The week I sound like a brat when I should be counting my blessings - Week 8

originally posted at my Medifast blog

I lost 3 lbs this week. 38.2 lbs total.

Here's the part where I sound like a spoiled brat... I'm disappointed. Feel free to throw rotten canned tomatoes (they're on plan), but please remove them from the can first.

Earlier this week during one of my quick on and off the scales (that don't really count as weighing) I saw a number that would have put me at a total loss of over 40 lbs. It also would have brought me to my first 10% weight loss goal. I was very excited.

Today I saw a higher number.
It was a lower number than I've seen in forever.
It was a number that represented a very respectable weight loss for my 8th week on a diet.
It was a weight loss that most people would happily take.

Still it took me most of the morning to get over it... to get over myself.

The other day I was complimented on how I was staying on plan and doing such a good job with Medifast. I would've thought that the words out of my mouth would be something like, "Medifast is great. It's hard but the plan is so simple". Instead I said, "It must be God". The glory for my success has to go to Him. Not to me, not to this plan...He is the one who gives me the strength. He is faithful when I'm faithless. He makes all things possible and He prepared me for this season. And He will get me through when staying on plan becomes a burden.

The past few weeks I can't say that I've forgotten these truths, but I can say that I have gotten a bit big for my britches (actually my britches have gotten a bit big for me, but you get where I'm going). While this time might be for me (to lose weight and regain my health), it's not about me. It's about how God is working in my life. I pray that as the fat comes off, I will grow closer to God and become more like Jesus.

My discovery of the week: parmesan cheese is a FAT! All this time, I thought it was a condiment. (I'm still unsure of the fat vs healthy fat and all that - it's something I need to look into more). It was a reminder that I have to keep reading and checking my lists and not assume that I know the plan.

What have you discovered this week?

Don't go to Disneyland right before Christmas. It ticks off the elves.

I posted some of these on Facebook, but wanted to share them here too.

I work with some funny people.

I don't think I've ever been the focus of one of their pranks.

Everything was wrapped.

This is my pencil cup.

No one has taken credit.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Grom just doesn't like his picture taken.

He's dressed up to sing with the Kinders at school.

What's for Dinner - December 27, 2009

Monday
Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
salad

Tuesday
Chicken Parmesan
spaghetti
zucchini

Wednesday
~Beth cooks~
Enchiladas

Thursday
~New Year's Eve Celebration~
Macaroni and Cheese
Brownies

Friday
???

Saturday
???

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
my parents cook

Find lots of meal plans at Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday

Daybook December 28, 2009

FOR TODAY... Monday December 28, 2009

Outside my window... dark. I'm at this late again.

I am thinking... why isn't this kid in bed. Grom can't sleep. He has "too much energy". He "must've ate too much dinner". I think it was the cake after dinner and the lazy morning with Grandma.

I am hearing... powertools on the TV. Grom is sitting here with me and we're watching one of those show where the build a hot rod or a motorcycle or ??? I'm just glad every-other word isn't BEEP.

I am thankful for... Anne Voskamp and her encouragement to count my blessings.

I am wearing... black pants, orange long sleeved tee, my Birk loafers.

I am remembering... that I have laundry in the washer. What's new?

I am going... to have an amazing 2010.

I am reading... "Have a New Kid by Friday" by Dr. Kevin Leman. I don't really want a new kid, I'd just want to stop screaming and feeling impotent. And I'd like my kid to listen and obey a little bit better.

I am hoping... that my friend Stacey and her family are home soon and that the surgeries for Baby Simon will be done.

On my mind... commitment, dedication, constancy, delusion.

From the learning rooms... Grom is out of school again this week. We are reading a bunch of books about cake. I see some cupcake decorating in our future. Maybe this weekend?

Noticing that... there is an newly empty flat surface in my studio. It was so covered with stuff that I didn't even need to dust after I cleared it.

Pondering these words... the verse of the day that I get in my email speaks to me so often.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)

From the kitchen... Our fridge and freezer are stuffed with food and leftovers. I need to clean out and get some leftovers used up.

Around the house... I'm ready to get those Christmas decorations put away and do some decluttering and organizing. It's time to get my studio back under control so I can do some crafting.

One of my favorite things... fresh brushed teeth and minty breath.

A picture to share... making orange & clove pomanders at the Kinder Christmas party.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

gratitude community - december 27

109. Family... close and extended.

11o. Family who come to visit for Christmas.

111. For trips to Disneyland with family.

112. The Knights on King Arthur's Carousel

113. For boys who want to figure out how it works.

114. For those moments when I'm able to capture his joy.

115. When Grom lets me get a good picture.

116. For trusty white steeds that don't need to be fed and watered and mucked.

117. The beautiful and elaborate decorations for Christmastime. Nobody decorates like Disney.

118. For the million pink, green and especially orange lights that adorn "It's a Small World".

119. For memories from childhood. I've always loved that smiling face.

120. For an acceptable family portrait. Usually Grom goofs them up.

121. The happiest place on earth is happier because I stayed on my food plan. I felt so much better for having lost some weight.

122. dill pickles for sale near the Jungle Cruise.

123. The memory of Mama getting soaked as we flew down Splash Mountain.

124. Almost losing my voice from screaming on really fun rides.

125. Sharing memories from my childhood with my child. It was Grom's favorite ride.

126. A beautiful walk back to the hotel.

127. Being completely spent from an awesome day.

128. Sunday dinners with family.

129. Lace tablecloths and candles.

130. Gigi's special dishes and Mom's sterling silver.

131. Special salad just for me.

132. A funky little nativity set that reminds us that our Savior came as a tiny baby.

133. My mom's silly Santa collection.

134. Santa Bob (my dad) who loves to dress up for the kids.

135. For Grom, who when he's asked tells people he doesn't believe in Santa, but he believes in Jesus.

Want to live the shortest, surest rule to Happiness? Become a Joy Finder? Consider joining the Gratitude Community! Just jump in with your own counting!

How to begin your own 1000 Gift List ::: How Gratitude Can Change your Life

My scale went crazy - Week 7

originally posted at my Medifast blog

I bought a new scale back in October because my old scale couldn't handle how much I weighed.

Every time I jumped on it, it just said, "Err"

Err... why did you eat that bowl of ice cream last night?
Err... what are you going to do about this?
Err... get off already... you weigh too much.

I got rid of that scale at a garage sale last month. I bought a new one. It's Biggest Loser brand and I swear it does that crazy all over the place weighing just like the show.

I go to bed every Wednesday night anticipating waking up and weighing. Because it fluctuates so much, it's easiest and works best if I just look straight ahead. Surferman usually reads the weight for me.

Today he told me 375.5 pounds. If you're following my progress you'd know that would've been 11 some pounds this week. After I caught my breath, I told him we needed to do it again... 377.8 lbs. I weighed again and it said 389.5 (which would've been a gain). Ridiculous.

Surferman being the fixer he is, set out to figure out what was wrong with the scale. He cleaned the feet. He changed the battery. He bounced on the floor to see if he could feel a soft spot. Finally he declared it in proper working order after getting two consistent weights for himself.

I got on. It wasn't 11 pounds.
But it was 4.2 pounds!
35.2 pounds total.
I am very pleased.

I also realized today that I should have kept that other scale. It wouldn't be... err... complaining anymore.

My discovery of the week: It's possible to go to Disneyland and stay on plan. They sell dill pickles near the Jungle Cruise, and you can get a great salad in Tomorrowland. And of course you get to walk a bunch. Drinking water is the biggest problem because it's much better standing in line for a ride than a bathroom.

Baking with Grom

Grom and I did some baking for a Christmas outreach our church did last week.

We made brownies.

We made pumpkin bread.

We made banana bread.

I measured and mixed.
Grom cleaned out the bowls.


I promise that I make him wash his hands and face between batches.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
Psalm 5:3 NKJV

Sometimes it's worth getting up early.

Grom's no calorie Christmas Cookies

I found a free app for my iPhone.

It's called Cookies for Santa.


It's simple.
You pick decorations and drag them onto the cookie.
Grom can play it over and over.


Here are some of his cookies...

After you decorate the cookies you can write a note to Santa.
I'm sure his texting will get better.
He wants another Momo.
I'm so glad he hasn't out grown his friend yet.

Grom's Gingerbread Manor

Our annual Gingerbread House seems to have been on steroids this year.

I found a cool kit at Costco again.
However, the candy included for decorating was very boring... all red, white and green.

Grom and I made a trip to Powell's .
I went a little nuts buying candy.
I think it was because I knew I wasn't going to be eating any.

Construction consisted of 3 different building sessions.

Some pesky penguins showed up to play.

It's a sweet and cozy cottage.

Although I don't know which is sweeter... the boy or the house.

Run! Run! As fast as you can!

A baker took some gingerbread dough
And shaped a man from head to toe.
When it was baked, the cookie fled.


Here is what the cookie said:
Run! Run! As fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!


Run! Run! As fast as you can!
I'm the little Gingerbread Man!


The cookie man ran past a cow
Who said, "I want to eat you now!"
The cookie man just laughed and fled.


Here is what the cookie said:
Run! Run! As fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!


Run! Run! As fast as you can!
I'm the little Gingerbread Man!


A farmer saw the man go by.
He chased him low, he chased him high.
The cookie man just shook his head.


Here is what the cookie said:
Run! Run! As fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
Run! Run! As fast as you can!
I'm the little Gingerbread Man!


He finally reached the river wide,
A fox asked, "Would you like a ride?"

The cookie sat on the fox's head,
Here is what the sly fox said:
"You can't run! That's my plan!
I'm going to eat you, Gingerbread Man!
You can't run! That's my plan!"

And he ate the gingerbread man!

I helped with Grom's Kindergarten Christmas Party. They made gingerbread men. I had to take pictures. They did such a good job and made some cute gingerbread men.