Hi, Everyone.
If you live near Winfield (south central Kansas), the Winfield LIGHT (Losing Inches, Getting Healthy Together) Support Group will meet Saturday, Jan. 10th (2nd Sat. of each month) at the Winfield E-Free Church library, 3725 E. 9th Ave., from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
One person attending will win a free gift of their choice, from a basket of goodies. We'd love to see any of you come and join us. If you have any questions, PM me.
I am in the process of getting OH-certified, which is very exciting. :)
Blessings,
Mary

Rachelle emailed me back. She said he will not gone until June or July. That makes me happy with my follow up being in May.

Hi, Everyone.
Ready or not, 2009 is here! Let's make it the best year ever, and let's start with our words.

Life Plan Devotion #9 [Words, 2009]

     "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." What a lie that is! Words are very powerful and can tear down or build up, bring out the best in a person or bring out the worst. Lives have been changed forever, by one conversation. Emily Dickinson, English poet, wrote, "'A word is dead when it is said,' some say. I say it just begins to live that day."
     We tend to forget how powerful are our words. After all, God used words to bring everything into being--"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). Our words are powerful, and God reminds us of that in the verse, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). May 2009 be the year that you "guard [your] mouth and [your] tongue," for that will "keep [yourself] from calamity" (Proverbs 21:23).

Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

What this has to do with weight loss:  How many times have you said something like, "I'm never going to get this weight off!" or "I can't stop eating; I have no willpower!"? Now that you know how powerful words are, be careful what you say, for when you speak, your mind and heart will work to make it come to pass--no matter if it's positive or negative.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, You are my Rock and my Redeemer. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight. Today, I ask You to help me become acutely aware of how my comments and conversations (even those I have with myself) positively or negatively affect others (even myself), how they build or destroy. Guide my conversations so that, through my words, You will fill others with hope and courage. If I need to speak a hard truth, Lord, let me do so from a loving heart, filled to overflowing with Your grace. May I truly be the mouthpiece of Your Holy Spirit when I speak and His ears when I listen. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today and speak good words!

Blessings,
Mary

Wow i am still in shock and have been shedding some tears not knowing what was going on. I did get ahold of the office and Rachael is out untill tomorrow for a half day. I made an appt. in the middle of January hoping i need a fill then if not i will schedule it a little later. I only go about once every 4 -6 months. I have know Dr. Steward for 8 years and he did hernia surgery on my daughter when she was 1 and my son about 3 1/2 years ago and then my band in Feb 06. I am still in shock and at a loss of words at this point. I think i will visit my T and discuss this with her. I know he has a great office staff but me being one of being scared of going to the doc. for anything he has always made me feel comfortable. He will be sorely missed.

It was a sad weekend for me too when I heard the news. I even asked if we could have some sort of gathering or party in his honor. I heard back and Rachelle, his bariatric nurse, shared his thoughts with me, so I'll share those so all of you who have gotten to know Dr. Steward over the years. You can see what his wishes are so we can properly respect them. Rachelle stated (I edited and left in the key parts) the following to me as an email response: "We have actually talked to Dr. Steward about this after he broke the news to us in the office.  It was decided that he appreciates the thought, but feels it would be very uncomfortable for him.  I understand that with this type of surgery Dr. Steward becomes a HUGE part of your life and not just your “surgeon," but he has requested that patients do not hold a party or going away of any kind.  Please understand it is not because he is not going to miss each and every one of his patients, but he wants to make this as easy on everyone as possible.  So we must respect Dr. Steward’s wishes and not have any type of organized party for him from the patients.  At your next appointment with him or before he leaves you are welcome to share your departing words with him... Dr. Steward will be greatly missed by many people both patients and people that have worked with him professionally and it is going to be hard to see him go, but we respect the fact that he is going to be closer to his family. "

Valena, I believe that in answer to your question, I heard that his family resides in Oklahoma.

John