Here's the Birthday Girl!

Wow hard to believe that this one is 5 years old today. We were able to hang out for a little while at Nana's house this morning because I did not have to work. The presents and the big birthday bash will be in the morning.

As you can tell by the sparkle in this girls eye she is a gem. One of her love languages is touch. I know because she loves to hug and I love to get hugged!

Pru I am so grateful for you and I pray for you often. I know the Lord has great plans for your life. I love that in preschool this year you are not only learning more about letters, art, and writing your name but that you have an opportunity to learn more about Jesus too. You are a beautiful girl! You have a caring spirit and you love to help in any way you can. I love you so much more!

Happy 5th Birthday!

Cold Days

Well this winter they have not been called Snow Days but rather Cold Days .... Last Thursday was the 3rd day called by my school district as a no school day because of the cold weather.

So I went to Great Clips with Kelley for

Lenny's first official haircut.



so fun and so cute!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the little birds are taking a bath in the heated birdbath my husband has provided for them

I am thinking... it would be wonderful if I still had 2 more days of Christmas break

I am thankful... that our grandson, Beckett is home from the hospital

In the kitchen... I made some hot chocolate with eggnog (yum)

I am wearing... velour pants with an elastic waist, thermal top with a sweater, socks and slippers (comfort clothes on a cold Minnesota winter day)

I am creating... a clean sleep for tonight as I put the freshly washed sheets on the bed

I am going... to think on some intentions for 2014

I am wondering... when I will get over this cough and cold

I am reading... Martika (a children's book) and the book of 2 Peter

I am hoping... for warmer weather

I am looking forward to... Friday night pizza with the family

I am learning... more stratagies for working with EL students

Around the house... Terry and I are just enjoying one another's company

I am pondering... the year ahead

A favorite quote for today...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

A few plans for the rest of the week: back to work tomorrow, Real Women, and Friday night pizza

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