Changing Normal

I get tired of saying this, and I'm sure you're all tired of "hearing" me say it, but I've just been too busy to get online to post lately...I've tried to catch up on reading, but that's not always possible, either...blah, blah, blah...I've been thinking of you all, though :) And, I've DEFINATELY needed to come here to vent, but I just haven't had time...again, blah, blah, blah...

So, let me start out venting!! LOL :) We are doing this small group study in our home on "The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris (I believe I might've mentioned that a couple hundred times already!! LOL) Anyways, last nite (Sunday nite) was the 1st nite of a new group (it only goes for 4wks @ a time, so the first group in our home is over already...time flies!! LOL) So, we've watched this in a group setting 3 times, and all three times with different people, from the same church...last night was the 3rd time someone mentioned this series being shown during church on Sunday morning as the sermon-type message...like a seminar thing...anyways, King had brought this up at the Elder's meeting last Tues. and it was shot down immediately, by 2 people (who shall remain nameless), because it's "different." Now, this is not something that King & I came up with ourselves, and we didn't put this bug in anyone's ears, or anything, we didn't say anything either time about how we, personally, felt about it being shown on a Sunday morning, people are bringing it up all on their own...in 3 differnet groups, 3 different groups of people...I think we're all being spoken to, and there are a couple of people (who are really kinda in charge of the services) nixing it...I have struggled with this all week, trying not to get angry, trying not to think badly about these people, and really examining my own motives/attitude towards this whole thing...Let me just state my main point of debate...There are a lot of people who are there on Sunday mornings who would not (a.) feel comfortable at a small group for whatever reason, or (b.) aren't really involved in anything but showing up on Sunday morning, and aren't willing to step out & go to anything other than Sunday morning (you all probably know what I'm talking about, you've probably got some members like that in your church). Anyways, please pray about this... I've just been really aggravated/frustrated/angry/hurt/disappointed over all of it, and so is King...you should've seen our faces Sunday nite (after the whole Elder mtg. thing last week), when someone brought up this series being shown on Sunday morning!! LOL :) I'm sure it was priceless!! And, we didn't say anything about it being nixed by a couple of the Elders...What bothers me is the way they dismissed it, too, without any further thought or prayer about it...That's been a burden on my heart, too...

Okay, enough church "politics" (or problems...that's pretty much what politics are!! LOL)

But, speaking of church, tonight was our Ladies' Meeting, and Missy came & talked with us!! She did great!! I am so proud of her!! She's such an inspiration, and such a blessing to me!! ((((HUGS)))) & Love ya, Cousin!! :) Thanks, again, for coming & sharing, what I know probably wasn't really easy stuff to share...Thank you!! :)

I lost 3.4lbs this week, too!! It's gotta be the water!! I've been drinking A LOT of it!! And, really, still not as much as I should...But a good week!! :) I made the WW 0pt. Veggie Soup, and it was pretty good :) I think I should've added more spices, and for myself, I might, but on the whole, it was VERY good for 0pts!! :) I'll take it!! PraiseSinger made a pineapple cake that was YUMMY, too :) All it was, was a pkg. of angel food cake mix, 1 can of pinapple, and bake it according to pkg. directions (DON'T ADD ANYTHING, JUST BAKE TIME IS ALL YOU NEED!! :) TRUST ME!! LOL) She topped it with lite coolwhip & fresh, sliced strawberries (tossed with some splenda for sweetness). WOW, was it good!! :). Next week we are having some kind of tofu thing, kinda like chicken parmesean (sp?). I'm bringing some fruit, I think, & I'll put it in waffle cone cups (low fat, and very yummy). It was a good nite :)

I didn't make it to the gym today, I just didn't get as early a start as I should've...I was running around last minute, going to the grocery & cooking that soup (I'll post the recipe at the end, btw), but I've had a good day/weekend :) OH!! Yesterday was Princess's Birthday Party @ McDonald's!! That was the easiest party I've ever put on!! LOL They literally did EVERYTHING...they would've even had a cake if I'd a wanted it...but Mom made Princess one, so we passed...I don't need any more cake hanging around than necessary...But it was fun!! Not everyone got to come, but it was a GREAT place to have a party in the middle of winter, cause the kiddos got to play & run around the PlayPlace...Princess got a LOT of cute stuff & neato toys :) I'll have fun, I mean SHE'LL have fun playing with them!! LOL :)

Okay, I'd better go...it's getting late, and I want to get to bed a little earlier tonight, so I can get up "earlier" (NOT Missy's "earlier" LOL) to get to the gym & get that "over" with :) I get weighed & measured tomorrow...

Good Night, Journal Goddesses :)



Garden Vegetable Soup
(as per the Getting Started, Week 1 Weight Watcher's Booklet)

2/3 cup sliced carrot

½ cup diced onion

2 garlic gloves, minced

3 cups fat-free broth (beef, vegetable, or chicken)

1 ½ cups diced green cabbage

½ cup green beans

1 tablespoon tomato paste

½ teaspoon dried basil

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup diced zucchini

In a large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, sauté the carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes
Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.
Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot. Makes four one-cup servings.

Per serving: 42 calories; 0 g fat; 2 g fiber