One Last Day

After being off for 7 weeks, I must return back to work tomorrow. Part of me is so glad that I will get back to my girls and the good friends I work with, I have missed them all so much but the other part of me is going to miss sleeping as late as I want, sipping coffee in my robe while I check email, blog, or what have you. I have really become accustomed to being able to make lunch plans with friends, or run to the store in the middle of the day, or just taking a few hours to myself with no one here.

But I must get back to reality- I really do love my job and I have become so bored without work and school to fill my day that I have begun to find things on the internet to look up, or "need" something in the "big" city about 30 miles away (where the mall and shops are...). I used to hate to shop, but here lately, it has become therapeutic or something. That has got to stop because when I get really bored, I go out and buy something. Boy, my checkbook has suffered because of it. Because of the holidays, there will be a 40 day gap between paychecks that are already cut in half because I've been off so long. This means our empty fridge will stay that way until I get paid on the 26th. Ugh!!! I don't mind it really, gives me a chance to clean out my freezer but the picky eater in the family hates it. She hates vegetables and that is what is mainly in our freezer- garden veggies and deer meat.

We started Weight Watchers yesterday. We are doing the online version because there are no meetings around here and with our busy schedules, who has time for meetings. We did good for the first day, even had points left over (maybe because the cupboards are bare...lol). We had cereal and banana for breakfast, homemade vegetable soup and a grilled cheese on whole wheat for lunch, and a chef salad and chicken breast for supper with fat free chocolate pudding for dessert. For those who know me-No, I didn't eat the chicken!!! (chicken makes me violently ill). So anyhow, 1 day down, the rest of our life to go. I do like WW because if you do have a special event to go to, you have extra weekly points for that, if you want a piece of chocolate cake, you just don't have many points to finish out the day- but most vegetables are 0 points and I love veggies, so this is a good plan for me and the hubby. The hardest part is giving up the all day snacking- which is what I have become accustomed to since being off of work for so long. I get bored, I go scavenge the pantry. That is a hard habit to break.

Oh, in keeping with one of my resolutions to put God, my marriage and my children first in my life, I have started reading a new book. Well, let me tell you how it came to be first- as this doesn't happen often in my life. I was doing a little shopping (spending my gift card from Christmas) and I passed by this store, LIfe Way Christian Bookstore. I have been in there before looking for a gift many years ago, but it is not somewhere where I would just go browse while I am shopping. Anyhow, I was "led" into that store not knowing what in the world for but for some reason (Divine Intervention, I am sure), I was led straight to the family section and my eyes focused right on this book. Now, at first I was like, my marriage isn't headed for divorce, why in the world would I need this book, but I was told by my Lord to buy it anyway. Now, I am a Christian and I try to be obedient to my Lord but very rarely does He just come out and tell me to do something; although, that is why I am teaching now, but that is another story I'll tell you later.

Anyhow, I brought this book home, still wondering why I needed it in the first place. My husband and I have a strong, committed marriage- but of course, like all married couples, we have our disagreements, arguments and those days where we just don't even speak to each other, but all in all, we have a loving, solid relationship. Anyhow, the name of the book is "Divorce-Proof your Marriage" by Dr. Gary and Barbara Rosberg. This is a profound book that I would encourage all married couples to read. It is not a quack book that says "We know everything and this is what you need to do to save your marriage", it is a Christian based campaign to divorce proof America's marriages that helps you strenthen your marriage and guard against the slow slide to emotional or legal divorce. Just the first few pages got me because the authors told of their personal story that almost mirrored mine- putting school and work before family and marriage and their family having a void where I am supposed to be in their life. So you may be hearing more about this book in the near future and where it is taking me.

So, I have begun two of my resolutions. I know it is going to be hard work and something that I have to work at everyday. I am up for the challenge....I just pray that I can keep the focus.