Weight Loss

So I've lost 54.5 lbs in about a year and a half. About 50 of it in the first year and the rest i the last couple weeks. I will never say it's been easy, but it's certainly been worth it. I feel SO much better. I can do things I had had to stop doing or just couldn't do a year ago. It had gotten hard to trudge up and down steps. I got tired walking very far. My knees hurt. You name it. UGH! Now, my husband and I walk briskly for an hour and I'm still good to go. I run up and down the basement stairs doing laundry. My knees haven't bothered me in ages (well, the one I broke will twinge if I do too much...but not for long). I can do whatever! It's wonderful. I never did get my cholesterol checked, but I can pretty much guarantee it was bad and it wouldn't be now. The change is awesome. I don't hate looking in the mirror or passing a reflective window. I don't hate every outfit I put on. I don't want to cry when I see a photo of myself from the back. It's nice. I'm not vain, I'm really not. But there is something to be said for a healthy body and healthy self-image. I mean really, our self-image should be based on the fact that we are created in the image of God and mine is. but hey, we are given these earthly bodies for a while and we ARE supposed to take care of them. Why is it so popular to jump all over smokers, heavy drinkers and drug abusers for screwing up their health and then we ignore the gluttons, cup-cake addicted and gorgers? I WAS one. I used to love to sit there at night and eat like an entire bag of chips....or a bag of movietheater popcorn made to share all by myself....or like half a carton of icecream smothered in chocolate syrup. What about those who say, "oh I don't eat sweets...it's my glands". Right...not the 5 rolls you had with dinner? Not the triple whopper you got? Not the supersized fries? ok....if you say so.
I'm not trying to pick on anybody here. Just saying that the last year and a half has really been a wake-up call for me and I hope some others will start to appreciate the body given them by their creator and realize that it's no more of a sin to be addicted to tobacco or alcohol than it is to be unable to put down the fork and step aWAY from the cake...or steak. ;)
Ya'll have a wonderful day!

Waiting.........

I believe waiting is the absolutely most difficult thing God asks of us. Whether it's waiting on an answer to a prayer, waiting for healing...physical, spiritual, emotional.....waiting on change, waiting on peace...just waiting. Does anyone else have trouble with this? Maybe I'm impatient. I often want to pray..."Gimme patience God and I want it NOW!!" no, I don't really pray that, but have you ever thought it? We are in a season of waiting. There is much to be learned in that kind of season even beyond patience.

You learn selflessness. Why you are stuck may not be about you.

You learn introspection. Why am I here? What am I supposed to be learning?

You learn to depend on God. He'll tell you when it's time to move on.

You learn patience. It's hard not too....when you have to wait on God's timing.

You learn about the big picture. You may not have ever realized there was one. But the world and God's ultimate plan for it does not actually revolve around you....you are part of it, He has an ultimate plan for you personally...it may involve waiting on something or someone else or just until you know it's not about you.

So, while I wait....I'll praise Him.