Gone too long!

     I am so sorry that I have not written!  I have been gone too long!  We went back to Houston for a checkup and are thrilled that Yancey's tumor continued to shrink by 10%.  We are so lucky that we had great friends by our side (thanks Chip and Ann) and were able to see an old friend as well!  We are surrounded by blessings and have many to share this Thanksgiving!
     I have a great story to tell you tonight!  My youngest son Blake asked for an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas!  Needless to say I was shocked!  His idea of fun is baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and driving me crazy:)  I asked him "Why would you like an Easy Baked Oven"?  He very quickly answered "If you won't bake me a cake then I will bake one myself"!  I love this!  Aren't children great about reminding us about balance?  It is important to have occasional treats.  Blake was reminding me of that!
     I am in the process of looking into "healthy" dessert options.  I would love your imput!!  My friend Janet Peterman puts one can of black beans into her brownie mix in order to add more fiber.  When the brownies are cooked they look like chocolate chips and no one realizes that they are not.  Isn't that great?  Do you have any great ideas or recipes?  I would love to hear!
     We must have balance in our lives.  A balance between work and play.  A balance between exercise and rest.  A balance between friends and family.  A balance in our diet might mean that we grant ourselves an occasional treat.  Remember to exercise more that day or keep the portions small.  Incorporating balance may indeed be the key in cutting our cravings and binge eating.
     As we prepare for the holiday season, remember to keep balance in your life.  Thanks to Blake for that important reminder!  Share your ideas or recipes!  We would love to hear!

Blessings -

Emmie