New food traditions...

Book release day ~ I go to P.Croissant... Well, that was the plan. It didn't work out. Life happens.

This next year, I'm going to change my relationship with food.

I do not need food to comfort me, cheer me, fill me, love me, punish me, whatever.

Food is about fuel and enjoyment.

It annoys me when people talk about food being simple fuel. I've also seen what they eat, and I wonder, "Why bother at all?"

I want to develop a healthy relationship with my food.

My food.

I am in control now. I will not starve.

I need to learn to cut unhealthy foods from my diet.

I'm not talking about sugar. Sorry, but your body turns everything you eat into sugar. The only question is how fast and how useable.

I'm talking about not touching almonds. I learned this past year they really don't agree with me. I'm doing pretty good, so far.

My big troublemaker: Eggs.

I love eggs. I love them scrambled, fried, over-easy, on toast, in rice...

As far as I can tell, I'm all right if I have them in things like cake, cookies, bread, as long as I don't overdo. Once in a while is okay.

The problem I usually run into is three or four times a year I CRAVE over-easy eggs on toast. I discovered I do better if I cut off the whites. It's the soft yolk I'm after anyway. How do I know this is a problem? I take an allergy pill before I make breakfast. How stupid is that? That's like having bandages and an antiseptic ointment on standby because I'm going to play with broken glass.

This year: I will not eat eggs by themselves, if I can help it. Sometimes stuff slips by me in food I order or someone else prepares.

I'm going to learn to be more creative with my cooking.

Something I noticed: After Thanksgiving, I ate mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and turkey, every day, for a week. My cravings for sugar dropped dramatically. I didn't binge. I didn't snack. I ate sensibly. There have to be other meals I can create that are easy and will help me eat in a manner that promotes continued healthy eating.

Let the games begin.

Carpe Diem... last one this year...

What needs to be done?

Writing.

I know.

Big surprise.

Not.

The good news is that Chocolate Cake for Two is off to the editor.

Grace's Possibilities is coming together in my head. Now, to put it to paper.

Thank Goodness It's Sunday... #187...

~ MercyMe's I Can Only Imagine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII

~ Thoughtful gifts.

~ Seeing The Hobbit with my sister and then chatting about it with my friends via email, though we all live in different parts of the country.

~ Another short story is done and off to the editor.

~ Alas, I gained weight over the past week, however, I didn't gain as much as I feared. Yay!

My Heroes... Unknown Soldiers...

It's all the more heartbreaking to me to read about a soldier I added to my page of "Some Gave All..."And didn't know anything about them when I added them...

http://www.unknownsoldiersblog.com/2013/12/sounds-of-war.html

http://www.unknownsoldiersblog.com/2013/12/tex-and-princess.html

Sister and I went to see The Hobbit...

I'm blessed with a wide variety of friends who are more than happy to share their opinions.

Some loved the movie. Some hated it. Their reviews and perspectives allowed me to go into the movie with an open mind. It was better than "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."

And what do you mean I have to wait another year to see the rest? What is up with that?

Muttering and grumbling.

Nothing like having plans a year in advance.

Week 131 of REAL...

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

RIght up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. So my SEAL puppy reps (SEALp) consist of girls' pushups, crunches, and flutter kicks, a SEAL training basic. I started with doing one of each. 

Hip lifts

PT ~ Physical therapy using 2-lb and 1-lb weights, alternating days.

UB ~ Upper body exercises

I've worked up to 50 and then 10 more.

The 20th: Rain, no walk. SEALp. PT.

The 21st: 1-mile walk. PT.

The 22nd: Rest. 

The 23rd: 2-mile walk. Reduced PT. Woke to a headache. The walk was all right, but attempting my physical therapy increased the pain, so I shortened it and didn't attempt anything else.

The 24th: PT.

The 25th: 2-mile walk. SEALp. Headache kicked in again. Bah.

The 26th: PT.

The first picture was taken in February 2012. The second picture was taken in June 2012. Inspiration, at least to me:

Happy Christmas...

One of my new favorite Christmas songs:

David Osmond singing O Com All Ye Faithful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF__6qGtwSc

For unto us is born this day, in the city of David, a child, who is Christ the Lord. My light in the darkest moments. My hope in my deepest despair. Born that He might die and be resurrected unto everlasting life. All I need do is choose Him.

Are you ready?

I've been watching Christmas movies all month long. Most are pretty cheesy. Warm and cozy and fun.

This Christmas has been different. Better. Happier.

I listen to Christmas music all year long. Why do I enjoy it so much more at Christmas time? I finally discovered the reason, this year. Everyone else is singing along with me. It's wonderful to share the joy.

I've chosen a few special foods to celebrate.

A few years ago, I discovered I enjoy opening presents on Christmas Eve. I stay up watching Christmas shows and open gifts at midnight. Then I sleep in, as much as I ever sleep in and enjoy a leisurely day. This year, I'll take myself for a walk in the morning.

The reason for the season is the birth of the Christ child. Jesus came into the world to shine a light in the darkness, to provide a way Home.

Turning my life over to God has been the hardest thing I've ever done. I struggle with it daily. It's also the most amazing miracles, but I miss them when I allow self-doubt and despair to hold sway. I never imagined I could do what I have, and I know without doubt I could not have accomplished what I have without God.

God bless.

Carpe Diem... writing...

"Chocolate Cake for Two" needs to be finished. It's coming along.

"Grace's Possibilities" needs to be finished.

It's Monday. I don't have anything else planned.

I'm currently on top of my deadlines. Taking everything one day at a time.

Thank Goodness It's Sunday... #186...

~ Josh Groban's O Holy Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

~ The opportunity to self-publish.

~ The opportunity to be published by a publisher I love.

~ Friends who encourage me, support me, love me.

~ Pretty new place setting.

My Heroes... Ken Hutcherson...

This past week, Ken Hutcherson passed away at 61 due to cancer. He was a remarkable man. I'm so grateful I was given the opportunity to learn about him. Things I learned from Hutch:

"Critics? I eat them, for breakfast, without milk." I interpret this as meaning face the critics, no running away, no procrastinating, no pretending they aren't there. Put them behind you, without anything fancy or softening them. Be done with them and move on with the day.

"The greatest blessing in the world is to be disliked by the right people... Have critics for the right reason. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Is it wanted? Absolutely not... Quit whining... Get to it."

He gave me a whole new perspective on the story of Lazarus.

"Love often waits." Jesus could have saved Lazarus from dying. He didn't. Mary and Martha blamed Him for their sorrow because He didn't come right away. Jesus loved them anyway.

"Love sometimes weeps." Many think Jesus wept for the sorrow of His friends. Isn't it more likely He wept knowing He was bringing Lazarus back from Paradise, knowing the pain and sorrow his friend would endure? "Sometimes, God weeps along with you but not for the same reason."

"Love always works."

Mark, in his discussion with Hutch, was lead to the question, "Do I trust God to love me the way He wants to love me?"

"God loves you. Give Him the opportunity to prove it to you."

All-Time Favorite Christmas songs...

Stille Nacht (Silent Night) by Manheim Steamroller on their Christmas album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTSkS0Abas4

Baby, What You Going to Do by Donny Osmond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da_sLaHJPaw
Baby, What You Goin' to Be by Trinity HS Alumni Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsoB7mmdmFg

Mary, did you know? by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN70R-3ao0U

Believe by Josh Grobin on the Polar Express album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ19mW-TMRk

Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1ujXx2p-I

Josh Groban's O Holy Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

The Gift by Aselin Debison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeQt6S2O0Qk

The Christmas Shoes by Newsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpkI7GW2V34

A Soldier's Silent Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO4cJdN-Q8o

Week 130 of REAL...

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

RIght up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. So my SEAL puppy reps (SEALp) consist of girls' pushups, crunches, and flutter kicks, a SEAL training basic. I started with doing one of each. 

Hip lifts

PT ~ Physical therapy using 2-lb and 1-lb weights, alternating days.

UB ~ Upper body exercises

I've worked up to 50 and then 10 more.

The 13th: 1-mile walk. Woke up with a headache. It worsened on my walk, so I cut my walk short. I took a break. Blessedly, the headache finally eased away by afternoon.

The 14th: 3-mile walk. PT.

The 15th: Rest. 

The 16th: 1-mile walk. SEALp. PT. Though I prefer cold weather, my body doesn't.

The 17th: PT.

The 18th: Walk 2+ miles with BIL's dog. PT.

The 19th: PT.

The first picture was taken in February 2012. The second picture was taken in June 2012. Inspiration, at least to me: