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A Well Earned Rest

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Day 132 in my meandering toward the Magic Kingdom and my main mouse Mickey

Whew!  Made it through the five days of my busiest week of the year at work.  So my plan for today is to kick back and watch Christmas movies with the Christmas tree and wreath lighted, while sipping my “Downton Abbey” tea.  (Thanks, Jake and Eliza!)  And perhaps run a load or two of laundry.  (I’m almost out of under ware!)  I might just write a few Christmas cards, too.  I want to think on Christmas things today.

I am exhausted but pleased at how much has been accomplished this week.  Thank you, Lord , for the strength to push through.

I hope you have a lovely Christmasy weekend, my friends.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Settin’ Up and Sweatin’ Up

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Day 131 in my physical endeavors to get into better shape to meet Mickey in October at the Magic Kingdom

My plan for today is to be as good a servant as I can be in a physical way.  So, I went into the sanctuary and set up Damascus Road, our contemporary band, for our big blow-out Lessons and Carols service this Sunday.  It took a very long time, because our chairs and some of our equipment had been used for the Christmas pageant last Sunday and for the brass group to rehearse on Monday and for Advent Vespers last night.  It was sweaty, physical labor, and it felt good to do the work.  Then I set up St. James Brass for Sunday.  It was only four chairs and four music stands, but the stands were all over the building, so it took quite a bit of walking and looking.  Again it was sweaty, physical labor.  Later today I will help the pastor add chairs to the sanctuary for Sunday.  Lessons and Carols is one of our most highly attended services of the year.  (Coming in third after Christmas Eve and Easter)

That will be plenty for today.  🙂  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Blue Apron 3

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Day 130 in my march to the Magic Kingdom and Mickey

Today is day three in my busiest work week of the year.  Man, I am wiped out!  Every year I think it will be better than before: less stress, better organization, and every year it bites me in the butt…again.  There are just not enough hours in the day.  OK…I got that off my chest.

My plan for today was to cook a lovely gourmet meal with Mike for our dinner tonight.  We still had our third Blue Apron meal to cook: Chicken & Chestnut Pasta with Savoy Cabbage & Granulated Honey. Look at these ingredients:

  1. 8 ounces Ground Chicken
  2. 8 ounces Whole Wheat Spaghetti
  3. 2 Carrots
  4. 2 Cloves Garlic
  5.  2 Stalks Celery
  6. 1 Yellow Onion
  7. One half Pound Savoy Cabbage
  8. 1 Bunch Rosemary
  9. 2 T. Butter
  10. 2 t. Granulated Honey
  11. One quarter Cup Roasted, Peeled Chestnuts
  12. One quarter Cup Grated Pecorino Cheese

It was delicious!  And it made a mountain of food.  We have plenty left over for lunch tomorrow.  Leftovers are always my favorite lunch.

Back into the fray tomorrow.  🙂  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Lucky Penny

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Day 129 in my rushing around to get ready to meet Mickey

And day two in my busiest week of the year, my plan is much like yesterday: work as quickly and efficiently as possible to accomplish as much as possible while at work today.  Done!

I left work weary, but with a sense of having used my time there well.  Then I had to make a quick stop to pick something up after work.  When I stepped out of the car.  I glanced down and saw a penny (Lincoln-side up) on the ground.  I thought, “Find a penny; pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck.”  I pocketed the penny and entered the store.  As I was in the midst of my transaction, a gentleman came out of the back room and said, “You are Customer of the Day.  You win this box of goodies.”  I don’t even believe in the luck of finding a penny, but today it happened.  It put a smile on my face, and I sang Christmas carols all the way home.  Some days it doesn’t take much.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Nose to the Grindstone

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Day 128 in my endeavors to live healthier, so I’m in better shape when I meet up with Mickey

What a busy day.  This is by far my busiest week of the whole year at work, and today lived up to that fact.  Whew, I am bushed.

My plan for today was to keep my nose to the grindstone and get as much accomplished as I possibly could at work.  And that is exactly what I did.

I stayed sugar-free.  I ate plenty of fruit and veg.  I moved around the office whenever I could.  I stayed and worked late.  I came home and wrote bills while dinner was in the oven.  And now my day is in.  And I am all in, too.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Cleaning Up My Act

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Day 127 in my efforts to get ready to meet MIckey

Today my plan was to clean up inside and out.  So I went to church this morning to worship our incredible God, and I just got home from the sauna.  Mischief managed!

After I post this blog, Mike and I will prepare our second Blue Apron meal.  Tonight it’s Basted Flank Steaks with Beet-Freekeh Salad and Gorgonzola..   I don’t know what Freekeh is, but I keep hearing, “Get your freak on, get your, get your freak on…” in my head.  These meals are teaching us things.  🙂  Here’s tonight’s ingredients:

  1. 2 flank steaks
  2. 1 bunch red baby beets
  3. 1 Hungarian wax pepper
  4. 1 red onion
  5. 1 bunch chives
  6. 2 T. crumbled gorgonzola cheese
  7. 2 T. butter
  8. 2 T. sugar
  9. one quarter cup cracked freekeh
  10. one quarter cup walnuts
  11. one quarter cup red wine vinegar

Sound great, right?  I’ll let you know tomorrow what we thought.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: The Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon and Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts and Red Quinoa last night was absolutely incredible!  You can see a picture on my Facebook page, if you wish.  Just look for Donna Taskila Jarvi.

 

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Blue Apron Meal

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Day 126 in my quest to eat healthier to build some stamina to run with Mickey

For my birthday, Emi and James ( my lovely daughter and son-in-law)signed me up for three meals from Blue Apron.   Last Thursday a package was delivered with all the ingredients and the recipes for putting the three meals together.  Here is what we’re having:

  1. Basted Flank Steak with Beet-Freekeh Salad and Gorgonzola
  2. Chicken and Chestnut Pasta with Savoy Cabbage and Granulated Honey
  3. Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon and Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts and Red Quinoa

My plan for today is to put together number 3.  Even the ingredients sound delicious.  2 skinless salmon fillets, half a cup of red quinoa, 3 cloves of garlic, half a bunch of kale, 1 Meyer lemon, 1 pound of heirloom cauliflower, 1 bunch mint, 2 T. capers, 2 T. dried currants, 2 T. sugar (I plan to substitute Splenda), 2 t. Ras El Hanout, 2 T. Pine Nuts.  I’ve never heard of Ras El Hanout, but it looks like a spice.  I’ll let you know how it was tomorrow.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you for all the prayers for my brother Gary.  He came through the surgeries and is recovering.  I am so glad that the surgery is behind him!  God is good all the time.

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Prayers for Gary

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Day 125 in my march to Mickey

My plan for today is to do a lot of praying.  My brother has a 5 hour surgery today to repair his broken back.  I cannot think beyond that today.  I will eat healthy foods, stay sugar-free, take a call from my Mayo Clinic Health Coach to strategize my next steps and spend the day in prayer.

Please join me, dear readers, in offering up a prayer for Gary.  (Love you, Bro!)

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Another Payday-Weigh Day

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Day 124 in my journey to join up with Mickey in a healthier body

Here we are at the 11th of the month again and that means time to face the scale.  I have to tell you; I was pretty nervous stepping onto that cold, glass scale this morning.  Since a month ago when I last weighed, we have celebrated Mike’s birthday, Thanksgiving and my birthday.  It was with no small amount of fear and trepidation that I faced the cold, hard truth of the scale.  Well, it’s a miracle.  I have lost another 3.2 pounds for a total of 33.2 pounds.

I have had a very good month, but somehow, when you have been a career dieter, you always expect the losses to stop.  But why should that be, right?  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)

So, dear readers, I will keep on keeping on.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Digging Deep

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Day 123 in my trek to the Kingdom that is Magic and my friend Mickey.

Today’s plan is to take good care of my self:

  1. I went to the doctor’s this morning and had some blood drawn.  I am doing my best to stay 2 steps ahead of diabetes.  I am prediabetic and controlling it well with diet and exercise.
  2. I had a salad and a piece of fruit for lunch today.
  3. We are eating dinner out tonight, and I will once again have a salad.
  4. I am planning to get up early tomorrow and head to Lake Bluff Health and Fitness to walk before work.

Christmas is just 2 weeks away, and I want to dig deep and be as good to my body as possible.  Maybe it will help me to make healthier choices on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, too.  Here’s hoping!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: All prayers are being accepted for my brother Gary who is going through some major health issues right now.  Please lift him up in prayer with me.  God bless!