As a good friend told me this morning, I feel this weekend will be about closure for me.

Got mom’s ashes last nite. I tell you that hit me like a ton of bricks even though I knew they were coming.

I was just sick and then got that “empty hole” feeling. So I binged, but at least is was healthy, peanut butter, whole grain bread, banana, honey, then more peanut butter later on graham crackers. I wanted poptarts, but told myself NO.

Ok, so no work out either, and no crunches last nite. I am gonna go to a friend’s house tonite and do some light yoga, and my crunches, too.

So Holly and I will take mom up to the cemetery tomorrow to be placed with dad. I will not be here tomorrow. They gave me the day off, I need it. I wil lbe here sometime over the wekeend, but mom’s memorial is Saturday nite.

Oh, please for the weigh in send your results to Anj, or Wildcat.

Love you guys, just pray for me ok?

You are on the bus when you suddenly realize … you need to fart. The music is really loud, so you time your farts with the beat. After a couple of songs, you start to feel better as you approach your stop. As you are leaving the bus, people are really staring you down, and that’s when you remember:

  You are listening to your iPod !!!

I hada meltdown, I had to chill. Was getting chest pains, and I know it was anxiety. I just couldn’t function. Sorry I was MIA.

Doing better today, my eating is kinda off though.

I will be meeting with the pastor tonite, too.

Well, need to check emails, I will for sure read as much as I can today. love you!

Well I faxed off the form this morning to the cemetery. I called them to make sure they got it. We are putting mom’s ashes, with dad.

Well, this really got to me. Plus, when I went to my support group last nite, I was told to be prepared for a possible meltdown after all this is done. Said I haven’t had a second to even proces all this.

I think they are right, but I do not want a meltdown. So I am really depending on my support and God.

Did not do a workout this morning, those meetings drain me.

I will do some tonite.

This is the final stage, I will be glad when it is over, I think.

Love you guys.

 I have alot of you on my heart this morning. You know who you are, and please know I am praying for you.

Well how are we today? I am back on plan, really sore from my yoga, but I love it! Will do more crunches tonite.

Not much to say today, just holding steady. Really praying for Debbie as she faces that judge. With you Deb!! Love to you all, Kama

Well, I went to Mikayla’s baptism, she is the most beautiful baby!! So well behaved, didn’t cry once! Nicole dressed her in white tights, little white lacy booties, and a long gorgeous christening gown! I was so honored to be there.

I wore this mint green suit that had been given me a few years ago, when it wouldn’t fit around me! Fits perfect now. And let me tell you, I wore heels for the first time in years, and wow, I don’t think I will wear those often, lol.

Well, good thing this is was cheat day, ’cause there was plenty of good food. I did do my bootcamp and crunches this morning.

Now I remember why I don’t eat like that, I feel AWFUL!! Ugh!! So back on plan now.

Thanks for the supportive comments on my last blog. It was hard writing all that, but I am glad it is done.

So, this week, will get the info faxed to the cemetery, so when we get mom’s ashes, we can just take them, last thing we have to do.

So how are you all? Have a great rest of your Sunday!

Virginia J. Perry, 84, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away December 29th, 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Kama J. Perry, and Holly E. Pugsley.
Services will be held Saturday, February 28th at 6 p.m. at One Step Further ministries, 2821 N. 33rd Ave., Suite 4, Phoenix Arizona, 85009.

It is getting done. It is final. I am shaking, but I got the obit placed and we are done with storage. The only thing left is to get her ashes, and they are on their way. Then we take them to the cemetery.

I am relieved. The minister is awesome, God really provided her, I met her thru the Hospice grief support group I go to.

So, I feel almost sick too.

I did good at dinner, we met at Denny’s. I got the grilled tilapia.

I am tired but shaky, but had to come on and tell you all.

Love you guys.

Good article I got emailed to me:

Emotional Health Center

Power of Prayer

Print Email

Several large studies suggest that people with an active religious life tend to stay healthier, live longer, and be happier. For example, a review article published in 2000 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society cited an international study of nearly 170,000 men and women from 14 countries that found religious affiliation and attendance at services significantly increased the likelihood of happiness and satisfaction. Twelve years of data from 2,800 older adults enrolled in the Yale Health and Aging Study, reported in 1997 in theJournals of Gerontology, showed members of religious congregations had a slower onset of physical disability. Other studies on how religion affects health have noted less hostility and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and better quality of life among people with strong beliefs.But the power of prayer is not easy to document. A 2002 study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine sifted through research claiming religion and spirituality have positive effects on cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The investigators disputed these results, citing numerous flawed or irrelevant supporting studies.

But prayer offers solace and comfort to many people. Religious communities can be part of a larger social network that keeps a person afloat with emotional support and outright assistance (see Social Support). By reinforcing positive emotions, religious belief might stimulate healthy physiological responses through complex nervous system pathways much as a constant flood of negative thoughts may set the opposite reaction in motion. And, of course, certain religions encourage better health habits, such as avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

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If prayer is meaningful to you, it can enhance the relaxation response and perhaps your health as well. You may want to use your favorite prayer or a phrase from it to help you focus.

From the Harvard Health Publications Special Health Report, Stress Control: Techniques for Preventing and Easing Stress. Copyright 2002 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Illustrations by Scott Leighton and Marcia Williams. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.

Anyways, I wanted to share that with you. See? prayer is a real health booster!

Ok, my day has been real good. I broke my record of 90 pushups, did 100 today!

Also, 150 crunches, and 60 minutes of weight loss yoga!

eating has been good, too. Ted saved me from a weak moment at Burger King, I was feeling abit sorry for myself, we had to finish up mom and dad’s storage today. But thanks to Ted, I got the grilled chicken sandwich, and a side salad! Came home and used my lowfat mayo and dressing on it!

Well, I have to give BIG kudos to Ted. He really saved me today. I thought we were gonna have to get a bigger storage unit, but he went and rearranged the one I had, and we got it all in!!

The guy who was supposed to moved the china cabinet, flaked on us, so my friend Linda is gonna move it for us next weekend, with her truck. But we are done! What a relief!

Tonite, I meet with the minister who is gonna do the memorial next week. I love her, her name is Carleigh, and she is awesome. So things are finally shaping up. I will have the obit put in this week, too.

So how are you all?

Oh and I am excited, going to Nicole’s daughter’s baptism tomorrow. So I won’t be on the morning.

Have a great day, buddies!

It has hit me that we all do not recognize our own worth, then I read this:

February 20
Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
—Exodus 19:5

In Exodus 19:5, the Lord tells His people that they are His own “peculiar possession and treasure.” That word applies to us today as much as it did to the children of Israel. In John 3:18, Jesus told Nicodemus that no one who believes in Him will ever be condemned (rejected). You may not feel treasured, or even acceptable, but you are. In Ephesians 1:6 (KJV), Paul says that all of us who believe in Christ have been “accepted in the beloved.” That should give us a sense of personal value and worth.

I remember standing in a prayer line where I overheard a woman next to me telling the pastor who was ministering to her how much she hated and despised herself. The pastor became very firm with her and in a strong manner rebuked her, saying, “Who do you think you are? You have no right to hate yourself. God paid a high price for you and your freedom. He loved you so much that He sent His only Son to die for you, to suffer in your place. You have no right to hate or reject yourself. Your part is to receive what Jesus died to give you!”

The woman was shocked. I was shocked too, just listening. Yet sometimes it takes a strong word to get us to realize the trap that Satan has set for us. Do you lack appreciation for your own value and worth? Surely, you are valuable; otherwise your heavenly Father would not have paid such a heavy price for your redemption. 
  
 
From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.   
                                                      
So, we need to love ourselves just as we are. And don’t let ANYONE take that from you. Be it a man, your parents, children, no one. OK?

Love yourselves.

Ok, done preaching, but I had to say that. I hear too many people really belittling them selves. That bothers me.

Time to brag! Done another pound , 137 today!

Good luck to all the weight loss teams, I will not be here early Sunday, so please email Anj, ok?

Gotta run, love you all!

First of all, I believe God uses even tragedies in our lives to work for His good.

Our dear buddy Jo blogged yesterday, and my heart went out to her. What I got from this and everything else in my life is how short life is.

So, alot of you know my daughter, Holly and I have had a rocky relationship. Well I felt led to call her yesterday just to say I loved her. Well she called me back last nite, and we had the best talk we have had in years, lots of tears and I love yous. We have agreed to work on our relationship.

Lots of tears here. My therapist said I will feel worse before I get better, but that it is all normal.

I think that is why I am so tired today. But I am hanging in there. Did my yoga today and resisting the cookies at work, lol.

Love you guys!