Dog Days of Summer

It is hot outside. I love the sun. I shouldn't be in it, with my fair skin.

Today was a big test for Dave, and its over. Results are good. Leaving the hospital, some guy backed into my car and drove off. Great, now I have to call the cops on some handicapped guy and my poor starved, drugged husband has to wait to go home. But it will all be okay, there is some damage to my car, but I have to deal with it. It will not go away if I blink.

This weekend I am gearing up for a concert to spark a revolution, Ignite Chicago, which is gonna rock off my socks! Read about last year here and also here. I just love the chance to worship, especially live with the artists and on a beautiful day. Last year it was perfect, and I am praying for reign but not rain on Sunday!

Pearl comes back from camp just in time. I really had wanted Jay to come. But maybe next year. Ticket goes to Pearl instead, yeah Pearl!

The weekends are going by so fast, hopefully I will feel that way when its time to go out west. I am just going nuts not writing about it on the blog. I am so sad, and I miss him so much. Soon enough, being patient ... or trying.

Monday Weigh-IN: Oh Happy Day

Last weigh in weight: 243.1
Today's weight: 239.9 (3.2 lost!)
Total weight lost: 37.7 lbs.
Weight to lose to mini-goal: 14.9 I CAN DO IT!!!
Clothes size now: 22 (at start:26 tight)

Trying not to lose focus or hope on this journey. It seems like I had more hope when people were not telling me I looked good.

I hear it all the time now. "Looking good!" "Have you lost some weight?" "I can tell!" I try not to let it get to my head, I say stuff like "miles to go!" and "Its just the beginning!" Finally fitting into some stuff that my sister saved for me, but she just gave me some size 16 stuff! She is down to a 14! (Go MEGGIE!!!) I am dying to get out of the 20s! I would love to weigh under 200 lbs again. I don't know how long it has been.

I really want to be able to run. I want to run a 5K. I can't. I have way to much weight right now to run. My heart wants to explode. I can do the elliptical just fine, but forget about actually lifting up my own weight and landing on it. I have a bad back, bad feet and bad everything. I need to drop some more weight before I can start jogging. It is just too much for my body.

So I must have patience! Persistence with diet and exercise. When I say "diet" I am not talking about the 4 letter word, I am talking about the when you go to the zoo and see them feed the animals, they are administering a diet, that diet. The food I eat has to be fuel, and not garbage. And not too much, don't want my tank to overflow! Enough to keep me running, er, this analogy is getting stretched.

The Happy Day reference is for Paul.

Soul Food "actions v words"

I love to read the Bible. I try to do it every day. It feeds my soul. Sometimes things stick out at me.

In today's reading, Jesus said (and I am paraphrasing) you can talk a big game but it is really your actions that count. Basically he was defending himself. He could claim to be God but it meant nothing without all of the miracles that he performed.

You can claim to be a Christian, but are you really backing that up with actions? Are you feeding the hungry, loving the unlovable, healing the sick? Do you love your enemies?

I ask myself that a lot. I try my hardest to not do anything to give Jesus a bad name. So much has already been done in his name that was so wrong (aka the Crusades) that I don't want to hurt him. There is a book that is titled something like "I love Jesus but not the church." Also one that is like "Jesus save me from your followers." In fact it was many "Christians" that have kept me from coming to Christ in the first place.

There are several people who I can think of who claim they have Jesus in their heart, yet they are so mean to others. Do they even know? If you have Jesus in your heart, you have to be Jesus to others! You can't just claim the peace for yourself and leave it there! If you truly had the peace of Christ, you would be spreading it loud and wide! If you truly had the peace of Christ you would be SALT and you would be LIGHT. Many people claim Christ, but act more like day old fish. They just stink to be around and everyone wants to toss you out.

Yes, I love you. Yes, Jesus loves you. Please, consider your actions as if you were representing Christ if you are going to claim to be a Christian. Stop giving us Christ Followers a bad name.

Monday morning weigh-IN

Nothing like a great weekend to give you an energy boost. I had a great one!

Saturday I went to my dad's for brunch. My sister made blueberry and banana pancakes! Yum! Then we went to my aunt and uncle's house. My cousin and her husband from Indiana were there (Boilermakers, not Hoosiers) as well as my sister, Megan. We had a great time, chatting, swimming, eating yummy food, and playing tetris with Megan's mini-van.

Sunday started out with a Celebration Service at the Yellow Box that rocks, and then we picked up Paul and Pearl and headed to the BEACH! We drove up to Wisconsin, and it was gorgeous! So much fun, and Becky met us at my sister's house and then we hit the sand. The water was COLD! But the sand was bearable. We swam, hunted rocks, dug holes in the sand, and chatted. Then we hit Texas Roadhouse for some kick-butt steaks! After the drive home, we stopped at Coldstone for ice cream. I had never been there before, so what a perfect night topper. As we stood outside, we could see fireworks on the skyline.

Award goes to Paul for most rocks ever.

Here goes the WEIGHT ugh...

Last weigh in weight: 243.1
Today's weight: 243.1
Total weight lost: 34.5 lbs.

NO JOKE! Yeah me for not gaining! Even with steak AND ice cream!!!

Now, I have more energy, its back to business. I have a 12 hour day today... got to go!

Thank YOU

Thanks to all of my friends who encouraged me yesterday and showed me love that I am not used to. Its all still new to me.

I am not used to receiving this "unconditional love" from anything other than a dog. Now I have some wonderful women in my life that I know really mean it when they say I can call in the middle of the night.

Every day is new day. Thanks Jesus.

I did not get punched

My car door slammed on my face, so if you see me with a black cheek, I am okay. Sore, but okay. And no, I did not get punched.

I am sure this is gonna leave a mark.

Ch ch ch ch changes... weigh IN

Chopped off like 10 inches of hair. This will be two weeks, but just now blogging on it.

Joined twitter http://twitter.com/shell_e

Mom will have been gone for two years on the 7th. Heavy hearted...

ok, fine, I will weigh in but I don't want to!

Last weigh in weight: 240.5
Today's weight: 243.1

see why I didn't want to!

Thanks Aunt Flo!

I am hitting the gym tomorrow. I missed it.