December 26, 2008 Happy 22nd Birthday Jonathan!

Happy Birthday Jonathan! Here he is playing with his nephew Trenten. All the little kids like Jonathan. I feel sorry for him being born the day after Christmas he kinda gets cheated on his birthday..........of course I don't feel too bad for him as his parents gave him a Wii for Christmas!
~Hugs from your Auntie Sue Sue

Lunch with a Deer River High School Chum

Marlene Barrett Ketola and I have been friends since 2nd grade! How fun is that? We try and have lunch together every Christmas Season when I am back in Deer River. What a nice time we had playing "catch up" on each other's lives.

and more Christmas pics.....

Isabel with her new oven mitts!

Dad and his Senior Discount hat!

Angie and the gift she made for Grandma Reed~ She will put it on her grave (it is just the kind of thing that would of made Mom smile!)

Jeff, Angie and Tammy

The boys and their Santa Hats!

More of our Christmas............

Clarence
Jeff
Mike and Morgan
Jason and Dad
and silly Preston~ peeking out with that one eye!

Christmas in Deer River con't........

Trenton~ happiest when he had someones cane!

Dad and John

Sisters ~Sandi, Sue Sue and Cindy

Cindy and Clarence

Ami, Bryan, Trenton, Taylor and Maddi

Christmas with my family in Deer River

Charlie, Ashley and Taylor,

Gavin, Carol, Jason, Elise, Jared and Hannah

Rob, Mandy and Preston,

Gavin and Elise,

Colin

We celebrated our big Reed Christmas on Friday at the White Oak Inn and Suites in the party room. We had a yummy ham and turkey dinner with all the trimmings! It is always so fun to be together. The little ones were so excited to go swimming and open gifts! Mom was not physically with us but her presence was everywhere in the faces of her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren!

God Comes to Us

When Jesus left heaven to come to earth most of the world was unaware of the great thing that God was doing.
He left the highest place and came to a lowly place.
He left His glory and was clothed in humility.
He left the riches of heaven to be born into a poor family.
He didn’t come into the world surrounded by dignitaries, but by animals…
He didn’t come to a palace, but to a stable...
He didn’t come wrapped in silk, but in swaddling clothes.
The rich didn’t witness His coming—they were too comfortable.
The powerful didn’t witness His coming—they were too proud.
The religious leaders didn’t witness His coming—they were too blind.
The merchants didn’t witness His coming—they were too busy.
God made the news known on a quiet hillside close to where Jesus was born.
He spoke it in phrases of wonder, through creatures of splendor, to men of low degree.
Those who were excluded from society’s fancy gatherings would be included in heaven’s greatest celebration…
Those who had little education would come to know heaven’s greatest revelation…
Those who had few possessions would come to receive heaven’s greatest gift.
What greater witnesses could there be to the coming of the Lamb of God than those who tended their flocks by night.
Like the shepherds, God comes to us in our spiritual night time to call us to His light…
He comes in our spiritual poverty to call us to the riches in His Son…
He comes in our spiritual loneliness to call us to the fellowship of His eternal celebration—
He who was wrapped in swaddling clothes has wrapped us in robes of righteousness…
He who had no place to lay His head has given us a mansion in heaven…
He who cried as His mother held Him in her arms will wipe away all our tears.

......from Meet me in the Meadows....

Hang On!

I want to share my morning devotional with you......Hang on!

Today's Truth "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." (Psalm 18:16, NIV)

Friend to Friend Today, I'd like to encourage those among us who are struggling. Whether you are feeling the squeezes of a strained economy, the aches of a broken marriage, or the difficulties of an illness, God longs to sustain you in the storm. When all else fails, all that's required of us is that we just hang on to our faith.
Now, I'm talking directly to you. Whatever your circumstances...no wound of life is too infected for God to heal. No problem is too difficult for God to solve. No sin is too abominable for God to forgive. No sickness is beyond His ability to make well. He is able. I don't know the shattered matters of your life, but God does. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Hang on!
If you are ready to walk out on your husband--God loves you and is able to heal your marriage. Hang on!
If your child is wild--God loves you and is able to change his/her heart. Hang on!
If you are barraged by addiction--God loves you and wants to satisfy your every craving. Hang on!
If you are chained by financial burdens--God loves you and will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Hang on!
If you are a widow who feels abandoned--God loves you and will never leave your side. Hang on!
If you are a single mother--God loves you and is the perfect Father for your fatherless children. Hang on!
If you are battling illness--God loves you, is familiar with suffering, and is able to heal you. Hang on!
If you are single and long to be cherished by a man--God loves you and sees you as perfectly beautiful in Christ. Trust His plan. Hang on!
If you feel worthless and damaged--God loves you and considers you precious and valuable. Hang on!
If you are consumed by guilt--God loves you, knows you, and paid for that sin on the cross.
Release it to His hands...be free!
Hang on to Jesus, friend. Hang on to Jesus. "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy" (Job 8:21). I know from personal experience that in the painful, tear-filled days, God is still good and can still be trusted. I know He is faithful. I've witnessed His strength in my weakness. I've felt His comfort in times of loss. And though we aren't always kept from experiencing shattered matters, we never have to endure them alone.
Take comfort that He knows every issue on your heart and is able to shoulder your burdens. Your challenges do not fall outside the scope of God's ability to intervene. God is mysterious, He is powerful, and He is able! When you lift your eyes from your situation and fix them on your Savior, you will find peace in the pain and strength in the struggle.

Let's Pray.... Holy Father, I need to hang on to you today. I'm comforted that You know every issue on my heart and You are able to shoulder my burdens. I bring them to you now. Thank You for being able. I love you so much.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Canal Park after the storm!

Thought I would show you some pictures that I took today at Canal Park. there is so much ice there everywhere. I tried to get out of my van and there was about 8 inches of ice and my foot slipped so I just took some pics from the van. I do love this lake no matter what the season!

Saturday hanging out with Philip, Alex and Ashley!

Philip had a day pass yesterday from Teen Challenge so the 4 of us hung out together. We ran around and did some shopping, the kids played at McDonalds, we went to lunch at Sammy's Pizza Buffet, came home to my place, played on the computer, watched a movie and ended with going to church to see the Christmas Musical, which was wonderul! The children loved being with their Daddy. I drove them all home at the start of our weekend storm! Coming home from Wrenshall I could hardly see the road but made it safe and now we are in a blizzard this Sunday morning! Yea, Winter!

Christmas with Nurse Eckenberg and Nurse Russell!

Our annual Christmas gathering for 30+ years How fun! Too bad we did not remember how to use the self timer on our cameras so we could all 3 be in the picture!

Happy First Birthday Trenten James Barse!

Happy first birthday dear Trenten. Here is a picture of you last Christmas Eve with your Great Grandma Reed, she loved holding you. The other picture was taken last summer at Great Grandpa Jack's birthday party, you didn't feel good that day but you still are sooooooooo cute! I will see you soon!

December 9th~ Happy 10th Birthday Hannah Sue!

Happy 10th Birthday Miss Hannah. Here is a picture of you and Grandma Reed 2 years ago, how sweet you two look together!

Victorian Tea at the Congdon Glensheen Mansion

What a fun time we had on Sunday. Delia and Steve came from Mpls. to attend the Victorian Tea put on by Lady Jayne at Glensheen as a fund raiser for Teen Challenge. Probably half of the TC guys were there. They sang at the end of the Tea but were Servers. Philip served our table and kept our tea pots filled. They served scones with jam and cream, finger sandwiches, shortbread and raspberry tarts! Yum!! It was snowing during our tea so one felt nostalgic and enjoyed the Christmas Season. We heard some moving testimonies from the guys, it was special for me to hear Philip's.There were 62 attending the tea, mostly women but a few brave men, bless Steve's heart for wanting to join us! Next year lets all go!

My 26th Annual Christmas Breakfast for my St. Luke's Friends!

What a fun breakfast we had this morning. The first person came at 0800 and the last left at 1300! Great food per usual pot luck. Around the table is Joanne Yoki (my first headnurse in 1974), Waunita Averil (worked nights in the lab), Betty Anderson (she trained me in on nights in Post Coronary in '74 and she calls me her 9th child), Linda Puckett works in Post Coronary. Bonnie Goerts and Carol Allie worked in CICU with me. Next photo sitting is Ardis Leland who worked in CICU (her daughter graduated from Nursing School with me. Ardis is a great hisorian and has so many great stories about "back then"). Toni Drake was a secretary in the post coronary and CICU back then. Standing is Kris Benson, myself and Terri Sallsness-Graham and we three worked in CICU. We did a lot of laughing today remembering some of our patients and doctors and predicaments that we were in! What a blessing to be friends with these great women for 30+ years!

Journey to Pequaywan Lake

Today 2 friends and I drove to the country for lunch. We are talking 1.5 hours into the country to this beautiful spot, where Becky and Gordy built this great cabin/house over looking this lovely lake. We met this interesting man in the woods and of course I was interested right away because of his green eyes! He never talked much but he cooperated with the photo! We are all Nicaragua Team Members and have shared wonderful experiences together. Sitting is Becky, then Bonnie, myself and Loretta. Many hours of great conversation, what joys "Seesters" are!

Sharing my morning devotional..........

Christ in You, You in Christ

God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and He gave Himself to purchase our freedom. I Corinthians 1:30
For it has pleased God to tell His people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in His glory. Colossians 1:27
As a child of God, you are in Christ and He is in you. Each is significant in the following ways:
Being in Christ means that you receive the benefits of all that He has done for you through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension;
Christ being in you means that you receive the benefits of His presence, His character and His nature within you.
Being in Christ changes your position before God;
Christ being in you changes the inward condition of your heart.
Being in Christ brings you into heavenly realities;
Christ being in you brings heavenly realities into your earthly walk.
Being in Christ opens your eyes to the beauty of God’s love;
Christ being in you floods your heart with that same love.
Being in Christ allows you to see what God wants you to become;
Christ being in you means that you can become what God wants you to be.
Being in Christ means that He is the atmosphere in which you live your day;
Christ being in you means that each day His strength is your strength, His peace is your peace, His power is your power, His victory is your victory, His life is your life.
~from Meet Me in the Meadow

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches.....

I picked up Alex and Ashley from school and we decorated my little Christmas tree, not the same as having a real tree but it will have to do. They were such good help and Ashley liked knowing why each ornament was special to me. Then we made sugar cookies and frosted them. I think they put more frosting on the cookies than the usual but they had fun and I sent them all home for them. They might save 2 for Santa.