Just wanted to put up a quick update that we’re here. The cable guy was out here this morning to connect our internet, so now we have phone and internet again. We’re trying out internet phone this time – it’s so much cheaper than a traditional land line that we figured we’d see how it goes. This cable internet is nice and fast, so so far, so good.

I’ll update more later when I have more time. For now, Stephen needs me to do some secretary work for him before he goes to town. *grin* I type a lot faster than he does, so I do a lot of that stuff for him. . .

What scares me more is how close I can be to becoming diabetic. What also scares me is that it runs in my family. Although I am adopted, that is one thing I do know about my birth family.

Back in September, when my doctor warned me about how close I was to becoming diabetic, I started getting scared. I think it had something to do with the words “raging diabetic.”

So, I began making the changes that the doctor told me I would need to make. I remember telling Stephen one day that going into it, I wasn’t going to expect any sort of weight loss. I was going to make the changes for health reasons, and hopefully get my insulin levels to come down. I remember thinking that if I lost weight, great, but that it would just be an added bonus.

So. . .some of you have asked. . .and. . .here are my official “Before” and “After” photos. It’s really more of a progress report, because I still feel like I have some weight to lose before I’m completely finished.

I never took an official “Before” picture, though I have plenty to choose from. I never really expected to lose a lot of weight either, though. This first “before” picture was taken in July when we were getting our church ready for VBS.

This next “before” picture was actually taken after I had lost about 15 pounds, but it was really eye-opening for me. I put it next to a picture I took two Wednesdays ago after church.

60 pounds gone. I am still absolutely amazed. I honestly believe that that is one of the reasons that God led us up to Indiana, so I could see a doctor who actually knew what to do to help get my health under control. Lord willing, diabetes is a long ways off. I don’t know if I’ll be able to avoid it completely, but I am immensely grateful that I know what to do to delay it!

We have a change in plans. Things are moving a bit more quickly than we anticipated. This is my official notice that I’ll be dropping off the web for a week or so. We are moving on Thursday, so we have a lot to do in two days. The phone and internet is supposed to hooked up on Monday, but we’ll see how that goes.

Unless the Lord has other plans, Allison and Sara, see you in church THIS SUNDAY!

I just realized I’d probably better put an update on us. I am so thankful – I am the only one who got the strep. Praise the Lord that Little man didn’t get it! We were a bit concerned about that, but he has stayed healthy.

This morning I asked him what we should have for breakfast, and he answered me, “Chocolate!” Yes, that boy is definitely my son! And yes, I did give it to him. We had oatmeal so I dropped a couple of chocolate chips into it when I gave him his bowl. We don’t do this all the time, so I thought he’d like the treat this morning.

Now we’re just trying to finish getting ready for our move. We’ve freecycled what seems like half of our belongings (not really, but it feels that way sometimes) and have boxed up so much stuff. Wow. We went out to the garage on Saturday and packed up things in there, so that’s one more thing we can cross off our list. Now all that’s left is to pack the rest of our everyday things here in the house. I took all the pictures and artwork off the walls on Saturday too and it was the strangest feeling – just the realization that we’re doing this again kind of slammed into me. Then when the curtains came down today. . .again, wow.

A friend asked me yesterday at church if we’re excited about the move. In a word, yes. We have complete and total peace that this is where God is leading us, so in that aspect, we’re extremely excited to be able to follow God’s leading. It has been amazing to watch as He has confirmed it for us through so many different ways.

As for the packing and loading and the unpacking, well, I can’t say I’m as excited about that. I did label the boxes really well, and I’ve gotten pretty good at unpacking though, so hopefully it won’t be too much of a chore this time. I have really missed living in my own house, and I must admit that I’ve been daydreaming a little about where I’m going to put things again and how we’ll arrange furniture this time.

The other day I was telling my friend Sunny about the mural I painted in Little Man’s room while we waited for him to arrive. Here are pictures: