The Funny Thing About Me and Goals...

Current Weight: 204 lbs.
Working on my come-back

Like so many things in my life, this blog entry started out to be about one thing, but has changed into something completely else! I'm keeping the title the same, even though I was led to turn it, 'cause sooner or later I want to get back to talking about goals... I hope you find something you can use from the following ramblings:

For the most part of my life, I am very goal-oriented. At work that's what helps to keep me organized; there's certain things I want to accomplish in a day's time, and that's how I plot my time. I can set priorities, make changes to my schedule, and change with the time I have left.

One might think that's how I chart my weight-loss goals too. One would be wrong!

I can justify anything. In word-processing terms "justify" means to take a raggle-taggle paragraph with words ending all over here and there and make both sides of it even and straight; neat and tidy. There's al kinds of chaos within maybe, but it sure looks good! That's kind of an analogy for how I look at myself, come to think of it. I'm so worried about the edges and how it looks to the "reader" looking at me that I ignore all the bad words, incomplete sentences, and poor spelling on the inside. I can explain away all the stuff I should be doing and ignore the truth that I find with explanations and apologies.

The definition of the verb, to justify, is what I'm talking about... justify - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" Synonyms: apologise, rationalize, rationalise, apologize, excuse

The awesome thing about justification is that Christ also justifies us... check this out! This is in the Webster Dictionary: (Theol.) To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve. By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. - Acts xiii. 39.

He takes all the jagged edges of our broken margins and by His sacrifice brings them into perfect line. Our uneven sins and shortcomings are all erased as if they never existed. By His blood, He corrects our typographical errors and makes all our internal words beautiful ones. He spell-checks our wrongs and makes them right. Because of all He gave up for us, we have everything!

I saw a bumper sticker somewhere, or read it in a book or something, "Jesus Knows Me, This I Love" - isn't that a cool way to change a paragraph?

Thank you, Jesus, that You can take the broken edges and poor grammar that is our souls and make them perfect and make US perfect in Your sight. Thank you for justifying us with Your love, as we cannot do for ourselves.

My, How Time Flies!

Current Weight 207 lbs.

Status - later!

It is sure funny how time gets away from you... seems like just last week I was celebrating all the weight I've lost, at the Casting Crowns concert in November. Even further back than that, January 15, 2009, to be exact, that bald guy to the right and I welcomed our first grandson into the family. A year.

I can't imagine our lives without that little piece of humanity, and I still find it such an amazing gift that I get to greet that little guy every morning, and kiss him goodnight every evening. If you don't have grandkids, get yourself some! There is nothing like the feeling you get when your grandkids are happy to see you.

So. Christmas and New Year's. I'm so glad they come around, but I'm also glad they're only once a year. One of the two most significant days in the Christian calendar and the basis of Christianity, Christmas has become a mixed bag for me. I love the lights, the music, and even (okay, especially) the shopping, but its a stressful time weight-loss wise.

I believe, all things considered, I did okay. Not great, but okay. I didn't eat or drink as much as I usually would have; I didn't bake all the cookies and pies and fudge that I used to; I only had one 4-oz glass of eggnog the entire season - but I drank enough eggnog-creamer-flavored coffee to make up the difference!

Ah, well, my only resolution this year is not to beat myself up overmuch about it, but to get on with gettin' on.

My family and some of our friends have started a "Biggest Loser" pool - each pays in $5 a week for 8 weeks, and if you gain weight, another $5 that week. We'll see who comes out on the other side of the 8 weeks the richer (and thinner!) for it.

I find it is really important to keep my health goals interesting to keep me encouraged and motivated to keep going. I had Michelle and of course the spots on The Morning Cruise at The Joy FM to keep me motivated over the summer and fall, and now I've got daughter Lindsay acting as my Jiminy Cricket to get on the treadmill (Ooh! Freudian slip - I initially typed "treat" mill). The "Biggest Loser" jackpot (if I were to win it) would help me to purchase some more clothing, as my wardrobe is looking pretty thin these days too.

Get (or stay) interested in being healthy - it is so important to your overall mood and success. I read somewhere recently that people who exercise regularly have a better self-image, no matter what their size or health level. Remember - don't beat yourself up over what you might have gained over the holidays, dust off your sneakers and get on out there.

I'm praying for all of us!