Fifty , fat and happy

Feb. 27th

Conversely, write about something that's kicking ass right now

*The word conversely is an adverb that means "the opposite" or "on the other hand." It is often used to introduce an idea that is different from one stated before.

Obesity in America
The average American woman is a size 16. And yet the media makes us women feel bad about ourselves if we're not a size 2 or 4 or 6.
What I really hate about that is the apparent dishonesty. The women on those glossy magazine pages don't eat like normal people do. They must starve themselves in order to maintain that thinness. As we age our metabolism slows down and hormones really take a toll on our bodies.

Conversely, not all 54 year old women need to diet and exercise. Some women this age accept themselves as they are and feel free to continue doing life as they have always done it. I'd "like" to exercise and watch what I eat but I'd also like to say screw it! I'm 50-ish, sorta fat and fabulous!

 Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly

Improvements

Feb. 26th
Write about an area in your life that you'd like to improve

I'd like to begin doing Yoga.
I even bought myself a yoga mat...uh...2 months ago. The wrapper is still on it.
I joined an online group where you watch the yoga instructor on YouTube.
So far I've just watched her, I haven't done any of the movements.
What am I waiting for? I don't know. I sort of feel embarrassed about doing the moves.
I really need to work on my core, and my legs too.
But I am so out of shape and it seems like it'll all be too much, so I don't do anything.
I think you would call that self sabotage.

I'd like to start making better food choices too.
I just bought a bigger pair of jeans and I thought to myself-
"That's it!! No more eating sugar and crap and large portions!"
So, no more sugar, and I'm going to decrease my calories and my carb load.
This morning I started my day by drinking coffee without any sugar in it and it wasn't too bad.
Also, I told my husband we really do need to start watching our food portions.
We go to our favorite restaurant and we get soup AND salad AND an entree that includes BBQ ribs AND a potato AND a veggie (usually steamed broccoli- you know, so I can feel like I am eating healthy) AND two glasses of wine for me, 2 diet cokes for him.
On occasion we have even stopped off for ice cream on our way home.
Good Lord! What do you suppose the caloric intake is on all of that???
Don't tell me. I don't want to know.

Here's a video I thought went well with today's post.

Wish me luck dear readers,
Namaste
Love, Lolly

The 11th Image

Feb. 25th
Think of any word. Search it on Google Images. Write something inspired by the 11th image

Tree




Write something inspiring?? Isn't the picture itself inspiring enough? It feels very zen-like, almost soothing in a way. It appears to be a quiet place, a very peaceful place, undisturbed by man. I love the sunburst peaking through at the top and I love that green color in the branches of the tree too. I like the play of light coming through from the other trees in the background...it seems etheral in a way...extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
I wonder what it would smell like in that place...piney, loamy, earthy? What sounds would I hear? Would it be cool or humid? Would I feel at peace or would I feel nervous and isolated?

Thanks for reading,
Love, Lolly

A letter to my pastor

Feb. 23, 2017

A letter to someone, anyone

Dear Pastor Erik,

           I'm writing this letter to say thank you and to let you know that I am going to miss you terribly. Your preaching had a huge impact on me and my life and I wanted to thank you in person but I couldn't do it. I knew I would burst in to tears if I talked to you face to face. Part of me feared that I would throw myself around your ankles, grab on and beg you not to go. I am not good at small talk and I knew I would stumble over my words and gush about how much I love you thereby making both of us uncomfortable. 

The way you conducted yourself, the subject matter you choose, the stories you told, the Bible passages that you referenced and explained, the sermons you gave have all left their mark on me. I specifically remember one sermon where you stood up there on the pulpit with both of your arms outstretched to the side while simultaneously explaining to the congregation the true posture of Jesus.

It made me weep. I've never cried in church before, and if I'm being honest, in the past I could barely stay awake in church.  Our oldest pastor was a bit of a droner, as you may well know, and I wasn't the only parishioner who could've nodded off before you and Pastor Larry arrived.

Pastor Erik, through your sermons, you explained Jesus and his teachings in a way that awakened in me a desire to know more about Him, to perhaps be a bit more like Him. You prompted this stodgy old congregation of Lutheran Missouri Synod believers into closing our eyes and raising our hands and taught us to openly praise Him in His house. For me, you made church something more than rote.

You told us to tell our stories, that the truth in telling our stories is what was going to heal us and bring us closer to Jesus.

You, my friend, are a true follower of Jesus. You are the epitome of an apostle and you showed me how a true apostle should act.

Thank you for teaching me that Jesus can be found not only in the Bible but that He is alive, right here in our everyday lives. And if we will only open up our eyes and hearts, we will see Him through our tears and in our pain, in our family and friends, in nature and yes, even in our stories.

I wish you and your family nothing but the best as you travel to California and your new lives.

I am sorry to see you go. You will be sorely missed at Immanuel.

My life verses- Psalm 18:16-24  and  Titus 3:3-7

Gods Blessings to you Sir,
Sincerely,

Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly

P.S. Should I send this to him? Or is it a bit over the top?

Playlist shuffle

Feb. 22nd
Put your music on shuffle and post the first ten songs-

1.   Brother by Needtobreathe

2.   Every little prison by Matt Maher

3.   God with us by MercyMe

4.   No matter what by Kerrie Roberts

5.   Come to the river by The Rhett Walker band

6.   Something good can work by two Door Cinema Club

7.   Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

8.   Cornerstone by Hillsong Live

9.   Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

10. Up to the mountain by Patty Griffin

That's it for today folks!
Thanks for reading,
Love, Lolly

Catching up

Feb. 19th- Discuss your first love
His name was Robert and we were in 1st grade together. He sat in the desk directly in front of me and I remember one day getting out of my seat and kneeling down behind him and kissing him squarely between his bony shoulder blades. That's it. That's all I can remember. Oh! He had brown hair and he was wearing a white turtle neck that day.
Other first loves were the boy in junior high who did not know I existed, and the 2 boys I dated in high school. The first one cheated on me with an ugly girl...(true fact! no bitterness here) after he enlisted in the Army. Honestly? I thought him and I would end up married.
The other one was fine, a regular person, until the day that I wanted to break up with him (I don't remember why...I was a senior in high school) and he just sorta lost his mind and went postal crazy and tore up and broke everything in his room. His mom called me at my house and told me to run and hide. I never saw him after that. And I didn't ask. His anger and behavior had scared me.


Feb. 20th- Post about three celebrity crushes ....Uh......nope. None.
Well...maybe George Clooney.

Feb. 21st- What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you?
Since my kids are already grown and gone, I'll post about what I hope they learned from me.

1. Compassion for those less fortunate. We take so much for granted. Running water, clean sheets, grocery stores, 2 cars in the driveway, good schools, non-violent neighborhoods. and more...so much more.
2. Love is a Verb. Love is easy. Love is Hard. Love will break your heart. Love will heal it again.
3. It's never too late to find yourself through Jesus. I was 47 when I finally found Him. Actually He found me. I hope and pray that my kids find Him someday and let Him into their lives. I know when it happened to me it felt like I was losing my mind but I also never felt more normal in my whole life. He saved me. And I'm so grateful. I want them to know the love of Christ.
This is my life verse Titus 3:37  The Message

Thanks for reading,
Love, Lolly

30 facts about me

Feb. 18th

Post 30 Facts about yourself

1. My eyes are green
2. I hate tomatoes but I do eat ketchup and tomato soup
3. I wear a size 5 and 1/2 shoe
4. I drink way too much coffee
5. I have 4 grandchildren
6. I. AM. ALWAYS. WARM!!! and I am sick of it too
7. My favorite baby animal is a Polar Bear
8. Creamy peanut butter never the crunchy one
9. I love burnt toast. I burn it on purpose
10. I love to dance. Wine helps me in this endeavor
11. My kitchen sink is always clean and spotless before I go to bed
12. My favorite color is Chocolate brown
13. I love to eat cake (which could be one of the reasons why I don't weigh 105 anymore)
14. I have never been in a fist fight
15. No tattoos but if I did, I'd get 1 for my sister & 1 for my daughter 
16. Small talk is my undoing
17. I could grocery shop every single day even though my cupboards are full
18. You cannot spin me around or I am dizzy for the rest of the day. No joking
19. I have never tried snow skiing 
20. I am not dressed unless my shoes are on and tied
21. I prefer the beach over the mountains
22. My favorite dinner is beer and Pizza
23. My favorite number is 23
24. I read books like it's my job
25. I have always always always hated The Beatles
26. No spicy foods-ever. It burns my tongue and then I'm miserable
27. Favorite day of the week? It's a toss up between Monday and Friday
28. I am allergic to egg yolks and penicillin
29. Jesus answers most of my prayers
30. I had to Google ideas for this prompt because I got stuck at 15 and couldn't think of more

Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly