As many of you are aware, I have begun dieting and trying to exercise. My recent visit to the doctor for my annual physical revealed a substantial weight gain since January.

When I want to justify this I tell myself it is from three rounds of steroids while battling respiratory issues during the past year. It seemed that every time the doctor gave me the big shots and followed with oral steroids, I could count on about a fourteen pound gain. It seemed I would be battling to get it off when the next round of meds arrived.

But, down deep, I know and knew I need to take that plus some off.

I have a friend who threw down the gauntlet, betting me they could lose to their goal before I could. I accepted that bet three weeks ago this coming week.

I have become really conscious of what I eating as well as portions, and I have begun trying to walk when I can. Usually two to three miles.

Therein lies my problem.

The walking is killing my feet and legs. I have changed shoes three times, and just this past week I bought some high dollar gel insoles.

Believe me, I am learning a lot about shoes. A shoe with a heel affects the backs of my legs as well as my lower back. What I once considered the most comfortable shoe I had ever worn (New Balance)now is almost unbearable, although the insoles have helped.

Even the bottoms of my feet ache.

Enter my masseuse a friend put me on to. My friend had discussed my issues with the masseuse, who I have used a few times previously, and Janet (the masseuse) looked at my feet and legs as a personal challenge.

Two weeks ago I had gone in and although I had an hour appointment, she worked on me two hours and twenty minutes. The majority of that was on feet and legs. When I left her studio my legs and feet felt wonderful. It just didn't last long enough.

When my problem persisted, this past week Janet sent word to me that she had something she wanted to try.

I made an appointment for Saturday at one.

When I arrived, she sat me in a chair and placed my feet in a pan with hot water and sea salt. After soaking for a few minutes, when began filling her palms with the warm water and pouring it over my legs and feet. After a brief while, she removed one foot and placed it on her lap. She poured a generous amount of sea salt into one hand and began massaging my foot.

At first my foot was very jumpy from the coarse mixture, but quickly settled down. This went on for several minutes before Janet placed it back in the water and repeated the process with the other foot.

Nirvana! This felt so wonderful.

Finally she put me on the table, beginning me face up so she could concentrate on my feet. She worked on the soles, informing me I one kidney that was somewhat improved from my last visit (she had told me it was clogged) and she told me I had a kernel on my sole that indicated congestion. So she addressed both of these.

She took the hot stones and rubbed my feet and legs before repeating the process with a massage lotion.

Believe me, if I could afford it I would go see Janet every day!

Ironically, my brain got to thinking about when Jesus was on this earth, and the washing of feet. I figure back then with the sandals and the walking travel, the the feet were very smelly, but I can imagine how good it felt to have one's feet washed after a long day. You know this wasn't a job very high up on the work list but it was an act that when Jesus or a host performed it to their guests it humbled the provider and honored the guests.

Janet worked on me Saturday and hour and twenty minutes. I swear the woman has magic fingers.

In addition to this, she is into natural cures. Some of them are not conventional, but I still wouldn't call it holistic medicine.

One issue the doctors are working on, and now Janet, is severe swelling in my lowere legs and feet.

Surprisingly, the walking has helped with the swelling. They say this is due to increased circulation in my extremities.

Now. On my grocery trip, Janet had given me a list. Parsley, celery, and lemon. I am supposed to put parsley leaves and chopped celery in a sauce pan and "steep" it. Let it cool and package it for use later. Lemon water is high on her priority list and she wants me drinking tonic water as well.

Janet says I will lose another five or six pounds just from water! (And I am already on two diuretics).

I will weigh in tomorrow, but as of last Monday I had lost 12 pounds and had gone down a size in jeans.

Of course Rian has been an inspiration, he is sitting at 55 pounds lost, and Joni Sue is in that same neighborhood. And my friend I have the wager with is good about encouraging and walking with me.

So I have examples.

Yesterday Carol wanted to go to the mall to see if a skirt she had seen when we got her new eye glasses was still on the hanger. We went, it was. As was a top, and next door where Ellen works she found a blouse, jeans and two pair of shoes.

On our way out, she encouraged me to look at new shoes for walking. I called Rian and he told me I needed "Brooks" shoes. Problem was this brand was extremely limited in the Abilene mall. This is the brand shoe that Rian's doctor, elder, and friend instructed him to get before he began working out.

I tried shoes on and was unable to find a Brooks shoe that felt really good. I finally asked the young man helping me what kind of shoe he was wearing. He was a big man and told me he too had very wide feet.

GOD must have been on break when he made my feet because they look like webbed feet. Very wide, and absolutely no arch.

I instructed the young man to bring me a pair of shoes like he was wearing in my size. Nike Air Maxes. Very comfortable. And they came home to live with me. More money than I have ever spent on a pair of shoes, boots being the exception.

So hopefully I am going to have more relief from my feet and legs.

But I am already looking forward to my next visit to Janet's!

Who'd a thunk losing weight and getting in better shape would be such a big deal!

I currently have an ongoing argument with the City of Abilene Utility Service about a $600 water bill. They tell us we have a leak. I asked for a new meter.. The guy came out and replaced the meter. He verified that there is no leak. He believes as I do that their meter reader did not do their job. (I had cleaned the meter of mud and leaves. I only wish I had taken a picture prior to.) The city says they tested the meter and it was slow. I say horse hockey. I want the meter sent to Texas meter works for testing. They tell us we have the greenest lawn on the block. I tell them to talk to the lawn service that does our yard. We have mowed six times since March. We aren't even using the pool!

I am not very hopeful. You know what they say, "You can't fight city hall". But I hope they have a minimal IQ.

Time will tell.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessings you pour down on us. Bless my efforts on losing weight and exercising. I ask for a blessed week.