Worth It All

On July 15, 2001, I found out what 'liquid love' is!  When you experience the birth of your first grandchild, that's what you feel.  There's no other feeling to describe it.  I thought I knew what love was when I gave birth to my two children, but knowing that my baby was now giving birth to
her baby, oh wow!  Tears of joy.  Tears of happiness.  Tears of overlowing at this miracle
of life who was so tiny, yet so perfect.  My "Sunshine", Autumn Rayne Henderson.

Needless to say, I was a proud "gram".  My grandbaby lived about five minutes away.  I
could go see her every day.  But then something happened.  When she was about 18 months
old my daughter Joy and her husband Cory went to "visit" a church in Panama City, Florida,
about 2 1/2 hours away from Milton.  Little did I know this "visit" would turn my world upside
down.

A few weeks after this "visit" they told the family they felt God was calling them to be youth
pastors at Callaway Assembly of God.  I was devastated, heartbroken, and overwhelmed.
My perfect little world was unraveling right before my eyes. 

You see, I'm very family oriented.  Our families all live within 5 to 10 minutes from us, and I
guess I  take that for granted.  So when Cory and Joy broke the news to us, it felt like they
might as well be moving to another planet.  I cried and cried about this decision.  I let God
know about it too.  I told Him how unfair it was.  I reminded Him Sunshine was my first
grandbaby, and that I wouldn't be near to watch every day events in her life. 

But then He reminded me of something.
They weren't moving to another state.
They weren't moving to another country.
They were only moving a few hours away.

Another thing also happened that changed my heart attitude.  I was coming home from
work one day and a song by Rita Springer, "Worth It All" came on the radio that I'd never heard before.  Coincidence?  No, I don't think so.  I think God was speaking directly to me, heart to heart.  I had to pull over off the side of the road and bawl my eyes out.  It became my "heart
song", and to this day it still makes me cry.  It's that special to me.  I'd like to share the words
with you and let you know that if you're going through something, God knows all about it...
and He cares.  He truly does.

"WORTH IT ALL" by Rita Springer

I don't understand Your ways
Oh but I will give You my song
Give You all of my praise
You hold on to all my pain
With it You are pulling me closer
And pulling me into Your ways

Now around every corner
And up every mountain
I'm not looking for crowns
Or the water from fountains
I'm desperate in seeking, frantic believing
That the sight of Your face
Is all that I need
I will say to You

It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this

You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this

In August of 2011 my children did move to another state.  God called them to be youth
and young adult pastors at Christian Life Assembly of God in Columbia, South Carolina.
We drove with them and their belongings, and another grandbaby, my precious grandson
Easton Alexander Henderson, who was born September 19, 2007.  Another miracle
baby.  More tears.  Bittersweet.  Excited for this new move in their lives, but sad at knowing
that now they're 8 1/2 hours away.  A heavy heart letting them go, but knowing "it's gonna be worth it all."

Determined To Make A Change

It's funny that my first blog post would be about changing.  Changing my eating
habits, getting rid of the sugar and junk food in my life, and getting healthy.  And
that, folks, takes determination.

I come from a family of small people.  My mom probably weighs 110 pounds.
My sister probably weighs 100 pounds.  My daughter probably weighs 95 pounds.
My aunts are not very big either.  You get the picture.  When I married my husband
at 17 I only weighed 108, but I thought I was big even then.  Boy, what I would give
to go back to that weight.  I started putting on the pounds in my 30's, and that's
when the real fun began.  I got so desperate that I went to a doctor and got the
weight loss medicine, fenfluramine/phentermine, better known as fen-phen.  I
lost weight, but then the scare came out about heart problems.  I prayed to God
that nothing was wrong with my heart.  As far as I know to this day I am perfectly
healthy.  I've tried dexatrim, rasberry ketones, green tea supplements.  You name
it, I've probably tried almost everything, but my weight has yo-yoed.  I've gradually
put on a few pounds every year, but this past year my weight has escalated to
the most I've ever weighed.

You might wonder if I exercise.  Yes.  I can keep up with the best of them.  Our
church has an exercise class two times a week with circuit training and I love it.
You might wonder if I overeat. The anwer is no.  My husband will tell you that if
anything, I don't eat enough.  It's very frustrating!  I'm one of those people that if
I just think about food, the weight seems to pack on.  For real!

When your clothes start getting smaller, you're in the biggest size you've
ever been in, and you refuse to go to a larger size, you make a conscious
decision that you're either going to accept your size, or you're going to do
something about it.  I chose the latter.

Today I started a detox.  I'm removing sugar from my diet.  I'm a sugar and
carb eater.  I crave sweets, especially chocolate.  I am going to drink more
water and less coffee.  I'm going to eat healther foods instead of fried or
fast foods.  If I don't do this, I don't have anyone to blame but myself. 

I want to have a better self image about myself.  I want to be able to pick out
any of the clothes I have and look good in them.  I'm not talking about being
a skinny girl, just a healthy girl.  I want less weight on my feet so they don't
hurt.  Overall, I am in good health, but I could be in even better health if I lose
this additional weight that's creeped on over the years, and then jumped on
this past year.

I am asking God to help me have wisdom with the foods I eat, to make the
right choices so that my cholesterol, blood pressure, and my overall health
is the best it can be.  With His help, my determination and will power, I believe
that this time is going to be different.  I have a goal to achieve! 

Debbie :)