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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Good afternoon!  It is a beautiful day here.  I went to a nearby church that was selling fish plates and bought 2 fish plates for Hubby and me....was real good....had mine for lunch.  His will be for his supper when he comes in from work.

Friend at hospital still not doing well...please Christians, continue to pray for her and her family.

  ............................................................................

Today's Food:

Breaky: lg. coffee w creamer, sugar 35, 1 lite wheat toast w marg. 65 (100)

Lunch:  (Fish plate) 2 Fried fish 400, slaw 150, beans 150, white bread 70, splenda tea 0 (870)

Supper: fried fish 200, slaw 150, beans 100, white bread (part) 45, part ofa small baked sweet potato 75, splenda tea 0 (1440)

Exercise: Why do I NOT want to exercise?  Cause I feel tired, that is why.  Cause I don't want to, that is why.  Cause I am grieving, that is why.  Cause I don't want to, that is why.  Cause I do enough other days to count for today, that is why.  Cause I don't want to, that is why.

Later...ok, Soonie...I did 30 minutes walking UPHILL on the treadmill.

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

...............................................................................................

Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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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Good morning!  

  Yesterday, I visited my Friend at the hospital...Christians, I ask for your continued prayers for her.

Afterward, I visited Mom.  She wasn't feeling too well.  She also seems VERY DEPRESSED.  I haven't been going to sit with her EVERY day this week, as I was doing for weeks before Hubby and I left last weekend for our little beach getaway.  She and I talk on the phone, though, when I don't go (as well as when I do).

Aunt is to come visit today and have supper with Hubby and me. 

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Today's Food:

Breaky: 2 coffees (1 tsp creamer and sugar each) 50, 1 mic'd egg 80, 1 lite wheat toast 40 with 1 tsp margerine 30 (200)

Mid-morn: pack of nekot p/b cookies 240, 1 banana 105, splenda tea 0 (545)

Lunch: Cone of vanilla lowfat ice cream 250 (795)

Supper: beef 150, abt 1 cupful of mixed veggies (zuchinni, yellow squash, potato, onion) baked w a little oil drizzled over them 100, a few pcs. of cucumber and tomato 20, fresh green beans 60,  small baked sweet potato 125, 1/2 cupful yellow rice 100, splenda tea 0 (1350) 

Exercise: walked about 1/2 mile and also, cooked a special supper for Aunt coming to eat with us.

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Evening update:  Friend at hospital not doing so well...please Christians, continue to pray for her and her family.

Visited Mom today...sat with her about 2 hours...her appetite is good.  I took her a pack of blackberries and a banana.  Please Christians, pray for Mom, too.

Aunt came over and ate supper with Hubby and me.  We had a very nice visit together and a nice supper and Hubby and I gave her some 'I love you' gifts...a large scented candle in a clear glass jar, a pretty clear drinking glass decorated with red flowers, and a pair of soft, plush bedroom slipper-socks with straps.  Afterward, Hubby washed the dishes (his idea) and I dried them and put them up.

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

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Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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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Good morning to you!  It is a lovely, sunny, COLD (40's fahrenheit) morning.  I even turned on the heat for a few minutes to warm up the house.  I opened the front door to feel how cold it is outside and it is COLD!!!  But, according to weather reports, supposed to get up into the 80's today.   

Plan today, Lord willing....Go visit Friend in the hospital (Christians, I ask for your continued prayers for her, please!)...and afterward, go visit Mom and sit with her.  Got a call from Aunt yesterday and she is coming tomorrow to visit and have supper with Hubby and me.  Mom is so used to my visiting EVERY DAY and I feel stressed at her expecting that and getting upset or down if I don't.  I have just about eliminated family and friend relationships through neglect of spending time with them, cause of spending so much time with Mom and none or extremely little with them....not a good thing to do.  It is because I had NO ONE to help me with Mom.  Family had/has their excuses.  So, why do I feel GUILTY to not go sit with Mom tomorrow and to take a day (as I did last week) to spend with my Aunt (her Sister)?

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Today's Food:

Breaky: 2 coffees (1 tsp creamer and sugar each) 50, 1 mic'd egg 80, 1 plain, lite wheat toast 40, splenda tea 0 (170)

Mid-morn: lf bologna s/w w 2 lite wheat breads, mustard 105, splenda tea 0, water 0 (275)

Lunch: cone of lowfat vanilla ice cream 300, black-eyed peas with onions 200, splenda tea 0, water 0 (775)

Snack: lf weiner 40, splenda tea 0 (815)

Supper: Apple 80 (so far) (895)

Snack: lite pim cheese s/w 150, splenda tea 0, water 0 (1045)

Late nite snack: Another apple 80 (1125) 

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

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Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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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Good morning to you!  It is a lovely, sunny, cool (60's fahrenheit) morning and I had breaky out on the front deck early this morning.  The red rose bush (which is loaded with roses in bloom) in the flower garden near the front steps looks real nice and I'm thinking about getting another one to match it to put on the other side of the steps. 

I got a call from my Sister this morning, who said she'd called and talked with Mom earlier and she said Mom was doing well, so I've decided to have some rest this morning instead of demanding to myself that I run over there to sit with her and I may or may not go visit Mom this afternoon, cause even though I love being in her company, it is so stressful when I leave and she gets upset.  Then I stay upset for hours and don't sleep well at nite...like last nite, it was almost 2 a.m. before I finally went to sleep, I was so stressed out.  So  I am going to get some things done around the house this morning that I've been putting off to do, like clean out one of the closets.  I have too many things I 'like' in it rather than I 'wear' in it.  Thus, it is stuffed and I can't hardly find what I DO wear in it.

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Later...ho-ho-ho....I am in the middle of cleaning out the closet and the winter/fall things I am putting away fit JUST RIGHT...........'BUT'....most of the spring/summer things are about a size too small...(years ago when I bought them, I usually weighed less in the summer than in the winter).....So...I think this is 'cute'to myself...I am including the too small spring/summer clothing in the closet to wear...(right!...)...which most of these clothes I've not worn for years cause they are too tight!!!!!  What motivation, eh?

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Today's Food:

Breaky: 2 coffees (1 tsp creamer and sugar each) 50, 1 mic'd egg 80, lite wheat toast w 1 tsp lowcal marg 65 (195)

Mid-morn:  1 hotdog of lf weiner 40 w mustard, onion, and ketchup 20 on lite wheat bread 40, 1/2 candied apple 145 (this was poor planning...I didn't crave the candy-part, I was craving the apple-part and ate the candied part anyway...should have had only apples in fridge), splenda tea 0 (440)

Lunch: Black-eyed peas with onion 250, 1/2 lite pim cheese s/w w 1 lite wheat bread 75, water and splenda tea 0 (765) 

Supper: Grilled out some bbq chicken on the back deck...I had 1 small leg, 1 small thigh minus skin and baked some 'french fries' (the white potatoes you peel and make into strips with onion and a little oil drizzled over them) 500, splenda tea 0 (1265)

Snack:  None

Exercise:  Walked 20 minutes slowly UPHILL on treadmill  -176 cals per this link:

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/activity/calculators/walking_uphill/result?calculators=%2Fhealth-fitness%2Factivity%2Fcalculators%2Fwalking_uphill&met=7.0&weightPounds=159&duration=20&activity=&submit.x=99

&submit.y=10

Spent about an hour washing vehicle...lots of tree pollen on it.... -204 cals per this link for 150 lbs person (I am at 159 now): http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-burned-cleaning-a61

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

...............................................................................................

Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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

........................................................................

Visited Mom today.   I spoke with Mom's doctor, who came into Mom's room, and told Mom and me that Mom is doing well and she will be in the hospital until next month.  We are trying to get her into a different nursing home.  I told her doctor how Mom was not taken care of at the nursing home and he said that her care at the nursing home had NOTHING to do with her being in the hospital and that the bone infection in her foot from the foot ulcer came about from Mom having BAD CIRCULATION in her legs...(her doctor in the hospital she was in before this specialized wound-care hospital told me the EXACT same thing).  She and I ate lunch together in her room and I stayed into this afternoon and she didn't want me to leave when I left.  I felt very sad and this is the usual and very, very STRESSFUL.

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After I left, I went to another hospital to visit a friend only to be told she'd been discharged a couple of days after I visited her last week...so I went to her home and instead of finding her doing better, the Lord helped me to be there at the right time to help  her son with helping her get ready for him to take her to go be readmitted to the hospital per her doctor's orders...so, Christians, I ask for your prayers again...for her.

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Other than the above, I've been busy washing clothes again today...now I have more of Mom's to do, too, since I saw her today.

Oh ya...I did stop by the local farmers' market on the way to visit my friend at her home and bought a pretty red rosebush...it is still waiting on me to go outside and set it out...

Think I'll go back outside now and set it out among other flowers near the front steps...

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Today's Food:

Breaky: coffee 25 (25)

Mid-morn:  lf bologna s/w w mustard on lite wheat bread 100, splenda tea 0 (125)

Lunch: Black-eyed peas with onions 250, cornbread 100, splenda tea 0 (475)

Supper:  About 4 cupsful of fresh veggies (squash, onion, carrot, small white potato, sweet peas, okra) baked w a little oil drizzled over them 400, splenda tea 0 (875)

Snack: 2cupsful canteloupe 100, s/w of lite pim cheese and 2 lite wheat bread 150, splenda tea 0 (1125)

Exercise:  Gardening.

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

...............................................................................................

Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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

........................................................................

Been sitting outside enjoying the birds singing, having breakfast this morning...toast and

coffee......it is a beautiful morning...sunshine, then rain, then sunshine off/on...

Weekend trip to the beach was real nice...Hubby and I had a wonderful time together...we walked for miles...we visited a huge aquarium that you 'glide' through as you watch all sorts of sea creatures...sharks, sea dragons (beautiful!), sea horses, sting rays, octopuses...the water went over your head (but you were shielded by see-through material that was either glass or other) as you glided through a tunnel with water on both sides with the fish and other sea creatures all around you...Hubby and I watched as sharks went over our heads...they swam slowly and serenely with their mouths open enough to reveal their teeth!...Everything was lit up brightly so you could see the sea creatures real well and there were lots of them....including many different kinds of fish.  It was very, very interesting!  Hubby and I also ate at our fav restaurants while at the beach...I had a BIG VEGGIE SALAD every day and sometimes 2, so basically, I maintained in weight, as I DID eat a little more than maintain calories (late-nite eating...uhhhh!!!) but the miles of walking we did offset a gain.  We walked on the piers and watched  people catching fish...blues, whiting, etc.  Most of the fish were sort of small, so we didn't fish.  We went to a couple of flea markets and a mall.  Hubby admired some of the boats for sale at the mall.  I bought Mom a very beautiful watch with multi-colored rinestones against gold-tone (she likes gold-tone and I do, too), also a gold-tone bracelet, a pair of blue pants, 2 tops (one mostly blue and the other multi-colored and her favorite fabric), a pair of gold-tone earrings with red rinestones, lavender (she likes purple) earmuffs (for when I am wheeling her outside and it is breezy), and 3 pairs of white (always white) diabetic socks.  We visited her yesterday afternoon and she was doing well and the nurse changed the bandages on her feet and her foot that she is in the hospital for, looked like it is close to getting well!!!  Thanks, Christians for your prayers!!!  Please keep praying...the sore on her other foot doesn't look quite as good as it did, but it is not bad, either.   She was happy over the gifts we brought her and I called her every day and talked with her while we were at the beach and also she had her sitter that Hubby and I hired to spend time with her while we were away, too.  Hubby bought me a pretty rinestone tennis bracelet at the mall and I bought him 2 shirts (one aqua blue and one bright yellow), a black belt he liked, and a coffee mug.  I'm so glad Hubby and I went on our little weekend trip...after 2 days at the beach, I felt RELAXED.  What a wonderful feeling!  We stayed, as usual, right on the beach, so sometimes, we had the door to the balcony open with the ocean breeze and the sound of the surf coming in.

I've been washing Mom's clothes this morning and drying them to take to her.  I also washed clothes last nite.  So, I'm about done with washing clothes.

Hope you're having a lovely day!

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Today's Food:

Breaky: 2 white toast w 1 tbs margerine 190 cals, coffee 25 (215)

Mid-morn:  Abt. 3/4 cupful grits w 1 tsp margerine 200 cals, coffee 25 (440)

Lunch: 1 cupful canteloupe 50 cals and honey nut cheerios 200 and tea sweetened w splenda 0 (690)

Supper:  Turkey-veggie sub 315, baked chips 140, splenda-sweetened tea 0 (1145)

Snack:  Canteloupe 50, s/w of 2 diet wheat bread 80, lite pim cheese 70, splenda-sweetened tea 0 (1345)  (I think I'm done eating for the day...)

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

...............................................................................................

Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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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Tired.  What else can I say?  Outing with Aunt was a success although it was all I could do energy-wise to get through it.  We took our time as I wheeled her around at the large farmer's market and bought her the flower she loved best ( a large coral-colored geranium in a hanging basket).  Then took her out to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel, her fav.  Had I at least slept last nite and not been in pain (was at ER over weekend), I could have really enjoyed outing with her much more than I did, which I did enjoy spending time with her.  We both visited Mom at hospital.

Now I'm back home for a quick rest before going to music/singing practice at church (I play piano).  Gotta be there in an hour.  Did I say I'm tired???

Oh ya...Hubby and I are 'gearing up' emotionally for our Lord willing, upcoming long weekend annual springtime vacation at the beach.  (Where's the energy???)  He's even gassed up his truck we'll be riding in.  He and I usually walk for miles and miles and miles when there....did I ask..where's the energy???

Can I admit to you that I feel like crying, I'm so tired???  But of course, this must be a joke, cause I'm too tired to CRY! 

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You in the way I have lived my life. I am truly sorry and I want to turn from my selfish ways and follow You. I hand my life over to You, knowing that You have paid the price for my sin by shedding Your Blood and dying on the cross for me. Lord I ask You to forgive me for all my sins and take control of every area of my life. I receive my salvation now according to Your promise: "All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved." Thank you Jesus.

Hope you're having a blessed day in the Lord!

 Love, Maria  

...............................................................................................

Note:  I do not support any of the ads to the left or at the bottom of this journal.

Recent news in DD:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/acai.berries.scam/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Mom's getting better.  Nurse changed her foot bandage today and I got a good look at the foot ulcer...tmi, but looks much improved!!!  Hubby and I are, Lord willing, leaving Thursday afternoon for our annual springtime weekend at the beach.  He is very happy.  Mom is happy we are hiring someone to sit with her a few hours at the hospital Thurs., Fri., and Sat...  (I plan to spend time visiting her Thursday before the Sitter arrives and a few minutes afterward, to get them acquainted before I leave).  Then we plan to visit her on our way back home Sunday.  I bought Mom a pretty ring for her upcoming birthday, which is Thursday.  It is what she said she wanted...it is a birthstone ring.  Good thing I gave it to her early...it was too small, so I returned it and got a larger size, which fits.  She likes it a lot.

Tomorrow, I am to pick up Aunt (Mom's sister) and take her out for a while.  I am exhausted but this is a promise I made a good while back...before Mom ever went into the hospital...the local farmer's market is having an annual springtime flower festival this weekend and Aunt and I are going tomorrow, since I will be with Hubby  this weekend.  It works out for the better, cause less people to make our way through, thus avoiding the crowds.  I will be wheeling her in Mom's wheelchair...then afterward I am taking her out to lunch.  Then after taking her home, I will be going to visit Mom at the hospital.  Then tomorrow nite is music/singing practice at church.  Did I say I am tired???

Happy Easter to you. 

Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place (and those who believe in and live for You) on the cross and shedding Your Blood and giving Your Life for the forgiveness of all my (our) sins and giving me (us) the gift of eternal life through You.

Mom's still in the hospital.  Hubby and I think she is slowly improving.  Thanks, Christians, for your prayers.  I go spend time with her every day.  She is in the next town over.  She has good days and not so good days.  Hubby and I went to church this morning...stayed for Sunday School and worship with music and singing.  Was so good to be with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Really needed that.  I love my brothers and sisters in the Lord.  They are FAMILY. 

Last nite, I tried on my size 8's jeans (the non-stretch, 100% cotton kind) and although I can wear them, they are uncomfortably snug.  I've been moving a lot here lately, so although up in weight, I can fit in them.  Been taking care of Mom when I visit her each day, walking on the treadmill some days when at home, and doing yard work including gardening.  I've been wearing size 8 stretch jeans very comfortably for a long time but goal is to wear non-stretch 8's comfortably.  I have to eat good to have energy to do all I do so scale number is staying around 160...some days slightly over and some days slightly under.  I try to eat healthy...avoiding junk foods like cake and candy and mostly avoid high-fat foods.  Been eating a lot of salads lately.  Also, something new...I've gone back to using artificial sweetener (splenda) instead of sugar in iced tea.  I finally realized I've been drinking about 400 calories or more a day in sugar-sweetened sweet tea.  Maybe I'll eventually get to where I can enjoy iced tea with nothing in it to sweeten it or either have just 1 teaspoon of sugar per large glassful.  I don't like using artificial sweetener but I also don't like gaining weight, either.  I'm overweight.  Even my doctors have said not to go over 154 for my 5'8" height.  And my shirts I wear are showing waist bulge now  (iiiick!).  I'll get back to where I need to be weightwise but right now it feels like too much to try to do with going back and forth to Mom every day and encouraging and helping take care of her and doing everything else I'm doing, too.  So, even though I'm eating more, like I've said, I am trying to make healthy choices.

As for upcoming annual weekend beach vacation, having difficulty getting into the JOY of it...Mom is stressed about us leaving even though I told her Hubby and I are hiring someone we know who sits with the elderly,  to sit with her a few hours a day while we are gone.  I don't care about going mostly, but Hubby sure is excited about it and I've even heard him singing (him???  yes, him!) softly lately.  I HAVE to consider him, too, not just only Mom.  He IS my Hubby and I love him dearly.  I've been questioned by well-meaning friends about are we still going (in lieu of Mom being in the hospital)?  Like they expect us to say no.  When we say yes, the look of surprise.  So, I am having a battle with GUILT.  And we haven't even left yet.  Hubby will probably be angry over my calling and checking on Mom while we are away.  He will want me to ONLY call the nurses to ask about her and NOT call and talk to her (cause many times in the past years, she has said things to upset me and make me worry about her while we were away to where I couldn't enjoy Hubby's and my vacations).

So...this is how it is.  Love, Maria

Mom's been in the hospital over a week...they are doing what they can to save her foot and leg.  I've been spending a lot of time looking after her and I AM EXHAUSTED.  They transferred her to a specialty hospital in wound care treatment the other day.  Mom doesn't want me to leave her side but stay with her constantly.  Meanwhile, Hubby is on cloud 9 looking forward to our upcoming long weekend vacation (????) next week's weekend, which I've not dared tell Mom about yet.  It is not an option to tell Hubby we can't go as he had to get this approved weeks ago and on top of that, he would NOT hear of it, either.  So here I am in the middle and I feel very depressed.  There is no one else in the family willing to sit with Mom at the hospital and tend her and try to keep her cheered up.  They have their excuses.  I've tried to reach my Brother, (just to let him know about Mom being in the hospital), who moved to Canada a couple months ago...he has no phone and does not respond to his email (I sent him an email about Mom, who he ceased contact with many years ago) and I do not know his address.   I am SO TIRED.  If I do go on the weekend vacation with my Hubby, I will probably use my vacation spending money allowance to hire someone to sit with Mom while I am away so she won't feel alone.   I ask you Christians to please pray for Mom.  Take care.  Love, Maria.