Front Page!

Peter John's picture was featured on the front page of the Daily Journal today! He was having a blast with his cousin, Hans, yesterday.  They had no school and built a great fort near our house.

A Beautiful Snow

The beautiful snow-covered trees in our town.

This winter has been lovely in Minnesota.  We have had light snow and pretty cold temps.  A couple of nights ago we had heavy snow that amounted to about eight inches on the ground and the canceling of school yesterday. Because I love the Psalms so much and think about the Bible often, these verses come to mind whenever it snows:

 He sends out His command to the earth;His word runs very swiftly.¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;He scatters the frost like ashes;¹⁷ He casts out His hail like morsels;Who can stand before His cold?¹⁸ He sends out His word and melts them;He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. Psalm 147:15-18

I am picturing the Almighty God commanding the weather.  Whatever He says it happens.  His word is powerful and very effective.

I think also about the word of God that is going out throughout the world even today. I think about all my friends who are sharing the Good News about Jesus: Tracy and Zhenya in Kyrgyzstan, Pastor Vlad and his family in Priluki, the faithful missionaries I visited in Chad last year, the McNamees in Chernihiv, and my faithful friends at ICS Bangkok where I taught art classes for two years in the 1990s. I think about the Bible that is being translated into other languages.  My brother-in-law, Marcos, is still working on the Gospel of Luke to be used in the Bilala language version of the Jesus Film and in other materials.  I am thinking about the faithful servants who are using their intellect and physical strength to pour over words and meanings in order to communicate the Bible in the heart language of native peoples.  I love these missionaries, and I praise God for the word that is going forth.

I am also thinking about those who are suffering because of their faith in Jesus and for believing the precious promises of God's word.  Our friend, Saeed in prison in Iran, who loves his family, the people of Iran, and most of all, Jesus.  He is paying a severe price for his love.  In another place, my dearest friend, Tracy, is laying in a hospital tonight in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for appendicitis.  They performed surgery to remove the appendix, and she is doing okay right now.  But we pray that no infection will come because the hospitals are not known to be very reliable and sanitary. I thank God for her and for all the workers there, who faithfully proclaim God's word, despite persecution and physical problems.

I believe that God's word will accomplish all that He desires for it.  He says it, and it happens.  God is faithful and true, and faith is being formed in hearts through the proclamation of this word and the power of the Father who draws people unto Jesus, by His grace and for His glory.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

What Is Going On With The Larsons?

Some of you may be wondering what we are doing these days?

1.  Today we move into a different rental house here in Fergus Falls.  We will be renting a house about a mile from here until we are finished with our support-raising efforts for our mission work with Training Leaders International.  We have a lot to move still from this house and plenty to do to clean up around here.

2.  Some of us have the flu!  Peter, then Gretchen, now Ethan. Amy just got over a cold and Lizzy is starting up with a cold.  I guess that leaves just me who is currently healthy.

3.  Ethan has been traveling and continues to work hard building up our support in order to teach and train God's people around the world, so that they may lead and teach their churches with strength and trust from the Bible.

4.  We have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday and break from homeschool.  The kids start up at School of Choice on Thursday, but I think I will need to take a break from the homeschool part and start next week. The move continues to be quite consuming.

5.  Today begins a new year to grow in our relationship with God through our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We love God, and look forward to reading His word and delighting in Him and His goodness this year.  I love to share what reading the Bible has meant to me.  It has changed my life and given me daily hope and comfort.  I encourage everyone to seek God in the Bible and read it daily.  Here are some wonderful Bible reading plans that you can start the New Year in a great, fresh way:
http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/

Happy New Year!

We Press On

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 ESV

Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him. -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, December 31.

Do I really believe God's Word?  It says "For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death." Psalm 48:14 NKJV I must believe His every word.  He is Faithful and True.  Does that mean, as a believer in Jesus Christ, that every moment of my life is in His sovereign hands?  Indeed, every moment.  And God is good.  That means, through every difficulty and painful trial, God is guiding me.  Through every moment of sheer joy and pleasure, every good and perfect gift comes from Him.  He is faithfully doing a work for His glory in my life.  He is turning my eyes from myself and all the things I put my hope in, and turning my attention and focus and trust to Himself, who is sufficient to carry everything in His strong, loving, able hands.  I trust You, My God, for this new year, 2013.  Soli Deo Gloria.

Thanksgiving Up Till Now

A real North Dakota Thanksgiving!

Sledding at the Strand's place in the Turtle Mountains 

There were ten of us up to the table on Thanksgiving. Special guests were Great Uncle Carl and Great Aunt Sylvia.

Don't play cards with Amy unless you plan to get beaten.

I started the puzzle but JoAnn couldn't sleep one night and finished it for us!

While Ethan has been out West in Idaho support-raising the last couple of weeks, I will update you on the happenings around here.

We had a great Thanksgiving trip to Bottineau to visit Ethan's parents.  It was cold and snowy up there near the Canadian border, so we took advantage of it and played outside a lot! The day we left ND it was -4 F (that's -20 C for you Europeans).  Yikes! We drove down to Bismarck to pick up a car Ethan was renting from a mission organization, and then visited our pastor friend there.  The kids and I said "goodbye" to Ethan and began the four hour drive back home.  It was about an eight hour drive that day altogether.  

Since then we have been here continuing our lives of learning and working hard.

The kids insisted on Trimming the Tree before Dec. 1 even rolled around. Mommy gave in.

Decorating the tree in a ballet leotard...the fun never stops for these girls!

Thanks for the snowflake ornaments, Uncle Dan and Aunt Carol!

Missing Daddy!

It's been fun to prepare for Christmas and celebrate the Advent season together in our family and at church.  God sent to us the best gift...a Savior!

Some Things to Learn and Do in Rural Minnesota

When my parents, sisters, and I first moved to Fergus Falls in 1990 I was not too thrilled about it.  I felt like we were stepping back in time and as a busy teenager from a big city, small town living was not my idea of a good time.  Growing up really does open your eyes to the realities of life and what is really important.  Since Ethan, the kids, and I have moved to Fergus Falls three and a half years ago, I have really begun to appreciate this town and all the opportunities for growing and learning.  I see how the people in this community rally together to bless the whole town.  As Ethan says, "Minnesota is full of Scandinavians with Socialist tendencies."  People really are generous here and work together to get things done.

Homeschooling has added to our small-town learning experience fourfold.  Every week we are able to take advantage of things in this community that most people do not have the time for.  It has been very fulfilling.  In the past couple of years, my husband and his dad, along with my dad have spent some time teaching the kids about shooting a rifle.  Peter John received a pellet gun and a bow and arrow for his birthday in 2011, and now this year, he saved his paper route earnings to buy his own .22 rifle.  Gretchen and Peter John go to a club here in town called the Fergus Falls Jr. Rifle Club.  They meet at the indoor shooting range every Tuesday at 6:30pm during the school year.  They only charge $10 per child for the year plus ammunition costs.  What a deal!  And they are learning some great skills.

Lizzy trying out PJ's pellet gun at an outdoor range. 

PJ shooting prone at Jr. Rifle Club

Last week our homeschool co-op the School of Choice took a field trip up to Moorhead to see MSUM's children's play.  The theater department at the University puts on a children's play every year, and it is usually very fun and delightful.  This year we saw a play called, "Rupunzel and the Dragon."  Great job, MSUM! We had a good time looking for ice skates at second-hand shops in Fargo after the play.

Lizzy with her friend from School of Choice at the play

Amy with her friend

BFF

 Every Monday through Thursday our local indoor ice arena has free open ice skating from 1:30-3pm.  We usually only have time to go on Mondays this year, but the kids look forward to it! The only people who are able to go are adults and homeschoolers since the rest of the kids are in regular school.

Amy skating with an ice skating "walker"

Peter John and Gretchen always competing to see who is fastest!

Our family is planning to move away from this community some time in the next year as God is leading us to carry on our mission work in a much bigger city.  Now, thankful thoughts are filling my mind as I begin to consider leaving this place in the future.  I am very grateful for the family, friends, and learning opportunities God has given us here in Fergus Falls.

Mothering on Friday

O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT

Friday was a normal day of raising kids--crazy but full of God's grace.  Ethan was out of town for part of the day, and we were busy homeschooling as we do on Fridays.  Amy had woken up with a fever and spent the day in bed. Later Lizzy came to me with a bleeding gum that was sore and swollen.  I was afraid it was an abscess so I took her to the dentist leaving Gretchen in charge of Amy.  I called the next-door neighbor to ask if they could be available if Gretchen had any questions or problems.  That went just fine.  Fortunately, her sore gum was due to some accident, probably from chewing on something hard.  There was no infection and no procedure needed, thankfully. Hah! The Friday before Peter had to have a tooth pulled for a different reason.

By the end of the afternoon, poor Amy began to complain about a sore throat.  After examining her throat with a flashlight, I decided she probably had strep throat, and I called the doctor's office. The receptionist told me if I could get there in ten minutes, they could fit me in before closing time.  The wonderful doctor took one look at her throat and determined that she had "angry strep" and she was promptly tested and prescribed antibiotics and sent out the door.  Meanwhile, Peter and Lizzy were swimming at the YMCA, and Gretchen was holding down the fort at home.

Being a mother is an amazing balancing act with all kinds of events taking place EVERY DAY!  It is such a comfort to know that God is in control of it all, and I can trust our Shepherd, our gracious Father to take care of everything!