Resolutions

Christmas is over, the New Year is just a couple days away, and this is the time of year that many people re-evaluate and try to make a fresh start. Time for "New Year's Resolutions." Batman and I are working on a couple, and most people have at least one. Some resolve to eat better, to lose weight, to get in shape, to live simpler, to learn how to knit and finish that washcloth you started almost a year ago, to finish that book you've been planning for - what feels like - ever. Some resolutions turn outward and might be to spend more time with your family, to help others more, to volunteer more, to be a better parent, to be a better spouse, or friend, son or daughter, brother or sister. Maybe it is to read your Bible more, or to pray more... What I have found is that most people, in their resolutions, are trying to be a better person. And when they fall short the first time, many people give up. So here are a couple things I want you to consider as the New Year approaches:

The first day of the year is, essentially, just a day. Nowhere does it say that you must eat right, or exercise, or quit smoking, or read your Bible starting ONLY on January first. Really, that isn't a law anywhere. Today is just as good a day as any. Why wait?

On January 5th or 6th, when you screw up and eat that greasy burger, or forget to pick up your Bible that morning, DON'T QUIT!! I sincerely hope no one is ruffled or offended because I said "when"... I have just been there, done that, and know enough about human nature to know that WE ALL SCREW UP AT SOME POINT. Look, if you were already perfect, you wouldn't be making a New Year's Resolution to begin with. So, WHEN you mess up, don't GIVE UP. Every single day is a fresh start. God doesn't work like that. He doesn't hang out in Heaven, looking down and say to us, "Nope, I forgave you for that only the first time you asked. You do THAT again and you are up a creek." No. Rather, He gives a clean slate again! Which is not to say that we get to keep on messing up on purpose just because we know we'll be forgiven, but there is grace. God sees the heart, and He forgives when we come to him and once again washes us clean. So, if God doesn't give up on us or deem us to be "unchangeable", why should we do that to ourselves? Each day is a new, fresh start, regardless of the burger we ate or the Bible we didn't pick up yesterday. And God is waiting with open arms for us to come running to Him and ask Him for a fresh start.

From our Family to Yours

Hands on

Knuckle touch.



















Solid.



















Punch.



















They do love each other. Really.

A Debut

Sunday morning Little #1 had his first public debut.... A cast on daddy's foot makes drumming a little difficult... Bud was our fill-in, and let me tell you, he did GREAT! Yes, I realize that, as mommy, I may be a little biased, but seriously, this ten year old did a great job! *applause, applause* Good job, Bud! This mommy is looking forward to your next session on the drums.

The Score

Twas the first day of hunting season, and all through the woods,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a deer... (too much rain).

The guns were all loaded and licenses displayed
In hopes of bagging the ultimate prize.

The hunters were all nestled snug in their blinds,
While visions of wall mounts and tenderloin danced in their heads
And momma in her fuzzy slippers and Batman in his camo
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
When momma looked up at the clock and gasped
"Get out there and try again! We've six tags to fill!!"
Batman sprang from the couch and out the door he ran,
In to the truck he went, and away like a flash.
And to momma's wondering ears should ring,

The cell phone and Batman's voice on the other end,
"Honey, I'll be just a while,
Two deer I have killed,
I'll be home when I'm through."

As darkness fell, Batman pulled in the drive,
Smiling proudly as he showed off his fresh kill.
He and the boy set out to work,
A place to hang the deer had to be built.
When the pounding and sawing came to an end,
Batman stuck his head in the door and announced,
"Momma, I need your help here.
The little one there, I hung him up with ease,
But the bigger one here,
She's too big for just me."
So momma and the boy each grabbed a front leg
While Batman grabbed the hindquarters and started to climb the ladder.
One second he was up, with the deer almost hung,
Then next second he was down on the ground.
Such awful sounds came from him.
A great big scream and a laugh.
Momma knew what a laugh meant with pain,
So she tried to bully him in to the doctor right then.
Batman would hear nothing of the sort,
Instead, went to bed and did not sleep for the pain.
The next evening Batman's foot looked bad,
Like a football with Vienna sausages stuck on one end.
Momma finally won then,
To the hospital they did go to get it checked out.
Doc R. wanted to know, why the wait?
Thanks, Batman, for trying to tough it out,
But you are broken for sure,
And need help now!
A soft cast for the night,
Then to the orthopedic in the morning.
He will have to give you an ok before you can work, you know.
Doc H. was so helpful, and patched him up tight,
With a new blue cast, he can work alright.


One week later and it back to Doc H.
For the first cast was breaking,
A red one this time, please.
Here's hoping Batman gets better soon,
And that Bambi's daddy won't be out to get him, too.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!

Batman: 2
Bambi's mommy: 2 (one point per "permanent" cast)

What We Were Working On (another WW post to match last weeks?)

*sigh* I feel warmer already...

Think about it

I don't generally go into anything political here, but with the elections tomorrow, what better time to start? I received the following "funny" - or rather, sad and scary - cartoons in my email yesterday and thought I'd share them with you. The last one seems especially accurate.

I immediately forwarded it to my dad and several others. This morning I got this response from my dad:

Great stuff. Here's a good one for you, true story .... Observed activity in our back yard, this morning while I was off at Rehab: Oscar was out on his "zip" line and as he often does, got tangled around the fence. Meantime, a large black lab wandered into the yard. Strangely, Oscar didn't bark or strain at the rope, but rather just observed this dog in silence. The strange, or should I say, foreign, dog went about his business, just sniffing around the yard. Finding a bone that Oscar had taken outside a couple of days ago, the black stranger sniffed at it with interest for a time and finally picked it up and trotted away with it. All the while Oscar just watched in silence. Perhaps he was just incredulous at the audacity of the black stranger and was at a loss for words, or rather, barks. Observing this whole scene from the picture window, Z was just laughing and as the stranger walked off with the bone, commented, "that was Obama, re-distributing the wealth!". Hmmmm .... Perhaps it's a word to us. We cannot afford to stay silent! Dad

I think many of us (perhaps most?) don't fully understand what is at stake for our country this week. Not only are there the economy and war issues, the immigration issue, and the dozens of unanswered questions about Senator O, but there is also the issue of life and death. Yes, the abortion issue is absolutely on the table, and I will personally always vote for life. Period. But I wonder... how many people are aware (or really thinking of this due to all the other issues) that right now there are two Supreme Court judges who are in line for retirement/replacement? These two judges are currently the most liberal judges on the Supreme Court. Who replaces these two men and what these new judges stand for depends solely on who gets elected into the presidency. If our next president ends up serving two terms, that president could potentially replace up to five of the Supreme Court justices. Five new judges handpicked by the president would change the majority of the SC judges. Hmm.... Think carefully. Choose wisely. Not only do we face "today's" issues, but also the shape and direction of our country for the next 40 years. Do you value your way of life? Is the sanctity of life important to you? Marriage? Do you want to live in a socialistic country? And what about things as simple as the right to homeschool our children? Or for that matter, choose their school for them at all. There are other countries that don't have the choice to homeschool or send their kids to private school, or even to a different public school so they can play a sport otherwise unavailable to them. There are countries whose citizens don't even have the freedom to read their Bibles or pray anywhere. Choose carefully. That could be our country.