I feel like a whirling dervish - the onset of the holiday season, recovering from my ankle stress fracture, wrecking my car, buying a new car, a busy work schedule, trying to schedule time to decorate our home for Christmas AND stay up with my exercise and healthy eating plans. Some things, sadly, are falling by the wayside. There will be no cookie exchange at the Strawns this year - but LOOK OUT next year - bigger and better, I promise!
And yet, I'm having such a great time - shopping, celebrating and even more shopping. How wonderful to have the energy for ALL of it! I had no idea what I had lost when my weight was incapacitating me.
I have been mulling over many thoughts of late - how great it feels to be 72 pounds lighter this Christmas than last - how fun it is to shop for me and for others - how wonderful to be the mother of a really good, kind, bright and loving daughter, how blessed I am that no one was hurt in my recent auto accident, how nice it is to drive a new, fancier car that was the bargain of the century - and today is a great celebration - the 21st wedding anniversary for Tim and me. But the thought that just has me marveling is the one that Zoe tossed out to the women in my Ultimate U class last week. Zoe called us "fit" women. Oh my gosh, I had never considered that. But, it is true. I am fit - I excercise regularly and am getting stronger every day with more and more stamina. Who would have thought that taking the stairs whenever possible would be a choice I gladly make! My life is changed - not just a weight loss, but a LIFESTYLE change.
I am, oh, so thankful to my God who endures all of my antics and yet still chooses to love me unconditionally and bring me to His place of peace. He truly has rescued me and even when I try to meander away, his hand is ever on me, guiding me back to him and his complete and perfect love.
