A Year in Review 2013

Reflecting on the year of 2013 as we move into 2014

December
When I think about the month of December I find myself writing about a concern that tuned into a joy. On Friday, December 27 at 9:30 pm we received a text from my son stating that he had found his son Beckett not breathing. Beckett's grandfather and Renee's uncle started CPR and brought him back to life. Today, just 5 days later they are headed home from the hospital .... God is a miracle working God and I am praising Him for the life of my grandson today! You can read the rest of the story here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/beckettbrady






November
Joy; Christmas tree cutting as a family
Concern; Kelley's health (she is doing awesome now, thank you Lord)

October
Joy; My husband's health and ability to still work part time and we get word that our littlest is getting married
Concern; healing for our entire family

September
Joy; Gratefulness for the beginning of my 7th year at Edinbrook Elementary
Concern; Part time hours and no benefits (Praise the Lord I had benefits by the end of September)

August
Joy; An anticipated first family vacation at the Grosser's cabin
Concern: Ashley's collapse and hospitalization and my health and hospitalization at Mayo (we are both doing well now, thank you Lord)

July
Joy; The celebration of Terry's birthday and the birth of Beckett the very next day!
Concern; How would the delivery of the twins go for Kelley

June
Joy; Summer off from work
Concern; Safe delivery for both Renee and Kelley

May
Joy; the ending of a good year of Real Women seeing spiritual growth in each of the women
Concern; No real concerns because God is meeting my family and I in all of our concerns

April
Joy; Ashley returns from Afghanistan
Concern; Ashley was hospitalized in Fort Worth Tx ... follow-up here now in Mpls

March
Joy; Friends who sit at hospital beds
Concern; bronchitis, pneumonia, an allergic reaction that required an epi pen and a 911 call and a day stay at Maple Grove hospital for me

February
Joy; A new year has begun
Concern; just beginning to get physically sick

January
Joy; A full month of intentions started and kept
Concern; Longer recovery than anticipated from a student-related injury

It was a full year of sitting at hospital bedsides for our family. I am praying and hoping for a healthier 2014!

My favorite story read at a favorite time! Merry Christmas!

 

Luke 2

New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas from the littlest grandson and I!

Pederson / Larson family pics

 Love Family!

His Power to Protect and His Grace to Restore (1000 gifts)

986. grateful for the Sati series for November on gratefulness 

987. my list lies open on the table as I count everything as gratefulness

988. the Word read aloud

989. the garland of grace I have put on

990. grateful to be preoccupied with Him this morning

991. a hug from the golfer before going off to work

992. the moments of processing aloud some hard stuff with a friend

993. Saturday morning: waking up in the golfers arms

994. This Scripture; "Praise the Lord; Praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms." Psalm 68:19

995. a caring call from our son-in-law Josh

996. grateful to be His daughter

997. grateful He is overjoyed with me

998. one new son-in-law to come .... Love you Dustin!

999. each desert I must pass through

1000. knowing His power to protect and His grace to restore both Kelley and I

# 9 Hey Dad September 7th 2007 (a great post for Veteran's Day ... Letter from one soldier to another)

Well, I'm sitting in class right now waiting for it to start. We just finished eating chow and now we have all afternoon for more classes. I'm looking forward to Sunday though we won't have any classes tomorrow either because we go to the range to see the set up and learn procedures. I'm really hoping to qualify expert with the pistol. I have to at least get sharpshooter in order to stay in "Best of the Best". Please pray that I'm able to get one of those two. How is work going? Soon enough it will be snowing so your'e gonna have to pull out that winter jacket! I hope there's not too much snow when I get home. Have you been looking at any cars for me? I don't really think I want a Saturn anymore. What do you think I should get? I know you were talking about getting a loan so I can work on my credit. Do you still think that's a good idea? How much is gas right now? I'm just curious cause I still really want an SUV :0p Have you and mom found a new RAV 4 yet? Well class has started so I need to go for now. I love you so much daddy and you have no idea how much your love and encouragement helps me through all of this. I miss you dearly. Talk to you soon hopefully. ;-)
Love Always, Ash # 5

Slowing Down

A couple of weeks ago I was able to take a drive out to Deerfield and enjoy space on a friend's farm for a 3 hour time frame, uninterrupted, to speak and hear from God.

The most important task was to slow myself down so I could find meaning in everything; every word I read, spoke, and wrote.

So when I started with 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" I knew how important it was for me to release my concerns, review what concerns actually led me into sin, and then remember God's faithfulness. These were the three areas, release, review, and remember that made it possible to slow down enough to find meaning in everything that day.

The view outside my window at the farm ...
breath-taking and peaceful

Nora is 2

Nora,

Oh My! It is hard to believe you are already two. It seems like such a short time ago that I met you as a baby and spent time rocking you in my arms.

I remember our first car trip together to go and see Aunt Ashley just before she left for Afghanistan. You were such a good traveler.

I remember going to the pool and holding you in the water as your sisters splashed around us.

I remember you liked to throw your Cheerios off your tray.

I remember you coming all the way to Minnesota this summer and how much you laughed and talked.

Tonight I remember how much I miss you and look forward to holding and hugging you again soon ..... Happy 2nd Birthday Nora .... I love you more, Nana






Nora is 2

When he was 5 and now he is 6

So when Sid was the first grandchild to turn 5 I started something new .... I remember when our children turned 5 they got a "table knife" for the first time. Seems odd but our younger kids always wondered when they would be old enough for a table knife so the golfer and I decided that 5 was the magic age for each

of the children to have a table knife.

 

When the grand kids started turning 5 I decided to start a rite of passage as a

5-year-old grandchild. I have prayer beads that I made and I use to pray for my immediate family members. When the grand kids would stay over night or when I would stay in Texas overnight they would ask me about my prayer beads under my pillow. I thought to myself it would be a wonderful time to teach them about my prayer beads and for them to get a set of their own. So .... the first grandchild to receive the beads was Sid and I included this card with the beads:

 

Dear Sid,

Many times you have slept over at nana's house and many times you have asked me about my prayer beads in my night side table. When You're mommy was little and she turned 5 years old she received her own table knife at the the table for the first time like her big brother and sisters. It was a "rite of passage" so to speak. For you because You're 5 Nana has made you your own set of prayer beads. You can keep them in your bedroom under your pillow, if you like, to remind you to pray for your daddy, mommy, you and your little sisters. Happy Birthday! I love you more, Nana

 

 

Sid plays on the teeter-totter ... the same handles from his mommy's teeter-totter (made by the golfer) and the same handles from the orginal teeter-totter

made  by grandpa Walker for Lisa (3rd generation backyard toy with a new board) 

 

 

Even though the motorbike says number 5 Sid turned 6 on September 10th 

writing between the lines of the message outline

They were not the blanks to be filled in on the message outline but instead they were the words written on the pages of my journal. They were the words my pastor used last Sunday that I have read over and over again. I’ve read them because they have touched me deeply during a time when I find I am captive by my thoughts rather than taking my thoughts captive to the mind of Christ. How do I take every thought captive to the mind of Christ. I do this by re-reading my journal pages from Sunday’s sermon as we looked into and learned for Genesis:

“May the word of God shape your view of circumstances.”

They were not the blanks to be filled in on the message outline. They were the words written on my heart and on my journal pages to be read, recalled and lived out … not only on Monday but throughout the entire week. A reminder that indeed He is in the midst of my circumstances and it is to His word that I run to for comfort, peace and hope! Praying now that the word of God will shape my view of my current circumstances. I am reminded today my circumstances are for His good and for His glory!

Linking up here ...

http://michellederusha.com/