Expanding Family

We are all getting excited about Don and Elise's upcoming wedding on Sept. 27th. Elise graduated from George Mason University last week. I thought this was a beautiful picture of her. I'm excited about having another smart woman in our family! (No, I'm not the other smart woman--daughter in law, Cameron, got her Masters' degree in August)


Cameron took this picture of Little Man and gave it to me. I interpret his expression as "That's amazing!" He will be 9 months old on June 11th. Grandma and Conner have had 9 months of joyful days together! I'm really enjoying having him for my grandson. He thinks everything I do is funny! Who wouldn't love that? :)

God is helping me!

I was able to fast today, and I don't mind mentioning it, because, although I asked God to help me with my fast, I am not doing it for completely spiritual reasons. Since I began this year that I've dedicated to losing 100 lbs., I have studied a really good book on fasting, God's Chosen Fast. It was given to me by good friends who lived on Andrews AFB when we were stationed on Bolling. I've noticed that book several times over the years, and, even though I have fasted, I never read the book until this year. According to the author and the scriptures, there are many reasons for fasting: health reasons (it is really very good for your health and healing, to draw closer to God, to petition God, as a group a fast for deliverance for a nation, a church, a people etc., for revelation, for personal sanctity, to change God's mind, and to buffet the body. This time I am doing it for health reasons and to buffet my body--because I've been doing the bad kind of buffetting.

Conner is feeling a little better today, but he didn't sleep much all day long. I'm used to him taking a long morning nap and a short afternoon nap. I took care of him a little longer today, because Cam picked him up instead of me driving him home. He got sleepy right before she got home! I still got a lot done, in between picking Conner up and putting him back on his quilt where his toys are, putting him in and out of his bouncy chair, rocking him, trying him in his crib, where all he did was play with his feet and hands and throwing his pacifier out of his crib! I think I burned a lot of calories taking care of Little Man today. While I was carrying him upstairs, he decided to turn upside down so that he could see the light in the foyer as we walked up the stairs! Luckily I had a good hold on him, but I don't think I can carry anything else up the stairs when I am carrying Conner.

My future daughter in law, Elise, graduated formally today. She actually graduated in January, but her ceremony was today. Don took off work to go to her graduation.
She has a history degree and will eventually teach high school history, I think. Right now she is working as an accountant.

Hubby Don's twin brother, Ron, and his family are coming through tomorrow night. Chris, our oldest, is playing in a concert at Bull Run Park, and then everyone is coming to our house for Mexican food, that I am preparing.I am looking forward to getting together with my family, because we were away on Mother's Day, and we haven't all been together in a long time.

I'll be blogging daily from now on....as I work on losing the other 78 lbs. that I am determined to lose this year. Thanks for your prayers.

Coming Clean

I have been blowing my diet for weeks, and I don't seem to be able to stop myself. I
spent a long time tonight asking God to help me, and I feel much calmer about it now.
So I am going to fast for a couple of days, because that helps me get things in the right perspective and begin my food program all over again on Sat. morning.

God is so much better able to handle all of the things that I am worried about than I am, including my food issues. Don and I went away for the weekend, and we had so much fun. Sunday we went to church in Hendersonville, NC, and we enjoyed the worship service, but I missed my boys. After that we went to the North Carolina Arboretum and walked for several miles. Also, before church I worked out in the hotel pool. But I ate badly all day....and all day Monday...and all day Tuesday....and all day today. It's like I'm blowing my diet just to blow it. So I'm mad at myself, and that's not a good thing either. I'm being honest, because
this is a vicious cycle that can go on for months if I let it. And I made a committment to lose 100 lbs. this year. I can still do it....God and I can still do it...if I don't waste anymore time. Pray for me, if you're reading this. I'm feeling despair over the fact that I'm losing my focus.

On the positive side, I've been doing a great job with my house, Conner, and I've been writing and painting. I'm writing devotionals and Bible studies while I'm working on a big project. I'm really trying to write for a living, and I'm learning great things through all of the resources I got at the Christian Writer's conference.

Little Man has a cold, and we aren't liking that! He's not been sick yet. I spent a lot of the morning suctioning out his nose. I forgot how much babies hate that. He kept batting my hand away and giving me his scrunchy face. He's still moving all over the place and playing with his toys, his feet, his hands and my face! :) So I guess he's not too sick.

Pray for my brother, who has been sick, my neighbor Barbara, who has an impossible situation, and my son Nathan, who is working on some hard issues in his life...he is doing well, though. I'll let you know how the fasting and the new committment goes. Feel free to ask.

My Baby Brother....and Switching gears

My brother, Greg, sent me some great pictures of him and his wife Denise and my nephew Ansel. They live in Colorado in a really great area. I think they are at a meeting for Democrats here...they are delegates for the Democratic party in Colorado.
I love my brother's smile. He looks a lot like my dad did when he was younger...and my son Don looks a lot like Greg did when he was younger. People say we look alike, too, and I agree somewhat. (Poor guy!) :) Ansel looks a lot like Greg, too, but I can also see his mom in him.

Don is taking me to Asheville, North Carolina for a short little weekend away for Mother's Day. We have been thinking of retiring there someday, so we decided to go down and check out housing prices and other things about the area. Don traveled there with the AF, and he tells me that if we visit there, I will want to move there. I'm not so sure. I think it would take a really special place to make me want to move away from Little Man. Speaking of Conner, he will be 8 months old on May 11. It's hard to believe. He is rolling all over the place and sitting up to play...still a little wobbly. He will be pulling up and crawling soon I think. Then I'll really be busy.

Our weekend was wonderful. Defining Moments was the best ever because of the stories that were shared and the diversity of the performances. I feel very lucky to be part of a church that allows its members to use their talents to serve God in such creative ways. There were lots of visitors there, and I only heard positive comments from all of them. Our neighbor came and really enjoyed it...Don and I considered that a real compliment because he is the Creative minister at New Life Christian church. He said it was very inspiring. We were encouraged to see him there--Lisa, his wife was in Louisville at her neice's graduation. Our friend Christine was there too. She said it was uplifting to her as well.

NOW...back to my diet. Ugh! I have been doing awesome...until this weekend. I ate badly Sat. night after Defining Moments, because I didn't eat lunch--I was at the ER all afternoon. (I thought I had blood poisoning from having an infected foot. I didn't, but they gave me a strong antibiotic. I'm doing better.) Yesterday I did pretty well, but today I did awful....because Don worked late and I didn't really eat dinner, so I just snacked. The main thing is that I need to get back to taking care of myself. I've been dealing with some pretty hard issues that have taken away my focus on myself, but now I have to get back to self discipline. I have three friends out there who have been encouraging me to write in my blog again, so I am. Tomorrow I am beginning a walking challenge on Sparkpeople.com. I am going to walk 6 miles a day for a month. I also intend to stay in the lower part of my calorie range for the whole month. Hold me accountable my friends!