Completing the Impossible

Over the last several weeks, I've had many a task that has seemed too great to bear.



I've whined.



I've complained.



And I've even cried about said tasks.





Exactly five weeks and one day ago, I began a 'Family Contest'. It was inspired by Jill and I pitched the idea to my family. Many of us signed up to compete. And what a competition it has BEEN!



Here are the rules to the contest. For everything you complete, you earn one point with a total of 42 points a week.



No eating past 7:30 pm

7 hours of sleep a night

At least 30 minutes of exercise a day

No overeating of any kind. No seconds.

No treats

8 - 8 ounce glasses of water a day.



The competition ends this coming Saturday (the 25th). So far, I have only lost a total of three points. Sadly, it looks like I won't be winning. I chose to eat past 7:30 one evening to attend a bloggers' dinner (totally worth the point sacrifice, by the way). I chose to share dessert with John at our favorite restaurant on his birthday. And I chose to have dessert at Easter.



I don't care that I'm not going to win. And I mean that. I don't think I have ever in my LIFE been as healthy as I feel today or done as well with my eating as I have done as of late. I never thought it would be possible. Even when I did Weight Watchers, I'd have days where I'd totally binge (remember the Saturday Splurge?). NOT GOOD! The only time I can think back where I was probably as healthy as I am now was when I was engaged to be married. I worked out constantly and gave up treats. Until... we went on our honeymoon cruise and I gained a whopping 8 pounds. Yowza!



But like I was saying, the 'win' for me has been about doing something I didn't think I could do. I've stuck with the contest and the exercise and the monotonous water drinking (with the constant peeing included) and... I did it. I completed the impossible task. Or... at least what I thought was impossible.





But wait! That's not all...



I was recently called to be the 'Choir Director and Ward Music Specialist' for my church. I have to admit that I wasn't the tiniest bit thrilled. But I know the calling came from the Lord and for 'whom the Lord calls, He qualifies'. I put my faith in the Lord and went to work. Leading the music in church (which I feel anyone can do) is a lot easier than directing the choir--let's just put it that way.
My mom is an accomplished composer who has her own choirs. I grew up watching her lead and direct her music my ENTIRE life. She made it look SO EASY!!! Well, guess what??!!!

IT'S NOT!

Luckily for me, she agreed to come help me once a week. She gave me lessons in directing and helped me through all the hard moments. She even filled in when I was without an accompanist. She gave of herself and for that I am SO GRATEFUL! I couldn't have done it without her.

The week before the Easter choir performance, I was literally sick to my stomach. And besides that, who in their right mind wants to lead the choir with their butt facing the audience? Talk about adding insult to injury!

But guess what? I pulled it off. With the support of the choir members, the accompanist, and so many others, we actually sounded good! Even GREAT, dare I say! It was such a relief to sit back down and have it OVER WITH (and to also have my butt not facing the audience anymore). And not only that, but I was just so pleased with myself that I did it. I accepted the calling and pushed through. I completed the IMPOSSIBLE.

And one more thing? Our Stake Conference was on Sunday. Stake conference has been an element in my life that I have avoided numerous times because of the sheer pain it is to manage two small children for TWO LONG hours. Was Faith horrible? Why, yes! Did she color all over John's white dress shirt? Why, funny you should ask! Yes. Yes, she did. Did she chew up 5 crackers at once in her mouth and then spit them all out in a wet cracker heap?
Why, that would be a big, fat 'Yes'.
Oh, but surely Levi was well-behaved, you're saying. Surely that sweet boy wouldn't cause any trouble whatsoever!! Well, you would be mostly wrong, my friends. Mostly WRONG! Though Levi is actually a pretty great kid, he must have announced his boredom and sheer exhaustion from sitting there at least 20, 000 times. And at one point, he put his hand on Faith's forehead while Faith's arms were outstretched trying to reach him so that she could slime her boogers and chewed up cracker paste on his shirt. I can't say I blame him, really. I used to do the same forehead trick with my very annoying little brother. It works every time!

Did we make it the full two hours? YES! I even think I may have come away with tiny tidbits of goodness from the meeting!

Miracles can happen, friends.

And do I say any of this in a braggy tone? If you knew me AT ALL, you would know the answer to be a big fat 'NO'.

Because if you know me, you KNOW the following about me:

• I have never in my life been able to turn down treats. No second helpings? Um, what's that you say?
• I am horrible at stepping out of my comfort zone. I'd rather die, in fact, than do something I'm not used to doing. Any time I EVER started a new job, I'd be ill for the first month. It's a fact.
• Stake Conference? Yeah, I've used it as an out many a time. If there was an excuse, I'd think of it. If the kids sneezed the morning of stake conference, I would announce to the entire family that surely we were MUCH TOO sick to attend Stake Conference. And after all, us not going would surely be for the good of everyone else. I mean, we certainly wouldn't want to make others sick, now would we?

I've had a tiny little thing waiting for me to make my recent hellish (but also very REWARDING) weeks worth my time.

I have a picture. And it was taken with my cell phone which doesn't do it justice.

(My lack of a camera has been another thorn in my side. I recently found out it is LOST at the facility that is supposed to fix it. Nice.)

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Thanks again for the candy rocks, Jeanelle! I've been eyeing them since Easter.

And don't worry. There will be no Saturday Splurges (Or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday splurges either). What impact would all this work I've been doing the last few weeks have on me if I ate all this in one sitting? I'd erase it, I tell ya. So... I plan on having a tiny treat now and then.

And I'm going to start wtih the Marshmallow Easter egg I've been hoarding since they first came out.

Oh my goodness!!! I can't WAIT until Sunday!