I can do this! Do it for the clothes—the skinny jeans, the juniors section of Kohls, shopping on the right side of the Dress Barn. Do it for the concerned people in my life—my husband, my mother, my kids…think of the kids. Then there’s my doctor. I could do it for him, for my heart, my knees, my ... Read More
What’s In My Monkey Trap?
Yes! The Monkey Trap analogy! I love this “attention” getter. There’s a little attention getter like this at the beginning of every Gospel Doctrine lesson. They’re all good, but this one I really understand. I get it, maybe because it involves food. The instructions to the teacher are to make a ... Read More
The Holiday Miracle We Pray For That We Will Not Be Given
Holidays and food—they just go together. This though comes to mind every time I’m invited to a holiday celebration that involves lots of food—and don’t they all? It’s called “Michael’s Thanksgiving Day Prayer” but it might just as well be called “Everyone’s Christmas Prayer,” or “The Holiday ... Read More
“Michael’s Thanksgiving Day Prayer” – Abstinence
It was finally pie time. So many pies! So many flavors! So many decisions! Pie with whip cream? Pie with ice cream? “Maybe just a little of both,” I heard someone say. The turkey and rolls started to make their way back out onto on counter, something to balance out all that pie I suppose. “Hey, who ... Read More
Enjoying An Evening of Abstinence Book of Mormon Style
One morning during Family Scripture Study I read my four verses aloud and then paused before commenting with that well used expression “Hmmm?” My family broke into laughter, poking fun at their scripture-loving /scripture-likening mother. “She’ll find something in it. You just watch,” said my ... Read More
“So…What Do You Eat For Breakfast?”
One afternoon last week I answered the phone and the voice on the other end of the line said, “This is Brother ______, the man in your ward who said he was interested in loosing weight. You said you’ve lost 92 pounds. So, what do you eat for breakfast?” The question caught me completely off guard, ... Read More
Hands Alone, Hands Together – 12 Step Progress
“So Lord, people are starting to notice that I’ve lost ninety pounds. They all want to know how I lost it. I always tell them that I deal with the issue of food like a recovering alcoholic deals with alcohol. I use all the tool of recovery. I apply the 12 Steps to my everyday life and I attend ... Read More
“What Am I Hungry For?”
The following is an exercise that only requires your journal, a pen, your scriptures and a little bit of time. I had my Young Women ponder and write about these questions during a quiet hour at camp one year. I wanted the girls and their leaders to feel as though we were sitting on the couch in my ... Read More