Four Month Update

Hello Friends and Family!!

Whew...it has been SUCH a crazy month since I last updated!
Let's get to the important stuff first...I stepped on the scale on October 1, 2011, exactly 4 months after starting this life changing journey, and I have lost 47 pounds total!!
Honestly, I am in awe.  God is so good to me and I feel so humbled that He continues to shed His grace on me as I continue down this path to wholeness.

A little over 3 weeks ago, my mother in law and special needs sister in law moved in with us unexpectedly. It has certainly been a trial to say the least.  I am trying with all my heart to keep a positive attitude and view this as a ministry, although some days are easier than others to have that attitude!  I literally feel like the only way I am going to survive this new challenge in my life is to take it one day at a time.  I told my kids that we needed to stop complaining about it because we don't want to be like the Israelites and have to wander through our "wilderness" for 40 years!!!!

Having the responsibility of taking care of two additional people has definitely brought on more stress in my life and I have found myself not being as strict as I should be with my eating.  It is so easy to slip back into old habits if I am not careful!  For me, the key is to stay alert!  Even just eating too many helpings of roasted vegetables.  I  have to check myself and make sure that I am eating for strength and not to stuff my emotions.  Making sure that I make time to exercise and prepare healthy meals for myself has also been a challenge at times.

So here goes...confession time..
A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the parking lot of Starbucks drinking a venti pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and eating an apple fritter from Hegedorn's!  My daughter, Ally was with me, and as I sat there eating, I looked at her face just staring at me...to which she says, "Do you feel guilty?" Honestly, I didn't.  I just felt like I wanted it. I felt like I almost needed it.  Wrong answer.  It is so easy for me  to feel like a donut will fill the stressful moments instead of picking up my Bible or scripture cards! The good news is that I got right back on my plan the next day and decided that the donut wasn't going to be the end of all the good choices I had made in the previous months since embarking on this journey.  Once again, God in His great  mercy, showed me just how much He loves me by giving me the power to get back on track!  That has been such an area of weakness in my life in the past, and I was not about to go back to that place.

So, four months in, and I gotta say that I really feel like I don't even care that much about junk food anymore.  Even pasta doesn't call me the way it used to.  But, I will admit that there are some days (like the day at Starbucks) where it is just plain HARD to stick to the plan!  I pretty much feel like this journey will be life-long. It may get a little easier at times, but I think there will always be the bumps in the road.  I may take a step backwards and two steps forward, but I am determined to stay on the path, no matter what.  No giving up..I will reach my goal..and I'm only 3 pounds away from the half way mark of my first goal of losing 100 pounds!  Even after my goals are met, I am determined to stay on the path..to never go back to being morbidly obese. Ever.

With school underway, and my in laws are getting a little more settled into our routine, (They are only here temporarily) I will try to get back to updating my blog every other week, and maybe even once a week again.  Five kids, in laws, volleyball games, a senior preparing for college, etc. has really taken much of my time, and I ask you to forgive me for not keeping up with my writing and pictures!

I am so very thankful for my praying friends and those who love me and continue to encourage me!  We have begun the Made To Crave Bible study once again and I am so excited to see all that God has for us as we go through the book again.  We have some new people in our study this time around and I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of ladies.  Please continue to pray for us.

I am working on putting together some recipes and meal ideas that I have used throughout the past four months.  Several people have asked what I eat, so I figured I would share some of my favorite recipes.  I should have those posted soon.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."  I Thessalonians 5:23-24

Many blessings to you and yours...