Josh and Keri

So I was pretty much extremely bored at work today….and I already wrote a blog about what was on my mind……when I realize that my husband has yet to post a blog on OUR BLOG.

Let me just help him out a bit. As most you you know Josh did a Vitamin K study where he was only allowed to eat food that the Study provided for him. This lasted for Two Long months. About the time we started our blog the study came to an end.

Now Josh being the wonderfully smart person that he is….decided to start a blog to inform everyone just exactly and how much he ate during those few months. However, this included a lot of math. And not that Josh does not like math because in fact he does. But he started several project for school and was unable to complete his entry informing you all what he ate. Now while I’m sure you are all just busting at the seems to know what he ate and the exact amounts…..it may take awhile for him to provide this information.

So while I invade his blog and pretend to be him with out him knowing I am writing this…..he he he. I love getting away with things like this!!!!! I will simply tell you that the food he ate was NOTHING compared to my homemade cooking…..and boxed cookie mixes!!!!!

Perhaps one day you will hear from Josh himself……but now that i’m leagally his wife…..I can talk for him.

I don’t know when he will read this, but I bet it will be a while!!!!!

Okay so bye

keri

As a christian how many times are you asked this question. The challenge always comes when they come back asking about all the tragic things in this world.

What if we could help them see a smaller world? Why are we as humans so self centered some times. I can not answer how God works in the tradgedy of life, but I can show people how he works in my life. What if I make it a point to write down every single time I see or hear God in my life. A bit much…Perhaps. So how about one story to begin with?

You notice God in the big things right. Times of trials and hardships when you cry out to him with all you have inside of you begging him to just understand and safe you from this from this world.

Yesterday I was blessed to by his works in such a small way I almost missed it. For two weeks now I’ve missed all my friends and family. People I used to talk to everyday and not only talk to once in a while. I missed the friendships with those who shared my faith and could truely speak to the inner most parts of my heart when I was in need. I missed being surrounded by those who spoke truth and not lies. And while I may have told a few friends how I greatly missed them no one knew the depth of my pain. Not even I.

I forgot to pray. “You may ask HOW is that possible??? Don’t you know when you need something you should always take it to God on your knees……Come on Keri how long have you been a christian???” I didn’t even know I needed anything….I just thought that was life. I thought I just needed to be more proactive in finding friends myself. Which I have no problem doing….but non had shared my faith and that left a lonely feeling. So what is this all getting to?

Last night, I stood talking to a co-worker, who is a Jewish follower. We talked of faith and giving to others and having a heart for people. In talking she mentioned her neighbor who was a “Born Again Christian.” And the most giving lovely person she ever knew. We kept talking and both of us just had this incredible feeling that I had to meet this woman. I passed along my phone number and now I wait for a call to meet this woman.

In that moment I was filled with such hope and just this incredible knowledge of knowing I was being taken care of……even though I never knew I needed it.

Christ encourages us to pick our friends wisely. Not only so that we will not stray away from truth…..but so that our Needs may be fufilled. If you seek you shall find…..and sometimes even when you forget to seek…..God may come knock on your door with help!!!! What an amazing God I serve, who would know my needs and desires before I even know them. And not only that he would know them…but that he would provide for them!!!!

These are simply my thoughts. But I’m amazed at how God works sometimes, and I know that is not a fluk thing. But that God is truely working in my life and providing for my needs.

I love you God and thank you for all you do for me each and every day. PRAISE THE LORD ALL MY SOUL!!!!

Being goofy

This is me now

To tell ones story, openly and honestly is to bring truth into the light, and make Satan’s hold broken! I share my story openly with you, because not only do most you deserve the truth, due to all the love you given me, but because I believe that everyone can learn from someone else’s story.

As most of you know, I have an eating disorder. At 17 years old I was at my highest weight of 170lbs, at the time I didn’t realize it but I was on several different medications that caused me to gain weight rapidly. In high school, I was the funny, dramatic, outgoing one….but never the pretty one. I was told by several people I would never date unless I lost some weight. Luckily that was not the most important thing to me in high school. So what was the changing point? I think it was the moment my father kicked me out of his house for reasons that seem so silly. In that moment I placed reality in two lies, one that I would never be good enough, and two I had no control over things.

I believe that those two lies were embedded in my mind and became my greatest ali. The first steps I took towards losing weight was going to Meijer and buying huge bottles of Ephedrine riddled Diet Pills. I started taking them and found a whole new energy. I started a new eating regimen, with an instant breakfast milk dring, half an apple and half a yogurt for lunch, and for dinner half of whatever was made. I went to the doctors and demanded to be taken off all the meds. With in a period of five months I dropped 40lbs.  And felt great, I started getting this whole new attention and I felt great about myself, and I had one thing I could control.

I took at the most 3 diet pills 3x a day and at the worst was only eating dinner. This process lasted through the last half of my junior year and my entire Senior year. A lot of lies were told, but mostly to myself, I hurt a lot of people I loved, and caused others to worry.

Going off to college you hear about the freshman fifteen, and to someone who had worked so hard to lose weight, that was a terrifying thought. I went on crash diet before college and at my smallest was 105lb. I thought this was perfection and would have been elated if I had reached 100.

Once at college Ephedrine was taken off the market due to it’s link in heart attacks. I was furious, now what was I going to do? I rested for awhile, and tried new diet pills, but none seem to work quite as well. So eventually I turned to Laxatives. It took a while to get the hang of them and to keep them a secret, but I was a fast learner. I soon learned to take them at night so as to go undetected, and if those whom I did live with ever had questions, I’d just tell them I didn’t feel well. Sometimes it was the flu, sometimes it was cramping, and some times it was “food poisoning.” I would take about 3-4 everyother night. I was a great way to maintain my weight and yet eat foods I liked.

So where am I today? Magically cured!!!!!! No, but much much better. I have been clean of all laxatives and diet pills for over a year now. A lot of hard work has gone into that. A lot of counseling and a lot of tough choices.

 Since moving out to the east-coast, I’ve invested in seeing a Nutritionist and personal trainer, to help me re learn how to care for myself. To counter the lies about food and health. I’m proud to say that not only have I been clean from those meds, but I’ve been eating five to six small meals a day, and I’ve gained 13lbs. I’m now a healthy weight of 133lbs. Praise God!!!!

I truely believe that any person who suffers from an eating disorder should seek help from a nutritionist. They are like a doctor who offers correct medicines that can offer a cure. My Nutritionist has offered me the tools to see truth. I see her on a weekly basis and she helps me to realize a healthy weight and healthy food habits.

Everyday is a new battle with food everywhere, but with professional help, a God who stands by me through the worst of times, and a family who never lost hope. I continue to view life differently. My new goal is to be healthy not stick thin.

It is sad the message our society teaches young women today. It is not just the message that being thin is the only beauty in the world. It teaches young people today that being thin is power, fame, and riches beyond belief. Most of societies rich and famous are harassed for being to thin and yet mocked for have a little meat on their bones. They are glorified and given power and riches for being the perfect size to sell a product. Instead of promoting health we promote perfection. We can change the world one person at a time. I will take a stand to promote health, not beauty or fame or power. I am one person, and with Christ in me stronger then a thousand. These will not be my last words, but something to start with.

Thanks to everyone who loves me.

Keri