Sunday, November 19, 2006

Treasure

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

So it's the week of Thanksgiving. I should write a thankful-for blog, right? It's on the list along with "get Christmas cards ready", "buy groceries", and "don't forget to clean the baseboards 'cause Mom's coming".

I was thinking about the thankful blog tonight, wondering how to put a new twist on it so that it doesn't read like every freshman's creative writing assignment, when I stumbled on the above quote.

I. AM. ALIVE!!! I know it to be true, because my heart is ever conscious of my treasures. I am one of the most blessed people I know. I sometimes actually feel guilty for the blessings bestowed on me.

But tonight, my heart is conscious of a specific treasure. My best friend. My dietician. My personal chef. My husband.

The middle two things are fairly new. It's true that Darren's always done the majority of the cooking around here, but 3 weeks ago, he became dietician, meal planner, personal chef, and cheerleader. You see, I had a little chit chat with my internist. He wasn't happy with my weight, and gave me two weeks to decide on a drastic plan. He gave me four options to explore: gastric bypass, lapband, HarrisFast (liquid diet), or lifestyle change. It took me about 10 seconds to rule out the first three.

Two days after that appointment, I left for a five-day scrapbooking vacation with friends. While I was gone, Darren studied, devising a plan for me based on the Curves weight loss system. He planned a menu, including my breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners, and he went grocery shopping. Every night for the first week, we sat down in the evening and I chose what I wanted to eat the next day, then he spent a half hour or so preparing and packaging it all for me. I felt like Oprah! All I had to do was go to the pantry and pull out a pre-meausured snack, or to the fridge to take out a ready-to-heat meal. I've always said that I could lose weight too, if I had a personal trainer and a chef. Now I have it.

The first week, I lost 4 pounds. It's a start. My doctor will be THRILLED. Darren has been amazing. Not only is he doing all the prep and work and encouragement on the outside, but he's doing a lot of praying on the inside. He wants nothing more in this world than for me to be healthy. He dreams of the day I can climb mountains with him again.

And I know his prayers are working, because I've faced dozens of temptations and obstacles and near-sabotages that haven't even TOUCHED me. (As I type this, I can hear my sister munching on yummmmy sweet grapes 4 feet behind me, for instance.) I have no will power. I've proven that for 18 years now. This resolve I have? This will power? It's a God thing.

And it's a Darren thing. He's my treasure. My heart is conscious of it. And I'm ALIVE!

12 comments:

Veronica said...

Wow! Yes, he most certainly is a treasure. I will join in the prayers and cheering too. Hoping and praying you get the outcome you most desire.

Anonymous said...

You go girl! With backing like that (Darren and the Lord), you can't help but do well. I'll remember you in my prayers as well.

Anonymous said...

Can I be your cheerleader too? I'm sure I'd look great with pom-poms! ROFLOL!

Go Stacy! Go Stacy! Go Go Go Stacy! You can do it!!

Anonymous said...

Way to go Darren! And Stace, we all want you to be alive to watch those kiddos grow! see you aren't weak, because if you were you would have picked the easy way out of the battle ahead. you chose to take the healthy road. gotta love ya girl... so maybe we can go out for.... WATER!
Karen

Anonymous said...

You go Girl! I will wait for the day I can say OH MY HECK! I am so excited for you!

Darren is wonderful! it is so great to have great men that have our back :)

YOU GO STACY!

Ramblings of a crazed SAHM said...

Way to go! The first 2 weeks are the hardest, and then it gets much easier...especially with the "team" you have! Way to go to you, too, Darren!

Anonymous said...

Way to go! I hope I get to meet Darren some day. What a wonderful DH and lifemate.

Look forward to seeing you in a few months.

Anonymous said...

Yay Stacy!

Martha in CA said...

Wheeee!! Wishing for you more success!! (and when Darren gets you whipped into shape, he can come to Cali and set up my cupboards!)

Elaine said...

Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!

:)
I'm so proud of you!!!

nandmmom said...

You have always inspired me....here you go again!

You are most surely blessed with a Great Husband and Family!

Cecilia

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Stacy...Way to go, Darren. I hope our families can get together in December. It sure was fun dropping by after Thanksgiving. I loved my candy.