Author: Tammy

Meet My Friend Who’s Grateful to Gain Weight Easily!

Posted on by Tammy

Greetings Bloggy Friends!
Did I get your attention with the title of today’s post?  Well, imagine what I thought when my friend sent this post to me to share with all of you and I first read this title,  too!  Trust me, you will definitely want to read more.  
First, let me introduce you to another one of my She Speaks friends,  Brittany Williamson.  I’m having a blast getting to know Brittany through our She Speaks Online Peer Critique Group that I current lead.  I also love reading her blog over here that she writes with two of her friends, Holly and Hannah. They call themselves “twenty-somethings”.  Now I’m sure you’re wondering why this old lady would read a blog written by girls half my age!  Easy.  These girls have a lot of great things to say as well as wisdom in their young age.  But don’t take my word for it, read Brittany’s post below – then pop on over to their website, www.faithinbetween.com and check out more of Brittany’s writing!  
Enjoy, my friends!

I am grateful that I gain weight easily.

Yes. You read that correctly. Not depressed, not jealous, not sad…grateful.

But before you think I need my temperature checked or my head examined or a doctor appointment scheduled, hear me out.

I have cried over, struggled with, complained about, and hated my body for as long as I can remember. Though I knew I was made by God in His image, I still declared myself fat, disgusting, gross, ugly, and unlovable for many years. Scriptures like Psalm 134:19 didn’t give me peace; they made me cringe. How could I possibly be “wonderfully made” and overweight at the same time?

It seemed to me those girls who could eat whatever they wanted and still fit into their size two jeans were perhaps a little more “wonderfully” made than I was. I gained weight just by looking at the hamburgers and fries they could scarf down without a budge in the scale. A  few words came to mind when I thought about my body, but “wonderful” was never one of them, I can assure you.
Until last December.
Absorbing the spiritual truths discussed in Lysa Terkeurst’s book Made to Crave radically changed my perspective on my weight and every other struggle in my life. For the very first time, I began to understand what it means to be perfectly created by God, and I know now it has absolutely nothing to do with what I see in the mirror but everything to do with what He sees in my heart.
Let’s be honest, God could’ve easily given me a different body type. He is the creator of the world, after all. But I would not be perfect if He had.  I am “wonderfully made” only because I am perfectly designed to need Him. We all are, in one way or another. And when we need Him, we depend on Him, and by depending on Him, we grow closer to Him.
God knew that food would be my drug of choice, my go-to when I was sad, and my method of celebration, and He on purpose designed my body to make me aware of my habits and decisions. He wanted me to recognize every time I turned to food instead of Him, and He provided an opportunity for me to get to know Him in a totally different way than I ever would have without this struggle. Through relying on Him for strength, discipline, and guidance while I work on getting healthy, I gain a better understanding of who He is while leaving behind bad habits and unhealthy pounds. It may be a difficult process full of temptation, disappointments, and setbacks, but I finally realized that this is a journey God always intended for me to take with Him.
It is the reason I gain weight so easily, and it is the reason I am now grateful that I do.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “rejoice always, pray continually, [and] give thanks in all circumstances” because it is God’s will. By looking at every weakness or issue as an opportunity given to us by our Father to grow closer to Him, we have the ability to experience true freedom and continual happiness. We are not designed to be slaves to anything– money, greed, bad attitudes, our pasts, or any sin. We are only designed to need God, and once we recognize that need, we are more powerful than any emotion, event, or addiction in our lives. Maybe weight isn’t your issue, but what is? Do you have a short temper? Do you love to gossip? Are you in the habit of hiding truth or lying? Do you think that’s “just the way you are?” Whatever it is, be grateful for it. Look at your struggle as something you can work on with God, and then pray, pray, and pray some more for His strength and patience while you soak up His love and mercy in a more beautiful way than you ever imagined.
The opportunity for growth is endless once we stop excusing, ignoring, and dwelling on our faults and begin to embrace the strength offered to us through Christ. The fact that we all need to change doesn’t mean we aren’t perfectly made. It means we are.

Well, didn’t I tell you this young lady has great wisdom to share?  Looks like I’d better re-read this post myself and learn from it!
…and that’s all I have to say about that!
Tammy

I’m Traveling Again! Well, Cyberly That Is!

Posted on by Tammy

Greetings!  I am traveling through Cyberspace again today!  I had the honor of being “interviewed” by a fellow She Speaks Graduate recently.  It was fun and made me think hard!  You can find my interview over at Lynnette’s place!  While you are there, please check out the rest of her blog.  I’m sure you will enjoy her writing.

Wait, wait…..

Before you go over there, I have a little something for you today that will make you giggle!  AND it will all be at my expense!  Usually, I’m sharing about the hubster’s antics (oh, but he’s just such good fodder!), however, today I’m telling on moi!

The other day, I was at the Apple Store having one of my “OnetoOne” Sessions.  I’ve done a few, know the drill to get in and set up, so I was setting up my laptop and getting ready for my session.  The store was packed as usual and there was a lot going on all around me.  A large man had sat down at the projects table just as I was setting up and well, let’s just say he was making a great effort at taking up a large amount of space while huffing and letting everyone know he was tired of waiting.

I was having a time trying to kindly set up my stuff for my scheduled session working around him.  I was trying to be courteous, though he was going to have no part of moving from this table with a sign on it stating it’s for Projects.  He kept looking over his shoulder and glaring at me as if “I” were the one in the way.  Oh, did I ever want to pull an only child on him!  BUT – that still small voice in my conscience kept reminding me–“It’s not ALL about you, dear child.”  Oh yeah?

I kept looking over at the Apple Trainer working with the other lady and then looking at him hoping she would politely, but with Apple Authority,  ask him to move over so that the person who had a scheduled class could set up and plug in her laptop.

No chance.  She just smiled back at me.

Frustrated, I kept thinking….I need attention here.  I need someone to help me, because I’m not sure I will be kind to this man, who by the way, has now decided to lean his chin on his hand and lean backwards onto me taking up yet more room.

So, I did want anyone wanting attention would do.  I got it!

Yet…NOT ON PURPOSE!!!!!

With my little “issue” (or rather large) now leaning into me and my A.D.D. taking over with all of the commotion in the store, I not so gently reached passed the man and took the power cord out of the store laptop to hook into mine for the my hour long class.

One problem.

It wasn’t the power cord.

Oh yeah – I set off the store security that just about made me pee my pants!  In my A.D.D. moment, I pulled on the USB cord placed right next to the power cord.  Why did they have to put it in that hole, couldn’t they have used the one two away from the power cord hole?  Crazy idea!

So, I did want any intelligent person would do who set off a security alarm.  I pointed to the man’s back next to me!  HA!  That’ll teach you to sit with your back up against me!

Oh – and NOW the Apple Trainer four steps away from me gave me some attention!  And so did three other Apple Employees as they all crawled under the table to get the alarm to stop screaming and re-set it  for the next bozo!

So – kids, the moral of this little story.  If you’re starved for some attention, why not trot over to the Apple store and pull out one of the security USB cords that don’t say “security” on them!  You may get a little more attention than you wanted – but hey, attention is attention, right?

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

I’d love to hear about a crazy thing you’ve done that brought you some attention, even though that was not your intention!  Share a comment below – and let us share a laugh with you.

Remember, you can always reach me here in the Comment Section or by e-mail:  t.karasek@yahoo.com

Have a “Tickled Pink” day!

Tammy

Food Friday! Somethin’s Fishy!

Posted on by Tammy

It’s Friday so it’s time to share about Food!  I am really excited about today’s post as I get to showcase another friend.  I love bragging on my friends and sharing them with all of you.  However, this post isn’t written by my friend, it’s written about my friend.  I mentioned her a couple posts back when I shared with you my quick, rustic tart.

Who I’m speaking about is my Fav Cooking Teacher from my cooking school days, Carla Snyder, and her newest endeavor I was fortunate to be a part of–again!  (Grinning from ear to ear!) Yes, I was asked to be a recipe tester again, this time for her new book coming out in Spring 2013.  The title is very fitting for my situation and probably a few of you as well…”One for Two:  Fast and Fresh One Pan Meals for the Modern Couple” (written for Chronicle Books).  One would usually think – One Pan Meal – ah, that will be soups and stews.  Well, one would be wrong!  Carla already wrote that book with her business partner, Meredith Deeds with their joint effort of 300 Sensational Soups (great book by the way…well, of course I have it!)

The recipe I was given made me laugh.  I don’t eat much meat these days, but was intrigued by the sound of the recipe title – Miso Glazed Cod with Wilted Asian Red Cabbage Slaw.  Since the daughter has been wanting to try some fish, I thought this would be a great recipe trial for Carla as she had 3 willing participants–one who will eat “pret-near everthang” (as Grandma would say),  a somewhat picky eater who doesn’t like meat very well but wants to try fish lately, and me – yep, the one who you read a few posts back would shove the meat in the heat register by my chair at dinner growing up!

I shopped for all the fresh ingredients a couple days after receiving the recipe.  Made a date with the daughter to come for dinner.  On the “Recipe Test Day”, I got all my products mise-en-place (everything in place) and ready to go. This is what my butcher block looked like, ready to cook:

I followed the recipe, and in usual Carla style, it was easy to read.  As promised in the title of the new book, it was done in one pan.

This is what it looked like all plated up and ready to serve:

I have to say that this recipe got a trifecta of two thumbs up!  It was a hit among the three of us and all of us decided it should be in a regular rotation of meal plans!  Now that just never happens at our house!  Our daughter even said the glaze on the fish would be delicious on a chicken breast.

I’m telling you – if you haven’t checked out Carla’s website by now, I have just one question for you today.  Why not?  Also, if you’re looking for a new recipe or two for your fall repertoire, I suggest you give Carla and Meredith’s books a good looking at!  You can find their list of books on her site.  You might even see a familiar name in the “tester” section!  Jus’ sayin’!!!

Oh, and Miss Carla – I’ll be your “Kitchen Wench” again anytime you need me!  I loved working elbow to elbow with you back in the day at cooking school!

So, my bloggy friends – what are you cooking up this weekend for yourself or your family?  Please leave me a comment below.  I’d love to hear what’s cookin’ in your kitchen!

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

Tammy K.
PS:  I was not paid or given a book for the above post, nor was I asked to blog about my test.  It is just my honest little opinion!