Impossible !

February is not a good month for me. Never do I gain weight during the holiday months of November/December, when most people do. I always start the New Year with a 'binge" ! I don't foresee losing weight until after February! Let me explain,
FIRST Girl Scout Cookies are in !

Last weekend, after Jackson's basketball game, 3 boxes of girl Scout cookies came home with us ! By the end of that day, only a few cookies were left, of the low fat variety ! ( Who wants a low fat Girl Scout cookie!?). While the kids did enjoy the cookies too, I must admit to eating more than I should have of the yummy chocolate, coconut, and caramel ones!
SECOND It is coming up on the Mardi Gras Carnival season in Mobile , AL
( my hometown and home the original of the Mardi Gras). My husband's aunt Jeannie ships us a cream cheese filled King Cake ! Last year I had my mom ship me one! This is a bad thing because, well, I will eat most of the large surgared cake myself, with little help from the kids and Billy! yep, packin' on the pounds !

The King Cake commemorates the journey of the 3 kings to find the Holy Baby Jesus. It is decorated in carnival colors Green for FAITH, yellow for POWER and purple for JUSTICE. Atlanta Bread Company in Mobile makes the best. Sorry... no Atlanta Bread Company will know what you are talking about here in PA if you ask for a King Cake.
however, I did see a Kingcake at a " Great Harvest" Bread Co in Wayne, PA !
and LASTLY... in only about 25 days till " Fat Tuesday" ( yes, it is named appropriatly !) Here in PA , Fat Tuesday is celebrated by consuming " Fastnachts" on this day ! What is a " Fastnacht " ? Alabama readers ask.. think of a beignet from New Orleans " Cafe Du Monde" .It is a fatty doughnut treat served traditionally on Fastnacht Day, the day before Lent starts. Fasnachts were produced as a way to empty the pantry of lard, sugar, fat and butter, which were forbidden during Lent.

So, I end my post saying to all my PA friends, join me in storing fat for the remaining months of Winter and we'll think about losing the weight in the Spring sometime! To my Girls in Mobile, AL ... Sorry, but my advise to you is watch what you eat... don't touch that King Cake and leave the Girl Scout cookies alone or you will NOT fit into your Mardi Gras Ball gowns ! Have a good weekend!

Heaven

copy/posted from the
Lorie Johnson Foundation website.
Thank you for praying for Lorie and her family.
Thanks for looking at her beautiful memories in the slideshows I posted links to below in a previous post.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce Lorie Johnson stepped into eternity on Sunday, January 25th. After a hard fought battle for 19 months with cancer, Lorie won with her husband and mother by her side. We honor her life and her love. She lived magnificently in grace, strong in her faith, and beautiful in her smile. Funeral arrangements will be posted on her caring bridge page at

On behalf of the family, we thank you for your love, prayers, and continued support of the Johnson family.

Please continue to pray for Lorie's mom, Brenda Hobby in the loss of her only child. Pray for Daryl, Noah, and Zachary as they mourn the loss of a wife, best friend, mother, and spiritual hero. Also remember Daryl's parents, Kenny and Sherry Johnson as they walk this journey with Daryl.

Lorie Johnson Foundation Board Members

Mr. Sullivan

Thanks for your prayers for my Father In Law... He is doing better. Recovering as expected. He is still in a critical care unit at the burn hospital. He is being encouraged to keep up with the nutritional values required to continue healing and Physical Therapy is getting him up and moving. He's not walking much, only a few steps so far. He does sit in a chair some throughout the day. Keep praying that he
continues making progress and with minimal complications. The picture I posted , is from a visit he made here last March, they all went to the Camden Aquarium in NJ .
Philly is the backdrop across the river. We mailed him a care package today.

Prayers...

This New Year has begun for me, with a very lengthy prayer list. My Father In Law was injured this past Monday. He was burned badly while welding at his job. He in critical condition this week. We are praying that next week will begin with him weaned off the ventilator and managing the pain he is in. He will have a long road to recovering, but we need prayers that he has minimal complications along the way and that he stays strong. This is a photo taken when we were in Tennessee for this past Thanksgiving. my boys with their " Paw Paw" . We love him & need him well!
It's especially difficult since we are living here. He is in a hospital in Alabama.

Have also been praying for several people living ( or dying ) with cancer. One of them I blogged about below... her name is Lorie. She is my age. With 2 small boys.

Thanks for your prayers !

Lorie

Please Pray for this young mother and childhood friend of mine. Her name is Lorie ans she has been battling metastatic breast cancer since she was 6 months pregnant with her second son. Her children are 1 and 3 now. Lorie would need a miracle at this stage in her illness but I know my God is able and if it is His will for Lorie to be called home, then please pray for peace, comfort and strength for her family.
You can read Lorie's story on her caring bridge page :

CARINGBRIDGE LINK


I also listed a few links to some incredible photography of my beautiful and couragous friends's life this past year. You will need a box of tissues.

LORIE

LORIE

LORIE

LORIE

Each " LORIE" link should be a different slideshow . Please , Please pray for her and her family and her precious boys.