It's almost Christmas. It's that time of year when children start ramping up costs on Mom and Dad's charge cards and the Salvation Army bell can be heard ringing at local stores as people dash right on past to rush through Christmas shopping at Walmart and Target (you can see what my budget is looking like.)
Anyway, today a friend inspired me to put up my little Christmas tree. When I moved into my current apartment I checked out all the closets and lo and behold there in a funny little closet that looks like it could hold at least and ironing board, I found a box containing a Christmas tree. I didn't open the box 'cause who needs a tree in March? So I was bemoaning the fact that my house didn't look very Christmas-like, not a decoration to be seen and my friend says "why don't you decorate?" Out comes the box with the tree and tada, lights are there too. So my "Charlie Brown" tree topper is up, lights are on and for decorations, tiny stuffed sheep, a Hershey Kiss doll, Maxine all decked out with antlers and funny bunny slippers and a Furbie. I also found a red Christmas stocking and that's hung on the tree as well. *Smile*!!! Merry Christmas to all and to all "a good night".
Katie
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
God's Grace in My Life
Luke 1:49 "For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and Holy is His Name."
I want to share something from a devotional I received this week. And although "I press toward the mark of the high calling" I'm not there yet. I can say with Paul that "I have not yet apprehended", but I do so desire to mirror Jesus in my life and my character.
Here is the Devotional:
"Carolyn felt good about herself. She was in her own apartment, working full-time at a job she loved, (I am as well,) and she was looking better than ever before (Me not so much!). God had been so good to her. She was afraid when she set out on her own, but she knew He was looking after her. With God on her side, she felt she could accomplish anything. (Again I can say amen to this. Me too!) God had set her feet on a good road, and she was going to try her hardest to stick to it. (Yes, again.) She wanted everyone to know what God had done for her, and she planned to do nothing that would allow anyone to doubt. The power of God shone brightly through her life, and she was glad." (My sentiments exactly.)
Today's thought: "I want my life to be a sign of God's Grace"
I am also "growing in grace" and for that I am grateful.
Katie
I want to share something from a devotional I received this week. And although "I press toward the mark of the high calling" I'm not there yet. I can say with Paul that "I have not yet apprehended", but I do so desire to mirror Jesus in my life and my character.
Here is the Devotional:
"Carolyn felt good about herself. She was in her own apartment, working full-time at a job she loved, (I am as well,) and she was looking better than ever before (Me not so much!). God had been so good to her. She was afraid when she set out on her own, but she knew He was looking after her. With God on her side, she felt she could accomplish anything. (Again I can say amen to this. Me too!) God had set her feet on a good road, and she was going to try her hardest to stick to it. (Yes, again.) She wanted everyone to know what God had done for her, and she planned to do nothing that would allow anyone to doubt. The power of God shone brightly through her life, and she was glad." (My sentiments exactly.)
Today's thought: "I want my life to be a sign of God's Grace"
I am also "growing in grace" and for that I am grateful.
Katie
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Abstinence is Paying off
Well getting on the scales was not a big let down today. Oh, I know it's not about the numbers and it's more about staying away from those foods which trigger me to overeat, but it is refreshing to weigh in at the gym somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds less and then have it duplicated the next morning here at home.
As I mentioned before, people who eat compulsively need to remain abstinent from their trigger foods. Mine are generally sugar laden, like ice cream and pop and so for a couple weeks now or more, I've cut these from my list of acceptable foods/beverages. It might seem a bit simplistic but it's getting results. My main goal is to lower my blood sugar to an acceptable test level after fasting overnight. So far THAT has not happened, but I am determined and there is power in a "made up mind." I will probably have to modify my food list many times over the next several weeks and months but at least for today I define "abstinence" as no ice cream and no sugared soft drinks. It's a start.
Another small victory for me today was wrestling with the idea of fast food instead of the meal I wrote down when planning the day's menu. Mickey D's lost and I won a skirmish. It's not so much winning a war but being consistent in winning the little battles. Doing battle with the "trolls that live in my soul" is another matter. At least by remaining abstinent I see that there can be victories and in that there is hope for the remaining issues of life.
Katie
As I mentioned before, people who eat compulsively need to remain abstinent from their trigger foods. Mine are generally sugar laden, like ice cream and pop and so for a couple weeks now or more, I've cut these from my list of acceptable foods/beverages. It might seem a bit simplistic but it's getting results. My main goal is to lower my blood sugar to an acceptable test level after fasting overnight. So far THAT has not happened, but I am determined and there is power in a "made up mind." I will probably have to modify my food list many times over the next several weeks and months but at least for today I define "abstinence" as no ice cream and no sugared soft drinks. It's a start.
Another small victory for me today was wrestling with the idea of fast food instead of the meal I wrote down when planning the day's menu. Mickey D's lost and I won a skirmish. It's not so much winning a war but being consistent in winning the little battles. Doing battle with the "trolls that live in my soul" is another matter. At least by remaining abstinent I see that there can be victories and in that there is hope for the remaining issues of life.
Katie
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
To Curves and Home again Jiggedy Jog
So it was back to Curves for the first time since my daughter and I went mid-June. Paying for something and then putting NO effort into it doesn't make a lot of sense, but then eating sugar when one is pre-diabetic does not compute either. So I've lost some weight since my last foray into the world of exercise but my blood sugar A1C wasn't so hot. Now I need to get to the place where the rubber meets the road. I need to put some effort into bringing my eating under control and managing weight loss and exercise so that I am ready to meet the New Year without having to make a lot of empty "resolutions". Hey, they never worked before either!
I'm reading a lot of OA literature and sad to say that there are no meetings in the small town where I live. At least I work in a rehabilitation setting so "recovery" can be and is spoken there. This sugar hurdle is just another opportunity to give God the glory for. I can't, He can, I think I will let Him. (First three of the 12 Step Recovery programs, shorthand version. *smile*) Today is going to be a good day.
Katie
I'm reading a lot of OA literature and sad to say that there are no meetings in the small town where I live. At least I work in a rehabilitation setting so "recovery" can be and is spoken there. This sugar hurdle is just another opportunity to give God the glory for. I can't, He can, I think I will let Him. (First three of the 12 Step Recovery programs, shorthand version. *smile*) Today is going to be a good day.
Katie
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Back to the Basics
Today, I am striking out in a new yet old direction. My travels around the mountain of weight loss and discipline have taken on a life of their own over the years. Starting at age 16 I began the life altering "battle of the bulge." I've been at it long enough that one might say, "Hey I bet you got it right at last." Not! At age 67 the battle still rages and frankly I'm just about fed up with it.
In my e-mail today there was a prophetic word that I am taking to heart. The e-mail comes to me daily from Marsha Burns at Spirit of Prophecy. Today there was a phrase that totally caught my attention... "back to the basics."
A friend of mine is waging the weight war, and successfully I might add, by doing exactly that. With some roots in 12 Step recovery, this woman is simply taking control of her eating habits to maintain a sizeable weight loss. I don't have more than 30 pounds I'd like to shed, or "release" as one of my books refers to it. [Not nearly as daunting a task as my friend faced.] But it doesn't matter how much I have to remove from this 5'1" frame so much as how dedicated I am to change to be disciplined and to plan my meals and eat what I plan. It's about attitude, and simplifying my life. It's a matter of finding that which I must avoid eating and what it is that will be "abstinence" for me. When one quits smoking, or drinking for that matter, one just goes "cold turkey". But as they say in OA, those who seek abstinence in their eating plans have to open the lion's cage three times a day. We MUST eat to survive. We don't need to overwhelm our bodies with chemicals or with junk, but we must treat the "temple of God" well, and fuel it so that we can fulfill that purpose for which we were created. That is my focus today. My friend inspires me to move in that direction. I thank her here, publicly, should she happen to stop by at some point to see if I'm back blogging. I thank her for her inspiration and want to let her know I admire her chutzpa, her moxie, and her faithfulness and most of all her perseverance. I see victory written all over her testimony and when I grow up, I'd like to be just like her. Thanks "California" you go girl!
Katie
In my e-mail today there was a prophetic word that I am taking to heart. The e-mail comes to me daily from Marsha Burns at Spirit of Prophecy. Today there was a phrase that totally caught my attention... "back to the basics."
A friend of mine is waging the weight war, and successfully I might add, by doing exactly that. With some roots in 12 Step recovery, this woman is simply taking control of her eating habits to maintain a sizeable weight loss. I don't have more than 30 pounds I'd like to shed, or "release" as one of my books refers to it. [Not nearly as daunting a task as my friend faced.] But it doesn't matter how much I have to remove from this 5'1" frame so much as how dedicated I am to change to be disciplined and to plan my meals and eat what I plan. It's about attitude, and simplifying my life. It's a matter of finding that which I must avoid eating and what it is that will be "abstinence" for me. When one quits smoking, or drinking for that matter, one just goes "cold turkey". But as they say in OA, those who seek abstinence in their eating plans have to open the lion's cage three times a day. We MUST eat to survive. We don't need to overwhelm our bodies with chemicals or with junk, but we must treat the "temple of God" well, and fuel it so that we can fulfill that purpose for which we were created. That is my focus today. My friend inspires me to move in that direction. I thank her here, publicly, should she happen to stop by at some point to see if I'm back blogging. I thank her for her inspiration and want to let her know I admire her chutzpa, her moxie, and her faithfulness and most of all her perseverance. I see victory written all over her testimony and when I grow up, I'd like to be just like her. Thanks "California" you go girl!
Katie
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