addicted?

I have suspected this for a long time.  I have fought to overcome, to keep it in moderation.  I don't want it to be a problem.  When I eat sugar I don't stop.  Lack of will power? yes.  Lack of common sense? yes.  I remember as a child never getting enough treats.  Halloween candy was a pillowcase full and I still managed to eat it all in just a couple of days.  I reasoned that if I got rid of all of it I could stop.  I liked picking where I babysat dependent on what kind of treats they had. When I got my driver's licence it was special trips to 7-11 for junior mints.  I made cookies at home and never wanted to share.  I have always known sugar was bad for me.  I guarded my infants from sugar and usually their first taste was their first birthday cake.  In the mean time I preferred dessert with at least lunch and dinner.  I justified my choices in that at least my treats were homemade.  I do like to bake good food.  I have given up sugar for a time on occasion and always think "I'll surely lose lots of weight" but that doesn't happen either.  Addictive behaviors seem to be in my blood.  I have watched my mother and grandmother thoroughly  enjoy their desserts and ask for seconds.  They are the same great women who always taught me that sugar is bad.  I have done the same thing with my children.  I see my girls crave sugar.  We all know sugar is not a good choice but in our culture it is hard to avoid.  I'm on a sugar free challenge again.  I do feel like each time I avoid sugar I am getting stronger but it really takes some good motivation to make that commitment.  The funny thing is that I often get back on sugar because I remember the happy emotions that came with the treats - and often the treats don't taste as good as I remember.  I eat them anyway.

I have chosen not to see Les Miserables but instead I am listening to it unabridged on audiobook.  I am really enjoying it.  Imagine my surprise when the topic turned to sugar.

Girls are incurable when it comes to weddings' and no matter what the rest of us, we wise men, may say, nothing will prevent these vest makers and bootie knitters from dreaming of husbands loaded with diamonds.  Well, so be it, but, sweethearts, remember this: You eat too much sugar. You have only one fault, O women, and that is nibbling sweets.  O gnawing sex, your pretty little white teeth crave sugar.  So, listen carefully, sugar is salt. All salt is drying. Sugar is the most drying of all salts.  It sucks the fluids out of the blood through the veins; coagulation follows, then the blood solidifies; then you get tuberculosis in the lungs, then death.  This is why diabetes verges on consumption.  So don't munch on sugar and you will live!     ~Tholomyes

Apparently women's weakness for sugar is not a new problem.  I do believe it is a very real problem, at least for me.  I'm not ready to make a public vow to avoid all sugar but I will continue to  fight my own personal battle to find a proper balance and to encourage less consumption of sugar.  The war on sugar continues.

Grateful:
381 sweet fruit
382 American revolution
383 will power + prayer power
384 abundance of food and I don't have to eat all of it.
385 Singapore math
386 I don't have diabetes

Happy Valentine's day

Remember, You are Loved! Something for listening and remembering and noticing the many ways we can see His love.



Grateful:
370  Valentine's Day is actually my son's birthday. He brings me such joy!
371 Birthday bicycle
372 sledding with friends and cousins
373 My niece is doing better and her baby is okay too
374 roses from my husband
375 my son is bringing a girl home for dinner
376 Doodle made her own valentine's for her friends and then knocked and ran.
377 my new glasses
378 cherry pie with cherries from our own tree
379 love isn't something you fall into.  Love is something that grows with nurturing and conscious effort and looking for the good.
380 real love lasts through the hard times.

Globe Trotter fun

Our local newspaper had a essay contest about the good things in our county.  Well, Doodle entered and won her age group.  We got 4 tickets to the game, an autographed ball, a t-shirt, and an interview with one of the players.   It was all a lot of fun, especially for the young kids.  They thought everything was so cool and funny.

Firefly and Special K

 T Time the only girl on the team

our high school girls basketball team

these are the other winning junior reporters with 3 of the players.  That's Too Tall in front. He did alright with those tall players.

 They got to interview T Time after the game.  She was very friendly and good with the kids.  I think they were all a little nervous.  Sweet Doodle didn't dare say much of anything but she sure talked about it afterwards and shared everything she could remember about T Time.

Granola

This granola has been a family favorite for years.  I got the orginal recipe from my sil Lauri.  Funny part is, it never taste the same when I make it.  Lots of room for variety.

Granola

8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

6 cups rolled wheat (can do more oats if you can't find wheat)

1 cup nuts/seeds (walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds)

1 cup wheat germ (when I have it)

1 cup coconut/raisins/craisins/dried fruit

Combine together in very large bowl.  In a saucepan combine:

2 cups honey or 1 cup honey and 1 1/2 cup brown sugar (or what ever sweeteners you like)

1 cup oil (sometimes I do part applesauce)

1/2 cup water 

1 Tablespoon salt

Bring to a boil, remove from heat and then add:

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pour over dry ingredients.  Split between 3 cookie sheets and bake in 325 degree oven for 15 minutes and then I switch the top and bottom sheets and bake for another 15 minutes.  Cool and put in handy containers like these from tupperware.  Enjoy.  We usually just eat it with milk but have done granola with yogurt and even tried having it cooked in milk on the stove for a hot cereal.  Fresh fruit is always good with it.

Grateful:

364 whole grain goodness

365 a place to put our favorite recipes

366 mormonchannel.org.  I am having so much fun discovering there different series and the fun videos.

367 New parts to fix my washing machine should come this week.

368 expecting weather all the way up in the 40s this week.  It feels like spring after that super cold spell we had

369 business is picking up and that makes Mr. O very happy