Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Mar 12th A Peach Tree Named Frosty


This journey to health is not a "success only" deal. Well, at least not for me. And from what I read out there in Bloggyland, not for lots of ya'll. We have our ups and downs. But WE. KEEP. GOING.

Three years ago in my back yard we planted a little peach tree. We had such high hopes for Frosty (yes, we actually named her; and yes, she's a girl). The first year, we had 3 absolutely DIVINE peaches. No comparison whatsoever taste-wise with store bought. Heavenly!



Then, the trials started. 

My husband had worked in a peach orchard as a teen, and thought he knew "enough" to successfully do this. Uh, it was harder than we thought. 

Long story short: surprise low temps killed most of the buds one year; some bugs ate up others one year; we didn't prune correctly and lost some key branches another year... on it goes.

But we haven't given up on Frosty. While she doesn't look very lush and promising on top, under the ground her roots are growing deeper. We feed and water her, and do our best with what we know at the time. And have hope for improvement in fruit yield, this coming year.

And so it goes with this weight loss journey. 

I had done this weight loss thing SO many times in my life, I thought I knew "enough" to successfully do it this time. But yes, it was harder than I thought. I won't repeat all the set backs here... that's not the point.

The point is: I haven't given up. 

I'm working on "feeding and watering" my mind, body and spirit, and have hope that in due season, I will have some good fruit.

In the meantime, I've made mistakes; had setbacks; detours; weight regains; weight losses; then regains... sigh. I've been sorting out some "stuff", with not a lot to say here. :-}

Yes, I've been discouraged lately. But I can stay there, wallowing in self-pity. Or, I can replace those thoughts with good stuff... and choose to Believe. 

Not much else to say. I gotta just keep going.  Because some days the Fear Dogs nip at my heels, barking at me that it's too late, and I'm just fooling myself. And that's scary.

Please, God, give me what it takes to keep going, to Believe, and to succeed.




My book quote for today:  "Discouragement destroys hope... When discouragement  tries to overtake you, the first thing to do is to examine your thought life. What kinds of thoughts have you been thinking lately? ... You become what you think. Think discouraging thoughts, and you will get discouraged. Change your thinking and be set free!" --Joyce Meyer, from Love Out Loud

My verse for today: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

My quote for today: "What is to give light must endure the burning." --Viktor Frankl


Enjoy the Journey (or at least, don't QUIT the journey til you can enjoy it again!),

Loretta
=^..^=

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that and it is so true and something I needed to hear today. New follower. Please visit my blog if you want.

Retta said...

Thanks, Crystal. I'm glad you found it helpful. Headin on over to visit you now. :-)

Jules said...

Oh my dear friend. We r on such a similar path. Today I wrote about believing too and my garden post is coming up this week. Ahhhhhh. Just gonna keep going

Traveling Light said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Retta said...

Yes, Jules. Very similar. And in "gonna keep going", I think we are approaching it similar. Not with a whip-cracking attitude, but with love and acceptance.

Retta said...

I know what you mean, Deb. I was thinking of going back to what did in the very beginning. It was simple, and MY way, not anyone else's opinion. And it worked for me. I forced it, instead of letting it grow naturally. So... back to basics.

MargieAnne said...

For once I'm doing good ... not sure about weight but my eating is OK although not tracking might be risky.

How did I get here? Soaking in godly music helped greatly.

Don't always want to do that but I am sticking my earplugs in for 30 minutes before going to sleep. Anything thatworks is good.

Blessings

'Yellow Rose' Jasmine said...

No kidding- just today I was woke up thinking that I should check on Rettakat today, go find her with her art and leave her a comment. That kind of thing happens to me though- I think of someone I haven't seen for a long time and then I see them within a day or two. This is my version of 'seeing' you, I guess!
I so hope for success and freedom for you! You deserve it and I know you can get there. It is important to find your own way for it to work, I think. I get so many people who look down on me and say that my own weight loss won't last because I don't do it their way and then I watch them regain and falter while I keep plugging along... It has been just over 2 years at goal for me and it is still work and I still struggle on occasion- sometimes more than others! While we probably never will just cruise along, I do believe we can change ourselves to the point that it does get easier with time and habits.
It all starts inside and that's where you are already ahead, I do believe. Your time will come and I hope to be privileged enough to witness all that comes to you when it does.
Take care my dear and keep that loveliness that is you, for always.

Retta said...

I love your idea, MargieAnne. In fact, lately I've been collecting some beautiful "soaking" type music, and have it on my ipod. I was listening first thing every morning, and it set the tone for the day. How dumb to let that habit slip!! Thanks for the great reminder. :-)

Retta said...

Two years at goal... how wonderful! And that is encouraging to read, thank you.
Some days I think there has been no inner change at all... other days I can see some progress. I need to keep my eyes forward, in the right direction!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Jasmine.

mamajuliana said...


just what I needed to read today! Your a blog angel, let me tell ya. Onward together!

Retta said...

How kind of you to say, Juliana! :-)

Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

Thanks for the encouragement. Now I see I'm not the only one feeling down. I've been on this journey for only 30 days and find the cravings still biting at my heels. I see I just have to pull up my big-girl panties and keep moving.

Retta said...

Hey, you are doing great. I could never do it the way you are. Moderation and me don't mix, LOL! I had to get the sugar OUT of my system before cravings for it subsided. So don't be too hard on yourself. I know you'll work out the bugs, and find a path that is unique to you that will work. I've been tweaking it from day one. As I learn more, I can do more. Or at least know what doesn't work and STOP doing that, ha ha.
You guys are approaching it smart... making small changes as you feel ready. My hat is off you you!

debby said...

Good to hear from you Loretta. And yes, just keep going. The fact that you have sugar out of your system is a super accomplishment.

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