crocheting, and that immediately got us talking! I pulled out my embroidery and Hannah retrieved her knitting from the truck, and as we stitched, the lady told some of her life stories while I listened and told some of ours.  

She was a Russian Jew whose husband's parents escaped from their homeland and the anti-semitism-- through forests. They immigrated to America. Russian Jews have deafness in their genes, she said, and she had a deaf son. But his deafness didn't keep him from succeeding in life. He has been both a lawyer and a player in deaf Olympics around the world! 

I listened with eagerness, telling this mother about our own travels around the world. 

"We are Christians," I said, and I shared what we had taught and done in Ukraine. I shared about the joy of teaching the beautiful children there before I was married. 

We never know who the Lord will place in our path--whether at the mechanic shop or elsewhere. May His Spirit speak the words we could not, and open hearts.

Saturday night found us in Missouri once again, where I was grateful to see my dear mother again. Sam and Caitlyn happened to have made a business trip over there as well, so we got to be together as well there, and get a quick photo with my mom Sunday afternoon. 

And then we were on our way to South Dakota, and more adventure along the way--but I'll save that for another post. (I need to see that supper is on!)

https://christyfitzwater.com/its-never-too-late-for-life-to-be-good/

The Snowman's Broken Arm--and My Lack of Value

A week and a half ago I ended up at the goodwill store in North Platte, Nebraska, on our way home from spending Thanksgiving in Colorado with our children. Danny had bought himself a small, used car in Denver, and when it reached North Platte, it was acting up. While Jonathan was helping him make a repair, Crystal, Hannah, and I shopped blissfully at the goodwill. It was blissful because I wasn’t rushed. It’s a rare occasion that I ever have the leisure to shop without rushing, but with the car repair going on, I could even go into the Christmas decor section and drool over Christmas decor.

 

I found a wooden plaque that said, “O Come Let Us Adore Him” with the nativity scene, and I put it in my cart. Then I found yet another thing I liked well enough to buy for a whole $6.95. It was a ceramic snow man, hollow for a candle inside, and on the front it read, “You Warm My Heart.” Yes! That was the one other Christmas decoration I would allow myself.

It was old fashioned.

It was cheery.

It was heartfelt.

 I stuck it in the cart and went about shopping, adding a beautiful Grandmother’s scrap book to my collection of collectibles. The only trouble was that when I dropped the scrap book into the cart, I heard a clunk that did not sound like good news.

It was not good news. The ceramic snowman I had fallen in love with had ceramic stick arms, and the stick arm broke off!

I stood there with anything but :the doxology on my mind. Anything but “Amazing Grace.” I was so bummed it wasn’t funny.

I mean, I hardly ever get anything for myself. Hardly ever get mere decor for my house, especially Christmas stuff. Then I find something meaningful and cute, and I actually make the difficult decision to part with a few dollars--and then it breaks--get this--before I even arrive at the checkout!!!!

 All I could think, when I thought of all sorts of people around me who have hundreds and umpteen Christmas decorations around their house and yard, is that I must not deserve any. I am so not worth anything that I don’t even deserve to get my less-than-seven-dollar snowman to the clerk before it meets its destiny of brokenness.

 I grumped out loud. When the clerk came by, I apologetically told her what happened and asked if I should pay for it. She assured me it happens all the time and took it away. At least I did not have to pay for the broken snowman that was all I deserved. 

I was bummed for a while, unable to quite figure out what I was so upset about. It was hard to believe I might be a little bit mad at God. It was just about a silly snowman, wasn’t it? And about how breaking it made me feel valueless, right?

 

That evening after supper, I brought to the table an article from a piece of mail. A little devotional was on the front, and Jonathan read it out loud--a story about how the author discovered a little bird nest while chopping foliage with his machete in a foreign country. And how he had to find the baby birds that had fallen out and return them to the nest. And then he quoted what Jesus said about the sparrow, and how “you are of more value than many sparrows.”

It hit me between the eyes.

 I felt guilty for being bummed in the goodwill store--and comforted all at the same time. God saw a very human mom who loves to see the beautiful decorations other people have but who doesn’t have the skill or gift or money to do up Christmas herself in new, fresh ways as she’d like. And He just let her know once again, that ceramic snowman or no snowman, she has great value in His eyes.

 

More Than One Kind of Family Tree!

 Friday after Thanksgiving the weather made us switch up some plans, and instead of waiting until Saturday to go to the mountains for Christmas trees for Carrie and Rose, we went Friday afternoon before bitterly cold weather and snow hit. 

We got our 2025 family photo with Pikes Peak in the background!

To me the funnest part of Christmas tree hunting is the hunt, 

the tramping through pine needles, twigs, snow, and cold air--together!

This year the choices were made easier because Carrie could make her own decision about her own Christmas tree--without anyone else second-guessing her.

Hers only had to please one person.

With Rose and Tom, it only had to please the two of them. The rest of us, including a couple of the Hagerty young people, just went along for the ride and to ooh and ahh over their choices. 

Above, Carrie is pointing at a tree with her crooked finger--stowed and bruised at the volleyball game the day before!

Baby Ellie is not at all sure about things on her head. 

Tom's and Rose's second year to get a Christmas tree from the mountains--and Ellie's first year! 

So much joy!

Especially as we gathered for the family photo posted earlier.

Some of us wanted the photo in the middle of aspen we'd passed a couple miles back, but others suggested doing it right where we were, but in sight of Pikes Peak. That way we could just get it done right away instead of trying to decide on a spot in the aspen. 

It is better to give in and have a beautiful family photo than to argue for an aspen background. 

No one will be noticing the aspen or mountain as much as they will notice a family that loves each other--or not. 

A family photo was the important thing. So we found our spot. 

And then--oh, and then!!!!!

Our wondrous son-in-law Tom suggested that a big, tall tree near us would be a grand tree to climb for a literal "family tree"!

And before you could say "Jonathan Anna Crystal Sam Caitlyn Carrie Rose Tom Tim Danny Hannah and Ellie"--up the children had scrambled, Tim and Danny first, testing all the branches and twigs and making the way for Hannah, Rose, Tom, and Carrie to follow.

I am the kind of mom that sputters and gasps and has a conniption about safety and things like that--and then is terribly proud after it is all said and done and no one has gotten hurt, fallen out of the tree, or had their eye poked out with an unexpected branch!

So now it is Sam's turn, with Caitlyn joining on the other side of the tree.

Everyone is in order of age, youngest at the top, except for spouses who are simply across from each other. 

Now Crystal joins, the oldest, and Jonathan and I find seats on the ground with little Ellie and her Christmas hat.

And the mom who gasped and held her breath and was afraid someone would fall and break a leg

is super proud of Tom's creative "family tree"!

Thanksgiving Sunday--Worshipping Together

Thanksgiving Sunday was a beautiful, beautiful day! I awoke with praise on my mind, unlike the day before when I awoke with a deep sense of dread. I don't know if that had anything to do with hearing quietly from Jonathan later that our friend Nathan Bryant had passed away the night before. 

But he had gone to meet the Lord he loved, had not suffered longer, and God was uplifting the family with peace that passes understanding.

I don't know why God took Nathan and left me, but Sunday morning a poem of praise filled my heart,  copied at the end of this post. 

I held baby Ellie so Rose could make pumpkin pie for dinner, and Jonathan and I prayed together as we always do on Sunday morning--lifting each church that our children and loved ones attend to the Lord in prayer;

lifting the bereaved and the suffering and the persecuted.

Rose caught this scene on camera--little Ellie sitting quietly in my arm as we prayed.

This is my life, my joy, my duty, my praise--coming to the Lord in prayer each Lord's day morning. 

We got to sit behind Tom and Rose and Ellie in church--even if ours was the back seat "with the backsliders"!!!!

We got to listen to Carrie's absolutely beautiful arrangement of "Still, Still, Still" for the prelude, and listen to her accompany the congregation throughout the service. It is such a joy to see our children involved in music and other service in their respective churches.

I was touched to see Tom's arm go around Rose during the benediction. May God's love for their family and their love for each other always be a benediction!

Uncle Tim and Uncle Danny seeing what reactions they can get from their little niece! We had to hug Tim goodbye because he had to try to get over the mountain pass back to his home in Crawford, CO, before the roads became impassable. As it was, he said he'd never seen so much snow on the road before, and he saw more than one accident. We were so thankful when he messaged that he was home safe several hours later!

Sabbath Meditation

I worship when I waken,

I thank You as I rise.

Seven times a day my praise

Is lifted to the skies.

Not five times as the Muslims

Who bow toward minaret.

But all day long with love or song

My heart toward God is set.

I thank You when I eat my bread,

I ask You for Your care.

When traveling I'm in your hand,

I trust You everywhere.

My burdens and my cares are Yours;

 I place them in Your hand.

The things that are too big for me

You totally understand.

At end of day I meditate

Upon Your holy Word,

And that's the darkness settles,

Your praise in song is heard.

On Sabbath and on work day,

Although I may seem odd,

I worship, I adore You,

My Master and my God.

Our Beautiful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day in Colorado this year was filled with the delight of getting to enjoy little Ellie Rose--

who was quite fascinated with Jonathan's beard and glasses!

Several of us stayed at Carrie's home that she recently moved into, and Thanksgiving morning was busy with hunting for and baking recipes in Carrie's cookbook given her by our old friend, Linda Lee Goodwin. 

Joe and Mary Hagerty's family, Rose's in-laws, invited our whole crew for the holiday, including Jonathan's dad and wife Ruth. Every lady contributed a dish or two. Mrs. Hagerty roasted two turkeys. Sam's wife Caitlyn made a delicious Fall Fruit Salad with apples, blackberries, grapes, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Mmm!

Mr. Hagerty led in prayer before the meal--one of the most thoughtful, heart-felt prayers I've ever heard prayed before a Thanksgiving meal. We truly took time to worship at the feet of God, to whom we collectively and reverently gave thanks. 

We must never forget to remember God on Thanksgiving Day--to not just treat the day as if it were only for baking turkeys, feasting luxuriously, and enjoying family and games. 

Together, for solemn but grateful moments, we praised God from Whom all blessings flow.

Whenever I had a chance, I would hold Ellie--a precious blessing from God!

She was Miss Wiggle Worm personified!!

The young people gathered around two folding tables. 

We grandparents, great-grandparents, and a few youngers in the dining room!

 Hagertys' neighbor whose husband was in the hospital also joined us a bit later, and I loved how she was made welcome and included in the festivities. I always like to see people including others--not just ourselves with selfish joys, but remembering those who are experiencing hard times. 

Let them join in some warmth, fellowship, and joy--and then take news of it to the weary and lonely rooms of suffering.

Jonathan had pieces of pecan pie more than once Thanksgiving weekend--and so did others, obviously! :)

Grandpa suggested a photo with four generations in it. 

Here the spouses joined in. Dear Ruth has been part of the family now for two and a half years. How good God was to bring someone along to provide companionship for Daddy Lucas, especially since we ended up moving to South Dakota and couldn't drop in very often. 

Most of the afternoon lots of us played volleyball--including me!

I couldn't believe I had the energy and also that I didn't end up stowing my fingers or wrenching my wrist doing the serves. 

The young people won't know how much I enjoyed that!

So many memories of my own family growing up playing volleyball--and now it's our own family with in-laws. 

Just as it was getting dark, nearly all we gals took a walk in the brisk cold.

Thanksgiving evening some of the girls and we two moms gathered to sing and play mandolins and dulcimer. It was a pleasant ending to Thanksgiving Day!