Two Birthday's Celebrated

Kelley Catherine Larson born August 9, 1986 

Ashley Laura Rode born August 6, 1988 

... celebrated their birthdays this year together at the Grosser"s cabin on West Fox Lake in MN. These two girls have shared birthdays every year of their life except one year when Ashley was at boot camp and another year when she was stationed overseas. Although they are very much individuals this is a highlight for both of them to share this time together. This year was especially fun for us as a family to celebrate during our vacation time.

(except for missing the Davis family in TX)

We had a great time of opening gifts and eating cupcakes made by the little hands of Sid, Pru, and Lenny.

 

Since Baby Beckett was asleep during the party time he 

enjoyed his cupcake the next day.

Dear Kelley and Ashley I am so proud and grateful to 

call you my daughters.

I am praying that this coming year of 2014-2015 is a year of great blessing from the hand of God!

I love you both so much more! mom

Baby Beckett Turns One!

Hard to believe this little guy turned one on July 28th .... His dad and mom planned an awesome 1st birthday party at a nearby park.

Let the Celebration Begin!

First a lot of food was eaten by all Beckett's family and Friends

Then the games were played ... loved this game where all the party friends tried to convince Beckett to come to his favorite toy

Then it was time to open presents

Finally a homemade monster cupcake (specially crafted by Beckett's mom)

Happy Birthday Beckett! Your life has been a testimony of God's grace, peace and healing. I am praying that God continues to use you in a mighty way. I love you more, however Jesus loves you most!

July 27th .... The Golfer's Birthday

70 Things that I love about you, 

from the one who loves you more, 

for your 70th birthday

1.         I love that you love the Lord
2.         I love that you me well
3.         I love your faith
4.         I love how you care for me  
5.         I love how you are the best daddy in the world
6.         I love that you are the best father-in-law in the world
7.         I love that you are the best bumpa and love your    grandchildren so much
8.        I love that you rejoiced in my healing of M.S.
9.        I love that you are full of faith
10.         I love your generous heart
11.         I love how you love others
12.         I love your persistence
13.         I love that we have laughed together
14.         I love that we have cried together
15.         I love that you are a good friend to many 
16.         I love sitting on the couch with you
17.         I love hearing your voice on the phone
18.         I love your selflessness
19.         I love your thoughtfulness
20.         I love your devotion to your family
21.         I love that you promised your life to me on August 10, 1973
22.         I love watching you walk by faith
23.         I love your sincerity
24.         I love that you love me no matter what
25.         I love when you have showed me His way through His words
26.         I love that you are my encourager often
27.         I love that you are humble
28.         I love that you are compassionate
29.         I love your wisdom
30.         I love your kind heart
31.         I love how you are at times open with your emotions
32.         I love hearing you pray aloud
33.         I love your love for serving
34.         I love that you are teachable
35.         I love your smile (without your 2 front teeth)
36.         I love your encouraging cards to me ( I have saved every one)
37.         I love your hugs
38.         I love how you have prayed for me often
39.         I love that you are a book-lover
40.         I love that you are honest
41.         I love that you are available
42.         I love that you are a thinker
43.         I love that you are a person of integrity
44.         I love that you are positive (most of the time)
45.         I love that you are enthusiastic (some of the time)
46.         I love that you are intentional
47.         I love that you love to help others
48.         I love that you are comfortable sharing your life with me
49.         I love that you are not afraid to share your values
50.         I love that you find joy in the simple things
51.         I love that you are gentle
52.         I love that you are self-controlled
53.         I love that you are strong
54.         I love that you are confident
55.         I love that you show your love for me by running errands
56.         I love that you will kiss me at red lights
57.         I love when you sleep by my side at night
58.         I love when you fix me steak and baked potato      
59.         I love that you fill my car up with gas
60.         I love when you mute the TV just to hear what I have to say
61.         I love that you are willing to vacuum every week  
62.         I love when you rub my feet
63.         I love that you were willing to teach me how to play cribbage
64.         I love when you read aloud to me
65.         I love that you fix, super glue, and replace anything that is broken
66.         I love when you get take-out for dinner and bring it home for me after a long day at work
67.         I love that you drive me around
68.         I love that you buy me candles, and Caribou and coffee lovers it like-it ice cream from Cold Stone
69.         I love when you bring home daisies
70.         I love that it is your 70^th birthday and my wish for you is that you will be blessed by this gift of all that I love about you!  Terry you are my best friend and the love of my life and I love you so much more!

Here's pictures of the 6 course meal that Adam and Kelley prepared for their dad.

Carrie flew in to surprise Terry and we enjoyed a dinner with adults only. After 2 and 1/2 hours of eating, drinking, laughing and overall fun we were off to the living room at Adam's. 

We watched as Terry opened a few of his 70 letters from friends and family, (a gift Carrie planned) his photo book of pictures of him from ages 1-70, (a gift Kelley planned) and other gifts given. He stated this was the best birthday celebration ever!  

#70neverlookedsogood

finding joy in Friday night pizza

971. "In the beginning ...

972. Your word that displays wonder

973. the golfer and how he cares for me

974. Caribou coffee from Kelley, Ashley, and the Larson kids

975. unexpected struggles and fears

976. first days of school

977. my freedom in Christ and our countries freedom

978. His mercies new each morning

979. rest that leads to sleep

980. a job with benefits

981. that I am a sheep who belongs to the Shepherd

982. evening walks with the golfer

983. time away at Camp Shamineau

984. the thoughts, words and actions of my co-worker, Courtney

985. finding joy in what matters,

Friday night pizza!

 

 

 

 

Friday Night Pizza

Missing the Davis' and the Vanahn's for Friday night pizza times but throughly enjoying these cousins

loving on one another!

 

Not sure what this expression is except that Kelley I think was talking with Sid about how when Beckett opens his eyes they are so wide open so Sid I think said "like this?"

I am loving every minute of holding this little one and tonight when he was awake he was smiling and talking a bit.

A no family pizza week .... but tummy time in more ways than one!

We did not have our regular Friday night time of family pizza the last week in September so .... my lovely daughter-in-law invited us over for dinner fixed by her husband ... chicken on the grill and potatoes yum. Good food for the face and tummy! As usual, my daughter-in-law thinks of me, and she made gluten-free brownies for dessert. I am always grateful when she sends me home with left-over brownies for my school lunch.

 

But the best tummy time for the evening overall was spending this time with Beckett on his tummy looking at me with those eyes! He's growing so fast and was extremely alert this evening!

 

 

Salad in a jar

Ok here's me in the kitchen this summer. This is my daughter's idea and it's a great one for summer and for me who doesn't always like to spend a lot of time making lunch and / or dinner.

 

 

 

As you can see I line up a total of 10 mason jars: 5 for the golfer and 5 for me. Prior to filling them I purchase a bunch of Trader Joe's boneless, skinless chicken breast. First, I wash it, poke it with a fork, and rub it with vinaigrette Italian herb olive oil, salt and pepper and sometimes a bit of bacon bacon and let it sit overnight in the fridge. Next, the golfer is kind enough to fire up the grill and cook the chicken. Then, it's time to get ready all the salad ingredients chopped and ready to put it.

Layer

dressing

broccoli slaw

any and every vegetable (no cucs or tomatoes they are too wet) you feel like adding

we both like red onions and the golfer likes mushrooms

hard-boiled eggs

cheese

spinach

romaine (pack it tight)

lid on the jar and presto

5 lunches / dinners for the week

 

 

 

1 hour later and in the fridge,

5 on top for the tall golfer and

5 on the bottom for shorter one, me ....

1 hour in the kitchen. Really. 

 

 



Almond Joy Creamer

Wow, Indulging in a bit of Almond Joy creamer (my littlest introduced me to this) this morning with some praying girlfriends from work. It's not on "7" but it tastes so very good and it goes along well with the Word, prayer and fellowship. Remembering it's the practice not the perfection ...

"7" Day 17, Father's Day

Well if you thought I would host Father’s Day at our home, watch the daughter’s prepare hamburgers, brats, homemade potato salad, salsa and special K bars and not eat any of this meal because none of these foods were on my list of 7 foods for the month of June you are wrong!

Today I fell off seven and considering this is the first day of the week this could be a not so promising week on 7. I reminded myself that when I do a month of 7 foods again I will not choose the month of June because of graduation open house, weddings, Father’s Day and the family birthdays that fall in the month of June not to mention the end of the school year celebrations.

I pretty much stayed within 7 throughout last week with the exception of June 10 when the golfer and I celebrated with a monthly date night and coffee lover’s like-it ice cream for me and on Wednesday a lunch with fellow colleagues of Jimmy John’s (ham not chicken).

 

I leave you with this picture of my grandson Sid enjoying Father's Day at our home!

 

 

"7" Day 7 and 8

Linking up here:



1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

 

So here goes not edits:

start

Fall it's what I did on day 7 of "7" I fell (past tense of fall) yesterday at Milton's when I ate chicken, bread, and water on my list of 7 but finished it off with a few bites of banana foster.
It's OK that I fell ... I gave myself permission to fall because after all it was my oldest daughter's birthday celebration.

Fall it's what I did on day 8 of "7" I fell for the dish of M&M"s as I saw my daughter Kelley reach into the bowl at Jacob's graduation open house. Mind you  ... I stuck with"7" all day and it was not until 8 pm tonight that I reached into that bowl of candy. No good reason for reaching my hand into the candy dish and of course I felt crummy for fall(ing)

Why can't I remember to pray when tempted ... remembering

"no temptation has seized me accept what is common to man yet God will provide I way of escape"

... falling into the I'm sorry please forgive me mode for thinking only about what I wanted (the banana foster and the M&M's). Now falling into forgiveness cause that's what He does when we come to Him!

stop

Hoping and praying not to fall tomorrow on day 9 ....

7 Day 3

The day started well and I was confident that it would continue to go well when low and behold ... I stopped in the staff' lounge at work.

I never have any trouble with the pastries, cookies and brownies that often make there way into the lounge but when I see this:


yep chocolate ... any kind of chocolate but today it was little Hershey miniatures and kisses I always help myself. Today I walked by this basket of chocolate 2 times resisting. But I have to say the 3rd time I saw these chocolates and when it was right after my lunch (which is a normal time I would have just a little something sweet) I caved. Yep, I ate a little bit of chocolate today!!0Z&@ ? Darn!

After lunch I got right back on 7 after slipping and falling. Next time I am tempted I am going to pray and ask God to be enough ... to be more than chocolate to me and I know He will! I know that He can be enough as I turn my heart towards Him. I don't know why I did not think to ask Him to help me resist but .... lesson learned and I will turn to Him in the future ... this 7 thing is new to me so I have a lot to learn ... I want to be patient with myself,  not too hard on myself. Tomorrow is a new day!

7 day 2

Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk food and more of You and Your kingdom.

This is what Jen says on Day 1 in her book ....

Thinking that this 7 experiment is not just about thinking I am eating better, but being drawn to the heart of God, in the midst of doing without brats, Cheetos, and desserts at the picnic today, after my daughter-in-law's baptism at Minnehaha Falls!

 

 

7 begins today June 1, 2013

In an attempt to make better choices of food for my face and to learn more about just how much food we have and are free to eat I am stepping into a month of 7 modeled after Jen Hatmaker's book 7 an experimental mutiny against excess.



I read this book last Spring and I took the month on stress seriously and began a month with 7 daily pauses. Now this summer, I am going to do a month of 7 foods.

I love that I am not in this alone. Like Jen who had her "council" I have my littlest, Ashley and my sister-in-law, Marlee doing the experiment with me so ....

My seven foods are:

1. chicken
2. eggs
3. cheese
4. gluten free white mountain bread from Byerly's
5. apples
6. romaine
7. spinach

I also made a plan for a few condiments; Almond Butter form Whole Foods, Gluten Free Braswell's of Georgia Vidalia Onion and Summer Tomato gourmet dressing from Cub Foods, and olive oil which I purchased here  http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/store-location-hours.html
I picked up Italian herb vinaigrette ... yum!
I finished my shopping by stopping at Trader Joe's to pick up my cheese romaine and spinach.

I forgot to say my drinks for the  month will be:

1. water
2. tea
3. lactose-free mild

This is what I fixed for the next 3 days lunch ...

Salad in a jar ... supper healthy

 

from bottom to top:

dressing

salad slaw

onions

chicken marinated in Italian Herb oil

hard-boiled egg

cheese

spinach and romaine layered and packed in

5 of my 7 foods

Can't wait for lunch time tomorrow!

 

 

 



My Friend, My Sister(s) in Christ

 

 

 

Holly fixing her hair before having her picture taken

 

I could not sleep tonight so I am up and writing about the reason I could not sleep. You see, tonight was the night I presented the devotions at my friend's bridal shower. Since I wrote a post last week about my birth sister I thought I would follow it up with a post about my sister in Christ, good friend, funnest person on this earth, Holly. She will be getting married in less than and month and I am very happy for her but ... the reason I can't sleep is 'cause even though I am happy for her I am sad because there will be a distance between Holly and I after she gets married 'cause she's moving to Nebraska, to be a farmers wife. It will be a great loss and since I am prone to have "attachment disorder" :-) it will be extremely hard to have this good friend move away from Minnesota. I see Holly most every week and we, Holly, my other sisters in Christ Andrea, and Lisa have this yearly tradition of enjoying taco salad with homemade salsa (by the golfer) each summer. What I love about our time is we share with one another Bible verses that we can be praying throughout the coming year for each  other. This year Holly has been praying Psalm 91:1 for me, and I have been praying Hebrews 12:5b-7 for her. With Holly I not only receive the gift of an amazing friend but the gift of an amazing praying friend. I love you Holly and I will miss you big time!

 

Below are the words that I shared with Holly this evening:

It is a delight to be here this evening to celebrate and honor you, Holly as you get married to Chris in June.

When I thought about what I would share tonight I felt sad … ‘cause I thought about

how much I would miss our summer time taco salad’s;

how I would miss “hearing” our love language  of “sarcasm” with one another

and how I would miss our hug’s and check-in’s at the front desk

But then I thought about how happy I am for you Holly. How happy I am that you met Chris, that you love one another well and that you plan to be a farmer’s wife for the rest of your life ….

A farmer’s wife must be strong … not just strong enough to pail hay, drive the John Deer tractor, or bring in the crops but …

1. strong in who you are

2. strong in your ability to study the Bible and pass it on to others

3. strong in your prayer life

4. strong in your relationships

5. strong in your love for others

6. strong in your joy

1. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in Who They Are
We've all heard those age-old questions, like, "Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Where am I going?" Isn’t it great Holly that as a Christian woman you know who you are? I love that you know you are a child of the King. You know who your creator is. And it is my hope that knowing who you are in Christ will give you satisfaction and strength.

In the scriptures in Ephesians 1:4-6 The Lord says:
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

2. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in Bible study, Bible knowledge, and passing that knowledge on to others
Staying in the Word daily builds up our bodies. It's like those exercises that you have to do so many repetitions every day in order for it to do any good. We've just got to keep reading, studying, and memorizing God's Word to keep fit and strong. When questions and things come up, we need to know what the Bible says about it. If we're grounded in God's Word, we are better able to be strong and resist temptations too. We need to have the answers and Bible knowledge right there to grab and use as things come at us. In Psalm 119:11 the Lord says: I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. And in 2 Timothy 2:1-6 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Because I would love to encourage you to be strong Christian woman of the word I have this gift for you (Give the gift of the Bible Study)

3. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their prayer Life.
Making prayer a vital part of our lives gives us such strength. It uplifts and strengthens us as we go on our way. Prayer is such a powerful thing. We have loved one another well by praying for one another. Thank you Holly, for praying for me and it has been an honor to pray for you! I believe that to be a praying wife is the most powerful way you can encourage your husband Chris.

In Psalm 55:17 the Lord says Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
And in 1 Thessalonians 7:17 He says that we are to Pray without ceasing.  

Because I would love to encourage you to be a praying wife I have this gift for you (Give the gift of The Power of the Praying Wife and for Chris The Power of the Praying Husband)

 

4. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their relationship with their husband.
We are gathered here tonight to honor you Holly and your marriage to Chris. The strong Christian women I've known over the years have all had a strong and good relationship with their husbands. I think that's so important. When you marry Chris, he will become your husband and he will be the second most important person in your life. How you interact with him is going to affect how strong you are. Always remember to be building him up and you will be strong.

In Proverbs 31:28 the Lord says: Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. 

And in Ephesians 5:22-24: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.   

Because I would love to encourage you to be strong in your relationship with Chris I want to give you this calendar. On it is marked every 15th of the month because you will be married on the 15^th of June. I believe that if you intentionally set aside that day each month to date one another for the rest of your lives that you will remain in love with one another just as if it were the very first day you were married. (Give the gift of the calendar)

 

5. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their love for others.  There's nothing like concentrating on others to give us a boost. They say having a genuine love for others is like drinking one of those sports drinks. It will restore all those minerals you've been missing! Think about how love was a big part of Christ's life. It definitely should be a big part of yours Holly. I am confident it will be and as you continue to care, reach out, encourage, and pray for others you will be strong.
John 13: 34-35 states:  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Because I would love to encourage you to be a strong in your love for others I want to give you this package of note cards so you may encourage others as you have encouraged me. (Give the gift of note cards)

Finally,

6. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their joy.
Holly, maybe at some point you have memorized the last part of Nehemiah 8:10, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

It's such a simple phrase but so powerful. We can tap into His strength daily by having His joy.  We don't need the latest outfits, a membership to the gym, a really nice home, a new John Deer tractor or financial security. We just need to find the joy of the Lord in our lives and we'll find our strength.

Let’s Pray ….

 

 

 

 

 



Promote Your Love from LVA

When I saw Lisa today at class she asked if I had read her post from Friday. I had not; but now I have! And because I want this written piece for years to come I am reposting it here on my blog. I have to say that the Why I love Easter is the part that stirs my heart!

PYL: The Best Guacamole Ever. Why I Love Easter. And A Disclaimer.

Guacamole is one of my favorite foods of all time. My homemade guacamole has received many accolades via friends, party-goers, and family.

“This is the best I’ve ever tasted”.

“No way, what do you put in this stuff it rocks!”

“Will you bring your guac to my party?”

Disclaimer. There are two women in my life who make better guac than I do. Morgan Luzier and Cindy Campbell-Lashley. I don’t know…maybe a little more love goes into it than I have to give. I’ve been to many restaurants, parties, and the like. I would always rather eat my guac. Unless one of these two spectacular women are making it.

But, you are going to get my recipe (below). And it is pretty darn awesome!

I’m hanging with the fam this weekend for Easter. I love it. I love them. I have the blessing of a hugely supportive and loving family and while we get into it big at times, we always love big, always. So Sunday I’ll be Easter egg hunting with my adorable nephew and nieces. We’ll be missing two major parts to my fam, my sis who lives in TX(she adores my quac) and her family, and my sis in Afghanistan (also loves my guac, and she doesn’t like guac, Huge props! She is scheduled to return home next week. SO Grateful for her safe return).

My job is to make the guac and bring it. Roger that. Can do.

I love Easter because I don’t spend nearly enough time with this amazing arsenal of support also known as my immediate family. My sis Kelley, her adorable kids, and quiet but solid hubby. My bro, Adam, the amazing transformationalist and shining example of resiliency and inspiration, with his loyal, loving and ever sweet wife (plus the awesome little nephew growing inside her), and my parents, who taught me above all, LOVE.

It is why I love Easter so much. LOVE.

You may or may not be a fan of the Bible, Jesus, and God (I have had my moments of struggle) but one thing I can say is that Jesus demonstrated a life of LOVE. Whether or not you consider him a messiah or just an extremely rocking human that offered this world a better view and left it better (Let’s be honest. Dogma is what creates the negative view on him, not his actual life or message), I believe you can agree with me on some of his most poignant words.

“Love your neighbor as yourself”. This is huge. If you don’t love yourself how can you love others? And if you repeatedly judge, chastise, and criticize…well then this speaks to how you deeply feel about yourself. Pay attention to your insistent thoughts of others, for they are a reflection on how you truly view yourself.

And then his final words.

“Forgive them. For they know not what they do”.

What finer lesson could we receive from this life? Nailed to a cross by many that swore an oath of loyalty to him. Mocked by the masses. Humiliated in front of the world and tormented. These were among the last words he offered in this life.

“Forgive them. For they know not what they do”.

Ultimate. Radical. Unconditional. Forgiveness.

Available to you. If you so choose. To accept what is.

Whatever is spoken, thought, or acted out against you. Forgive them.

When you make a mistake. Hurt others. Deny yourself the worthiness that is your gift upon arrival in this world. Forgive yourself.

Forgiveness. Available to you. Whenever. Wherever. You are willing to receive.

Enjoy this Friday, whatever your religion, belief, or state of mind. If you are a lover, a hater, a protagonist, an antagonist, an ally, an enemy. Judgmental. Perfectionist. Addicted. Saved. Willing. Resistant. Open. Closed. Whatever you are, wherever you are….you are loved. You are forgiven.

Xoxo, LVA-

And now for more goodness…here’s my recipe. Enjoy it!

 

The Best Guacamole Ever. With A Disclaimer.

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

This is the best recipe for guac ever. Excluding my friends Cindy and Morgan…maybe they put a little more love into it. I don’t know. So this is possible then the third best guac recipe of all time!

Author: Lisa Van Ahn

Recipe type: Appetiser

Cuisine: Guacamole

Serves: 6

Ingredients

·         6 large avocados

·         2-5 tbsp. of cilantro, chopped

·         1 red onion, diced

·         1 fresh lime-maybe two if you are feeling lime-y

·         4 tbsp. of pace pic ante salsa

·         1 tbsp. of sriracha -more if you like it spicy

·         1-1/2 tsp. of worcestershire sauce

·         Kosher Salt

·         Fresh cracked pepper

Instructions

1.    Cut avocados in half, pull out the pit and scoop out the pulp into a bowl.

2.    Chop 3-5 tbsp of cilantro and add to the bowl. Add up to 5 tbsp. if you love cilantro.

3.    Add diced red onion.

4.    Squeeze 1-2 limes over the bowl. More lime if you love it.

5.    Add pic ante, sriracha, and worcestershire.

6.    Mix with a hand held immersion blender until well blended but still a bit chunky.

7.    Season with a healthy amount of salt and pepper and mix together with a spoon.

8.    Serve with chips. Or be particularly healthy and serve with fresh crudit’e.