Practicing what we preach and it's KILLING ME!

Laura and I are getting away for the weekend trying to practice the things we tell married people they need to do! We're heading to northern Michigan for some golf, sight-seeing and a couple of good restaurants!

BUT...Do you know what I gave UP this weekend? A free all expense paid trip to the Ryder Cup! For those of you that don't know golf...this is HUGE!HUGER!! HUGEST!!!

My friend Bill Hobson of Michigan Golf Live Radio had an extra press pass and room in his van for me to attend the entire Ryder Cup weekend...BUT I committed to go with Laura...

Yes she's worth it...no doubt more important than GOLF...but seriously this event only comes to the states every four years...it's like the Olympics only better because? IT'S GOLF!

Ok ok ok enough of my whining...can I just get a little credit for keeping my priorities straight?

Have a great weekend...we will :-)

Jay & Laura

Girlz Night Out!

Sometimes I feel like it isn't right to call what I do a "job"! We travel to really beautiful places like Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI. We meet tons and tons of people that warm our hearts! Take for instance last Friday night...I was asked to do "entertain and inspire" ladies at Girlz Night Out hosted by 99.7 Family Life Radio. We had a blast! The evening was located on the Bavarian Belle in Frankenmuth, MI. We had dinner on the boat and after my "entertaining and inspiring" time, we cruised down the Cass River on the boat.

It was a great night of meeting ladies from all around Michigan, laughing and having fun together! The privilege I have of being with people, laughing, encouraging, listening to their stories is one for which I am truly grateful!

A Best Seller!

Okay so I have to be honest...the other day, Jay sent me a "A Father's Reflections" via emai and asked me what I thought about it. I read it and replied back that I thought it was a bit on the sappy side but a good poem.

Now, understand what was going on inside my head as I read this poem: Jay frequently sends me stuff he finds on the internet and asks my opinion before we use them for something- blog, promotional news, etc. - I was surprised that he had "found" this poem and run it by me. I thought it was his "normal" find!

Come to find out- HE WROTE IT!

After, I responded that I thought it was a bit sappy, he went into this whole deal about how I don't understand him at all! He went on by saying that he could get sappier! I still did not get what he was trying to tell me! I just laughed...

Then as I am laughing...he says, " You know, when I die you can just take my journal and publish all my poems. You will probably make a lot of money off that book. After I am dead and gone."

THAT WAS WHEN IT HIT ME! HE WROTE "A FATHER'S REFLECTIONS" !!! Well that changed everyting...what a sensitive man I married! I was really and truly full of admiration for him and that fact that he wrote that poem! But it was too little too late.....

So I am trying to make amends for be insensitive in the first place by letting all of you know that Jay wrote that poem that he posted the other day. I am telling you all how proud I am of him and his ability to write his heart on paper!

I am also letting you know that the minute he dies...there will be a new bestseller on the shelves!

Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed "A Father's Reflections" let Jay know by commenting!

A Fathers Reflection

A Father’s Reflection

From starry skies to foaming seas
I see the signs – your love for me

A baby’s laugh a good friends grin
Your love displayed, it pulls me in

A wretched man, my sin, my shame
I’m only cleansed by Jesus Name

His name alone can calm the sea
His blood the Cross has set me free

I’m thankful for my wife and kids
And also for, what Jesus did

Lord hear my prayer that is my plea
What is the life you have for me?

"Hurry!"

How many times a day do you find yourself saying "hurry!" If you are like me, I say it at least several times each morning to a slow child not wanting to go to school. I say it every sunday morning when the preacher is not done and my stomach is growling! I say it to myself as I run each day and just want to be finished with the pain!

How much do we miss in life by living in a "hurry!"? It is like a good book. I always want to get to the end and see what happens that I skip over some important details of the story. When we live in a "hurry!" we are missing some important details of the story God has for us.

If we are always thinking we must "hurry!", we will live our lives in a "hurry!" and miss out on some of the journey. One of my favorite sayings is "Dance like no one is watching, love as though you have never been hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live as though heaven is on earth"

Slow down today and enjoy the journey!

Some people just don't GET IT!

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who is totally clueless? I don't mean to belittle or sound mean, but someone who truly can't see your point of view because it literally doesn't exist in their paradigm?

As someone who studies marriage, works with marriages, and yes struggles through this thing called marriage, it boggles my mind when someone who's been MARRIED for 20+ years can't understand some of the simplest truths about relationships. I'm not talking about an uneducated crack head here, I'm talking about people with a PHD for crying out loud.

Here's the truth: if you are married, everything that occurs in your marriage impacts the rest of your life. Also everything that occurs in the rest of your life impacts your marriage!

Now there are degrees of impact of course. If I have a good or bad day on the golf course, it is certainly not going to impact my marriage as much as if I have a heart attack, but the point is that "bad" golf game will have some spill over into my union with Laura because we are ONE!

For most people the problem comes in the fact that they "do their own thing" in marriage and never understand the beauty of becoming ONE with their spouse in every aspect of their lives.

Thanks for letting me RANT!

Jay

Back to school!

Back to school is always a bitter sweet time for me! I love summer and having some fun hangout time with my kids, yet there is a point where I am ready for them to head back to school and for us all to return to a "normal" schedule!

"Back to school" shopping is always a fun day with the kids. Torrey, Grace and I headed to the shops yesterday in search of jeans, shoes, and school supplies. The day made me realize a few things:


1. Grace is growing like a weed! She is now in a bigger shoe size than I am!
2. Torrey is on his way out! He is taking an easy schedule as a senior and did not even need school supplies!!
3. Torrey is more interested in friends than fam! He spent the entire day attached to his phone, except when mom was buying him clothes.
4. Grace is a tweenager! Jewelry and fashion were a must!
5. No matter how old they get, they still fight about who sits in the front seat!
6. A year from now, Torrey will be in college and it will be just Grace and I going shopping!

Celebrate the moment now!

Be Informed!

Ok so we're getting political. Or at least as political as we're gonna get. I don't know if you saw the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, but we thought it was very well done, and that some very good questions were asked. These are certainly not ALL the questions that should be answered by the candidates, but it is a good start, and the link below will allow you to see how the candidates answered the same question.

Enjoy and Be INFORMED!

Click here to view

Perception VS Truth

For over 20 years I have been bothered deep in my soul by the phrase “Perception is reality”.

I could never put my finger on my uneasiness until I heard this statement; “Perception is reality until confronted with the Truth… When perception intersects the Truth, everything becomes clear, we can no longer justify, we can no longer argue, we can no longer be deceived, because Truth cannot change.”


Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
For like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.


May your reality today be found in the TRUTH of Jesus and may the world’s perception of you be found in His Grace.

Take the survey!

Jay and I will be writing our next book here in the upcoming months and we need your help! We have a little survey we want you to take:

For women:
1. If you could change anything about men, what would you change? You cannot change anything about the nature of men.i.e. I wish he would desire less sex. Think about men in general, not just your husband or boyfriend.
2. Finish this sentence: I wish men would _________________ more.
3. Finish this sentence: I wish men would _________________ less.


For men:
1. If you could change anything about women, what would you change? You cannot change anything about the nature of women.i.e. I wish she would desire more sex. Think about women in general, not just your wife or girlfriend.
2. Finish this sentence: I wish women would _________________ more.
3. Finish this sentence: I wish women would _________________ less.

When you send us your answers in the comment section of the blog,let us know if you are male or female!

Thanks for your help!

Have a great day!

It's HEATING UP!

We're still in Arizona but couldn't wait to tell you all the great things that are going on for marriages! We've had sold out standing room only Ultimate Date Nights out here in Phoenix! A wonderful time at the AMFM Conference where we not only connected with some old friends but made many new ones as well!

AAAAANNNNNND...we've been getting reports from our Healthy Marriage Healthy Church teams about the super cool things they have going on for marriages in their church! Date Nights, Getaways, Fireproof the Movie and so much more. We're here to let the world know that marriage is meant to be a CELEBRATION and along with all our great friends out there we're going to show you how! KUDOS to everyone for helping us wave the flag for marriage!

Blessings!

J & L

Headin' out

Just wanted you all to know we are headin' out to lovely, steamy, hot, dry Arizona. We are speaking at a conference there and doing 3 Ultimate Date Nights! We are so lucky too because Arizona is having a cool front move in...it is cooling off to 105!!!! Enjoy your week and we will be in touch!

Have a great weekend!
Laura

Up and OUT!

Torrey is a senior this coming year and we are already realizing that in a year he will be heading off to college. WOW! It seems like only yesterday he was 10 years old, running around in camouflage scaring the neighbor ladies as he and his friends played “commando”.

We are planning all sorts of ways to make his senior year memorable. We’re going to read through Oswald Chambers devotional “My Utmost for His Highest” together this year. Taking a very special trip over Spring Break, and praying his memories of family will be fond.

Time Ticks for every family…don’t let your kids grow up and OUT with out INTENTIONALLY making some memories. Join us for Celebrate Your Family December 5-7 at Spring Hill camp to make some memories you and your kids will never forget! Visit www.celebrateyourfamily.com to register or for more information.

A Divine appointment…INVEST IN YOUR SPOUSE?

A friend of mine is a stock broker and recently relayed this story.

He was on the phone with a client who was bemoaning the fact that she was always exhausted. She worked full time and when she came home devoted her total attention to her 5 year old daughter until it was time for the daughter to go to bed. Then, the client relayed she would collapse into bed and start all over the next day.

At this point my friend stopped with the financial advice and asked “Can I give you some personal advice?” “Sure” replied the client. My friend then said he felt led by the Lord to tell his client that she needed to come home from work and focus on her husband instead of the daughter.

He went on to say that there was a period in his marriage where his wife was a great mother but not a great wife and that their marriage went “sideways” for about 10 years. He said that by focusing on her husband, the daughter would be better off in the long run.

The client then told my friend that there had been a few times in her life where she felt “direct Divine intervention” and that this was one of those times. She was going to go home and talk this through with her husband and begin to focus on him.

My friend said he left work that day feeling better than if he’d sold a million dollars in stock!

Invest in your spouse and reap both immediate and eternal dividends.

Looking for a great way to invest? Join us this fall at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island or one of our many Ultimate Date Nights across the country. Visit our website for more information.

Whew! I am tired!

Jay and I left Sunday for a whirlwind trip to Virginia Beach, VA. We had the privilege to be guests on Living the Life. LTL is a talk show on CBN. We had a great time meeting the ladies, Louise, Terry, and Carolyn of LTL! They are a hoot! We got up at 4 a.m. this morn to head back home- thus the "whew, I am tired!"

We have had a great time traveling around and being guests on some great TV shows! BUT it is always nice to be home. Especially when it is 101 degrees in VA and 75 in MI!

We have more travel to go before the summer is over....Springfield, MO this weekend and the first week in August, we take Grace to a Phoenix. We will be speaking and attending the AMFM conference and Grace will be visiting a friend of her's who moved last year! That will be a blast for her!

Hopefully we will get some quiet time in August before school starts! I really don't even like saying that phrase let alone typing it!

Well, that is all I have for today! My brain is sleeping!

Hope you are having a wonderful summer! Share with us some of your favorite summer memories!

Laura

Blessed to be a BLESSING!

The Laffoon's were blessed this last week to spend some quiet time away at a lake cottage of some very good friends. We boated, sea-dooed slept in and did a whole lot of NOTHING...It was a great break in the middle of the summer and we really appreciated the kind gesture.

It got Laura and I thinking...we were all put on this earth to be a blessing to others. I know most of us don't have a Lake Cottage to bless others with, but we all can still be a blessing.

Maybe it's something as simple as baking cookies for a neighbor or paying for the car behind you in the toll booth. Whatever your means and whatever your opportunity, won't you join us in "paying it forward" and blessing someone in your world?

What fun it could be!

A Moving Night at Lifest

Last night Laura and I spoke on the Main Stage at Lifest. Denver and the Mile High Orchestra warmed up the crowd. If you've never heard them you need to check 'em out. If you like Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Earth Wind and Fire or any other rock band that features a great horn section you'll love D&MHO!

We were privileged to speak on behalf of Compassion International and challenged the crowd to Celebrate Life by reaching out to children who need hope.

The night culminated with Steven Curtis Chapman giving his first concert since the tragic death of his daughter. Steven's teenage boys are now a part of his band playing guitar and drums. Steven opened the show sitting at an acoustic piano and singing Matt Redmans song Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Read these lyrics and you will know the depth and power of the evening we experienced here at Lifest:

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

In the midst of whatever you may be going through may you be able to sing these words!

Blessings~

J & L

I'm not political but this makes sense!

RE-ELECT NOBODY!
Clean up the 545

By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. Congress does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.
I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above
all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation,' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to
manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!


Charlie Reese is a former columnist of The Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

Something to Ponder this July 4th

This piece inspired me, perhaps it will you too~ Jay

Meaning of Flag Draped Coffin

All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD's Word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history.

Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our "GOD GIVEN" rights and freedoms.
I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."

The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that. They pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, "In God We Trust."

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.
In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.
Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of "Liberty and Freedom."

MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD READ THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEY RENDER THEIR DECISION ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Off to CAMP & Helicopter moms!

Yesterday we took Grace to Spring Hill for a week of Camp Classic "Creative". Which is a typical week of summer camp with an emphasis on dance, music, arts and crafts. Grace will be in heaven! While she was a bit nervous about meeting new friends, she couldn't make us leave fast enough once she met her counselor and cabin mates.

It is always fun to see the Spring Hill staff. We are particularly excited about our joint venture with Spring Hill Celebrate Your Family this December.

We were talking with Spring Hill staff member Mike Krick and he was asking if Laura was nervous about Grace being away...HA! The look on Laura's face must have been classic, because Mike said..."Oh, I get it, there are "helicopter moms" then there's Laura!"

How TRUE! Our kids are blessed with a mom who loves them dearly, but has really done a great job of letting them grow up! Never one to "hover" Laura guides and directs but understands our job as parents is to continually "nudge" them out of the nest!

Blessings~

Jay

He's Officially a SENIOR!

We took Torrey to get his Senior Pictures taken today, marking the first of many "senior" activities we will have the fun of going through this next 12 months. Mom and dad were stressed; what poses will we use? What clothes to wear? Where will we take the outdoor shots? So was Torrey stressed...stress? Heck no he's a senior and the world now revolves around him right?...HA!

For his "formal" shot, he ironed and brought to the studio a dress shirt and tie he wore in his freshman year for basketball games. The big goof didn't realize he'd probably grown since his freshman year...he looked like an absolute geek as he tried to button the collar on a shirt two sizes to small. Two things: 1) we did re-schedule the shoot and 2) he gets his goofy-ness from dad and the air-brain from mom!

It seems like just yesterday...
When the doctor almost dropped him during delivery because his head was so much bigger than his body...
When he and his friend Mark were 5 and decide to shut themselves in our church gym lockers to "hide from mom and dad" scaring us all to death thinking they'd been abducted...
When he was 10 and he and his friend Chris would dress up like army men, sneek around neighborhood houses and scare all the moms half to death...
When he was in Jr. High and learned that guitars were "girl magnets"...
When he got his drivers license the day he turned 16 and became our errand boy! Now, gas prices has him running errands on a BIKE!...
When I caught him watching a DVD of a Pom Pon routine just to appease the girl he likes...wait, THAT WAS JUST YESTERDAY!

Great memories and I'm sure we'll have many more this year...

MAN AM I GETTING OLD!

Jay

What's your story?

Our good friend and head video guru Ryan Koral is running a contest! Ryan is looking for YOUR love story. The winner of this fab contest will receive a free video shoot to document your love story for your family and friends.

To enter the contest simply visit Ryan's site

Have fun!

J & L

Reunited!

I am so excited! I am leaving tomorrow for a long weekend getaway. I have 3 childhood friends that hung out together through all of our growing up years. After high school, we went our own way. We have seen each other at a couple weddings and touch based over the years, but this weekend we are going to have a girlfriend reunion! I am in Michigan, another is in Bellingham, WA, another in Nashville, TN and another in Atlanta, GA. We are going to the beach and relax and catch up on each others lives. What a treat it will be to see each other again and hug on each other!

A quote that Jay and I have always liked is, "Friends are the family you choose". These girls have been family since the day we were born and I am extremely blessed to be able to have a family reunion!

Have a great weekend!
Laura

Careful~ CAREFUL!

Laura and I have long made it a practice not to bash the opposite sex. I mean let's be honest, it's OK for me to pick on men...I'm a man! So it appears to me Laura crossed the line a BIT in her last blog so in an effort to create "equal opportunity" I supply the following...ENJOY!

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly her husband burst into the kitchen.

"Careful ... CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my GOODNESS!
You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY!

Turn them! TURN THEM NOW!

We need more butter. Oh my GOODNESS! WHERE are we going to get MORE
BUTTER?

They're going to STICK! Careful ... CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL!
You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never!

Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't
forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use
the salt. USE THE SALT!

The wife stared at him. "What the heck is wrong with you? You
think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"

The husband calmly replied, "I wanted to show you what it feels
like when I'm driving."

Hee hee

Jay

So that's the problem!

I was enlightened this morning by an email and I wanted to share it with you all!

Woman has Man in it;
Mrs. has Mr . in it;
Female has Male in it;
She has He in it;
Madam has Adam in it;

Okay, it all makes sense now...
I never looked at it this way before:
MEN tal illness
MENstrual cramps
MEN tal breakdown
MEN opause
GUY necologist
AND ..
When we have REAL trouble, it's a
HIS terectomy.
Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?


So there we have it Ladies! "THEY" are the problem!

Laura

What a "Bump"

Yesterday we were featured on James Robison's Life Today Television show. We were honored to be asked to be on the show and certainly had a fun time with James and Betty. These two are the "real deal". They are authentic and made Laura and me feel like long lost friends.

Publicists talk about how a show can give you a "Bump"...what ever that means, and boy did we feel it! Our web site traffic was up over 700% and we moved to the #7 ranked Christian marriage book on Amazon!

Thanks to all of you who have emailed and wished us well, it means a lot to us!

Blessings!

If Momma ain't happy...

Like most people, I spent yesterday focusing on Mothers! We here in the Laffoon house spent the week thinking about and preparing for Mother's Day.

What were the kids going to get Mom? Gracie made some nice crafts in school and the teenager of course simply "graced" mom with his presence.

What were Laura and I going to get our moms? I got my mom a potted plant and Laura sent her mom a DVD.

And finally...What was I going to get the Mother of my Children? a cute little digital camera (which I was informed was DESPARATELY NEEDED before the teenager went to Prom!)

I further thought of Mothers as church lingered on until 12:30 and countless families got up and left, no doubt with restaurant reservations...

We had a wonderful meal and Laura got to take a 2 hour nap...it was a PERFECT Mothers Day...

Just one other thought...Everyone, and by this I mean EVERYONE will agree with the age old saying..."If momma ain't happy ain't NOBODY happy!" So if that's true, then isn't EVERYDAY Mothers Day?

Your thoughts?

Jay

A " Laura Moment "!

On February 18, I wrote a blog sharing with you a time that I kept calling my home phone with my cell phone! You all who read this blog on a regular basis will remember and those who do not, can go back a read it!

Anyway, I have had several women come up to me and tell me that they have done the same thing. Of course that has made me feel better, I think! Only most of these women have only had the phone ring once before they caught on, as opposed to my four! They were a bit quicker!

Well I have a kindred spirit! GERENE! My friend,Gerene, came up to me this weekend at our conferences and said," I had a 'Laura Moment'! She proceeded to tell me that she had called herself on her phone and it took three times to figure it out! I love Gerene! She is "my people"!

I especially am honored that she has coined the phrase a "Laura Moment". Please share with me your "Laura Moments"! I would be honored...and if no one does,I will know Gerene and I are all there is to "my people".

Laura

Heading for Mackinac!

This time of year is always bittersweet as we leave tomorrow morning for our first set of conferences at Grand Hotel.

Sweet because it's such a great place to go and we know God is using this conference to help couples strengthen their marriage.

Bitter because we have to leave the kids again! Please pray for Torrey and Grace (And Gradma and Papa) as we are away, it would mean the world to us!

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

PS~ We'll let you know next week how it went up on the island!
PSS~ We still have openings for our conferences May 18-19 and 19-20. Register by calling 800-669-4122 mention this Blog and receive a FREE GIFT worth $75!

Yes it is true....

For those who have heard me confess, I am not smarter than a fifth grader and I did not get this one either

A few days ago I was having some work done at my local garage. A blonde came in and asked for a seven-hundred and ten.

We all looked at each other and another customer asked, 'What is a seven-hundred and ten

She replied, 'You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine, I have lost it and need a new one..'

She replied that she did not know exactly what it was, but this piece had always been there.

The mechanic gave her a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw what the piece looked like.

She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710. He then took her over to another car which had its hood up and asked 'is there a 710 on this car?'

She pointed and said, 'Of course, its right there.'

If you're not sure what a 710 is

I thought we were going to start TOMORROW!

Yesterday was Earth Day and our little Gracie came home from school with some great ideas for the Laffoon family to save energy and in turn save our planet. She wanted to write out a plan for conservation and we encouraged her to start!

This morning while getting ready for school, she started to write out the different things we were going to do. As she was writing, Torrey came downstairs and said "Hey conservation girl, why don't you start by going to your room and turning off YOUR lights?" To which Gracie replied, "I don't have time, I have to write out our plan, and besides, I thought we were going to start TOMORROW!"

At this point I said "Grace, the time to start is now, go to your room and turn off your lights." She huffed, slammed down the pen and paper she was writing on, and stomped upstairs.

Just like conservation, NOW is the time to start making changes in our marriages. For example, I've always been pretty good at giving Laura her "Seven Significant Non-Sexual Touches" each day. But recently she told me those "touches" needed to include more KISSES. So, I've been working hard to kiss my wife more each day, because it's what she needs.

So, what can you do TODAY to strengthen your marriage...cause we don't start tomorrow :-)

Blessings~

Jay

Tomorrow is the day!

Ladies,guess what tomorrow is? April 19th is Husband Appreciation Day! Would it not freak out our husbands if we did not tell them but we just were ooey gooey nice and appreciative of everything all day tomorrow? Let's do it! Can we agree? Who knows, we might even find that we like being nice and appreciative!

What do you appreciate about the man that you are spending the rest of your life with? I appreciate Jay's humor. When he laughs or smiles, everyone around does so also. I appreciate his nuturing of our children. He is much better at this than I am. I appreciate how he never tires of telling me he loves me even when I am not very lovable! I appreciate his ceaseless dreaming and visioning that never leaves a dull moment in our lives. I appreciate his love for Jesus and how he gives Grace to others.

Ladies, love on your husbands tomorrow the way they deserved to be loved on everyday!

Laura

Keep your man YOUNG!

We had two fantastic Ultimate Date Nights this weekend, one in Detroit and one in Continental Ohio.

Saturday night in Ohio, we were drawing the show to a close, teaching the couples the "flirt" song (The Celebrate Shuffle). During the night I kept noticing an older couple in the back who were totally into the show and EACH OTHER. Now they were really getting my attention as I am watching this elderly couple dance, and while they danced, he kept patting her on her bottom...funny thing was SHE didn't seem to mind! How FUN!

After the show, Laura and I were signing books and the same 82 year old man I'd been watching all night puts his hand on a 31/2 foot high guard rail and HOPS over the railing like a 25 year old gymnast. He exclaimed "I'm 82 and have been happily married to the same woman for 61 years!"

At that moment his wife joined us and I had to ask about her husbands "overly affectionate" pats on her rear. "Oh heavens, I don't mind...it's what keeps him young!" At this point I turned to her husband and said "YOU ARE MY HERO!"

I hope I can jump over a crack in the sidewalk when I'm 82 let alone a 31/2 foot railing!

Now, where's Laura...I've got a lot of "butt patting" to make up for!

Jay

Oh my word!

Husbands are so annoying! Can I get an amen!?!? Anyway, Jay has been bugging me because he has written 4 blogs and I have not written one! Can you say " tit for tat?" So here I am, writing a blog! About him! Guess that will show him, huh?

Okay so, probably I should not be writing this blog simply to irritate Jay! Isn't it amazing how the ones you love the most can bring out the worst in you at times!:-) That is why marriage is so fun and yet such hard work. The fun is in the excitement of discovering new things together, having a companion daily with you, someone to laugh with, to do silly things with...to raise children with...wait, is that fun? HMMMMMM....

The hard work is the journey. The small habits that irritate,the stress of daily life, the crisis that makes you question your commitment.

You know, here is what I have decided...when I think Jay is the most annoying individual on the planet, I have to realize that I bet I am no pleasure to live with all the time either! Hard to believe, I know! There are times on this journey that we should focus on our spouse and not always think about ourselves, but I think when our husband or wife is the "most annoying person"in our lives, we should probably focus on our own annoying habits and start there with change.

I am not one for sappy cliches but I do think the one that says "we can't change others we can only change ourselves" bears merit and much thought!

Have a good day and don't let that ONE annoy!

Laura

Questions that haunted me while on vacation

We're back from a FANTASTIC week in Florida! Rest, and relaxation were on the agenda. The only problem when I'm not working is the eternal questions that plague my mind...here are just a few:

Can you cry under water?

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a
horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song
about him?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a
coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why
didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from
vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same
tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad
at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out
the window?

Now you know why I can't take two week vacations... :-)

Glad to be BAAAAACK!

Jay

Sunshine Bound!

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

Easter

Praise God! I mean shout in the streets~

JESUS IS RISEN!!!

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

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

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

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

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

BIG NEWS!!!!

We wanted to share with you some very big news. We have a couple of really cool media opportunities coming up in March:

March 18 Focus on the Family

March 25 Life Today with James Robison

While we know these interviews are not the “end all be all” we do feel honored and humbled by the opportunity. THANKS to you all for helping make these happen.

I’d like to share how God has worked in this process. Earlier this month I turned down two youth engagements I’d normally say yes to because we feel God wants our focus on marriage ministry at this point. The next day we got the call from James Robison.

Monday I said to Laura…I really need to back off the PGA chaplain gig so I can further focus on marriage ministry. This morning I was on the phone with Ben from FCA Golf letting him know our decision and while I’m on the phone with Ben we get the call from Focus on the Family.

Wow~ Thanks again to all of you and your part in this ministry. You BLESS US!

Jay & Laura~

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!

After a long weekend of travel, Laura, Grace and I went to watch Torrey play a Men's church league basketball game last night. It's really quite fun. I used to play and coach our Men's church league team, then I gave up drinking, smoking cussing and swearing :-) It is amazing how the competitive juices come out even among Christian brothers!

Anyway, last night we watched our Alma 1st Church of God team defeat a scrappy Forrest Hill Church of Christ team. Torrey hit a crucial 3 point shot with less than 2 minutes left in the game that put us up for good!

As we bundled up to leave the game, I began frantically searching my various pockets for the keys to the car. I couldn't find them ANYWHERE! I had sat in a couple of different seats talking with different friends during the game so I began searching everywhere. Being the quiet diminutive type, I soon had the entire gym full of people looking for my keys that I was SURE had fallen out of my sweat pants pocket.

In a final act of desperation, I thought I'd look out in the car (but SERIOUSLY who would leave the keys in the CAR?) That would be me! Wow did I feel old, absentminded and STUPID. In know we live in a small town, but leaving keys in the car for anyone to find is not too smart. Age sure has a way of humbling us all...

So of all the things you've lost...do you miss your mind the most?

Blessings~

Jay

Gerty saved our marriage!

As you know, Laura and I travel together A LOT! And as with most married couples there are often discussions in the car about silly things like directions and the best way to get here or there...For us traveling in new towns and cities these silly "discussions" can often lead to major disagreements!

So...last week I spent $200 and bought a portable Garmin GPS system for us to take on the road...simply plug in the address and "Gerty the Garmin" as we've named her will give you turn by turn directions, in her pleasant little voice. She will even tell you your expected arrival time...it's WONDERFUL!

Truly "Gerty" has saved our marriage from numerous unnecessary arguments! Now I just have to get past the fact that a WOMAN is still telling me how to DRIVE!

oh well :-)


Jay

You just can't make this up!

Okay so people always ask us if the funny stories we tell on stage are really true? Look people you can't make this stuff up!

Saturday, I was out running errands and Jay called me on my cell. When I returned home, He went out to run his errands. While he was gone, Grace and I decided we needed him to pick us up some groceries so we could do some baking. So I picked up my cell phone and simply hit the "JAY" number that he had called me on earlier, assuming it was his cell.

As I am calling him, my home phone rings.Dilemma! Do I hang up before Jay answers and answer the home phone or do I simply let the home phone ring? I hung up on Jay and answered the home phone- I couldn't believe it, the person had hung up! All I got was a dial tone! Maddening!

So I called Jay back. Again my home phone rings! I don't recognize the caller id phone number and it says "out of area", but I hang up on Jay again because he is not answering anyway and again the home phone is nothing but a dial tone!

Now, I am about ready to scream! So I wait a few minutes to give Jay time to see I have called his cell. I dial him again and what do you think happens? My home phone rings again! Now this time I am going to give this person a piece of my mind! So once again I hang up on Jay and answer the home- again dial tone!!!

Well, needless to say I did this one more time before I realized as you probably already have that I was dialing my home phone the entire time I thought I was dialing Jay's cell! I was hanging up on myself! I was the person I was going to give a piece of my mind too...somehow a piece of my mind does not sound very promising right now!

See, we just can't make this stuff up!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's hoping you and your loved ones enjoy a GREAT day of LOVE!

We just returned from a live radio remote in Williamston MI with our friends at Family Life Radio. Laura and I have literally been on air all day with 6 different radio stations from FL to CO and many states in between.

As we were wrapping up our time live with WUGN Peter Brooks interviewed "Martha" who is 35 and has only been a Christian for 5 years. When she heard our names mentioned throughout the day, she felt like she just had to call in...you see we met Martha 20 years ago when we were Youth for Christ leaders here in Central Michigan.

Martha said that while she had only been a believer for 5 years that the "seeds of her faith" were planted when she was 14 and went on a trip with us and YFC.

NEVER underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives, even if it's 20 years down the road. Be faithful in your witness and let God do the rest.

We never imagined such a great Valentine gift would be ours today!

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

Honey...It's London Calling

I know the world is shrinking faster than ever, but the coolest thing just happened!

Laura and I have been promoting our new book The Spark since it's release January 15th by hitting the road for our Ultimate Date Night show and conducting countless radio and television interviews.

Today, we were interviewed Live on Premiere Radio in London England. It was the wildest thing chatting with the hosts who's accent was so FUN and realizing that we were impacting couples half way around the globe!

Our first four book tour Ultimate Date Nights were "Sold Out" and the response has been terrific! We'd love to see you at one of our upcoming events go to: clik here to find a show near you!

Blessings~

Jay

Snowed IN!

We are officially "SNOWED IN" here at Celebrate! We've received over 12 inches of fresh snow in the last 24 hours...coupled with 30 mile an hour winds, you can imagine it was close to a "White out!"

So today is filled with kids out of school, Torrey gripping about shoveling (I'm SO glad we have teenager in the house!) and Laura and I getting ready for another weekend of Ultimate Date Nights.

For those of you who don't know we are on a bit of a "Book Tour" promoting our new book The Spark now through March, conducting a series of "Ultimate Date Nights" music, comedy and fun for couples. We "sold out" two shows last weekend in Alpena and Alma and this weekend we have two more "SELL OUTS" in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, NC. For a listing of future shows near you click here.

If you think of us, breathe a prayer over the next two months for our travels, our kids and my sister and parents who are helping with the kids!

Blessings~

Jay

Evan Almighty Was Right!

Last week we had a family movie night. We told Torrey and Grace to go together and pick out a movie that we would all enjoy. They came home with Evan Almighty. It was great movie! I would highly recommend it!

The premise of the movie is that Evan is a new senator and wants to change the world. He prays and asks God to help him do just that. His wife on the other hand, prays that God will bring them closer together as a family, as a result of this new senatorial job.

In the course of a conversation, this question is asked, "Will God just make us closer as a family or will He give us opportunity to become closer as a family?" It was a great question, but I did not pay much heed to it at the time.

So now you are up to speed....

Our Grace tends to think that the world revolves around her! She is the typical baby of the family and we have enabled that! Well life as she has known it is over!! This new strategy on Jay and I's part has created much complaining from Grace! GO FIGURE!! Last night was nothing new. Dinner complaining! "The meat is too tough!" "I can't chew it!" All the complaining led to some consequences she was not happy with.

When it came to bed time and prayer time, She and I said our prayers and specifically prayed for her to be able to realize that she is not a baby any longer. After we were done, Grace asked," do you think Evan Almighty was right." I was perplexed as to exactly what she was talking about so I replied, " about what?" To which she responded, " Well I need to stop complaining. I prayed and asked God to make me stop complaining. Do you think He will just make me stop or is He going to give me opportunities to stop? Is He going to give me opportunities where I would normally complain and see if I can not complain!"

I told her Evan Almighty was right!

Today she is looking for those opportunities where she normally complains and see if she can not!

My Funniest Super Bowl EVER!

Laura and I chose to watch the Super Bowl just the two of us last night. After back to back shows in Alpena and Alma, we were a bit torched and didn't feel like going to a party. So, we donned the sweat pants and poured some Diet Dew and watched a great game with some really LAME commercials.

I don't remember when, but at one point I said to Laura, did you see the move that guy made out there? The defender "lost his jock strap!". Now for those of you who don't follow sports "lost his jock strap" is simply a phrase one uses when describing a man who really got faked out...anyway

Laura replied, "Is that what I saw laying in the middle of the field?" I just looked at her and shook my head with a grin of unbelief on my face. Realizing how dizzy her remark was, we both broke out in outright laughter. I said that would be quite a feat to see wouldn't it? It's not as funny in print as it was at the time, but needless to say we laughed the rest of the night anytime there was a good play!

Hope your team won!

Jay & Laura

Reality Check

Today is REALITY CHECK day. We basked in the after-glow of the cruise for as long as we could. Today however the cold harsh snowy reality of Michigan is upon us.

The kids are out of school, there are times I can't see my neighbors house across the street and in an hour Laura and I have to drive to Alpena Michigan for an Ultimate Date Night!

We're excited as we head to Alpena, just a bit nervous about the weather. The response to our Ultimate Date Nights has been PHENOMENAL. Three of our first four shows are at or nearly "SOLD OUT!"

Our "UDN's" are really a great concept. Music, Comedy and fun for couples. For $15 (the price of a movie) a couple can laugh, engage each other and walk away remembering why they fell in love in the first place. It's a great way to inspire couples to CELEBRATE!

Hope to see you all at one soon!

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

OH the sunshine!

Oh how I miss the sunshine! The cruise was fabulous! Now I need to let you know it was not the just sunshine but the people were fabulous also! Jay and I hosted our second annual Celebrate Your Marriage cruise last week. We were joined on the high seas by 40 couples from different parts of the country! We had folks from Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, the Carolinas, and more!

The most fun for me was dining with the folks. There is just something about eating and talking that just makes for great memories.

I do have to tell you that one thing I have told Jay is that on these cruises I will try things like snorkeling. Things that scare me but I know I can do if I just will try. Well, this cruise I tried para-sailing! It was so awesome to be hanging up above the water and relax and enjoy the ride!

Relax today and enjoy the ride the Lord is taking you on!

Life Explained & Cruising!

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?" So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give you back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren, and for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you!

You won't hear from us for a few days....WE'RE ON A CRUISE!!!!

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

My son is now a MAN!

Every once in a while the Lord gives you a glimpse into the heart of your children. Sunday at our church, our pastor preached a very moving sermon and opened the alter for response.

Javin is a good friend of our son Torrey. Last summer Javin gave his heart to Christ on a Youth for Christ Colorado trip and since then has been coming to Church with us, growing in his faith. Sunday during the Alter call, Javin went forward to pray.

After a few moments, Torrey moved in beside Javin, put his arm around his shoulder and began to pray with him. When they got up, they gave each other a hug. Now remembering they were in front of a congregation of 300+ people. Boys being boys, they began to pat each other on the back in a very "macho" manner.

I told my son that very few things define a "MAN" like the ability to pray with and for another man. Today Torrey was that MAN!

Praying the Lord gives you a glimpse into the heart of your kids today!


Jay

I am so old!

So here I am with my old lady glasses! I broke down an went out and bought a pair of reading glasses! I love them.....Jay hates them! He can't even stand to see me when I am wearing them. He says he did not marry that old lady! HOW RUDE!!

Seriously though, I am feeling old yet young! I can see again! I think so many of us fear doing the things we need to in order to increase our quality of life. I was to the point that I could not see the paper without holding it at arms length away from me and then my arms would hurt from holding the paper out and hyper-extending my arms!

Vanity! Vanity! All is vanity! You are only as old as you feel. Reading glasses, hearing aids, a cane or even Depends! do not make you old! Only you make you old! If you feel old and act old - You are old!

Let's celebrate our youth! Here's to reading glasses!

Laura

Truth is stranger than fiction...

I know we are a long way from Election day, but with the Iowa caucus today marking the beginning of the election year, I found the following both poignant and frightening.

In a news conference, Deanna Favre announced she will be the starting QB for the Packers on January 12. Deanna asserts that she is qualified to be starting QB because she has spent the past 16 years married to Brett while he played that position for the Packers. During this period of time, she became familiar with the definition of a corner blitz, and is now completely comfortable with other terminology of the Packers offense. A survey of Packers fans shows that 50% of those polled supported the move.

Does this sound idiotic and unbelievable to you?

Well, Hillary Clinton makes the same claims as to why she is qualified to be President and 50% of Democrats polled agreed. She has never run a City, County, or State.



When told Hillary Clinton has experience because she has 8 years in the White House, Dick Morris stated, "So has the pastry chef."

Happy New Year

My Prayer for You in 2008


May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

May your clothes smell of success like chocolate chip cookies.

May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be only tears of joy.

May the problems you had forget your home address!

In simple words...may 2008 be the best year of your life!!!


"May the LORD look upon you with favor and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Taken from Mikey's funnies

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

Merry Christmas

Here is a Christmas Poem from our heart to yours.

FINDING CHRIST IN THE STRANGEST PLACES
By Dave Veerman


How strange
a crib
the baby laid
sin and straw surrounded
soon humble shepherds
exclaimed the news
good will of God abounded

A strange
collect
these learned men
for adolescent questions
and worried mother
found her son
and heard his strong suggestions

Then strange
he ate
with sinners known
taxing reputation
his love reaching
up and out
forming faithful nation

Now strange
this well
on unclean soil
with outcast woman thirsting
his living offer
satisfied
she ran, her message bursting

But strange
a vessel
engulfed and tossed
the storm had no relieving
till wakened
his rebuke and peace
had followers believing

So strange
the basin
water and towel
he took each filthy pair
feet washing
hearts cleansing
the least and greatest there

Soon strange
that tree
on deadly hill
cursed, condemned, impaled
abandoned, yet
he stayed upon
finished work, sins nailed

And strange
a grave
for final rest
our Lord entombed that hour
defeated death
burst forth alive
with resurrection power

Most strange
the home
he lives now
another chosen place
God’s own Son
in my life
what incredible grace!

Copyright 2007 Dave Veerman. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.


Merry Chirstmas~

Jay & Laura

I hate cancer!

Hello to all readers of this blog! We really try to be celebrate-ish in this blog but I have a prayer request. I have a dear friend,Karen. Karen has been diagnosed with metastised breast cancer stage 4. The cancer is in her breast, her hip, spine, cranium, and shoulder. She is 45! Karen is a dear friend from college. She is one of the first people I remember meeting at Montreat College as a freshman. Karen and her huband Scott, have 3 children,-21,17,13.

I have had many friends with illnesses but for some reason Karen's is hitting me like a ton of bricks. Would you please pray for Karen and her family as you read this? We are praying for healing. Pray for her as you celebrate the birth of our Savior who came to take away the sins of the world. Pray as you light a candle or hug a friend this Christmas.

Thanks to all~ Laura

Only if you LOVE music!

As most of you know, I received a minor in music while at Taylor University. Anyone who has purchased one of my CD's knows that I love ALL kinds of music.

For all you music lovers out there, here is 3 minutes of pure Christmas DELIGHT!

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

Jay

Tired of feeling like a silent majority?

Merry Christmas!

I am tired of being the silent MAJORITY! Over 90% of our country celebrates Christmas, yet at the risk of "offending" the 10% who don't, I get advertisements and announcements of "Holiday Sales" and "Holiday Savings".

If you are like me then watch this video and start celebrating a new holiday...Merry Tossmas! STOP buying from retailers who don't honor your Savior and support those who do!

Merry Tossmas, and Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Jay

23 years but that's not the news...

Saturday Laura and I celebrated 23 years of marriage. Well actually we did that on Friday night with dinner and a night out. Saturday night we had bunches of teenagers invade our home to help Torrey Celebrate birthday number 17. Funny, the girls out numbered the boys...hmmmm.

The real news of the weekend though happened Saturday morning. Annually around this weekend we drag the kids down stairs to the basement, back them up to a doorpost under the basement stairs, stick a pencil on top of their heads and see how much they've grown.


This Saturday we crossed two milestones as our 10 year old Gracie now stands at 5 feet even, which boggles our mind as neither Laura or I are tall. Torrey now stands at 6 feet even making him the tallest in our family. Don't worry, Dad can still take him...I think~

All of this to say, it's been a wonderfully reflective time around here...December always is and I we hope this Christmas season will be for you as well.

Blessings~

Jay

They're Heeeeeeere!

We are absolutely giddy here in Celebrate Land as we just received shipment of advanced copies of our new book The Spark. It looks great and there are even "real" endorsements! Ha!

We're making a special offer to readers of our blog and other Celebrate friends. Order a book (or two) online here: and you'll have it to give as a Christmas present! What a great stocking stuffer!

Don't wait, this offer expires soon!

J & L

From the mouth of babes!

Well today is the day! According to my ten year old, as of today, my life is half over! I celebrate 45 years today! I guess I could look at her statement as a compliment- that I will live to be 90!

Do you ever find it funny that people ask, " do you feel any different" Yeah, a whole 24 hours made me feel a whole year older! Yesterday I was a young 44, today, I am a very old 45!

I am a firm believer in the statement that you are only as old as you feel! So some days I feel 18 and other days I feel 80! I actually love birthdays- I get gifts, and taken to lunch, and in our house, you get a birthday week..so I get a whole week of fun!

What are some of your thoughts on old age and birthdays!?

Laura

Celebrate YOUR Family

The Laffoon's leave tomorrow morning for our Celebrate Your Family event at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City Michigan. This wonderful experience is a chance for families to get away together, have some fun and laugh, learn and love together.

Our special guest is comedian Joby Saad. Joby is sure to be a hit with family members of all ages!

Celebrate Your Family is only one way to make great family memories. Tell us ways you Celebrate YOUR family!

Blessings~

J & L

Enchanted

Well it's been a great holiday weekend so far. We had a terrific Thanksgiving day, with the exception of the Lions game of course. The food was scrumptious and I didn't over eat which is a good thing.

The Christmas decorations are now hung in the Laffoon household and yes Laura got in her shopping...BUT the highlight of my weekend took place yesterday when I took Grace to see Disney's "Enchanted". It was fantastic!

Grace and Daddy are not shoppers, so while mom and Torrey scour the mall for deals, we go out for "date" of lunch and a movie. The first time we did this was when she was very small and we went to see "Monsters Inc." she climbed in my lap for that movie. This time it was just her head on my shoulder and her hand in mine.

If you don't like hokey, predictable, feel good movies then don't go. If however you believe love is the most powerful thing on the planet and that dreams do come true, then grab someone you love and get to that movie...you'll leave loving them even more.

It isn't often you leave a movie seeing couples arm in arm kissing and laughing, but you will after this one. It isn't often that a movie makes me so happy that I get misty, but this one did. It isn't often that a movie so closely reflects real life, but this movie which is set between childhood fantasy and real adult love, clearly reflects where my 10 year old Gracie is...still a child but equally a blossoming woman...

Gotta go, I don't want Laura to see me "misty eyed"~

Jay

Worship?

I was given 4 tickets to the Michigan State vs. Penn State football game Saturday by a very generous friend. After looking at the weather forecast Laura decided she and Grace would stay home, so I took Torrey and two of his friends. It was a great time, the Spartans put on a second half come back after being down 24 - 7 to win the game.

As I observed the happenings of the day, it occurred to me how unbelievably similar a football game is to Church. The BIG difference I see is the dedication of the worshipers.

We arrived early (very few worshipers arrive late to football games) to find people enjoying the breaking of bread and drinking of varied drink. It seemed as if they actually enjoyed being together...hmmm.

As the appointed hour approached, thousands flocked to the football temple with great anticipation and general glee. As we took our seats it fascinated me to realize that the "regulars" in our section talked as if they were old friends, even though they only see each other a few times each year. They welcomed us with friendly banter and high fives as the kickoff approached.

There were worship leaders on the field of play, and a supporting worship band and singers, even though most of the singing sounded like chants of some sort, it was amazing to see how quickly the 60,000 in the congregation joined in enthusiastically.
I was further amazed as I watched the regulars encourage my son and his friends as they introduced a "new" worship chant. Everyone thought it was that chant which turned the game in MSU's favor...

Anohter astonishing development was how frequently the congregation stood in opposition to the black and white stripped clergy, challenging their interpretation of the "holy book" of rules. Bottom line is they were free to question, without fear of being ridiculed as heretic.

Finally the worshipers shouted in one voice as the climax of the service ended with a buzzer and three zero's registered on the jumbo tron. After the service, many were overheard making plans to go and break more bread together...a real worship service!

Why is it we can get so excited and embrace the celebration of a finely chiseled athlete carrying a dead pig carcass over a chalk line, but we struggle to celebrate Eternal life through Christ.

I'd love to hear your explanation>

Practice what you Preach

Laura and I tell couples all the time that they need to get away just the two of them on a regular basis. This practice is critical in keeping marriage healthy, and besides once you get past "all the details" ie getting off work, taking care of the kids, it's actually FUN!

So today Laura and I are getting away for a couple of days to go hunting...NO NOT the four legged white tailed kind, but "hunting" none the less.

We're at a friends cabin in the woods, so don't be upset if we don't return your phone call :-)

Just practicing what we preach!

Blessings~

J&L

Does he listen?!?!

So the other day Jay and I were having conversation and I used the word "tump" when refering to something being knocked over. "Careful or that will tump over." Jay began to laugh excessively! He just kept repeating "tump? What kind of word is that?"

Tump is in between tip and dump. Sometimes tip is not strong enough and dump is too strong! I grew up in the south and tump was a word I used often. But here is the kicker...I have used it my entire life! Including the last 22 years and 26 days of my married life!

The question begged to be asked,"If you have never heard me say 'tump' then have you been listening at all?1?"

HMMMMMMMMMM?

A new kind of seminary?

I try to read books that stretch my thinking and that I might not always agree with...here is an excerpt from Brian McLaren's somewhat controversial "A New Kind of Christian".

When I said that seminaries operate n the modern model,I meant (among other things) that they put theory before practice and that they assume that knowledge (not character, skill, experience, know-how, passion, and so on) is power...

I firmly believe that the top question of the new century and new millennium is not just whether Christianity is rational, credible, and essentially true (all of which I believe it is) but whether it can be powerful, redemptive, authentic, and good, whether it can change lives, demonstrate reconciliation and community, serve as a catalyst for the kingdom.

So what do you think of this "Radical"????? book? These words ring true to my ears.

Blessings~

Jay

Enter Torrey!

Torrey is a great kid. Let us say that right up front. He has for the most part been a joy to parent, given us so many reasons to be proud, and is a respectful and respected young man. He communicates well with his friends and adults alike and even talks to us about issues which many teens stay mute. That being said, he is still a teenager.

From time to time (Ok more and more these days) Torrey will be out at night. He’ll be off to a ball game or Campus Life meetings or Youth Group. While he’s gone, we get Grace to bed and actually have some quality time as a couple. Sometimes talking, sometimes reading, sometimes in front of the TV. Often, we will start to connect in a way that would naturally lead to additional connecting later on in the bedroom.

Enter Torrey. Being good parents, we try to engage him in conversation about his evening activities. More often than not, he can’t wait to spill forth the plot lines that unfolded over his night out. From time to time however, whether he’s tired or irritated at a friend or just not in a talking mood he simply refuses to communicate about his night. Jay usually dismisses it (as a man I guess he understands when another guy just doesn’t feel like talking) I (Laura) on the other hand can get pretty bent out of shape.

I take Torrey’s lack of communication as “a young man with an attitude” or a child who “doesn’t know who butter’s his bread” and quite honestly it can really set me off. My sensitivity (or over-sensitivity according to Jay) is now transferred to my attitude and demeanor. Without knowing it or understanding why, all that connecting with Jay that has occurred suddenly vanishes, along with Jay’s hopes for further connection.

Gotta Go...Torrey's at Campus Life and Jay's looking for a little "connecting time".

We're meeting with Pastor's and it's SCARY!

Laura and I are going to be in Lansing MI tomorrow for the Church of God General Assembly. Basically we're hanging out with a bunch of pastor's and church leaders from the Church of God (Anderson, IN).

We are going to present our new model for marriage ministry in the church. We are very excited as this model has been birthed out of an article I wrote earlier this summer, entitled. Marriage Ministry in the Church: Do Nothing, Reap Nothing! It has grown out of our concern for the challenges marriages are facing and the unique position the church holds to help couples meet those challenges. To read the article visit our Marriage Champion site.

We are believing God that He is uniquely positioning Celebrate Ministries to Challenge and Equip churches to help marriages beat the challenges they face.

Pray for us...Pastor's can be scary :-)

Jay