The Laffoon's leave today for the Sunshine state for a week of R&R! Our road schedule since January 1st has been fun but whew! And we hit the ground running April 7th! We'd love to see you at one of our upcoming events!
Our tapings at Focus on the Family and Life Today with James Robison went great! Thanks to you all for your prayers...now pray it helps sell some books :-)
Have a Blessed week!
Jay & Laura
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
A great story!
We got this great story in an email- let it be a reminder to us all!
When I drove up in my taxi cab at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many taxi drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away.
But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said.
"I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.
"Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Celebrate today!
Jay & Laura
When I drove up in my taxi cab at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many taxi drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away.
But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said.
"I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.
"Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Celebrate today!
Jay & Laura
Friday, March 14, 2008
Word's with Dual Meaning
By now most people get the fact that men and women are different. THANK GOODNESS!
No one needs to read another book about “planets” or “pasta”. Married people just want to know what certain words mean to our spouse. So in our never ending attempts to help couples communicate we thought we’d give you a head start on some important words which hold duel meanings for men and women.
Eight Words with Two Meanings
1. THINGY (thing-ee) n.
Female...... Any part under a car's hood
Male..... The strap fastener on my wife's bra
2. VULNERABLE (vul-ne-ra-bel) adj.
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to my husband
Male..... Playing football without a cup
3. COMMUNICATION (ko-myoo-ni-kay-shon) n.
Female... The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's spouse
Male... Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys
4. COMMITMENT (ko-mit-ment) n
Female.... A desire to get married and raise a family
Male...... Buying season tickets to the Chicago Cubs.
5. ENTERTAINMENT (en-ter-tayn-ment) n.
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book
Male...... Anything that can be done while watching TV
6. FLATULENCE (flach-u-lens) n.
Female.... An embarrassing byproduct of indigestion
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
7. REMOTE CONTROL (ri-moht kon-trohl) n.
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another
Male.... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.
8 MAKING LOVE (may-king luv) n.
Female...... The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male... Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
There you have it...we're here to help!
J&L
No one needs to read another book about “planets” or “pasta”. Married people just want to know what certain words mean to our spouse. So in our never ending attempts to help couples communicate we thought we’d give you a head start on some important words which hold duel meanings for men and women.
Eight Words with Two Meanings
1. THINGY (thing-ee) n.
Female...... Any part under a car's hood
Male..... The strap fastener on my wife's bra
2. VULNERABLE (vul-ne-ra-bel) adj.
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to my husband
Male..... Playing football without a cup
3. COMMUNICATION (ko-myoo-ni-kay-shon) n.
Female... The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's spouse
Male... Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys
4. COMMITMENT (ko-mit-ment) n
Female.... A desire to get married and raise a family
Male...... Buying season tickets to the Chicago Cubs.
5. ENTERTAINMENT (en-ter-tayn-ment) n.
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book
Male...... Anything that can be done while watching TV
6. FLATULENCE (flach-u-lens) n.
Female.... An embarrassing byproduct of indigestion
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
7. REMOTE CONTROL (ri-moht kon-trohl) n.
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another
Male.... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.
8 MAKING LOVE (may-king luv) n.
Female...... The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male... Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
There you have it...we're here to help!
J&L
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Laura strikes again!
Okay I hope you all are not getting bored with stories of my antics! But here is another!
Last Monday, I took Grace to volleyball and decided to watch and run while she was there. Our new middle school gym has a track around the top so I could run and watch Grace all at the same time.
Well, I was feeling really good, and volleyball was going to last an hour and a half, so I proceeded to walk a lap and run 5 laps. I continued doing this until I reached 65 laps. I looked at the clock and realized I had a little time to cool down so I began walking more laps. Well, I was wondering exactly how many miles 65 laps would be so I asked the assistant principal,who also happened to be up watching the volleyball girls. She informed me that it takes 13 laps around to make 1 mile. Well being the math genius that I am, I started running again. I had set myself a goal of 3 miles. If 13 laps makes one mile, I had ONLY gone 65 laps and needed 4 more to make 69 laps which, in my mind, would make 3 miles!!!!
My math wizardry did not dawn on me until later that evening, watching our 17 year old playing basketball. During the game, I commented to Jay that my legs were really tired and that I was starving! He asked how many miles I had run and I replied, "Only 3. Kari told me that 13 laps make a mile and I went 69 laps." It was when Jay busted out laughing that I re-calculated my numbers! Oh my! I had gone over 5 miles! No wonder I was tired and hungry!
Well, until next time...Laura
Last Monday, I took Grace to volleyball and decided to watch and run while she was there. Our new middle school gym has a track around the top so I could run and watch Grace all at the same time.
Well, I was feeling really good, and volleyball was going to last an hour and a half, so I proceeded to walk a lap and run 5 laps. I continued doing this until I reached 65 laps. I looked at the clock and realized I had a little time to cool down so I began walking more laps. Well, I was wondering exactly how many miles 65 laps would be so I asked the assistant principal,who also happened to be up watching the volleyball girls. She informed me that it takes 13 laps around to make 1 mile. Well being the math genius that I am, I started running again. I had set myself a goal of 3 miles. If 13 laps makes one mile, I had ONLY gone 65 laps and needed 4 more to make 69 laps which, in my mind, would make 3 miles!!!!
My math wizardry did not dawn on me until later that evening, watching our 17 year old playing basketball. During the game, I commented to Jay that my legs were really tired and that I was starving! He asked how many miles I had run and I replied, "Only 3. Kari told me that 13 laps make a mile and I went 69 laps." It was when Jay busted out laughing that I re-calculated my numbers! Oh my! I had gone over 5 miles! No wonder I was tired and hungry!
Well, until next time...Laura
Thursday, March 06, 2008
MOPS and a Quizno's!
Laura is off speaking for MOPS group at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids today. Laura LOVES speaking to MOPS groups and they LOVE having her speak so it's a great fit.
I have to admit it's a nice break for me and Laura too. You see Laura and I often feel like we're attached at the hip (not in the good way :-)) 24/7 because of our ministry together. Day's like today give us a much needed break from each other but at the same time renew our passion to work together.
So Laura is off speaking and shopping. I'll spend the afternoon enjoying a Quizno's Honey Bourbon Chicken Sub (only 260 calories)and writing in SILENCE and we'll both be very very happy campers!
MMMMM....Toasty!
Jay
I have to admit it's a nice break for me and Laura too. You see Laura and I often feel like we're attached at the hip (not in the good way :-)) 24/7 because of our ministry together. Day's like today give us a much needed break from each other but at the same time renew our passion to work together.
So Laura is off speaking and shopping. I'll spend the afternoon enjoying a Quizno's Honey Bourbon Chicken Sub (only 260 calories)and writing in SILENCE and we'll both be very very happy campers!
MMMMM....Toasty!
Jay
Saturday, March 01, 2008
We're ready for SPRING!!
I'm not going to complain about the snow, it could be worse...take a look at this picture from upstate New York.
Trust me when I'm saying I am NOT making a political statement when I say...Global Warming???Not THIS WINTER!
I grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and this year we have finally had a winter like I remember growing up. We've had plenty of "snow days" with the kids off school and the blanket of white sure is beautiful. The piles in the parking lot of Grocery stores and Walmart are like mini-mountains.
HOWEVER, I am ready for a change. The sun is shining a little longer each day and the song birds are singing all day long. It has me longing for a change. If there is one thing I really appreciate about Michigan is that we truly have four seasons.
I'm just ready for the NEXT one to start!
How about you?
Blessings~
Jay
Trust me when I'm saying I am NOT making a political statement when I say...Global Warming???Not THIS WINTER!
I grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and this year we have finally had a winter like I remember growing up. We've had plenty of "snow days" with the kids off school and the blanket of white sure is beautiful. The piles in the parking lot of Grocery stores and Walmart are like mini-mountains.
HOWEVER, I am ready for a change. The sun is shining a little longer each day and the song birds are singing all day long. It has me longing for a change. If there is one thing I really appreciate about Michigan is that we truly have four seasons.
I'm just ready for the NEXT one to start!
How about you?
Blessings~
Jay
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