Finally some good news

This snow is almost gone!

She said:

I had some really good news today. Just received a copy of my latest blood testing results. My cholesterol is finally within normal ranges. I have been on a cholesterol lowering drug for three months now and I also have been trying to follow a low fat diet. For the past six weeks I have also tried to eliminate animal fats and sugar from my diet. That has helped to get my triglycerides down to almost normal range. On top of that I have been on a brisk walking program, mostly 4 miles a day. So I think I will continue doing what I am doing because it seems to be working well.

One thing that is puzzling us is that I haven't lost any weight. I could stand to lose about 50 pounds and not miss it! So perhaps I will need to do something else to get those scales to go down. About the only thing left to do is cut my portions more. I try not to take seconds and I try to stop when I feel full. But I think I will need to restrict my portions to see any headway in weight loss. Hubby just can't understand why I am not loosing weight, especially with all my activity.

ACL vs. BCL

He Said,

It occurred to me the other day that my desk top (BCL) was so cluttered and how much of a battle it was to process all the papers that come through the mail. Papers waiting to be processed include from church. Then there are all the related questions that have to be answered in response to all the papers. Hard copies for taxes are fairly easy to handle by just putting them in the correct paper file. But here is an example of decisions about papers that needs to be made. How long do you keep the church bulletins? One month? 3 months? a year? Where do you store auto repair receipts? How long? If you decide to keep them, then the question becomes where to store them? If you have a good filing system, that does help but files get fat after a while too and then the drawers get full and then what do you do?

(ACL) Being persons that depends daily on a computer, why not put the computer to use. To help win that battle we purchased a scanner. The ultimate answer as to where to store all these papers. Just create an electronic file and scan the paper, save in to the file, shred and then trash the shredded papers and presto you now have everything reduced to bites (x's and o's). These are stored some where down there in bowels of our computer where computer chips lodge and the mysterious mother board performs her mysterious duties.

Now if there is a file that you want to have quick access to, we place a "short cut" on the desk top. (Desk top now meaning a vertical flat surface when you point to your wishes and click) The short cut means you can access that file directly with out opening your documents to find it.) Well the short of this whole thought is that now our "desk top" is full and cluttered which we have been tiring to avoid all along by keeping the desk top (the horizontal flat surface) cleaned up. So what we basically have accomplished is moving the clutter form one "desk top" to another "desk top."

Oh, yes BCL stands for "Before computer lives." Yes desk top actually refers to a flat surface on our computer desk. Now for those of you who can't hardly remember life with out computers there is another acronym. ACL That is "After computer lives." You see desk top has taken on a whole new meaning.

I guess it is time to clean up the desk top, yes both of them!

The Note

She said (and He agrees):

This is a feel good movie that won't offend. The acting is good. The story is interesting. The best part is the special feature, a conversation with the author of the novel from which this DVD was made, Angela Hunt.

She said:

I thought that the first kissing scene was not authentic. The main character was in a flashback to a very traumatic time when this scene took place. It seemed inappropriate for the character. I wish they had waited to develop this relationship until after some of these problems were resolved. But even with this, the DVD is highly recommended by us both.

Food-Faith-Family-Fellowship (4F)

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!

She said:

Again this year our church is having what is called "Food-Faith-Family-Fellowship" (4F) nights each Wednesday evening. Our frigid snowy weather is wreaking havoc with our plans. Two weeks ago it was very iffy with schools closed and other activities canceled due to the weather. The meeting was still on, but we chose not to go because of the weather. Then this past week we actually canceled the evening due again to snow.

Every Wednesday for six weeks we have a fellowship meal and offer meetings/classes. This year our choices were:

The conscience consumer, learning how to be more aware of our buying and it's effect on the world.

Pick up your pen and write, in depth Bible study using writing as a tool.

Prayer, Praise & Ministry, just like is says; an informal time of prayer, praise, singing and ministry by sharing scripture.

Serving at local mission outreach, involves cutting fabric and busy work to help with overseas mission donations.

Inter-generational Interaction, a time of games and fun, by families or individuals.

I am staying with the Prayer, Praise & Ministry group as it is an extension of the meeting that began as a result from our transparency meetings. This time is precious with intercessory prayer, singing and praising. It reminds me of the old fashioned prayer meetings from my growing up years.

Hubby is not sure where he fits in. He came with me last week to our meeting but doesn't think that's for him. He's still not sure what he wants to do.

Our youths had planned a pinewood derby race for last week. (All other classes/meetings won't meet that night) But since this was canceled due to weather, we probably will try again this week.

International Low Fat Meatless Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Still yearning for spring!

She said:

Here is a recipe I put together myself that turned out so well that I thought I should share it with you. I call it International Low Fat Meatless Cabbage Rolls.

From Mexico: 1 can fat free or about 2 cups of re-fried beans
(You can make your own fat free re fried beans in a crock pot.)
From China: 1 packet microwavable brown rice
From Ireland: cabbage leaves from one cabbage (about 8-10)
From Spain: 1/2 cup salsa (we use mild)
From Italy: 1 cup spaghetti sauce

Steam cabbage leaves in boiling water for about 3 minutes. When cooled cut out any thick part of the leaves. Cook re-fried beans from the can in microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. (If you want to make your own re-fried beans just put 1 cup of dried pinto beans, 1/2 chopped onion and enough water to cover the beans plus one cup in crock pot on low all day until soft. Check and stir occasionally and add more water if necessary. Then add your favorite taco seasoning packet after mashing up the beans.) Cook brown rice according to packet instructions. Combine the brown rice and re-fried beans. Place about 1/2 cup of this mixture in each cabbage leaf and roll it up neatly. Place these in an oven safe dish. Mix the salsa and spaghetti sauce together and pour over the top. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for another 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

What a bargain! & Job all done

(I set a tea cup beside so you get a feel for the size)

She said:

A while ago (as in possible two summers ago) we picked up a real bargain at a church rummage sale. A drapery store had donated large roles of fabric to the church for their sale. Each role cost only $6. We picked out a nice neutral earth tone. Now I am making curtain/drapes for our home and the office. My sewing machine has a nifty feature that allows machine hemming. This is coming in quite handy for the job. So far I have just two windows done here. The role of fabric looks like we haven't used any yet! Hard telling how many yards are on this role. I have tested the fabric for wash ability and it passed.

What I do is sew awhile and then read awhile, then clean awhile, then cook awhile, and then begin the process all over. Eventually I hope to get this job done, just as I finally finished the quilting on the miniature quilt pictured above. It, along with it's full sized version and another wall hanging, are on their way to PA for the spring fundraiser for the school where our grandchildren attend.

A Can of Peas by Traci DePree

She said:

Hoorah!! Have found another great Christian writer.

This is a story of a young couple who make the decision to give up a life in the fast lane for the chance to save the family farm.

The story is full of humor and is very heartwarming. I love the writing style of introducing one of the small town characters occasionally before a chapter begins. This is done by giving a background story on the person. What a delight to discover another author that uses their writing talent to inspire us.

Traci Depree is the editor behind many of today's award-winning and best-selling Christian novels. Her work is a joy. She has added two sequels to this premier novel.