My Sweet Ride ---insert sarcastic smile---

Things I hate about the 1992 Ford Ranger:
1. The seat belt holder thing is WAY too high so it practically cuts across my chin.
2. The inside door handle on the passenger side is broken, so I have to put the truck in neutral, engage the E-brake and get out so that Benjamin can climb across to get out at school in the mornings. (Pretty annoying. You would understand this if you take your kids to school in the mornings.)
3. The E-brake doesn't just disengage when you pull the lever. You have to put your foot under the brake, pull the lever and use your foot to pull the brake all the way up.
4. I can't roll down the driver's side window. Very annoying.
5. I am not sure how much gas I can put on, because at some point it is too much and then I will have a leak.
6. Gagging on my pride. (Which includes praying against the green-eyed monster that rears its ugly head with every glimpse of a beautiful Volvo, GMC, Toyota, Honda........you get the idea.)

Things I like about the 1992 Ford Ranger:
1. No payments.
2. We can put money that would have gone to the car payment toward paying off the other car. (And we better, because if I am driving this beauty for no reason....... you get the idea.)
3. The heater works.
4. It doesn't look too bad.
5. The radio works. (And....helloooo there is a casette tape player!)
6. The seats are kind of comfy.
7. It is a super cab.
8. It runs.
9. It isn't super loud.
10. Jeremy took off the metal rack.

Why Are the Right Things So Difficult?

I know that I need to eat healthier, and less. I need to workout more, which usually means being at the gym by 5am. Reading my Bible is a necessity.
I Love, I mean LOVE, to eat. I do not eat in moderation (CLEARLY). I don't want to eat in moderation. But I need to. It is SO hard to put the fork down when there is cake around. I don't want to stop after I have had 5 double stuf oreos dipped in milk. There are few things more satisfying than a happy full belly! I mean really! But, if I want to get rid of this excess weight (aka FAT) that I am carrying around, I have to change my thinking on this. "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Right? I wouldn't KNOW!!!!! But I want to find out!
It is just so dang hard to do the right thing!!!!!
I feel so much better every time that I make it to the gym and workout. Why do I skip days (that sometimes turn into weeks and months)???? Why??? Why can't I make myself remember that feeling of strength and accomplishment and vibrancy when I finally decide to stop playing the "snooze-button" game and turn the alarm off? 
Working out and going to church are very similar. They are always the right thing to do, but sometimes you just want to stay in bed. But once you have gone to church or finished a workout you never regret it!
I am on a journey to lose at least 30 of these excess fat pounds by the time I turn 40 in March. I have been logging my food and exercise at http://www.loseit.com/ . It is a really cool site/App for you smart phone. But when I got on the scale after 2 weeks, it had not moved anywhere but UP!!!! Grrrrrr!!!! But I will not give up. I will keep on doing the next right (even though difficult) thing, just because I know it is what I need to do!

What I Feel vs. What I Know....(today, at least)

O God,

I feel so depleted.

I feel empty.

I feel as though I am withered.

I feel that if this is all there is, what is the point.

I feel alone.

I feel forgotten.

I feel like walking away.

But,

I KNOW that you are my sustenance.

I KNOW that when I am empty YOU fill me.

I KNOW that you are the LIVING WATER to replenish me.

I KNOW that there is a PRIZE and I must press on toward the goal.

I KNOW that YOU are my EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

I KNOW that YOU love me with an EVERLASTING LOVE.

I KNOW there is nowhere I can go that is hidden from YOU.

and

My HOPE is in YOU!

Kindapping, Circuses, and Vampires, Oh MY!

So, this has been a great couple of months of reading for me! I took an online summer class, which started of the roll. I read this great book about a 14 year old boy that began a 40 year journey of Schizophrenia. It was such a great read and very insightful into the world of mental ilness.
I also read:
 The Stranger Beside Me, by Ann Rule. This was the story of Ted Bundy, serial killer. Fascinating!
There were a couple other books for the class that I merely got through to write papers!
After the class was over, the fun began!!!!!!! The first book that I read FOR ENJOYMENT was:
 I super loved this book!!!! Such a great love story and who knew what went on behind the scenes of the circus...OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!! I haven't seen the movie yet, and I am not sure why! I need to get on that!
Next up......
I saw the movie before I read the book and I was not disappointed with either! I had heard about this book like 2 years ago and have wanted to read it. Finally got to it and I loved it so much! Each character evokes such strong emotions!
After this, I turned back to non-fiction for:
This tragic book is just seriously heartbreaking!!!! This woman grew up under horrible conditions under unthinkable circumstances. She does get rescued but has a long road of recovery to walk. My heart was broken when I finished because I just really want for her to know Jesus. I am praying for her!!!!
After this I took a little break from reading, as I tend to get consumed with it.
AND....I went on a girls weekend in September with 2 friends. One friend convinced me to watch the 3 Twilight movies, which I have sworn NEVER to watch and especially NEVER to read the books. Not because I have anything against vampires and werewolves, but because I knew I would get SUCKED in. Well.... I did. In a big way!
 
Right away in the first movie I was hooked. I knew that I was going to have to read all of the books to get all of the details! And I did. It took me approximately 10 days to read 2,490 pages of wonderfulness!!!!! I will blog more about this later, it is brewing in my mind!!!!
The next book that I will be taking on is this 800 page novel:
I will let you know!!!