Driving Range Venture

Steve and I went to the driving range today - shock horror, despite my "unorthodox style" as Steve delicately put it, I was hitting some big uns! Delightfully shocking as it was the first time I've attempted to play golf aside from "miniature put put"! I think a lesson or ten might be in order though before I attempt to move off the range on to an actual course.

Loads of fun and topped off with Baskin and Robins. (Considering that everyone keeps on pinching my stomach and saying I've lost too much weight I think I can handle a bit of sugary decadence.)

Maigen's party was quite fun yesterday, although due to a late finish the Tea Shop did not receive the pleasure of our custom, but they do have on-line ordering... hmmm :)

P.s. I was thinking of calling this post "Fun at the Range" but realised that I have my first shooting lesson on Friday at the Charlton Rifle Range!

My Current Quote

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard someone say how their wife had put the following saying on the fridge in an attempt to assist with his dieting goals:

Don't sacrifice what you want for what you think you want.

I'm finding that thought coming back to mind quite often at the moment, especially in light of the post Christmas sales spending spree vs. paying back debts and planning a holiday to visit friends in the UK... instantaneous pleasure vs. success of goals

something to think on

P.s. Heading to Brisbane today for Maigen's birthday party (and a side visit to the Tea Shop! - note well, in light of the above all spending has been budgeted for :)

A Girly movie??

Mom and I went to see Enchanted tonight (believe it or not, 0f the 20 people in the cinema, we knew about 15 of them!) and had a ball. Mom laughed the whole way through it and has described it as a Cinderella Charlie Chaplin - Slapstick Fairy Tales!

I was meaning to write a blog on my Christmas and the wonderful things that did happen (perhaps to balance the blog below), but instead of my usual verbose style I'll summarize as follows:

• Christmas started when we picked Steve up at the airport on Friday. Mom, Dad and I went down to Brisbane (stopping at the fruit shop on the way for Dad to get potatoes and onions, me to get summer fruits and Mom to get veggies!).
  
• Kimberly, Liam and Maigen arrived on Saturday to our great joy and delight (leaving Andrew with Gastroenteritis in Canberra to fly up on Monday)
• Jonno, Steve, Kimbas and I sat out on the porch for a few hours drinking beers and catching up
  
• Jack stayed the night with his cousins and shared my room - when he got homesick we looked at photos of China (Hong Kong) as when he was in Sydney last week to see Billy Elliot he loved China Town.
• Had a fabulous Sunday lunch at the Dentons with Barb and Lynda
• Played Monopoly and Badminton with L & M
• Took L & M to the farm where they rode horses, greeted foals and rode quad bikes - my oh my - they (along with Jack) are the politest and most pleasant kids to be around - it was such a pleasure to spend time with them, and a proud moment when they were just as prettily behaved in front of my friends
• Had dinner with my brothers and their wives at Swish, a delicious 5 course meal (with a different wine to match each course) - a real treat
• and last but not least, Christmas day itself. A traditional Shaw breakfast (with foods from Canada, the Philippines and Australia), opening gifts (with Maigen stealing the show with refreshingly honest reactions to them as only a five year old can give - hilarious!) and at night, an open house for people that didn't have anywhere to go with a traditional meal and watching Amazing Grace to end the night.
  

God has been good

God Keeps His Promises

This Christmas season has been very hard for me as someone very dear to my heart did not keep a special promise. This has tinted so much of my life in the past few months, dimming every aspect of with a dark shade. As Adrian Plass writes a “chilled and sullen sense of loss" that pervades my being. While I understand the Why of their actions, it has not lessened the pain.

After my siblings had left for other engagements today, with that familiar shade creeping back in the quiet of the afternoon, I decided to hide in my room for a nap and quiet brooding.

Picking up the birthday book Barbara gave me, I read the following passage, and was warmed with the peace and comfort that God keeps His promises, even when people don’t. While the pain is still a deep ache when focused on I am comforted beyond words… because God understands. And so do other people as this poem shows. Continuing to bring everything before him, he takes care of us beyond expectations.

The Promise of Christmas – Adrian Plass

I suspect that those of you who do not find this time of year easy will appreciate the poem that follows. Promises are not always kept on this side of the grave. That is the way life is. God will always keep his promises, though, and when we do finally reach heaven, we will be amazed to find that the essence of all the innocent things that we loved most in this world are there. How could not that be so? He made them.

When I’m in heaven

Tell me there’ll be Christmases without the pain

No memories that will not fade

No chilled and sullen sense of loss

That can not face the festive flame

Nor breathe excitement from the ice-cream air

Tell me how the things that Christmas should have been

Will be there for eternity in one long shining dawn

For all of us to share

I love the promises of Christmas