Rising up from the ashes!

This girl is going to be a phoenix! 

I don't know if this is going to be a complete post, as I am feeling pretty tired tonight.  Tired is a welcomed gift.  I'm struggling with sleeping and have for years.

 My food "hoarding" is as bad as ever.  We have food everywhere!  My son said to me the other day, "Mom, people could come to our house to go grocery shopping!"  Son, oh, my sweet, smart son, I sure know it.  I believe this stems from growing up with a parent with a gambling addiction, so badly that, sometimes, we didn't even have food.  Thank the universe that Grandma lived next door and her home was always open to us.  So now we have so much that a lot of it ends up getting thrown out due to it expiring.  I have challenged myself to put an end to this insanity.... starting 1/1/11.  It's been 2 days and I have not been to the grocery store.  Of course, we will have to get bread, milk, fruit, etc., but I AM going to use up our food stores if it kills me!  Pictures will follow so that I can have a measurable goal and also see my progress.  You would think that this should be simple... I am a great cook, if I do say so myself, but as much as I use up, I just go buy more.  We could probably survive Armageddon! 

Another thing that we need to deal with is some of the clutter around here.  I always want to save everything "for later - in case we need it."  I'm coming to the conclusion that, if we haven't needed it in the 6 or so years we've been in this house, then we are not going to need it. 

Maybe simplifying is exactly what we all need to achieve the calm serenity that I crave.  Out with the old and in with the new in so many ways!  How rejuvenating this will be for everyone.

We are *loving* being foster parents.  The pumpkins are wonderful!  It has been challenging having two little ones around again, but we are loving every minute.  We are so glad that we decided to do this.  I believe that our own children will learn and grow so much from this experience as well.  I could go on about this all night, but we'll save some things for later. 

..... and my weight.  I have taken off 28 lbs.  Things have been very difficult ever since my 1st gallbladder attack (June) up until now.  Now that it's been removed, I have entirely different digestive issues, but the new medicine seems to be helping (Cholestyramine).  I definitely need to do the best that I can to be successful in this challenge while also keeping it healthful and delicious.  I have about 40-50 more pounds to go.   We shall see.  I have completely wasted the year-long gym membership that I bought almost a year ago.  I've probably been there about 12-15x...  That really stinks!  Like flushing $500 down the toilet.    I got an invite from one of my best friends today to join a support group they are putting together.  It may be just what I need.  It's going to be difficult to do anything like a weekly "appointment" now that I have the pumpkins who have their own schedule.  We will see how it works out.  I'm so happy to have her looking out for me.  Love you, Erin! 

Big changes around here...  Most very exciting, some very sad (which I'm not going to go into).  If you are close to me, you know already.  I am so much in need of change.  It'll be difficult at times, but there's no better time to start than 1/1/11....  And that's how it happened.