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".