For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
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Hello to you.
Scale says 153 today. Okay with this.
Currently, I am dealing with grief. Our Daugther moved out a couple months ago, to another county a long ways from here, after she had lived with us for six years. I can still only visit Mama at the window of her nursing home room as I stand outside looking in at her as she lies on her bed in the room, barely able to see me at the window and we talk on the phone to each other that they usually, but not always, bring to her. Hubby and I cannot take a vacation and we've not had one in 5 years. Might as well get it all out. I am also grieving over not going to church during this pandemic, as Hubby and I do not feel it is safe to do so. It feels like a lot of things I took for granted before the pandemic, are no longer available and it has been over 6 months since I have been inside Mama's room to visit with her and give her a hug. I know I am not the only one grieving. Hubby and I used to enjoy going out to eat inside a restaurant and we have not done that in months, either, as we do not feel safe to. Some of you are grieving way more than I am and with good reason. Maybe I am just feeling sorry for myself when I should be thankful that this is all I am sad about. Smile. So, now I have let this out and maybe I can begin to feel better. Thank you for bearing with me.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you.
Holding at plateau 153. I'm actually okay with this for now because I always believe that 'Not gaining IS progress' when on a little plateau.
Today, I went to the Dollar Tree to get a few items and I noticed that their rice which had been 2 pounds for one dollar was sold out and the shelf empty where it had been located. So, I decided to buy 5 large cans of apple pie filling. Not to use now but to save in preparedness. You may ask what good are 5 cans of apple pie filling? Well, those five cans could one day make the difference in your having something to eat or not for a few days, especially if you store white self-rising flour and some cooking oil, too, in which case you could make apple pies and bake in the oven or even you could make apple fritters that you cook on the stove top and enjoy the canned apples even more. A little sugar and cinnamon go a long way, too in making them even more delicious. So many people only keep enough to eat for two or three days in their homes. If for whatever reason they were unable to obtain foods from their local grocery stores for say, a period of weeks or even months, what would they do? What would YOU do? Would you go to your neighbors and hope they would have extra to feed you until you could get food? What if there was a lockdown and they refused to answer their doors? So many people are totally dependant on grocery stores staying stocked with food. Trusting that nothing could ever happen to prevent them from their almost daily excursions to the grocery stores to purchase what they have decided they are currently hungry to eat on any given day. Is this wise? Think about it.
September is National Preparedness Month. Here is a link for newbies to advise in getting prepared: https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/emergency-foods
Have a blessed day.
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Love, Maria
My problem isn't with a full pantry, is it?
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
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Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well and have been having a nice day.
I did some figuring and found out that I am currently maintaining 153 by averaging 1500 calories per day..
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well and have been having a nice day.
I had a little more yesterday...so weight is slightly up today, but I didn't give in to overeating today. One day at a time.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
anyways, i'm just having more but not excessive either! we are doing good!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well and having a nice day.
It is usually around this weight that I start putting back on what I've lost but I am 'batting down the hatches' and not giving in this time. It is hard enough to lose weight in the first place and to sabatage progress made makes no sense. So, yesterday, I had a few more calories than I had been having and that was enough to not see the scale number go down today but at least I am holding steady, so that is good. Sometimes, "Not gaining IS progress". Not always, but sometimes.... So, if I just maintain here for a little while, I'll be doing well for the time being.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
that's what holds me to maintain too for long periods...i just HATE having to do it all over again and being at a place where my weight is higher and i'm so uncomfortable!
it's worked for 4 years, this maintenance thing....i hope that with all the life changes, i can keep doing it...like you do!...and continue to lead a maintenance type of lifestyle in the future.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well. I am at 153.0 again today. Smile.
I visited Mama at her window today and it was a happy visit. I got to talk to her over the phone as we looked at each other through the window. I took her her 'robot cat', that I've been keeping for her for months that she'd grown tired of and sent it home w me before the pandemic. Now she missed it and told me to bring it back, so I did. It runs on batteries and it is white and long haired and it does different things, like it purrs, meows, etc. I also took her an old photo that she'd given to me last year and then she decided she wanted it back. Picures of her Daddy, her Mama, and herself with her 3 children after our Daddy had passed. All three photos were in the same little frame, so she was happy to get that, too. I also took her her usual bag of food that I take to her, too.
After this, I went to the grocery store with my N95 mask on and plastic gloves, as usual and got a few groceries. The canned vegetales were pretty sparse and some of them quite high-priced. Not much rice in the grocery store and what they did have was extra-high-priced. I bought 25 pounds of self-rising white flour to store. Good to be able to have bread that you cook at home if for whatever reason you can't get any at the grocery store. I left the flour in the 5 pound bags they were in, and after got home, I put them in a Home Depot orange bucket to store. Will be good for years. Hubby stayed inside the truck and after we got home, he brought the groceries in and I cleaned them and put them away. I left the flour in each bag it came in and didn't clean the outside as the flour is in paper bags, so I just put the five bags, which total 25 pounds in bucket, left in their bags with tight lid over them.
Some people choose not to be prepared but Hubby and I are not among them. You never know, especially these days with the pandemic going on and lots of stores closing including grocery stores, prices going up, people becoming unemployed by the millions...I think the news says about 58 million people are unemployed now after another million filed for first time unemployment claims this past week. Better to be prepared than not prepared. A little food, water, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and first aid stored is better than nothing. Try to build your pantry up while you can. You will never regret it.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
We seem to have a recent shortage of paper towels and cleaning solutions (e.g. Mr. Clean).
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well. I am back at 153 today. Went to visit Mama and talk to her through her window on phone that they bring her when I come (she can't use one on her own and they have to call my number as I stand outside her window and then they put the phone on speaker phone so Mama can hear me and they hand it to her) and didn't get to as no one available to take her a phone. I did leave her her daily bag of treats and sandwich that I take to her but no telling when she will get it as certain workers there are very strict about how long something has to be isolated before taking to a resident, nevermind they spray the inside of the bag with disinfectant first. I know Mama was disappointed not to see me this morning as she usually does, and I was, too. I had planned on writing more today but just don't have it in me to do now, cause I am sad about not seeing Mama at her window. I hope she is okay. Thank you for your prayers for her.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
maybe as covid moves and time goes by, even without a vaccine, they will allow you in one day with a mask (or take her out to see you!). there's a lot of risks, so i do understand their precautions! :)
And I hope she is ok. She wasn't feeling too good, last I recall.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are well. I am back to 156.0 today.
I wanted to do a post today that is pertaining to the same subject of Bear Country's very informative and interesting post she wrote the other day about prepping. She was right on target. She and I are both 'old school'. I grew up in lean times after my Daddy was killed in a car wreck when I was very young. Mama did the best she could with the good Lord's help, as did her Mama, my Grandma, who we lived next door to. Mama grew up during the Depression and she told lots of stories about how hard it was during that time...and a lot of it was about food scarcity.
We were never lacking for fresh eggs, as both Mama and GM, especially GM had chickens that laid lots of eggs. GM even sold eggs. But I don't recall having much meat to eat growing up after Daddy's accident and he went to heaven, and we all lived extremely frugal lives on what we had coming in to live on. My GM owned her home next door and Mama owned hers, which were both built by my Grandaddy before he went to heaven. I mainly lived back and forth at both homes, GM's and Mama's. GM lived alone and she taught me many things as I spent a lot of time with her. Just watching her was to learn about life. She had great faith in the Lord and would daily read her Bible, teaching me to memorize Bible verse, and she would pray, and sometimes she and I would sing hymns out of her hymnbook. She loved to bake and she baked oatmeal raisin cookies, biscuits, and the very best apple pies. If we did eat meat it was usually a chicken from her chicken house that we ate and as a young girl, I was GM's accomplice in the undertaking of it all, from my catching the one that GM picked out, to helping her hold it as she took her hatchet from her apron pocket...and skipping these details on to later the chicken being in a pan of hot water that was set on GM's kitchen floor and she and I plucking the feathers out of it, as GM prepared to bake it for all of us after she also cleaned it, and finished preparing it to bake, too. It was very good and she would cook a little pan of rice and we would have the pan drippings that the chicken had baked in to go over the rice to eat with the chicken and it was so good. I remember that GM kept a big can of molasses syrup on the middle of her little round, wooden (oak?) table in the kitchen of her home. There was nothing so special and wonderful back then, as having 2 biscuits in a saucer that were fresh baked by GM and a little syrup poured out of that can onto your saucer, to sop up with those wonderful, delicious, hot biscuits that GM baked from scratch. So, even though it was lean times and neither GM nor Mama had much food in their homes, they did the very best they could with what they did have.
So, we were all very, very slim people. We were not starving and we did eat but snacks were rare and so was meat and some other foods during the time I grew up after Daddy had gone to heaven. In a way, growing up that way prepared me for life as an adult to be content with what the Lord blessed me with and not to be expecting not wanting a lot more nor feeling deprived but instead to be thankful for all of the good Lord's blessings, which I am very thankful to Him for everything.
My Husband and I worked in our younger years and bought a home and paid it off before we both retired, thanks to the Lord. We are not what some people would call rich materialistically, but we are rich in comparison to how it was when I grew up. We have plenty of food and we have chickens and get plenty of fresh eggs that we share with others. We try to get a little extra foods when we can, along and along, to set aside for being prepared. One never knows. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it, you have probably heard.
For many years, I have kept stainless steel cans with lids on them, in my kitchen that hold flour, sugar, rice, and dry beans. Each can holds 30 to 40 pounds of these items. We have shared with our neighbors when they needed sugar, etc. I used to be into couponing a little but only when our local grocery store had coupons to use, and was able to get a good stock of canned foods at a good discount sometimes, years ago when they had this sale. Some people are afraid to eat foods that are past their best by dates but my Hubby and I eat foods 3 years past their best by date and enjoy them, too. I have made biscuits from scratch using flour that was several years old and they turned out real good and were tasty. There are some foods that only store well in refrigeration or freezer and one of them is cornmeal. So, our self-rising cornmeal is stored in the freezer. Cornmeal is easy to get weavels (bugs) in it if left out at room temperature for a long period of time, (days or weeks). But it is usually safe from bugs when kept stored in the refrigerator or freezer. As for white rice, it is best to store it in the freezer a few days before storing it at room temperature, as that kills eggs of weavels that might hatch in the rice and surprise you with bugs in your rice. However, I have kept rice many times for years and ne'er a problem and didn't freeze it first, either. But I would highly advise storing rice in the freezer a few days before keeping it in a container in your home at room temperature for years. Stainless steel large cans are really nice to store foods like rice, beans, sugar, and self-rising flour but plastic buckets can be used to store foods like rice or dry beans when they are kept in their original packages before being put into the buckets, which you can buy the buckets at places like Home Depot or Lowes, among other places. When you store self-rising white flour, cooking oil or shortening, and powdered milk, you have the makings of home baked (or fried) bread always available when needed or wanted, and if the stores run out of bread, you can make your own bread, with just those 3 ingredients and if you have no powdered milk, you can use only self-rising flour and oil and water and the bread, whether baked or fried will still be very delicious, even without the powdered milk added if there is none of that to add to the bread you make. It is just that powdered milk makes bread even better.
Now is a good time to get your food pantry stocked if you have not already done it. Strive for a few months at least of food and water stored. Even more than that if you can but a lot of people do the best they can and have a few weeks stored, which any amount helps for times of need but the more, the better, as can be afforded without hardship, along and along. Make having a nice food pantry a priority but only AFTER you make it a priority to make sure things are right with you and the Lord, first, which means repentance and asking forgiveness for all of your sins and believing in Jesus and living for Him. Our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is number one above everything else. I tell you this because I care about you and I truly wish you the very best. So, the Lord has to come first and everything else is after Him on the priorities list. If we keep our trust in Him, He will supply all of our need. He will let us know what to do in all situations and He will always be with us.
When buying food and water to store, do not forget cleaning supplies and toiletries. Start small and build up from there. If you can only get one extra canned food each time you go to the grocery store, get that and set it aside for preparedness. Everything counts.
There are many people who will not buy extra food and water and cleaning supplies and toiletries to put up for preparedness but these same people will spend a lot of money having their hair done or their nails manicured by professionals or keeping the latest tech gadget, etc. You go to their home and when their food pantry door is opened, you see only a 3 days supply of food at best. They may live in an expensive mansion that they can barely make the payments on, but what will they do if they need food and are not able to get any at the grocery stores for whatever reasons? What if they are not able to order any groceries online for whatever reasons? We live in uncertain times but the good Lord gives us the knowledge to prepare and He blesses us with the means to do it a little at a time, along and along.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
Thank you for your suggestions. I especially liked your reminder to stock up on toiletries! That is something I hadn't thought of.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are having a good day.
The weather has been humid and hot a lot over here and our electric bill is surely showing it with the ac running day and night. I am looking forward to much cooler weather with the fall coming in next month.
I went for my daily visit to Mama at her nursing home window today and although she has been sick, she seemed a little better today. Thank you all for your prayers for her. They do not take her outside for fresh air and she has been stuck in her bed for about 5 months now. It has been hard on her. But I am at her window visiting her almost every day and I also take her a bag of her favorite things to eat that I hand to the nurse at the front door of the nursing home to give to Mama each time, too. Can you imagine not being allowed to leave your room for 5 months? Being confined to your bed during that time? Mama was used to my coming almost every day and helping her get into her wheelchair, and I would wheel her outside for fresh air when she felt up to it before this pandemic came about and the nursing home went into lockdown for all the residents there.
Anyway, even if I do not post, I usually read your entries and enjoy them. You are each very, very special.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
You're doing everything you can, considering the circumstances. ((((hugs))))
You are doing everything you can. I am so glad you are able to see her at her window at least.
This COVID-19 crap is ripping up everything that is good. God Bless your mom!
Hang in there, I'm sure she appreciates the food you bring and your visits. You are a great daughter.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
........................................................
Hello to you...
Hoping that you all are having a good day.
The Lord kept us safe from the storm that passed by us, thankfully, which became Hurricane Isaias here in SC. We stayed home. Thank you for your prayers.
My weight continues to climb. Wonder why? Could it be the 15 or 20 pounds of ice cream I've eaten over the past couple of months or so? I went into the library and looked at the many plastic empty 3 pound buckets with lids on them that originally held ice cream in them until recently. Hubby and I have surely enjoyed the ice cream, the chips, the candy we've been freely allowing ourselves these past couple months or so. Each time I gain another pound, I conveniently 'excuse' myself by telling myself that it is better to be a little heavier during this pandemic as long as not overweight. Don't want to be weak from dieting, per se. I also tell myself that it will be easy to get it off when I make the decision to get back to goal weight (joke). I tell myself that I will quit buying ice cream (and chips and candy). I tell myself that I will start eating less and eat healthier. I tell myself that with everything going on in the world, that I shouldn't even give it a thought about regaining lost weight.
What has this accomplished??? A 'lackadaisical' attitude that I can eat anything I want with no consequences. I tell myself that as long as I am feeling well, I should eat ALLLL I want of whatever I want. I tell myself that who cares what I look like, since no one knows who I am with my mask on anyway, when I go to the grocery store and I be in a big hurry to get what is needed, pay for it and fly out of there as quickly as I possibly can. Did anybody recognize that masked woman??? Nope. So, who cares? I know I 'should' care but I simply don't. There are so many other things on my mind these days that regaining a few pounds does not compare to. But, I know that eventually I am going to have to PAY the piper. One way or another. My bp has been doing well while I have been down to around 150 to 153 only a couple or a few months ago and now here I am at 157. I've got to do what I do not want to do. It is called 'DISCIPLINE'.
Have a blessed day.
........................................
Love, Maria
Jump to “ SELF-DISCIPLINE THROUGH SELF-ACCEPTANCE” https://markmanson.net/self-discipline?utm_content=buffer4a5a8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=social-posts
Like I ate 4 mini pizzas today because I was overwhelmed at the thought of ALSO having to tackle the content of the horrible garage this week. In the aftermath, I realize that fundamentally I have taken on too much myself and actually, yes, my dad should pay $200 to the guy who will fix the door to help move his stuff away feom the door so I don’t kill my back.
Even though your weight is climbing, it is still reasonable! and YOU are reasonable, so i know you can handle it. perhaps you and hubby will need to push back on all the treats you buy so they ALL aren't in the house, maybe a little less of them so there's less to choose from.
you are right, it's very hard to lose the weight after bc it means you cannot keep doing the same habits you are currently doing.
after sitting more during my time off work, i have noticed i do gain a little easier if i do not eat a little less bc i am sleeping more and moving less...
i keep some treats but i don't buy all the treats at once...now that i'm not getting the extra $600 check...well hopefully something will come back after congress decides...otherwise, even less treats will go on over here :)
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I totally understand that this "new COVID life" is very isolating.
With church, can you go to sit in the pews when there isn't a service? So less people or extremely small amount are there and you can pray without all the bodies and extra germs / everyone breathing on you? or is it closed?
maybe, instead of church, there is something you can watch on tv...services that are broadcasted? like the ones in Salt Lake City...?
just wondering, maybe you have already tried these alternatives and do not like them!
maybe there is something special you can do at home for now, with hubby too, prayers together?
HOP, I think what I am missing most in church is the fellowship of being with other believers in a family-type atmosphere, worshiping the Lord together, listening to the sermon being preached together, planning meals to eat together, planning Christmas parties, etc. Mainly the 'togetherness', I think. Hubby and I do pray together daily and I have my morning devotionals and prayer after I get up in the mornings, but for many years, my life was all about being involved in church in different capacities...teaching Sunday School, playing the piano and singing, etc. I keep hearing that the Covid 19 could linger for years and I wonder will things ever be back to the old normal? Thank you for your suggestions. They mean a lot to me, HOP.
Donkey on 09/14/2020:
Funny that you wrote this yesterday, because I was feeling quite a similar way. Most of the time, I'm ok with the "new normal" but yesterday I really felt.... sad? Uncomfortable? Frustrated?
Hard to explain, but your post really did hit home for me. Felt it in my heart.
Thank you, Donkey for your comment to me. Just knowing that I am not alone in this feeling of grieving helps, although I am sad that so many others, including you, are grieving, too. I do thank the Lord for taking care of us all and I do have faith that He is always near and that He knows what is best for all of us. Thanks again. (Smile.)
happy-1 on 09/19/2020:
HUGS!!!! Social isolation, no eating out which is "date time" for connection, watching your mom not always get a phone which is vital to happiness and communication between family members, a daughter deciding to move out of reach during very uncertain times... You've got a few things going. Sharing invites love in. Big hugs.