Disappointment

I had planned to go to the CEA-HOW conference last Thursday but had such a bad flareup of fibro. that I didn't dare go for fear of being sick while I was there. I was disappointed but it probably was for the best. I think trying to keep up with everyone in our group might have been too tiring and I would have been likely to have had a flareup while I was there. There were about 13 or 14 women from our meeting going. It would have been so much fun. As it turned out, after resting on my bed most of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I had no pain Friday night at all. I could have gone with the group leaving on Friday if I had known the flareup was going to be over by then

This illness is so frustrating. I shouldn't complain, though. Even though I have really bad flareups, now, at least I'm not sick for 5 months afterwards like I was 5 or 6 years ago. Also, I've been able to serve both my missions without too much trouble.

As Ever,
Mither

Celebrate GOOD Times!!!

My first thirty days in CEA-HOW were up on Sunday and I got to weigh myself. (We only weigh ourselves once a month) When I looked at the scales, I couldn't believe it so I got off and then tried again. It was the same. I've lost 24.2 lbs!!!!! I still can't believe it. I was hoping I might have lost 15 lbs. but this blows my mind. It sure does work.

Heavenly Father is doing the discipline part for me. I knew I could never do this eating plan without a great deal of discipline and I have absolutely none of that. But here I am, thirty two days and still going strong thanks to His grace and power. As they say in the 12 Step program, "He is doing for us what we could never do for ourselves." They've got that right on.

CHEERS!

Who would've thought....?

Well I finally got the painting done for Gayla (Jan's friend). It's been more than two years since I committed to do it. My lack of discipline is horrendous! (Just goes to show that I could never have done the CEA-HOW program unless Heavenly Father did the disciple part for me - what other part is there?) So, when I showed it to Janice she said there were some parts she didn't like and I said that I had lost the picture so I had to guess on the last part of it. But as we were talking the picture fell out of the back of the canvas. I could see how I could change it to make it look better so I'm not really done yet. I have made a commitment to a lady I know in CEA-HOW to have it done in a week. Don't ask me why that would work except that I don't want her to think badly of me. (I don't know why a commitment to her would work and not one to Janice - actually, I don't think I ever made one to Janice, maybe that's why.)

I am so thrilled with the discipline I'm experiencing. My high hopes, because of Heavenly Father, are higher than ever, now. I don't expect them to crash and burn, either, as they have done in the past. It's funny, I think I've prayed for help every time I've tried a diet or self-improvement program but didn't get it that He wanted to carry the whole load for me. How kind and thoughtful of Him. I think He wanted me to humble myself and admit that there are just some things I can't do at all.

I'm going to ask for the discipline to do my housework and laundry, now, as well. Since discipline has been such a HUGE part of my faults and sins, maybe this is the answer to all of them.

I've heard it said that God can make more of us than we can make of ourselves. This is such and epiphany. Who would've thought....?

Ever,

Mither

62 Years Old and Counting,

Well, according to my last wishes (which is to die at 72) I have 10 years left. Hummmm, that makes me rethink my 100 goals list. If I did die at 72 there would be several goals that I would change. I'll have to think about that some more.

My new 12 Step program is going well. It's been 22 days now. We have so much fun at the meetings. We have two men who came last night. There were about 14 or 15 women. The "meeting after the meeting" is so different from the formal meeting but both are great. I just love the 12 Step programs.

One woman I talked to on the phone said she had lost more between her ears than on her body and she's lost more than 100 lbs. She said her whole way of thinking has changed in the years she's been in the program. She said that her emotional healing was so much more important than her physical health that she usually didn't tell people how much she lost. I'm glad she did because I have over 100 lbs to lose and that is encourageing to know that she could lose so much.

I told my brother Joe about it yesterday and found out that he noticed that I only ate steak and broccoli. at our last family party. I guess he didn't notice the two cups of salad I also ate. I told him to watch me over the next few months and we would see how successful I am and then maybe he would consider it for himself.

Heavenly Father is making this so easy for me. I do have to do the footwork but that isn't the hard part. The hard part is the discipline. He's doing that for me because I could never do it for myself.

Happy days all.

Love, Mither