Catching up

I seem to have fallen a bit behind with my posting. Of course the arrival of Clara and a case of breast cancer had nothing to do with it. I guess I’m just lazy huh?

Anyway, a great accomplishment has been the successful weight loss. As of today I have lost 26 pounds  via Weight Watchers online. It’s the only system that has consistently worked for me.  A great benefit of my weight loss, aside from my stunning good looks, is that my sister in law, Diane, who inspired my weight loss in the first place, gave me her old wardrobe. She has lovely and expensive taste in clothes, so now I’m not only thin but elegant! So check off #1 through #20, plus 6 more!

I visited my opthalmologist #24,in 2008 as well as has a physical #21. I saw a lot more doctors than I had planned this year.

I completed #27 and 28, washing windows in Eden’s and Richard’s bedrooms, but still have more to go in other rooms. I also did #33, clean out cabinets in utility room.

#36 was done some months ago, I visited shut ins–Clarence and Mabel Walker. I’m so glad I went, because Clarence passed away unexpectedly a few months ago.

I started #38, reading through the Bible in a year. I am reading in chronological order, and I do it sporadically, not every day as I should, but I’m still plugging along. I also started #39, a prayer journal. It’s amazing how many of our prayers are answered.

Richard, I did #40 also, updated the All Together Now book for you so you will know where the gold is buried when we pass on.

#44 cleaned out the dresser drawers in Eden’s room (to make room for baby)

#52, gave away 101 things to Hospice, and I have a closet full of “fat clothes” to go too!

I cleaned out the junk drawer, #53 and had David fix it.

Took Mema out to lunch #54 (at our house). She had a doctor’s appt and and took her to Simpsonville and brought her back here for lunch with her boy Earl. She seemed to enjoy her day out. I thought she would be more comfortable here because she eats very slowly and feels rushed in restaurants.

#56 did a random act of kindness, paid for a meal at church anonymously for Fleming and Annitta. They live on a very thin shoestring budget.

#57 I actually found some very comfortable walking shoes before our trip to Canada. GBS Shoe Warehouse is a great place to shop for shoes!

I typed up a new family directory for the Taylors, #60, and for the Robertsons #61.

#62 visited another shut in Addie and Ed Good, Aunt Dot.

#64 took Blackie for her yearly vet checkup (she wasn’t very happy about it)

#67 cleaned up the carport, I’m afraid it needs attention again

Took Bingo prizes to Agape Assisted Living #69 and #96 twice

Started #77, sending a “thinking of you” card each month. Have missed a couple of months so will double up to make it come out right

Cleaned off shelves in computer room #78

#79 planted some flowers in the old dog pen. Praying for rain to keep them living.

#87 started a blessing list of things I’m thankful for

#80 Got stuff ready for CPA for taxes 2008

#98 let someone in front of me in grocery line (several times)

5 more done!

Thanks to Weight Watchers online I have lost a total of 15 pounds to date! For me that’s a great accomplishment. There are more pounds to lose, but hey, this feels great so far! It hasn’t been as difficult as I had imagined it would be.

Hooray for me!

I have completed #s 5 through 10 on my list! I have lost 10 pounds! The amazing thing about that is the fact that I did not gain any weight on our trip last week. It was loaded with calories, but my Weight Watchers program went right on!

#81 and #82 Done!

We hosted a Robertson/Taylor family gathering on April 6, 2008 at our house in honor of Richard and Eden’s visits home. Everyone enjoyed a lot of good food and no shots were fired, which means a successful event in my book! Eden had a great time playing with her cousins who could be here. We couldn’t have pulled it off without Richard’s help, because it rained all day the day before and we had to set up everything at the last minute on Sunday.

Sweet charity, completed

I took about 50 more items to the Hospice Thrift Store this week. That completes #52 on my list and I may take more things later. Anyway I have taken at least 101 things and probably more.

Can you believe it, Richard?

#34 on my list–I cleaned up the utility room today, or as some may fondly remember it, the black hole. It was indeed a mess and a catchall. I am not going to publish the worst “before” pictures because it just looked too bad! Anyway, I have spent the better part of this week cleaning it up. The trash man is going to hate me this week.

before

after

I did it again!

I completed #96 on my list, “take bingo prizes to Agape again”. I may do this one again in the future. They play bingo every week and are always needing prizes.

This one’s a biggie, folks

I spent this afternoon defrosting the freezer (#34 on my list). I think I had let it go too long, because it was a mess and there was lots of stuff to toss out. It took 2 1/2 hours to defrost the freezer and another hour to clean up the mess and wash the empty containers, etc.

Before After

The hardest part of all

So now I start at the top of the list–lose those pounds. I have tried everything short of cutting off my head– and lost absolutely zilch, so I have called in the heavy hitters–Weight Watchers online. My inspiration was my sister in law, Diane, who has lost something like 22 pounds going to Weight Watchers meetings. Since I started on March 7 I have lost a grand total of 5 pounds!! I was sure I would never learn to count the points but it hasn’t been as difficult as I had imagined. I still have a question from time to time but so far have managed to stay within my limits. I get “extra credit” for my treadmill time and so far have managed not to use that so I can lose the pounds faster. I think part of the reason I have stayed so close to the plan so far is the sheer time it takes to look up everything and enter it into the computer. If you are doing data entry with both hands you can’t eat! That may be part of their strategy but it seems to be working so far so I’m not going to complain. I think the thing I like most about Weight Watchers is that you can eat absolutely anything, you just have to factor in the points and ask yourself “is it really worth it?” It seems to be a matter of trade-offs. So stay tuned for a skinnier Mama. For now, and let’s hope it lasts (!) I am marking off #1,2,3,4,5 on my list!

Blogging right along….

This is the before photo of my pantry.

I completed #49 on my list, clean out the pantry.  See the after pictures below.