Monday Musings

It's been a tough week, but also a very good one. Our new pastor arrived and we had a great installation service this morning, and a delicious dinner together.

The weight loss journey is going well. I haven't felt this in control for a very long time. It's been fun to be on this adventure with my sister and my sister-in-law. My sis and I have fought our weight demons for years, but never together. It's good to be on the road together.

It's been four weeks since we weighed, so it was very exciting. Wearing things I haven't been able to fit in for the last couple of years is really fun - like getting a whole new wardrobe. (BTW, I've also lost 16 inches overall - amazing!)

The verses that go along with each day's study guide are always so appropriate. I especially love this one, from The Living Bible. I Corinthians 6:12-13 - "I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren't good for me. Even if I'm allowed to do them, I'll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can't easily stop if I want to. For instance, take the matter of eating. God has given us an appetite for food and stomachs to digest it. But that doesn't mean we should eat more than we need."

It has also been a very good week in another sense. I won two drawings here in Blogland - this is amazing! First, Gigi offered Beth Moore's newest book, So Long, Insecurity - You've Been a Bad Friend to Us. I am looking forward to reading it, and then passing it on to Kristen. Thank you so much, Gigi!

Then, unbelievably, I won the drawing over at Butler's Wife for this beautiful gift being offered by CSN Stores. I am so excited, because most of my cooking and baking utensils are quite "used up" after 37 years - I often think everyone should have another shower at about 30 years, don't you? Here's what is coming - so exciting! Thank you, Becky!!

I want to share this wonderful story I got by e-mail this week - I love it:

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23.. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.

Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

I have a new obsession - and a confession. How could I have gone 6 years without discovering the show NCIS? I have been overdosing on it for the last two weeks, as they've run marathons which have recorded on my DVR. I love the characters, the writing is fabulous, the interaction of the group is amazing - I like to watch them more than even the plot. I hope I get caught up soon!

I just came back from Hootin' Anni's place and she presented me with this lovely award - thank you so much, Anni! If you haven't visited Anni before, you must - she's a hoot, just like her name implies - and very, very talented.

I always like to leave you with something fun - the twins eating in various places in the house. The final one was tonight - a bit of snack after church - they're spending the night with us - they both climbed on the table and shared Grandpa's food -

Have a wonderful week!