by Kirst on February 8, 2010
Hi Sweetheart,
It’s just after dinner on Monday night. I think Jeff, my cellie, will be rolled-up soon and then released. He has attended Bible Study faitfully ever since he go there and I pray that he continues to seek the Lord on the outs. He has four kids and one granchild, also names Kayti. I believe he honestly wants to make a change, and not just a change, but a commitment. I passed along to him something that I heard a preacher said once. “If you want to grow in the Lord you have to be willing to do these four things daily 1) read your Bible, 2) pray, 3) get into a Bible Study or accountability group, 4) be bold in your faith. He wrote them down and discussed each at length. I think he has a good chance of succeeding.
The highlight of my day was talking to you and the kids. Buddy is so talkative nowadays. His favorite phrase is, “Daddy, d’ya know what?” And he is so exicted about going to the Pumpkin Patch. I can’t believe I’m going to miss the second annual carving the white pumpkin into a monster truck. Take plenty of pics please. When I spoke with Kayti she sounded so grown up, I just sat there and listened ane enjoyed it. I miss them both so much.
You sounded a little worn out, but your spirit sounded good. I am sorry that you are having to be both husband and wife. As you were describing your day, and the routine that is to become the norm, I couldn’t help but worry about the hectic pace. I know that you’ll tell me you really don’t have a choice, you just have to do it. But I still worry and feel bad that you are having to endure this. I pray daily that the Lord continues to give you strength and that His people continue to surround you/us with their love. The Lord brought you to that campus and enabled the kids to be in those Christian schools by His divine providence. He is caring for us in His perfect way and by His perfect timing. I am trying hard not to get worked up about being in here, or more importantly, not being out there with you. I will continue to trust in Him, for He is faithful!
I wrote a letter to one of our supporters today. There are several more response/thank you letters I need to send. I’ll be ordering extra envelopes this week in an effort to update people on what God is accomplishing in here already. I need to be diligent in that report because people really know just how much God has underway in this tank. I really wish I had the ability to IM you everytime I got a glimpse of God’s handiwork during the day. We would be in contstant contact!
Gotta get this in the mail. I’ll write and share more later. Kiss the kids for me!
I love you, Scott
by Kirst on February 8, 2010
Hello my love,
I am enclosing Kayt’s class newsletter so you can read about what she is learning. She is absorbing everything. She loves Miss Beck! Tonight she even named her Polly Pocket Miss Beck!
When Ryan was talking to your mom on the phone he told her that if you color in the How to Draw Dinosaurs book, that you will get busted. It was so funny.
I am glad you connected with JP and Joe again. And it sounds life Jim’s visits are great too.
I really enjoy getting your letters. You write so well. I am so tired right now that I am having trouble putting a sentence together.
Please know of my non-stop love and desire for you.
I am also enjoying motherhood more that ever, despite the challenges.
Talk with you soon.
Love, Kirst
by Kirst on February 4, 2010
Hi Sweetheart,
It has been a very long weekend for me and I am praying that yours was the opposite. Well, I hope it was long in the sense that you got to enjoy some quality time with your girlfriends. I guess what I mean is that I was praying that this weekend would be everything you hoped it would be. I can’t wait to hear about it.
Right now it is just after dinner on Sunday night. I am reflecting back upon the day and realizing that I have been in in a funk. So I am spending some time in God’s Word tonight and praying for Him to deliver me from my current mood. Like I was telling one of my friends in here earlier, I just want to get to know people and be an example of Christian living. I refuse to let my moods, or the politics in the place to keep me from following God’s leading.
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of my despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be astounded. They will trust in the Lord.” Psalms 40:1-3
The Lord hears those who love Him!
Yesterday I was walking and Carlos came up to me. I could tell he had some things weighing on his mind. So we walked and talked for awhile. He is normally a very even-tempered, stoic individual. Not much gets this guy flustered, he is a rock of faith. But yesterday he was in a valley and needing a friend to talk to.
They call it “hardtiming it.” He had been spending a lot of time thinking about his case that day and felt kind of lost, or maybe disconnected. This place does that to a man, or in most cases, to kids. They are young, have made a mistake and can’t talk to anyone about it. They would love to be able to talk things over with a family member, someone they trust and respect, but because the phones are monitored they can’t.
This is exactly where Carlos found himself, floundering for answers and looking for direction. Now, Carlos is a Christian, and a Christian who is seeking after Christ. He knows that his strength comes from Christ and he should have nothing to fear. But he had been praying that morning for comfort and up until our conversation he had not received any. He was literally near tears. As I recount the story I realize that God worked through me to give him that peace. We must have walked and talked for an hour. And at the end I still didn’t feel like I had provided him with anything more than just an open ear and honest concern. But he came back to me later and thanked me for listening and mentioned that it had made all the difference. God is amazing! He was using me and I hadn’t realized it, maybe that is the way it is supposed to be. I just pray that he will still find in me a useful vessel for his work, everyday.
I feel much better now having had this “conversation” with you sweetheart! Writing to you always boosts my spirits, it makes me feel closer to you. I’ll write more later.
I love you, Scott
by Kirst on February 4, 2010
Hi. I returned from Girls’ Weekend today and I missed your call. I had just come downstairs and I couldn’t find a single phone. It killed me! Sorry.
It was a good time–Mallory was a hit. It changes the dynamic to have a baby there with me, but I was a lot more relaxed than with Kayti the first time. Crystal and Leon watched her Saturday night so we could go out. Mals cried for an hour! She has never done that before.
Tish wasn’t able to make it this time–but we talked with her for hours on speakerphone Friday night. The girls paid for me to attend the weekend. It was really sweet. We got our makeup done free at the mall Saturday. That was nice.
The kids seemed to have fun. Mom helped rearrange their toys again. They saw Shark Tale today. On the phone yesterday Ryan kept asking me to come home. He calmed down when I told him I would bring him a present.
I miss you tons and love you. Can’t wait to hear your voice again.
Yours, Kirst
