Diet Update

I walked and jogged five miles since I determined to get thin. I twisted through an entire episode of Gilmore Girls. I was only slightly sabotaged this weekend by my family - chocolate cookies, apple dumplings, and Girl Scout Thin Mints. But I have managed to lose 1/2 of a pound. Why do I not feel successful? I want skinny NOW! (Sorry for shouting.)
Today I have not yet exercised though I have carefully monitored my caloric intake. I will do my treadmill trekking in a little while. I will not be distracted by my sweet children's affection for my fat or my husband's alleged fondness of curves.( I am determined to weigh less than my husband.) I have a pair of skinny jeans and a lovely pink dress that I try on when the call of food seems overwhelming. Hopefully between the allure of skinny clothes and an ample supple of 0 calorie flavored water I will triumph over the ever present call of chocolate and chips!

Delight in Fatness

I'm going public! I'm fat....my sweet children call me soft. My benevolent husband calls me curvy. I call myself fat and sassy. I don't mind being sassy, but I'd like to be slender. My self image is complicated by the fact that I have three gorgeous daughters to compare myself to every day. I know I will never look like a 16 year old again and I really don't want to, but I would like to be able to see my toes!
So I'm going public and begging your help. I'm going to wean myself from sugar and white flour and I am going to start exercising. My first task is to extract the treadmill from the grip the basement has on it. I am going to use it for at least 30 minutes a day - 5 days a week. I have promised myself one treat a week - a modest serving of sugar or white flour. I know there may be weeks when I have a profound need for a hamburger or a brownie and I don't need any extra guilt so I will allow myself a carefully chosen indulgence.
So I'm asking you, my friends to help me stay accountable. You notice I'm not disclosing my weight - but I will share my weight loss as it happens. Maybe I will even post a picture when I discover my cheekbones again!

Home Evening

We had a lovely home evening. All my children wanted to spend the entire evening together enjoying each others company. Alas, alack.....then they tried to decide how they should spend the time together. I have six children at home this evening and none of them want to watch the same movie or play the same game. They did all agree to eat the same treat and they did a thorough job of that. I have suggested that they watch the Olympics, but as in all compromises no one is completely satisfied. But at least the balloting has stopped. Now the boys have gone to watch something of their own in their room and the girls are gently debating the Olympic events that are being broadcast tonight. I hear someone running a vacuum, at least on of my children has found something productive to do. The sweet and long suffering father has gone out to do some snow removal, it relaxes him. I think I will make some hot chocolate and find a quiet corner and savor a moment of solitude.

A New Journal

My sweetheart gave me a delicious new journal this week. I am so excited to write in it, but I still have a few pages left in my present journal. Blank pages thrill me. I started my first diary when I was 10. It was the kind with a key and yes, I wore the key around my neck on a ribbon. There were a few occasions that I carefully hid the key and the diary. But my brothers always found the key and the diary and then quoted from it to my great embarrassment.
But I kept writing. My journal got me through my teenage years when I was sure I didn't have a friend in the world. It has been gratifying that as I pass my journals on to my teenage daughters they are amazed that I wrote exactly what they have written in their own journals. My journal helped me deal with the homesickness and struggles of college, the joys and thrills of courtship and the delights and fatigues of early motherhood.
One of my great grandmothers kept a diary of sorts and what a surprise to me to read her words that mirrored my own over 50 years later.
Words have power. I hope my words will someday be able to comfort, encourage, and maybe even delight those who read them. I am sure at least that the cover of my new journal will make someone smile!

Sweethearts

It's February. Since I have become "Southern" I have become accustom to daffodils in February; daffodils, forsythia, crocus, and the promise of spring. Instead I am dealing with a couple feet of snow and ice.
But we are celebrating the promise of love and faith that spring will come. So I decorated my table and I am celebrating the fact that I am blessed beyond measure especially in my family.
I got "snowed out" when I took my missionary out to the MTC. I couldn't get an airplane to carry me back to old Virginie - too much snow. But I have a sister and brothers who made my extra days among them sweet and I have incredible children and a fine husband here who took care of things here at home so that I didn't have to worry.
I confess they left a few things undone so that when I got home it was evident that they still need me...at least a little bit.