Crosscombes

I was sitting around Christmas Eve feeling a bit sorry for myself. I kept telling my family I was boycotting Christmas because it was cold and Christmas should be warm. I had been thinking back over my favourite Christmases… barbecues, beaches, bikes, and picnics… getting together with my family. Christmases have always been hard for me in Philly… cold, winter, being inside. It seems to just come and go so quickly.

This past Christmas Eve we were over at a friend’s place, where we usually spend Christmas Eve. It is always loud and crazy, with great food, presents and everyone eating as they come and go… no structure. The phone rings… my young friend tries to answer but misses the call. She is upset and her Mum gets frustrated. It was one of her brothers, calling from prison. Finally, he gets through and obviously he is hurting, locked up at Christmas… and here I am complaining about the cold! They talk a while, and then as we start catching up on family and friends all things come into perspective. A few friends are missing this year. One is at work…another isn’t allowed to cross the bridge because of probation (he was just transferred into New Jersey to be with his wife because they were both on probation, in different states). A young man who I began to talk to for the first time shares about how he is trying to help his younger brother. He wonders if he will be put in placement soon, like he was at that age. We catch up on a nephew who has been placed, another one running the street. My young friend is doing okay, been clean for a bit.
In the other room, my daughters show love (which they excel at) by sitting with an older lady, conversing with her in Spanish. Tony and his little friend seem to keep finding more presents to open, playing with their gifts. Conversations turn to a granddaughter who lives and goes to school in a Children’s home. Her brother is recovering from chemo (a few of us got to visit him not too long ago in the hospital). Grandma wonders how she can develop a better relationship with her granddaughter.

So what was it I was complaining about again? God seems to always put my complaints into perspective. What do I tell my young friend who just lost her baby…. who blames herself for the loss? Or what about the young man raising his kid brother… who was himself raised by a lady he calls “grandma”… or for the mother whose son is locked up?
While this exchange continued my “broken” friends keep feeding me crab cakes, the best pork, and rice and beans. I open my present from them… a trendy new duffel bag.
This is life in our community. By the end of the night some will be drunk, others high but I understand why…
This is Christmas. As always, my kids leave with bags of clothes and gifts from our friends…
This is love.

Read more on It’s all relative, isn’t it……

I am from my Aussie dad and my American mum.
I am from the hills in Australia to the buildings in America.
I am from my tree house in my great auntie’s yard in Australia to my tree house in my own yard.
From the chicken chips there to the barbeque chips here.
From my special breakfast on my birthday.
From the great animals in Australia to the USA.
I am from the memories in both places.

Read more on Where I’m From…

We were blessed to have Coz’s Aunties visit with us while they were staying with Coz’s mum.  It was nice to have them here to celebrate Coz’s graduaton.  I enjoyed taking them to Lancaster and stopping at all the little shops.  They were able to meet Tony and watch him take his first steps.  It was wonderful and wished we could have spent more time with them.

Read more on Visit with the Aunties…

Last night I was preparing to take the girls on their school trip to Clementon Park in New Jersey.  The more I listened to the weather and thought about the day, I really didn’t want to take Tony on the trip.  I decided to call Jazmine to see if she would like to take the girls instead of me.  We made the arrangements at 9:00 pm!

Read more on All Grown Up…

On Saturday, June 6 , Coz graduated from Bakke Graduate University with a Masters of Arts in Global Urban Ministry.  We had a party on Sunday to celebrate since we weren’t able to go to the graduation in Seattle, WA.  Thanks to all who came and sent cards and emails!  We are very proud of his hard work.  He has been accepted into the Doctor of Ministry Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and will begin in February 2010

Read more on Coz graduated…

May (9 months) was a big month for Tony.  He started crawling up the steps, clapping, standing and took his first steps a few days before turning 10 months.  He is still crawls everywhere, but does venture to take some steps on his own when he feels like it.  Of course that never happens when we have the video camera ready! 

Read more on Tony is walking…

After Sam died Melanie was singing a song that she had made up.  I told her to go write the words down.  She ran to my office and was back in 5 minutes with this letter…

Read more on Melanie’s letter to Grandad…

Dear Friends and Family,

It is time for an update from the Crosscombes! We do apologize for being so out of touch. When I took Tony for his 2 month check up I thought it was time to give an update since I believe the last one was a birth announcement. At the moment Coz is on an airplane flying to Turkey. He should arrive there tonight. Coz will be traveling around Turkey and Romania taking a class with Ray Bakke studying the Orthodox Church. Please pray for his time there and a safe return on the 31st of October.

Read more on Family update…