Survival of the Fattest

Yes, I've put on some weight. At the moment, it's the main "vice" I allow myself. I've been on again-off again with computer games for several years now. I don't need to play computer games. However, I do need to eat. Just not as much as I have been. I've been tipping the scales further and further over the past two years. I'm ready to lose weight. For that matter, so are my knees. They don't seem to appreciate the extra weight. Something that helped me to put it into perspective was when I carried my son up the stairs the other night. It was much easier to go up the stairs without him, obviously. If I got down to a healthier weight, it would be the equivalent of walking up the stairs without my son. It really gets me to thinking. Sometimes.

The main exercise I am doing is racquetball once a week. Not a lot, I know, but it beats racquetball zero times a week. I'm looking into a new racquet, as I damaged the frame three months ago, and a string finally went on it last week. Fortunately, there is a place online that sells them (got my current one from them, as a matter of a fact). And some new racquetball gloves too, as I tore through both of mine in one week a while back.

More changes coming up. My oldest is finally going to make the switch to underwear. She's been doing the pullup thing for awhile, and just can't be bothered to use the potty, especially with so many other things going on. But the time is right. It will be nice to have the pullups out of the monthly budget. It will also be good for Esther, as it would really be good for her to be fully trained before going to Kindergarten this fall. My memories of elementary school are not pleasant ones. Kids can be brutal if they find something to pick on.

Well, enough of the negatives. Let's find some funny stories to tell as well. We were looking at pictures and videos from our digital camera this evening. We pulled up one of my youngest wearing a sombrero. When she saw the picture, she smiled and said, "Hat!" She is a sweetie, and very angelic (especially when she is sleeping).

My son is funny to listen to as well. He likes to repeat things he's heard in some of the videos and shows that he watches. His current favorites are, "Oh, my cabbages! You're going to pay for this!" and "Can't...hold...on...much...longer!" If I start saying the second one, he gets a small smile on his face (it reminds me a lot of his great-grandpa Bear) and then joins in with me.

Esther is reading more and more. It's sure exciting and rewarding for me to see.

Oh yes, I had another opportunity to perform my magic act this past week. On Memorial Day, we went up to a friend's house. Several family members were there, and a lot of kids! The younger kids really enjoyed it, as did many of the adults. There was one teenager in the group that was a bit of a cynic. She couldn't figure out how the last trick was done, and challenged and questioned me on it. I claimed that it was magic. She said that she didn't believe in magic, which I found a bit sad. Magic is everywhere, if you know where to look for it.

The true magic in life doesn't come from simple tricks and sleight-of-hand. It comes from the joys, pleasures, goodness, and beauty that God has created for us to enjoy. The mountains, the trees, the plants and animals, and most importantly, us, His greatest creations. That is where the true magic comes from. It is a gift from Jesus.