Take Time to be Thankful

Ok, with Thanksgiving tomorrow I just wanted to take some time out to be thankful for all God has done. If you were to write a letter to God, what would you say. I wanted to give this a shot due to a song I heard by Richie McDonald (formerly of Lone Star). If you don't have his debut Christian cd.....it's great and worth buying! He has an awesome voice and I'm so glad he's now using it for God! Anyway, he has a song on his Chrisitan cd called "Hey God" and that is where I got this idea. After hearing this song, I wanted to write my own letter to God and since it's Thanksgiving, it's the perfect time to do it! So here goes,

Hey God...I just want to thank you. There was a time when the doctors said I wouldn't make it, but because of you I pulled through. That was 7 years ago and these 7 years have been the sweetest of my life. Hey God, I want to thank you for my family. For my husband, whom is the love of my life. He is a precious gift from you and I can truly say, I have been loved. That is so important and I don't take that for granted. Hey God, I want to thank for my beautiful daughter. She's 14 and I know I may be a bit prejudiced.......but I think she is beautiful, not just on the outside, but on the inside also. She truly has brightened my life and brought me joy. 7 years ago I didn't know if I would have anymore time with her. You have truly blessed my life. I will do my best in raising her because I know she is from you. Thank you for entrusting her life to me. Help me in raising her and help me to help her make wise choices. Hey God, you are the best and my truest friend. I look back and see your hand in my life in every step of they way. I am so grateful that my life is in your hands and not human hands.

Hey God, I want to thank you for taking care of my father when he had his surgery. Thank you for giving me more years with him. God, you know his numbers are starting to go up again. I know you will take care of him but you know God...I want him here for a long time yet so my prayer is that you give the doctors wisdom and that they act in a timely fashion. I am so blessed to have my father with me at my age. I know so many don't have their parents in their life and I pray you be with those families during the holiday season. Hey God, I also want to thank your for taking care of my mom during her recent surgery. You have blessed her with a speedy recovery. You also blessed her with that spunky spirit that helps during recovery....thank you for also giving me that same spirit! I am so blessed to have both my parents with me this Thankgiving. Hey God.......thank you for giving me the parents you did. They have been awesome parents to me my entire life. If I'm half the parent they are, I'll be fine. I remember seeing their face at every activity I was involved in as a child and they still come to see what I'm up to today! I couldn't have chosen better parents! Hey God, a simple thank you just doesn't see like enough.

Hey God, I want to thank you for the time I was able to spend with my own grandparents and for the knowledge they came to know you before they passed in this life. Thank you that I will see them again. Hey God, thank you for my entire family. My brothers, sister-in-laws, neice and nephews. I have to say, they are pretty nice people and I enjoy spending time with them. Thank you they are all healthy. When you go thru hard times, you see what you're family is made of and how much they love one another. They are always there when you need them and I thank you for mine.

Hey God, I know this may sound strange to some people but I want to thank you for my trials. They have truly taught me that "nothing is impossible with God" and they have brought me closer to you today. I wouldn't have it any other way. I have no regrets and nothing I would change. You are awesome God and you are always good. Your ways are not my ways and all I ask is that you walk with me thru each trial ahead like you have aready done and I know I will be better having gone thru them. To quote a few words from this song that I love from Richie McDonald's "Hey God", this sums it up.

YOU HAVE YOUR WAYS YOU HAVE YOUR PLAN
SOMETIMES MYSTERIOUS AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND
BUT I’M HUMBLED BY YOUR GRACE
AND EVERYTHING YOU DO
HEY GOD HEY GOD I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU

SOMETIMES I FORGET TO STOP AND BOW MY HEAD
AND REMEMBER THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED

Everything I have gone thru, good and bad, have made me who I am today. I am yours God and I have been blessed. Thank you!

I could go on and on with this Thank you letter because there is so much more to be thankful for. Take the time to be thankful and take the time to tell God how grateful you are. That is what this season is all about. May you all be richly blessed.

Eating low sodium on Thanksgiving!

Ok....for all those out there that need to follow a low sodium diet, you know that Thanksgiving can be difficult. Eating low sodium on Thanksgiving can be done.....but I think you pretty much have to do the cooking or let whomever is cooking know what to look for when cooking for you. I find that difficult, so I do the cooking! Here are some tips to eating low sodium on Thanksgiving.

First off, the turkey. You are really better off buying a fresh turkey if you can find one but beware, not all fresh turkey's are the same. You must see the words, "minimally processed" on the packaging. Free Range turkey's at times do have the salt solution injected into them making them very high in sodium. Also, a Turkey that says "all natural" can also have the salt solution added them them since salt is a natural perservative. So, be very careful when picking out your turkey. Make sure it does say minimally processed. If so, it should have around 65-70 mg sodium per 4 ounce serving. That is the natural sodium in the turkey. Don't brine your turkey....I hear so many people say you can't cook a juicy turkey if you don't brine it........that is hogwash!

ok....vegetables..........use fresh or frozed vegetables. Canned vegetables are very high in sodium unless you find the ones that say "no salt added." Watch though because I have seen frozen vegetables that have added sodium to them. Make sure and check you labels. If you use butter, use no salt added butter.

If you make a sweet potatoe casserole..........just leave the salt out of the recipe. It will never be missed!

Make your own mashed potatoes.....don't buy those packaged ones that you just pop in the microwave because they are loaded with sodium. Even the new frozen steam and mash potatoes are high in sodium. You are better off making your own and using no salt added butter. The milk has some sodium but they will be much lower and doable on a low sodium diet if you make your own.

dressing or stuffing can be tricky! Breads are loaded with sodium. If your grocery sells a low sodium bread, use that with low sodium chicken stock.

Gravy....again.....make your own but do not add salt. Use unsalted butter also and the turkey drippings from your low sodium turkey. I don't even miss the salt in my gravy. Store bought gravies are extremely high in sodium.

Ok....your desserts.....not much you can do about those but just remember, eat small portions and you should be ok. It's hard to find low sodium pies/cakes so just don't over do them. If you keep everything else in your meal relatively low sodium, you are fine to indulge in a dessert but just don't overdo!

rolls are also very high in sodium. I have found that Hawaian rolls ae pretty low in sodium. You just really have to shop around and look at labels. If anyone knows of a low sodium roll, let me know please because I'm still searching on this one!

Use low sodium chicken stock and no salt butter in things that need these ingredients.

Remember, when cooking low sodium..........your guests can always add salt to anything they need but you can't talk salt out! Enjoy the day and take time to be grateful for all your blessings. God is good!

Heart Failure and cold weather!

Ok...I'm not enduring the cold weather very well at all. I have to say, winter is my least favorite time of the year. I hate the cold and I hate the snow. When it snows, my hubby has to go out and work and I don't see him for days. He's out cleaning parking lots, etc for clients at work so my drive doesn't get cleaned off! I am unable to shovel snow, so my drive remains snow covered for days. I always think every time it snows, "where are all the young strong boys that want to earn some money by shoveling snow?" They never show up at my door! When I was a kid, they would all be out knocking on doors, shoveling snow and earning some spending money. Maybe it's just that kids get too much handed to them today......I don't think they really need spending money any more! So....usually what happens at my house is, after a couple days with snow laying on my drive, my parents come over and shovel for me. Well, they shouldn't be doing it either! Ok...of the point a bit but it feels good to vent sometimes! For anyone with heart failure, you know how the cold and the extreme hot weather can affect your heart. This is just a reminder to take it easy out there in this cold weather. You heart has to work much harder in the cold so it's extremely hard on anyone with heart failure. Dress warm and make sure to cover your mouth with a scarf or something when out in the cold to keep the air you are breathing warm. I've noticed this year that I'm just not tolerating the cold very well already so I'm wishin for Spring.....an early spring! so....if you are a young healthy person reading this blog and know someone in your neighborhood with heart failure or any heart condition.....do them a favor and shovel their drive and their sidewalk when it snows.

Here are precautions and information from the American Heart Association.

Cold Weather and Cardiovascular Disease

AHA Recommendation
People who are outdoors in cold weather should avoid sudden exertion, like lifting a heavy shovel full of snow. Even walking through heavy, wet snow or snow drifts can strain a person's heart.

How does cold weather affect the heart?

Many people aren't conditioned to the physical stress of outdoor activities and don't know the dangers of being outdoors in cold weather. Winter sports enthusiasts who don't take certain precautions can suffer accidental hypothermia (hi"po-THER'me-ah).

Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below normal. It occurs when your body can't produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough. It can kill you. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia.

Symptoms include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.

Children, the elderly and those with heart disease are at special risk. As people age, their ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases. Because elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they're in danger.

People with coronary heart disease often suffer chest pain or discomfort called angina pectoris (AN'jih-nah or an-JI'nah PEK'tor-is) when they're in cold weather. Some studies suggest that harsh winter weather may increase a person's risk of heart attack due to overexertion.

Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain also can steal body heat. Wind is especially dangerous, because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body. At 30 degrees Fahrenheit in a 20-mile-per-hour wind, the cooling effect is equal to calm air at four degrees. Similarly, dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions.

To keep warm, wear layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation. Also, wear a hat or head scarf. Much of your body's heat can be lost through your head. And ears are especially prone to frostbite. Keep your hands and feet warm, too, as they tend to lose heat rapidly.

Don't drink alcoholic beverages before going outdoors or when outside. Alcohol gives an initial feeling of warmth, because blood vessels in the skin expand. Heat is then drawn away from the body's vital organs.

Broken Heart

I'm writing this blog this morning with a broken heart. My dear friend, Julie Werling, lost her little niece yesterday. I've never actually "met" Julie in person but she is a very dear friend. She has helped me with so many decisions and thru so much. I hope I have done the same for her. We have corresponded with each other and talked on the phone but haven't met in person yet, but we will! Julie and I came to know each other due to us each having heart disease. I couldn't ask for a better friend and I believe God brought us together for a reason. Julie's sister-in-law, Kendra, gave birth to twins 3 months ago. One of the twins, Noelle, had a heart condition at birth and had open heart surgery right away after birth. She fought for 3 months but lost her fight yesterday I learned thru an email this morning. I've been praying for this sweet little baby for 3 months, whom I have never seen or met, and my heart is broken today. Please pray for this family. They can certainly benefit from your prayers. Her name means "Christmas" and she is with him today. Please remember, you are never too young for heart disease. One thing I guess I will never understand is why some are taken so young.

You're never too young to start!

You are never too young to start taking care of your heart. Did you know, kids only need higher amounts of fat the first year of their life and then they need to watch what they eat just like adults do? When I heard the news report yesterday about how our children are eating and how they are faring due to this, I cringed. Some 10 year olds already have the arteries of a 45 year old individual. This is all due to the poor eating habits we are teaching our kids and to the junk food we have so readily available to them. Please.....teach your kids to read labels, teach them to eat a heart healthy diet while they are young. It will stay with them for a lifetime. Of course you can have a "treat" from time to time. What would life be like without doing that? Our kids need to be taught how to eat healthy for their heart and it has to start at home. They were reporting how in California, they are banning the junk from school menu's, banning bake sales, etc. That's a start but kids don't just eat at school so parents really need to instill in their kids at a young age how to eat healthy. Remember,this is the first generation of kids that will NOT outlive their parents if they don't make a change..........Cook with your kids. It's an excellant way to get them interested in what they eat.

Prevention is the Key!

Ok, I had a friend request for me to share things women can do to prevent heart disease so here we go!

First off.....Know your risk factors! Schedule a checkup for your heart! We are good about scheduling our yearly mammograms, etc but never give our heart a second thought. Your heart pumps 70 gallons of blood thru your body a day!

Know the symptoms (as I posted earlier) and seek medical attention when having symptoms. Don't wait! If you do not get answers, seek another medical professional until you get a DR that will listen to you and agree to check your heart to rule out heart disease!

Know your numbers! Know your total cholesterol and what it means! Take steps to lower it if need be. Know your blood pressure and take steps to lower it by exercise or medication. Over time, high blood pressure damages your heart.

If you have diabetes, keep it under control!

Maintain a healthy weight. Weight gain around the waist increases your risk of heart disease. Make time every day to EXCERCISE!

Eat a heart healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol.

If you smoke, quit!

Know your family history. Heart disease often runs in families. You can't do anything about your genes but you can do a lot to prevent major problems just by knowing your family history and getting regular heart check ups!

If you have not done so, set up an appointment with your doctor to talk about Heart health and to evaluate your heart risks.

Hope this helps!