Who Is Your Reason For The Season?

Oh what a beautiful time of year, the Christmas Holiday. The snow outside on the ground and on the trees. There's nothing like a white Christmas. (As long as I don't have to drive in it.) Looking at the houses beautifully decorated with lights, lights and more lights can sometimes take your breath away.

Oh what delicious aromas coming from the kitchen. The sound of pots and pans clanging together as they are being pulled from the cabinets, ready for use on top of the stove, as well as in the oven.

With all the hustle and bustle, rushing here and there, I still love this time of the year.

Look at the beautiful Christmas trees, some green, some gold, some white with all the decorations of bows, ornaments, tinsel and lights.

Look at all the presents under the Christmas tree. My, oh my will someone be very surprised!

But wait a minute, with all the beautiful decorated trees, homes, and the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, even with all the presents under the tree, that isn't the reason why I love this time of year so much.

It's because of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season, that's why I love this holiday season so much. We may not know the exact date of Jesus' birth, but we celebrate His birth Dec. 25th. The Christmas holiday brings more people together than any other time of the year. Black, white, yellow or green, why can't we show each other the same kind of respect and love throughout the year?

Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas!!!

Holiday Foods on the Naughty List

Naughty: Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables out there. They’ve got vitamins A and C, plus a dose of calcium and potassium. But they’re often served in a decidedly unhealthy fashion – casseroles made with marshmallows, butter, and loads of sugar.

Nice: How’s this for a compromise? Leave out the butter and cut the sugar in half, and keep the marshmallows. This will shave calories and fat, not taste.

Naughty: Turkey Skin

The skin of turkey and chicken is loaded with saturated fat. Per gram, saturated fats are higher in calories than protein or carbs, and they contribute to high cholesterol. Another no-no is the dark meat, which has more fat per bite than white meat.

Nice: Serve yourself turkey breast or other white meat without the skin.

Naughty: Pecan Pie

Although pecans are packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, pecan pie is a minefield of sugar and calories. A typical slice of pecan pie has 500 to 800 calories. That’s because it’s usually made with oodles of corn syrup, butter, and sugar.

Nice: Nibble on a bowl of mixed nuts instead. If you can’t resist the pie, opt for a very small slice and don’t eat the crust.

Remember there's always a substitute for the different foods we would love to have, we just need to compromise.

The Godly Life

Why try to live the godly life? It isn't always going to be easy, but who said it would. There is often a lot of work involved. It is often inconvenient. So why should we even try? He tells us all that will live godly for Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. II Tim. 3:12

The reason is because of what God has already done for us. This is important. The reason that your life as a Christian is to be different is because you are now different. God has promoted us to a new position. We are heirs with Jesus Christ, which will lead us to the King.

We no longer have the same disposition, or the same identity. We are now rooted in who and what Jesus is.

We have received a new position, we did not earn that position. We did not deserve that position. It has been given to us as a free gift of God’s grace. Now God commands that we should live in accordance with that new position.

God has truly blessed us with some wonderful blessings. Will you water and nurture your blessing ... or will you bury your blessing?

To Take or Not Intake

Protein Intake:
In people with diabetes, protein intake should not exceed 15%-20% of the total daily calories. Since the effects of high amounts of protein and low amounts carbohydrates on the development of kidney disease has not been established, experts do not recommend diets high in proteins and low in carbohydrates (for example, Atkins Diet) in people with diabetes as a way to lose weight and control blood glucose levels.

Fat Intake:
People with diabetes have higher-than-normal risk for heart disease, stroke, and disease of the small vessels in the body. Controlling blood pressure, normalizing blood sugars, and limiting the amounts of fats in the diet will help lower the risk of these complications.

Limiting the amounts of saturated fats, exercise, and medical therapy can lower bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol. This has been repeatedly shown in many studies to help people with diabetes reduce their risk of heart disease and reduce the risk of death if a heart attack does occurs in a diabetic person.

Long Distance Grandchildren

Having grandchildren living far away can be very difficult. There are negatives and positives to this situation. Two emotional and spiritual ingredients of a vital connection between grandparent and grandchild are:

1. Time alone in a one-on-one situation, and undivided attention between the grandparents and grandchildren is difficult to achieve when grandparents and grandchildren live a long distance from one another.

2. Day to day contact. To make the bond flourish, grandparents and grandchildren need to be part of one another's daily life, especially in the child's early years. Living far apart, grandparent and grandchild don't come to know one another because there is little one-on-one contact, and little time for loving attention.

On the positive side, devise a plan to be together with your grandchildren as much as possible. When mom and dad go away on vacation, this will be time well spent for the grandparents to come and spend time with their grandchildren to bond. Set monies aside for those special moments like birthdays and holidays to travel to be with your grands.

Last but not least, exchange pictures. Children change quite often, request pictures of your grandchildren. Watch them grow as their parents' see them grow. Also set aside special times to make phone calls, to hear your grandchild's voice and they hear and get to know yours.

The ABC's of Type 2 Diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, you’re at higher risk for heart disease and other complications. But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk—and understanding them is as easy as A-B-C. To help maintain your type 2 diabetes eat plenty fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes. Most importantly take any medicines as prescribed by your doctor.

A – Keep your A1C levels less than 7%

• Your A1C level (your average blood sugar level for the past 2–3 months) should be less than 7%.
• You should have an A1C test every 3 to 6 months.

• You should continue to self-test your blood sugar levels regularly, such as before meals, 1–2 hours after meals, and at bedtime.

B – Keep blood pressure levels less than 130/80 mm Hg

By taking control of your blood pressure, you’ll help prevent putting too much strain on your heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. If you have type 2 diabetes, keeping your blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg can help:

• Stop your blood from pushing too hard against the vessel walls throughout your body.
• Keep your heart from working too hard.
• Reduce your risk of heart attacks and stroke.

C – Keep cholesterol and blood fats (triglycerides) under control

Take control of the amount of blood fats (called triglycerides) and cholesterol in your blood to prevent clogging your arteries, which can lead to heart disease. You should be aware of three things with cholesterol and blood fats:

1. HDL cholesterol is often called “good cholesterol.”
2. LDL cholesterol is often called “bad cholesterol.”
3. Triglycerides are also known as blood fats

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Type 2 diabetes is known to lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD, disease of the heart and blood vessels) but little is known about the chance of stroke among a diverse group of people with diabetes.

There were 296 strokes documented during the follow-up period. The chance of stroke varied according to age, sex, and history of CVD. A history of stroke was a strong predictor of stroke in men and women.

Among men with a history of CVD, repeat stroke was more likely if their diabetes therapy included insulin plus pills, or if they were being treated for high total cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. Among women with a history of CVD, complications affecting small blood vessels were linked to stroke. Among patients with no history of CVD, smoking and high levels of glycated hemoglobin (A1C, a measure of long-term glucose control) made stroke more likely.

A person’s age and a history of stroke are strong clues of the chance of stroke in the future among people with diabetes.

Rebuilding The Family

Now, more than ever, grandparents are raising their grandchildren. There are many children who's parent(s) have become victims of drugs, national disasters, and even death. Grandparents are taking on a new role. They have raised their children, and now they are stepping up to the plate to raise their grandchildren.

Grandparents are to be commended for keeping their families together. Grandparents are to be commended for raising their grandchildren, and not letting them be passed from foster home to foster home. The government must use these alternative providers in order to meet the need for rebuilding strong families.

My grandchildren are blessed to have their parents raise them. Thank God for the many grandparents who have stepped up to the plate in raising their grandchildren. If the opportunity presents itself... will you raise your grandchildren, or will your grandchildren be put through the system?

Grands...much alike

Our grandchildren are different, from the color of their eyes, to the the texture of their hair, to the color of their skin, and yet they are very much alike. Their smiles are different, yet they are very much alike. Their personalities are oh so different, and yet they are very much alike. Some have loud, boisterous voices, while some have soft quiet voices, and yet they are very much alike. Some of our grandchildren are full of energy like the ever ready bunny that keeps going, and going, and going. While others are calm and tranquil, and yet they are very much alike.

With so many differences between our grandchildren, the bottom line is, they are alike. No matter how different our grandchildren are, and believe me they are, the main thing they seek from us as grandparents, is love. And for that reason they are very much alike!

Diabetes: A Chronic Condition

Diabetes is a diagnosis no one wants to hear, I too was in denial. The disease, in which the body doesn't produce or properly use insulin, affects millions of people and can lead to devastating complications. Diabetes can cause blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart disease or death.

The future for those with diabetes is far from bleak. Today, people have many options for keeping their blood sugar under control and living life to the fullest. You have to stay on top of it. You have to check your blood sugar 2 or 3 times a day. You have to stay on top of taking your medication. And there's always an extra precaution, like never going barefoot.

There's no taking a break, or no going on vacation from diabetes. The experience of coping with a chronic condition is what you make of it, you can make it work for you, or you can make it work against you. The choice is yours!