Tag Archives: Mickey Mouse

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Top Priorities

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Day 312 In my path to meeting up with Mickey in October (3 months and 27 days to go)

Today my plan was to work through a couple of the sessions in Module One of Better Beyond 50.  I joined this program, and as soon as I did, we lost our internet at home.  We have been without internet for two weeks now at home.  Argh!  Luckily my iPhone can be used as a Personal Hotspot.

One of the things that I had to do today is write down my five top values, which I think sounds like my priorities.  Just a few years ago, I would have said my top five priorities were:

  1. God
  2. Mike (my husband)
  3. Jake and Emi (my kids)
  4. My job
  5. Hmmm…I don’t know

Today my focus has shifted.  Now my top five priorities are:

  1. God (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  This branch can do nothing if separated from the vine that is God.)
  2. Me (my health and working on it, because I need to really learn to love myself)  I still think that sounds selfish, but I need to get over it.  Scripture makes it perfectly clear that we have to love ourselves before we can love others.
  3. Mike (He makes me happy.)
  4. My new career focus (When I retire as Church Secretary in December, I want to get serious about my writing.)
  5. My kids (They are on such strong paths; they don’t need me as much as they once did.  Hallelujah!  It’s time to focus in other things now.)

It was a great exercise to do.  I had to spend some time really thinking about what I want my future to be.  It’s so strange to think about turning sixty.  How do I want to finish this life?   I want to finish as the best child of God that I can be.  I am excited to see what the next twenty plus years can bring.  No matter what comes, good or bad, God will be there, so I can face it with peace in my heart.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Delicious Day

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Day 308 in my journey to join up with Mickey at Magic Kingdom in October (4 months and 1 day to go)

Today’s plan was R & R…rest and relaxation.  It has been everything I hoped it would be.  I slept late and have taken two naps since I got up this morning.  I can feel the stress melting away, and I can exhale…  Ahh…

So since my plan for the day is so event-free, I will share my dinner recipe for this evening.  It is from my current favorite cookbook: Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  The recipe is called Quick Taco Skillet Casserole.  It makes 6 servings, each 3 carb choices.

  • Ingredients:
  • 1 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
  • 1&1/2 cups uncooked instant brown rice
  • 1 cup chunky-style salsa
  • 1&1/2 cups water
  • 1 can (14.5 to 16 oz) whole tomatoes, undrained, cut up
  • 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained
  • a can (6 oz) tomato paste
  1. Directions:
  2. In a 12-inch skillet or a 4-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked.  Drain well.  Return beef mixture to skillet.
  3. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Heat to boiling over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-high, and cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until water is absorbed and rice is tender.  Stir before serving.
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Weary Week

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Day 307 in my trek toward meeting Mickey

Today’s plan was to finish the work week strong.  I have been exhausted all week.  Having my daughter Emi home for a week was a blitz of activity.  It was so fun and so tiring.  So I have been aiming for Friday like a bullet.  I am off tomorrow (Friday).  Halle-J-Lu-jah!  I did it.  I got through the week and accomplished much on the job.  Whew!  Now I can crash for a day, and get my feet under to again.  (I refuse to answer my phone or any knocks on my door tomorrow!)

I am still healing from my surgery.  I had only one scab left from my seven incisions, so I cut it off today with fingernail clippers.  🙂  Probably not the best idea ever, but I was so done looking at it there.  I promise to tell my doc when I see her on June 29.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Shout out to Daniel Carlson for bagging an internship at Walt Disney World!  That is so-o-o-o-o exciting!  Congratulations!

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Is It Possible to Be Better Beyond 50?

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Day 306 in making healthier food choices and moving more to meet up with Mickey as a more fit me

My plan for today was to investigate an online program called Better Beyond 50.  It looks to be a lifestyle program to be healthier from age 50 and beyond.  It’s a very gentle way to eat, move, sleep better and live.  One of the special benefits  is Wednesday evening webinars with Melissa Koerner, the founder of the program.  Plus, I will get two private sessions with Melissa.  She is a very down to earth, likable person.  So today I did the research and downloaded a bunch of materials.  It’s plenty to get me started.

Thanks for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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A Blessed Sabbath

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Day 303 in my driving toward my destination of meeting Mickey at Magic Kingdom

Today I woke early and headed to St. James Lutheran Church to play the contemporary service.  It was transcendent!  The Holy Spirit was there in a very real way.  Listening to and singing with my daughter Emi, who lives in England, is always a blessing and today was no exception.  I am so grateful for that opportunity!

I knew we were eating out twice today, so my plan was to choose wisely.  We ate brunch at Maevery Public House in Lake Bluff.  I picked a Veggie Benny: 2 poached eggs, each on a half of an English muffin, with asparagus, broccoli, spinach and tomato with Lite Hollandaise Sauce.  It was so satisfying.

Now tonight, because it’s Emi’s last night here, she chose the Silo for dinner.  We are all having a side salad.  Mike, Emi, Jake and Eliza will have pizza for their entree.  I will have half of a spinach soufflé baked potato and save the rest for tomorrow.  It is simply a day of delightful worship, family, friends and fabulous food.

I am feeling very blessed and very sated.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Pancakes, Pampering and Purging

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Day 301 in my preparing to party with Mickey

My plan today was to try out a new recipe while Emi (my daughter) is here.  (Yay!  Emi is here!)  For breakfast this morning we had Coconut Pancakes.  I got the recipe off of the internet a few months back, and I have been procrastinating preparing it.  Emi being here was just the impetus I needed.  I wish I had written down the source of the recipe, because I can’t find it now.  So with my apologies to the original creator (if you know, please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due) here is my new favorite recipe:

Coconut Pancakes:

  1. Ingredients:
  2. 2 eggs, whisked
  3. 1 3/4 c. coconut milk
  4. 2 T. coconut oil (or butter) melted, plus extra for frying
  5. 1/2 c. coconut flour
  6. 3/4 c. buckwheat flour
  7. 3 t. baking powder
  8. 1/2 t. salt
  9. 1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
  1. Directions:
  2. Combine, eggs, coconut milk and 2 T. melted coconut oil (or butter)
  3. Stir in remaining ingredients.
  4. Melt a generous dollop of coconut oil or butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
  5. Pour in some batter.
  6. Fry, when surface starts to bubble, flip
  7. Makes 4-6 large pancakes or 8-12 small
  8. Serve with melted coconut oil or butter and/or sweetener, if desired.  (We didn’t add a thing and they were delicious!)

We stuck to the recipe, except I only had unbleached flour, so that is what we used–1/2 c. +3/4 c.  I will try the coconut flour and the buckwheat flour next time.  Enjoy!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: We treated ourselves to mani-pedis today; then we had lunch with my dear friend Joan.  It was pure pampering.  Then I came home and cleaned out my cookbooks and shoes.  A very cathartic day!  PTL!

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Another Payday

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Day 300 in my quest to be healthier when I meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan was to weigh myself for the first time in a couple weeks.  Before my cancer surgery I had lost a total of 43 pounds since last August.  It was bouncing around between 43 and 42.5 and 42, etc…  After my surgery, even though I kept eating well right through, I put on an unexpected 10+ pounds.  I just chalked it up to my body being in fight mode.  I had had seven stab wounds (incisions really) to my abdomen, and my body was angry.  Plus in the first three+ weeks after the surgery, I wasn’t moving around very much.  My body was holding on to everything, water, air, fat, everything.  Now five+ weeks later, my body is making the adjustment at last.  So to my pleasant surprise when I got on the scale this morning, I was two pounds lighter than my pre-surgical weight.  Woo hoo!  I finally have post 45 pounds now.  I have been rounding to that number for a bit, so it feels great to finally really be there.

Whew!  Now to keep making healthy food choices and to move more…meet you at the Kingdom!

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TIMBER!

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Day 299 in my humiliation on the way to a healthier me when I meet up with Mickey in October (4 months and 10 days to go)

Today’s plan was to get through the day with as little pain as possible.  Let me explain.  This morning as I was stepping into the bathtub to take my shower, I held onto a suction grab bar.  I put too much weight on it, and it gave way.  The next thing I knew I was lying in a twisted position in the bottom of the tub.  I hit my head, and in the process wrenched my neck and shoulder.  I hit my sore arthritic hip, my knee, my arm.  So everything is aching.

Praise God that Emi (my daughter) is visiting.  She heard the thunderous noise of me falling (as I play it back in slow motion I keep hearing, “Timber!” shouted in my head), and she came running up the stairs to help me.

Dear readers, I have to tell you that getting this massive body up is no easy task.  Emi called Mike (my honey) and he came racing home.  In the meantime, Emi had rigged up a heavy duty strap for me to pull on.  Once Mike got there, they put a blanket around me and each of them pulled on a side, while I pulled on the strap.  Thank you, Jesus, we were able to get me up onto the side of the tub.

Emi and I have been exhausted all day from the trauma of it.  Thank you, Lord, I still have some prescription Motrin from my surgery for pain.  I just ache all over, but here’s the bright side.  I am more determined that ever, to keep eating healthy and to keep moving more, and to keep going on this healthier path.

Here’s one miracle story to prove my determination.  Today I got a bit peckish (hungry) at 2:30 pm.  I knew there was cake in the freezer at work…really good cake with buttercream frosting.  This is one of my favorite goodies (baddies?).  There is also strawberry shortcake in the freezer.  Either would have been delicious and satisfying.  Which did I choose?  The Pink Lady apple that I had brought along from home.  🙂  Just a few short months ago I would have never made that choice.  But you know what?  That apple was delicious and very satisfying.  Praise God!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Sunday Shenanigans

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Day 296 in my keeping busier than I used to so I am healthier when I meet up with Mickey in October

My plan today is to eat well, shop for groceries, get our guest room ready for my daughter’s visit, and visit with my son and daughter-in-love tonight.

  1. After sleeping in and showering up at the sauna, Mike (my squeeze) and I went to brunch at Maevery Public House in beautiful downtown Lake Bluff.  I ate there yesterday and was so taken with it that I had to get Mike there today.  He ordered the BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato sandwich) with potatoes fried in butter.  I ordered Croque Jasper (brioche with a lean sausage patty and a bit of cheese sauce).  We both had black coffee which was Douwe Egbert.  For those not familiar with Douwe Egbert: it is a Danish coffee, very full bodied and yet mellow.  It comes in somewhere between Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donut coffee.  Maevery Public House is not inexpensive, but pamperingly delicious!)  Yes, I know I just made up a word, but it seems so apropo.  Now usually I make a habit of cutting my entree in half and bring half home for another day.  Today I ate the WHOLE thing.  I used the excuse that it won’t reheat well.  🙂  So I will not eat a full meal until dinner tonight.  If I get hungry, I have a piece of fruit or something else light.
  2. Our daughter Emi, who lives in Bristol, England, comes tomorrow!  She’ll be here for a week.  Woo hoo!!!  When she’s here, we end up eating out quite a bit so, we picked up just enough groceries so she (a vegetarian) will have some choices for lunches.  And also we got the groceries to have some friends (Yay, Ken and Chris Hall!) over for dinner on Tuesday evening.  On the menu for the evening: Cranberry-Pine Nut Quinoa, White Bean, Herb and Tomato Salad, fresh veggies and hummus, and fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert.
  3. Gotta change the bedding and straighten our guest room for Emi.  I’m so-o-o excited to see her and hug her and kiss her face!  She’ll sing with Damascus Road (the contemporary band at our church) next Sunday, and she’ll sing with Ken Hall and a friend at Cafe Pyrenees in Libertyville on Friday evening.  Mike may play some guitar there, too.
  4. Tonight Jake and Eliza come to dinner and to hang out.  We are having Apricot-Almond Chicken with last night’s leftover Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli and Peppers as a side and a nice large spinach and Romaine salad.

That’s it for today, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: All recipes mentioned are from Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  Seriously, if you’re watching your sugar intake, then this is a GREAT cookbook to have.

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Scrumptious Day

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Day 295 in my eating my way to a healthier me to meet up with Mickey in October (4 months and 13 days to go)

My plan for today is to make the healthiest choices possible for my meals today.

  1. Breakfast:  We went out with our friends John and Joan Webster to celebrate Mike’s and my birthdays.  We’re a little behind; our birthdays are in November and December.  🙂  We went to a restaurant  called The Point Pancake House in Gurnee, IL.  I ordered a Multigrain Waffle with Yogurt and Strawberries.  The yogurt was plain, unsweetened.  (Ish, right?)  I can’t eat many strawberries because I have diverticulosis, so I ate a couple and gave the rest to Joan.  I asked for and was given sugar-free syrup. I ordered a side of bacon as a treat.  And I had a cup of coffee. I put some syrup on my plate and gently dipped a forkful of the waffle at a time.  It was so good!
  2. Lunch:  After writing out my bills for this pay period, I skipped to town (Lake Bluff) to mail them.  While there I decided to go to brunch at Maevery Public House.  Monday through Friday they are only open for dinner, but on Saturday and Sunday they are open from 10 to 3 for brunch.  I ordered an egg white frittata with locally grow seasonal vegetables and goat cheese.  The locally grown seasonal vegetables turned out to be clover. (Early Spring-sheesh!) This was unexpected to say the least.  It was served with tomatillo salsa.  I opened my small mind, and decided to give it a try.  OMGoodness!!!!  It was to die for and was complimented by a cup of black coffee and the cold water that they serve in a refillable bottle.  Mike and I will go there tomorrow after church, so he can see how wonderful this place its.  What a local gem!
  3. Dinner: Back to my favorite cookbook: Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  On tonight’s menu: Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli and Peppers.  We haven’t tried this one yet.
  1. Ingredients:
  2. 2  1/2 (does anyone know how to type this as a number on a MacBook Air?) cups uncooked rigatoni pasta
  3. 2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
  4. 1 medium red, orange or yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  5. 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken
  6. 1/2 cup reduced-fat Alfredo pasta sauce (from 10-oz jar)
  7. 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (1oz), if desired
  1. Directions:
  2. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli and bell pepper for the last 2 minutes of cooking.  Drain; return to saucepan.
  3. Stir in chicken and Alfredo sauce.  Cook over low heat about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken and sauce are hot.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Betty Tip: Any tubular-shaped pasta (I’m using whole wheat elbow macaroni), such as penne or ziti, will work fine in this dish, and , to make it vegetarian, omit chicken and increase broccoli to 3 cups.

That’s my eating day today.  Meet you at the Kingdom!