Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Welcoming Home Ashley and counting the gifts from His hand!

I am continuing to count my gifts ... my grace gifts .... there are many these past few days
and here are just a few including pictures:
The families wait .... Ashley's battle buddy's (Lauren) parents
The biggest thank you card every for the returning soldiers (the very top and far right panel was signed by the 900+ students and staff at Edinbrook Elementary where I work)






951. the embrace, the hugs, from the littlest back from war safe and sound
 

 


 
952. dinner as a family at Benihana's (Lenny was  fascinated by the food being cooked before her wondering eyes)
 
 
953. welcoming Ashley home to Plymouth
 
 
954. a husband, adult children, and grandchildren loving one another well
 
955. relationships built on the faith of Jesus Christ, who He is, and all He has done for us as a family
 
The gift list, the gratitude list is all about His goodness ... and when I think on these things He is most pleased!
 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

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.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The beginning is coming to an ending .....



















MONTICELLO, Minn. (WCCO) – For 124 Minnesota soldiers, the war in Afghanistan isn’t over — it’s just beginning.
Three weeks after President Barack Obama said all troops would be out by 2014, friends and family said goodbye to members of the 257th Military Police Company as they left Wednesday, just days before Memorial Day.
“I don’t have any insight on [the war] ending, because mine’s just starting,” said Spc. Zach Haugen.
Soldiers and their spouses find Obama’s anticipated ending date hard to believe.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Andrea Stai, a soldier’s wife. “I think they’ll have to stay there until it’s safe and then hopefully they can move out and go to the next stage for everyone.”
The 257th will be responsible for teaching and coaching members of the Afghan National Army.
It was the first departure ceremony and deployment for a majority of the soldiers, including Haugen.
Haugen has 1-month-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. He says that missing his kids early years will be the most challenging thing for him and his wife.
“She’s holding up strong for now,” Haugen said. “Next week, it’ll be a whole different story.”
The soldiers will leave for training in Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday before going to Afghanistan in the spring. They’re expected to return in the summer of 2013

See the video by following the link ....
.http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/more-than-100-minn-soldiers-leave-for-afghanistan/#.T73DOY2uyTQ.facebook



 


 

 





Monday, March 25, 2013

Counting Gifts


941. Spring Break

942. friends who sit at hospital beds

943. a father who loves his girls well

944. a strong Spirit when the body is weak

945. the littlest home from Afghanistan

946. a hot apple blast and "talk time" with the oldest

947. a son and a daughter-in-law bringing the gifts of supper, a movie and themselves

948. "We haven't broken down, so I'd say pretty good!" said Kelley (my so very positive daughter)

949. Texas Girls

 
 
950, His grace, His love, His mercy and His protection over this family of mine
 
 
loving you all so much more as I remain In His Arms today! B.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Stateside




 
just a bit tired

 
yep stateside
 
So very grateful to have received a phone call last night at 9:35 pm from Ashley .... "Guess where I am she asked on the other side of the phone?" Thrilled to hear her voice she said, "Fort Bliss TX"!

End of conversation until I woke up this morning and thought it had been a dream. I texted her and she reassured me that indeed she was stateside. I have a happy, happy heart to know that my littlest is safe and sound with her feet planted for now in TX .... soon to be in Minnesota!

a burger without the bun please

 
 
 
 
Sure wish I were there for the last supper.

Aren't they the cutest grandchildren ever?

 
 

Saturday, March 09, 2013

in my in box



I love that I have signed up for the verse of the day to come automatically to my in box. It usually comes first on my e-mail list of messages in the morning unless family and friends e-mail  during the night hours.

It is a reminder to me when the computer may be calling me, desiring me, sucking me in as technology can do (my flesh) that I must go to His word for the meat and not just be content with the milk from a verse.

Today I found this verse in my in box after spending time during the night watch praying for family and friends and on the couch with my open Bible finishing the end of Matthew.

I do enjoy computers, don't get me wrong, but the feel of my fingers turning the pages of a Bible that was given to me by Fern Arne, my Stephen's Minister, in December 1991 and the pen and paper of my journal can not be replaced by technology.


2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us (you, Beth)  and called us (you) to a holy life—not because of anything we (you) have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us (to you Beth) in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time ....
 
Forgive me for inserting my name in His word but this is how He speaks to me, feel free to insert your name and be blessed today! In His Arms, B.

Thursday, March 07, 2013


Dear Ashley,

I remember you asking for me to write you letters just telling you what's happening in my life so .....

I have missed writing and sending packages to you. I miss the fact that I can't just pick up the phone and call you. I had a "snow" day  on Tuesday (would have loved to just met you for coffee).  Much to my surprise they closed the schools in most districts except for the bigger districts of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I have been sick with bronchitis, sinus infection and an ear infection so .... I was very grateful to have no school on Tuesday. I went back to school on Wednesday but the cough and breathing has gotten worse so I will return to the doctor today.

Last Sunday night I saw all the women from the 257 MP Co at the FRG meeting. It was a good meeting but a hard meeting as there was much to be talked about in the way of what to expect when you get home. I really want to be aware of what you may want to do and not want to do. Commander Hyland's wife spoke and she was very honest and transparent which I was grateful for. They also had a Chaplian there and I was able to sit next to and talk with some parents who's son had been deployed twice. Andera and Jenna planned the meeting and it was by far much more helpful then our full day at Anoka Tech. I wished that dad had been there but I took good notes.

Tuesday was the snow day and I was not feeling well so I missed my Blue Star Mom's meeting. They did a spring packing for the troops. (they knew not to send anything your way)

Tonight I have Real Women we will be having the women from MNTC (Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge) next Thursday as our guests. We are planning an evening of Polish (manicures) Praise and Prayer. It will be fun to serve in this way as we did this last year and it was such a blessing. I just signed up for the women's retreat and am excited to go ....I am also super excited for Adam and Renee and the  birth of our new grandson! I hope all is well with you!

 Today I am  praying: "Lord, make Ashley strong and filled with courage for every task. Equip her with everything she needs to fulfill your plans for her, but teach her to rely on You, not on her own abilities. Make her a soul-seeker. (Joshua 1) Lord, protect Ashley from scars, caused by the trials and struggles of this life. I thank you that Ashley does not have to become negative or pessimistic as a result of circumstances around her, because she has hope and abundant life in You. Help her to fix her eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. for it is eternal. (2 Cor. 4:8-9,16-18)

I love you way more, mom

Monday, February 04, 2013

joy, grace, love ... counting 935-940

935. joy in the trials
 
936. His grace, His amazing grace
 
937. His abundant love
 
938. Ashley coming home soon
 
939. warm blankets on a cold winter night
 
940. girlfriends sharing with and caring for one another
 

A Year In Review 2012

At the end of 2011 I decided I would write a year in review in an attempt to remember some of the Joys and Concerns of past year. So here again I will record what I can remember from 2012 ...

December
Joy: the joy of technology ... not only celebrating Christmas in person with VanAhn's Pederson's and Larson's but the ability to skype with Davis' in TX and Ashley in Afghanistan
Concern: would I get some much needed rest during my Christmas break.(I did)

November
Joy: 60 years of life and over have of those years with Jesus!
Concern: what would Christmas be like with Ashley in Afghanistan

October
Joy: returning to work after being required to take time off
Concern: turning the pacemaker back on and how it would work

September
Joy: new principal, new assistant principal, new teacher and new classroom
Concern: injury at surgery site

August
Joy: 39 years of marriage .... a stay at Nature's Nest B & B
Concern: surgery to place a pacemaker in and would this work (it has for the most part, still having discomfort from the injury ... bummer)

July
Joy: summer, time off, time with grand kids, extra time to read,
Concern: would Terry and I have the time I wanted together this summer

June
Joy: coffee with my Bible on the pack patio and vacation in Dallas with my granddaughter's
Concern: would I be able to get all the summer projects done

May
Joy: the birds in the back feeder and the warmer weather
Concern: sending my youngest daughter off to Afghanistan for a year deployment

April
Joy: Women's Retreat with Ashley
Concern: will I be able to finish the school year strong

March
Joy: Easter and all that this Holiday means to me
Concern: physical and emotional struggles

February
Joy: celebrating Valentine's day for 39 years with Terry
Concern: will Carrie get the "heart present" for her birthday

January
Joy: new vision for a new year
Concern: still struggling with recovery from a surgery November 2011