Wow - I didn't realize how long it's been since I've posted - sorry about that!! Things are going tremendously well!! I've had a few more bouts with stuck food - which really stinks while it's happening and for about 24 hours afterwards, but the way I look at it is, if this is the worst of it - I am golden!! I keep trying to remind myself that I need to really really chew my food. You all know I love to talk... so the whole eating and talking thing... I need to work on!! Let's see I am creeping closer and closer to the under 200 mark!! I have 18 pounds to go... aahhh!! That's sooo exciting for me!! I have been trying to only weigh myself once a week. I actually toyed with the idea of giving up the scale for Lent... but I just knew I would NEVER be able to keep that one!! So I'm trying to only weigh once a week (although I have weighed myself twice since coming home from VT this past weekend - whoops!) I was on retreat last weekend again with the other half of my 10th graders and I had a really cool, yet funny NSV (non scale victory for those of you who forgot what it stands for!) So I had 4 peer ministers with me (God Squad they like to be called!) I love all my peer ministers and have grown really close to them. Well, Connor, who's a hoot and a half was one of them this weekend. I gave a talk on Saturday night on receiving God's love and finding God in the good times and bad times. Well, I had pictures that I showed during my talk as I talked about my beautiful nephew Cameron! After my talk and some processing we transitioned into the saturday evening prayer. This year we did an Emmaus Walk (well really an Emmaus sit!) It was AWESOME and so powerful!! Connor asked to be my partner during the prayer experience. So we set off to find a quiet corner for prayer and as we went to sit down Connor says to me "Hey Kate, I'm not sure this will come out right, but wow - you're really slimming down!! I mean i've heard you say how much you've lost but I see you like a few times a week so I guess I haven't really payed much attention cause ya know I am a dude - but looking at the pictures you showed us.. WOW!!" Now, I haven't been too comfy lately with the attention and acknowledgement of my shrinking body... I am finding that I am becoming more and more self conscious the more I loose. But, Connor is actually the first teen to say anything to me. It was just really a heartwarming comment he said!

I am super excited for this Lent. In the last 4 years Lents been over and I've realized I've missed the entire season. So this year I am really focusing each day on Lent. I'm really excited and just feel it's going to a great one not only cause I am focusing so much on it, but also because i am on such a life changing journey right now. I've found myself going deeper in prayer even before lent began. I've had a lot of soul searching to do since surgery and i've relied heavily on God for helping me with my insecurities as well as to give me the strength to change lifestyle patterns and habits. Jesus has been my little running partner everyday!! (yes you read that correctly - RUNNING!) I LOVE to run now!! So much that I actually just signed up for the Groton Road Race (but I'll blog about running another day.) My daily run has become an awesome prayer experience for me. Each day Jesus and I go off for a little 2-3 mile jaunt in different places... lately a lot of running on the beach or through the mountains. (all imagery... i have a treadmill!) It's been VERY cool!!

I am happy and healthy and getting stronger and stronger each day. I am so excited to see what the future holds... it's still hard to not picture me as the fat 293 pound Kate that I once was... but in time I am sure I will...