Lent Living Preparation

I need to start out by saying that every time I think of blogging about this experience a few verses keep coming to my mind:

Matt. 6: 2, 5, 16

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. • • •

5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. • • •

16 ¶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

I want to make it clear that my intent to blog about this experience is not to recieve any kind of "rewards" or "glory". I trully only mean it as an interesting experience, one that I have never tried before, and to share my experience with others. Maybe in the fact that I do not see it as being wrong means I do not trully understand the purpose of Lent. I am willing to admit that and should I ever choose to participate in Lent again I may change my mind in how I share it.

But as for now... on to my preparation for Lent. I think the best way to put it is.....

Hi my name is Alyson and I'm addicted to soda pop."

this is where you all chime in, "Hi Alyson!"

Yes I have a hard time admiting it and I go on and off, but I definitly drink too much. So for 40 days I am giving it up. (wow! That was hard to say!) Well, in an effort not to fail I have chosen a few things to help out. I started last Thursday and have only had 1 soda a day, I bought 2 cases of water, and I have started self talk ("I am not a soda drinker, I am NOT a soda drinker!")

So here I am at the end of my first day AND...I SUCCEEDED!!!

...at least day 1 :)

Day 2 Success- Although I did see a 5th grader walking down the hall with a diet coke and my initial instinct was to confinscate it, slip into the custodians closet and guzzel away...but alas I resisted the urge :)

Day 3 Made it-surprisingly it wasn't that hard today. I didn't make it to the gym but I did lift weights.

Day 4 & 5 definitly the hardest days. I think because I didn't have schoool to distract me. Sundays are probably the heavyest "drinking" days so yea it was rough but I did it! :)