Tom & Laura

God's Faithfulness in Difficult Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 21:28:00 +0000

It's Almost 2025!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:50:00 +0000

I don't know about you but 2024 went by so quickly with both blessings and challenges.

As 2024 draws to a close I'd be honored if you'd consider my ministry with Cru/FamilyLife with your end of year giving. Thank you and many blessings to you on the arrival of 2025!

https://give.cru.org/0467491

End of Year 2024 Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:38:00 +0000

September 2024 Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:27:00 +0000

February 2024 Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:17:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:55:00 +0000

Time to Catch Up!

Wow! I just opened up my blog to realize it's been a year since I've posted. I guess it's time for me to play catch up and add all my prayer letters from 2024 before the new year arrives. So stay tuned. If you've missed my prayer letters in your mail box, they will soon all be arriving right here!

It's Almost 2024!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 22:04:00 +0000

As 2023 draws to a close, if you've been wondering about your end of year giving, we'd be honored if you'd consider us and our ministry with Cru/FamilyLife. Thank you and many blessings to you on the eve of this new year!

https://give.cru.org/0467491

A Christmas Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:15:00 +0000

MaryElise had a creative idea this year. She wrapped all of our Christmas movies in wrapping paper. Then when we want to watch a movie in December we unwrap a gift and watch whichever movie is inside. It's been a fun "new tradition" this year. What do you enjoy each Christmas season?

End of Year Letter 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Theology Project from 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 22:24:00 +0000

Heard a great sermon in church today about the Holy Spirit and I was thinking about the class I took back in 2019 and the project I completed for "God, Bible, Holy Spirit" so I thought I'd share it today. Love to hear your thoughts!

September Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 23:05:00 +0000

May Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 20:58:00 +0000

June Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:29:00 +0000

February Prayer Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:10:00 +0000

The Difference of a Few Inches

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 15:51:00 +0000

Sitting in the overstuffed chair in the darkness before the dawn, listening to the gentle breathing of my son sleeping nearby propped up on the couch, I’m thankful he’s still here. Yesterday could have turned out so differently.

My creative son, who likes to video things and post them had a crazy idea...to light a Co2 cartridge on fire. Of course I wasn’t home while all this was going on.

He set everything up, lit in on.fire and took cover 20 feet away. He waited for quite awhile. When nothing happened he assumed the fire had gone out and stood up. The cartridge shot at him hitting him in the chin knocking out two lower teeth and giving him two deep lacerations on chin. The ring of lacerations looked almost like an open mouth.

Since I wasn’t home he sent a series of texts to his dad saying,”Come outside. Hurry.”

After spending time in the ER they determined he should have surgery for the best possible outcome. The force of the projectile hit his chin, knocked out two teeth and also made a hole on the inside of his mouth. Had it hit two inches lower or higher in soft tissue the results could have been so different.

I’m thankful for God’s protection of him in this bizarre accident, for excellent medical care, and for doctors and nurses that we know attending to him. Recovery may not be fun but he will recover. I’m also thankful for another day. Another day to see him. Another day to shake my head at his quirky jokes, Another day to enjoy him being a part of our family. Another day to spend in the company of my son. Life is a gift, a sweet treasure that can pass too quickly

Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Praying for that wisdom, to see each day for what it is and to intentionally love God and others with the gift that is life.

For those who are curious I will include a photo below. For those who are squeamish scroll no further!

Caleb’s injuries...

A Tribute to Erin and Gwen

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 01:08:00 +0000

On December 15th we had a memorial service to celebrate the lives of Erin and Gwen. This is the letter that God helped me to both write and to read at the service.

Dear Erin and Gwen,

I cannot believe you are gone. Words cannot adequately express the grief I feel for losing you my daughter in law and my sweet Granddaughter Gwen.

Erin, I remember the first time we met. You came to our home during Whitney’s birthday party and you brought a gift. I didn’t know that you and Isaiah were coming to the party but you engaged with Whitney and with the girls at the party and I thought, "There is something special about this girl!”

As time went on and you and Isaiah grew closer I got to see more of you and I saw your positive influence in his life and I thought, “There is definitely something special about this girl!” I like what I saw in him when you two were together and I liked getting to know you better too. You jumped right in and did things with us like a family, games around the table, and you even attended all the kids’ musical theater performances!

I remember the first time you came to church with Isaiah. Although it may have seemed different and a little strange, God kept drawing you back. There were even times that you were the one encouraging Isaiah to go to church. When you surrendered you life to Jesus I knew that God saw something special in you too.

When you and Isaiah got engaged we were all thrilled to add a daughter to our family. In the time leading up to the wedding you invited me to be a part of wedding dress shopping with your mom and your grandma. It is a day that I will always treasure and it is a reflection of who you were - someone who draws other in.

The wedding on that cold, crisp day in October was beautiful. Seeing you and Isaiah so young and in love and beginning a new life together was priceless. Three weeks later you attended the conference in cda for your marriage.

In December, a few days after Christmas, you arrived at our home with one more gift. It was a small Mickey Mouse gift bag with a pacifier inside with a note attached to “please hold onto this until my arrival” announcing your pregnancy. We were thrilled with the news.

Your due date was set for Labor Day, which we found quite humorous, but Gwenevere had her own idea of when she would make her grand entrance.

On September 8th at 6:52 pm, Gwenevere Lilly made her debut with your mom and Isaiah at your side.

Of course, there were 3 aunts, 1 uncle, 1 grandpa, and a mimi anxiously waiting in the waiting room to meet you.

What a precious gift - sweet Gwen. I remember being invited back to meet you - being there as you were weighed and measured - wow, you were a big baby 9 lbs 6 oz - you were a big baby just like your daddy (you actually passed him up!)

Seeing your footprints taken and all the initial newborn checks, what a sweet memory. But the one that is forever etched in my mind and the one I’m so thankful I got to see was the first time your daddy had his precious girl in his arms.

The tenderness in his face, the tears of joy, seeing my own child become a parent and seeing the look of unconditional love in his eyes is one of the sweetest and most profound things I’ve ever seen. You had your daddy wrapped around your finger right from the start!

The aunties and uncle and grandpa were ushered in to meet you and then we left to give you and your parents some rest for the night…but I was back the next day to hold you. And then, the rest of the family got to meet you too.

I cherish the two short months you were here. You were such a content little girl.

Erin, I’m glad that even when you faced challenges you were open and honest with me. I’m thankful too that on the Tuesday before you left, we had two hours just to talk together and that I got to hold Gwen one last time.

I don’t know what happened on November 4th, the reasons why, but I do know that you and Gwen met Jesus face to face on that day. I miss you terribly and Gwen too. I hope you know how much we all love you and how your lives have impacted us all. Your lives have left an imprint on my heart and some of that has gone to heaven with you. (And sweet Gwen, your name is now imprinted on your daddy’s arm so he carries you with you wherever he goes. It's my favorite tatoo!)

This goodbye is so much harder than saying farewell to my grandparents. You two were so young and had so much to live for.

I missed you on Thanksgiving when Gwen would have met the rest of my family. I missed you both on your birthday and Isaiah’s birthday.

I already know that I will miss you and Christmas too.

But Christmas is the one thing that gives me HOPE. Because at Christmas I remember the birth of Jesus, God who came to earth as a baby with the purpose to die, to take the place of my sin, so I could have new life in Him. Because of His death and resurrection, because of His redeeming work on the cross I grieve, but not without hope because I know one day I will see you again. The pain is still here but on those days He carries me.

If I look only at my circumstances I am overcome with grief and sorrow, and at times I still am. Death is an enemy, a thief and I feel its sting with your loss. But God. God is the giver and source of LIFE. Because of Him, death has been swallowed up in victory. My hope isn't that one day this will all be over and I feel better. My hope is that even though the circumstances are more than I can bear, God is still the same and he has made a way out of the darkness.

On the days when its dark I remember Isaiah 9:2,6 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwell in a land of deep darkness. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

So dear Erin and sweet Gwen, as you celebrate your first Christmas in heaven, I know that You are experiencing life to its fullest, life as it was intended without pain or sickness or death. So today, we remember you and Gwen. Today we celebrate your precious lives and know that for those who trust in Jesus, this is not the end but a new beginning. I love you both and look forward to the day I will see you again.

Love,

Laura (Mimi)

Here are a few more snapshots of our short time with both Erin and Gwen:

Isaiah and Erin at the Weekend to Remember a few weeks after the wedding

Attending Josiah's graduation ceremony

Christmas with family

Easter 2018

Mother's Day 2018

The aunties and uncles take turns at holding sweet Gwen

Erin, Isaiah, Whitney and MaryElise at Aladdin

Coeur d’Alene Weekend to Remember - October 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:18:00 +0000

Coeur d'Alene Top Ten Comments

Weekend to Remember

October 26-28, 2018

Attendance: 670

Those indicating decisions below:

Salvation Decisions: 29

Recommitted Family to Christ: 134

Prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit: 201

I was not optimistic coming to the getaway. I thought I would be getting divorce papers Monday. But this weekend has opened my eyes and now there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with my husband.

(wife, married 2 years and received Christ this weekend)

This weekend made me realize just how much I am not doing what I should be. I have let the experiences of my past hold me hostage and from doing right in my marriage and as a parent. Today I am breaking Free! The chains of my past will no longer hold me prisoner. Satan was my Jailer, but God became my living Savior.

(wife, married 17 years and received Christ this weekend)

Extremely uplifting. I feel like I’m seeing my wife through new clear eyes. I’m VERY grateful for the guidance I’ve had this weekend.

(husband, married 3 months and received Christ this weekend)

It’s amazing how much 2 ½ days can impact our oneness and improve our relationship.

(husband, married 7 years)

My wife and I came into this conference wounded by an affair. This getaway felt like a rebirth to our marriage. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone who faces the devil’s trials and traps.

(husband, married 1 year)

It was great to have time together to talk and work on the projects. Writing the love letter was very impacting on me, to remember the things I fell in love with and still love and appreciate about my husband. My goal was to laugh and feel more connected after this weekend. I did both! Thank you.

(wife, married 12 years)

You don’t need to be near the end of the road to realize you’ve gotten off track. Our getaway has been an opportunity to celebrate our differences and the value in correcting ourselves so that in love and respect we can refocus on being one, joined together and honoring this beautiful gift we call marriage centered in God’s design.

(wife, married 6 years)

Immeasurable=> emotionally and spiritually. Opened communication in areas we couldn’t on our own.

(husband, married 3 months)

Encouragement, insight, direction; time together to rediscover each other, rest & rewal. Basically, recalibration for marriage & for life…this was a critical juncture for us. Thank you!

(husband, married 7 years)

It was an important step we needed to get beyond the “good” plateau and get closer to “great”.

(husband, married 10 years)

Brokenness is a Good Thing, End of Year 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:08:00 +0000

Coeur d'Alene Weekend to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 15:19:00 +0000

It was such a joy to be a part of the Weekend to Remember Event. Here is just a glimpse of what happened during the weekend:

Coeur d'Alene Top Ten Comments

Weekend to Remember

November 17-19, 2017

Attendance: 756

Those indicating decisions below:

Salvation Decisions: 7

Prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit: 106

Recommitted Family to Christ: 110

This Getaway really made us get to the core of the issues affecting our relationship…the first night after 25 years of hanging on to an incident in our marriage, we actually talked about it even though it was uncomfortable. It opened doors I never thought we could or would open. I am so grateful for this weight being removed that had been looming over us!

We’ve recently retired from the military after 31 years and have attended a few of their marriage conferences. Yours trumps theirs hands down!!! Thank you. married 29 years

I think we arrived as two broken individuals but are leaving with a hope that—Yes with God we can pursue our marriage passionately as ‘one’. We have 3 teens, one battles drug addiction so our house has been in strife and turmoil for 6 years! I told our marriage counselor if [my husband] didn’t go with me to this weekend I was going to ask for a separation…we now are on the road to marriage recovery. married 22 years

For the first time in 15 years, we are making a plan for our marriage, and making it a priority.

6 weeks prior to this getaway. We were contemplating separation after 29 years of marriage. God intervened and a miracle took place. This was the perfect way to start our new marriage. It restored and confirmed the tools we need to rebuild and protect our gift of marriage, we have been given a new start and you have given us great resources and tools to be victorious.

I am recommitted to respect and support my husband and make him #2 (God first), married 27 years

Before the getaway, I was having a hard time being open to forgiveness. This getaway opened my heart up to the process to forgiving my husband. married 11 years

We feel so blessed to have been part of this seminar. We have learned so much! And have felt God’s presence throughout this weekend! We can’t wait to apply what we have learned. married 3 years

[The Weekend to Remember] Saved our marriage and family.

It gave me the courage and the environment to transparently share things I was struggling with in our marriage and helped my wife know that…I was committed to her. married 24 years

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 21:08:00 +0000

The Clifton Family

Serving with FamilyLife, a ministry of Cru

“If we reach the family, we reach the world.” Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Cru

What is FamilyLife?

FamilyLife is a ministry of Cru that has been impacting families across the globe for 40 years. We do this through weekend events, resources, radio and the website. The needs of the family are an open door to the gospel. Last year in the Pacific Northwest alone there were over 1,000 couples that attended a Weekend to Remember event and 70 made a decision for Christ and about 470 recommitted their lives and marriages to Christ! The impact worldwide is even greater!

Couples attending the Weekend to Remember

Our Story

We met in college and moved to Wenatchee to begin our teaching careers. God used the challenges and devastation we saw happening in the lives of the children in our classrooms to put a burden on our hearts for marriages and families. In 1995 we attended a FamilyLife Weekend to Remember (marriage conference) where we heard on Friday night how a marriage falls apart, the steps to isolation. On Saturday we heard about the steps to Oneness and God’s blueprints and plans for marriage. The gospel message was shared and we began to wonder if this was a ministry to join. On Sunday we went to find out what it would mean to join staff with FamilyLife. When Laura heard, “raise your own support and move to Little Rock” she immediately tuned out. The seeds God had already planted however were sprouting in Tom’s heart. God was calling us to join staff as missionaries. We raised our support and moved to Little Rock in 1999.

The Story of the Family

Just like our family has a story, the family itself has a story. God created marriage and family. We were created to mirror His image, to have oneness, and to leave a godly legacy. But unfortunately what God had created for blessing, the devil tried to destroy in the garden. Through the temptation of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world and marriage and family, rather than being a blessing and a joy became a struggle.

Struggles

Families today face many difficulties:

Stress
Isolation
Financial Pressures
Busyness
Threat of Divorce
_______________ (I'm sure you can fill in the blank with other struggles too!)

Hope and Redemption

“But God…” In the midst of the difficulties God is there and He has a plan…it’s for redemption. In the times of greatest need people are open to the hope of the gospel…and God is using it to bring people to Him.

Changed Lives Stories

Here is just one example of a changed life story..."For every reason on God's earth we should not have come to this conference. We are divorced, our children have been shattered and our home destroyed. Satan had complete and total victory in our family. His destruction was thorough...or so he though. This conference has restored our relationship, our faith in God, and in His power to heal. We have given back to each other our heart, we have forgiven each other, we have set aside all the pain and the tumultuous history between us and we are moving ahead. We look forward to the joy of our family together, our hearts joined and to being married again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!"

Impact

I love seeing the impact of 40 years of ministry for FamilyLife. Over 3 million people have attended the Weekend to Remember events and 100,000 people have indicated first time decisions for Christ. (And these are only the ones we know about from people filling out and turning in evaluations at the events...imagine how many more people have been reached through the internet, the radio and resources and small group events.)

Global Outreach

FamilyLife began in the United States as a way to help Cru staff marriages...and now it has a global impact. FamilyLife has a presence in over 100 different countries and resources have been translated into more than 40 languages, including Arabic and Chinese!

Partnership

As full time missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife we are responsible for raising 100% of our ongoing monthly support. After 20 years on staff we are in a season of change…we’ve had to step out of full-time ministry until June to focus in on full-time support raising. We have until June to raise $2000 in monthly support. We’d love your prayers during this time, and if you are interested in finding out how to partner with us, we would love to share with you! https://give.cru.org/0467491

Thank you so much & many blessings!

Tom & Laura
Missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife

Attend a Spring Event for Half Price

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:38:00 +0000

Today is the last day to "Buy One Get One Free"! If you register for a FamilyLife Event today using the code "Saddlerock" you will save 50% off the registration price.

Find a Weekend to Remember Event near you

Blessings,

Tom & Laura

https://give.cru.org/0467491

A Letter from Tom's Manager

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:23:00 +0000

A friend suggested we have Tom's manager share a little bit about Tom's role and the impact of ministry. This was the letter we received to share with you:

Hi, my name is Jim Holmquist and I am the Western Region Manager. I have the privilege of being Tom Clifton's manager. As a Field Ministry Representative, Tom's job is to discover, train, equip and encourage local volunteers in Alaska, Eastern Washington and Idaho. Tom is a valuable asset to my team and serves the Lord in this capacity with excellence!

This past year three of his volunteer teams were near the Top 20 teams in the country.

In Tom and Laura's over 20 years of ministry at FamilyLife, they have impacted countless couples with God's blueprint for marriage. In just last year they played a major part in seeing 1,138 couples (that's 2,276 people) attend a Getaway to invest in their marriage. At those Getaways, 70 made a decision for Christ for the first time and 469 people recommitted their lives and marriages to Christ.

Those are great numbers, but it is important to remember that those numbers reflect lives and legacies that will be impacted for generations to come.

These are just a few of the many reasons that Tom is needed back in full time ministry. As soon as he and Laura have their full ministry team in place he can return to active duty. I challenge you to join their team and to be a part of the impact they well have in the coming years.

Jim Holmquist
Western Regional Manager

Thank you for your continued prayer as we move forward with building our team and returning to full time ministry! We have about 20% of the support we need so far! Thanks for being a part of making an impact in families for Christ.

Tom & Laura
https://give.cru.org/0467491

Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 14:44:00 +0000

Wow! All I can say is "Thank you!" God has used you in an amazing way to bless us and get us ready for January with our focus on raising support in an amazing way. Thank you for your prayers, for reading our posts, and for contributing to our ministry with FamilyLife. You are a blessing!

We move forward with eager anticipation at the work God is going to do through this support raising process. We have until June to raise $2,000 in monthly support to stay in full time ministry. Would you pray that God would help us reach that goal quickly? Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

Blessings,

Tom & Laura

Missionaries with Cru/FamilyLife
https://give.cru.org/0467491

Christmas Eve Text

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:50:00 +0000

On Christmas Eve this is the text I received from Isaiah...

"She said yes!!! Merry Christmas, we'll see y'all tomorrow."

Although we couldn't be there when he proposed he did share pictures!

Looking forward to having Erin as part of our family!

No date has been set for the wedding yet...we'll keep you posted!

Sandcastles

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Have you ever tried to make a sandcastle birthday cake?

I tried to make a sandcastle cake for Courtney’s birthday party many years ago. The problem was it acted like a sandcastle during the building process…it kept crumbling and breaking apart. So, after using many toothpicks to try and hold it in place and freezing the cake so it could stay in one piece it was finally ready for the birthday party. The cake held together and Courtney was able to "make a wish" blowing out the candles on her cake. But no one knew it was literally crumbling from the inside out. Unfortunately many homes and families are like this today. On the outside they look good but they too are crumbling from within.

We saw evidence of this when we were teachers and it's how God got our attention and called us to join staff with FamilyLife. As missionaries we've had the opportunity to see firsthand what happens when couples apply God's blueprints to their marriage and family.

Here is just one example from a Weekend to Remember Event:

"This conference has helped to open my eyes in many areas. I not only realized how much I was doing wrong, but also realized how blind I've been. I opened my eyes and prayed for the first time. I accepted the Lord into my heart and into my life. We went from talking about divorce already to actually sitting and talking for hours on end!! I strongly believe that we are going to thrive!"

Lives impacted, legacies changed and the gospel shared...that's what we are passionate about. Would you like to be a part of helping families have a firm foundation that can weather the storms? We'd love for you to consider joining us as partners in ministry!

You can join us as prayer partners right now, and if you are interested in finding out about joining us as financial partners we would love to share more with you. Or you can also go online and give an end of year tax deductible donation on our Cru giving site https://give.cru.org/0467491

Blessings!

Tom & Laura