For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Merry Christmas, Friends!
I thank you for your votes re: Christmas decorating and still haven't made up my mind yet, so thought I would try it out here first on my journal today and see how I feel about it. My house (since the autumn decorations have been put away and everything cleared and wiped clean) still has the 'cleared, cleaned, plain' look to it...that says 'very peaceful' and I know it is TIME to start decorating for Christmas and especially if I follow through with maybe having some friends over for a Christmas party later this month before Christmas (that's the reason for the beautiful picture above)...which that is a 'maybe, maybe not', to do that, too...
V, Moogy, and I had a very fun time last nite (that is, Wednesday morning for you, Moogy) teasing each other back and forth in our comments. This place (DD) is so much fun! 
Anyway, thank the Lord for His protection on us, the tv-announced 'bad storms' played out before the front came through after midnite early this morning before daylight (while I stayed AWAKE reading the weather warnings for SC) and yours truly had comforted herself with an extra 700 calories OVER maintain calories for the day, so that's my today's confession. (And Moogy and V, no I did NOT get into the fruitcake nor banana pudding.......but I did get in the the pb, donuts, and sunflower seeds...) Needless to say after falling asleep around 2 a.m. or so this morning after having kept a watch on the oncoming weather radar and after just a few hours of sleep, being awakened by Hubby early this morning around 6 a.m., I am still very, very DROWSY and am having a mug of coffee with caffeine which is NOT doing the job to get me woke up and going...so I am still lying on the bed with the computer beside me keying to you...
So if I sound a little 'off' (like I don't usually, hehehe), please just overlook it...yes, the Christmas tree is 'UP' on this entry but it is hiding in the closet of my study in this house... The reason it is UP on here is so I can get my eyes accustomed to seeing it brightly blink and decide if I can contend with the same in an 8 foot version in our living room...
Actually, do you ever feel like this day would be a good day for sailing away.....???
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Update: Went to church tonite, played Christmas carols on the piano that we sang. Back home now. Have a little headache. Finished the sunflower seeds.
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
It is a partly sunny/partly cloudy morning here in SC, USA. The weather channel on tv is announcing we may get storms later today and tonite and that our high is to be mid-70's fahrenheit today, changing to 50's beginning tomorrow for highs (that's COLD to me).
Our Daughter came over the other day and helped me 'undecorate' for autumn and right now, the house is CLEARED of seasonal decorations and looks so PEACEFUL this way that I'm tempted to let it alone and NOT DECORATE for Christmas (who, me???)...The fireplace mantle is cleared and wiped clean and fresh with NOTHING on it and so is the large dining room table... (except for a small Thomas Kinkade victorian-decor plate in the middle of the table) which bestowed many autumn decor items on each of them ...So...what's your vote??? Out with autumn, in with Christmas! Or....Out with autumn and let everything stay PLAIN-looking through Christmas? I'll be awaiting your comments... 
On the weightfront news....I weighed this morning and the scale read 143.2, which I am happy with...although I haven't lost any weight in a few days, at least I'm still at 143.2 today and that's A-OK with me!
Not sure about plans for today...as I key it is very cloudy outside now but since it is supposed to be VERY WARM today, it may be a good time to be 'out and about'...
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
I usually don't do anything except for decorating the tree (which we usually get just a few days before Christmas)but I love looking at other people's houses full of light and pretty things!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
Been a busy day here...Did some house-cleaning this morning, followed by piano-music practice (mostly Christmas carols) here at the house, then this afternoon, I made a 'Christmas Gift Basket' to give to a person whose name I drew at the last church-ladies' outing, to give a Christmas gift to at our next monthly meeting, which will be our Christmas outing week after next that I am very much excited about and looking forward to attending. After this, I visited Mom at her nursing home for a while. After losing her second roommate (please pray for the family) recently, Mom now has a new roommate who is very sick (please pray for her as well...she had a serious bad fall and is recovering from that)... I took Mom a sweet potato I cooked in the microwave and put a little margerine, cinnamon, and sugar (not much) on but she was not hungry for that and said she'd been wanting "m and m's" (chocolate candy)...so I went to the canteen and got her that and I also got a diet coke and a couple of cups of ice and straws and we shared the diet coke. I sat with her a while and we had a nice visit. Came home and been spending time with my wonderful, handsome Hubby this evening. 
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello Friends!
I'm back to me again, and I thank the good Lord for healing me. I also thank you for your wonderful supportive, encouraging comments you wrote on my journal while I was recovering from a 'bad trip' on 'Stevia in the raw'. 
(No more of that!) I got up this morning feeling so much better! We went to church and I played the piano (I'm the church pianist) and we had a wonderful church service! We even sang a Christmas carol! Yep, it's 'that time' again! The Christmas season!
We sang 'Beautiful Star of Bethlehem'. I found a link on youtube of singers singing this song if you'd like to click on the following link to hear this beautiful song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7GCMO280kc&feature=related
Hubby and I ate out buffet (I was REAL GOOD...I always WANT to eat more but I eat slowly and 'listen to my body' tell me when it is full 'enough') after church, then visited Mom at her nursing home. She seemed to be doing well. She was in her wheelchair and had just finished her lunch in the dining room. She wanted to go in the room where the birds are (they have a large birdcage with lots of cute little birds in it in the foyer), so Hubby wheeled her in there and she decided she wanted us to set up camp by the sofa which was beside the gigantic, tall recently decorated Christmas tree. So, Hubby and I sat on the sofa and she in front of us in her wheelchair and the 3 of us had a real nice visit. It's sad, but I notice that most residents in the nursing home don't get many, if any, visitors. Not saying that to try to exalt Hubby and me, but just saying it cause it is the SAD TRUTH. Some of the residents in their wheelchairs sit nearby, looking very lonely, watching us visit with Mom when she is out of her room. SAD. 
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I got on the scale this morning and am at another lower number...143.2. Only 3.2 away from 140.0 goal. My bmi is now 21.8. When I get to 140.0 (AGAIN), Lord willing, it will be 21.3.
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Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
Progress as of today: 61.8 lbs lost so far, only 3.2 lbs to go!
Glad to hear your mom is doing well, although she does need her wheel chair. You are such a good daughter to her...
My MIL also has moved to a luxurious "retirement community." I was pretty impressed by her new digs - very high class, indeed. She has uniformed waiters to take orders at the restaurant where she eats her meals everyday, swimming pool, gym and so many ammenities that it looks like an exclusive club. She was living alone and enjoying her independence, but in the past few months, her short term memory declined substantially, so it was decided that she should move to the east coast, to the condo for everyone's peace of mind. She is still very active and can do everything on her own, she is sociable enough to make a whole network of friends in her new place and enjoy life. The added benefit is that she lives 20 minutes away from my brother-in-law's home and 5 minutes away from his workplace. She is only 2 hours away from us (at least for now that we live in this area), which is also an added bonus. I talk to her every morning on Skype and I can always see her through the webcam - she is always looking dressed up, wearing her jewelry and stuff - which makes me very happy! She misses her old friends on the other coast so much but she stays in touch by calling them every day!
At the retirement community, she has a neighbor that "steals" guests from her as soon as they get there and behaves as if she never gets a visitor, haha. According to my MIL, she does get a lot of visits from her daughter and son, every other day... she just can't get enough attention from guests, I guess. Anyway, when I went to visit her, this neighbor of hers invited our party (me, daughter, my husband, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law) to her condo and kept us there! Even before we had a chance to visit my mother-in-law's new digs. She even ordered us to sit down! She couldn't stop chatting and showed us her stuff on the walls and talked about her late husband - poor thing. She is sweet but she is a nuisance - I feel sorry for my MIL to have a neighbor like that!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
It has been a rough nite last nite, with Hubby up at 3:30 a.m. offering to carry me to the emergency room over and over and over, while I was suffering severe dizziness with the room feeling and looking to me like it was spinning around me and nausea, not to mention a little anxiety, too. 
I'm pretty sure this was a very bad reaction to 'stevia in the raw' sweetener. I ingested about 6 packets, I think, in 3 large glasses of tea I drank very closely together yesterday afternoon and symptoms began after that.
It hit when I was driving, then went away a few minutes til I got to Mom's room at the nursing home and I had to quickly sit on the foot of her bed as I felt like I might fall over I was so dizzy...didn't stay long and she was angry and told me not to come see her if I couldn't stay longer than a few minutes, nevermind my telling her I was dizzy and needed to get home, but I left driving slowly anyway and the good Lord helped me get home safely. Anyway, I'm better this morning, although I have a headache and tommmy-ache with nausea but the dizziness is almost all gone, thank You, Jesus! Hubby told me from now on if I want to drink something sweet, drink it with sugar in it and if I want to drink something with no sugar, drink it plain and don't add anymore artificial sweeteners to it! Here are some links about Stevia's side effects (also you might want to ready yesterday's update for some side effects I listed that could have been what affected me): http://www.ehow.com/list_7353456_side-effects-truvia-stevia-plant.html
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-health-side-effects-of-stevia.html
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5533763_side-effects-stevia.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/99571-dangers-stevia-raw/
http://www.quick-weightloss-solutions.com/dangers-of-stevia.html
Now these side effects may not affect all people but I just wanted you to know since I've publicly been including the fact that I've been using packets of stevia in the raw in my morning coffee. But then I usually only have 1.5 packets each morning in my large mug of coffee and just occassionally I drink tea (usually one glassful sweetened with 2 packets) around midday or afternoon. No more stevia for me! 
No coffee this morning for me (tommy-ache). Just plain ole' good tap-water (which we regularly receive letters has too many chemicals than is safely allowed in it from the water company! 
)
Okay, it's time for some GOOD NEWS on the weight-front: 143.8 is my weigh in this morning! BMI is now 21.9.
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
It is RAINING here. I love a nice relaxing, rainy day but at the same time, as I sit here,
drinking my mug of coffee with stevia sweetener and a little fat-free creamer,
I'm thinking...to go to the mall on 'black friday'...or not to go....
Btw, who says you can't LOSE weight over the holidays???? Yours truly has! Ta-Da!!! (Where did that turkey come from??? He must have been one of the ones that was pardoned!...or an escapee!) Anyway, 144.4 is my weigh-in this morning, which I am very happy with and I think I'm fixing to be wearing size 6's (not my intention at all, as my goal was only 8's...but guess what? My jeans are getting VERY ROOMY!) Anyway, I am sort of tall (5'8") so my bmi this morning is...21.95!
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Update: I just want to say that I am DONE with using Stevia in the raw (a sweetener)...I got very dizzy and nauseaus this afternoon after consuming 6 packets of it in 3 glasses of iced tea and this has continued on and I am still dizzy (but not quite as bad as hours ago) and it is hours later now...I did some research and found out Stevia sweetener can cause dizziness from a drop in blood pressure (not good and especially not good when driving!)...and I already have naturally low blood pressure...also it can cause allergic reactions in people with allergies to ragweed (which I have)...and it can cause low blood sugar and other problems...goodbye stevia! Guess I'll go back to regular sugar in moderation for coffee and tea sweetener!
Also...I was NOT a good girl today...I did some serious shopping at the mall! I bought my Mom a real diamond and gold ring at a jewelry store for her Christmas present as she's only ever had one real diamond and gold ring and that was the one my Daddy gave her when they got married and years after he was killed by a drunk driver when we kids were little, Mom had to pawn her diamond and gold wedding ring at a pawn shop to get money for food or something that was needed and she ended up not having the money to get it out and lost it. She LOVES rings and I buy her lots of them (nice fake ones at department stores) but lately, she's asked me if there is any gold in any of them and sadly, the answer was no. She will be very surprised with her new real diamond and gold ring! It was expensive and she may lose it or it may get stolen (but hopefully not...she keeps up with her fake rings and wears them)... but at least she will be very happy this Christmas!
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
Not sure which stevia sweetener you're using, but the Truvia and PureVia both had other things in them when I read the ingredients at the store the other day.
So it may be that you could find a preparation that's pure stevia and nothing else. I hadn't heard of palm sugar or rice syrup. Good to know.
The above two are made by huge multinational corporations and it's to their advantage to come up with clever names and advertise widely. Note the connotations--"True" and "Pure." Yeah, pure and true HYPE--give me a break. It may be that plain old "stevia" with nothing added is not all it's cracked up to be, is bitter or too strong or not strong enough.
Nevertheless, I'm not completely familiar with it--I'd like to get away from all of it--have been trying to wean myself from the little cane syrup (100% sugar cane) I've been using in my coffee. (I started using plain unsweetened almond milk and it's just a bit bland compared to FF milk, which I used with NO sweeteners). Then again it's a half to a full teaspoon/cup and I normally only have one cup, so it's really not that big a deal.
I hope you're getting to feeling better after that reaction!
And though they're completely separate types of sweeteners, what happened to you sounds a little like the reaction I got to aspartame a couple years ago. Aspartame is sheer poison to me--it messed me up terribly when I accidentally drank a diet coke.
My warming mattress pad is a low-voltage dealie. You don't notice the wires because they're almost not there. Every electric blanket I've ever had always got too hot and staticky no matter what and this is nothing like that. The company that makes it is called Perfect Fit.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello Friends!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Today is a day to give thanks to God for His many blessings on us, especially for the gift of eternal life through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
Progress as of today: 60.4 lbs lost so far, only 4.6 lbs to go!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello Friends!
Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
Progress as of today: 60.4 lbs lost so far, only 4.6 lbs to go!
I actually ate fully this new way for about 4 days straight a couple weeks ago. Since then not so disciplined. And then with the cold of this past week I was up and down with my appetite. For a couple of days I ate just so I wouldn't dry up and blow away:-)
I appreciate your reading my entry--have a good day!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
It is another chilly but sunny morning here in S.C. and I had a light breakfast of an egg and grits (no margerine) and have been drinking coffee with stevia.
Weighed in this morning at.....
144.8!
Here is something I wrote years ago when I was much heavier (Started off at 205, size 20 and 22):
'I do not like my size. i do not feel proud of my appearance at all. I want to be slim again. Later, I wrote: 'Had a depressing day. Tried on clothes 3 times at the mall. They either made me look fat in the hips or were too tight. I couldn't even fit into (XX) .' A few days after that, I wrote: 'Food is the hardest addiction to overcome because you still have to eat, only not for any reason than what is required to nourish the body PLUS NOTHING! Don't eat for fun! When you're bored, do other things. Don't eat for comfort! PRAY! Don't eat when angry! Do something constructive! Food was meant for one thing! Body Nourishment! If your body is nourished, do not take in much food! Exercise! A lot! Whenever and however long (you) can do it! Do not give up.'
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Think I'll go Christmas shopping today. Also thinking of going to the farmer's market and get some more fresh green string beans. I like to take the ends off, then boil them til tender, then take some out of the water and sprinkle with a little salt and eat them that way, no oil nor other seasonings. They are very nutritious and low in calories!
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
Have a good one!
Enjoy the christmas shopping. :)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
It is another chilly but sunny morning here in S.C. I thank the Lord, it is warm in this house. Threw some bread out for the birds a little while ago.
Drinking a mug of coffee sweetened with Stevia this morning...pretty good...
Yesterday's weigh in was 145.8, up a little, had extra sodium the day before, so still doing good... yayyyy!
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Went to a church-ladies' outing at a local restaurant last nite here in town and wore my size 8 non-stretch jeans. Felt good about that. I ordered salad bar and nothing else to eat. Was asked why didn't I order more than that? Well, I was FULL even before finishing eating my salad plateful of salad so didn't quite finish it all....didn't need any meat, sides, bread, or desert...On my little plate, I had a mixture of lettuce, bell pepper, cucumber, tomato, grated cheese, sunflower seeds, peaches, cantaloupe, grapes, t.i. dressing, and a few whole wheat captains wafers....very yummy! We all had a wonderful time together. Real good fellowship. Wonderful Christian friends!
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Update: Went to some stores in the next town over this afternoon and must have walked about 3 or 4 hours in them...good exercise pushing a buggy! Christmas music was playing, including my very, very fav, Bing Crosby, and I quickly got into Christmas shopping mode! Got a little done...so much to look at...so many decisions to make...had a good time and went by myself. I found and bought a beautiful to-wear-to-church suit (lined skirt w matching lined jacket) in size 8...... SIZE 10 WAS TOO BIG!!! As in the size 10 fit was a baggy skirt and a jacket 3 inches too big in the waist. Also, I found out that I no longer wear size Medium tops...only Small now. Medium is too large and I had to take in the waist of a size Medium shirt I bought recently (couldn't take it back cause I'd already washed it). The new size 8 suit I bought today is ruby red (my birthstone color). Got matching earrings to go with it. While shopping, I also found Daughter a nice watch, the kind she likes, for Christmas and got that to be part of her Christmas gifts. Got some other things, too. Was fun shopping and might pick up where I left off tomorrow, Lord willing...
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Food today: 1000 calories est.
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
Your picture makes me wish I have a big roaring fire in my little apartment. I guess I'll settle for a blanket!
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I could sail away right now with the amount of rain that's coming down. Very stormy day here in Wash. DC. Have a good day yourself!
Umpqua on 12/01/2010:
I hope you get some rest today. You have an 8-ft Christmas tree? Must be gorgeous. My parents have a vaulted ceiling in the living room and always get a tall tree and it looks so great. Good on you for *confessing* your calories yesterday, I'm sure today will be better for you!
selina on 12/01/2010:
I went out last night and the neighborhood is getting so pretty and festive with all kinds of Christmas decorations and lights - so I thought of you! Have a great day!
hollybelle on 12/01/2010:
I keep telling you to come on over to KY - it is pretty and we'd love to see you! I am having decoration delemia myself.
V on 12/01/2010:
Well i must say I am proud of your treadmill workout!!! You and Moogy had me laughing all night!!!!! I wonder where she is...Now if your christmas decorations are nearly as festive as your post I know it will be fabulous!!!!! I am so happy to have all of you girls in my life :) Have a good one and Yayyy for avoiding the other goodies/stash LOL
hopingforhealth on 12/01/2010:
Well, you are decorating your post at least!
I definitely feel like sailing away sometimes, too. You are not alone.
moogy on 12/01/2010:
You are sounding a little waccky today Maria, and I like it. Girl, there is no way you would have a Christmas party without your full set of decorations up, your guests would be dissapointed, I am sure. Well done on restraining yourself with the storm comfort food.:)
just42day on 12/01/2010:
Love all your animated holiday decorations! Very festive
chidogs on 12/01/2010:
Maria, thanks for your lovely words. And I adore your picture. I like everything Kincaid does but he excels at Christmas paintings. (Disney too, but that's a whole other story). Anyway, I appreciate what you said and will do my best to work it out. :)
moogy on 12/01/2010:
Sorry you have a headache, I think you might have been a little tired and a little excited and a little bit stressed about playing the organ (I mean, you have to get it right don't you?). I hope you get/had a good night's sleep and feel better in the morning. XX
biscottibody59 on 12/02/2010:
Thanks for your comments--if the decorations are a little too daunting this year, just do a table centerpiece and a small tree or something like that. I don't know if you put up nativity scenes--maybe that at least if it's in your tradition?
Hope you're having a good one!
hopingforhealth on 12/02/2010:
Hey Maria! Just dropping by to say hi :)