These are exciting times for my husband and me. We are sifting through our lives to come into better balance with our possessions and our time.

It's freeing to have less instead of more. More, for us, has been a trap. The entanglement affected our vision and kept us from fully seeing God's plan and purpose for us. We see the bottom line now (though not through sifting), and that is "people."

Time is precious and too easy to waste.

With great reluctance, I've let go of the weekend. Oh, for one more day!

I haven't weighed myself for awhile, but my clothes are fitting better. I try not to be compulsive about hopping on and off the scale--it's too discouraging. In my mind I should be at my goal weight (but I still have thirty pounds to go). So much discouragement originates in the mind, and it's hard to get out of that cycle once it gets started.

It's a day at a time; any more than that gets me into trouble.

It's Friday! Yea!!!

To think the new year is just a few days away is sobering. When I look back at this year, I have only praises to God for all He has revealed. "To whom much is given, much is required" is now the challenge. What am I going to do with all that I've witnessed (from His hand) this year?

Time may not be short--but what if it is?

It's a wintry day full of snow. Not what I would have planned but....

I pray for safety for everyone traveling; it's always a time when plans may have to change. Of course, the focus is our Lord and Savior, and that never changes. He is our Savior and risen Lamb--and He's coming again! My heart is full to overflowing at the hope we have in Christ Jesus, our Messiah.

Many of us look forward to our Christmas Eve service tonight; may God be lifted up!

What a blessing it is to wake up feeling rested--and free of aches and pains.

I think that is the greatest gift I've received through my new lifestyle of eating. There is an occasional headache, sinuses flare up once in awhile, but usually I feel like I'm thirty-five again. (Notice, I didn't say I LOOK thirty-five again--ha!! Those days have long left me!)

Each day is a day I look forward to--a blessing from God.

The beginning of a new week; I'm letting go of the weekend reluctantly.

It was nice being snow-bound. I enjoyed the leisure lifestyle it afforded me, both mentally and physically. Now it's back to work for five days but with a rested body. I'm starting on my last thirty pounds (ten at a time of course). :) I see myself slipping into a complacency mode, though, and not keeping it on the front burner of importance. (My studies have somewhat thrown me off-balance!)

It's with great joy that I step into a new week!

I've been swamped! Trying to get too much done in too short a time put me in a pressure cooker!

I'm thankful for the weekend and hope to rest and work (in balance). My goal is to tie up many loose ends (and not start anything new)! I work everyday next week so will have to squeeze a family meal in sometime Thursday. The highlight of next week, though, will be Wednesday night, our Christmas Eve service. I am going to try to get off early from work and.....

fully enjoy the blessings of an evening of worship and praise to the Babe who came to be our spotless Lamb.

There is not better music to my ears than to hear, "It's Friday!"

I have lofty plans to get much accomplished this weekend. I hope I can achieve at least half of them! It's hard to take a day at a time when I see five months on my plate. I don't want to have a great surging start and end with a sputter. Finding that sensible stride has always eluded me!

Lord, teach me to relax and enjoy the gift of today.

We are working at cutting our possessions in half--what a job!

It's time-consuming, but we will love its results. I don't know why we (my husband and I) become so attached to the things we no longer use. It is a real struggle for us to peel these layers off. This task will certainly have no end; it will be perpetual.

It's a good feeling to lessen the load of "stuff!"

I've been praying about the "funk" I've been in (for over three years).

My husband thinks we're still reeling from the big move and all the headache that came with it--but can that be? Can a dark cloud loom that long over an upset? I just know I have to push myself to to get it all done, (and my body is being resistant)! Each day I seem to lag a little farther behind.

If the day were only longer--but I know that's not the answer.

I would like to close my eyes until spring--winter is coming too soon!

My second course of studies came yesterday with much material to learn. I'm trying not to look at the whole nine yards but see only a chapter at a time. My plate is so full with the unusual the everyday things seem to be pushing me over the edge.

Looking ahead can be overwhelming--but looking back is where the reward will be.

I had a wonderful weekend. I am rested and ready to take on another week (at work).

I have had to adjust my vegan lifestyle, as I'm experiencing a lot of hair loss. I have been told to add more protein to my diet--Egg Beaters. It is rich in protein with no fat and is so versatile. I hope it solves the problem quickly. (I am at the sixty-pound mark and have never felt better otherwise.)

Now I have to adjust my work attitude!

I have come to the end of another workweek. I push my way through these five days to reach the weekend.

My desire is to quit (now), but that can't happen yet--humanly speaking anyway. (I struggle with having trust and being fiscally responsible.) I will keep walking forward (toward a less-restricted employment) unless God redirects my path. My prayer is my new plan is God's plan for me.

God has a purpose in all of this. I want to embrace that purpose.

Rush! Rush! Rush! That is how my morning has been!

It doesn't pay to sleep in for an hour. To have a leisure morning, I need to be up by 5:00. My body was still reeling from the two late nights it had, and this morning it just didn't respond well to reason! There are days like that--which makes life the lesson book where we learn all the wonderful ways God has put us together.

My awe for my Heavenly Father, my love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and my appreciation for the Spirit who dwells within me grow daily.

My end-of -the-day battle is still mental fatigue. (It spills over and makes me feel physically tired as well.)

I know others work forty hours (outside the home) and still enjoy an active life. When I enter "my haven" at the end of the work day, all I want to do is sit. That is not good. In spite of my lethargy, God continues to nudge me. One (of several) thing(s) God has laid on my heart is a card ministry, especially to the widows.

Jesus prayed to His Father that His joy would be in us. His joy came from "doing the will of His Father who sent Him." Obedience is a good thing!

(More computer problems!)

I was happily surprised to see (from the finished work schedule) I have the weekend off again. I hope that means I know longer have to work them and can go back to my old schedule of Monday through Friday. God is in control of my time at work, though. He has removed my heart from it; now I wait on Him for His directing.

I love living this way--totally dependent on God. My ways usually sound good, but they are very temporal (and short-sighted). God has a marvelous plan for my life; I don't want to miss it!