Angela Bates

Do any of you remember the classic 1945 movie, “The Lost Weekend” starring Ray Milland?   It’s about an alcoholic who after being sober for 10 years goes on a wild drinking spree for a weekend and the torment that causes for his life and his family.  Well that’s how I am referring to this past Memorial Day weekend.  I’m going to remember it for a long time to come, but I’m going to wish that I could forget it. 

Like the main character in “The Lost Weekend” I had been sober(from fats, sugar, red meats, etc.) for 100 days until this past riotous weekend.  I began my spiral out of control immediately after our weigh in on Friday morning.  To be honest I left the weigh in feeling slightly discombobulated.  I had idealized the final weigh in for so many months that no matter how well it went I don’t think it could ever have lived up to my fantasies.  Imagine how many times I dreamt of those final numbers while on the treadmill doing one more interval or on the bike for “just 5 more minutes”.  My numbers were good on Friday.  I had lost a total of 34 pounds, dropped my cholesterol from 196 to 149, and lost 4.5 inches off my waist.  So the problem with Friday was me– not the other women, or the numbers or the program– just me.  I was physically  tired and emotionally frustrated– not a good combination.  After some of the women’s cholesterol numbers came back as higher than they thought they should be I felt slightly disappointed for them and for the idea of trusting these numbers that I had been dying to know for 100 days.    Traci and Janet did a great job helping everyone be retested that could be and explaining to us what could have caused the discrepancies.  But I still left with an uncomfortable feeling.

As I drove home I was debating with myself the entire way if I would have my 100 day standard breakfast of a bowl of oatmeal and a banana or branch out and have something I couldn’t eat for the last 100 days.  Here’s were the alcoholic is about to take the first drink in the movie.  I decided to have a bowl of Lucky Charms– my very favorite cereal.  I offered a bowl to my 3 year old son and he said, “No thanks I’ll have ‘pinochio’”( his word for oatmeal).  You know that’s a bad sign when the 3 year old has better judgement than the 45 year old!

After the Lucky Charms came the candy bar our church had given me for Mother’s Day and I had faithfully saved for a time such as this.  Then came the homemade bread I made for the neighbors and ate half of the extra loaf by myself.  Then the 4 pathetic tootsie rolls– this is where the drunk is scraping the bottom of the barrell in the bar!  Tootsie rolls– I don’t normally like those under good circumstances — but this day wasn’t “under good circumstances.”

The biggest mistake I made that day was going shopping for a new outfit under the influence.  I should have been arrested right then and there for a “SUI”– Shopping under the influence –of junk food.  My 17 year old daughter and I went to a store that had a shirt I had been wanting for some time.  Now that I had lost 30 pounds I thought this was a good time– it would have been if I had not been an emotional wreck by this time.  To play it safe I took a large to try on.  I did not want to run the risk of trying on a medium and it being to small and that adding to the sad feeling I already was feeling.  I put my arms in the shirt and immediately could tell it was too small.  How could this be?  “I’ve lost 30 pounds,” I wanted to shout from the dressing room–”the large should fit.”  But before I could worry too  much about the shirt not fitting I realized that I was stuck in this shirt.  I could not get either of my arms out of the sleeves and my arms were now stuck behind my back.  I wiggled back and forth trying desparately to extricate myself– but no such luck.   I was having an “I Love Lucy” moment right there in the dressing room.  Right before I had to humiliate myself any further by calling to my daughter to bring in the “jaws of life” to get me out of the shirt I was able to get one of my arms out of the sleeve and free myself. 

This is the scene in the movie where the drunk would start wandering from bar to bar drinking himself  into a blackout.  Thank goodness my weekend took a better turn at this point and Greg took me to the Wellness Center for a workout.  That was just what I needed.  After working out Greg took me out for a very heart healthy dinner of salmon and fresh fruit.  The alcoholic was thinking about getting back on the wagon.  We also went to the mall and tried on several different outfits which ranged in size from 10 to 12– medium to large.  It helped me realize that numbers really don’t matter.  How I feel matters.  And I feel better eating well and exercising.

I wish I could tell you that the rest of the weekend went uphill from there but there were ups and downs.  I ran stadiums with 4 of my children on Saturday morning, but finished the evening by having a steak dinner with friends to celebrate the end of my heart challenge.  It would not have been too bad if I had not topped off the night by splitting a “Rocky Mountain Mud Pie” with Greg. 

Sunday marked our fifth child’s 13th birthday with a requested and well deserved Black Forest Cake.  I made it as heart healthy as possible.  We cut back on the oil,  used artificial eggs,  lite cherry pie filling and replaced the icing with fat free pudding.  It turned out great — too bad I had too many pieces of it. 

Memorial Day finished off this “lost weekend” with a  bang or a pathetic wimper depending on your perspective.  Our 15 year old son invited 30 people over to help finish his Eagle Scout Project.  We bought a lot of junk food to feed his friends.  There was more junk food in our house than has been seen in 100 days.  The project got finished and the junk food got eaten– unfortunately too much of it by me.  By five o’clock that afternoon our 11 year old said he felt sick.  No wonder I thought– it’s from all the junk.  But by 5:30 our 10 year old was also sick.  As each hour went by another family member succumbed to the stomach flu.  Until by 11:00 o’clock that night 11 of the 12 of us were violently ill.  We were afraid it was food poisoning, but we called to check with the others who had eaten with us and thank goodenss they were not sick.  It was just us– all of us– all 11 of us– only our 7 year old was spared.  So just as you would have expected a movie about an alcoholic’s tailspin into the gutter  to end –so our weekend ended with lots of throwing up and bodies sprawled all over the floor of our family room. 

I feel better today on all levels.  Being so sick made me grateful for real, healthy food today.  I was thrilled to be able to have a bowl of plain old Cheerios this morning.  I even went back to the store that was the scene of my humiliation and bought that cute yellow shirt in an extra-large.  It fit and I don’t care what size it is– I like it.   I plan on exercising again tomorrow and celebrating for the winner of the 100 day heart challenge.  People often complain about the ending of “The Lost Weekend” because it’s too unrealistic– too cut and dried– the alcoholic reforms and gets his life back.  My ending will not be so “picture perfect”, but like the man in the movie,  I will have lost one weekend, but not my entire life. 

Yesterday I went to get my hair cut, in a vain attempt to lose a couple more ounces before tomorrow morning (and because the two 90 degree days this week made me realize I did not want to deal with my hair this summer.)  One of the stylists noticed my weight loss and inquired as to what I was doing to get in shape.  I told her about the 100 day challenge and she began asking me more about it.  Several neighbors and friends have asked me questions about what I’m doing to change.  What program are you doing?  Have you lost weight?  What’s the secret?  Can you eat meat?  Can you eat carbs?  Do you have to exercise?  Do you have to change your diet?  Is it hard?  What’s the prize?  Do you think you’ll win?

I’ve got most of the answers down pat now.  But this stylist asked me the best question yet.  “What’s been your favorite part of the challenge?”  I had to stop and think for a minute.  What has my favorite thing about this last 100 days been?  Has it been the weight loss?  Has it been getting to know the other women?  Has it been having a goal to work towards?    Has it been the exercise?  Is it having more energy? 

 The first thing I said was — the exercise.  Did that really come out of my mouth?  Exercise – my favorite part?  I could not believe that’s what I said.  There really has been a change in me in the last 100 days.  Before this challenge I would not have said that I loved to exercise.  In fact, I’m not sure that I would say that I love to exercise now, but I have come to enjoy it while I’m doing it– maybe not before– but while I’m doing it and afterwards. 

A big part of my coming to love the exercise has been because of the support of Greg and our children.  Greg has been my exercise partner since day one of this challenge.  He’s been at the Wellness Center all different times of day and night so I could get in one more workout.  He’s been at the Bruin Bowl running stadiums and at the Richard’s Building running the stairs.  I know it’s not because he loves the exercise, but because he loves me. 

Our children have been so good about so many aspects of this challenge.  They haven’t complained about the empty treat cupboard, the lack of desserts, Mom being gone to take a walk, having to walk to school events instead of getting a ride,  the brown rice,  the brown bread,  or the stadium stairs they’ve climbed with me.  Especially our oldest children have made a real effort to be available and willing to babysit for us.  Every Monday I looked forward to telling them after school how much weight I had lost(or not).  They were always generous with their cheers and help in making it through the bad days–  “Oh come on Mom– think how exciting it will be to eat a jelly doughnut in Jerusalem– don’t eat one now!”

There have been so many parts of the challenge that I have enjoyed.  I’ve come to appreciate and admire the other women.  They have been so dedicated and generous with their support and friendship.  Traci, Josh and Jalaine have taught me alot of new information and always given lots of encouragement.  I’ve come to enjoy “blogging” because I looked  forward to my sister Marian’s comments from Pennsylvania each time I wrote.  She been my best long distance support for the entire 100 days of the challnge and the 45 years of my life. 

The more I thought about my answer I told the stylist, ”Actually my favorite part has been the support I have felt from my family, friends,  and the heart challenge team.   That’s made it all worth it.”  I’m grateful for being asked the best question  so I could remember the best answer is always found in relationships.  No matter what the results of tomorrow bring I know that the 100 Day Heart Healthy Challnge has been a success because of the relationships that have been strengthened and the friendships that have been made.  That’s the best outcome of all.

I was so excited in January when Janet Frank called to say I was selected to participate in the 100 day Heart Challenge.  Immediately I began making goals that I hoped to acheive through this process.  Naturally most of the goals  I set were concerning exercise and changing our family’s diet, but personally I decided to use these 100 days to memorize some scriptures.  I thought every week I could choose a new scripture and write it down on a piece of paper and hang it by my treadmill so I could see it every day.  I figured that after the fourteen weeks of the challenge I would have 14 new scriptures memorized.  

Well none of that happened.  I had good intentions (and we all know what road is paved with those!)  Adding regular exercise to my life, trips to the Wellness Center,  preparing healthy meals, blogging, and all the ordinary school and family activities left me with little extra time for memorization or anything else like cleaning our home or weeding our yard. 

But I heard a scripture quoted by an minister on the radio one day and it caught my attention.  It is 2 Chronicles 16: 9– “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,  to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” 

At first it meant alot to me as we sent our daughter to Nauvoo as a Young Performing Missionary.  There she was in little out of the way Nauvoo, but I knew that the Lord was aware of her– searching the whole earth– even Nauvoo — to give her strength and watch over her. 

More and more it became meaningful to me as I likened it to the 100 day challenge I was consummed with.  Heart health has become my watch word.  Our family talks about having heart healthy food and movement all the time.  I wonder as we approach the end of the competition– has my cholesterol changed,  is my blood pressure lowered, have I lost more of my unhealthy body fat.  There seem to be outward signs of a “healthy heart”, but what about a “perfect heart.”  Those statistics seem more difficult to measure.  Over the last 100 days I wonder if I have developed a more “perfect heart” — have I become less jealous, has my level of pride been lowered, have I raised my generosity levels, have I developed a bigger percentage of patience in my life.  

A biblical commentator said that the word “perfect” in this verse is the Hebrew word “tamam” which means “complete, mature, or healthy.”  It does not mean without flaws – the way we might think of the word.  It carries with it the idea that our commitment is complete to the Lord; not that our actions are always correct.   That gave me great hope.  I know I have a long way to go in achieving a more “perfect” heart in the eyes of the Lord, but my commitment is there to try and His strength is there to help me.

So it goes with the 100 day Heart Challenge.  My commitment is there to make my heart healthy, but my actions might not always be without flaw.  For example last Monday when I ate the three bowls of pudding I should not have eaten – I did not give up.  I moved on and tried to have a better day on Tuesday.  I know that my heart is definitely more “healthy” than it was 94 days ago and hopefully becoming a little more “perfect” with each day as well.

I have come to really appreciate the Wellness Center in the last 86 days.  I remember how nervous I was when I first was supposed to go and meet with Josh and Traci to learn the workout routine they had prepared for me.  I had walked and run before on a home treadmill.   Greg had bought our family an elliptical machine for Christmas, but I had not become familiar with using it by the time I started this program.  I was definitely not comfortable or familiar with weight machines.  I was worried that I would use them incorrectly or worse look like a total idiot trying to use them. 

Immediately when I first met with Josh,  he made me feel comfortable with my lack of knowledge about exercise and assured me that I would do just fine.  He walked me through all the equipment I needed to use and answered all my questions.  I have felt throughout this process that I could ask Traci or Josh any question I had and they would not only answer my concern, but leave me with a feeling of encouragement. 

So now I feel more confident in the Wellness Center.  I’ve at least tried most of the equipment once and grown very familiar with many of the weight machines and cardio equipment.  I can now program the treadmills for my intervals.  I’ve even used the tall chin up/ pull up machine that scared me the first time I got on it.  I still hate the stair step machine the most, but I use it because it’s supposed to help your gluts the most and thats my biggest(no pun intended) problem area.  I have incorporated new exercises in my routine by watching what others are doing while they exercise.  I’m constantly trying to increase the amount of weight I’m using or vary the types of exercise I’m doing.  That’s helped alot with my not becoming bored.  Our family is becoming more comfortable with trying new activities and staying fit together outside of the Wellness Center.

Greg and I have made the Wellness Center our weekly date night hang out.  Every Saturday afternoon or evening we are there getting in my ”last chance workout” before the Monday weigh in.  We appreciate that the center is open 24 hours/seven days a week.  We’ve been there pretty late sometimes.  We’ve even come to know some of the regulars that we see each week. Thanks to all the housekeeping stall of the hospital who keep the Wellness Center so clean– we’ve seen them on some late Saturday evenings.

The one thing I don’t care for in the Wellness Center is the mirrors on the wall.  I can’t tell you how often I have felt really good about my progress and am really running hard on the treadmill when I look over at the full length mirror on the wall and am frightened by the image I see looking back at me.  Who is that large woman running on the treadmill– Oh it’s me!  What’s the deal with needing mirrors.  I know for die hard exercise buffs they need to check their form and make sure they are doing an exercise correctly.  We’ll that’s not me.  So if any of you are great seamstresses maybe you could make full length curtains to cover the mirrors — then I could go on believing that I look as svelte as I feel in my own mind– without the rude reality checks those mirrors give me.

Hey, everyone. My name is Greer, and I’m Angela’s 17 year-old daughter (yes, Greer is a girl name, not a boy name, and yes, it is my first name… thought I would clarify ). I have been asked by my mom to blog for her today, however, I would like to give an advanced warning: I have been told by a teacher that I am a rather polemic writer, so if anything I say is controversial, you’ll have to just bear with me.

As I continue to grow up there are many things in life that seem to have much more work than they’re worth. Whenever I find myself stuck with writers’ block as I scramble to prepare a cross-examination for mock trial competitions, or whenever I feel like my arms are about to fall off from over-conducting during marching band performances, I tend to ask myself, “Okay, why am I doing this again? How come I keep putting myself through all of this? Is it really worth it?” However, the more I learn about the world in history and in current events, it becomes evident that I am not as poorly-off as I may tend to think I am. I would like to use an example from David McCullough’s book 1776.

When the Revolution first began, the American troops were labled “rabble in arms,” and “undeserving of the words ‘American’ or ‘army’.” In modern terms, they were pathetic. The only reason they had involved themselves in this conflict was for “the Cause,” and even that had varying definitions. There was no reasonable way for the Americans to defeat the world’s greatest militaristic powerhouse… so why did they even try?

 The situation only worsened when General Washington - the man fighting so valiantly to keep the straggling army together - was informed that “there was powder enough only for about nine rounds per man.” I am no military expert, but it doesn’t take expertise to know that that’s bad. The British had more than enough ammunition. The British had control of Boston. The British were the world’s most powerful army/navy….

I cannot even begin to imagine what thoughts went through Washington’s head as he surveyed the situation of his “army,” and began to ask the same questions that I - selfishly - ask myself. “Why am I here? Why am I doing this? What good can possibly  come from any of this pain I’m putting myself through? Is any of this worth the ‘Cause’ I’m fighting for? What is the ‘Cause?’”

 Without going into much detail - because I’m sure all of you have better ways to spend your time than to hear a high school student ramble about history - I will say one thing: The “rabble” army managed to obtain artillery, and to build up a series of strongholds overnight on the best ground outside of Boston… and there they drove the British out of the city. Despite their countless setbacks, the Americans somehow managed to win a victory that had previously seemed impossible. They had shown that their Cause, while it may be somewhat different from person-to-person, was worth the fight, the trials, and the pains.

That is how I feel that this 100 Day Heart Challenge is to my mom. It’s hard… incredibly hard. She runs stadiums, she works out for countless hours, she measures out correct portions… she does it all, and many of you other women who are involved with this program are, as well. What has made my mom (or you) stick it out through all of these hard times?

I would guess that the one way it is possible for my mom to make it through this program, for me to survive a marching band/mock trial competition, or anyone to live through any sort of struggles would be the reason given by Reverend Leonard the Sunday after the Americans managed to win back Boston. His sermon that day was based upon the scripture in Exodus (14:25) where the Egyptians say, ”Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them.”

Now, granted, my mom is trying to flee toward Israel, but the message is still the same. Through the hard times in our life - no matter what they are - the only way that we can manage to make it through is to rely on the Lord to “fight our battles for us.” I know that my mom has been relying heavily on the Lord’s mercy and help throughout this Challenge, and in that way she has set a wonderful example to me. In these last 19 days of the Challenge, I am certain that she will continue to allow the Lord to fight for her, and whether she wins or not, she will be victorious in faith along with her health.

As Washington once said, “When is the time for brave men to exert themselves… if this is not?” Good luck to all involved in the 100 Day Heart Challenge (especially my mom ), and continue to be brave and exert yourselves (literally) for the last 19 days!

I’ve been thinking alot about apples and oranges lately.  First of all, we eat alot more apples and oranges in our home than we used to.  I notice how often our children grab an apple, orange, banana, pear, or any other fruit we have in the kitchen for a snack now.  Before the 100 day challenge I would have told them to eat a piece of fruit for a snack, but they would have complained — asking if we did not have anything “better” to eat.  Now they pretty much know there are no chips, crackers, or candy on hand so if they’re hungry their best bet is a peice of fruit(or Hugh’s beloved quesidilla).  I’m ashamed to think of how often before this challenge we would have to throw out fruit that went bad before we ever got it eaten.  Now that never happens– in fact we can’t keep enough apples and oranges in the house.

In a more philosophical way I have been thinking about apples and oranges when it comes to my progress in this challenge.  You know the old saying, “that’s like comparing apples and oranges”– meaning you can’t make a  fair comparison between two very different things.  I’ve had to remind myself of that concept alot lately.  I’m aware of the  changes in my life that have come to me because of this challenge and most of the time I’m filled with gratitude.  I was wearing a size 18 pants on the first day of this challenge and now my size 14 pants are loose.  I’ve lost 25 pounds.  When we stared at the Wellness Center I could barely do 5 minutes on the stair step machine(I still hate that machine more that any other one!) and now I can do 40 minutes.  Before I would have eaten at least 3000 calories a day filled with candy and treats.  Now I consume about 1500 a day and that includes  more heathy vegetables and fruit and fiber.  And I’m starting to see developed muscles in my arms and legs.

You’d wonder then why I compare myself to other people and end up not being happy.  I see the progress of the other women in the challenge and wonder what they’re doing that I’m not to lose more weight.  Or I see other women in a store and wonder why it seems so easy for them to be in good shape.  I feel excited one minute to be in size 14 pants and then an hour later I feel discouraged that after all the work I’ve done I’m still this large.  I struggle with why I let myself gain so much weight in the first place.  Will I let it happen again after this challenge is over? 

I have to remember the apples and oranges.  This is a very individual challenge for all of us.  Even though we feel a part of this group and I really do feel glad to see the progress of all the women– I can’t compare my progress with anyone else.  My body is different than everyone else– no one is exactly like me in where they are coming from or where they are going during these 100 days and after.  So I need to enjoy the journey more and the results I’ve seen so far and stop comparing the apples and oranges!

Our oldest daughter, Hannah, moved home from BYU this week.  It’s good to have her home.   She had a great freshman year.   We all  missed having her in our home.  All of us are now vying for her attention.  The little children want to sit on her lap or have her see all their games and toys.  While the older children want to share their stories from high school and junior high and get her opinion on life.  It’s always been that way with Hannah.  From the time she was born she drew people to her.  As she has grown into a beautiful, talented young woman she continues to attract people to her.  Our time with her in our home is not long.  She leaves  this week to serve as a church service missionary in Nauvoo this summer playing her clarinet in the Nauvoo Brass Band.  We are excited for the opportunity she has to serve, but we’ll miss having her here. 

Hannah decided when she came home that she wanted to do something with all of us before she goes.  So on Saturday she took  her 5 brothers out for ice cream and spent the evening with her 5 sisters listening to their favorite radio program, “Showtunes Saturday Night”.  She had a special idea for spending time with me.  She decided to support me in the 100 day heart challenge by taking me to run “stadiums” with her.  “Stadiums” are when you run up and down the bleachers in a football stadium until you are exhausted.(That is my unprofessional definition)    Something you need to know about Hannah is that she has never– ever lacked energy.  When she was little Greg and I could barely keep up with her both physically and mentally.   Hannah can not be out done in determination.  If she is going to do something she will do it all the way.  If I thought Josh and Traci worked me  hard I knew Hannah would work me ten times harder.   So with trepidation I went with Hannah and ran all the bleachers in Mountain View’s Bruin Bowl  over and over.  Hannah could have easily run much faster and harder than I did, but she patiently waited for me so we could talk.  (Well I could only talk on the way down the stairs –I was too out of breath on the way up!)  It was a great workout.  It definitely involved  the interval training that Josh talks about.  My heart rate was way up as I ran up the stairs and came down as I walked between the sections of the stadium.  Hannah kept challenging me to do more and just try a little harder.  I told her 45 year old knees don’t handle stairs the same way 19 year old knees do.  Afler several trips up and down the stairs I started to feel more confident and began trying to race Hannah up the stairs.  A couple times I came close to catching her( I think she was slowing down to give me a chance).   It’s good for me to know I can learn new exercises and change up my routine.  It will help me not get bored with working out. 

Hannah said if I lost weight this week it would be due to our “stadiums” and that we’d have to go again.  Well I lost weight this week so I suspect Hannah and I have some more one on one time coming this week.   And that is just fine with me.   I’m more than willing to do it– not for the weight loss or the exercise — but to be able to get some more time with Hannah-the Terminator.

With less than a month left in the 100 day heart challenge,  I am realizing that I need to set new goals for myself to accomplish.  If I can lose nine more pounds this month(and that is a big “if”) I will have met the original goal I had for this 100 days which was a 30 pound weight loss.  But for my health I need to lose another 20 pounds and gain more muscle.    I’ll need at least another 100 days to work on that goal.  So I’m starting to focus on the goals I can acheive this summer.  Our children and I want to run in  the Orem Summerfest 5k.  For years I have wanted to hike Timpanogas and decided this would be a good year to do that.  Over our spring break our family hiked to the Y at BYU.   Our children could easily run up the mountainside, but it’s always harder for me.  This time was one of the easiest hikes for me.  I still had to stop often, but I recovered more quickly each time.   I’m sure we’ll do that hike a couple more times this summer.  So I’m beginning to focus on the next 100 days — I hope Traci doesn’t mind me still emailing my weight to her every Monday.  My family will have to think of a great prize to give me at the end of  my new 200 day challenge– I’m sure to win– since I’ll be competing with myself.

On Saturday evening our family celebrated the beginning of the Jewish holiday, Passover, by having a Seder meal in our home.  Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorates the deliverance of the Children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt.   A Seder service is a great family meal in which the story of the miraculous exodus from Egypt is retold through words and symbolic food.  Seder means “order”  and the meal follows a specific order in which the Passover story is recited by all those at the table.  It is a meal especially focused on the children because the Lord commanded in Exodus 13 that on this night we would tell our children what God did for us as He brought us from Egypt.   The food that is eaten helps to tell the story.  Of course there is matzah or unleavened bread which reminds us of the haste with which the Children of Israel had to make their bread as they fled Egypt.  There are four cups of wine, the fruit of the vine(grape juice in our house) which represent the four fold promise of redemption found in Exodus 6– “I will bring you… I will deliver you… I will redeem you… and I will take you.”  The roasted shankbone reminds us of the Paschal lamb that was killed to put blood on the doorways of the Israelites’ homes to protect them from the Angel of Death.  Horseradish, or bitter herbs, are a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.  A mixture of chopped apples, cinnamon, nuts and wine, known as Haroset is eaten  because it looks like the mortar the Israelites made as slaves.  Parsley dipped in salt water becomes a reminder of the tears shed by the Israelites in their bondage.  After the symbolic foods are eaten a family dinner is served and there is singing and rejoicing to remember that today we are free because of the deliverance of the Lord.  At the end of the meal a piece of Matzah which has been broken and hidden away, called the Afikomen,  is found by the children and redeemed for a price from the father leading the Seder. 

Our children look forward to this night every year.  We try to invite a family we know each year to our Seder.  The children help prepare the food and the house for our celebration.  I have decided that the Passover Seder is the first Family Home Evening that the Lord commanded His people to have.  As parents we are to teach our children from the scriptures, testify of the miracles He has performed for us, and celebrate with food — all of these are incorporated in the Seder meal.  As Christians, our family believes it was a Passover Seder that Jesus Christ used to institute the gift of the Sacrament or Communion.  It was this miraculous story of redemption Christ used to teach His disciples of His final act of redemption to save all mankind from the bondage and slavery of sin and death.  The broken bread redeemed at a price and the “cup of redemption”  in the Passover became literal symbols of Christ body and blood. 

It seems all the major world religions have feasts or celebrations in which food is used to teach us or remind us of something sacred.  Food therefore can be a sustenance to both our bodies and souls.  As I have progressed in the 100 day Heart Challenge I have become more aware of the role of food in my life.  Because I have been thinking of food so much( some days focused on what I can eat and some days obsessed with what I could not eat) and recording everything I eat–I have tried to put food into its proper perspective in my life.  It is a great gift to have healthy food to eat and such an abundance of it in the United States.  It is a great fuel for my body to be able move and function properly.  It does not need to be my source of comfort when I’m upset, angry, lonely, or bored.  It seems I am making my own journey from bondage to food to the freedom of enjoying food as nourishment for a healthy body.  My journey to health will not be so miraculous as the Passover(it might take me 40 years in the desert),  but I will tell my children for years to come the gratitude I feel for being able to participate in 100 days that changed my life.  “Next Year in Jerusalem!”

This weekend was full of celebrations.  Friday night our very good friends, Mary and Calvin, invited us to join them at a 60th birthday party for the State of Israel that the American-Israeli Alliance club from UVU was holding.  You know how excited I was to be invited to a birthday party for Israel.  What perfect timing!  Everday I walk, run,  lift weights and sweat all to go see Israel and here I was invited to celebrate the nation’s birthday on my birthday weekend.  That’s right– Sunday was my bithday, so as I went to the party for Israel it felt like Israel and I were celebrating together.  (Israel’s actual birthdate is May 15, 1948 but this was the date UVU was able to celebrate.) Surely this is some sort of metaphysical sign of destiny– Israel and I are meant to be together this year–right?

Several things this weekend seemed to stand in the way of my destiny.  First was the cheessecake they served at the Israeli party.  I did a good job choosing from the buffet line– I picked chicken and salad– I passed on the mashed potatoes and gravy.  The desserts were tempting.  At each place setting they gave us a slice of cheesecake and one large chocolate dipped strawberry.  I decided I could eat some of the cheesecake — I had three bites– after all it was Israel’s birthday– I had to celebrate!  But I passed on the strawberry. 

Little did I realize that the temptations had just begun.  My loving neighbors began bringing treats to celebrate my birthday.  Before Sunday was over, two chocolate cakes had arrived — one still warm from the oven– and one large Hershey bar(my favorite being a Pennsylvania girl).  The children divided up the candy bar and the cakes.  It was a good weekend for them!  I did have a sliver of the warm chocolate cake and it was delicious.

Our children gave me a map of Israel as a birthday present. I will hang it in front of my treadmill as a reminder of my “destiny” for this year.   One of  Greg’s presents to me was going to the Wellness Center to workout on Saturday evening.  He’s been very patient and supportive during these 60 days.  We don’t seem to get a date night anymore unless it’s to the Wellness Center.

 As I stepped on the scale at the Wellness Center this morning I was worried that perhaps my weekend of celebrations would catch up to me, but luckily I had still lost some weight.  It seems my “karma” is good right now– Israel and I are destined to be together.