Thursday, December 31, 2009

Prayers for the World on the Eve of 2010

My prayer for the world on the eve of 2010 was that there would be an end to terrorism- not because they were all dead, but because they found that nothing they could do was effective.

Thought this was a silly prayer, but then on New Year's Day saw a news item on anti-terror building materials for hotels that so many are not using because they think it can't happen to them. It's another one of those things where God has given us all we need- we just have to use all that he provides.

So even if it is a little late, my prayer for the world for this year is that terrorism will end because there simply is nothing that they can do that is effective- because we have used all the gifts that God has given to us to ensure that nothing that they do will have any consequences.

May the New Year find you safe and happy. May your year be violence-free for you and all those that you love. We ask this in Jesus' name.

Happy New Year!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Celebrate New Years Around the World

When Rob was 5, Sesame Street had a great special- Sesame Street Stays Up Late. In it they had puppet guests from the different countries who showed all New Year's customs in each of their home lands. We thought it would be a cool idea to get a little something from each of the celebrations in each country and use it in our New Year's Eve celebration. Be careful! We got a huge sugar high. We had apples dipped in honey from the Jewish New Year, sparkling apple cider from the French, donuts from the German, fireworks from the Chinese, and of course noise makers and hats from the US.

Here are some resources you might see in your library:
The book Sesame Street Stays Up Late
The DVD Sesame Street Celebrates the New Year
Kids Around the World Celebrate

Here is a very inclusive web site at FathersTime.net

At the transition from 1999-2000, ABC News had a New Year's Eve celebration that started at 5AM EST on Dec 31st and lasted 5AM on New Year's Day. It was fun to go to all of these places around the world and see their celebrations- at the time that they were celebrating the New Year.

Here is a resource to do that: Table Showing When Places Around the World Will Celebrate the New Year. To read the table in your time, simply go to the line that has a city in your time zone and click the use this TZ link. Think it might be fun to link up customs to the time midnight arrives in each time zone. It would even be cooler to have links to a local news station in each time zone to see the celebrations.

Time passes. This year, my son is 21. Last night we watched Three Sheets New Years celebrations which showed the travelers bar hopping in NY and pub crawling in London- each to show how each country celebrates the New Years in alcohol. Nice to watch but I am NOT going out and buying alcohol from each country to celebrate New Years' Around the World. Luckily, we're having a much more mild celebration in mind- he wants to bake a Guinness Chocolate Cake.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Failure is Feedback

Before my son was born, I could eat anything I wanted in the whole world and never gain an ounce. In fact, my whole pregnancy, my weight was exactly the same- did not gain an ounce. Was hoping that when he was born, I would discover that I lost some weight but the day after he was born, I stepped on the scale and was exactly the same!

Five years later, my legs started to bother me- and was astounded to learn that I had gained more than 30 pounds! Was able to go on the cabbage soup diet and in a year had lost 40 pounds and kept it off. Looked great that October- gave a talk in St. Pete beach and wore this tiny little blue suit- had my hair done at ManTrap and my pastor was telling me that he was sure that I'd get married again.

Then Christmas came. People told me that I made the best Christmas cookies in the world and I repaid everyone all those little favors they did every year by making them a big basket of Christmas cookies. Loved them myself too. My absolute favorites are almond crescents- rich and buttery- and to my amazement, by the end of December, had gained 15 pounds (although I might not have gained the weight if I had realized that each and every cookie had 100 calories and 8 grams of fat!). I felt very discouraged and soon it all came back- and my problems with my legs got worse and worse. In another 5 years, it became hard to walk at all- and since I did not have a car- this was a problem!

Eight years ago, I discovered Weight Watchers. The first year there, I lost 30 pounds and then went on a plateau. When I couldn't lose any more, I quit for a while- was looking good, getting positive attention and feeling better- but it wasn't lifetime. To get to lifetime, I would have had to lose any 40 pounds. For a few years, I maintained the weight then heard about the Maker's Diet and started consuming butter and eggs and all those good things we heard were good for us as children and learned were poison as adults. Quickly gained all my weight back- to be fair to the diet, I did not cleanse my body or take those weekly fast days- just added all that fat and cholesterol!

Three years ago, went back to Weight Watchers because I learned that if I didn't, I would gain at an alarming rate. Last year, I gained 14 pounds on Weight Watchers. To be fair to Weight Watchers, I didn't track my points on the weekends- which is deadly! Then in September, quit Weight Watchers to try Desired Image where I lost 14 pounds in 3 months but the loss became more gradual when I discovered that every medicine they were giving me, I was allergic to- even the B-12! However, I did find that their 900 calorie a day diet worked well and helped me to lose a pound a week- and still allowed me to eat all I wanted on weekends! Now I'm back on Weight Watchers trying to use what I learned at Desired Image- incorporate that into the plan- and see if I can maintain the progress.

Another thing that helps a lot is walking. Over the past 6 months, have worked up to about 3 miles a day. It still takes about an hour but find that is improving over time- if I don't keep injuring my feet. Still recovering from dropping a one quart casserole dish full of food on my big toe!

Often, when I have failed on my journey, I have become discouraged- and then have a long hard slide back on the weight loss journey. Last week, Chris Hubbard, my weight watchers leader- told me that failure is feedback. It was a revolutionary concept to me.

This year, my son told me that we were not going to have another diet Christmas- that he wanted goodies and he wanted me to make them! Maybe I should have told him to make them himself- and keep them in his bedroom! But I wanted some goodies myself- and we made a gingerbread cake house (see Dec 25th post). The cake prepared out of the box has 200 calories and 5 grams of fat- but if I have one or two pieces per day- and make them a little smaller than full size- it is not so bad. Failure is feedback. Christmas celebrations can kill your weight loss plan. Depriving yourself may lead to over-indulgence and that will kill your plan too. But a little bit of cake- once or twice a day- with 900 calories that contain all the good food guidelines (whole grain foods, 8 oz lean protein, 2 fruits, 3 vegetables- 2 of them 0 points, and 3 dairy exchanges per day)- lots of water and good exercise- and last week I lost 0.6 pounds (with my Christmas goodies!).

Now if I want to make goal this year, I need to lose 1.5 lbs per week- that is going to be some hard work. But I am planning to go to New York in October,see Trump Tower, and maybe see Donald Trump. For that I want to be down 55 pounds from my current weight- but if I want to make lifetime this year, I would have to be at goal weight which is 75 lbs down from here. Never ever give up- failure is feedback- onward and upward- wagons ho!

Off to get ready for my walk! See you next week!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Worst Enemy You'll Ever Face Is Your Own Negative Thoughts

The best advice that I got this week was from Chris Hubbard, my Weight Watchers Temple Terrace local leader. The topic was perseverance. This is a topic that I need to learn over and over again. But somehow, in the discussion, negative self-talk came up. This is stinkin' thinkin' again but it IS my worst enemy. We all want perfection- but perfection is like the weather in New England- wait 10 minutes and your perception of perfection will be different. That is because perfection is such an elusive goal that we cannot even begin to imagine it- never mind achieve it- all we can see is one side of it- like the blind men and the elephant.

The story goes that three blind men try to describe an elephant. One perfectly described the trunk, one the tail, and one the middle- but no description caught the essence of the elephant. That's how we are with perfection. We can grasp one facet of it- but not the totality. So whenever we strive for perfection, we will disappoint ourselves.

The idea is to focus on one piece at a time and do your best. Look at what you have achieved, rather than what you have not. A clear, calm, and persistent focus will conquer any problem- no matter how big- just keep walking around that elephant!

The image of persistence that Chris brought up was these two women at the Temple Terrace Saturday meeting who have been lifetime for over 20 years. Each and every Staurday morning, they are at the door at 6:30 for the 7AM meeting. They sit in the same two seats every week. There is something magical about the three TT Saturday meetings- they have been winning local awards for years for most people reaching goal, most people losing weight etc. Whoever the leader, they have as the image that keeps them going each and every week= these same two ladies. I have made it my goal this week to be the third- to get there at 6:30- to sit right next to them- and to be there twenty years from now as the lifetimer that comes every week- to listen to the encouragement, to listen to the inspiration, and to be a blessing. Leaving in 45 minutes- will see you tommorow! Topic will be my fitness journey!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Gingerbread Cake House

When I was little, my Mom made us a gingerbread house that was supposed to last forever- but it was ruined in the attic- and I know about 6 or 7 children that helped to ruin it. From that day to this, I have vowed to never make a gingerbread house that was not intended to be eaten. As a teenager, I made several gingerbread cake castles out of applesauce cake- they were coated with cream cheese frosting and intended to last for several weeks. I made it the week before Christmas, we cut the first slice shortly after Christmas dinner and it was long gone before New Years. That is how I like to see my creations go!

All the years, that I have been alone with my son, it was very sad that we never had the people to eat a whole gingerbread castle- and in Florida, it would be covered with bugs in a week. This year, I found the answer to having the delight of the gingerbread house that anyone can make easily, can be stored in the refrigerator, and eaten by a couple of people before it goes bad. What's more because there is not a lot of labor, you don't care that it is not on display for a long time. Here are the steps.




I started thinking of small gingerbread houses- no bigger than a cake. How to get the shape? Then I saw the Wilton giant cupcake pan and it was an inspiration. A giant cupcake is silly- but turn the bottom part upside down- put the top on it- and you have a great gingerbread person house! It looks a little like a mushroom house- so would also work for a gnome or even a smurf! I made my gingerbread out of a mix. It was not as good as I would like- so am in search of a great gingerbread cake recipe! I discovered that the top bakes faster than the bottom. I carefully removed the top portion of the cake with two table knives(very lucky it didn't break!) but you might want to bake the top and the bottom in two batches- or put the mix in the bottom, bake for about 10 minutes and then fill the top. Wish these were detached...

Was inspired to make a batch of my peppermint candies:
These came in very handy and used it like fondant for the doors, the windows, and the blobs on the bottom to keep the snowmen and trees in place.

Was very lucky at the Dollar Tree with the candy. Have absolutely no idea where the gumdrops came from because there were none in any store and I couldn't find a second at the Dollar Tree. Also found jelly beans, Chocolate gingerbread men, very miniature candy canes. Took a regular plate covered it in foil, then in colored plastic wrap- it came out very festive did it not? Used regular cream cheese frosting out of a can. Years when I am ambitious I plan to make marshmallows and gumdrops myself in little shapes to decorate- but this year is good to show how easy it can be. The house was decorated in an hour after the cakes cooled.

Here is the front of my finished gingerbread house:


And here is the back:


Think I'll make one every year! Try it at your house. This is so easy, you don't have to wait until Christmas. If the pan is too much- try looking around for 1 lb coffee cans and a bowl. Have fun!

Mary Rose
(Will be playing around with the camera a little more before this goes video- but will do my best to do a post a day and stay on topic. Friday's post will be the most useful thing I've learned this week- and for me this wonderful house is a new holiday tradition in my family!)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Launch of video blog delayed

Setting a hopeful new launch date of Dec 25th.

In the meantime, this web site is a great way to spend some time having fun with your family. Loads of cookie recipes!

The North Pole

Friday, December 11, 2009

Find a Way or Make One

My inspiration this week comes a quote attributed to Hannibal: "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam." or "I will find a way or make one."

Found this quote on a co-worker's wall.

It is especially germane in this season of Advent when we hear that classic hymn- "Make Straight the Way".

I remember vividly the time when I felt that I was called to be a priest. One passage from the Bible came to me as though it were a sign. That passage was "Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley."

I clearly saw the crooked roads being made straight- the mountains being leveled- and a clear road ahead. My mistake was in thinking that God was doing the clearing. If you read this passage in context, God is asking us to make a road. God is asking us to find our voice and to cry out.

It took years to realize that God had no intention for me to become a priest. God's plan was for me to find my voice and the cry out. There are many things that I need to say, many things that I need to do in this world. There is no clear path. But no matter what lies in the way- there is always a way to make the path straight. But the most important thing is to make sure that the path that you are creating is the path that God meant for you from the moment of your creation.

Lord help us all to find the way that you have intended for us- help us to make the path straight!

Finding that one path that God intended for us from the very beginning is the first step on the way to building the Discipline of Self-Esteem.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Blog Launch Coming Soon!

This is going to be a video blog of my life as I attempt to live the Discipline of Self-Esteem.
I'm setting a launch date for this video blog on December 18th.

Here is my schedule of topics for every day in the week:

Sunday AM: Fitness journey
Monday AM: Fun things to do with your family- sometimes movie reviews
Tuesday AM: Weekly meditation
Wednesday AM: Life in Temple Terrace
Thursday AM: Prayers for the World
Friday AM: Most inspiring advice this week
Saturday AM: Most exciting thing learned this week

However, as this is around Christmas, and Christmas is a time when I do a lot of things- most of this will revolve around Christmas in the beginning.

For a preview of some of the things you might see- go to my companion blog:
Mary Rose's Garden Too

See you soon!

Great-Grandma Weber's Summer German Potato Salad

 This was a staple at our family's summer outings for as long as I can remember.  My youngest sister asked me for the recipe so I though...