Keepin' it real, huh?

I can't even talk about this journey without getting choked up. That's the truth. No one even reads this but me, but I'm still trembling as I write all this. I don't know...maybe it's because I'm thinking about how many Y-E-A-R-S I have been struggling with my weight. My earliest memory of fear and discouragement about it dates back to 1988. Eighth Grade graduation. Pink formal. Called my "pink piggie" dress.  I'll never forget the journal entry or the weight--180 lbs. Age: 14. Sad, ugly, misfit...that's how I felt then....and now--at least most of the time. Just throw in some rebellious confidence, guilt, fear, and shame, and we're good to go. Mix it all up, add four babies born, 130 more pounds (give or take--yes, I gained a whole other person on my poor body frame & system), high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins, painful joints, a neurological condition, hormone problems, pituitary tumors, and a few other health conditions, and nearly 25 years and voile`~ you have ME.

Thankfully, that's not the end of my story yet.  Everyday above ground is a good day--a new day to make better choices!  Lord, give me strength....I am WEARY for fighting this battle!

Bring Your Sorrows and Sins

Bring Your Sorrows and Sins

Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

Psalms 25:18

It is good for us when prayers about our sorrows are linked with pleas concerning our sins—when, being under God's hand, we do not focus exclusively on our pain, but remember our sins against God. It is also good to take both sorrow and sin to the same place. It was to God that David carried his sorrow: It was to God that David confessed his sin.

Notice, then, we must take our sorrows to God. Even your little sorrows you may cast upon God, for He counts the hairs of your head; and your great sorrows you may commit to Him, for He holds the ocean in the hollow of His hand. Go to Him, whatever your present trouble may be, and you will find Him able and willing to relieve you. But we must take our sins to God too. We must carry them to the cross, that the blood may fall upon them, to purge away their guilt and to destroy their defiling power.

The special lesson of the text is this: we are to go to the Lord with sorrows and with sins in the right spirit. Note that all David asks concerning his sorrow is, "Consider my affliction and my trouble"; but the next petition is vastly more explicit, definite, decided, plain—"Forgive all my sins."

Many sufferers would have reversed it: "Remove my affliction and my pain, and consider my sins." But David does not; he cries, "Lord, when it comes to my affliction and my pain, I will not dictate to Your wisdom. Lord, look at them—I will leave them to You. I would like to have my pain removed, but do as You will. But as for my sins, Lord, I know what needs to happen—I must have them forgiven; I cannot endure to live under their curse for a moment."

A Christian counts sorrow lighter in the scale than sin; he can bear to have troubles continue, but he cannot bear the burden of his transgressions.

(From Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon)

Proverbs 3 ~ perfect daily words to live by!

Proverbs 3
New Living Translation (NLT)
Trusting in the Lord

1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
30 Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.
33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!

Happy Spring 2012

Happy Spring & Easter! It has been such a busy month--the weather, sickness, church activities, Bible study, school, 4H, etc. have all kept us hopping. We’ve had warm weather, snow, rain all in repeated cycles. The other day, we had snow on the daffodills, even.

The girls have been sick with a yucky virus for a couple weeks, but other than the lingering cough, they seem to be on the mend at last! Casey has had it, too, but not as badly. We decided to just observe Spring Break during the girls’ sick weeks, so that gave them plenty of rest and “down time.”

Katie, Anna, and Gracie all participated in the region’s “Awana Games,” where delegate students are chosen from several of the local churches’ Awana Clubs, and the compete against each other in different relay and team games. They all did well. Our church placed 2nd, and Katie (who also helped on another team that didn’t have enough teammates) placed 3rd with that team, so she came home with 2 ribbons.

Everyone is still in our study on Paul and the acts of the apostles, though we’ve all missed the last couple weeks due to sickness. We’re looking forward to getting back to it next week when (Lord willing) everyone is well again.

4H is new to us this year and keeping us busy…Katie is doing baking, and so far has done her lesson on biscuits. Her next lesson is muffins, so she’s looking forward to baking more on her own. Her county fair entry will be either biscuits, muffins, or quickbreads, and she hasn’t decided which to enter yet. Gracie & Anna are doing sewing, and we took a field trip recently to the fabric store, so they could learn about patterns, fabric, etc., and they each chose their project that they’ll sew and present at the county fair. Anna is making a pair of shorts, and Gracie is making a skirt. Everyone is so excited!

This Easter we enjoyed a most lovely Resurrection Sunday with everyone here at our house! It was filled with laughter, fun, sunshine, good weather, good food, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, lots of cousins playing happily, men relaxing and watching TV, and women visiting and enjoying the outdoors with the kiddos. Everyone was in their "Happy Place," I guess you could say...