God's in the Details
December, 2024
Dear Family and Friends,
Ever work on a project and estimate its completion, but when it’s finally done, it has taken so much longer. Why? You forgot about the details.
     The saying, “The devil’s in the details” can best explain this phenomenon. This year we’ve lived it. In hindsight, it was not only the devil stirring up distractions, but God was evident in those details. And, if we’re honest, some of those details were caused by our own actions—ignoring the importance of those little details.
     Because both of our moms died latter part of last year, most of the boys couldn’t make it to our family get together in CA in February. Painful Details.
     The memorial service for my mom was in February in INDPLS. Glad for those boys able to make it. Saw all my sisters, always a hard detail to make happen—from Canada, OH, and IN.
     Josiah and Dana (Miriam 4, Heidi 3, Joanna 1) moved from CA to PA, living in their RV while they looked for a house. This mom was concerned about the little detail of FREEZING. Along with lots of other details. 
     On their way, they stopped to attend Joey’s retirement party from the army. Jonathan and McKenna (Elanna 5 and Callum 2) came also, along with friends here. Several soldiers traveled far to attend—an honor not ignored. Josh arranged everything—food, dessert, venue—no detail overlooked.
     The day before all arrived, Jeremiah was in a car accident and disappeared. No detail was overlooked, even drones and police dogs to locate him. Felt the devil won those details, but, in hindsight, God was definitely in those details, too. Jeremiah returned home—no details shared.
     James graduated as a paramedic. His ceremony in INDPLS did not come close to expressing all those details he learned essential for one’s survival.
     We included an important detail of visiting Joey John and Rachel (Emma 11, Grace 8 and Anne 5) as they had recently found a new house in IL.
     Did you watch the eclipse? How can one small moon stand in the way of a ball of fire ten times its size blocking all its light to another little insignificant ball (earth)? It’s in the details. Details God thinks are important. So did we, when we watched in awe of God’s control (especially over details we don’t think so important, until we don’t have light!)
    And those northern lights that some saw in OK this year! Caused by tiny charged sun specks in the earth’s atmosphere. We aren’t harmed by the “little” detail because of our magnetic field (Important God detail, there). Scientists declare “we may have just witnessed some of the strongest auroras in 500 years.” God‘s details for our pondering.
    Joey found (while pursuing details), Dr. Jordan Peterson would speak in OKC. We bought tickets. Details that make you think. Standards for living that require Someone to initiate those standards. Morality doesn’t just happen. Without standards, we see the devil for sure.
     Due to a friend’s wedding (a significant detail for them), Jacob and Inna (Finley, 1) visited us. We followed them to the wedding in Alabama. Lots of lovely details there—everyone knows the importance of THOSE details.
    Walking through Tulsa’s Botanical Garden, we couldn’t fail to see the beauty in those flower’s details. Or touring Meramec Caverns and Fishers Cave, we saw the importance of a single water drop in the formation of elaborate, awe-inspiring stalactites, stalagmites and other cave formations.
     Visited Hot Spring, AR; Chickasaw Recreational Park, OK; and Eureka Springs, AR —where underground springs show even those unseen, hidden details prove important. Hot springs so hot, if touched, gave welts. Water so clear, nothing contaminated it. 
     One important detail—Joey finished working for the hospital in June. I had to remind him of all the details that the devil was in, for him to understand the significance of the details it played on our health.
     Pets play an important detail, sometimes annoying, other times rewarding. We’d convince ourselves it was time for our last dog, Lady, to go, then the vet would give us hope. She passed leaving memories.
    As the devil’s details seem strong, God’s are stronger. When Jeremiah turned 18, he left us. 
     On the same day, Reece Ryder was born joining Elanna and Callum to complete Jonathan and McKenna’s crew (for the present).
      Joey was accepted into Dallas Seminary. Even the introductory class was challenging—especially the technology—a detail to be reckoned with.
     In keeping with our student’s pay, we donated our truck to Vehicles for Veterans. All the details, from pick-up to receipt, were handled in a timely, professional manner. Another detail from the past not needed now—good memories of that truck’s service. 
     Joey ran in a 5K and ruck march given for veterans. Seemed his ruck sack was the only one; others used fanny packs and school bags. Embarrassing details.
    Visited Pawhuska OK, (known also as Pioneer Woman’s hometown.) We searched for buffalos on a nearby reserve. Wouldn’t know how massive they are, until we climbed on one’s back. (It was stuffed—a necessary detail). While at the buffalo reserve, our tour guide (who wasn’t even a tour guide—of course, God’s detail), talked with Joey about his army experiences. They were in the same place, though different times. Two hours later, the man shared how he’d never connected and shared with anyone about those years until now. God moments. Don’t you love them?
     Of course, we all can recognize God is in the details—especially after this election. We pray for continued protection for our elected leaders. And repentance for our nation. God has given us time. We can’t do anything but praise Him for those details.

     For those wanting the details about our boys…you’ve practically grown up reading about them—It’s no longer my story to share those details. But here are a few details shared on VIBER.
Joey John and Rachel: Emma, Grace, and Anne live in IL; he designs big boat lifts from home.
Josiah and Dana: Miriam, Heidi, Joanna and one coming soon! live in PA; he works in the hospital. 
Jonathan and McKenna: Elanna, Callum, and Reece live in TX, he’s foreman, though crane operator sometimes still gets squeezed in.
Jonas and Jane: Ruthie live in CA, he trains/breaks horses for the ranch.
Jacob and Inna: Finley live in CA, he’s a trucking broker. Also started his own business cleaning out dryer vents—do you know how many fires start in clogged vents? Don’t make it your overlooked detail.
James lives in IN, paramedic. Planning his homestead with required chickens.
Josh lives with us in OK, though we rarely see him; truck driver supporting the oil industry.
Jeremiah, in OK, works for Braums, an ice cream/hamburger place.
Joey retired and but quite busy with seminary.
     When sharing a song especially for Jonas (he sometimes must trail lead people), Jacob’s favorite line after describing all the things people try to do on a horse (details that could get them killed), “Well, they don’t bounce much when they hit the ground out here on the dude string trail.”
     Heidi (2) held a toy cheese grater, but it’s not a ‘cheese grater,’ it’s a phone. Josiah asked, “Is it the latest I-phone?” She said, “No, it’s a me-phone.”
     Grace declared, “I’ve been waiting more than four years for peace and quiet and it still hasn’t come to me.” (An important detail here: her youngest sister is 4 years old).
Dana responded, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Grace. I just turned 29 and still am not completely sure how to get peace and quiet to come to me.”  (The important detail here: she is the mother of 4, 3 girls and one waiting.)
     Ruthie (1) waits at the door calling Jonas for lunch. She’s very distraught when he leaves every morning and spends her day waiting at the door for him to return. (A detail I remember well).
      Jonathan shared a picture of Callum in a dog cage while visiting friends. He found his quiet space. Details worth hanging onto.
     Elanna and Dana share the same birthday. Jonathan asked Dana, “Did you get any light up Elsa shoes for your birthday?” Dana responded, “Should have put that on my wish list!”
    As soon as you say, “My child would never,” here they come nevering like they never nevered before.
     While Miriam and Heidi play church, they sing low mimicking the congregation with great reverence. Miriam, as preacher, aggressively forced her congregation (Heidi) to listen. Dana’s response, “Female preachers are a scary thing.”
     Joey John shared this, “Did you know? Feeling cold is contagious. A study showed that observing others being exposed to cold water causes you to not only feel colder, but to also experience a drop in body temperature.” ---This is for mom, she always made us wear a coat! Of course, an essential detail!
    Anne running from outside, “Mom, I have the greatest news ever!! I found a wasp nest under the deck!” Jonas responded, “She would have a full time around here.”
     Elanna’s dance recital brought another trip for us to TX. Important details, she will remember.
     Grace named her paper airplane “’Journey’—it doesn’t really go on long journeys. The engine isn’t very good and the pilot just plays with all the buttons until it lands.”
     Josiah reported, “We had this triathlon in town today. I treated a number of participants in the ER today. Some who finished; some who didn’t.”
James responded, “And people say, ‘Running is good for you.’—End up in the ER.”
     Josiah: “After twenty minutes of Miriam talking nonstop, I asked her why she feels like talking so much? She said, “People talk all the time. They talk at home. They just talk. Even children talk. They sometimes talk with their parents. The only people who don’t talk are those who are dead. Dead people can’t talk. But you know when the young man was lying there dead, he couldn’t say anything. He was just lying there until Jesus told him to get up and then he got up and started talking. Do you remember that? Mama read about that in our children’s Bible. I saw the pictures.”
     Finley likes to throw his toys in the plants so he can justify digging through the dirt. Essential details for childhood!
     Memories about our children and grandchildren! Details worth remembering!

     Just little things. But they matter.
     The devil’s been working in the details of our health. Perhaps because we didn’t consider health details essential before—rest, no sugar, lower carbs. After labs, appointments, tests and more, we are finding stability again. At least Joey is. He IS better at doing what he’s supposed to do, while I’m on the fringe details of “we’re not in trouble yet.” 
     I backed off a ladder while painting (thinking I was on ground), found tail bones are essential for sitting, standing, laying—well everything. A one step detail that is remembered NOW. (An important detail to include was I was re-painting Jeremiah’s former room, couldn’t stop crying, probably shouldn’t have been on any ladder at all.)
     I ran into my rebounder in the dark and broke my toe—another important detail: light is important for navigating safely. Details. That. Cost. 
     For those asking, my health is better than a year ago. But still frustrating. Maybe ignoring details is costly. Well, not maybe.

     Jesus told us: He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? (Luke 16:10-11).
     The little things reveal our heart. And it shows our need for a BIG change. One we can’t change on our own. 
     But God. Is. In. The. Details.
    At Christmas, we celebrate that essential detail of God becoming man to save us from our sin—those choices we willfully make contrary to the holy God. When He came, He paid attention to those little details—promises He made to us from creation—that He would redeem us back from the power of the devil and our own poor choices. 
     His Son was the answer. His Son’s death paid for those sins.
     But without your submission, His death does nothing. You won’t find peace with God nor victory over sin. Details that took God to fix—you can’t do it yourself.
    This Christmas, take that important detail of submitting to the Savior. Sin weighs heavy—a burden too heavy to bear. 
     But God, (what an important detail) waits to forgive you. 
     Details that would make the angels sing—victory over the devil and your sin, brought through Jesus’s death,

Wishing you this Christmas, peace that comes from submitting to Christ—a detail worth living,

Joey, Josh and Sonya

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Our Adventures Year by Year

For over thirty years I've been chronicling our family's adventures in yearly Christmas letters.
Watch our family grow and learn alongside us. 

The letters are listed in reverse chronological order below.

God's in the Details, 2024
The Year of the Sighs, 2023
Life's Little Pleasures, 2022
Yearning for a Place, 2021
God is in the Details, 2020
Hanging by a Threads, 2019
Danger, 2018
What Is Trust 2017
Who Has Control 2016
What Is Your Story? 2015
Do Your Parents Want You to be Responsible? 2014
Take Wings and Fly: 2013
The Forever Year--Respect: 2012
Buffaloes and Butterflies: 2011
Why Don't We Have Any Adventures? 2010
The Glad Game: 2009
Things Our Mothers Taught Us: 2008
Cowboy Logic: 2007
Wow! What a Ride! 2006
Peace on Earth? 2005
Grace and Mercy 2004
Dependence: 2003
Enjoying Life: 2002
Be Like a Child: 2001
Battle Zone: 2000
Help! 1999
Whatever Your Hand Finds To Do March 1999
Learning Through a Child's Eyes: 1997
Productive: July 1997
Love, 1996
Available in book form for the first twenty years.
Click on book cover for details.