I'm Back

I know, I know it's been a long, long time since I wrote but I've started a new blog called "Corilee Southern Art" that I wanted t tell everyone about. I will be wrting more there than here probably but I will start writing here occasionally as well.

I finished my CEA-HOE diet, at least the weight loss part and am now on the maintenance diet and have kept my 150 lb. weight loss for the last 9 months fluctuating only a few pounds higher or lower than my goal weight. It is a whohle new life. I love feeling like I look good and am no longer self-conscious about how I look. I have so much more energy and stamina and sleep a lot less and am happier than ever before.

I have started a new 12 Step program called Eating Disorders Anonymous HOPE (Honest, Obedient, Prayerful and Exceedingly grateful) for members of the Church which focuses on the Atonement, the Holy Spirit, the Word of Wisdom and the Scriptures as the major means to achieveing ongoing recovery from our obsessive/compulsive behaviours rergarding food.. It will include anorexics, bulimics and those who can't keep there weight at a healthy level (or compulsive eaters as we call ourselves). We have two meetings a week with about 12-15 women attending and all are achieving success in their efforts. We had our first anorexic come on Wednesday which was exciting. She has volunteered to be the secretary for our business meetings which will be nice so that I don't have to do that part of it. She is also going to write some pamphlet for us to help those whose addiction is centered around unhealthy eating patterns more than around eating too much.

I am so excited aboout my new projects. One other project I am working on is a blessing dress I am making for Janice for when she marries and has her first hoped for daughter. It is almost done. But I've put that on hold as I am making a bedskirt and pillows for my bed so my bedroom will look nice for when I have visitors while I am recovering from hip surgery which I am have this coming Tuesday.

Well that's all for now,

Cheers!

Life Goes On....

The flareup has flared down. I can't believe it! It's so good to feel good. I have been on the fibro. medication for about a week and a half now and I think that, a priesthood blessing that was given me a couple of weeks ago, and some very strong pleadings with the Lord in prayer have given me back my life.

I went to my mission yesterday for the first time in almost two weeks. I was thinking on the drive in to work (mission) that I was doing very little work there - I only answer the phone - that I really wasn't needed there. I began praying about it in the car to know the Lord's will and get some guidance. I thought maybe the Lord wanted me to try harder to get the computer skills to do the work with the "candidates" (people who come in for help).

I've had other callings in the Church that in hindsight could have used the kind of prayer I felt impressed to pray right then. Anyway, after praying about it and having different thoughts come to mind, the one that seemed to be from the Lord and not me was --are you I willing to do a "lowly" job that wouldn't be something your ego would benefit from?

Yeah, that was humbling.

I am glad to say that I am more than willing. I have decided to bring good books or my scriptures to work with me so I will have something to do between phone calls.

We celebrated Easter (bunny and candy) last night so it wouldn't interfere with Conference either Saturday or Sunday. We had a barbeque (sans barbeque) after the "hunt" which turned out really well. It has helped to have the two empty bedrooms for the kids to play in even though there aren't very many toys in there to play with. And I wasn't even nervous about food getting spilled which was weird because in all the cookouts we've had indoors (cookouts, indoors?) we've never really had anything spilled. But last night someone spilled a full glass of rootbeer on the tile and carpet and I wasn't even phased by it. Who would have guessed? Maybe all my stressing about it over the years has finally worn off and left me calm and collected. I haven't even checked today to see if there is a big spot on the carpet from it. So what if there is? It was worth it to have all my children and grandchildren there.

We had two broken hearts (with tears) last night. One was Jenni, who didn't get very much candy compared to some of the littler kids who got more time and opportunity to hunt. That one was saved by some candy I bought that wasn't put out for the hunt. I was going to put one chocolate egg in my purse so I would have something if my hypoglycemia ever acted up (or my blood sugar dropped suddenly as it has been known to do.) But I decided later that if my purse was ever left in a hot car I could have a mess on my hands. Anyway Joe absconded with the whole bag and had it up in the bonus room where, thankfully, we had Jenni go to get some.

The other broken heart (with tears) was when Joshie found out that Ethan was going to Conference with Jennifer and he couldn't go because they didn't have enough tickets. That was resolved by Janice giving up her ticket so he could go in her place. I don't think Joshie really knows what he's in for even though everyone tried to tell him it was like a really long Sacrament meeting and he'd have to be quiet the whole time. At least he felt better.

Thanks, Janice, for once again making a sacrifice for someone else's happiness. And thanks again for being the one who stayed longer and cleaned up the mess after everyone. You're an amethyst (my favorite jewel ;) I hope your work wasn't too taxing today and that you get a lot of sleep and rejuvenation tonight. Would you like to come and watch conference with us tomorrow? We'd love to have you.

Well that's all for now,

Cheers!

Mither