Good Sledding Times experienced by all!

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Good Sledding Times experienced by all!

 

 

 

There’s nothing quite like sledding down hills for the child to come out in an adult! I found myself even repeating the sledding experience the next day.

Last year, the sleds remained cooped up in the attic merely collecting dust. How silly that was! Guess it takes young blood to coax the inner child within outside. Besides…fresh air invigorates the body and stimulates the brain. Healthy for the body all the way around.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only improper clothing,” so quotes my doctor. And, he’s right.

 

 

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Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

 

 

ornament

 

The Lasher household is bustling with fervent activity these days. Grandpa and Nana (that’s me) are busy trying to keep up with a 3 ½ year old and her 1 ½ year old brother plus mom and dad. They all attended second service church with us yesterday. Elijah started out with the “Ducks” which is the under 24 months of age children, but Nana and Liberty ended up in the “Ducks” due to a need for more workers.

Liberty and Elijah enjoyed bouncing in a pool of plastic balls and navigating inside a walking boat. They particularly enjoyed snack time with Cheerios. I’m not sure how many Cheerios actually ended up inside bellies because it seemed like more cereal covered the floor after snack time. The adults appreciated Pastor Jim’s sermon and also enjoyed the marshmallow video.

After church we enjoyed KFC and naps. Nana was especially ready for a Sunday afternoon nap! Both the children (and the majority of adults) sat enamored with Polar Express in the evening. By the looks of the dirty laundry accumulation, it’s time for laundry (again)—I pity mothers pre-automatic washer and dryer age!  More later…,

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Sunday Morn

Big people and little people noises scurrying around for Sunday Morn service…such a delighful sound! Last evening, there were four little people in our home 3 and under! I just wanted to sit back and enjoy the interaction between them as they communed in their own, individual way amongst themselves. It was almost as if the adults didn’t exist, only little people.

I wonder how their young minds work when so much commotion surrounds their world.  I really can’t remember back that far, can you?

All is calm–all is bright!

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They are here!

They are here! Safe and sound…a bit weary, but here, that is the important thing! The heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain held off—Praise the Lord!

Andy, Bethany, Liberty and Elijah arrived around 2:00 a.m. – it was difficult to sleep until I heard their footsteps inside the door. Before Liberty bedded down, she ran over to me and proclaimed, “Na-Na!” and greeted Grandpa happily (even in a half-asleep state). We sat up a bit and chatted. She even recited her Christmas program lines for us.

All’s quiet downstairs, and it’s already 7:30 am!

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”                (Isaiah 40:25, 26)

 

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It’s Almost Time

Awaiting, anticipating the arrival of our two grandchildren, and of course, their dad and mom! After seeing their dear faces on video at their Christmas program, well…it’s hard to wait any longer when you’re a Nana and Grandpa!

Weather and roads be good to them. I pray for a safe passage from Minnesota starting later today and on through the night.

I pray for patient behavior on the part of the 3 ½ and 1 ½ year old, and making of good Christmas memories for all.

 

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Liberty & Elijah’s Christmas Debut

Last evening our granddaughter, *Liberty, and grandson, **Elijah, participated in their church program in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Our son, Andrew, forwarded a video of their program. We weren’t able to be there in person, because we’re preparing a place for them here in Michigan to come visit for Christmas!

Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULN-kSLPpAU

**Elijah is in the red wagon – 2nd from the front of the wagon. On the bench, he’s directly to the right of the lady with the microphone. He’s wearing a dark vest, white shirt & tie, with dark slacks.

*Liberty – standing on the platform, she’s the 4th from the end, and smiling a lot for daddy’s camera! She’s wearing white tights, sparkly circle buckle with blue skirt bottom.

I’m sure you could spot them in the crowd, but just in case: they’re the cutest ones in the bunch (of course, I’m not biased in any way/shape/or form!)

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In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas

 In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas book pic 

I’m excited about a book I’m reading, In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, by Dan Schaeffer.

Back cover reads: “Christmas seasons come and go, often leaving us with vague pangs of regret. Why does the Christmas spirit seem so elusive? …Even those who know the Reason for the season can find themselves wondering if they’ve missed something.”

Yes, that was me. Shop, bake, plan, go here, go there…where is the true Christmas? I knew it wasn’t in doing all the traditional holiday things or buying the hot item for the year, but how could I find this true Christmas? After hearing the Christmas story many times, I became “immune to the story’s real power.”

In this book, the reader sees Christ through the eyes of those whose lives were touched by Jesus—Mary and Joseph, shepherds, angels, magi, etc. Some chapters compare modern day Christmas stories and traditions with the true and accurate story of the birth of Immanuel.

Many struggle with loneliness especially at this time of year when everyone else seems to be joyful and have it all together. Some have lost loved ones, and they will no longer be joining them at the festive table. This time of year tends to accentuate those sensitive feelings. “Celebrate Immanuel—God with you…take this special time to invite Him again into your presence. Thank Him that you are never alone, even when you feel alone.” Just the mere reading of those words brought comfort to my heart. God’s word speaks peace to the searching heart and soul.

*“God humbled himself in a way that even a common shepherd would understand, or a child, or a tax-gatherer, or a fisherman, or a fallen woman, or a self-righteous Pharisee, or me. While lying in a manger, God was making an announcement to all who would come to Him. It was a silent message that told us what we desperately needed to know about our God….ANYONE COULD APPROACH HIM. Common folks can’t visit the palaces of newborn kings uninvited…but kings and princes can visit mangers, and so can bakers and weavers, wise men and shopkeepers, priests and children, cattle and sheep.” This God-Child was available…available and accessible to anyone willing to come. “He had come to mingle with all, to receive them with open arms and put himself at their disposal. All this He conveyed by simply being found lying in a manger!” Wow! What a concept…one I hadn’t even thought of in the past.

The book is practical. At the end of each chapter, Dan Schaeffer includes Reflections and Celebration. This is time to ponder what could be done different to experience the real spirit of Christmas. He suggests concrete suggestions to make it so. For example, in the “No longer home alone” chapter, the author speaks of one thing that keeps us from “entering into the true spirit of the incarnation is our incredible busyness during the Christmas holidays.”

I know I tend to spend less and less quiet time with God when I should be spending more time alone with him. “Make a special appointment to simply be alone with God. Set aside an hour; make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and clear your mind of everything but His presence.” I need to come into His presence empty handed, not with my usual list of requests bringing only a “grateful heart and genuine thanksgiving for all He has done.”

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with the true meaning of Christmas, and where to find the spirit amidst the crazy, busyness of the holidays. I plan to share this book with family members and friends alike.

*(Taken from In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, © 2003 by Dan Schaeffer, and used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids MI 4950l.  All rights reserved.)

Leave a comment and let me know if you’d like to be entered in a drawing for your free copy!

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Becoming Whole

I just read today’s posting of “Our Daily Bread,” by Julie Ackerman Link:

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

She refers to a “friend who fell off her bike and suffered a severe brain injury.” Her doctors were not sure if she would live or die. She lived–Praise God–and now “Sandy’s back!” Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and mentally.

Amazing, that I too survived a brain tumor. Our hospital stays nearly overlapped. While she was in rehab, I was having brain surgery.

We can praise God together–we are both whole again! “Sandy’s back, and so am I!” 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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Merry Christmas and a Miraculous 2010!

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Praise Him, Praise Him (Author unknown)

Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.

We have so many Praises over the last year to be thankful. Just to name a few of those Praises:

  • Steve celebrated 30 years with Motorola in 2009. Praise God for a roof over our head and food on the table.
  • Praise as we celebrate …One year post brain surgery for Teresa.
  • “Swiftsure” sailboat team, with Steve on board, raced Chicago-Mac and took 5th place! Praise for protection upon the open waters of Lake Michigan and memorable times.
  • New job for son, Andrew. He now owns his own website development business (.http://www.stonebreakersdesign.com/).  Praise for provision of a job to support his family.
  • Our daughter, Amanda, experienced her first motorcycle Midnight Ride completion along with her boyfriend, Austin. The two of them rode w/mom and dad, and all had a leisurely scenic ride back home from St. Ignace and the Mackinaw Bridge. Praise for travel protection and ability to enjoy fun times together.
  • First Christmas program participation by our granddaughter, Liberty, in their Minnesota church. Praise for joy and enthusiasm in a young 3 ½ yr old heart.  
  • Elijah James, our grandson, went from walking to running. P.S. one of his favorite words: “Na-Na!”  Praise for life, health, and speech in our 1 ½ year old.
  • Teresa attended two writers’ conferences: one in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and the other at Maranatha in Muskegon, Michigan, and was presented with the 2009 Hertel Award for “Best Devotional.” Praise for the gift and passion for writing and conveying God’s blessings to others.

For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”             Psalm 48:14

May you and yours experience these promises this Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas and a Miraculous 2010,

 

Steve and Teresa Lasher

http://www.lasherstudios.com/

 

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Life as a Mom of an ADHD kid, Part Two

 

Read about my life with an ADHD child, feelings of inadequacy, and hope beyond hope at:

http://www.differentdream.com/2009/12/life-as-the-mom-of-an-adhd-kid-part-two/

This is the second day of my guest Blog posted on my friend, Jolene Philo’s, website. She is the author of a new book just recently published, “A Different Dream for My Child—Meditations for parents of critically or chronically ill children.”

Jolene and I met at the Cedar Falls Writers Conference in Cedar Falls, Iowa and instantly bonded. We discovered one common denominator: we were both mothers of prodigal sons.

You can also view my post on Jolene’s personal blog page at:

http://www.jolenephilo.com/Jolene_Philo__/Home_.html

If you’d like to talk, I’m here for you,

Teresa

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