TWO THINGS

I've been thinking about 2 things lately.
Working out at the gym.
Training Rosie.

Denise and I have been spending some time lately at the gym. Our workouts have gotten better and better. I am learning something. I don't mind working hard and applying myself. Most things in life don't come easy. You know that.....we all know that. It has been an experience on a different level for me to workout. I'm seeing progress. Rather...I'm feeling progress. I feel so much better. I have more energy and enthusiasm about returning the next day to work out more. I've gotten more comfortable with the gym. I've always been a little shy about trying new things. Plus I had another thing working against me.....time. Denise and I have had the membership for a while now......but I just didn't make the time to go. I spent a lot of my time working. Working out is really a joy. I guess my point is that I've always wanted to be a physically fit person.....but maybe never wanted to invest the time or energy into the dream. It's nice to have started. Thanks to my wife..........

Yesterday I started working on Rosie. It wasn't what I expected. Well I did expect her to fight against me.....to not like the process. Who likes being 'broken'? I don't. As much as I love watching her run and play in the field......I have a desire to become closer with her. I love the wild part of her nature.....but I also want her to be tame. I want to be able to ride her and enjoy a deeper relationship with her. But she's going to have to be 'broken'. So yesterday I began the process. There's a 6 X 6 post at the foot of my father-in-laws garden. About 6 feet above ground and 4 feet in the ground. She broke it off ground level. Talk about horse power! But what I didn't expect was her reaction. She hung her head low and looked at me with her big beautiful eyes....lips quivering.......hurt me deep. Apparently it did her too. As difficult as that was.....for us both.....I'm not going to stop the process. My desire, like I said before, is a deeper relationship. I've been with her since the day she was born. May 2009 she'll be 2 years old. I'll keep you posted. -JGR

CHRISTMAS...COME AND GONE...

It has come and gone.



We had a good day. The weather was nice. When I was a child I always wanted it to snow on Christmas......but not so much anymore. It was nice being able to enjoy the outdoors and the fresh air. I find more and more pleasure in the outdoors. I was glad to see my family...always nice.



There are just a few more days in this year. It's about to be 2009. I can't believe it.



This year has been a good year for us. We're both really thankful for our family and our friends.

A REAL ROCK SHOW!

Today we saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in B'ham. What a show! From the start.....they came out rockin'. What makes this such a good concert?

Lasers....

Fireworks....

Explosions....

Colorful lights....

Snow....

Yes...I said snow....

Fog....

Flames.....

All kinds of flames....

Red flames....

Orange flames....

Green flames....

Yellow flames....

Blue flames....

Plus.....awesome guitar players.....if you've ever heard them before you know what I mean. It was a top notch concert! We all enjoyed it. It was the little girls first concert.....it took her a few minutes to adjust to the high volume and the pyrotechnics. Where we sat......we were so close to the stage. Every time a flame went off or sparks flew......we felt it. I even checked a time or two to see if I still had eyebrows. TSO really puts on a great concert. We had fun! -JGR

NEWS FROM THE SHIRE.....

As you can tell I'm referring to The Lord of the Rings (or could be The Hobbit). I've been reading the Fellowship of the Ring. I'm almost done. They're traveling down the river just past Lorien.......contemplating which direction to go. It's been a nice read. I'm enjoying my second time through the adventure. Thanks to my friend David Finlayson for turning me on to the books. He gave me a set several years ago when the first movie came out. It didn't take me long to go through them. He also gave me a calender of prints from The Brothers Hildebrandt. Very nice. Really helped to bring the images to life. My wife has read them a gazillion times.

Right now I'm finishing a project in the making for 4 months or so. It's a remodel. I'll take some pictures as soon as I can and post them. Basically what I did was take 1/3 of the house and turn it into a separate apartment. Of course...I had lots of input from the owner and lots of help from Amos (my helper), Smitty's Plumbing and an electrician. I think the place turned out nice. Like I said....I'll take some photos and post them.

Here's our 2008 tree. -JGR

Excerpt from The Torch and The Sword by Rick Joyner

The Torch and The Sword is an account of a Spiritual encounter had by the author. It is a short book, but I learn from it every time I read it. The following is a brief excerpt. The Thomas referred to is Thomas 'a Kempis.

"Thomas was watching me closely and soberly. He then added: 'As you abide in Him and do His will, you begin to flow with His life-force, which is in all of the living. In this way, as we help others to come alive, the life grows in us too. Do not fall to worshiping this life-force; you will only stay on the path of life if you seek the Source of life.' "

"I knew this was another important warning-a trap which many cults and new age movements had fallen into. Even so, I wanted to remember the feeling. I knew that anyone who ever tasted of this life-force would be forever addicted to it, perpetually seeking it like a junky seeks his next fix."

"Thomas, also obviously reading my thoughts, continued. 'There is no intoxication like life itself, but remember that it is still intoxication. Many fall upon even the slightest touch of His Spirit and can become drunk in the Spirit by just a taste of this. However, the priests had to learn to stand and minister even in the presence of His glory. If you yield your body to this life, you will be drunken. If you yield your spirit you will be quickened, strengthened, and see even more clearly. You must train the coming ones not to seek to feel good and not to become intoxicated by this power, but rather to be sobered, able to see clearly and function in their duty. You will have forever to feel good after you have accomplished your purpose.' "

kdr

Nissi's Notes

We just got back from Lowe's with a tree to decorate for Christmas. Until last year, we were getting a frasier fir. But last year, after we had already picked out a beautifully fragrant tree, and Jose' was already standing in line with it, I decided I really wanted a douglas fir. The reason? It smelled a little more Christmasy to me. So now I have an annual inward battle over which to buy. The frasier is a little prettier and lots easier to decorate and still has a great aroma. But I once again chose the douglas. That slight difference in smell is enough for me. Even if my arms do get scratched while I string lights. Last year, though, was quite comical, looking back. Jose' going back and forth with that tree, until fragrance won over beauty and convenience. He's smart, though. This year as I went side to side sniffing trees, Jose' went directly to the douglas side and picked one out.

I recently read on mb's blog about beginning the Christmas season too soon. My family is the exact same way. You put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving, never before. I used to agree. But, each year, that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems shorter and shorter. I need more time to sit and reflect on the magical wonder of the love of God for mankind, enhanced by the lights and fragrance of the tree and the smell of hot chocolate or cinnamony cider. And Christmas doesn't take away from Thanksgiving to me; it makes me even more thankful. If I could talk myself into getting an artificial tree and the fragrance in a can, I would put it up on Halloween. So, having a live tree actually keeps me from breaking with tradition and putting it up too early. In fact, because I like to leave mine up until after the new year, I get mine a little later than tradition allows. I'm planning to decorate it on friday evening. I have to concentrate on football saturday.

Love to All...