Christmas
2015
My Dearly Beloved……
Why not? All the Biblical writers started that way
and, besides, I like it and it’s true.
What can I say about 2015?
WOW! What a Ride! I must admit, it bothers me when I hear people,
especially kids, say, “I’m bored.” I
have to say there is nothing boring about my life! Sometimes I think I would like a little
boredom… I think. Maybe a little less “stuff.” As I look back over my calendar, review my
posts and other’s on FaceBook, look through my “Box”, I’m overwhelmed. I’m so thankful that I know Who holds my
world because, if it were not for Him, I’m afraid I might shoot off into
oblivion, my world seems to spin so fast!
Let me start over . . .
It’s that time of year
again when I look back over my year and I attempt to put it all down on paper
to share with all my Friends and Loved Ones.
Next year will be 20 years running.
Unbelievable! Each year my letter
seems to develop a theme and I’m sure this year will be no different. Right now the word “Change” comes to
mind. I’ve probably used that one before
and I will more than likely be able to use it again, but, to date, this year, I
think, ‘takes the cake!’ A little
disclaimer: I said a couple years back
that I was going to stop mailing out so many of these and, if you are my Friend
on FaceBook, I will share a link and you can read it online. I still mailed out a bunch and to some who
were on the web. This year I am holding
to that. You probably will appreciate
that more anyways. You won’t have to
chunk it after you’re through reading.
So, grab a cup of your favorite and let’s visit.
The year started on a
sad note. Terry’s mother passed away on
the 12th of January. Her
funeral was a very tender service on the 17th. Our kids and I were so honored by Terry’s
siblings and their spouses to be asked to provide the music for the
service. She had gone into the hospital
on New Year’s Eve and Terry had the opportunity to go and see her before she
passed. I mentioned in my last year’s
letter that we were in Arkansas with our girls for Thanksgiving and was able to
spend time with her then as well. It was
bittersweet time before and after her Homegoing as we spent one last time at “the
Farm” as we affectionately called their home place, and with family. I was so touched when my sister, Becky Hill,
surprised me by coming to the funeral. I
hadn’t seen her in many years and it meant so much to me to have her
there. I love you, Becky.
January also held the
birth of my new nephew, Benjamin Asher Robertson, whom I have yet to meet. Thank God for FaceBook! We also began the process of completing one
of my goals from last year of obtaining our Concealed Carry Permits. We completed the class for our Enhanced
Permits that month. A lot more of January
but too much for the space here. February
was also full to the brim with Revivals at Church, the passing of a dear Saint
of God, Sis Mildred Carter, Limu convention in Memphis, SNOW!! and ice in the
weather, and a fun-filled time at my annual Scrapbook Retreat I try to
attend. This time it was hosted by my
God-daughter, Missy Reynolds, in Heber Springs, AR. My cousin, Carla Martin, went too and we had
a blast even though I was sick the whole time I was there! This trip had been planned for a long time
and because of that, and a date change, I missed the wedding of Joe and Shonda
Coleman. Shonda is my partner in Jail
Ministry. I don’t think they missed
me. Lol!
They were preoccupied… Lol! I
also had the distinctive delight to attend a concert with some of my Red Hat
Sisters to hear the piano stylings of Jason Coleman who is the grandson of the inestimable
Floyd Cramer! What a treat!
March brought more snow
and ice but with that, the tragic accident of the Joey Mask family and death of
a dear mother and wife. I was with my
brother when he had his pacemaker replaced that month and I ended the month
helping my BFF with a project for the ALJC Spring Conference Women’s Esprit
program and helped with the music for the Conference. April brought Easter, Christian Prisoner
Fellowship training in Grenada, NCTI Real Colors class, my son’s 35th
birthday, and another funeral: this time for my cousin Mary Killough (known to
us as Betsy)’ husband, Andy, who passed fairly unexpectedly. Our Church, Cedar Grove UPC, was honored to
host the Tupelo Tornado Memorial Service which was attended by many Dignitaries
from the City and the State. You will
remember, I talked about the terrible tornado that tore through Tupelo, April
2014. Perhaps the brightest spot in April
is the night we took our girls, along with their Mom and Dad, to see Cinderella
in the Russian Ballet at the Ford Center on the Ole Miss Campus. It was definitely a night to remember!
In May we went to
Little Rock to celebrate the 85th and 80th birthdays of
my Uncle James and Aunt Jewel Chrestman.
So thankful that my mother still has all her brothers and sisters
alive. We finished the process for our
CCP’s and just had to wait for them to come in. Mother’s Day was very special, of course, and
then our anniversary on Memorial Day weekend.
My cousin, Carla, and her family spent the weekend with us. June brought graduations and my Ellie’s 5th
birthday! She wanted a pool party and
that’s what she got! “Not anything big!”
was what her mother said, BUT! The girls
and I have always wanted a slide for them to have at the pool and I ‘happened
upon’ a bouncy castle with a slide at Sam’s that was reasonably priced so I
picked it up. Papaw decided that we
needed an extension on the deck to accommodate this item, so he and Uncle Perry
promptly built one. So we had a
PARTY! Invited lots of little (and big)
girls to celebrate with her and she had a blast! Father’s Day was special with my kids in
Church with me that evening. Rachel, my
oldest, impressed me with her note-taking of Pastor Robbins’ sermon. I still have the notes.
We celebrated my Aunt
Jean’s 80th birthday with a surprise party put on by her daughter,
Jamey, and my other Aunt, Emma. It was
sweet but another reminder of how short life is. As I said, I’m thankful my mother has her
siblings but I’m very aware of their ages and how time takes a toll. Never take family for granted! Love each and every member with all your
heart and let them know every day! My
brother introduced us to a new friend of his that became my new Sister-in-law
in October. Linda Diane (now Taylor) is
a sweet heart. She’s pretty, funny,
smart, very educated, and loves the Lord with all of her heart. I say this and hope that no one takes this
the wrong way: I cannot make choices for
other people and sometimes the choices they make affect others, including
myself. I love my Sister-in-heart, Mary
and she will always be that to me. But
thank the Lord, my heart is big enough to welcome and love my new Sister!
Speaking of
family: We made the difficult decision
this year that my mother no longer needed to live alone. She’s been with us since November of last
year but nothing was ever spoken audibly about her future situation. We probably worried about it more than
necessary because when we finally broached the subject with her, it was
relatively painless. I know it is a
mental adjustment for her and a definite physical adjustment for us but I think
we’re gonna make it. I had to empty her
mobile home and attempt to assimilate her necessary and desired things into our
home in order to make things more like her ‘place’. This meant I had to get rid of some of my
things as well. Can you say, Yard
Sale? I’m talking huge! And after I had it here and got rid of a
bunch of ‘stuff’, I moved it to my daughter-in-law’s and she had several yard
sales, too! Then, in September, Terry
went to his Mother’s place and met with his siblings to go through her things
and brought a bunch more home with him. Can
you also say, Critical Mass? That’s
where my home is and I’m still working on that!
In August we celebrated
Pastor Robbins’ 15 year Pastoral Anniversary with a reception and awesome
services! We are so thankful for our
Pastor! There is a quality about him
that is hard to describe but we appreciate his wisdom and his love for
people. His driving passion for lost
souls is evidenced by the many Ministries he trains and equips the congregants
of Cedar Grove and, indeed, the members of the entire State of Mississippi
UPCI. He is an inspiration to all who
know him. One of those ministries is
North American Missions and an arm of that is Christian Prisoner Fellowship of
which we are a part. Through that
Ministry, again, we had the immense privilege of participating in the Parchman
Prison Crusade, also in August.
Miracles, baptisms, and souls saved was what it was about! And it was a wonder to see! We had
the great privilege of attending a Ted Cruz rally in Tupelo in August that
greatly helped cement in our hearts and minds who is our choice for President
of these great United States of America.
I will say more about that later.
September brought Ladies’ Conference for me and Men’s Conference for
Terry. Both were awesome! Another wedding, Katie Morgan married Cody
Mullins Labor Day weekend and I was honored to provide a little music for the
occasion.
In addition to the
afore mentioned wedding of Perry and Diane, in October we were privileged to
have Mark Condon at our Church for his Power Worship Conference. Many people from different churches and
organizations were blessed to be able to attend. My friend, our Music Director, Shelia
Kitchens, did an awesome job of pulling this event together and I’d have to say
it was a game changer in many ways! We
enjoyed a trip to Amish Country with our Church group that month as well. In November we had a bang-up time celebrating
Rachel and Jordan’s birthdays at Premiere Lanes in Oxford. This is a very nice place and we will
definitely be going back there again.
December. Wow.
On the 5th my cousin, Cullen Chrestman, who has always called
me ‘Aunt’ married Lindsey Bernard who is the daughter of Dr. David K. Bernard,
who is the General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church
International. And WE attended the
wedding! It was beautiful! We took a few days to kind of take a break in
the beautiful city of Austin, Texas.
While we were gone we received the sad news of the passing of my daughter-in-law’s
Uncle Dennis York and then the next day on our way home we received the news of
the tragic death of 19 year old Dallas Martin.
His parents have been friends of ours for several years. We returned home to attend both
funerals. Dennis’ funeral was a
testimony of his life of service to the Kingdom of God. Dallas’ funeral was a testimony to the lives
he had touched with over 4000 in attendance at his viewing and probably ¼ of
that for his service. He was named
honorary General Superintendent of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ by
the General Board and present by GS Kenny Carpenter. It was awesome. Friday, the 11th we took our girls
and their Nana for a ride on The Polar Express!
It was so much fun! Love making
memories with my babies! I discovered a
new love this year. It’s really an
extension of one I already have:
Scrapbooking. And that is Card
Making. I made all the cards for our Doctor’s this
year for Christmas and I was pleased with the outcome. I joined a company, Stampin’ Up, because of
this new hobby and am looking forward to sharing this with anyone who is
interested.
I have just given you
the very tip of the tops of the events of my year! Add to all of that working every day in our
business which continues to grow exponentially, working in our Church in
multiple ministries (music, jail, prison, ladies, etc.), taking care of my
house and household, and trying to squeeze in a little time for me. No, I’m not bored. In all of that I have tried to make a focused
effort to increase my prayer life and Bible study. Even though I fail miserably so many times, I
am more acutely aware of my need to be close to my Lord. This world is changing so fast and the events
that have transpired in our Country and are still happening makes me know that
surely His return is soon. I can only
hope! I’ve probably lost some “friends”
this year because I’ve come to realize that I can’t be silent any longer. I’ve got to be saved and I want to take as
many with me as possible. It is hard for
me to fathom the things that people accept as normal and good when these things
are so diametrically opposed to Godly values!
I want to stand for Truth. I want
to save my Family. I want to protect my
Family. I want to change my World. I mentioned before that I am a supporter of
Ted Cruz. I urge you to check his
record. The only hope this world has is
Jesus Christ, but I believe Ted Cruz will, to the best of his ability, point
our Nation in that direction. I’m sorry
if you feel like a Christmas Letter is not the place to ‘get political’ but,
this is my letter. Lol! I believe if you want to know what a Man will
be when he is in power, look at his life before he came to Power. Know them by their fruits. I challenge you! I can’t help but put a plug in for Ted’s book
‘A Time For Truth’. I never thought
before that I could read and enjoy a political book but I did and it increased
my respect for this man and I pray to God that He has mercy on this Country and
gives us a Leader like this……… or that He just takes me home.
I don’t know what this
new year will hold but I trust Him! More
changes are surely coming as we endeavor to follow His leading. I didn’t say a whole lot about my kids but
God is working in their lives as well and I’m excited to see what God has in
store. My prayer for you for the coming
year is that God will bless you abundantly and keep you in His Will. I love every one of you and pray that you
still love me! Lol!
Have
a blessed Christmas and a Very Happy New Year
Leslie
(for the Tritsch family)
