glimmers of grace

People magazine had an interesting cover last week, so I bought it to read on the plane."Half their Size" is the title, and the issue highlights 15 success stories of no surgery weight loss. I've been sitting here reading it...pretty good reading. In addition to the 15, they review stories from previous years, and also have a first ever weight loss contest with 8 people in Mississippi. My favorite story, though, is one entitled "Bloggin away 166 lbs." HA. Now THAT has me interested. I had no idea that typing burned so many calories! "Lynn Bering tracked her three-year weight-loss journey online, from her first Thanksgiving on a diet to finally being able to wear a sleeveless top." She had reached 296 pounds and now she is 130. WHEW. Way to go Lynn! She did it through the Weight Watchers online program. Her story is here. And from there you can link her blog which is truly interesting because now she is famous and on CNN and meeting Oprah...all due to being newly thin. And she's a new grandma, and that's good reading too. You know, on a cold day (a *really* cold day --4 degrees currently, with windchill in the negative twenties) in Wisconsin, this blogging world could really keep me happily reading right here snuggled up on the couch. It's fascinating to get into an ordinary person's life and read the mundane and especially to see the humor one can find in a plain old day...

Two other books have joined me on the couch, just in case my eyes get tired of the screen. colin cowie chic was found in Saratoga Springs at Borders, but I just bought it yesterday, partly because I wanted to use a 30% coupon, and partly because I didn't want to haul one more thing on the plane. The book is by one of the most "sought after event planners in the world." The subtitle is "the guide to life as it should be" which grabbed me. I loved the introduction, which includes, "Whether I'm at home, in the office, or traveling, I always go that extra mile to treat myself and the people around me with the same amount of generosity, courtesy, and mindfulness that I'd like to receive from them. Style is all about being conscious: of yourself, of your surroundings, and especially of the people in your life, both friends and strangers." The hard cover book is full of lists, pictures, hints, on how to have a less stressful life, from how to host a dinner party, how to pack a carry on bag, what to stock in your bar, etc. Just interesting reading. I have quite a selection of "nesting" books as I call them. I love organization, I love home, I love the thought of a personal style, which, actually, I think I have a good start on... anyhow, books like this encourage me to tackle a mess, and then there's one less mess tomorrow... In fact, I'm going to go get butter out to soften, because (a) the kids will love homemade chocolate chip cookies in their lunches, and (b) the kitchen sink area is grimy, and while the cookies bake I'll get some graciered styling going in there. Ha. Scrubbed, things in place, and functional beauty...that's my style. (with a lot of leather, quilts, plants, books and baskets thrown in along the way...) Now, the trick is to combine baking chocolate chip cookies with the willpower to lose some weight (no, I don't need to lose enough that I'll qualify to meet Oprah -- thank you Jesus!)
Also at Borders yesterday I found glimmers of grace: sparkling reminders to encourage you. Since I love my name and love to collect "grace" things, I had to pick that up too. Plus it's a Women of Faith gift book, and promises to contain some lovely thoughts. One blurb on the back states. "Given or received, grace is an act of generosity, a thoughtful note, a kind word. Most of all , grace is God's gift of love to us and, in turn, one of the nicest gifts we can give to others."

So, that's what I'm up to on this frigid Sunday afternoon/evening. This afternoon the couch was splashed with sun (glorious wall of southern exposure windows in the living room) so I napped in a sun puddle, very toasty warm. Very decadent and luscious. Now it's quiet, the tea will soon be brewed, and while the butter softens I'll putter in my world of reading.