Norton: A new best friend

Dell Laptop Computer: $1,000.00
Microsoft Office Software: $150.00
Norton Anti-Virus: $34.99
Virus free: Priceless

We managed to dismiss the reminders to renew Norton Anti-Virus Software and were hit by a nasty internet 'virus'. After two trips to the computer doctor, our laptop has again been diagnosed with a clean bill of health. We sure are spoiled with wireless internet in our house and missed having the laptop at arm's length the past week. Next time you see your Norton Anti-Virus renewal reminder pop-up, think of it as money well spent.

On a side note, Mike made his 2008 radio debut as he was a 'special guest' on the Creighton BlueJay basketball radio show. He put in a plug for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer event. Both Creighton University (Omaha) and University of Nebraska (Lincoln) basketball programs will be participating in fund-raising efforts this weekend. Mike and I will be working the silent auction booth at the Devaney Center on Saturday afternoon. Pictures and details to follow Saturday eve!

Free Tickets to see Green Bay...

Packers?...football playoffs?...nope, not quite. The Green Bay GAMBLERS (junior hockey league team) played the Lincoln Stars at the "Ice Box" located on Nebraska's State Fair Grounds. US Bank had some extra tickets and since my boss knows I am married to a sports enthusiast, they were offered to us. Mike did some reflecting on his college days (many moons ago) when he had season tickets for the Lincoln Stars. It was an interesting game. The fans cheered more for the fight that ensued in the second quarter than they did for the goals that were scored. I just don't understand that part of hockey. Referees/umpires don't just step back and let players throw punches in any other sport, so why hockey? It's a bit 'redneck' in my opinion. A basketball player would be ejected for the same behavior. I tend to be in favor of that approach. The Lincoln Stars won 4-2, so Nebraska's capital city was a happy one tonight!

Date Night

Since Mike has been battling a terrible cold/cough for several weeks and I've been hobbling around with back problems this week, we have not been out of the house much. We scheduled a date night and did something we haven't done since we moved into the house...went to a movie! We saw 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets'. Mike gave it 2 thumbs up. I also thought it was pretty good - maybe a bit far-fetched in a few scenes, but I guess that is what movies are all about. After the movie, we headed to Las Margaritas for supper. It was a fun evening!

Celebrating in Minnesota

Mike and I traveled to Minnesota to celebrate a belated Christmas and New Year's Eve with my family. We had a fabulous weekend!! Here are a few highlights:
* Tour (with Dad) of the Brau Brothers Brewery
* Supper at the Brau Haus - a favorite spot when we visit Lucan
* Playing with Addie - reading books and making animal sounds - we can be entertained by her for hours!
* Star cookies, green Christmas corn flake "cookies", chocolate cake/dessert, muffins...and bacon - New Year's diets had to wait until we got back to Nebraska with Mom's good baking
* Yahtzee competition between Lexy, Mom, Lisa and Mike with Lexy rolling TWO Yahtzee's in one game - tough to beat - we'll be looking for a re-match on the next visit
* New Year's Eve with Ann, Derrick, Cindy and Kevin to T-Tommy's in Currie and a stop at Breezy Point for a nightcap on the way home
* Ringing in the New Year with a toast with Mom and Dad - first time in a few years that we've been able to stay awake to see it!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2008!!

Merry Christmas

The weekend before Christmas was spent with Mike's parents - Howard and Donna - and sister, Marcia, bro-in-law, Casey, and new nephew, Evan. We enjoyed playing games, opening presents, holding Evan, eating delicious desserts and spending time together. After coming back to Lincoln so Lisa could go to work on Christmas Eve, we headed back to Fairmont in time for Christmas Eve church service. Prayer and song was followed by a few rounds of 10-point pitch to which Lisa and Donna were the winners! Mike and Howard tried to stage a comeback on Christmas Day, but were only able to squeak out one win. Tis the season!

We are really looking forward to our upcoming weekend trip to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas/New Year with Lisa's family. We'll be praying for good travel weather!

Merry Christmas!

“There is nothing wrong with change, if it’s in the right direction.”
– Winston Churchill

Indeed, change has been the theme of the year in the Lefler household. For this year’s Christmas Letter, we’d like to share with you some of the changes we’ve experienced in 2007.

As much as we loved gazing out our front window at the beautiful Rocky Mountains and basking in the mild weather in Fort Collins, Colorado, we opted for a change of scenery. In the spring, we both felt it was time to get closer to our families and move to Lincoln, Nebraska. Mike moved to Lincoln in late April while Lisa was able to call the Cornhusker State home on June 15th. Mike’s sister, Marcia, and her husband, Casey, were gracious enough to let us reside in their newly finished basement and even provided an occasional meal for us (which they did not need to do). Without them, the transition would not have been nearly as smooth.

For the first time in his life, Mike dove into a career away from athletics. On May 1st he started as a Community Manager for the American Cancer Society. In this position, he coordinated Lincoln’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, raising nearly $150,000 during a rainy Sunday afternoon in October. Mike’s position changed when he was promoted to the Regional Director of Communications in September. He is now currently responsible for media relations, public relations and marketing efforts for the American Cancer Society in the state of Nebraska.

After a three-year break away from U.S. Bank, Lisa returned to her former employer on July 5th. She is now a Treasury Management Sales Consultant, which involves assisting commercial customers with cash management. She is enjoying traveling within Nebraska and even the occasional trip to a neighboring state. She stays busy in her new position and has yet to figure out what it’s like to work “banker’s hours”.

Much of our free time this year was spent moving and getting settled into our new home. We closed on the house on August 2nd and love to have a bigger yard (more to mow) and finished basement (more to vacuum). If you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, we’d love to have you drop in and we always have our spare bedroom open for guests.

One of the biggest highlights of our year came on November 9th when Marcia and Casey became the proud parents of Evan Stanley Foster! He’s been an exciting addition to the family and we enjoy getting to see him grow up just 10 minutes away from us.

The move has also brought us closer to Lisa’s family in Minnesota. Instead of needing to reserve a plane ticket to visit them, now we just hop in the car and head four-and-a-half hours north for a weekend in the “North Country”. They’ve also made numerous visits to our new home including a surprise visit on Mike’s 30th birthday. We look forward to many more visits with Lisa’s sisters and their families as well.

Along with the joys of many changes, 2007 also included a sad goodbye to Mike’s grandma, Gladys, who was 93 years young. We miss her dearly and think of her often, especially her competitive edge that showed through in the millions of card games she played with her family.

Through all of the changes in 2007, we are thankful that God was with us the entire way and has blessed us with wonderful people in our lives. We look forward to a less eventful 2008 and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and the best New Year ever.

All the best,

Mike and Lisa Lefler

Evan Stanley

On Friday (11/9) at 7:45 a.m., Evan Stanley Foster became the newest member of the family. He was a healthy 8 pounds, 9 ounces and 21 1/4 inches tall. Mom, dad and Evan are all doing well and are scheduled to come home on Monday. Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike are looking forward to spending time with him and watching him grow up. He already has more hair than his dad and learned how to say "Go Big Red" before leaving the hospital.