Last Step

                     We are on the home stretch in our journey with Coleson's surgeries! Can I get a hip-hip-horray?!!! Hopefully this is the last one for a long time. Monday we met with the surgeon for one last look. Doc asked Coleson if he was ready for Friday and Coleson said 'YES' really loudly and gave the Doc a hi-five. Can you tell he is excited? Most kids, even some adults would be dreading going under the knife, trying to find away around it. Not Coleson, he wants to look like Kendall (his twin) more than anything again. He is willing to gag on his anethesia mask, have his face taped up, go through the up & down emotions that his meds bring, not to mention the pain of having his chin cut open from ear to ear. He is my super trooper! He never complains or whines. I am so proud to be his mom! I feel like I have been holding my breath since December. Praying that we can make it until March without popping an expander, getting sick, or having the surgery foiled in any way. Marv and I gave up a vacation, because we didn't want to leave Coleson for fear he got another infection or we would miss an appointment. March 27 it will be 2 years since the accident. Every time baseball season rolls around I think about the day our lives change forever. If we happen to cross your minds on Friday, please lift us in prayer. We press forward knowing that the Lord is going before us.

Motive

       Motive. This word had me thinking all the way home from bible study this evening. The question was raised 'What is our motive for looking good, exercising, losing weight?' Is it because we're afraid of what other people think, to become healthier, to have your husband notice, to have other men notice, to keep up with girlfriends, is it because your body is a temple, a living place of the Holy Spirit?
       Several years ago, during one of our heart-to-hearts, Marv said a few words that I'll never forget. I was feeling insecure about my weight and not being fit after having the twins. In a nutshell, I asked him if my extra weight bothered him at all. His reply will always stick with me. He said, "Inside you're still the woman I married." Inside. Hit me like a ton of bricks. Still makes me tear up. He didn't care that my outside had become mis-shapen and I had grown extra skin, he fell in love with my heart! God loves us, loves our hearts, no matter the scars and wounds. God doesn't care if we cover ourselves in the fanciest threads. It's the inside He cares about, that only comes from a relationship with him. My motivation for dieting and exercising back then had been to look good for Marv. I believe that my heart wasn't in the right place, that's why I wasn't successful. I would be lying if I didn't say that Marv's enjoying the new tansformation and tells me almost daily. I workout and run because I love it!!! There's almost nothing like the feeling of getting done with a workout, shirt soaked in sweat, heart beating like crazy knowing I kicked butt! If your workouts pale in comparison, call me, we will hit the gym.
        I realize there is more working out to be done on my inside, my heart, but I am accountable to several people. As one lady said, "You can tell beautiful people from the inside out, they shine." I want to go to my grave as having been known as a beautiful person, not because of the cothes on my back or the size jeans I wear, but because Christ shines THROUGH me!

Compliments (For Men)

         Not sure if I have any men reading my blog, but for those of you married men who are reading this, consider this post the frying pan to the head! Maybe I have been living in denial or maybe I'm just ignorant and didn't see it, but I can't believe there are married women in this world who don't get compliments from their husband! What on earth is wrong with you men?!!! In your dating years, you pursued your wife, said all sorts of nice things to wow her, bought her special thought through gifts. What happened? Do you have any idea what a "honey, that dinner was delicious." or "I like the way those jeans fit you." would do to her self esteem, especially if you don't pay her compliments often or at all?!!!!! She will store that away in her heart for as long as she needs till you pay her another one. If your like Marv and have no problem sending emails that say "ur hot hot hot tanks for ur patance" (written in his own spelling), or if you send your wife texts during the day saying "hey sexy don't forget the milk" then consider the frying pan a hand to pat your back with! Men encourage/compliment your wives, even when she's part grizzly and it's that time of the month. It's at those times when we need a hug or a kind word the most (and chocolate never hurts). It will work wonders!!! Find something throughout the course of the day to compliment her on. My prayer is that all women would feel consumed by love from their men!