25th Anniversary Edition

  Today is the big day!  Our 25th wedding anniversary.   I wanted to take this opportunity to wax poetic about marriage, except for the fact that I don't do poetry. 


    25 years is a long time and we are thankful to have made it this far.  We've both changed and grown, and yet somehow remained the same.  We gone through ups and downs, sickness and health, richer and poorer. My goal is to continue to improve and grow as a Christian.   I can say that if we are still together and still love each other, it is by God's grace alone.  We are all too selfish and proud to make marriage work on our own.

 I am thankful for and proud of my husband.  He has been through a lot this past year, as we all have, but he has had to shoulder huge burdens.  He has done so with grace and temperance. He has accepted this new ministry and all its challenges with determination and excitement.  And through it all, he has been thoughtful and caring of me and my needs and wants. 

 So, now that we are considered grown-ups, here's to the next 25 years!

Don't even know where to start

I haven't posted in ages and there are several good reasons for that.  I need to blog, but I really can't/don't want to blog about the major events of the past few months.  We've dealt with unimaginable tragedy and loss. Suffice it to say that we are now in a new town, new ministry and new life.  There are many folks we miss from our old home but when God has spoken, you obey.  Moving 1000 miles away is hard but nothing like the horror of being out of God's will.

  Neil now pastors a church in Edinburg, Tx, that is only a Spanish church.  They have about 90 folk, which is a great start.  They  all seem to have a sweet spirit and they are ready to work.  I am getting used to living here, and we are in the process of buying a new house.  We had a couple of false starts, but now it seems we are on track.  If all goes well, my house will be bigger and newer than my Tucson house.  The only problem is that I am thousands of miles away from the nearest Disney park, which those of you who know and love me,  understand that this is a real downer.  I can talk to my family on the phone anytime, and I do, but Disneyland is too far away.

It was Neil's birthday yesterday.  He turned 49. Cannot believe it.  Still doesn't act like he's 30 much less 49. Well, except for all the aches and pains.  But he's had those for ever. It was sweet to see everyone's Facebook birthday messages.

  I am curious to see why God chose to send us here.  It's interesting that He sent us to some place we'd never even heard of.

When Queens Ride By

I read this short story many years ago, and I have always been convicted and encouraged by each read. I especially like the forward written by the blogger who posted this version.
                                                        When Queens ride by

Day of Reckoning

  

It is true.  I have not posted anything about my diet or weight loss in a while.  I have not been on the scale for weeks.    I haven't been totally out of control, but it hasn't been good.  Even though I have kept up the exercise, the eating has not been good.  I was afraid to weigh.  Afraid to face the truth.  Today was the Day of Reckoning, and I was ready to face the music. 

It was less than I thought!  I still weigh less than what my driver's license says I do!

I have not made progress, but I am not in too too bad shape.  I have to put it on the blog, however, because I want to stay true to the process.  It's not all successes.  

The only failure though, is to give up, and I won't do that. 

No wonder it so hard to stay focused!

  Although I could do without the chocolate covered French bread pizza.  Those of us who are trying to lose weight must become oblivious to the call of food from every direction.   I categorize the recipes on Pinterest so that I know that they are for a special occasion, and not for everyday.  I have found a ton of inspirational quotes on fitness that I have found to be extremely helpful.

   What is not helpful is seeing all the tiny models that have never had to lose more that 3 pounds in their entire life!  That is not really inspirational.

  About the food, sometimes I just laugh at the recipes.  I know that they would never turn out the same for me!  I know I would be the queen of the Pinterest Fail!

This is so true!

Everyone has their own interpretation of what modesty is, and some people want to say that it doesn't even matter!  It does.  The above quote is true and honest.

May my heart and mind always be in tune with what the Lord would have me

to speak, and wear, and model. 

Setting the reset button

  December was good.  January, not so good for the diet.  Willful overeating happened, and there are consequences to deal with. I am almost back to where I was, and it has been difficult to regain focus.

  I have been following a gal on FB who lost 100 pounds, and then last year had surgery to remove all the excess skin.  She weighs in faithfully on FB every week, and even she has gained 6 pounds.  She is working on it.  You'd think that after 100 pounds and a huge surgery, she would have enough willpower to never gain an ounce.  I am not criticizing, I am empathizing.  It is never easy.  The lure of eating just to eat is always there, and opportunities are on every corner.  Will I ever get to the point of not being tempted to overeat?  Probably not. Christmases and trips, guests and family fun will always be a part of my life, and food is always present, usually front and center.

   I also believe that relapsing into bad behaviour is the same for everyone, no matter what your bad behaviour is. Pushing the "reset" button is necessary every time you feel yourself losing focus and reverting to destructive and/or sinful behaviour. The temptation is to say "Well, I have messed up this far, might as well go all the way!"   That is a lie from satan himself.

   Thanks be to God for the daily mercies I call the "reset" button.