Cupcakes, Calories and Character

CUPCAKES

Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes! I am surrounded by cupcakes. Cupcakes full of calories. Cupcakes that are definitely building my willpower and character!

I was out of town last weekend and I got a text from a friend. We are helping each other be accountable and it is working. "Help, I am surrounded by cupcakes and I want to eat on!" She said. She had made cupcakes for a birthday and had to handle and look at each one as she frosted them.

"No, No, No," I replied to her, "It's not worth it!" I told her how I had just turned down a Cinnabon in the mall. (Something that used to be a regular stop!) The intervention worked. Every time each of us thinks we want to cheat, we gently remind each other how much exercise we have to do to burn off those calories.

CALORIES

This is what you get in a cupcake....

Bakery Cupcake

Calories: 585
Total Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
What you get: Just one of these contains more than half the recommended daily saturated-fat limit.

Store-Bought Cake Mix & Frosting

Calories: 298
Total Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
What you get: Most cake mixes and frostings contain artificial flavors, artificial colors and trans fats too.

How much exercise to burn one off? Approximately 276 calories are burned walked at 3.0 mph for 60 minutes. Do the math.

CHARACTER
So I know all of this. Why do I torture myself with watching cupcake wars every day? It is a habit that I can't break. I don't eat them, I watch people bake them. I think this builds my willpower and my character. It helps me to know I CAN do it.

Pizzas Don't Have Legs

He sounded mad and I was sure someone was going to be fired. He was a gruff guy and I was intimidated... 

It was my first night of work and I was nervous. I would be delivering pizzas in a college town. This wouldn't be that bad in today's world, but 25 years ago was a different story. There were no cell phones, no GPS...only a big map on the wall and an address in hand.

Pizzas to be delivered were put in an insulated carrying case. This pizza parlor featured the giant sized party pizza. At the time I drove a 2-seater Honda and the party pizza barely fit in the back of my car. 

It was actually turned out to be a great job. I made an hourly wage plus $2 per pizza delivered for gas and any tips. On a weekend night, driving a car that got 40 miles per gallon, I made pretty good wages for a college kid. We mostly delivered to families, because the pizzas were a little more expensive. There were the occasional college student deliveries. These were not my preference, since the college kids didn't tip too well. 

One time I had to deliver seven party pizzas to a fraternity house.

So back to the mad boss...

"Who did this?" he hollered. I looked over and wondered what he was talking about. As I caught a glimpse of what he was talking about, I knew my first night would be my last. "Who stood this party pizza on it's side?" Oh boy, it was me! I had sat it down and it didn't even dawn on me that a pizza stood on it's side would slide to the bottom of the box. Pizzas need to be kept flat!

I was just about to take the blame, as it was my rookie mistake. Before I could get the words out, one of the other employees said, "Oh sorry Hector, that was me, it won't happen again." The boss grumbled and instructed a new one to be made. 

I thanked the other employee...He said, "No problem, we get to eat this pizza now. Just remember, pizzas don't have legs!"

Never Say Never

 

It was my turn. I climbed up on the medical looking chair. I took off my shoe, rolled up my pant leg and stuck my left foot out."What am I doing?"  If you would have bet me a million dollars a few years ago that I would do this...you would be a millionaire now. This is something I said I would NEVER do. Never say never.

A couple of years ago my daughter asked me to do something very special with her. Something that would give us a bond like no other. When your teenage daughter actually wants to do something with you, how do you say no. At the time, I told her I would think about it. I told her if it was meaningful to both of us, I would consider it. 

In her mind, she knew that meant on her 18th birthday we would be getting matching tattoos.  We would talk about it a lot, but it always seemed so far off. Then 2012 came, the year she would turn 18. She would remind me that it was only a couple of months until we would get our tattoo. 

We found a design that we both loved. It was meaningful to us both for a couple of reasons. It referenced Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Faith is a big part of our lives. It is something as parents we have worked at really instilling in our children. Our faith in Christ is the center of our lives. The "ones" have significance to us too. We have always seemed to randomly look at the clock at 1:11 or 11:11 and look at each other and smile. We had read years ago that the "ones" meant angels were with you. This was definitely what we wanted.

The design was picked and the date was set...but would I be able to go through with it? As I sat there on the chair...after Mandy had already had her artwork placed so delicately on her foot...I thought "what a special time." My daughter wants me to share something that is permanent. She wants a bond with me, something that only her and I can treasure. Of course I can do it.

I was scared, I thought for sure I would cry. The artist was great, she told me to breath and relax. At that time I realized I had given birth to the beautiful daughter that sat beside me. Childbirth was pain...but a pain that brought great joy and a treasure that I have had in my life for the last 18 years. I could handle this brief pain to share a bond with my child. I could stand this pain to do something she really wanted to share with me. 

As it turned out, it wasn't that bad at all. It hurt, but it was worth every minute. Eighteen years after God gave me the gift of a baby girl, I sat there with her and held her hand and we both experienced something new together. I learned then and there...Never say never.

One More Day of 17

She will be an "adult" tomorrow, but she will always be my baby girl. My beautiful daughter will turn 18 tomorrow. For today, I am going to enjoy one last day of her being 17. I cannot begin to say how proud I am of her and the young lady she has become. She is a true blessing. 

I can remember so clearly the day she was born. She was a stubborn little girl from the start! She didn't sleep all night for the first two years, she wouldn't give up her bottle and she waited a little long to walk. Looking back, I am thankful for those extended "baby" moments because since then she has grown up way too fast.

We begin a weekend adventure today. Each year my sister and I take my daughter and my niece on a birthday weekend. We were lucky to have the girls with birthdays right next to one another. These trips have provided many fun memories and I don't think this one will let us down. 

It's hard for me...but it is fun each step of the way. I am thankful for a daughter who is beautiful inside and out. I intend on cherishing each moment of the weekend and each memory with my almost "adult" daughter!

The Game

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What time are you going to "the game?" Are you eating before "the game" or at "the game?" We better walk in the morning since we will miss exercise class because of "the game." See you at "the game." You better get their early if you want a good seat at "the game." Save me a seat at "the game." 

"THE GAME." If you live in a small community you know exactly what I am talking about. There is something about sports and small towns that bring people of all ages together. 

Last night in our town was no exception. It has been since 1997 that our boys basketball team has been in this position. After winning a league title, we had advanced to the third round of the section playoffs...last night was "the game."

Aside from the excitement of a great group of boys playing in the postseason...the feeling of community was a large part of the evening.

Do these boys know they did way more than have a winning season? Do they know that they contributed to bringing an entire community together?

"The game" ended with a disappointing loss...but in my opinion it was more of a big win. The boys succeeded in packing the gym with people from at least four visiting schools, local community members, students, parents and visiting team fans. 

Looking across the gym and seeing generations of the past and generations of the future was a special sight to see. I would venture to guess that local businesses were very slow last night, everyone in our community was packed in the gym for "the game!"

So thanks boys for a fun season. It was great to see an entire community come together and support our school and athletes for "THE GAME."