I've been telling my 3 and 5 year old that I was not going to let them go Trick or Treating on Sunday because I felt it was breaking the Sabbath. My smart-alec 5 year old spouted off "Daddy will take us then". I've explaned to DH (a non member) that I have strong feelings about Trick or Treating not being in the spirit of keeping the Sabbath day holy. My DH said something about that concept must be a "mormon" thing. I laughed and said I thought the 10 commandments were for everyone, not just mormons. I then went on to explain that they were not the 10 Suggestions, they were the 10 COMMANDMENTS. My DH said something about the city was doing trick or treating on Sunday so it would be all right. I went on to tell DH that it wasn't the 10 suggestions, it wasn't one of the ten commandments UNLESS the city has an activity planned or UNLESS Halloween falls on a Sunday. A commandment is a commandment and would he please honor that. I think I may have made my point. By the Way - there are activities including Trunk or Treating going on on Saturday so the children will not be left out. Melody

Hi Melody Good to hear from you too!! I have been real busy at work and then planning our trip took some time to. She is such a special spirit..I'm the lucky one just to know her. She had meningitis (DIDN'T SPELL THAT RIGHT..HAHA) when she was about 4 and had such a high fever they couldn't get it down in time to keep her from having brain damage ...She is only mildly retarded but she can't stay by herself..no one is a stranger and every adult is an authority figure to her so she would do whatever they asked of her. But you know she has a memory like a steel trap when it comes to dates and places and peoples names. She just can't handle the daily life issues. But she has a smile that will light up the night. She stayed with us for about four years and then another sister quit working and so she is with her now. Much easier on her than having to get up so early with me and go stay with someone till I got off work. Have been very blessed with sisters in our Ward that we have hired for her to stay with. You said you were having lots of growing pains these days...sorry to hear that..I know what you mean though. As far as the excercising goes I sure don't do as much as I need to. Been trying to get better..starting to have wings in the darndest places haha... Take care and sorry this got so long...just needed to chat. Talk to you soon Alfie

Hello there Haven't been on here in a few days. Went on vacation to Nashville TN. What a wonderful time we had. I have a mentally challenged older sister and I take her on a special trip every year. Its really hard to find things or places that she gets excited about but when I asked if she would like to go to the Grand Ol Opry her eyes lit up and so I started planning our trip about a month ago. We stayed at the OpryLand Hotel and then went to the Opry show. It was great and affordable. It was $55.00 per person and that included your room and your Opry ticket. Just thought I would share that... SOOOO how is evryone doing on their journey??? Me I'm at a stopped spot...scales haven't moved in about 3 weeks now. Just thought I would check in and let everyone know that I am thinking about you and wishing you well. Have a great afternoon. My work week is Mon-Thur 10 hour days so this is my over the hump day. Glad tomorrow is my friday its been a very long week this week. See ya Alfie

Yep I know exactly how I got the way I did....junk food, comfort food, fast food, easy to make food. Ect ect. As for cookbooks..the one I mention in my post w/this recipe is really good!! Gala

Mom's Pot Roast "Eating Well after Weight Loss Surgery by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray cooking spray 2 lb lean beef brisket 1 1/2 cups onion, cut in chunks 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbl sweet paprika (I did not use this because I couldn't find it in the store) 1 14.5 oz can beef broth 1 cup strong brewed coffee 1 cup water 2 tablespoons concentrated beef broth 2 bay leaves 1 oz dried mushrooms (I used fresh because I LOVE mushrooms) 1 1/2 cups carrot, cut in chunks 3/4 lb green beans, end trimmed (I did not use these. I couldn't find fresh ones in the store.) *I added 4 Red Potatos cut in quarters. This is how the Recipe calls to prepare...I will add how I did it at the end. 1. In a 4-5 quart nonstick dutch oven, heat cooking spray until hot but not smoking. Place meat in oven and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove meat from pot and pour off accumlated fat. 2. Place onion, garlic, and paprika in pot, stir, cover and cook over medium heat for 5-7 min., or until onion is softened. 3. Add meat on top of onion mixture and pour in beef broth, coffee, and water. Stir in concentrated beef brother, cover pot, and bring to a boil. Then add bay leaves, mushrooms, and carrots, lower heat to simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. 4 Remove Meat from pot and slice thinly on diagonal. 5. Add meat back to pot, place green beans on top, cover and cook for another 1/2 hour Gives the serving guidelines for Lap-Band, RNY and BPD-DS -- if you want those email me and I will send them to you. To much to type out. Nutritional Info: Calories: 231, Protein 26.72 g, Fat: 8.65, Carbohydrates: 10.72g, Cholesterol: 70.31mg, Fiber 2.71g Sodium: 681.34mg How I prepared it. Pretty much the same.... 1. Place onion, garlic, and sweet basil (I used this instead of paprika) in crock pot on high for 10 min. 2. Add meat on onion mixture. 3. Added bay leaves and concentrated beef broth. Then put the veggies on top I left for church at 9am and got home at 3pm -- it cooked during that time on high..>OPPS. And it did boil over onto my counter some. I meant to put it on low. Regardless it was very tender, melted in our mouths and even my husband said "I don't like carrots and potatoes but these are wonderful".... We have more pot roast than we will EVER eat. My dh is going home teaching to a family in our church tonight and he is going to take some of the roast and offer it to them because it will go to waste here. My 2 yr old took one look and got down from the table "i'm not eating t'nite. thats yucky"... Pre-op I would have said "oh good more for me."