for the past 10 years or so I have personally chosen to participate in lent in some way. lent hadn't been a part of my growing up years and still isn't really a part of our church life, but it has found its way into a part of my own faith journey and each year has been a little different. this year was no exception. so let me back track just a little. last summer i started a weight loss journey with my nurse. she faithfully pushed me, challenged me, weighed me, encouraged me and cheered me on. i remember telling her i'd try her plan, lose 7 and gain back 10. she told me this time would be different. and well, she was right. i lost weight...beyond the 7 pounds. i was ecstatic!!! in december, i knew God had given me the word flourish for 2019. i wrote some goals in my journal about flourish. a section of those goals included my weight, but the holidays snuck in and carbs tempted me. i gave in to the swedish fish during the great polar vortex of 2019. those lit