Let's Get Summer Started!!

I know summer is not "officially" here yet, but in our area of the country it sure feels like summer. We are having our first week of temperatures in the 90's! Hot and humid!!

So, I'm on a mission for the next year (make that the rest of my life). That mission is to improve my physical being. I've spent a year dedicated to my spiritual being, and now it's time to get this Temple in shape!

I was truly inspired by Robin McGraw at the National Women of Faith Conference in San Antonio earlier this year. She talked about losing her mother when her mother was still young and how she missed having her mother with her as her own children grew up, etc. Because of that, Robin makes a very concerted effort to keep herself physically fit. She considers it a gift not only to herself, but to her husband, children, extended family, and to God. Listening to her talk about her mother while my own grown daughter sat next to me was quite convicting. At one point she even gave me a gentle nudge as if to say, "Are you listening, Mom? I don't want to experience what she's talking about. Take care of yourself, please!"

SO, I have begun in earnest. I have a precious friend who has made a commitment with me. We have actually shared our real weight with each other. No one else other than my doctor knows that number! We are currently on the first two weeks of the South Beach Diet. We've done this before and been successful, but as time went by we made poor choices and found ourselves right back where we started - or worse! After talking about it, we decided that maybe it was because we were really trying to do it on our own with no one else helping to hold us accountable. Thus, our commitment to each other was born.

I have also come to realize that I cannot be successful at this if I continue to hate myself for what I have done to my body. That's right I said hate. It's a strong word, but I've realized I had very strong feelings. As a child I was the "skinny" one. Even through college I was very thin, and never seemed to have to worry about my weight. That, in my opinion now, was NOT a blessing. I never learned to eat in a healthy way. I know I was much more physically active then, and that probably accounts for the ease of keeping my weight at or well below recommended levels.

Since then I have yo-yoed my way through more pounds than you care to know about. And I am letting go of thinking about that!

Because of my spiritual growth this past year, I have come to realize that I must first love myself as I am and be content with that. Only then can I truly begin to change things. Acceptance of that has been hard. I am so thankful that God has taught me so much about his unconditional love this last year. What a gift! I believe Him now. Why does it take so long for us (me!) to believe Him? I don't know. I'm just grateful to be where I am now.

I will not be giving weekly specifics on my progress, but I will post occasional "aha" moments and joyful experiences. I appreciate your prayers for me as I enter yet another phase of "growth." And here I thought that by age 58 I would be all grown up. Yea, right! If I ever declare myself fully grown would someone please slap me back into reality?!

My wish for all who may read this is that we will become more and more aware of God's presence in our lives, and more and more dependent upon Him to supply all that we need. He does a great job!!