Ruth Marlene Friesen: Welcome!

This site is like Ruthe, the heroine of my novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses

Ruthe is . . .
intimate with God,
prays a lot,
a bleeding heart for the hurting,
a big sister,
rescues friends,
has creative ideas,
likes to give surprise gifts,
loyal to friends,
dreams of love and marriage,
dreams of writing a book
goes the extra mile

So this site offers;
good books to read!
help to become Friends with Jesus,
The One Ideal Real Friend
a cure for loneliness
An Older Sister's Coping Secret
how to pray Panic Prayers,
& regularly/daily
devotionals,
how to grow in faith
Christian mentoring,
how to share your faith
character development
how to become a writer

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Other Areas of My Garden!
Get to know me more informally in the Author's Arbour

Links to photo stories are found on my Patio

A theme of my life is Friendship
and Mentoring

I'd love to Get Acquainted with you!

or show you how I do Goal-setting on my personal retreats

If you dream of writing and being an author, I've got some basic advice on these pages;
Writing Tips
Writing Links
How to Publish Books

Everyone has a story! Tell me Your Story

Sherrill had been a rather light-weight child, and as a teen and young working woman, had never weighed even 100 pounds. So when she heard others talk about having to lose weight, or try various diets and aides, or go out for exercise, Sherrill shrugged inwardly. That had nothing to do with her.

When she saw someone obviously overweight, she told herself privately that if they but had some will-power and gumption they could lose that weight. They must have been over-indulged as a child, and never learned to deny themselves anything.

Years had passed, Sherrill was still single, a care giving woman in middle-age, with a quieter lifestyle. Never one to be totally idle, she spent long hours at her computer as a writer and teacher via the Internet. She enjoyed her work so much, and living alone, made excuses to do less and less physical work. Some time later she conceded that she was only on her feet mere minutes each day. But she was happy, so what's the harm?

Then she had calf and foot cramps. Her doctor diagnosed bone density loss, and urged her to try hormonal cream, and calcium. These cleared up her bone cramps in her legs and feet, and so she continued to take them, not noticing that all the while pounds were slowly adding to her weight.

For a number of years she had stabilized at 134 lbs, which she thought was just a shade more than what she ought to be, but no problem. She wasn't fussy like a lot of her friends and relatives.

When her weight crept to 136 and then to 140, Sherrill shrugged sheepishly and said to herself, "Girl, you're not a slim spinster any more, you're a plum or a pear!"

The next year her weight whizzed through the 140s, but she was so busy writing books and articles and a even a children's book, which was so much fun, she didn't register this until one morning after her shower, she saw that she was up to 154. "Oh no! This is out'a hand!"

Sherrill decided it was time to put on the breaks! She tried to eat less, but "My, food tastes so good these days, even stuff I cook for myself." That puzzled her; she'd never been terribly taken with food before.

Sherrill tried to drink more water. "Flush it out! That is the key," she told herself. But she got busy with her work and kept forgetting her tall mugs of water.

Her weight climbed to 156. Then 158.

Well, she would start going for daily walks, Try to work out in the flower beds in the bright sunshine - which was suppose to be good for her bones. It didn't help, so she started a simple bed time exercise with deep breathing added in. She'd read that would help.

For that matter, she took to reading up more on loss of weight plans, and did some research. It bothered her that this had to take up so much of her time.

She was too embarrassed to try weight-loss powders and meal replacements, but became obsessed with her new self-discipline goal to be a slim spinster. Not one that looked grotesquely pregnant.

At last Sherrill admitted before God in her prayer time that she did have a problem, and wanted to confess her pride in having judged others before with such a handicap. Perhaps self-discipline didn't work for just anyone. Sherrill pleaded for help with her own problem.

Nothing changed. Not right away.

Gradually, she learned to appreciate her daily prayer walks and, began to work in a second, longer walk when possible. She added a few more exercises to her bedtime routine and noticed that she was beginning to feel stronger. "There's real value in exercise after all," she decided.

Sherrill began to steer her grocery purchases toward raw fruits and vegetables, not just as salads, but her whole meal.

One day she took a look at her HRT jar of cream, and saw that weight gain was a side-effect. Sherrill tried doing without for a while.

Gradually, ever so slowly, the pounds began to melt and her tummy grew tauter and flatter. Sherrill gave God thanks for every smaller number on the scale, and had kinder, more merciful thoughts toward her unhappy over-weight friends.

Spinster had always held negative overtones, and she'd dreaded becoming one, but as she became mistress of her own body, Sherrill began to refer to herself as the Slim Spinster. It attracted smiles and laughter from her friends, which helped her to accept the designation. She would live in such a way that the world would see all spinsters in a new, attractive light.

About the Author: Ruth Marlene Friesen is a caregiver, novelist, web designer and friend with more imagination that she can use up! You'll find her touch and her words all over Ruthe's Secret Roses, and about half a dozen other sites. Look out, Ruth tends to get involved if you become her friend! She takes mentoring seriously.


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