Finishing up the Old.... and Beginning the New..... The Challenge of 2014

December 31, 2013. Wow. Where has this year gone? Looking back, I can see a lot of joy, happiness, difficulty, pain, anguish, breakups, reconciliations, disappointment, frustration, bitterness, distance, restoration, love, joy, happiness.... it has come full circle. And here we are getting ready to start 2014. What will this new year hold for each of us? I wonder.

The year has finished up with many emotions. Joy from the Christmas gatherings, sadness from hearing of the death of a friend. Reconciliation with my little sister; healing for someone we love. Happiness for one who is still learning to grow up, and isn't afraid to fall in love. Joy in engagements, sorrow in the goodbyes. I look back over the year and I wonder the ways in which I have grown.

I have been told I have changed for the worse. But that is a viewpoint. As long as my relationship with God hasn't changed, and HE hasn't condemned me, then it is only a viewpoint. It took me awhile to realize that. A viewpoint nearly destroyed me. We humans think only of ourselves. I only needed to keep my eyes on Him. Trust me, HE lets me know when I've done wrong. And HE has never awakened me in the middle of the night to tell me I did something wrong. And HE usually does!

I am looking forward to 2014 because I am once again, for the first 21 days at least, giving up certain things so that I can have a closer walk with Him. I want to give Him back what is already His. This year is HIS, and as I give back to Him the first 21 days, I am confident of His blessings throughout the year. I could have wondered where He was in the middle of this past year. Things were horrible, although I had fasted the first 21 days of 2013. I was broken, defeated, ready to walk away from what I believed - all because of things said to me. But He gently drew me back into His arms and comforted me, and is still working in me to make me whole again. Too often we let words spoken destroy us, regardless of how strong we think we are.

Today I have to work a half day - not bad, really, for we are getting tomorrow off. Back to full days starting on Thursday. I don't mind coming to work. I love my boss and we share a special bond of many years, a special love and respect for each other. She is patient with me and teaches me what I need to know. That makes a world of difference when you work for someone you care for and want to make look good. I got a lot done yesterday, and will finish up on things today. Got a couple stops to make on the way home from work then will begin preparations for tomorrow's lunch.

Yes, tomorrow being New Years Day, we are having the elegant 'poor man's lunch'. What in years past with my parents of pork chops with cooked cabbage, or ham and cooked cabbage, I have moved it into BBQ pork ribs, coleslaw - and of course black-eyed peas. Can't get too many people to eat even a teaspoon of those! I can remember the first time our Princess Bethany ate black eyed peas - at about 2 years of age! And she liked them! And I can't get the adults to even taste them! Mama always said that if you had a poor man's lunch for New Years Day (to remind you of those lean days and those less fortunate than you), then you would have good luck the rest of the year. Old wives tale, for sure, but always something to pass down the family. I wonder if it will be continued after I'm gone. Will anyone remember how I loved to prepare this special meal for them....

Moving on....

The challenge for 2014. I've given this a lot of thought. I have to admit there are several of us within my family group that needs to lose a few pounds. Some more than others, but a few pounds here and there wouldn't hurt any of us. Eat more healthy, get some exercise. That is my goal for 2014. I am determined I am going to get healthy and get back into exercising. I've let the holidays and the busyness of life, and other burdensome issues, take away my joy in exercising. But this year, I'm going to start fresh with a new attitude and shake off the old stuff and bring on the new.

So the challenge for 2014.... Weigh yourself the morning of January 1, 2014. IF you need to lose weight, this challenge is for you. Between January 1 and June 30, 2014, if you lose 5% of your body weight (or more), I will give you $50 on July 1. IF you have met your goal (knowing some only need to lose a small amount) and/or lose 10% and maintained it by December 31, 2014, I will give you $100. Yes, you can earn up to $150 this year. Not by starving yourself. But by eating healthy and maintaining an exercise program that will help you keep the weight off.

Please share this challenge with your family members that could use this challenge and doesn't read this blog. Make this challenge with your own family. I had one granddaughter say to me, "grandma, I would have done it had I known you were doing this!" so I want to make sure that those that are interested, can accept the challenge. In fact, perhaps I will type out the challenge so that whoever wants a copy of it can have it - and keep their record on it of their loss. Will have to create something to that effect by tomorrow morning. This will be fun.

Of course the rewards I offer are for my children, spouses and grandchildren, but I also encourage you to set your own challenge. I'm not doing this challenge just for you - I'm doing this for ME. I want to lose minimum 10% of my body weight this year. I need encouragement and help. If I have other family members doing it as well, we can do more things together - like walking, going for salads, encouraging each other. I've put it 'out there' - I'm in this challenge (hmm, I wonder if I can reward myself with $150 by year's end?) Regardless of who does it and who does not accept the challenge, be encouraging to those who do. It may not be time for you to do it - but be sensitive and encouraging to those who do want to do the challenge. Walk with them. Encourage them in this challenge. Find someone to be accountable to who will encourage you when you lose only one pound and you were hoping for at least two!

I think I do need to know who is serious about losing weight and getting healthy this time - I have a feeling I could lose some serious money this year! Have a blessed day and be thinking how you will achieve your weight loss/get healthy goals in 2014.

Blessings!