Hi all! Just a quick note before I go offline at sunset. I don't think that I mentioned it earlier, but I just bought a preaching robe -- off the rack with no alterations! Before WW, I was going to have to make one myself. My Independent Living residents tend to be higher-church than I am (frankly, it's hard to be lower-church than I am!), and had been bugging me to start vesting for Lenten services. But I couldn't find anything to fit my dimensions in any of the catalogs. It seems that if you have a 52-inch chest, you're a 6'4" male!

Now these vestments are made for men -- it's huge in the shoulders but barely stretches over my hips, and for some strange reason there's a 12-inch slit in the FRONT of the thing which will need to be stitched down, since I'll be wearing it as a dress with just a slip and hosiery (at least until I lose a couple more inches at the hip and can put a skirt or leggings underneath it). But I bought it used for a dollar on eBay, it's in perfect condition, and my mom tells me that the manufacturer's catalog suggests this size for people 5'4"-5'6", and (get this!) up to 190 pounds! My 233 pounds are fitting into it for some strange reason, possibly based on women's smaller bone structure.

Anyways, the other gals in my WW meeting are all about rewarding themselves with jewelry and party clothes and other frivolous stuff. I can't quite get into that myself, being both culturally and theologically inclined to modest plain attire. But this is just so cool! I look like a real minister!

Yes, after all these years, I still feel like a fraud every time I step up to the pulpit.

Meanwhile, the item that I had on the knitting loom in the hospital waiting room was a purple stole for Lent with a big ol' white cross on it. They had to know what they were in for when they stopped to chat with me...!!!

I'll upload some pictures as soon as I start vesting after Ash Wednesday. And that's when I'll unleash it on the party girls at my WW meeting, too!

Bootsie-so sorry about your friend-will keep you and her family in my prayers Very, very glad you have water again, though.

Not much going on here-now they're talking about a winter storm watch for the whole weekend, so Feeling kinda depressed today, so DH is bringing home supper.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Bootsie, so sorry about your friend.

RONNI ~ hope you are feeling better soon. We got that storm here already -- we went to the doctors, then to pick up a few groceries and something for dinner -- while we were at the cash, we look out and see a total white-out!!! We made it home OK as the wind was blowing the snow quite fast; and of course, as soon as we get home, it all but stopped. Of course, the wind has picked up again and DH just got back from a friends and it's snowing out there again. Just had to put the furnace back up too after all those above zero temps the last few days.

We picked up baked wings & ribs for dinner; and I had salad with mine too. That was nice for a change. So I went to the doctors and I pulled the muscle on the inside of my knee and the underside; gotta use the crutches for another 2 weeks and if it isn't better, then I have to go back to see the doctor again (may have to do some physio-therapy).

Oh, and I had some really GOOD NEWS at the docs today -- I had the lowest blood pressure reading ever (for me): 132/76, so I was quite encouraged that all this good eating & living is helping my health too. And on we go ...

Jeepers, last night I chipped my front tooth; accidently dinged it with my tea cup. Drats! DH said he wouldn't have noticed it unless I mentioned it, but of course being my front tooth, I noticed it when I was brushing my teeth tonight. Maybe the dentist can file it a bit for me the next time I go see him.

AUNTY ~ your new outfit sounds nice; now you should feel the part a bit more since you have the outfit for it too. Are you going to be doing a bit of preaching for awhile at your church too? Will send up some prayers for you concerning that if you like.

Hope all our friends have a wonderful weekend despite the change in weather; stay inside, keep warm by a nice fire (if you have one) ... Rosebud

Hi Gals

Well I was gone most of the week again, and will be for some time, I will come home some days but I just never know for sure when so remember I am not ignoring you all...I just have no computer out of town and no way will I take Angie's laptop

Today is our Grandma Judi Chili celebration we have every year to honor and remember her life here on earth and reflect on all those loved ones of ours that have passed. It is usually a very happy day with chili and games inside and out with around 25 family and friends but today will be a little sad as my brother in law's aunt is being removed from life support this morning by my sister and her mil....Aunt val was always a part of our holidays/bbq's and Grandma Judi's celebration....today we will be reminded of WHY we do this...thank you Jesus!

It has been raining here all morning and will be for most of the week I guess but boy we sure have had some very nice weather! The rain will be heavy at times but less as the week goes on.

Angie and I didn't get out to Starbucks with the dogs because of the rain, I did go get a haircut though and Home Depot and grocery shopping. We may go to the beach in the morning before church and have breakfast after a 4 mile walk with the dogs...as long as the rain stays away...then to church for second service at 10:30 because Angie will be playing bells tomorrow in that service...which means I miss the start of Daytona ... I'll live

I will check in tomorrow but PRAYERS for all of your concerns!

Well Aunt val passed on yesterday just before our Grandma Judi Chili Celebration. She will be missed! It was a very tough last two weeks for her.

Church was great....and Angie's bell choir was awesome! We had a couple of people out sick so a "professional" bell ringer and her husband filled in...WOW!!! what a difference! Cool...way cool!

Took the dogs out on a glorious afternoon for 3 miles after the Daytona race.

Well off to pack for the week...see you next Friday!

Prayers to all!

GARY ~ have a great week! You should video ANGIE and choir playing the bells and put it on Youtube so others can be blessed by them too ...


Just having a quiet weekend at home; it's a civic holiday tomorrow in our Canadian province. The storm is over; we had lovely today but the temps fell to -20C tonight. Gonna go put my legs up and finish a really good Christian book (a story about how people can pull together to overcome the worst tragedies in this life; after a whole town is wiped out by a tornedo).

Have great week everyone ... Rosebud

Sorry to hear about your aunt EZmoney

HI THERE ~ well, we had another lovely day today; it was around -10C but the sun was sure nice. We had a nice quiet weekend at home (and I am resting up my leg). I finished that wonderful book I was telling you about; and would definitely recommend it.

It is called GOOD HOPE ROAD by Lisa Wingate; and it is worth trying to find at the library or wherever. It was based on a true event (when a tornedo ran through Oklahoma City and area); with some of the incidents that occurred there. The rest of the story was terrific too with some very valuable life lessons and wisdom for all. Nice to have a true to life story with a happy ending that offers so much to its readers.

Hope everyone here has a nice week coming up ... Rosebud

ladies, hello. i'm new here. my name is ashley. Ive lost quite a bit of weight, but im asking for prayer requests please. I feel like i have been so committed to dieting that i have left God out of it. I do not want it to be this way. Please pray that i can stop being obssesive about weight and instead about GOD.

thanks

ASHLEY ~ welcome to our Christian chat group over here, where we hope to become healthier becuz of our focus on the LORD. I spend time in prayer each morning doing a small devotion (THE DAILY BREAD) each day. It sets the right tone for the day. Each night, I read some scripture; often a PSALM, and do more prayers before retiring. This is a nice way to finish off the day.

Of course, we also say GRACE at home and pray at least once a day for our family and friends; plus I start my prayer day with the LORD's PRAYER: that is the prayer that JESUS shared with us in Matthew & Luke. You can be as obsessed with GOD as you want to be, I guess; this is one choice we can make, I think!

It's OK to want to make healthy lifestyle choices; just be sure to enjoy your life too. The LORD wants that for us too. Have a lovely week ... Ashley.

Ashley- Hope you find as much inspiration here as I have I don't know if others have found this, but I find that the better my eating is, the more I can focus on what God's plan for me might be (whether that's just for the day or a long-term plan). It seems I obsess a lot about what the next meal/snack might be when I'm not 'working my plan.' I take time to start each day in the Bible-right now I'm reading the Psalms all the way through-and take time for prayer with very little focus on myself and lots of focus on needs mentioned by others (here and on my church's prayer chain). Keep coming back here, too-I can't believe how much the friends I've made here have helped me in this battle.

Rosebud-well, our nice days are over. We got some ice, then some snow, then some more snow-not a lot, but very slippery. I'm sure looking forward to spring this year!

Due to the slipperiness of the roads, we are going nowhere today-not that I actually had anywhere to go, but it's always nice to think that we could go if we wanted to It's also very gloomy outside, so I'm just keeping the blinds closed and working on cleaning and organizing. Going to go put a roast in the crock pot with some potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery for supper and just planning a salad for lunch-I looooooove salads! Of course, there aren't many foods I don't like, so I just keep learning to eat what I like in moderation.

Well, must go work on that roast and veggies. TTTN! Have a great day!

Hi all and welcome Ashley!

I went to the grocery store in a really disorganized state of mind today. I'd thought that we'd be snowed in, but it was mostly a dud. So I had no excuse to skip my usual Tuesday rounds of the dollar stores and warehouse club for non-perishables. (I buy my dairy, meats, and produce on Mondays.) I kinda surprised myself (pleasantly), because I remembered to get a couple of healthy things that didn't make it onto the list somehow. I'm getting ready to complete my fifth week on Weight Watchers, and it really is true that you can learn good habits (if not necessarily un-learn the bad ones!) in 30 days.

This time each day, the hubby and I start texting about what's for dinner. Used to be that we'd decide on which drive-thru to visit on the way home. Today it was, "Do you want the low-carb tacos tonight or tomorrow? Chicken and broccoli tonight? Pita pizzas on Thursday?" All homemade and full of veggies!

I just feel really grateful about this right now.

RONNI ~ it's interesting how we all have our own ideas about this topic, eh? And, I think they are all valid. I find the more I focus on GOD, the better choices I am making in every area of my life, including eating and other healthy lifestyle choices. The bible has a lot of wisdom to offer in this area; simple guidelines, but helpful nevertheless.

I agree about the MODERATION scripture; a good basic principle to live by ... "Let your moderation be known to all men" -- Philip 4:5.

While there are a few foods that I have to avoid or limit for health reasons (salt, sugar, simple carbs & dairy: lactose intolerant), I have learned to just relax and eat normal portions of healthy, yummy food for each meal & snack for every day. We eat our favorite dishes as well (just healthy versions of same). No obsessing; no anxiety; no worries; no problem! THANK YOU, LORD!

We have glorious here again today; and warmer temps too (-5C). We will be getting some precip tomorrow though; a mix of rain/sleet, they say. Colder temps at night, but warmer in the daytime this week. Just another week and this month is over; and March will usher in spring right after that. I will be saying in March: spring is just one month away; well, for us up here anyways.

DH and I can't wait to get going on our cabin this spring; I am buying a futon so we can stay at our camper this year. I just hope we'll be warm enuff; but we want to give it a try at least. Now, I just have to get these legs stronger so I can help DH a little bit; but I'll probably just end up being a very helpful supervisor though ...

Hope you're all having a great week ... Rosebud

HI EVERYONE ~ well, we have had some interesting weather up here; lots of beautiful and today, we awoke to lots of fluffy ***** stuff on & off all day, intermixed with too. It seems like such an amazing phenomenon to have big, fat fluffy flakes falling in one direction and the shining from another, but it is lovely!!!

I did get out to the store the other day to pick up a few essentials; my knee was a bit sore from all the walking but I want to keep it knimble too. I did a bit of walking around here (at home) for the same reason. It has improved considerably over the last week though. Thanks for all your prayers for same ...

I hope all our friends are enjoying the last week of February; only a few days left. Take care and have a FABULOUS FRIDAY tomorrow ... Rosebud