A Year in Review

I was totally inspired after I read Catherine's and Lisa's blogs to post a year in review and I loved Lisa's approach by going from December-all the way back to January. It seems to me that my mind will remember the most recent joys and concerns of 2010 first so .... with that said here goes ....
December
Joy; A surprise visit from our TX kids and grand kids for Christmas which meant that we were all together this Christmas, sons, son-in-laws, daughters, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughters ... Yea! Also a joy was a time of welcoming women and one special man into our home as Kelley and I hosted our annual "Blessings" Open House.

Concern; The loss of one of our 3-grade students totally unexpected.
November
Joy; A missions trip to Liberia but not before spending time with MN family cutting down our Christmas Tree ... I love this tradition.

Concern; The loss of my nephew of just 33 years of age also totally unexpected.
October
Joy; Women of Faith and a restful time at the Prestigious Plymouth Pederson B&B. It is always so fun to entertain in our townhome. This year was a special time of B&B as I was able to host some new friends and one old "best" friend, Andrea. We talked, we laughed and we talked some more.

Concern; One of my good friends was told she had cancer and another good friend's husband of many years left here.
September
Joy; School begins and I am ready for routine. I was asked to serve with a great team of 1st grade teachers along with my regular assignment in the EBD classroom.

Concern; I just was not sure what I would do with all my free time now that I had finished school. It seems that this did not turn out to be much of a concern.
August
Joy; The most amazing and fun Anniversary with my sweet husband of 37 years as we road-tripped to the west coast stopping along the way at the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, the Grand Canyon etc ... fun, fun, fun!

Concern; none really
July
Joy and Concern Can't really remember anything
June
Joy; Planning to take my grand kids overnight each Wednesday night for the summer and then go garage sailing with Kelley. (well it wasn't exactly the whole summer much to our dismay!)

Concern; The summer would go much too fast and it did!
May
Joy; Graduation after 5 years of college at Crown College. And the most thoughtful and well-planned graduation open house hosted by all of my kids at my daughter, Lisa's house. Thankful for the accomplishment and even more thankful for the love of my family and that they celebrated me!

Concern; Would I really complete my course work and graduate?
April
Joy; Traveling to TX for the first time by myself to spend time with Jake, Carrie and the Kids having all of them to myself. Don't get me wrong I do like to share but there is just something sweet about having alone time with my kids and grand kids.

Concern; Would I experience complete recovery from a fall I had while restraining a student. (mostly recovered)
March
Joy; An art course I took to fulfil some credits and I fell in love with the professor, the class and the process of art.

Concern; Would I complete my course work and graduate?
Febuary
Joy; Reading and writing and being encouraged to read and write by my daughter Lisa1

Concern; Will the winter ever end?
January
Joy; Being a part of the first EX 2:2 class at my church. I learned so much and read so many good books which I am excited to use as I disciple others in the coming year.

Concern; Would I blog my intentions and even more important would I even be able to live out my intentions?

anew, everyday

Isaiah 43:16, 18, 19

"This is what the Lord says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

This is just a simple thought for today that I received in my in box ... as I reflect on the past year and look forward to next year this brings great encouragement. Throughout the valleys of this past year I am reminded that the lessons are learned in the valley ... love you all, praying for you all ....
In His Arms, B.

Continuing to Count my 1000 Gifts

181. life and breath

182. the gift of salvation

183. family

184. friends

185. His word and in particular Psalm 27 today

186. health

187. peace

188. the grief never too hard for Him to bear

189. dependence on Him

190. love for my "golfer"

191. whiter than snow He washes me!

192. a fellowship of believers

193. Christmas break and extra reading and writing time

194. an indoor park to play at with my grandchildren on a 10 degree weather day

195. caribou coffee made with a note "lym" by my youngest

196. the quietness of my kitchen table

197. a long nap under my mother-in-law's (gone to be with Jesus) Indian wool blanket

198. knowing that I am loved by family

199. knowing that I am loved by friends

200. knowing that I am loved way more by HIM

Day 30 Christmas Surprise

We were quite surprised when we arrived at Adam's on Christmas Eve for breakfast when the doorbell rang and Adam indicated it was a neighbor when in fact it was Jake, Carrie, Annika, Eden and Jake's sister Cassie. Without us knowing they arrived in MN on Thursday evening after driving here from TX.

The fact that they came and our whole family was together this Christmas was wonderful. Family for me is the most important part of living ....

I am so grateful for the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus that is the reason for us to be together yet one more time as the "Original Pedersons" with spouses and children celebrating His birth.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight. Sleep, sweet in Jesus' arms! B.

Home Again (day 29)

9/26/2010 Who would have thought that it would take me a 3-month period to follow through with my goal of 30 days of writing but it has ... and I am totally OK with this, today, being day 29!

I have been home since Monday, December 13 but am just now sitting down to blog for the first time. The trip to Liberia was amazing! For now I would like to share just two quick stories to go with the above pictures in this post ....

On the 3rd and 4th day in country the team from New Hope Church facilitated a conference on Reconciliation and Evangelism. I was a facilitator for 2 of the workshops on Evangelism. The first conference day there was a women named Rebecca who participated in the one of the workshops I presented. At the end of the workshop I told of how I had come to Christ in January of 1977. I gave everyone an opportunity to pray to receive Christ. After the workshop was over Rebecca came and asked me for my mailing information and said that she had received Christ that day! I was thrilled but of course God was more thrilled. This past Monday I sent a Bible to Rebecca and to another individual who received Christ! I will now continue to pray for Rebecca and for her growth in Christ.

On one of our final days we traveled to one of the villages where we gave out the gifts provided by the kids from the NHC children's prayer team, Hopewatchers. The gifts were school supplies. Pictured here is one of the girls using a crayon for the first time. Each child was given one crayon from the box of 24 crayons. What wonder to see and appreciate this act of giving from the kids in MN to the kids in Liberia. As a teacher this was especially meaningful as many of these children did not have school supplies or even know how to use them. So many things we just take for granted in the United States!

I am every so grateful to each of you who "gave and sent" me to Liberia to be the hands and feet of Christ.

We make a great team! In His Arms, Beth