I was under the weather all weekend. It's not what I had planned; but my body must have needed the rest, because I feel fine now.

The new year is fast approaching. I've been thinking about my "yielding problem" and think that would be a good focus for this upcoming year. (Yes, I still make New Year's resolutions!)

"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mould me and make me after Thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still." That is a precious hymn.

Fridays are so energizing. I love my job, but knowing I have the weekend ahead of me, makes me very happy.

We are busy at work putting the final touches on the menu for the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day meals. I am all "planned out" by the time I get home and have to push myself to now plan a personal menu for my family. It's the ying and yang of life, trying to come out even in the end.

Work has brought an awareness I was missing. The "little things" I hardly noticed---the haven my home is, the haven my husband is, the haven of quietness---are what I'm thanking God for each day.

I'm gearing up to say good-bye to my youngest for a week. It's hard when I can't be a part of his departure because of work.

He has a wonderful opportunity to go to Baltimore with his girlfriend's family, and then to D.C. to see the historic sites with my sister. It's always a bittersweet moment when travel is concerned. I'm a worrier.

I am thankful for the peace God can put within my heart as I meditate on His Word and pray---"casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you."

Well, today is a new start; not because it is Monday, but because it is the day after a holiday. Unfortunately, the house is still full of sugar.

The thought went through my mind that I could throw everything aside until January 2 and just have a "good time", OR, I could do what I know is right---the price is too high to pay for the former.

I know there will be days better than others, especially this time of year, but my focus must remain on returning to good health.

Merry Christmas! What wonderful meaning it is to say that as a Christian.

Though I will be at work all day, I have a joy that is all-sustaining no matter where I am. I thank God for sharing His joy with me.

This is a day of rejoicing; "for unto us a Child is born."

"...but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me..." is the wonderful truth that was in my reading this morning.

This time of year our focus is on the birth of Christ. I love reading commentaries on this blessed event. All of this for us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...", so we could live eternally with Him as He had planned from the beginning.

We have a God who cannot be measured. ("Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth!") We have a great God!

With list in hand, I'm ready to go to the grocery store. It's always exciting to plan holiday meals.

Though I will be working Christmas Day, the family will be coming to our house for dinner. They are all pulling together to have a Mexican-themed meal. I'm sure it will all be very satisfying! I will enjoy the festivities of Christmas Eve getting off work just in time (though being a little late) for our Christmas Eve service. What a blessing that always is.

I don't enter into all the hustle and bustle of "the season", but my heart enters into the birth of our wonderful Lord and Savior, the true Gift of Christmas.

I don't know why it has been so hard to get to my blog site in the mornings. It takes over a half hour, and that has stopped me from writing. I don't allow alot of time for writing before I have to leave for work.

I'm so glad it's Friday. It has been a long week with yesterday about killing me off. I don't cry at work, but I almost did that day. I just had too much piled on me with not enough time to get it done. I was really feeling sorry for myself.

Unfortunately, I comforted myself with food when I got home---two English muffins with peanut butter and honey. One step forward, two steps backwards is how the week ended.

December is flying by, and I don't sense any hustle and bustle that goes along with this time of year---probably because I haven't been shopping in months!

I enjoy not entering into festivities. The simple life seems to be the best fit for me, but I don't want to sequester myself and foolishly miss the blessings God has for me through people and events. The test is finding the balance in all things.

The good health I desire is not just physical, but emotional and spiritual as well. I thank God for the daily reminders He gives me.

My heart is full of thanks. I have been given a body fairly free from aches and pains, and am also blessed with restful sleep at night.

I don't want to abuse this gift but use it to motivate me to make better eating choices. I do fall down, (often it seems). God has put within me, though, a "get back up and get going" drive. I don't want to get stuck in yesterday.

I praise God that He doesn't leave me to figure this all out on my own.

Where did the weekend go? I do like Mondays, though. I've already prayed for a better week keeping sugar/flour out of my diet.

I don't know why that is so hard; there are so many other foods left to pick from. Is it rebellion? Is it addiction? Whatever it is, it is so powerful I fall prey to it without a struggle.

I know this: God has put His Holy Spirit within me. God has given me His Living Word. God has redeemed me through the precious blood of Christ. He has well-equipped me to do what is right.

Last night was the big Christmas party for the residents. I'm feeling new aches and pains from all the hard work!

I caved and had cheesecake last night. It was delicious, I enjoyed it, and now I'm moving on. It's not something I'm happy I did, but, as I said, "I enjoyed it and now I'm moving on."

I'm not planning on continuing down the sugar-path, (even though December is a hard month to declare abstinence). My destination is good health; that has to be taken seriously.

I am running about an hour behind. I overslept. How can the clock go from 5:45 to 7:00 in fifteen minutes?!

This is a busy week at work. The residents' Christmas party is Thursday, and we're all bustling to make it extra special. Unfortunately, our boss is sick; things don't always go as planned.

So, marching forward with a modified plan is sometimes the test of the day.

I think I'm feeling the whiplash from the weekend; I'm reeling with fatigue this morning.

Sometimes it (whatever is out of balance) works that way; it's not noticed right away but shows up eventually. I think that is why my doctor told me to get back into the habit of weighing myself everyday!

I haven't done that yet, weighing myself, but see why walking in obedience is beneficial in every area of life.

Thank goodness it's Monday---what a weekend! I unexpectantly got called into work Saturday to cook the evening meal (while I was preparing a funeral lunch at church!), so I feel good about putting a period behind last week.

As I study and learn more, I see clearly how my choices (my decisions) are based on heart issues. Why am I making the same mistakes over and over? God is using the workplace as one of His "word-pictures" to reveal areas I'm still walking in the flesh.

At times it seems impossible, but maybe that's what God wants to get through to me. It's always impossible in the flesh.

I overslept by 45 minutes; not a good thing. I'm trying not to feel anxious as that only compounds the problem.

I'm glad this is the end of the work week. I feel spent. I hope I have some energy left do housework when I get home; it's starting to get to me!

In all of this, I feel God's presence; that is what sustains me.

This has been a fast-paced week. I have struggled some but have my mind fixed on the goal.

I don't want my organs to become damaged before I jump into action. It all seems silly that I'm allowing something so unnecessary (sugar/flour) to have such a hold on me, that I'm putting my present/future health at risk.

Time is not on my side, but it's not too late yet (hopefully). God continues to draw me to Himself.

Sending our youngest out the door this morning is a happening I've been doing for over thirty years. The daunting realilzation is, this almost assuredly is my last year for that privilege.

Change is something God wants me to transition into with grace. I don't like change; the familiar feels secure to me. I often wonder what God's ultimate plan is for me, though. Each step, each decision, is moving me closer or farther away from it.

To miss the mark would be unspeakably sad, too sad to even ponder.

I found myself asking God this morning why this has to be so hard. "Why can't You just take away my love for food?"

Then I read......"suffering always precedes satisfaction;" that's how God chooses to work, even when it concerned His own Son. My whining ceased.

God never stops loving me, never stops encouraging me. Satisfaction awaits me.

I am embracing Monday----I'm that happy to have the weekend behind me! It was turmultuously filled with activity.

I am excited about this week at work. There is a flurry of activity (I was even called into work yesterday afternoon), and the mood is very upbeat. It's great to be a part of "the team."

I'm thankful God continues to open doors in my life. I don't want miss God's plan and bury "the talent."