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still jiggled. But suddenly
none of that mattered anymore. Right now, the important things—my
relationship with my Daddy God, my marriage and my children—flew like red
flags before me. I made a conscious decision to address them all.
    That
night I cooked a delightful dinner for Warren. I cut back a little on the
portions and opted to grill the meat instead of fry it. After the meal we settled
onto the couch with our slightly-smaller-than-usual bowls of Moo- lenium Crunch Ice Cream. Once finished, I eased into
Warren’s arms and nuzzled against him as we watched a television show together.
    Afterwards,
though still a bit stiff and sore, I slipped off into the bedroom and donned my
favorite baby blue satin nightgown. Warren entered the room, took one look at
me, and approached with the corners of his lips curled up.
    “Annie,
you look. . . amazing.”
    Apparently
he didn’t notice the cellulite on my thighs, the protruding tummy or the
patriotic waving of my upper arms. His eyes locked into mine and I knew he only
saw me as his beautiful bride once more. Warren swept me into his arms and
kissed me as if we were newlyweds all over again. I couldn’t help but lean my
head against his and sigh.
    For
whatever reason, my thoughts gravitated to Judy and her desire to dance. The
same sensation washed over me, even now.
    “I’ve
missed you these past few days,” Warren whispered.
    I knew
what he meant. I hadn’t been myself. Not even close. But I would remedy that
right away. “I’m here now,” I whispered.
    He
responded by wrapping me in his embrace. I rejoiced, not just in his presence, but in the overwhelming realization that the Lord had joined
us in the room.
    Immediately,
my heart began to dance. And in that moment I understood what it meant to be in
tip-top shape.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    My next days
were filled with back and forth trips to the gym and a gradual lessening of
pain from my now less-strenuous workouts. A tremendous excitement on the home
front escalated as the girls came and went with wedding paraphernalia in their
hands. Brandi arrived with swatches of deep red fabric and patterns to ask my
opinion about bridesmaids’ attire. Candy came with a magazine photo of a lovely
three-tiered wedding cake adorned with springtime flowers. Nadine, still in
town on an extended visit, joined us for lunch one day. Together, we listened
to love songs and practiced making centerpieces. In short, we had the time of
our lives.
    In
between their visits, I managed to squeeze in a few hours of work. My editing
clients had been more than patient with me over the past week or so, and I owed
it to them to get caught up on their various projects. With the zeal of a young
warrior, I raced through their manuscripts, polishing and perfecting.
    By Friday
morning, I found myself back on track. A bathtub full of bubbles proved to be
the perfect prayer closet. Mental note: From this point on, purchase bath
products with prayer time in mind. Some scents are far more heavenly than
others.
    While
soaking, I sought the Lord for His will concerning my day—and a swift
resolution to the situation at the bank. After relinquishing my need to “fix”
the situation, I rested much easier. In fact, His peace enveloped me as I
leaned back and closed my eyes.
    I almost
dozed off, but Sasha’s cold nose bumping up against my cheek roused me in
record time. She peered over the edge of the tub with that woeful look I’d
grown to love. I blew a little puff of the airy bubbles her way and she darted
from the room. A giggle worked its way up from my belly and I thanked God for
life’s simple favors.
    After
dressing and blow-drying my hair, I headed to the Internet to read my daily
devotional. Still relaxed and happy from my bath, I whispered a prayer: Lord,
give me ears to hear your voice today—and courage to obey. As I signed
online, I prepared myself for whatever He had for me.
    You know,
a funny thing happens when you ask the