From Greg Laurie's Blog

"With the beginning of a new year, it’s inevitable that resolutions are always made.

How many of you have made them?

Among the top resolutions this year are to get in shape, lose weight, get more organized, read more good books, and spend more time with family and friends. The problem is sometimes we are not realistic in our resolutions.

Here are some resolutions made by some people over the years that had to be realistically changed with the passing of time.

Commit myself to reading more
2003: I will read at least 20 good books a year.
2004: I will read at least 10 books a year.
2005: I will read five books a year.
2006: I will finish Greg’s new book this tear.
2007: I will read some articles in the newspaper this year.
2008: I will try and finish the comics this year.

Commit myself to losing weight and getting in shape
2001: I will get my weight down below 170.
2002: I will watch my calories until my weight is below 200.
2003: I will follow my new diet until I get below 220.
2004: I will try to develop a more realistic attitude about my weight.
2005: I will work out five days a week.
2006: I will work out three days a week.
2007: I will work out one day a week.
2008: I will drive past a gym at least once a week.

Commit myself to getting my finances in order.
2004: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2005: I will pay off my bank loans promptly.
2006: I will be totally out of debt by next year.
2007: I will try to pay off the debt Interest by next year.
2008: I will try to be out of the country by next year.

Make a stronger spiritual commitment
2004: I will go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and get involved in the men’s or women’s Bible study.
2005: I will go to church on Sundays and some Wednesdays.
2006: I will go to church on Sundays.
2007: I will listen to Christian teaching programs on my way to work.
2008: I will read Greg’s blog when I think about it.

Resolutions!

Most of us have made them and we quickly adjust as reality sets in. Does that mean that it is a bad thing to make resolutions or commitments? No, because if we continue to “lower the bar,” we will sink into stagnation at best and full-blown sin at worst.
We need to have goals, objectives, and things we shoot for in life. No, we must constantly be seeking to grow, learn, deepen, and obey.

Here are the words of the apostle Paul after years of walking with God:

No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. (Philippians 3:13-15 NLT).

So let’s resolve to get closer to God in 2009!"

Greg's blog certainly made me smile!

Three definitions of 'resolution' . . .
- decision: a firm decision to do something
- determination: firmness of mind or purpose
- solution: an answer to a problem

I am making a resolution to get closer to God this year,
to experience a deeper father/daughter, king/servant, relationship with Him.

Its interesting that 'solution' is part of 'resolution' - resolving to be closer to Him brings the answer to all our problems, all our needs, all our longings, all are met in Him.

Wishing you a deeper relationship with our Lord in 2009.

Colorado Christmas

Christmas morning in Colorado Springs. Our Christmas mornings always start with hot sausage rolls and tea. Its one of our British traditions. Here's Don with the first plate of sausage rolls.

(click on the pics)

Great shot of Dad and Clementine.

Don and Seann and yet more sausage rolls.

Mom relaxing in her chair.
Seann tackling his stocking. He has a Zits calendar - one of our favorite comics.

Dad and Matilda! Her favorite spot to sleep is on the recliner with dad.

I was 'honored' by Cadbury's (yes, she is named after the chocolate) presence - she doesn't usually cuddle with me, but I had great flannel pjs.......

Fabulous shot of Pike's Peak from Mom and Dad's backyard. The clouds are covering the tip of the peak.Mom carefully studying the joke/question from inside the Christmas Cracker.

Dad and Seann getting ready to pull the cracker! Another British tradition. You put them on the table for Christmas dinner - get someone near you to "pull" the cracker with you, wait for the 'pop' and find out your prize inside. There is also a hat and silly riddle. And yes, we wear our hats :0)

Well, everyone except Don, who refuses to wear any kind of party hat.

Don trying to figure out his prize.Friday we drove around looking at houses in one of our favorite neighborhoods. The Christmas lawn ornaments in Colorado move - on their own - no batteries or extension cords needed. Lots of deer in this area.

Saturday brought another amazing blue sky and high temps in the 20's . . . yes, 20's . . . it was fabulous! There is nothing special about these houses, its the sky and the view of the Peak we wanted to capture. Later in the day you could see the snow blowing off the Peak. . . just gorgeous.

Yes, Seann's in the snow and freezing. We were out looking at model homes. Temp. was in the 20's with considerable wind!

I'm in great need of coffee! Don and I at Don's new coffee hang out, Pike's Perk.

I let Seann have the camera for this one......

Oh, back to reality. Seann and I at the airport Sunday afternoon, heading home to Phoenix.

A special dinner

Ian (our youngest son), and his wife Ronda, treated us to a special dinner when we arrived home from Colorado Springs. We went straight from the airport to their apartment to celebrate Christmas dinner with them Sunday night. The table was beautiful, complete with British Christmas Crackers and adorable bud vases at each plate.

(click on the pic and you'll be able to see that the name is actually inside the vase - very clever)

Hmmm, just what is Ronda's prize in that Christmas Cracker - the boys both had scrunchies for their hair :0) Mine was a bracelet.
Oh yes, Seann is stylin' with his hat.

Real men (and women) wear Christmas Cracker hats!

Seann, Ronda, Ian and Sadie

Me and my boys! Oh, and Sadie, of course.

The food was delicious (Ham, sweet potato casserole, veggies, queso dip, cesar salad, rolls, yummy oreo cookie/ice cream dessert! Great job kids :0)

The beauty of flowers . . .

Don't you just love fresh flowers? My new fav place for flowers is Trader Joe's - 5 huge sunflowers + some other fillers for $5.99. These were on the island in the kitchen for the realtor's open house today.

R U Tattooed?

Don works with someone who has a friend who works at RU Tattooed in Colorado Springs. Amazingly, its 10 minutes from my parents house - so off we go to visit. My first visit to a tattoo parlor. LOL
Very interesting inside - nice young guy working there - fascinating "tatts" - all kinds of awards won (who knew you could win awards as a tattoo artist?)

Clean! Its really, really clean in here :0) Blew my sterotype of tatt parlors.

Don announces he not only loves Colorado Springs, is NOT going to come back to Phoenix, but now has decided to change his thoughts on tattoos. He could really consider getting one and starts looking at designs. After recovering from the shock, I help him pick a design. He likes the Lion of Judah, I suggest he start with something smaller, like a crown of thorns around his bicep.
Hey, if you get a tattoo, don't I get one too?

Picture of Don's first choice

Interesting contrasts on the walls!

Yeah, he's gonna do it. Agh!

They don't let me get any closer - you have to stay behind this really big chain - think industrial sized - and just watch

Errrrr . . . are you really sure?

Nervous laughter

OK, true confessions! This was a PRANK we played on the kids. Don always pulls pranks on them and manages to keep a straight face.

I suggested we take his picture at the shop and tell the kids he got a "tatt"

The young man was SO nice - he went along with the prank. He attends the same Calvary church we visited the Sunday we were there.

Its his dad's shop and they are very busy through word of mouth advertising. Lots of church goers head there for the "ink."

Ronda, our daughter-in-law didn't buy the pics because she knows how Don feels about "tatts." Ian sort of believed and kept insisting to see the "ink." Seann, our oldest, who sports many "tatts" was astounded that dad would do this but we had a great discussion on how Don chose his tatt, how long it took, etc. etc.

The kids said if Dad really didn't get a tattoo, then this was an elaborate prank!

Two weeks after we were home and the kids were at the house, we had to fess up . . . anyway, it was good fun, especially since I instigated the prank. . . LOL

The color green

I forget just how green grass really is!
It was a hazy day due to the smoke blowing in from the fires in CA or you would see the front range of the Rockies and Pike's Peak behind the pine tree.

Flowers

Double hollyhock in Mom's flowerbed -