Merry Christmas!

No lying.  Today has been one HUGE temptation.  But, with God's help, I have kept my primary choice in focus.  Today I passed the rest of the food and stuck with my nice, fresh, crisp vegetable salad topped with turkey. 

I started the day by making biscuits and a quiche for my family and eggs for my mama.  I had my Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal and a cup of coffee.  Couldn't even finish the coffee, I was so full.  But then we headed to our family gathering.

With gladness I contributed to the family meal: a huge bowl of stuffing (my favorite!) along with bread, honey cinnamon butter, a salad and a killer plate of cookies and chocolates.  The biggest temptation for me was the stuffing.  From the time I was a little girl I can remember picking at the stuffing as it was being made and before we sat down for the meal.  My Nanny Herr made the BEST stuffing and my sister learned from her.  I spent much time watching my sister and think I may have mastered the family tradition.  But today, there was no picking.  Just passing.

While others had their dessert, I was able to have mine.  Thanks to Shirley for the tip on warming the Mint Chocolate Crunch Bar and having it with a cup of java.  Mmmm...I didn't feel like I missed out on a thing.

All day I've felt hungry.  But it's not real hunger.  It's all the food around me--the wanting, but not wanting at the same time.  The "could have" colliding with the "will have."

I was thinking this morning, "Did I really mean it's not about a number?  What if I don't lose any weight this week?  Will I still feel that way?  Will I feel like I missed out on Christmas for nothing?"

That's how I would have felt in the past.  That's how I HAVE felt.  Like I've worked really hard to be disciplined over special events and then see no results.  And I sulk.  And then I tell myself that this just isn't worth it!

But thinking through that process I had to disagree with my old self.  Christmas isn't about food.  Besides the obvious enormous blessing of the Word made Flesh, Christmas is about family and laughter and sharing in moments that will never be recreated again.  I didn't miss out on Christmas because I ate a salad.  I think I enjoyed it more, in some weird way.

Tomorrow night is the last Christmas family party.  I am prepared and trusting God to help me continue aligning my heart, mind, beliefs and actions.

Merry Christmas!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6