Happy Birthday, to me.

There's something to be said for doing what you want on your birthday.  After putting in a full day of school on Wednesday, my family and I went to Applebee's for dinner, where I was able to get a free entrée because I'm part of their email club.  The dessert was a free hot fudge sundae shooter, which I gave to Adam to eat!  I wasn't planning on having any kind of dessert, and after Applebee's we went to swimming lessons at the Y.  Afterwards, I decided that wanted to stop at a local chocolatier and get a treat.  I did get a few small things for my family, however for myself I got peanut brittle, peanut butter candies, and some espresso mix (chocolate covered espresso beans, basically).  All of them were delicious, but I couldn't finish the peanut brittle, or the espresso mix.  My eyes were definitely far bigger than my stomach, but it was something that I wanted to do.  Not exactly what I should have done, but it enjoyed it nonetheless.

The problem came later.  Actually at about 1:30am, to be more precise, when my left foot/ankle decided to get a cramp.  Not fun.  I have found in the last 6 months that when I over indulge on sugar, I get night cramps (and sometimes day cramps, depending on when the indulgence happens).

What did I learn from this?  Nothing really.  I knew they would give me cramps, but I did it anyway.  I continued to make the mistake, even though I knew it would happen.

Lisa has pretty effectively cut out sugar from her diet, and I have been letting it in far too often.  One could say that nutrition wise, I have fallen from grace.  But thankfully, I know the way back.

What happens when we fall from the grace of God?  Actually - that doesn't happen!  Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  His love is unconditional, but ours is fickle, and we sometimes forget that we cannot be separated, and instead we focus on the earthly desires and distractions that make us feel like we have lost our way.

The amazing thing is, when we focus on Heaven, on Christ, those earthly desires fade away, and those distractions resolve into chances for ministry.

So, Monday, I start again; see if I can get to that 15%.  First day of the rest of my life, and all that....

...

All right - that's all I've got!