Christmas Morning 2013...A Parish Nurse Report!

Merry Christmas Morning!
I received this yesterday but didn't read till this morning. I can't share the whole letter but it was an update from a friend of mine from from his recent trip. I thought you would rejoice in the news he shared.

"I also had opportunity to reconnect with a Pakistani
young man developing a parish nurse ministry in
Pakistan. He has already trained some 50
nurses and hopes to train another 100 soon.
Already these nurses are touching the lives of
believers and non-believers with the love of
Jesus. This family is full of enthusiasm for the
Lord and wanting to share Christ through this
ministry. Pray for them and the Christian nurses
already trained in this work."

A parish nurse ministry in Pakistan!!! We have told the PN's many times we will change the world one PN at a time and Spirit of Jesus is doing just that in Pakistan. It warmed my heart and soul this cold Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Tedd

Christmas Eve 2013

 “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; ¹¹ for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”   Matthew 4

Still hanging Christmas Lights outside and around the house (uff da!). We are a bit behind the decorating curve this year. The lights transform the cold snow outside and warm the interior of our home. They illuminate the decorations set in all their special Christmas places reminding us that the Light of World, Jesus desires to push back the darkness with His Holy Presence. Jesus the Light is our Christmas present. Be blessed by the Light that shines into our world born that wonderful night in the manger of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Our Christmas Blessings of 2013

The Light of Jesus has shown brightly on our family this year

v  Whitney and Colin are expecting!

v  Big brother Easton is two and half. He loves trucks and truck noises. All boy!

v  Justin and Amy celebrated their 8^th Wedding anniversary.

v  Haakon is a kindergartner and growing up to fast. Hockey is his passion.

v  Jaelyn is two and half too. She sparkles with that little girl spirit. Loves her “babies”!

v  Jaelyn and Easton are in the same daycare. They are a special twosome. She makes Easton play dolls and he makes her play trucks.

v  Brian and Kelly are both working on the west side of town. Still living close to us and car pool each day together.

v  Mother Olga celebrated her 95^th this year. Lives alone, balances her own checkbook and is still “fiercely independent”!

v  This summer we had a family reunion/95^th birthday celebration for Aunt Edna and Olga. The past met the present in a moment we will never forget.

v  We had a wonderful get together of Lindsay’s friends and family to remember her 10 years since her joining the “land of the Living”.

v  In September Tedd had his 5 yr. lymphoma follow up at Mayo and went from a smoldering lymphoma to no evidence of any active disease.

v  Lois is a wonder grandmother and wife who is always thinking of ways to help and bless her family. She is a gift to us all.

v  Our Lucy is 12 yrs. old and still loves to play ball and sleep with us in bed “when allowed”! Lucy keeps us smiling with her playful spirit even at 12!

Merry Christmas and all our love!

Lois and Tedd

December 9th 2013 "Once upon a Christmas"

Once upon a Christmas was the name of the concert we enjoyed last night. The Story of God's love for us in Jesus was played out in music and drama. Once upon a time we were all in darkness and now the Light of Christ has come into our world to push back the darkness in our lives. Music stirs our memories to draw into our dark places the Light of the World. Once upon a Christmas opened the shades we pull to keep the Light out. Our only response to the great story is gratitude. Undeserving souls like us have been showered with the love and mercy of God in Jesus the Christ. The culmination of the message was Jesus saved us. Why? God's unending love is for us. Hard to believe and accept but true.

Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God has come to show us that God's heart is full of love and mercy for His creation. Once upon a Christmas God declared how much God wants us to come to Him this Christmas. Come Lord Jesus this Christmas and draw us out of the darkness of our world into the Light of Life in Christ.

A picture of God's heart for us.

November 17th 2013

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... 1 Peter 1.3

Sunday from 5-7pm Lindsay's friends gathered to toast the "Queen of Fun". Memories, laughs and tears were shared together proving life is more than the time spent alive on this earth.

Lindsay is alive in our hearts and memories. Even more so she lives because He Lives! The phrase "we will see her again" was repeated numerous times as we reminded each other that we live in the "land of the Leaving" and Lindsay lives in the "land of the Living". 

What hope and peace that knowledge brings by faith to those who miss our love ones. At Easter we declare "He Lives" and at the grave side we declare "we live because He Lives"!

At a recent graveside service for Lois' cousin the young pastor declared, "See you later Kenny!"

See you later, Lindsay!

September 30th, 2013

Psalm 103

Of David.
¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name. 
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and do not forget all his benefits— 
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
   who heals all your diseases, 
⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit,
   who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 
⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live^*
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Visited Mayo on Monday for my "five year" post stem cell transplant follow up PET scan and labs. No evidence of active disease. Lymph nodes were clear. Thank you Heavenly Father for your endless grace, mercy and healing in every situation. Living today and each new day as the most important day of my life. Thank you Jesus for the privilege of one more day to serve You and others, Amen.

To all those going through this journey, hold on to the hope and help that Jesus brings no matter what the future brings. Enjoy today's blessings of family, friends and those who minister to us. God is with us all the time. Immanuel!

From a "grateful one" traveling the Journey Toward Healing with you.

Romans 5

5Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we^* have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have obtained access^* to this grace in which we stand; and we^* boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. ³And not only that, but we^* also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

August 9th-11th 2013

For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures for ever, 

and his faithfulness to all generations.  Psalm 100.5

Our Anderson Family Gathering 2013 was unforgettable. We celebrated my mother's and my aunt's 95th Birthdays. They both live alone and are very active. They love to laugh, are excited about living life to its fullest and have passed on their faith to their families. We are so blessed to have them in this season of our lives. God has been faithful to all "our generations".

We opened a time capsule we buried at our 1991 reunion on the home farm. The kids were enthralled with the items as they came out of the capsule. Memories were made in marvelous ways for all generations. We took "some" pictures...a bunch, ate pizza and birthday cake. It was an old fashioned birthday party.

Make a memory today with the generations in your life...

July 4th 2013

Family...friends, food and the Flag make the 4th of July memorable. We are blessed to live in this wonderful country. May I never forget the great sacrifices made for us to enjoy the freedom we have been given. No one is without sin, even countries. We live by grace through faith as individuals and as a countries. Grace has abounded for the USA. I give thanks to God for all these blessings.

A few pictures of our 4th...

June 19th 2013

Does anyone else have a garage full of stuff that you wonder where it all came from? Kids, parents and yes...the O's have a tough time disposing of stuff. I have had the "disposal spirit: the past couple of weeks. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a gift of the Spirit but if sure is a necessary spirit to complete a task of sorting and culling.

I should have taken a picture of my garage before we started sorting and cleaning. My 4 year old grandson Haakon was helping the other day and asked grandpa "Where do you park your cars when it is raining?" Of course my answer was..."right there in the driveway." I wish I had his discerning spirit for cutting through the chase to the core of the issue. When we are done we will have room for "one" vehicle only. Not sure that is a victory but it is a good start.

Blessings my friends
Tedd

Flag Day June 14, 2013

 I am reminded today of all my friends, family and neighbors who have given so much for so many to be able to put our flag out today. Thank you all who have served and continue to serve in our place. You made it possible for Lois and me to have a play day with our grand kids yesterday. Semper Fi! 

We went to the Como zoo and then the park to play.

Finally Summer Sun Shine

April 20th, 2013 Snow!

Snow, Snow,Snow...getting a little tired of snow. So I started looking at some pictures to cheer me up. Found a picture of Lindsay when she was about 2 yrs old...

...then ran across a photo of Jaelyn who will be 2 in June.

Then Easton...

Then Haakon...

Their smiles brought sunshine into my day...

Thank you Jesus for the joys and blessings you have put in our lives. May we always be grateful for these gifts we never deserved but have the gracious pleasure of sharing.

January 15th 2013

Every New Years Eve for the past few years as a family we have gone to the Roseville Oval skating rink with our kids and grandkids. This year our daughter-in-law was interviewed on the rink with Justin and Haakon skating in the background. It was viewed on KARE 11 at 10pm that evening. I am including the link if you would be interested.

http://bcdownload.gannett.edgesuite.net/kare-podcasts/35140830001/35140830001_2066122956001_LindseyNewYears.mp4

The kids show up after about a minute of the segment so be patient. The new year is starting well with spending time with our kids and grandkids. Our prayer is that your new year is full of joy and laughter.

New Years at the Moorhead Marriott 2013...The little ones are growing up! They know how to find Mickey Mouse Club on the iPhone...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!