Big Changes - Up Close and Personal

A few days ago I told you that there has been a big change in my life and I promised to share it with you soon. Today is the day to reveal what has happened to me. It’s time to let you in on the news. I can’t wait any longer.

When I began blogging I used this photo on my profile. It had been taken about a year before and it was the best one I could find. You see, I didn’t like to have my picture taken and you may have noticed that I make myself pretty scarce when cameras come out at family events. I prefer to be on the other side of the camera.

One day early this year I met a blog friend for tea in a nearby community. When I walked into the tearoom where we met she observed that I didn’t look like my blog picture. At that moment I determined to have my sweetheart take a new picture to post. So. . . this was what you saw until a few months ago. I didn’t like it but it was more current than the ‘old’ picture.

Fast forward to last Spring. If you’ve been following my blog you may recall that my sweetheart and I took our little cabin-on-wheels (and the dog!) and headed to Eastern Oregon for a wonderful week of vacation. While there I asked my sweetheart to take a picture of Joey and me in front of the heirloom roses at the RV park. I liked how it turned out and until today it has been my blog photo .

I liked the picture of Joey and me because when I looked at it I could see the changes that had begun to happen in me – and it made me smile. You see, I was just a few weeks into a weight loss program that was beginning to transform my entire life. I was feeling good – feeling good about what I was doing – and feeling good about myself! For quite awhile I had dealt with health issues that had some serious ramifications. I had no energy to do much more than what I had to do and I often wondered how I could keep going that way. Most days I hardly had the energy to meet the demands of the day. I just did what I had to do! I pushed and plodded through each day and kept my courage up as long as I could but then, when I returned home, I would ‘collapse’ into my chair and wonder how I could get up and go again. I didn’t reveal how bad I felt – or the physical things that were going on in my body – to people around me. I knew my family was concerned and wished that I would take better care of myself but I was too busy taking care of everyone else. When push came to shove I didn’t have time to take care of me!

Then I began to develop some scary problems that affected my heart. My blood pressure had been an issue for a long time but now it was going up and would not respond to increased medication. There were times I wondered if my dear, little eighty-seven-year-old mother would outlive me. But I kept a smile on my face and kept going. Until one day a few months ago. . .when I couldn’t do it anymore!

My sweetheart was working late one night and as I sat alone in my comfy chair I suddenly knew what I had to do – I had to start taking care of me. Out loud I said, ‘It’s enough! It’s over! I’m through living like this. I’m done! Things are going to change.” I told someone last week I really think at that moment my Heavenly Father must have looked down at me and said, ‘My child, I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that. Wait till you see what I have planned for you!’ It was an ‘aha’ moment! Something inside ‘clicked’ and nothing has been the same since. I am a new person – not the same. And I love what has happened.

I began a weight loss program (I’ll share more about that soon) and I’ve lost a bit over fifty pounds so far – my blood pressure is in a safe range again – and, about two months ago, my doctor gave me a ‘clean’ bill of health with my heart! My physical problems are gone. Not there anymore. I feel good and have energy to do the tasks of daily life – and more. And I’m wearing clothes three sizes smaller than before! Loving it and having fun trying new styles. I have more weight to lose – this is just the beginning. This time I know I can do it. And I will!

The change you see on the outside is just evidence of the change deep inside of me! I am not the same person! Everything has changed! I feel like a bird that has been let out of a cage – flying at first and then beginning to soar in high places. I am dreaming dreams I never thought possible. God is opening doors of opportunity and ministry that I never imagined would happen. I have no idea what’s ahead. But I can’t wait to find out! Look out world, here I come!!