Return & Report

Only a few days late. I did loose my one pound last week! Minding my portions definitely needs more work. I am so busy during the day that I don't eat much but then by evening I am starving. This week I have been doing a few things to even out my eating so that my portions can be consistent.

I was re-reading what I wrote for my Small Steps last week and noticed a mis-spelling. I meant to write that I would work on my prayers - quantity and quality. Instead I wrote - quality and quality. Guess what I had already decided to focus on this next week? I love it when that happens. It feels like a confirmation that I am on the right track. Anyway, I want to improve my efforts in my prayers. I have been praying my whole life and I think that at times I am too casual with the Lord. The other day I was thinking about it and thought - "This is Heavenly Father I am talking too. Heavenly Father!" I definitely want to have a real relationship with Him, but I also want to be more respectful of Him, honor Him, and grateful for Him. Henry B. Eyring said of the last days "...Casual prayer won't be enough." So, for the next few weeks my focus is to be less casual in my prayers.

I am not adding to my Small Steps this week, just tweeking the ones I have already.

Small Steps Sunday - Minding My P's

Prayer, Portions & Pounds.

Prayer- This is my anchor goal for the month of January. I love the image of an anchor - if feels solid, grounded. No matter what the waves of life toss at me, if my anchor is my hope in Christ, then my soul is secure. I love this verse:

"Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" Ether 12:4

This month I will improve my prayers, both quality & quality. I also know that I need the Lord's help with my other goals. I want to study scriptures & examples of prayer this month.

Portions - I like good food. I don't really like diet food very much. They can tell you it is just as good as the real thing but it is not. Sometimes, not even close. And until the entire world forsakes sugar, chocolate, butter & cream, I will not be able to forsake them completely either. On the other hand, I could feel a family of 6 in Ethiopia (maybe more) on the amount of good food I consume each day. There is a teacher at work who has lost 25 or 30# and the only thing that she has done is eat half of her plate & saves the other half for the next meal. This week one of my Small Step goals is to work on my portions. Use my measuring cups as serving spoons, use smaller plates, use the small tea cups for hot chocolate, use the cute ice cream parfaits instead of monster soup bowls. You get the idea.

Pounds - My friend Meghan shared an idea with me that I am using. My goal is to loose one pound per week. ONE POUND. That is it. And I am not playing catch up if I fall behind. But one pound - that is doable for me. That is saying no to a second helping. That is walking one more lap. That is 10 more sit-ups. That is one less brownie. I can do one pound.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step." ~ Lao Tzu (570-490 BC)