With Even These Things

Starvation, disease, conflict, pain, sorrow. The list goes on an on. Around the world, millions of people are faced with problems so severe that there appears to be no hope of a better tomorrow. I won't list the countless statistics to show my point; we've already heard them. We know that there are people homeless, children hungry, and families torn apart by cruel conflicts. But what are we going to do about it? The staggering numbers of the amount of people going through these trials scare us. It paralyzes us and gives us a sense that there is no hope.

But, as always, God takes the moments that seem pure chaos, confusion and destruction and turns it into something with beauty, hope, and wonder! Allow me to share a story with you that I love and that encourages me.


     "Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

 
     Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

     Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

     When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." ~John 6: 1-13


I think so many of us are like Philip. We come at an issue that appears to be horrendous with a negative outlook on it because we face it only with what we can comprehend in our minds. Certainly Philip did not imagine how Jesus would change this situation - he underestimated the power of his Teacher.

This boy (we don't even know his name) plays such an important role in this story. His contribution to the endeavor of feeding five thousand people didn't seem like much at all. Five loaves. Two fish. It would have been so easy for the boy to look at the situation and say, "You guys are crazy. You'll never get enough food to feed this many people!" and walk home with his dinner. But his willingness is what inspires me. He was willing to give what he had to help others, and consequently, give honor to God. 

So what's our excuse? Not enough money. Not enough time. It won't make a difference anyway. Life is too busy. 

The answer is: We have no excuse! Even if we have nothing, we have our faith in God. And with this, we can fight the problems people are facing with prayer. Don't underestimate that power! Even with these things, we can make a difference. 

But if you want to help in more ways than prayer, there are countless things to do. I will talk more about those in the future. :) 

Memorizing Mozart

As I've mentioned before, I have been playing violin since I was six years old - going on eleven years of taking lessons. Playing my violin is one of my favorite things to do. Granted, some days I don't want to pick it up and practice my scales and techniques. However, I absolutely love classical music and I love the emotion involved in playing this instrument.


Last year, among other repertoire, I memorized the first and second movements of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major. Now I'm working on memorizing the third movement before school starts in the beginning of September. The third movement is my favorite of all three! It is so invigorating! :)


I found a youtube recording that has all three movements. If you are working on a project or something at home and you enjoy listening to classical violin music, I encourage you to listen to this concerto.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4BH3G_R9wY



( If you ever want to look on youtube for some other violin music, here are some of my favorite performers to listen to:

- Itzhak Perlman

- Joshua Bell 

- Hilary Hahn 

- Lindsey Stirling

Black Forest Cheesecake Delight

This is a recipe that my sister found in the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cookbook. But she tweaked it a little bit so that it would be more "diabetic approved."






Ingredients:

Crust:
- 1 cup sugar free chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
- 2 tbsp butter (melted)

Cheesecake Part:
- 2 8oz packages cream cheese (1  1/3 less fat, 1 fat free)
- 2/3 cup Stevia (or another sugar substitute)
- 2/3 cup egg whites
- 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted)
- 1/4 tsp almond extract

Topping:
- Sugar free Cherry Pie Filling
- Sugar free Whipped Topping

Directions:

Combine sugar free chocolate wafer cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of a 9 inch spring-form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Combine cream cheese and Stevia on medium speed until well blended. Add egg whites and mix well. Blend in semi-sweet chocolate chips and almond extract. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Loosen from pan, cool before removing. Chill. Top with sugar free cherry pie filling and sugar free whipped topping.

Nutrition Information: (Serves 12)
 Serving is 1 slice:
- Fat: 13 grams
- Carbs: 25.5 grams

Silly Moments (Olympics)

Keeping a positive attitude is key when going through hard times. But sometimes, it isn't easy. It doesn't matter if it's diabetes, another disease, or if you're just having a rough day, being optimistic and positive can be very difficult. These are times when I take a "Silly Moment" - some time to watch a funny video clip, read an entertaining article, or look at some interesting pictures. 

I have been very into the Olympics recently, so my "Silly Moment" today was looking at some goofy pictures that were taken at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. I hope you enjoy as I share some of my favorites with you. :)

(I am so impressed with the dedication and determination that these athletes bring to the Games. These pictures are meant to show the enjoyment aspect of the Olympics - not to make fun of any of the athletes.)

I love this guy! I'll bet he could eat five hot dogs in one bite!

The Man With the Cherry Pie

Yesterday was the day - the day that I went to the Mayo Clinic for my first diabetes consultation appointments since I have had diabetes. It was a rather long day for me. As much as I wanted to listen and take in all of the interesting information they had for me concerning my diabetic health, I found myself just smiling and nodding, but not really paying attention. Oh well. That had been my morning.



Lunch Time: My parents and I decided to eat at the Mayo cafeteria since I had an appointment right after lunch. We got our food (including the biggest portion of tater-tot hotdish I have ever eaten...and consequently, my number was 228 later) and looked for a place to sit. There was a middle aged lady sitting at the end of a table and across from her sat her father, as I later discovered. She quickly invited us to sit with them and we gladly accepted. Her father, an elderly gentleman, sat in a wheelchair and was wearing a plaid, collared shirt with suspenders. I sat next to him. He was intently eating his soup and I noticed that he had a piece of cherry pie on his tray as well. Of course, the sugar-lover that I am, I commented to him that his cherry pie looked tasty. He commented that he wanted chocolate ice cream on it - NOT vanilla...he got chocolate. :)

This man's voice was soft and seemed worn through years of use. His face sported quite a few wrinkles. And I'm sure his hands didn't move as smoothly or effectively as they had in years past. But one thing remained: his faith.

With him and his daughter, my parents and I had some interesting conversations. The daughter asked what my dad did for a living. He responded that he was a pastor. Instantly, the man seemed to light up. He told my dad that that was the most important job in the world. I was surprised by his passion in that statement. But what he said afterward I hope I never forget. He said, "Everyone has a gift to give - it doesn't matter what it is. It's a part of how we were made." He went on talking about this for a minute or two and I was so amazed by what he was saying. His body was failing in different areas, but is his spirit shone through.

After some more conversations and the completion of our meal, it was time to go to the appointment. We bid our farewells and expressed that it was nice to meet them. I spent some time thinking about this short meeting. And as I looked back upon it, I didn't remember the worn, hoarse voice or the wrinkles. I remembered the words and the passion. I remembered the encouragement to my dad that his job was important. And I remembered the encouragement to everyone that no matter who they are, God has given them an incredible gift; a gift that can be used to bring others closer to God. Gifts, as this man put it, are different for every person and we were made for them to be different.


I don't even know this man's name or his life story. But I do know that he must have been going through some tough times for him to be at Mayo at this particular time. Through this experience, I was able to see firsthand exactly what he was talking about. I could see that he had an incredible gift to share as well. His body seemed frail, but nothing was going to stop his passion for his Savior to shine through.

My day was pretty much the same after that. But the words this gentleman spoke stuck with me throughout the day. It affected my outlook on some things and got me thinking. I am so grateful that I got to meet this incredible man and his daughter. I will never forget that man with the cherry pie.

Leslie's Walk At Home

As I've said in previous posts, exercise is a must for not only controlling diabetes, but also in any lifestyle. Here are some reasons why moving in your day is so important: (some are just for diabetics, and some are for everyone :) )


1. Improve blood glucose management. Activity makes your body more sensitive to the insulin you make. Activity also burns glucose (calories). Both actions lower blood glucose. 

2. Lower blood pressure. Activity helps your heart pump stronger and slower.

3. Improve blood fats. Exercise can raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. These changes are heart healthy.

4. Take less insulin or diabetes pills. Activity can lower blood glucose and weight. Both of these may lower how much insulin or diabetes pills you need to take.

5. Lose weight and keep it off. Activity burns calories. If you burn enough calories, you'll trim a few pounds. Stay active and you'll keep the weight off.

6. Lower risk for other health problems. Reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, some cancers, and bone loss.

7. Gain more energy and sleep better. You'll get better sleep in less time and have more energy, too.

8. Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Work out or walk off daily stress.

9. Build stronger bones and muscles. Weight-bearing activities, such as walking, make bones stronger. Strength-training activities, such as lifting light weights (or even cans of beans), make muscles strong.

10. Be more flexible. Move easier when you are active.

But getting into an exercising routine can be difficult to do. "Easier said than done" seems kind of like an understatement for many of us when it comes to this area in our lives. I believe the most important thing when it comes to physical activity is to just do what is comfortable to you. Find something that works and stick with it. I've experimented with a few different exercise videos, styles, and atmospheres. But some just don't work for me. I've found one that I really like. It provides a good workout for me and sometimes challenges me. It allows me to go at a pace that is safe and comfortable and it is easy and enjoyable for me to get a break in my day to move. 

Leslie Sansone offers a variety of videos which are entitled: "Walk at Home." She usually does miles (I have a five mile DVD) and I choose how many miles I want to do on the particular day. I encourage you to go to her website: http://www.walkathome.com/ She has a blog where you can read about exercise, healthy foods,  healthy lifestyles, and more. There are videos available online if you want to get acquainted with her program. Check it out! :)