The Ultimate Christmas Gift

As I sit and wonder, I ponder on my life
I think about my savior and his birth on that silent night.
A little infant in swaddling clothes a sleep in a manger bed;
For you this day a child is born, the herald angles said.

The Shepard’s left there flocks, to come bow on bended knee
Three wise men came from a far, to worship the new born king.
Oh what a holy night for the birth of our savior and king;
What a precious gift of love, and sacrifice this sweet child would bring.

If I could stand in front on him, what would my reaction be?
Would I fall to my knees, shed tears of love at his feet?
The love that the savior has for me, I can not comprehend;
When I was in darkness he’s right there holding my hand.

Every year at Christmas time I am filled with the saviors love;
I ask my self if it was me, could I make the ultimate sacrifice of love.
I wish that I could give all of you, something as special and rare as this;
The love the savior has for us, the ultimate Christmas gift.

So this is what I am going to give you, I am going to remind you of his love;
Not only the love of our savior, but our heavenly father above.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
That who so ever believeth in him, should not perish,
But have ever lasting life.

So this Christmas morning, when you’re opening your Christmas gifts;
Remember to think of our savior and the atonement
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT!

Ronda Gardner
12/19/2006

Nine Months Out….

I can’t believe that it has been nine months since I had surgery; I am too the point were my weight loss has slowed down and it is a bit frustrating but I know that it is normal. I am starting to worry that I am not going to loose anymore weight; I know that I will that it is going to be slow, I just need to be patient.

There are certain foods that still make me absolutely sick and I am never going to add them back to my diet, I know that it will be better for me in the long run. I think that I am doing really good; the only good thing is, is that I am not gaining weight I am staying the same. I know that I am going to really need to kick the exercise; I know that it is going to be key important to the rest of my weight loss. I am going to start doing to Pilates (at home that is) I don’t really like going to the gym, it stinks and it really gives me a headache.

I still have about eighty pounds that I want to loose and I need to really start working harder to get it off. I will let every one know what I am going to start doing and whether or not it is working. I am just concerned about it I know that I shouldn’t be worried about anything until my surgeon tells me that I am doing something wrong.

I love you all very much and am grateful that I have the love and support that I do it means a lot too me!

The Three Trees

Christmas is my favorite time of year because at Christmas is the only time of the year that people step out side them selves and do this that they normally wouldn't do any other time of the year. This is my favorite Christmas story and I would like to share with all of you. I hope that it touches you the way that it touched me.

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Lots of Thoughts

There are a lot of things going on right now in my life; with friends and family and I just don't know what I am going to do about anything any more. In know that I have blogged about my frustrations before; but let me know you that the longer these things go on the more upset and frustrated I get about everything. So many of my friends treat me so different these days because of the weight loss; but I've noticed that it isn't all of my friends it is only my friends that are over weight. It's almost like they can't deal with the idea of me being smaller than them.

I honestly don't care how they feel and think about my weight loss; that is there problems. But the thing is, is that I am the same person today that I Was yesterday so I don't understand why they are dong this. I am sure that things will get better or I will just stop being friends with all of them. I do have to say that I have a LOT of very supportive friends who have been there for me through this entire process and I am very grateful to them for the love and support; I know that it has made all this a heck of a lot easier. Thank you all

Much Love

Strawberry Salad with Crab and Red Onion

Servings: 6

Salad Dressing

3 Tablespoon raspberry vinegar

3 Tablespoon water

1 Tablespoon honey

2 Tablespoon canola oil

1/8 Tablespoon salt

1/8 Tablespoon pepper

Salad Mixings

3 cups strawberries, quartered

10 ounce spring mix blend salad greens

2 teaspoon pine nuts

6 ounces can lump crab meat

1 small red onion, sliced thin and ringed

Directions

1. Combine first 6 ingredients and stir well with a whisk.

2. Combine strawberries and green.

3. Add the salad dressing; toss to coat.

4. Sprinkle with pine nuts.

5. Top with crab and red onion rings.

6. Serve.

Chef Dave’s Turkey Salad Left-Over’s

6 Servings

2 cups turkey, cubed or shredded

½ cup light mayo

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped fine

¼ tsp celery salt

¼ tsp poultry seasoning

Place into a mixing bowl and mix well.

Salad is now ready to be “Gobbled” up!

Per Serving: 160 calories, 14 grams protein, 10 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 2 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 250 mg sodium

29 steps to a perfect turkey

1 fresh whole turkey

¾ cups butter, melted

1 ¼ cups dry white wine

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons sage powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 large onions peeled and cut in half

1 stock of celery, cut into 2 inch pieces

4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces

1. Rinse turkey with cool water, and dry with paper towels.

2. Pre-heat oven to 450 F degrees with oven rack placed on the last notch on the bottom.

3. Combine melted butter, sage, garlic, and white wine into bowl.

4. Fold a large piece of cheesecloth into quarters and cut into a 17-inch, 4 layer square.

5. Immerse cheesecloth in the butter and wine, let soak.

6. Place onions, celery, and carrots into bottom of roasting pan then place roasting rack on top of veggies in pan.

7. Next place turkey, breast side up on a roasting rack in a heavy metal roasting pan.

8. Fold wing tips under turkey.

9. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and pepper inside turkey.

10. Fill large cavity with as much stuffing as it will hold comfortable; do not pack tightly. (Cook remaining stuffing in a buttered baking dish a 375 F degrees ).

11. Tie legs together loosely with kitchen string.

12. Rub turkey with the softened butter and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.

13. Lift cheesecloth out of liquid and squeeze it slightly, leaving it very damp; reserve remaining liquid.

14. Spread cheesecloth evenly over the breast and about halfway down the sides of the turkey; it can cover some of the leg area.

15. Cook for 30 minutes.

16. Using a pastry brush, baste cheesecloth and exposed parts of turkey with butter-and-wine mixture every 30 minutes.

17. After first 30 minutes reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to cook until temperature of the turkey reaches 155 degrees F (insert an instant –read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding any bones), basting every 30 minutes and watching pan juices, reserving them for gravy.

18. After the turkey reaches 150 degrees F, carefully remove and discard cheesecloth.

19. Baste turkey with pan juices.

20. If there are not enough juices, continue to use the butter-and-wine mixture.

21. Cook 1 more hour or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, remembering to baste every 30 minutes.

22. When fully cooked, transfer turkey to a serving platter and let rest for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make gravy.

23. Pour all of the pan juices into a glass-measuring cup. Let stand until fat rises to the surface, about 10 minutes, and then skim it off.

24. Meanwhile, place roasting pan over medium-high heat and add 1-cup dry white wine to the pan.

25. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the pan until liquid boils and all the crisp bits are unstuck from pan.

26. Stir well and bring back to a boil.

27. Cook until liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes.

28. Add the defatted pan juices and cook over medium-high heat 10 minutes more.

29. You will have 2 ½ cups of gravy.

30. Season, to taste, strain into a warm gravy boat, and serve with turkey.

If the turkey comes with a pop-up timer, remove it! Using and instant-read thermometer later will give a more accurate indication of doneness.

Size of Turkey Unstuffed Timing Stuffed Timing

8-12 (pounds) 2 ¼ - 3 (Hours) 3-3 ½ (Hours)

12-14 3- 3 ¼ 3 ½-4

14-18 3 ¼ - 4 ¼ 4- 4 ½

18-20 4 ¼- 4 ½ 4 ¼ -4 ¾

20-24 4 ½ -5 4 ¾ - 5 ¼

Being Sick Bites The big One....

I have not been sick in YEARS, and I wake up Thanksgiving day with a wicked soar throat. Of course instead of feeling better the next day I get worse and this is the pattern for the last five days. I went to the Doctor this morning and I have a Sinus infection isn't that fun? I think that my head is going to explode along with my nose. I have an antibiotic and hopefully with in the next few days I will start feeling human again.

An Ab Exercise For Everyone!

I don’t have much of a problem with belly pouch or bulge, since I’ve been doing one ab exercise or another for most of my life to make my abs flat.

But most of you haven't done any kind of ab exercise recently or ever in your life so you can benefit by my experience with one particular ab exercise especially.

I know a small ab exercise that can literally whittle your waistline and work your abs at the same time. If you work diligently at this ab exercise, that is.

Here is my ab exercise:

Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet resting on the floor.

Bend your right leg sideways and rest your right ankle on your left knee.

Link your fingers behind your head and situp, twisting your torso as you do, so that your left elbow touches your right knee.

Then lay back down and repeat 20 times. If you’re a beginner at ab exercise you may want to work your way up slowly, starting with five ab exercises everyday and each week adding one more ab exercise on.

Do this ab exercise with both legs, resting your left ankle on your right knee as you repeat the selected amount of crunches.

I took my waist down an inch doing this ab exercise, and I’ve never gone back up. There is no reason why you can't too!

Believe me. Once you start to apply this you will begin seeing results very soon.

For more of Beth's expert advice visit her Website now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Scott

How To Exercise Less To Lose More Weight?

For most people who want to lose weight, they will exercise heavily and damage their health. You’ll get to know the correct way to exercise here to exercise less but still lose weight.

You can eat healthy food. If you’re healthy, your body has higher activity level that burn more fats even you exercise little. If your body is not healthy, cells can’t regenerate, less cells to burn fats, fats don’t have the vitamin and minerals to turn into energy when you exercise.

You can exercise without tense. When you exercise relax, you’ll feel happy and exercise will be more effective. If you’re exercising and telling yourself “I must lose weight!” Exercise will not bring you big result and you will be tired.

You can exercise light. When you exercise heavily, you can’t train the muscle which burn fats effectively. You’ll have big muscle and burn little fats. Exercise light will train your lean muscle which allow you to burn lots of fat and have good body shape.

Remember to breathe when you're exercising. Only you have enough oxygen allows your body to use your energy effectively. If the energy in your body is not used effectively, you burn less fats.

So by all these knowledge, you can choose to to exercise less but burn fats effectively or exercise the same but burn few times more fats than before. You can now not stuck in the situation that you need to exercise a lot and hardly lose weight.

These methods are just small part of the knowledge of “Exercise less to slim” I gave at my website. You can discover more at Weight Loss Tip and grab knowledge on “Write to slim”, “Eat more to slim” and “Exercise less to slim”.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Ediso

A Warning of the Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it smaller and reattaching the small intestine to bypass a portion responsible for the majority of calorie and nutrient absorption.

The procedure is only available to the morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds overweight) who have been obese for more than 5 years and shown a serious effort to lose their excess weight through not surgical methods such as diet and exercise.

Surgery in any form is risk-inherent and gastric bypass surgery can result in complications. Complications of gastric bypass surgery include infection, leaking of the stomach resulting from a failed staple, respiratory problems, and hernias. The most serious of these is a gastrointestinal leak that happens in 1 out of 20 cases. The resulting infection, if not caught quickly and treated accurately, can be fatal.

Complications of gastric bypass surgery rarely result in death but the death rate hovers around 1.9%. When considering this, remember that gastric bypass surgery patients are already in a very unhealthy state and their bodies are not in a condition to fight off serious infections that do sometimes occur even in routine surgery.

The risk of complications of gastric bypass surgery must be compared to the risks of living morbidly obese, which is a deadly condition that will eventually result in severe disabilities and early death.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Info provides comprehensive information on procedure, recovery, cost and complications relating to standard, laparoscopic and mini surgeries. Gastric Bypass Surgery Info is the sister site of Bariatric Surgery Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey