Faster Than A Speeding Bullet!

In case you stop in here occasionally, sigh forlornly and wonder whatever happened to the crazy woman who used to post here, I'm still around. But life is moving at the speed of my title, and try as I might, I just never seem to get over here long enough to post.

The last two weeks have included some wonderful houseguests--between their family and ours, we had eight boys between the ages of 17 and 6 and one two-year-old girl who absolutely ruled over the males.

We also had Vacation Bible School. Our pirate theme was heartily embraced by everyone, and I actually had to discourage some from developing that authentic pirate smell. In this picture, Paul hadn't put together his complete costume yet, which is why he looks normal. Trust me, by the time VBS had rolled around he looked just as swashbuckling as the rest of my rogues. We had 120 on Friday, which is the most we've ever had, and there were 15 who accepted Christ during the week, which makes it all worth it. Plus, Nicky won a bike at graduation on Friday night, and he was given a Bible for memorizing the most Bible verses during the week (fifty-two!). Quite a finish for his last year as a student in VBS.

Indiana and I also had a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary somewhere in all that VBS week, but we hardly had time to notice it. That's okay, though, because we had decided well in advance that we were actually going to celebrate later on in the summer when we really had time to enjoy it. It's just as well because on our actual anniversary he was still sporting his pirate beard, which did not endear himself to me at all! (I have no pictures--they were all uploaded to Matt's computer.)

No sooner was VBS overwith than our attention turned to The Wedding. Only nine days until my oldest son marries the love of his life, and only a few days until we leave to begin our trip to the far north for all the festivities. (Since we live in Florida, just about anyplace is Far North!)

We will see lots of friends at the wedding, but three in particular are traveling there just for me. One is going a great distance because she's the closest I have to a sister, and I can't make it through this major point in my life without her. Plus, she has to sew me into my dress, which is a little big. Don't want it falling off during the ceremony!

Two other friends are traveling all the way from Florida ostensibly to attend the wedding, but really to help me with the rehearsal dinner. Bless their hearts, they know I'm out of my league any time I have to do more than bring the ice. Who knows what we'd be eating if they weren't going to be there! True friends, I tell you!

I'll try to blog occasionally on the trip because I'm sure I'll have much to say. In addition to all the wedding happenings, traveling for several days in a van with Indiana Jones, five sons and a dog with an attitude is enough to give anyone a need for an outlet.

Speaking of friends and blogs, I still visit and read most of yours, but for some reason Blogger has not been allowing me to comment. Either that, or my computer's the guilty party. At any rate, I've not been ignoring you, honestly. I've admired every jeweled word you all have written. I've just not been able to add one tarnished word of my own.

One final note:  the week before her wedding, you'd think a girl would be consumed with all of her own details, but my future daughter-in-law has been asking me what I might need her to do before we get there, and if there's anything I'll need help with after we arrive. Kylee's no bridezilla, that's for sure! Definitely a keeper!

Now I just have to finish the fiscal year end stuff at work, finish the packing and the shopping and the wash and the cleaning and the various other ten million details. And then it's--

ROAD TRIP!!

The Weight of Woe

Several of you noticed that I didn't participate in the Random Dozen this week (actually, I guess this week it was the Random Eleven), and I just can't tell you how much I appreciate being missed! I didn't join in because I wanted to post about something else, but then life intervened and I didn't get to post about anything at all. So today you're going to get yesterday's post which may also turn into tomorrow's post because I tend to get long winded like that.

See, it all started because I'm under a doctor's care. Now doesn't that sound ominous. Except it really isn't. The only thing is, I haven't been under a doctor's care since I last gave birth. That was almost eleven years ago, and I have no plans of needing a doctor again for labor and delivery any time soon. Or any time at all for that matter. And I certainly don't think I would have needed a doctor now if it weren't for the fact that my oldest son thinks he needs to get married.

Actually it all started, really, because my husband needed major surgery. Among the many doctors he saw during his medical odyssey was a family physician that he liked. So once he finished accumulating medical bills, he decided I needed to see this doctor for my needs.

Oh goody.

My needs are basically two. My blood sugar levels, which I like to believe I keep under control. That's not always true, but I like to believe it anyway. And my weight which is never under control and I just don't like to think about it at all. See, I never had weight problems until my husband and children came into my life. So isn't it their fault I gained weight? Why should I have to be the one to suffer in trying to get rid of it?

Weight is one of the reasons I avoid going to the doctor. It's demeaning to have someone else weigh you. I always wonder if they honestly underestimate your weight or if they're just being kind when they don't move the 50 lb weight over far enough on the scale. And then I wonder if I should say something, or just reach over and move it myself. Today's digital scales are no better. Especially if I look down and I can't even see them. That's never a good sign. And all of this before I ever even see the doctor? Especially if I'm feeling physically well in the first place, why would I want to put myself through all that?

So for the last eleven years, or since I stopped bearing children, I have tried on my own almost every diet there is with limited (re: no) success. I had a 10 pound weight loss here or there, followed inevitably by a 10 pound gain. I think it was a combination of not having enough discipline, not finding a diet I could live with, and not having the motivation.

My oldest son finally took care of the motivation part. It seems he has begun to care very deeply for his girlfriend and their relationship has turned serious. He has informed me that there can and probably will be a wedding in the future. The thought of a multitude of wedding photos and wedding finery has at last given me a goal because, of course, a wedding is always about the mother-in-law.

On a side note, I am thrilled for them, and I love his girlfriend. I am not so sure about this pushing me into the next phase of my life, and I'm not at all sure I'm ready to be a mother-in-law. (And if anyone says the "G" word, please consider yourself cyber-slapped!) At the moment I am respecting the couple's privacy, but as their plans become official, there will be much blog conversation on these topics, I can assure you!

So with the inevitable marriage handwriting on the wall, I agreed to go see the doctor. In this case, I had to download forms, fill them out and send them in, then wait for the office to call and set up an appointment. That was find with me, as I was in no hurry. After all, my husband needed surgery, and it still took them a month to call with an appointment. Maybe I'd lose a few pounds before I actually had to go see the doctor.

Of course they called within the week. (Stay with me. I really do have a point in these posts!) To follow up on the doctor's visit (get it?) click here.