UPDATE....

Beautiful Laguna Beach, CA

      Much time has passed since my last entry in January so I’ll try to get you somewhat up to date.  First of all, we entered the dry season here in Costa Rica, which has been very nice.  Locals say it is not as hot, dry and dusty as usual.  We’ve even been blessed this summer with a few pleasant rain showers.

Laguna Volleyball with friends

Kelsey, growing in her Faith

Secondly, over Feb and March I was in California for a month.  I thoroughly enjoyed a strong dose of all my 3 adult children by staying in their home.  Thank you so much Kelsey, Kagen and Alex!!!  A family friend has blessed them with an affordable place to live in a safe community with other benefits that include walking to the beach and store, and enjoying the club house and pool amenities.  Life’s Rough!!!

           

Good for the Core and the Soul

Yum...Grilled veggies
and tri-tip!

        My in-laws sacrificed and graciously gave me use of their car—Thank you Bertie and Bob!!!  This was a huge unexpected gift for me to have my own wheels in the OC and enabled me to visit with many friends.  I regret being unable to visit with you all!!  I spent the bulk of my time with my “fun coordinator”, Kelsey.  She kept me busy and even took me paddle boarding for my first time, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I was able to spend a bit of time with my mom and her husband and enjoy their company as well. 

Tuesday Women's Bible Study, CVC

    
       I was also invited to attend a weekend at Murrieta Hot Springs on a women’s retreat with my old church CVC.  These amazing women were kind enough to give me the privilege of speaking about the Bible and my current life experiences the last morning of the event.  Public speaking is always nerve wracking for me, but it is also so humbling to experience the influence and encouragement you can give to others from behind a podium.

California Hiking

Gotta use the hands
 when speaking!

                  This was the first time I didn’t type out notes of what I would say, word for word.  I wanted to use this opportunity to trust God that He would help me speak from my heart and His word.  Now don’t get me wrong, I DID have an outline to follow!  That would be scary, as many of you know, for me to just talk without guidelines, because you know how many tangents I can go on.  How many times have many of you heard me say… “now why was I talking about that??!!”  The entire weekend was awesome, even the “accidental” 9 mile mountain hike (it was supposed to be a 3 mile hike).

Love to all,
Kristi

I have been back home in Costa Rica for 3 weeks now, which really feels like three months because life is so different here and so far from what I experience in CA.  My strong dose of my kids only lasted through the first week of my return.  But I have found some other things to do to keep me focused on positives, not on my loss of touch with friends and family in the States.  I will share some of these in my next blog.  But for now, I’m back and readjusting to the two speeds of Costa Rica, slow and stop…

The Transplant

On 1/1/11, I was struggling.  Feelings of hopelessness, seeing no end to my trials, only more problems in the future were in my sights.  I was outside watering a hibiscus I had transplanted.  It was once strong, vibrant, well rooted, grounded and established.  It had adapted to where it was originally planted and was "comfortable" blooming and growing where it was at.

But I had a "better" spot for it.  So I moved it into a sparse hedge where it could be of more use and could help the entire hedge in the long run.  I dug it out, hacking away at it's roots, because I know things grow so easily here in the Costa Rican climate.  Then I placed it in it's new home and soaked it with water.

I was very satisfied to see my new vivacious transplant.  It already made the hedge look better and I could picture how it would help support the thickness and lusciousness of the entire hedge in the future.  For the hedge I placed it in was uncared for.  But now, I would see to it that the entire hedge was protected from leaf cutter ants, fertilized, trimmed and watered.

Three days went by and the leaves on my transplant were wilting.  Two weeks have passed and now the leaves have yellowed wilted and are begun to drop off.

As I stared at the plant, it's as if God said, "Kristi, this is what happens to transplants...it's normal.  I have transplanted you, and although I'm a more careful and gentler gardner than you, I still have allowed your roots that had spread out into South Orange County to be severed."

"All the paths you were so familiar with and many of the comforts that you enjoyed are no more.  Things are definitely different!  And yes, I even showered you with water after replanting you (rained for 6 weeks) but you will still wilt and faint and struggle to reroot yourself.  But I've placed you right where I want you."

"You are in the hedge of my protection and provision.  I see how you fit and will grow together and the whole hedge will become stronger and more beautiful together.  You are part of my purpose, plan and design.  Don't think for a minute that I don't have my eye on My landscape!  And by the way, I know every root that was cut and every leaf that you've lost and will continue to lose.  Until slowly, over time and with the right care you will reestablish, reroot, re-bud and re-blossom.