2022

 Hello Mom, I can’t believe the year of 2022 is here! So much has happened since I last wrote to you. About a year ago our family decided to travel across the country and move to Maple Valley, Washington. It’s a small town south of Seattle. And Maple Valley it’s just that, it’s a very populated valley amongst the mountains. Oh mom, the mountains are beautiful. We’ve been asked so many times, why the move? Our best answer, is that we needed to. God opened doors for us. It’s a God thing! Well, Mom, this  school year has been Mia’s senior year! Because of all the new, my mind has been a little distracted. But we are getting closer to graduation and I can’t believe that she’s so grown-up. Mom, she would’ve made your heart melt. This girl is strong, brave, and she has adapted to the move amazingly. She has had to make new friends, learn different teaching styles, and it has been a blessing. She has been one that likes her structure but flexibility was always a possibility. But this year she has really grown. She has chosen a College and it’s close to home but far enough where she will live on campus next year. She will be attending Seattle Pacific University. She Will be enrolled in their honors program and in the psychology department. She wants to be a psychiatrist! Mia  also has a huge interest in helping solve the global issue of human trafficking. She did a huge two-year research paper on the issues of human trafficking and how to get help information and build awareness. She will also be headed to Mexico by herself this summer for a mission trip. She will be working with one of the summer camps in the Rio Bravo ministries.

And then there’s little Livi, who isn’t so little anymore mom! She is our vibrant, super creative, funny 13-year-old young lady! She is a little more on the shy side, but has found an amazing group of friends at school and at church. She tried out for volleyball and is the volleyball manager this year with hopes of maybe getting an eighth grade team next year. She has a love for science. Here in Washington in the spring time snails and slugs just show up in your backyard. Well, we now have Shaun the snail that she’s taking care of in a container in the house. Oh mom, this girl would have melted your heart! You two would have laughed and laughed and laughed. Livi has been excited all year about the fact that her older sister is going away to college. Like most younger siblings she think she’s going to overtake her sister’s bedroom. Not happening!

Oh mom, there have been so many days as Kurt and I are raising these two beautiful girls that God has given us that I wish I could talk to you. I  want to hear your advice, to have conversations with you to hear your words of encouragement and guidance that God has given you. So many times I dream off what your interactions with the girls would’ve been during these years. Just brings tears to my eyes. But I also know, that one day God has promised something beautiful to all those who follow him. And I know that seeing our loved ones all together again will be beautiful especially in the presence of Jesus! And I thank you so much for teaching me about Jesus and the love that God has us. 

❤️

Shelter in place grants me a moment to blog

Well, mom, it's been awhile since I typed a message. Life for me is obviously busy and I am not getting too many moments to sit, reflect, and type up some notes. I am however, making sure that I spend time in God's Word quietly in the mornings before everyone else wakes up. This has been a super special time, but it seems that I spend time praying, reading, and studying and the time flies by. I like to type these notes to you when no one is around and no distractions because it's a good time for me to reflect and yes, I usually ball my eyes out.
So, let's get started with a brief summary: after grandpa's funeral, we went on vacation to Florida. The girls loved our beach vacation. This was the 1st time that Livi got to enjoy the beach for days on end.  The other beaches we have visited on the west coast and also in Maine had been too chilly. We then stopped in Orlando....no Disney, but went to visit dear friends, Butch and Teri with Dad and Laurie with their new motor home. Oh my word, mom....it's crazy big. I'm sure there will be many memories to share about that.Teri passed away shortly after we had been there, she was such a dear friend to you and me as well. I'm sure you have already had a few gatherings together! From Orlando, we went to Savannah with Dad and Laurie and then up to visit Gary and Lisa in North Carolina....beautiful! Kurt and Mia went on the youth roadtrip while Livi and I hung out in Rockford making some special memories.We finished the rest of the summer with pool visits and just some good family time.
In the fall, Mia took driver's ed and has her permit. Oh man, you told me this day was coming but I didn't realize how hard it is on my heart. Mom she's growing up sooooo fast, but she is a beautiful young lady. You would be so proud of her and she misses you terribly. She's taking 3 advanced placement classes that if she passes the test, they count for college credit. She is thinking about a career in the medical field, maybe a psychologist. Livi is in 5th grade and quiet the creative, social butterfly. She melts my heart every time I look at her. She is witty, smart, and so much like her daddy. You would get a kick out of this one. She just celebrated her 11th birthday and we said she could get her ears pierced...mom, I almost shed a tear when she got it done because it was a moment of my little girl growing up! Being a mom is hard, it's so emotional. These girls are such a wonderful blessing. Kurt has been busy in his studio, getting new gigs to display his artwork, and redesigning his online presentation. He has also been teaching Mia the rules of the road.
In January, the family was told that grandma Anderson was really not doing well. She passed away on January 14th, just a few days before her birthday. We miss her terribly, but know that God has promised a place with no pain, no tears, and a new body for her and that is the hope that I live for. Our hearts are also very heavy because our dear friends lost their 10 year old son. Death brings about so many fears, questions, and so much sadness. This past year has been a gloomy year. I want to say something encouraging right here, but it's tough. What brings us through a dark time? HOPE, LOVE, PEACE all grounded in our faith in Jesus Christ.
So, the reason I have some time to actually blog is because the world is going through a crisis. There is a virus called COVID-19 and it is killing hundreds of thousands of people around the world. We have been under a "shelter in place" rule to keep the virus from spreading. Hospitals won't have enough beds for people if we don't keep from spreading it. The shut downs started on Friday, March 13th and as of right now we are not going back to school until May, but my feeling is that we are not going back to school until the fall. Life has changed....working and schooling from home! Time on our hands because everything is closed! Family time! We are using technology to connect with people (we can talk to one or many people at the same time with live video!!!! something I dreamed of as a teenager...hahhahah)!  Video church from home and chatting during service! Grocery store visits are just weird (empty shelves, masked customers, hand sanitizing in every isle, staying 6 feet away from anyone, running if you hear someone cough)! We visit family on their front lawn (6 feet away), no hugging and leave chalk messages in driveways or flags on the lawns of friends. We stay up late and sleep in! I planted flowers (amazing), completed puzzles, read books, spend more time with God, Lego building, movies and family games. This is something crazy...this will change life...what the other side of this looks like is a wonder. We are all looking forward to being together again. I think about what the celebrations will be like when we get to hug our people again and it makes me wonder if it will be a small taste of our heavenly celebrations when we meet on the shore or walking the street of gold or when together we praise our Heavenly Father together! Until the next post, I love you momma!
To everyone reading this, stay healthy, safe, and connected!
Love, Jenny

Good Bye Grandpa Lowman

Dear Mom,
Today I write this with a very heavy heart. On Monday morning your dad took a terrible fall in their garage. He hit is head so viciously hard on the cement floor causing a cracked skull and internal bleeding on his brain that was fatal. Over the next 24 hours we waited and hoped for an improvement in his responses and for the bleeding to stop. Around 12:30 p.m. the doctor delivered the tragic news that there was no improvement and grandma would have to make the decision to remove the ventilator and let grandpa go into the hands of our Almighty Father! Oh Mom, standing beside his bed, watching his heart take it's last slow beat and knowing that grandpa will no longer be at his front door to greet us with hugs and kisses is so difficult to swallow. I know that heaven is a much more wonderful place than this world and he is resting peacefully.
We are going to miss him so much.  Grandma is really going to miss him, but she's being really strong right now. Livi and I were talking Tuesday night about some memories of her great-grandpa. She said she loved going to the pool and swimming with great-grandpa. He liked to play basketball in the pool and squirt water guns. We talked about at family dinners grandma always has a variety of desserts, like 3 or 4 choices, and grandpa always wanted a piece of each. Remember how we would gather around the family dinner table with delicious hot food and wait for grandpa to set up the tripod, get the perfect pose, try to find the flash, and finally take a few family pictures while everyone was telling him to hurry up....hahahha!! He was very patience with us. I'm sure that you may have a different view point during your childhood and teenage years. I've heard a couple of stories about you and Uncle Scott getting in trouble. I know that you loved your dad. I could see it when we would be together.
We were over at grandma's last night and she had dug up some pictures from grandpa's senior year and his time in the military. Grandma was reminiscing and shared some good memories of early years. We also learned that grandpa had a picture of grandma (really young grandma) in his wallet all the time. How precious! He loved his wife and family so dearly.
Mom, I will probably share some more memories over the next few months. It is just so hard to believe. All of these strong emotions and tears also start stirring up thoughts of you. I miss you so much and wish you were here to help us through, cry on your shoulder, and hug you!
Mom...I am gonna hold on to memories of grandpa and treasure his kindness/love for his family and generosity, his humor, his curiosity/yearning for more knowledge of scriptures, and his determination to always get stuff done. Grandpa, you will be missed and always treasured...we love you!
Love, Jenny

Liviana Grace

Hello Mom,
Today I am writing to tell you some exciting news: Liviana Grace decided to follow Jesus with all her life and be baptized yesterday. Although she is only 9, she loves Jesus and has been inquiring about baptism and living a Christian life for a while now. As her momma, I can't be more excited for her and the opportunities that God has for her as they walk and talk together. Oh mom, you would love this little angel with all her spunk and creative personality. It saddens  to think that you only got to hug on her for 2 precious years, but pure JOY in my heart to know that there is a time and place where you will meet her again and we will worship our Heavenly Father in mansions that are prepared for us....thank you Jesus for being our Savior!!!
Here's a quick conversation I want to share we had with Livi about baptism: So, we have really been talking to Livi about loving Jesus, what is sin, being a Christian, etc. for at least a year through different questions she may have had or topics that have come up at church. It was really cool to watch the whole family dive into these conversations and I am looking forward to even more Biblical/Christian living conversations. A few weeks ago (a week before camp), Livi again very boldly stated "I want to be baptized!" I thought for a moment and I replied back with , "How about being baptized at camp?" Without skipping a beat, she replied with "In a pool????" Oh how I love this little girl! She then decided she would get baptized not the Sunday right after camp, but the next Sunday....so she did!!!

Livi's Baptism Video from Kurt's Facebook

Love from One JOYFUL Momma!!

Hello 2018

Hello 2018!
As we enter into another year hear on Earth, I wanted to update the Erickson family happenings and events. Since my last post (which I said I would write more....lol) summer has passed and we are half way through a school year.
Let's start with summer because that's when we made a ton of memories!! Summer 2017 started with a garage sale!! And no mom, it wasn't that hottest day of the year, like you always had on garage sale day!

After the garage sale it was time to get ready for VBS!! Groceries for a week for around 100 people per night! Love working in the kitchen and getting to know those that choose to serve with me for the week! 

Always love the looks and comments we get when shopping!

Next, Livi went to 1st chance camp at Rock River Christian Camp! She was pretty excited to go with her friends for 3 whole days!

 

After Livi got home from camp, Kurt, Mia, and I were on our way to Cincinnati with the youth group for the annual Road Trip. We spent a week with our students hanging out at a campsite, attending some of our favorite concerts, going to King's Island, and just having a good time. And as I write this, plans for the 2018 Road Trip are underway....please be praying!

After Road Trip we celebrated Mia's 13th birthday (a little late this year) by doing Random Acts of Kindness! 

 

 On July 7th, we packed our car and head WEST!! We went on an 18 day adventure to Yellowstone, Oregon, California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Santa Fe, and home!!! Oh my goodness did we have a blast. I'm going to do a separate blog post for the trip. We have too many fun things to share!
After we returned home it was time to get ready for school. Can you believe that Livi is in 3rd grade and Mia is in 8th grade already??? Time certainly does fly by way too fast! This past fall Kurt's art work has been represented by the Ice House Gallery in Evanston, IL. This is a brand new venue for him and he had to demonstrate extreme patience as we eagerly awaited opening day. The Gallery was suppose to open in April and finally opened in October!!

          

After school starts, we are pretty much into a routine of school/work/art, homework, practice or game, church on Sundays, and catching up on Saturday. This past fall there were several weekends that were 'homework" weekends...ugh!!!
We were able to attend the Missionary convention with the girls. Very interesting and now we are praying for Mia as she begins to make those "adult" decisions. She is interested in missions. Thank you Lord for sending Mia to us and for helping us along this parenting journey. Lord, our knees are going to be worn out as we ask you for guidance during the teenage years!
Kurt and I have been small group leaders for almost 2 years. We love having a group of people that can support and encourage us along our Christian walk. We are praying for continued growth for our group in 2018.

As 2017 came to an end, I reflected and came up with those ever famous "Resolutions". 

• Take more pictures of family. I enjoy hanging out with my family and sometimes get so wrapped up in the moment, I forget to snap a picture. I don't think everything needs to be documented and shared on social media, but for myself pictures are a gentle reminder of how blessed we are. I also want to share these memories and conversations with our girls down the road...those remember when moments! And really sometimes my absent mind about memories makes me nervous, so pictures just jog that memory.
• Ask more questions and be attentive to the answers. Sometimes I ask the basic "how are you?" question and don't really pay attention to the person answering probably because I'm too busy. People are way more important than my busyness, so I'm going to ask more questions and be more engaged in conversations and get to know people better.
• Read the Bible every day!!! Nothing else to say about it!! Just do it!!
• Sing to the Lord a New/fresh song!! Psalm 96:1 This was the first verse I read in 2018 and it kind of made me think about starting fresh in the new year. I don't like to sing, but I like to listen to music and sing in my car. Singing a fresh song to God could be using my life to glorify Him more, being more uplifting to others, and praising the Lord for ALL His creation!
• Here's one some of you have been waiting for (some have even encouraged me to do): Begin writing a cookbook!!! I want to share recipes and memories of my mom together in one book for Mia and Livi. I will begin by collecting more of my mom's recipes in one location. I will also begin writing the stories or memories of times those recipes were enjoyed by others. I will probably ask for help along this journey because many of you have great stories to share about my mom!! Thanks for being patient with me as I needed some time to prepare myself to even think about this task!

Thank you for following my Blog. Blogging is one of the ways that has helped me reflect on life, especially after loosing my mom in April of 2011. My hope was to blog about the changes in life, how I was coping or growing through this challenge, and to share events of our family for Mia and Livi.

Love,

Jenn

#Hello2018

What matters?

Good morning Mom,
Happy Mother's Day..only a day late!
I can't believe that it has been a year since the last time I sat down and did some blogging. Life has changed. Most days I just go through the motions to get to the next thing/day. Is it really that I'm busy or is it that the busyness of life distracts me from what matters? I have noticed this year that I have been struggling with relationships. I yearn for relationships that are meaningful, deep and supportive, but along with those strong relationships comes hurt and disappointment. Building good relationships requires me to grow and I have to endure some growing pains. My heart is still tender and guarded which means the the struggle to deepen relationships will require me to let my guard down. I didn't notice this struggle until recently. Now that I am aware of why sometimes I just want to curl up and keep to myself instead of reaching out, I will pray that God will take me where I need to go. I pray that God will strengthen relationships, bring new ones into my life, and renew ones that I have let go of. This list sounds like God is going to be busy, but with HIM I can do all things!!! I guess I just needed to write this out because 6, 7, or 8 years ago, we would have had this discussion. You probably would have noticed my attitude and set me straight...you're my Mom you helped remind me of what matters....people matter....love matters....following God matters!
Now, here's a catch up of that busyness...our family has been crazy growing this year! Mia has 17 days left of 7th grade...can you believe it!! She is almost as tall as me and can't wait to reach that status. She is still very sweet and tenderhearted.  She has been on the A/B honor every quarter while also playing basketball in the fall/winter and volleyball in the winter/spring. She has also been involved in youth group (StuCo) at church. She has been participating in the student led Sundays with worship. She loves to hang out with friends. She is an amazing big sister. She would continue to melt your heart!! I know that she misses those intimate conversations that her and grandma used to have As we begin enter the teenage years,  I wish she still had you hear for those conversations. I pray that we have surrounded her with Christian, adult women to support her and us through this next phase of life.
Liviana Grace is so different from Mia. She is very free-spirited, dramatic, and fancy with some sassy. We are encouraging her strong characteristics to curve towards positive things...like being a good leader, bringing out her artsy side, making sure she includes everyone and making sure she shares her ideas kindly. Whew!!! Sometimes we think the girls have flip-flopped ages. Livi loves to giggle with her friends, play Legos, paint, dance, gymnastics (we need to get her in a class again), and wear sparkles. She struggled with reading at the beginning of the year, but now it's amazing to hear her read. She would rather do math. She is very much into technology, which we have to monitor..hahaha!! This would melt your heart,too...she loves to be in the kitchen, watch Food Network, and cook right beside me. Watch out world, hear comes another generation of good cooking!
And, the girls love taking care of their 6 month old puppy,Nori. We got the girls a puppy for Christmas. Both girls has some tears of joy when the saw her for the 1st time. Nori is a little black Cockapoo. Oh my goodness is she fun to have! She melts my heart as well and Nori is working on Kurt.
Kurt has been busy painting and applying for art galleries. In the fall he was accepted into a gallery on a short term agreement basis in Raleigh, NC. So, the 2 of us went to Raleigh for a long weekend. His work is currently there, but there hasn't been as much communication as he had hoped. Not to long after we returned, he found out about a brand new gallery opening in Evanston, IL. He had applied to the call for artist add and was accepted. This is very exciting because it's not just a show, he is there and a part of something new. The Evanston Ice House Gallery will open June 1st ish.
As for me, I just keep plugging away at my job in RPS205 as a Assistive Technology Consultant. I love it!! Both Kurt and I are active youth sponsors and enjoy working with the junior high and high school students. Watching God work in their lives brings me to my knees. This group of students has taught me so much. They are brave, courageous, thinkers, full of energy, open, and yes there is some of the "other" teenage stuff, but we just pray God changes that. It's fun to watch Mia grow and mingle with friends. I remember how much you and dad were a part of supporting the youth. Thank you for making sacrifices to teach me and many others about God's love during our teenage years!!
Kurt and I are also small group leaders and have a wonderful group of individuals in our group. God is working in our lives as we humbly try to lead this group. Watching young adults interact and learn from more seasoned adult Christians, is so exciting because they are learning from each other.
I am going to close for now. My hope is to write more often.
Love, Jenny

Let it Bloom

Dear Mom,
Wow, yesterday flew by and I didn't sit down and reflect on purpose. Mom, when I sit down and write about you, your legacy, the memories we have shared with you and especially the memories that are being created without, my heart overflows with sadness and sometimes it's difficult to get over that hump. There is joy and hope in my heart as we reflect on your life as well. Joy and hope that together one day as brothers and sisters in Christ we will rejoice and celebrate, dance, and sing with Jesus!!! Yesterday, was a day to make happy earthly memories as we remembered you. We spent some time at the condo with grandpa and grandma Anderson, who are now staying with Dad and Laurie. We went with Dad to Baskin Robins for a scoop and I choose Rocky Road.......is there any in heaven? Then the five of us went to your grave where your earthly body was placed on a cold, rainy day on April 8th five years ago. As we chatted for a moment, we talked about the flowers that were placed there in your memory and how we can't believe that you have been away from us for 5 years.After we visited, Kurt and I and the girls headed to Madison to pick up a computer for Kurt's birthday. Before we went to the mall, we made a special stop at Orange Tree Imports and I was able to show the girls and Kurt this wonderful hidden treasure of a place. Oh Mom, all the kitchen stuff that I have but I was still in awe of the crazy, cool stuff that was there. I also shared the memory of the cake decorating adventure that you sent Kynda and I on there!! So much fun!! Thanks Mom!!
As someone wrote to me for encouragement yesterday, "your fingerprints" are still here! Mom, there are phrases I say, ways I stand, things I think, and how I live that remind me of you every single day. Your memories live on in the lives of so many because you lived life with others. You listened to people's needs, corrected their misunderstandings, read scripture with them, prayed with others, taught, laughed, cried, cooked, shared and the list goes on but you did these things because you LOVED Jesus and wanted others to share in the umbrella of blessings that HE has for us. Thank you!!!
If you are reading this and you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please take some time read your Bible, pray, and decide! If my Mom's love for Jesus touched your heart and that seed has been planted, it's time to water it and let God help it bloom! Maybe the thoughts of losing loved ones hurts you so much you fall away from sitting in the presence of God, please take time to allow HIS arms to wrap around you and spend time with HIM. This is the prayer I have for my family, brothers and sisters in Christ, friends, loved ones, children, husband, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the list goes on! May God's love surround you!
Thanks for reading and sharing this continued journey with me/us!
Love in Christ,
Jenn