Recipe for Success?

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard

than anybody else expects of you.

Never excuse yourself.

Never pity yourself.

Be a hard master to yourself and,

be lenient to everybody else.

- Henry Ward Beecher

Daniel Fast

At the first of the year, my husband Brian decided to do a 14 day Daniel Fast and several from our congregation joined him. After the 14 days, Brian decided to continue this fast for another 26 days. On the 4th day of the fast, Brian had a complete blood panel and a few days later received a phone call from his doctor telling him his results were horrible, his liver a mess, and he wanted to repeat the test in 30 days. It was only 25 days later when Brian repeated the blood test and, once again, the doctor called but this time said, "I don't know what you have done, but your blood panel now looks like someone half your age." His total cholesterol went from 212 to 151 and his glucose changed from 199 to 111. Brian has also lost nearly 30 pounds and is quite encouraged with all the new results.

Here's my dilemma. I am running out of ideas of things to cook. Do any of you have some great vegetarian recipes you would like to share with me?

I Will Make Love My Greatest Weapon

I will make love my greatest weapon

and none on who I call,

can defend against its force.

My love will melt all hearts

liken to the sun

whose rays soften the coldest day.

- Og Mandino

Beginning Tomorrow: Dr. James Hughes

This past summer, I was privileged to be at a meeting where Dr. Hughes was the guest speaker. Not only is he an incredible speaker but I noticed there was not a generational gap. Teens, senior citizens, young moms, and the middle aged all responded with equal interest. Dr. Hughes takes us to "where the rubber meets the road" and deals with issues we all face, have faced, or know someone who is is dealing with such issues. I am looking forward to the next three nights.

Conscience

Conscience is the root of all true courage;

if a man would be brave

let him obey his conscience.

- James Freeman Clarke

What Are You?

What a man is

contributes much more to his happiness than what he has,

or how he is regarded by others.

- Arthur Schopenhauer

The Teenager

Time to open gifts. ~~smile~~
After-shave & cologne?!?!?
A razor!!!

Making a wish.

He's a happy teen.

Each birthday of Blake's, has been celebrated at home and I cooked his favorite meal. That "favorite" meal was always spaghetti until last year when he requested mom's homemade burritos. Then, this year, he decided he wanted to celebrate at "Famous Dave's Barbeque." So, to barbeque we went. Grandpa and Grandma Allard bought him an electric razor. If only you could have seen the look on Blake's face when he opened that gift! We all had a great laugh. Blake has been telling us he will soon need to shave because he is getting "fuzz" on his face. Even so, I think the razor was a big surprise. His face was half excited and half embarrassed. LOL Adding to the celebration was having "Papa" and "Grandma" White here from Arizona. After my dad passed away, Blake told my dad's best friend, Sam White, he would have to take his grandpa's place. The White's are special people to our family. Once again, I have a teenager in my house. He is my sweetheart and I'm glad he had a great birthday.