Day 9 in the books...

Went to a nearby amusement park yesterday (Adventureland), which I went to every year when I was a kid. My husband and I took our kids a couple years ago. And then yesterday we took them again, and upon leaving I realized that for the first time in my life, I didn't eat any sugar at Adventureland!!! This is huge for me. It really is.

Went to the pool with the kids and some friends of ours today, and everyone (except for me!) got a sugary treat from the concession stand. I did buy a bag of popcorn, and it was yummy. :)

I feel so calm. I feel so peaceful. I can live this way.

I. Can. Live. This. Way.

It may be different from how 99.9% of other Americans are living, but I can do it. Why wouldn't I? First of all, I believe God has more in store for me, and sugar is a gigantic hurdle that I haven't been able to get over in order to get to the next part of His plan. Second of all, I feel so wonderful physically & emotionally when sugar is outta here.

I will be working on my next goal. My first (kinda) goal was to go a week with no sugar. I have some other goals I want to reach, so I'll be putting those in writing in the next couple days.

I know, I know...you can't wait. You're on the edge of your seat. What could her goals possibly be? She's already achieved SO much in the last nine days!! LOL!!! I love that no one reads these, and I'm writing as if they do. I'll look back some day and LOVE this post. Specifically, I will love this paragraph of this post. I crack me up.

Peace out, World!!
:)

The Long Haul

Geared up for Day 7 of no sugar today!! Feeling fantastic!!

FYI, I'll probably repeat myself in these posts because I can't remember if I've posted it or just told a friend in person, so just skip over anything you already know. ;)

I've noticed that since giving up sugar, I don't crave the other stuff. Other stuff, meaning: bread, fast food, salty food, etc. I didn't expect that to happen.

Here is my recent revelation (Although, it's been revealed to me before. This time, however, I'm choosing to say it out loud and write it here to my zero readers so it will hopefully make a lasting impression on me.). Here it is:

I cannot eat sugar.

Okay, so obviously I've said that before. But I need to further explain (to myself) that I cannot just have "that one piece of Halloween candy" this year. I cannot just have "that one piece of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving." I cannot just have "that one Christmas cookie" (let alone participate in a cookie exchange this year!). I cannot just have "that one piece of birthday cake." Get it? Do you get it, Kari?? I got it.

It was hard to say this aloud to my husband the other night. It's like it made it real and that I have to be done with my addiction now. I like sugar. I like the taste of things with sugar in them. However, I hate how these things make me feel, act and look.

Therefore, I have to be in this for the long haul. I am in this for the long haul. There. I said it. If I reach for as much as a little chocolate chip, I know I'm going to spiral.

Fair warning. Don't do it, Kari!!!

Okay, I'll stop talking to myself now.

Lacking Fruit

Photo courtesy of Flickr

So as I lay awake in bed in the middle of the night (this morning), I began to reflect on my behaviors, attitudes, actions and thoughts lately. In particular, God showed me that I have fallen way short in the areas of patience and self-control (in many areas of my life). I snap at my kids, my husband. I then berate myself for snapping. I recently joined a Fit by Fall challenge, and I have been eating like a madwoman ever since! I, again, berate myself for lacking self-control. Nothing comes fast enough. Everyone is on my last nerve, including me!! :}

So I was laying there wondering, Where has my patience gone? My self-control? God gently reminded me that these two characteristics are fruit of the Spirit. [Edit: After re-reading this post, I realized that it is not just those two characteristics I'm lacking. I'm lacking in all of the fruit of the Spirit. If I am lacking in one of those areas, I am lacking in all of them. They are all intertwined. I've never looked at it like that before! Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes.]

Well, friends, I have not been tending to my Spirit. Like a garden, my Spirit must be cultivated. I've barely touched it in the past couple weeks. I went on vacation, brought my Bible with me and never even took it out of my suitcase. Just like I can't expect my flowers to bloom if I don't water them and feed them, I can't expect the Spirit within me to bear the fruit God so desires for me if I don't feed it the Word of God.

So I go into this Thursday, and invite you to join me, with Galatians 5:22-26 close to my heart:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.