Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Summer camp!

WHEW! It is the end of June already and summer feels like it has just begun! Warm days and cool nights here in Michigan! Golf, running, grilling and nights by the chiminea fire are what it is all about here in the Laffoon house.

Torrey is spending his summer at Spring Hill working as a counselor for middle school boys. He is loving it and really growing in his abilities to lead.

Grace just returned from a week of camp with Youth for Christ here in Central Michigan. She is exhausted but loved every minute of camp!

Summer Camp - a place where kids can refocus, learn and grow. Summer camp has always been great for Torrey and Grace because they see themselves in new ways. They realize that they have gifts and abilities that maybe they had never seen before. New friends are made and it broadens our kids horizons in the social area of their life.

I think adults need summer camp! We become to bogged down in the routines of our lives that we need time to refocus ourselves. We need to search and discover gifts and abilities that maybe we have never seen before. We need to spend time with friends.

We only have so many precious moments in this life, lets not waste them! Take some time and "go to summer camp"!

Laura

Monday, June 07, 2010

Al Gore or Hall of Fame?

Most of us are painfully aware of the news that Al & Tipper Gore are divorcing after 40+ years of marriage. There is much speculation about the reasons behind the breakup and the fallout that will occur. In our opinion the bottom line is they quit WORKING on their marriage. If you stop working on your marriage your marriage will stop working for you.

We just returned from a weekend in Charlotte, NC where we had the privilege to spend some time with John and Laura Kasay. John is the place kicker for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league over his 20 year career. Because of his consistency and longevity there is little doubt John will be a hall of famer.

Do you want to know something interesting? Come the end of July, John will be heading to TRAINING CAMP. That’s right, weeks of nothing but eating and sleeping football. Weeks of drill after drill, weeks of focusing on the fundamentals, and even though John is a 20 year veteran he will go back and focus on those fundamentals. Why? Because it’s what is needed to be successful!

The same thing is true in many aspects of life. Most professionals have to keep up with their CEU’s (Continuing Education Units). Most teachers have to continue to take graduate level classes. Even our driver’s license has to be renewed every 4 years.

So why then do most people think that marriage is different? Why do people think once they stand at the altar and say “I do” that their marriage will magically WORK? We believe there are many reasons:
• Our culture perpetuates the lie that romance just naturally occurs in daily life.
• Our culture perpetuates the lie that men and women will naturally meet each other’s needs.
• Our culture perpetuates the lie that when you are tired of this spouse you can “turn the page” and have a new spouse.
• Our culture perpetuates the lie that marriage education is dull and uninteresting.
• And sadly our Churches fail to make marriage a priority.

We challenge couples continuously to “GET AWAY AND GET AHEAD”. Couples who make time to get away from the kids, the job and all that life throws at them are happier, healthier, have a better sex life, and are more contented with life, than those who don’t.

So when was the last time you got away for a marriage training camp? Unlike our friend John it DOESN’T have to be drill after drill. It could simply be a romantic weekend away together. Or go to a marriage conference of your choice. (We by the way have a GREAT one coming this October to Grand Hotel with Dr. John Trent and comedian Thor Ramsey).

Maybe you can’t afford to get away right now. Start by reading a book on marriage or go online and read some articles. Your marriage needs work, OUR marriage needs work if it’s going to stay healthy and growing for years to come. Let’s do the work and remember to focus on the fundamentals!

So what’s your marriage gonna be… Al & Tipper or a Hall of Famer?

Blessings
Jay & Laura