Sometimes I have to put my current photo by my old photo to keep reminding myself of where I started.  It helps remind me that bite by bite and mouthful by mouthful I can be right back into that size 26. 

Is my journey over?  Not by a long shot.  As long as I live I will continue to fight.  Life is easier now and full of wonderful surprises.  I am back to being GWEN again.

Tonight I found an online photo album that I had totally forgotten about.  By some miracle I was able to log in.  Right in front of me were photos I thought were gone. I cried tears of joy.  We have very few photos of the three of us "kids" together with Mama since we are grown. Now that Mama is gone these photos are so precious to us.  I found several taken 3 or 4 years ago after Mama first began to decline in health.  Cherish each day with your family.  You never know if you will have a tomorrow.

 

I am still amazed everytime I try on something different to wear.  I still see myself as a size 26 but the tags are saying 10 and 12.  You would think after 6 1/2 years my mind would have adjusted but so far it has not. This dress is a 9/10 and belonged to my late mother-in-law.  I never dreamed it would fit but before taking it to Goodwill I gave it a "try-on".  Low and behold if it didn't fit!

Mama left us a year ago today for her heavenly home.  She endured 9 months of chemo before her body said "no more".   Only 8 weeks ago my mother-in-law joined her in heaven.  

The past year has been a roller coaster of emotions as we learn to live alone for the first time in our lives.  So many times I find myself going into Mama's room to make sure she is ok only to find she isn't there.  I still catch myself saying "I need to tell Mama about that" but Mama isn't here to tell.   With the cold weather this week I would give anything to sit down with Mama and eat one more bowl of her chili.    Memories?  We do have memories.

 

I don't get to see my oldest brother very often.  He surprised us last night by coming down for the weekend.  It was the first time I had seen him since our Mama's funeral in January.  We all went out to eat together tonight.  It was fun sharing stories of growing up in "Hooterville".  You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy

It has been less than 10 months since we lost my own Mother to lung cancer. Wednesday afternoon we lost my mother-in-law.  A grand lady who turned 87 only the day before, she leaves us with empty hearts.  For the first time in our lives we are alone.  Bob and myself lost our Dad's 10 months apart and by some mystery our Mother's left us the same way--10 months apart. Life will go on and we will adjust. A new chapter  begins.

I can not believe I was able to fit my backside into a size 10 dress. I keep looking at the tag and telling myself it has to be a mistake.  Maybe it is only a number but for once I am in that number.

 

I am to tired to post very much but Atlanta was amazing.  I got a good look at my before and after photos tonight and I continue to be amazed.  I am still losing weight after 6 years.  For the very first time I see the drastic change.