A fresh start

I it's time for my yearly fresh start. LOL. 

In the last few years, I have rediscovered my my love of art and drawing. Starting in 2016 I participated in the Daisy Yellow ICAD challenge for the first time. ICAD stands for Index Card A Day and the challenge is to do something creative on a simple index card every day in June and July. 

Here are a few of my cards from that first year.

I did mostly collage and mixed media. 

I participated again in 2017. Here are a few of that years cards. I tried a few different techniques.

 

This year I combined the 100 days challenge with the ICAD challenge and began to rediscover my love of drawing.

 

As the last card says, this is just the beginning. Here are some I've done recently.

 

My next challenge will be Inktober.

 

 

 

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Once again I have been neglectful of this blog. I hope to do a better job of keeping current. I am keeping very busy with a variety of things these days. Two of the things I am trying to do for myself are monthly scripture writing plans by Shannon from her blog Sweet Blessings. http://www.swtblessings.com/ and the ICAD (Index Card A Day) Challenge at Daisy Yellow. https://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base/. I have also started trying to broaden my reading experience by watching some Booktube videos and reading some different types of books. More soon.

This is a test to see if I can post from my iPad.

Knowing God part 2

Chapter 2 Knowing God through nature

In chapter one (my last blog post) I talked about how Dad taught me to love the Creator by showing me His creation, the natural world. You can learn a lot about the Creator God by studying and observing nature.
The Bible tells us that this is so:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:20 (New King James Version)

I learned that God loves me by observing the beauty in the world around me. God didn’t have to make our world beautiful but He did because He knew it would bring us pleasure. He filled our world with beautiful scenery, amazing animals, sweet smelling flowers and the songs of birds all for us to enjoy.

I learned that God care about my emotional well-being. He created animals that would love us unconditionally, we call them pets.

I learned that God cares about my needs and my wants. He could have created one kind of food, but he knew we like variety. He created a variety of climates and landscapes for us to enjoy. And along with all this He created all the raw materials we would need to fabricate all the modern convinces we so enjoy.

I learned that God has a sense of humor. After all he created the kangaroo, the duck-billed platypus and the proboscis monkey.

I learned that God is omniscient by observing how each part of His creation is interwoven to make the whole. Ogden Nash wrote,

God in His wisdom made the fly
And then forgot to tell us why.

As much as we might dislike insects and other things we consider pests, God assigned each an important role in keeping our planet healthy.

I learned that God is omnipotent by observing the powerful things of nature: hurricane, tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. These demonstrate the great power under His control.

Knowing God part 1

I picked up a little book by Beth Moore called Discovering God’s Purpose for Your Life. In it she examines Philippians 3:10

My determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person. Amplified Bible.

In chapter 2, Beth challenges us to write a book. A book called Knowing God. She envisioned an actual notebook but I decided to use my blog instead. So here goes…

Knowing God
By Miriam Richardson

Chapter 1 Knowing God through Family

I cannot remember a time when I didn’t believe in God. I was blessed to have a Christian family. I have often said I’ve been attending church since nine months before I was born. My family was in church every Sunday morning and night and every Wednesday night, all of my life. Unlike some parents who send their children to church, but seldom show up themselves, Mom and Dad always went with us to church. They were very involved, in fact Dad was a deacon and Mom was active in Sunday School, WMU, Bible School and many other activities.

I learned that God is my Heavenly Father. My natural father was not perfect (none of us are) but he showed me by his example that fathers are loving, that they discipline us when we need it and teach us how to live. So to me, viewing God as Father is a good thing. Dad loved to garden and taught me to appreciate creation and the Creator. He liked to travel and took us to many beautiful places that God created for our enjoyment. He taught me to tithe and to give over and above the tithe to missions and other church programs, but he not only gave his money but his time to the church.

Mom also set a good example for me to follow. She was always willing to play games (often Bible based), sing songs, was very caring and kind. She was also very soft spoken. I can’t really remember her ever raising her voice. She taught me to respect and care for older family members. When I was young my Great-Grandfather (her grandfather) and later my Grandmother (Dad’s mother) lived with us. She took care of them with patience and love. I’m sure that it wasn’t always easy and I may have seen life through the rose colored glasses of being the youngest in the family but my memories are of loving parents who loved God and taught me to love Him too.

Even my sisters taught me alot about how to live, sometimes as much by seeing what got them in trouble, as by their good examples. Being the baby in the family does have it’s advantages!

Before and after

Before



After

1 year post op

This week, on August 10th, was my surgiversery. Here are the stats.

Total lost from my highest weight.

Lost since surgery

The good news is I am off all perscriptions except Thyroid. My one year labs were great. Cholesterol is normal, triglycerides are great. Blood pressure normal, blood sugar nearly normal. I need to make a few small adjustments to my supplements.

Before and after pictures in the next post.

Ten months post op. Stalled. But not defeated. Started walking more. I did something fun this week. I road a segway! OK so the segway guy didn't turn loose...but I controlled the speed.

9 months and I'm in onderland. Weight Loss Surgery speak for a weighting in the 1oo's. Today the scale read 199.5. Thaaat is at home Dr. P's scale read 202.6 yesterday, but I am using the home scale as my official scale. I am still ding well and will start using this blog for other thought in addition to weight loss.

6 month surgiversary

Today is 6 months since my surgery. Monday at my appointment I weighed 221.8. down 67.5 since the surgery. 96.2 from my highest weight. As of January 30th I am off all perscriptions except for thyroid. A1C is normal, Triglycerides are 175 down from over 400 vldv is still a little high but total cholesterol is good. All Vitamin/mineral levels good. God has been good to me and my journey so far has been fairly smooth and easy. Very few side effects. I am now cleared to try most foods, of course avoiding sugar, high fat, simple carb foods. Dr Richardson is a great doctor and his office staff very supportive an helpful.

Much to be thankful for

This was me last September just after I asked Dr Partridge to refer me to a Weight Loss Surgery program. I weighed 318 lbds.

I had given up on cholesterol meds because they cause too many side effects. I was on Metformin for diabetes, 2 Blood pressure meds and thyroid medication.

This is me in November 2009. Three months post op.

I now weigh 243. I am off metformin, and only take one BP pill a day. Still take my thyroid pill but may be able to get off it some day. I feel better! I can get around much better.

Cholesterol is better but not perfect yet.

In addition I am thankful for my sisters who are so supportive, my church family who lift me up all the time. For Lu and David who take me into their family evey Thanksgiving. And so many more people and things I can't mention them all or ths blog would go on forever.

3 months Post Op

Today is 3 months since my surgery. I have lost 41 lbs. I seam to be in a bit of a stall but I know this too will pass. I went to the surgeon yesterday and he is pleased with my weightloss 17 lbs in two months. I wish it was faster but know that it will come off eventually. I am trying to be patient.

2 months post op

Today is 2 months exactly since the surgery. I am doing very well. only a few bad choices of food. As of last monday (10/5/09) had lost 35lbs. I am really enjoying the Obesity Help website getting much support and good recipes. Looking forward to the holiday on Monday. I have gone from wearing 26/28 to 24's and 22's so that is encouraging.

Week 7 post op

This week has been eventful. Saturday after the Town & Country Days parade, I lost my camera. I was sooo upset and of course prayed that someone would turn it in. On Monday that prayer was answered. The daughter of the family that found it was telling her school classmate about finding the camera with her picture in it and the girl (who goes to my church) said I bet that is Miss Miriam's so they tracked me down. Tuesday as I was going to Wal mart I ran over something. When I stopped I looked at the tires all looked ok. Started home and thought I heard a flat tire so stopped and checked. Sure enough a flat. Went back to Wal mart and got two new tires the flat and another that was really bad. Wednesday went to a meeting all day and Church in the evening. Diet wise thing are good. Not been sick since early last week. Constipation doing better. Weight coming off 2 to 3 lbs a week. Starting to eat more things. I will be glad when I can not think about food so much but just live.

Week 6 post op

I went yesterday for my one month check up. but it was really 5 weeks. So this is week six diet wise. More solid food. Finally able to drink most of my water most days. My only recuring problem is constipation. I think I am getting a handle on that though. I have lost 25 lbs since surgery and 54 in the last year.

Week three post op

I get to start soft foods this week like mashed potatos , scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, etc. I am doing very well except my first try at scrambled eggs didn't go well. I think I ate too fast and didn't chew enough. I need to increase my protein intake. and start walking more.

Day 11 post surgery

I'm back in Eldorado. I came back on Monday. Went to the library for a while on Tuesday. We went shopping in Carbondale on Wednesday and then to church. Went to Marion to the movies Thursday. Esther and I went to see Julie and Julia. It was very funny. Having a lazy day today.

Last week the diet was all clear liquids, this week I get to add things like yogurt and sugar free puddings. I lost 15 lbs the first week. I'm thinking it might be close this week. I think I'll be in size 24s by the 31st when I go back to work.

Day 4 Post surgery

I am doing well. Gave myself My first shot of blood thinner today. Feeling kinda restless but aside from this OK. The one site that was bleeding had stopped.I think. Delores is taking good care of me.

40 hours and counting down

In less that 40 hours I'll be in surgery. I am excited and just a little apprehensive. The road here has been up and down and curvy and slightly rough in patches. The liquid diet has been kinda hard, but I know it is very important to I have stuck to it and have not cheated at all. I think I have gotten things nearly ready. I still have to finish packing for my week stay in Collinville but that will only take a little while. Tomorrow at church we are having a potluck as a going away for Tyler, during that time I'm going to go get Rosie (the dog) and take her to the Kennel for a few days. Then I going back to church for an Awana meeting. I'll be driving Esther's car to Collinsville, droping off my stuff at Delores' and going on to Troy for Colleen's birthday celebration.

Esther will pick me up a Delores' at 4 am to go to the hospital. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the hospital. Surgery is scheduled for 7am. I hope to be back on the computer on Tuesday or at the latest Wednesday. I will stay at Delores' until after my one week return to the Doctor's office.

Tests

I had my final tests today. Pulmanry function test. EKG, bloodwork, and chest x-ray. Had my class on my post surgury diet. and saw Dr Richardson again. I can have my lap top at the hospital so I will try to check in on Tuesday. If not Wednesday will have to do. If you're reading this please remember me in prayer.