Three months into my veggie-eating lifestyle…

I am 34 pounds lighter, just 7 pounds heavier than high school.

I love toasted walnuts. By themselves. Almost as much as I used to enjoy fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. I’m supposed to limit myself to 1 oz of nuts a day. I was fine by this rule until I discovered toasted walnuts.

I am wardrobe challenged. When I dropped from size 18 to size 16, I found I had plenty of clothes in storage that fit me. When I dropped from 16 to 14, I had a few things, but I had to go shopping. I invested in a select number of regular retail items and hit the thrift stores for the other stuff. At the same time, people started giving me clothes because it was so obvious I needed them.

Now, I have dropped to a size 12. I never would have guessed this would happen. I assumed size 14 was the slimmest I would ever be as an almost-middle-aged, post-child-bearing woman. I was wrong.

I am struggling to stick to the Eat To Live plan. Chilly weather seems to heighten my desire for food—especially those cozy carbs. I guess maybe my mother is right: I should hang onto my size 14s.

The right words at the right time

Sometimes, when I need it most, God sends a Scripture to mind. Other times, it’s a scene from another great book, or even a movie. Today, it was this hymn. Exactly what I needed…

 

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/707#ixzz2AAUy0Dv8