Walk It Out

If you have never, ever been on a diet you may not relate to this post. So go kneel in the corner and pray for yourself. Or better yet, eat a sandwich. I am just kidding. Weight loss may not be your struggle, but there may be some other area that you may be encouraged to tackle.

Ok, so weight loss is a lifelong issue for me. There have been times throughout my life that I've been lighter and times when I've been heavier. My weight fluctuates like the lines at Wal Mart. Up for a season, like Christmas, then down again till the next Fall. Mostly up. I've steadily weighed more ever since I turned 30. I am hoping to turn this around as I am closer to 40. I am actually hoping to be the weight I was when we were married when May 6, 2011 rolls around. That is when I'll be that magic age. I am not afraid to reach this age at all. I just want to be healthier and try to be around a long time to see my grandkids and hopefully my great grandkids. If God decides to take me sooner, I am ready, but I want to be selfish and stick around. And not speed up my life by continuing on this journey overweight.

People say they hold onto weight for emotional reasons or because of one excuse or another. I must admit, I am lazy. I would rather sit in my comfortable chair, watching TV (or taking a nap) than walking or jogging in place listening to the Wii Fit lady yacking about checking to see if my remote is secure or tell me I'm walking at an uneven pace. I wish she would just shut up and let me walk or jog. I definitely would like to lounge around doing nothing instead of sweating. I think sweating away the pounds is overrated. I hate to sweat.

It really is taking some work to drop these pounds, but I feel so good as I move more. I'm feeling better physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I give every day to God and He gives me strength to endure it. He promises to never leave me and I know He is walking right beside me. All day. Every day. My journey is not complete. I must continue to run the race. And continue to lose one pound at a time. After all, my weight is the giant I've been waiting to defeat for so many years. And I think I hear him falling down.

"When the path you're walking gets rough, God provides the right shoes." ---Corrie ten Boom

Note to Self: Watch Your Speed

I've been told I'm a bad driver. By my wife, mostly. But by other people, including co-workers. I tend to drive with a heavy foot, as some might say, but I am a safe driver. Again, my wife might not agree. When we asked Annabelle the other night about our driving style, she said her Mom is a slow, granny-like, careful driver. She then demonstrated my driving in animated NASCAR-style. You know, kids hardly lie when it comes to imitating their parents. Especially if they have done something wrong. Like speeding.

Now I'm not admitting I'm a bad driver, but I do tend to speed above the posted limit. I know this is wrong because I'm breaking the law, but I've had my share of speeding tickets. Ten, in fact. No, I am not proud, mostly because it's wrong and it hurt my wallet each time. As for the white speeding van in Lafayette, they have yet to catch me. Even the traffic lights with cameras have yet to witness me going faster than the posted speed limit. To add to all of this, I get so angry if someone drives past me, even if I'm speeding, too. I think, "What a reckless driver..." Hypocritical.

I definitely have slowed down since Annabelle is born, but when I'm alone I tend to go faster. This is not a good thing. I heard about an innocent driver the other day who had another driver behind him who wanted to pass on the left on a two-lane road. After the driver failed to pass on the left, she tried to get behind the driver again and hit his car instead. It flipped several times and hit a tree, killing the passenger of the vehicle. The driver who caused the accident survived and was not injured. I don't think the driver who caused the accident deserved to die or get seriously injured, but I do believe that if she would have slowed down it could have been prevented. There is always a preventative measure to an accident. Whether it is tripping and falling or causing a fatal accident. For some reason, this story shook me. It made me think, "What if it was me?" or worse, "What if it was my family and me and it was my fault?"

I try to remind myself that whatever my destination it will be there if I go the speed limit posted or if I go 5-10 miles over it. I will just get there a few minutes later. Taking the time to slow down could save a life. And while I'm at it,  texting and driving is another post entirely. But please don't take your eyes off the road...and let's slow down!

Scars

I have always found scars to be very interesting. When I first meet someone and they have a visible scar, I am immediately drawn to it. I guess it's natural, but I consider it part of a person's character. Like an antique piece of furniture with water damaged wood that adds that special something to the wood grain or the coffee ring on the surface of an old table. I think scars are unique because they each have their own story.

Some of my scars are not fascinating at all. I have one on my knee that I earned when someone pushed me down the robot slide in the late 70's in Beaver Park near the Lafayette airport. Another one was self-inflicted by accident with a boning knife that my Dad left out while cooking chicken. Those are not very exciting, but their stories are unique.

Then there are other scars that are not easily seen. The scars we don't like to show others. Ever. Or even think about. Some are hidden within people's minds. But they are all a part of our story. Scars from mental or verbal abuse. The scars that are left when someone you love is taken to heaven. Sexual Abuse. Suicide. Abortion. Alcoholism. All of these scars don't go away. These are scars that we can easily keep hidden. Some are deeper than others. If no one sees them then they don't really exist. Don't live in denial.

I recently heard an awesome speaker at our church that said if we expose our own scars God could use them to help someone else. By exposing my own scars, doors have opened for me to be able to help others. Trust me, it is not easy to expose your scars. The pain is rough. But it gets easier when you know you are helping someone. It is how we use our scars that matters most not how well hidden we keep them. When scars are uncovered real healing begins.

This is no bull.

I think that the media inflates a lot of stories just for shock value and ratings. That is why I hate watching the news on TV. I rarely read the newspaper (except for the daily obits), but I sometimes will monitor current events through cnn.com or other reliable online news sources. There is one topic that I cannot pass up to give my thoughts. Bullying.

It seems that this topic has become popular recently, but it has been around a long time. Do you remember the Little Rascals' Butch and Woim? They were always after poor Alfalfa. That is probably why his hair would stick up in the middle. Poor Alfalfa was always stressed out. Although that was just TV fun, that is reality to some kids, and even some adults. And I cannot find any humor in it.

I was the victim of bullying in my school age years. Those kids are long gone, but the scars are still with me today. There was name calling, physical abuse, and just plain mean things done toward me that I could not stop. I would tell a teacher and the person would get punished, but only temporarily. It would never cease. I had friends in school, but when it came to bullying I stood alone. I was not the only one that would get bullied, but it seemed like no one would help. Did I ever speak up loud enough? Probably not. I would ocassionally tell someone about it, but no one took me serious. Thank God I made it through. But others resort to more serious means of stopping it including suicide and rage that spins out of control.

I was lucky to have an older sibling that I could hang out with at school, but that was not always the case. I had to deal with it mostly on my own. And it wasn't easy. I hated school because of it. I was an honor roll student making straight A's until high school, where I made mostly A's and B's. I would get bullied into letting others cheat and to do poorly on a test just to make the grading curve lower. I never gave in when it came to academics, but I was pressured. Then there were times others would just pick on me because I was overweight. Shy. Quiet. Didn't wear the "in" shoes. Always a reason to bully. But not one reason good enough. Let me make it clear that not all of my years were miserable, but bullying was a big part of my life.

I think it so important that if you know someone or think you know someone that is being bullied, be their voice. They may not feel anyone will listen. Be their friend. Be their mentor. Be there. They need to know that someone cares and they are not alone. My daughter was the victim of bullying, but she learned to be more assertive and after talking with proper authorities at school, it ceased. She knew she could come to us no matter what happened at school or anywhere. Daily communication is very important. Be vocal. Be visible. Let the schools out there know that this will not be tolerated. Each bully has a story behind him or her that makes them this way. There is always a reason they are bullies. There's always a void they need to fill or an issue at home. But it doesn't make it right.

Let's make it right and spread awareness about this epidemic among our young people. They need to have a voice and not be scared. This has to end.

Who's Your Daddy?

I've been consumed lately with my parenting skills. Are they good enough? What impression am I leaving on my child when my discipline is complete? Am I a lazy parent and too laid back? Sometimes it's "What am I doing?" I ask myself all of these questions whenever I have a discussion or have to discipline Annabelle. Often times we correct our kids out of anger. Our thoughts often follow our words. Totally backwards. I find that I find my words come out to correct her and not her actions. I need to focus on the issue, not how angry I am at what she has done. Danielle and I agree that it's important to discuss how we should discipline her and not let her manipulate either of us to take sides. We are in this together. That is most important above anything we could ever say or do. So in the end, I can never blame our parenting decisions on Danielle. We have to be each other's back-up, like Starsky and Hutch. Bonnie and Clyde. Cagney and Lacey. Thelma and Louise. Ok, maybe not Thelma and Louise. But you get the picture.

Annabelle is a really good kid. She is very mature and responsible. She cleans, cooks, takes care of her dogs, folds laundry, irons (sometimes her dollar bills), and even takes out the trash. She is adapting well to homeschooling for the first time this year. She is an awesome singer and dancer and she can entertain us for hours. On the other hand, Annabelle has a very strong opinion. She takes the strong-willed child approach to the limit. She is not afraid to share her opinion either. When she sees that I am getting angry or upset she uses that to her advantage and goes in for the kill. It usually ends up in argument and she walks away and says "Whatever." I am not fooled because she walks aways to reload her ammunition. And it doesn't end there! Thank God this does not happen often, but it is difficult to handle once words start flying. I like to have the last word and that isn't always wise. I am learning how to be the father of a 9 year old girl and it isn't easy. It's a two edged sword---pre-teen and a girl. Double whammy!

I am trying very hard to imagine how it feels to be her, but I just can't do it. I'm a guy. Guys don't understand girls. I just try to let her know I love her and that's all I can do. I don't know what is going on in her young mind. Her brain must be in overload with so much information, hormones, and stuff going on. There are days that seem to be filled with love, joy, and peace and everything else Disney, then there are days that I say one wrong word or phrase and there are tears for hours and we sink like the Titanic. And I'm not sure what it is I've said or how I said it that made her cry. "What a good parent...", I think.

At the end of the day, I know that I love my child with everything I have in me, I want only the best for her, I will protect her whatever the cost, and have taught her to rely on God for all things and everything will work out. After all, He is who I look to for all my parenting advice. Thank God for His parenting skills!

....and you are...?

Have you ever been somewhere and someone walks up to you with a look of excitement and says, "HHeeeyy! How have you been? It's been soooo long... What have you been up to?"

I know you've been there. I was there the other day. My first thought, "Who are you?" It is so awkward trying to fake it. If only Calgon could take me away! I might see hundreds of people in one day, including patients, vendors and other work-related businesses. On top of that, there is church, grocery store, restaurants, etc. We also travel some with work and leisure so we're talking about the entire U. S. population. Ok, so I'm stretching it, but the people and places are endless.

I don't have a good excuse why I can't remember. But I always settle for the old favorite, "I remember faces, but I'm bad with names..." I mean really. What a poor excuse, but I use it all the time. I think it would be annoying to walk up to someone, call them by name, begin a conversation, and get in return a puzzled look and an awkward smile with a "...hheeyyyy....how ya been?" I wish I was better at it, but I'm not. Today I failed. The parting words this person used today was, "...and you helped me so much when I was depressed. Thanks for praying for me. Have a blessed life." Ah, epic fail for me.

I wish there was a crash course for remembering names. I guess I'll settle for a bad memory. Hopefully it won't count on the final exam.

How many times have we said, "If I only had a money tree..."? Or "...if I only made more money..."?

One of the most misquoted Bible verses ever is that money is the root of all evil. The money itself is not the root to all evil. Money is just a symbol of currency, it has no spirit, there is nothing good or evil about it. The love of money is the root of all evil. If someone does not have contentment about the amount of income they have then they are truly obsessed with money. No matter how much money someone has they will never have contentment if having money is their goal. Even Ted Turner once said he felt like a failure because he only had $10 billion compared to Bill Gates' $100 billion. People who want money fall into temptation and will never see contentment.

Income shouldn't be that big of a deal at all. Everyone enters this world with nothing, everyone leaves this world with nothing, so why are we so obsessed with getting as much money as possible in the middle? Don't worry about how much money you need to buy your children that Christmas present. Instead worry about the relationship with your child. Don't worry about your car, jewelry, or the size of your house. Instead worry about cultivating the relationship with your spouse. If you want contentment then all you need to be concerned with is knowing the God who provides everything for us.

I am trusting God to show me that it's OK to be content. It's my responsibility to be a good father and husband. To be there for them and not worry and trust in Him. I know it's going to be alright, but it's hard sometimes when it seems ends never meet. But if we look closely, things always seem to "fall into place". God provides what we need, not what we think we need. I should be content. I really want to live that way.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." I Timothy 6:6-10

It's Katie's Day!

Today we celebrate the birthday of my oldest niece, Katie. She is turning the magical age of 18 and I can't imagine where the time has gone. Just a few months ago she graduated high school and is now in college. There is no break in time when it comes to seeing the children grow. Time passes so quickly, especially as you get older.

I have a special bond with Katie as I lived with my sister and brother-in-law when Katie was a baby. I literally got to see her take her first steps, eat baby food for the first time, changed many more diapers than I want to count, and I even had the privilege of taking her to her first day of daycare. We also shared the moment of President Clinton's inauguration. Katie and I are very similar. We both like to cheat when it comes to playing games, like poker. We also like to drive fast, eat everything in a bowl with a spoon, and when we're talking about competition we both don't like to lose. We'll do whatever it takes to win or we'll lose interest and act like we don't care. We both like having a blanket, even in the summer. And we share glances all the time because we know what the other is thinking. Mischievous. "Canaille", my Cajun great-grandmother, Ma-Mom, would probably say to us.

She has always kept us entertained as she still has trouble pronouncing the word "cucumber" and other words. She's quirky. Smart. Funny. In Your Face. Hard Working. And much, much more. Since uncles aren't supposed to have favorites, I won't say it,  but she is definitely loved by me very much. I consider her to be very much like my own daughter. I am proud to say that I have had a hand in her Christian upbringing. At birth, my sister and brother-in-law asked me to be her Godfather. I take that responsibility very serious because I know how important it is to have a spiritual role model. Especially a positive male role model other than your own father. I continually encourage her to keep God number one in her life and she has done that throughout her life, and most important through the rough teenage years.

I will keep committed to helping her whenever I can because she is a special young lady. She has had her share of rocking the boat, but she is an all around good kid with a lot of wisdom. She has two very awesome parents who have definitely trained her according to God's word. I know our lives would not be the same without Katie girl in our lives. It still makes me happy that she runs up to me, just like she did when she was a little girl, and squeezes me tight when she hasn't seen me in a while. I hope she never stops doing that.

Well, Katie....it's your day! Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Vicki.

The later 1970's are the years where I can begin to remember my childhood. Some really good memories I have are times spent with my sister growing up. At the time, I know that I was her punching bag. I know I helped perfect her bowling-ball-flying-across-the-living-room skills by being her target. It only hit me once...in my knee. I was also glad to be a chunky kid otherwise I would have fit into the dryer (gas dryer I might add) and set for an hour. And you know those old Sears dryers were HOT and built to last! Living with her was torture at times, but I had my share that I gave back to her. I can still remember pulling her toes as she would climb up the ladder to get into the top bunk bed. As she would beat me I would yell for my Mom and inevitably my Mom would blame it on her. Go Mom. There were also endless Uno and Sorry tournaments where we were the only players. And seeing who could arrange the Rubik's cube the fastest. Fun times.

After all these years, we still manage to talk to each other. As a matter of fact, we are very, very close. We are closer than I ever thought we'd be. We've been through a lot and grown even closer as we get older. Other memories that I like to think about are staying up late watching The Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack and Solid Gold with Rick Dees. Her endless patience in watching me play Pac Man on my old Atari (which I still have boxed in storage) for hours and hours. Two words---Brady Bunch. Hopscotch outside in the dirt when her clog got stuck in a wet spot and she flipped forward on her face. As I stood laughing at her she grabbed her clog and hit me square in the forehead. The nosebleed at the levee in Henderson makes me laugh so hard. The Sonny and Cher act that no one could beat. I could go on and on and on. There are a lot of memories that I don't think about every day. It's not every day that you take time to think of why you should appreciate a sibling. While sometimes were tough for us, I'm glad we had each other.

My sister is literally a super woman. She has always been a great friend to all of her friends. She is the one everyone counts on to cook a meal or meals for the sick or someone who just had a baby. She is the host at most of our family functions, including long time cook for Thanksgiving, the most important time of year. We depend on her to make suggestions and decisions concerning our health and well being. I secretly call her Dr. Vicki and I don't think my Mom likes that.

Today we celebrate the day of her birth. I won't disclose her age because she definitely doesn't act it. She is such a good person and we love (well, we accept) everything about her. That's what family does. Love each other just the way they are.

Happy Birthday Vicket!

Love,
Baretta

Praise You In This Storm.

I drive over 2 hours each day to get to and from work. Every day. 5 days a week. Some days it can get plain nuts in the car alone. Just me and the radio. Just me and my cell phone which doesn't get reception within 40 miles of my house. Just me and my snacks. Lots of time to think. I tend to pray a lot in the car. And listen. Sometimes. Sometimes I get selfish and ask a lot of favors.  

I was thinking today, why is it that we tend to pray more when we need something? It's like never speaking to a loved one for an extended period of time, then suddenly calling them out of the blue saying, "Hey, what's up?". Your loved one would probably think, but never say, "What does he want now?" That is the difference between a loved one or friend and God. God is always waiting for us to talk to Him. We think we can pull it off all by ourselves, but it won't turn out exactly how we expect. That's guaranteed. We go into the battle of the day or an event in our lives without checking our armor. We cannot be fully prepared without God. Believe me, I've tried. And failed.

But man, when there is a need or someone sick or dying, the praying does not cease. Prayers of 'I want this and I want that' start pouring out if we're faced with a difficult situation. Where are those prayers when we've just received a bonus at work or received a raise in pay? Or when we finally catch up on our bills? (I'm still waiting for this one). Where is God in the midst of the "new car smell"? We all know we've been there. We might be there today. Do we thank Him enough? Where do our prayers of thanksgiving fit in?

These past two weeks I have prayed like nobody's business because we have a very ill family member in my wife's family. He is fighting for his life as I write this post. But I can tell you this, I know God has our loved one right in the palm of His hand. He is improving slowly every day and I thank God for it. In this storm I want to be reminded that we are to praise God in all things. All things. Storms are sent into our lives for a reason. To build our faith and trust in knowing the storm will pass. I know He is with us through every storm and will ride it out with us. Umbrella and all. He's got it covered and we need not worry. Because we are not standing in the rain alone. And I know he will still be there when the sun shines again.

"I'll praise you in this storm

and I will lift my hands

for You are who You are

no matter where I am

and every tear I've cried

You hold in your hand

You never left my side

and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm."

---Casting Crowns

I Heart Pickles.

Annabelle and I have a lot of things in common. Aside from her desire to be the center of attention and love of music, we share the love of all things pickled. While we love pickled okra, pepperoncini peppers, and green olives (she likes the black ones), our favorite are just plain pickles. She hasn't developed a mature palate for them yet so she likes them sweet, bread and butter, or Kosher dill and any brand that puts them in a jar, bucket, or pouch. I, on the other hand, prefer a distinct few in a class on their own. I do not like midgets (pickles, that is) or sweet pickles at all. I don't like pickles that have too much turmeric or dill. And I'm partial to only one type of Kosher dill. I have been eating pickles for a very long time. I used to keep the juice and drink it ice cold on a hot day. I don't trust my blood pressure medicine alone these days, so I've given up that habit, but I cannot give up pickles.

I have tasted hundreds of brands and some that are even in a plastic pouch found at Raceway gas stations around the country. And I'm not ashamed. I will try new brands every now and then, but I have my preference and my wife has memorized them whenever I start getting forgetful. 

So, which ones do I like? My top three are below and I guarantee if you like pickles or love them like me, you will love these that I've chosen. So why have I dedicated an entire blog about pickles? Because I can.

#1---Best Maid. This is my new favorite within the last week. They are cheap, sold by the gallon, and go great with a side of Pokeno with the family.

#2---Cajun Chef. This one should be #1 1/2, but Best Maid officially took over 1st place this past weekend. Cajun Chef is sold where I could spend the day shopping, Fresh Pickin's in Lafayette, LA.

#3---Claussen. This pickle has been in my top 3 for a while because when I used to grocery shop as a bachelor I could open these in my truck on the way home because they were already refrigerated. This is also the only Kosher pickle I like.

And there it is. A few other rules I have for eating pickles are:

1. Never eat them at room temperature.

2. Never share a whole pickle because you will always want the other half. Pickle envy ain't pretty.

3. Pickle in a pouch is pretty good, but only the Big Poppa. It should be the Hot Mama. But it is what it is.

4. Pickles are best whole, but hamburger slices are OK. Never slice a whole pickle unless you're waiting for a tooth to fall out or if you don't have any teeth at all.

5. Pickles are best at the movies with a side of sour gummy worms.

I'll take a venti cup of success, please.

We all want to be successful, right?  I often hear the same question at many seminars and training sessions, "How do you know that you are successful?" It really depends on how you look at life.

Some people find their success in the money they earn or the job title they carry. Others take pride in their car, boat, camp, etc. You get the picture. Others may find that being successful  is being a good father or mother and/or husband or wife. Even being a good sister, brother, aunt, or uncle might make you feel successful at being a good person. Even better, if the veins in your neck don't bulge out when you zip your pants or bend to tie your shoes....success!

While I take my career very seriously and strive to be the best I can be, it is not the center of my life. I am successful in many other ways. I measure my success if I get a good night kiss before bed. If I get two, I am very successful. I also feel successful whenever Annabelle and I have a deep discussion (usually before bed that lasts for an hour or so) and it ends with her hugging me letting me know that she appreciates my time. I feel that our conversation was a success because she got it. I also feel successful and confident that I have found the person God intended for me to marry and to share the rest of our lives. I know that I am successful man because I try and put God above everything. When my plans don't succeed, I just try again.

I read a quote the other day and it stated, "A father has pictures of his kids where he used to carry his money." I truly believe in that, but I have all my pictures displayed on my desk instead. I want everyone who visits my office to see where my success really lives. It lives in choosing for me and my house to serve God. It lives in knowing that while not perfect, I am striving to be the best Dad and husband that God wants me to be. I put them on my desk in front of me to remind me what's really important and what should be top priority. I will remain successul as long as I try to live in God's perfect will and put others before myself. It's not always easy trying to be my best and sometimes I fall down or fall short of what I've set out to accomplish. I just get back up. I cannot stay down. Because I know that God wants only the best for me.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

One pebble and a lot of faith.

For several years now I have kept a calendar on my desk at work that I read every day. I usually read it before I begin to get focused for the day. Four years in a row, I read one titled "Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado. The entire calendar is about David in the Bible. It is not an easy read because our giants are pretty ugly. The longer they've held you captive, the uglier they become. Your giant may be bills you can't pay, people you can't please or habits you can't break. But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest. I have never used the teachings from that calendar for my struggle with weight loss until now. Why? Lack of discipline, confidence, and focus. Plenty of doubt, guilt, shame, and fear of failure.

David. You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him. He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. He sounds like me. But for those who know the sound of a Goliath, David gives this reminder:

Focus on giants—you stumble.

Focus on God—your giants tumble.

Even though I have a new calendar, I refer to David and his struggles a lot in my life, especially now with my current weight loss journey. This giant has been bullying me far too long. It's time for me to test my sling shot skills I've been honing. I know the sound of his walk and the thunder of his voice. I am ready to hear the sound of him hitting the ground. All it takes is one small pebble, not five, and a lot of faith. I'm ready to face him. I've been here before ready for battle and have backed down so many times because I felt weak and afraid. It is so intimidating, but I'm now ready to face this giant head on. I'm trusting in God alone that my rubberband won't snap before I fire. I need to finish this. That giant is going down.

So, how big is your giant? Are you ready to take him down?

Enjoy the walk.

As a parent, I sometimes I think to myself, "Am I doing or saying the right thing?" or "Am I setting a good example?" At times I don't think I'm doing a good job as a parent. I know that no matter what, Annabelle loves me with all her heart and she thinks I am the moon hanger and her hero for life, but I sometimes still feel like I fall short.

There are times I know I am about to say the wrong thing yet I finish the sentence. I want so bad to be a perfect parent, but we make mistakes. I try to never start a sentence unless it is something that empowers her, teaches her a lesson or boosts her confidence. I know she is a fragile, hormone-changing 9-year-old yet I don't always think first. Sometimes what we need to tell them we know might hurt them (like "fish don't just 'disappear'...they sometimes get caught in the filter of your new aquarium and they can't get out, then they die). Whatever it is that you say to your kids make certain you try to lift them up and not unintentionally put them down. Never say something negative to make yourself look good or to feel better about being right. You can't take it back. And the guilt doesn't feel good either.

We recently saw the movie "Ramona and Beezus". I recommend it for anyone who sometimes puts everything but their family first. If you think that just working hard at your career, paying the bills, and buying nice stuff is what it's all about, try again. I have tried hard to improve. The other night Annabelle and I sat in her room and colored with crayons and talked all night long. Just us. We ate candy, laughed, watched TV shows I didn't even know she liked. It was nice to connect. I felt very fulfilled. 

Being a parent isn't easy. It's OK to live in the moment and enjoy them right now. Don't worry about what they may become or who they'll date (Lord, help me!) or how you'll ever get them motivated to get a job one day. Just live today. And don't forget to tell them you love them every chance you get.

"Stop living life for what's around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the street." ---Grant L. Miller

My favorite season. Football.

I must admit that I haven't been a long time Saints fan, especially when they were the Ain'ts. I would love to have been a die hard fan, but I never had interest. I'd watch games here and there with my family, but I had my times of doubt and even seasons where I didn't watch them at all. My Dad was probably the biggest Saints fan hardly ever missing a game. There were times he couldn't sit during the 4th quarter and there were times when he'd go to bed during halftime. But he never doubted they'd win the Super Bowl one day. I'm glad he was able to watch them on the field in New Orleans before he died. What a celebration we had last year and he would have been just as proud as all of us around the nation.

You see, I have only been into the sport for just a short time having joined a fantasy football league just last year. I didn't have time or much interest in football until about 5 years ago. I never really was an athlete, aside from my agility and speed when eating at a buffet. I admire athletes, but I never had the desire to sweat that much or work that hard. I would rather sit inside and watch TV or just sit. My favorite sport to watch is either hockey or baseball, but that is another post.

I am looking forward to this season more than ever. It is only 7 short days until preseason even though regular season doesn't begin until September 9. Annabelle and I will be wearing our jerseys and not washing them as not to jinx the success they had last year. I love watching a game with her. I enjoy spending that time with her, just us, and sharing the love of the game with her. Now that I rarely miss a game, I consider myself a die hard fan. It is so fun and exciting to watch the home team and to watch her cheer them on. Win or lose, we'll always be Saints fans. And my Facebook name will always be Barrett WhoDat Broussard. Get used to it.

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WHO DAT?

"Walking into heaven Peyton Manning saw a mansion that had a sidewalk lined with black and gold. There were Saints flags lining the driveway. Each window had a fleur de lis embossed with solid gold. Even the trees had leaves that would turn black and gold when they'd fall.. Peyton asked St. Peter, "Why does Drew Brees get such a beautiful mansion when all I get is an ordinary house to spend eternity?" St. Peter replied, "That house doesn't belong to Drew, it belongs to God."

Get your party hats here.

I have been on a diet most of my adult life. At one time or another, I jumped off the weight loss wagon and decided to go back to basically eating whatever I wanted and in very large quantities. Most times it happened around the holidays. I don't think it was ever the foods I chose because I like vegetables and meat, but portion size was a big factor in my weight gain. Portion control was never something I practiced. My confession is that this is my 3rd time on Weight Watchers, but that is OK. I am determined to change for good.

I have, at one time, lost over 90 lbs. It took over two years, but it was worth it. I lost it by eating well-balanced meals and snacks and an exercise routine. Sadly, it took only 8 months to slowly put the weight back on. I managed to put most of it on while going through therapy to recover from a herniated disc. Thankfully, it did not require surgery, but procrastination took over and it never went away.

I found myself, years after my recovery, still using the excuse that I was overweight because of this injury. Some people would ask me, "How long ago was that?" I finally decided this year that there were no more excuses, after 5 long years. When the doctor puts you on blood pressure medicine and you are faced with a family history of diabetes, it should get to you. But it would never affect me. Right? Well, I am currently on blood pressure medicine and I have had elevated blood sugars which indicates very bad things. In the healthcare industry you see first-hand what these conditions are capable of doing to people. Especially people under 40 years of age. Obesity has no age limit. I am trying to control my weight in order to be free from this medicine, but most important, I want to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. I know that it is possible!

I have so many reasons to live a life free of medicine and feeling healthier! So far, my wife and I have lost almost 30 lbs. together. I hope to see many more years of life on this earth. But I must admit....losing weight is hard work. And I hate that it is not easier. Because I'm still lazy. But I try to remember that it's not all about me.

Weight Loss Exercise:

"Get into a booth at a restaurant and if your stomach doesn't sneak out onto the table while you eat....get out the party hats because the weight loss party has begun. I recently celebrated this milestone in my journey."

Being a Dad is priceless.

This week we celebrated Annabelle's 9th birthday so I am especially nostalgic since we just celebrated  it a couple days ago. It really does seem like yesterday that we brought her home for the first time. When she was born everyone would tell us that "time would fly" and that before we know it she'd be graduating high school. While I don't want to fast forward things we do want to prepare her for what lies ahead.

I try and treasure every single moment that we spend together as a family and especially those times we get to spend just the two of us. Anyone who knows me knows that our daddy-daughter days are priceless to me. When we first were married, Danielle and I thought that we'd have lots of kids. We have grown and learned that our plan is not always God's plan. We are so thankful for Annabelle each and every day. She has truly made our family complete. When someone tells you, "...they grow so fast...", you better believe it! Happy Birthday Annabelle!

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." ---Unknown

Why Wait?

I know that everyone at one time or another has lost someone they love. Whether it is a parent, sibling, grandparent, or cousin, it has happened. Grief is a terrible thing and it seems when the anniversary of their passing comes around, the sting of the pain of their death inevitably strikes again. God promises us that "weeping may be for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Although the pain of their passing eases as time goes by, the hurt really never goes away for good.

We lost a young cousin in my wife's family almost three years ago and the pain and sorrow still comes at times. Sometimes unexpectedly. I know that she is in better hands, as the Natalie Grant song says, but it doesn't mean that we don't miss her being here with us. She's missing so much, too. Watching her young son grow up. Seeing him step into kindergarten for the first time this year. Big school. Living life to the fullest. There are things I wish I would have taken the time to tell her, but because she was young I didn't think it was important or urgent. I also didn't think that what I had to say to her would make a difference. If only...

This month she would have turned 29 years old. I hope that she's dancing in the streets of heaven today. I just wish I would have told her the things I had to say to her. But I cannot. Hopefully, one day. Happy Birthday Miranda! We love and miss you.

Is there someone that you've been putting off talking to that you haven't seen in a while? Or perhaps there is someone in your very own household who you need to talk to, but keep putting it off. What you have to say may be exactly what they need to hear.

Why wait?

Hi. My Name is Barrett. And I am a perfectionist.

Dictionary.com defines a perfectionist as someone who demands perfection from him or herself and others. It defines perfection as the state or quality of becoming perfect. I think that is an accurate description of myself.

Just when I think I'm laid back and easy going, there it is. The desire to be perfect. I think I'll always be this way. I set pretty high standards for myself. And if I don't meet them, I beat myself to the ground. I sometimes push these so-called standards onto my family, especially Annabelle. Expectations that I have no right to establish. Epic fail if I don't reach that certain standard is how I feel. I am trying to improve on not stressing over little things, but it doesn't always work as planned. I understand that I am not perfect. At all. But I am working on it. If this sounds crazy to you then you obviously are not a perfectionist. If it makes perfect  sense then welcome to the Crazy Club.

In my endeavor to be "perfect", I don't always drive the speed limit. Sometimes my road rage gets the best of me. I sometimes cut people off in traffic and I'm a very offensive driver. In driver's ed  they taught us to be defensive. Oh well. I also will drive for 15 minutes at times just to get the closest parking spot, including stepping on the gas to get it before someone else. I don't always let the person with just a few items to cut in the front of me in the grocery store either. I even have turned my head when I see a man begging for food by throwing out his pride and holding up a sign hoping someone will help him. I'm not perfect.

I know that God wants us to live in His perfect will so being a perfectionist isn't bad at all as long as we are in striving for His perfect will. I try very hard to live by God's rules in my life, but it's not easy. Thank God for His grace and mercy and for having patience with me. I am a (piece of) work in progress. Striving for perfection. Every day. And it's OK. Cause He's not finished with me yet.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

We're Halfway There

My employer began a wellness program 6 weeks ago. We were given a choice to lose the weight on our own via diet, exercise, etc. or join an at-work Weight Watchers program. I decided to join Weight Watchers since my wife was already on the program. It was intended to last 12 weeks and the end result would be cash money for the top three biggest losers who have the highest percentage of weight loss. While the prize money would help us a lot, my goal is to go beyond the 12 weeks and make this a lifestyle for myself and my family. With everyone at home on board, it is a lot easier. I really like that there is support at work, too, because it is not only motivating, but I feel everyone is looking to see the results. I like the accountability factor. I am not focusing on past setbacks either because I can't go back in time. Thank God.

I met my 5% weight loss goal last week. I set my original goal at 5% because I knew I could do it. Now that I've lost almost 6% of my original body weight I am shooting for 10%! That is incredible considering I do not starve myself. I am rarely hungry. I eat "regular" food, but I make healthier choices (at times). I even eat fast food and at many other restaurants. There are healthier alternatives everywhere you go. You just have to make that choice when reading a menu. I also exercise whenever I feel like it. And that ain't often.

I am in no way a spokesperson for Weight Watchers or weight loss, but all I know is that I feel GREAT and I want to keep this going. It feels real good to be a loser!

Weight loss tip of the day:
"Never trust a weight loss program that requires you to omit your favorite foods."

Greenish Thumb

My Dad was the best gardener. I would dare say he was a Master Gardener. Everything he tried to grow would multiply beyond even Miracle Gro's expectations. I think he should have been on their advertisement. I used to help him, but never could quite pick up interest in it. So the "help" I would give was to pick the crops and eat them. Or I would make something with them in the kitchen for everyone to enjoy. I personally think his best work was growing tomatoes. He had several different varieties. He even knew the acidity level in each variety. He was awesome at this hobby.


I have tried for many years to grow a garden like his, but have not even come close. Although I have grown some plants that have produced well, it still could not compare. I've had plants that were taken over by bugs, killed with too much poison or Miracle Gro and my plants last year were eaten by a neighbor's goat! This year, I decided to change my method. I am growing only one tomato plant and one cucumber plant in two 5-gallon buckets. I even bought cheap topsoil from Lowe's. Setting my expectations high, but without the cost. One of Annabelle's "chores" is keeping them hydrated so that is her job besides helping me plant them. They are taller than me, but have not produced yet. Annabelle and I found a cucumber yesterday and we are so excited to watch it grow.

I don't know if your thumb turns greener as you get older or Annabelle has some mad watering skills, but I know my Dad is proud of us for not giving up. And again, making some good memories. I think I've found the perfect location for the ones we'll plant in the fall. Finally, moi le pouce vert is starting to show!

Farmer's Market

One of my favorite things I enjoy about living in a rural community is their local farmer's market. In the spring, summer, and fall there is always an abundance of homegrown produce there along with homemade sweet treats baked by our local cooks. Every year, I look forward to the fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes immediately remind me so much of my Dad and his garden he would tend when he was alive. Everyone would come around for miles and take what they wanted and pay him later. He loved sharing his crops with everyone. You can also find cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, squash, and even pickled quail eggs. And the prices cannot be beat, even by Wal-Mart!

This year, Annabelle had an idea. She decided she wanted to start her own "business" by baking brownies, cookies, and cupcakes then selling them at the market. So my wife took her shopping, helped her bake for hours, then we set up our shop.

At the end of the day she made a good profit to bake more at a later date. Not only was it fun, but it taught her responsibility to some degree and how to start a business. We really passed a good time, especially listening to some chank-a-chank, including Jolie Blonde, provided by one of our local bands.

If you are ever able, please support our local farmers and find a market in your area. There is nothing like bringing their hard work to your dinner table and enjoying it with your family. Bon Apetit!

Southern Fried Fourth of July

This 4th of July we spent our day at my brother and sister-in-law's, Cody and Leah's, new house in Henderson. My Mom, Diana, has always wanted to fry chicken outside like her mother-in-law (my Dad's mom, my Maw Maw) taught her many years ago. She got her wish because the weather was perfect. Although it was hot, we had fans blowing and set up underneath an old crepe myrtle in the shade just like in the old days. We had all the fixin's including homemade mac & cheese prepared by my sister, Vicki and rice dressing cooked by me. I also brought fresh cucumbers & tomatoes and broccoli slaw.

Later in the afternoon I was able to pick about 3 gallons of figs with Annabelle. That was a fun learning experience for us. We finished off the day with watermelon on the porch and a fireworks display provided by my brother and my brother-in-law, Tim.

As I went to sleep I couldn't help, but dream of Mom's fried chicken.

Building a Relationship

One of the best things about being a Dad is being able to do fun things with your kids that take the focus off your every day work life. There is nothing like fun activities that just make everything else seem like small stuff. We enjoy spending time together as a family, but more importantly I treasure the moments I get to spend with just Annabelle and me.

One of our favorite activities is building things at the Lowe's Build and Grow Workshop. It is a FREE service that Lowe's offers on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 11:00am. In the spring it is every Saturday, but in the summer and the fall it is every other Saturday. On the first Saturday of the month, Home Depot also offers a free workshop from 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon, so almost every Saturday can be a project day for you and your child. Annabelle and I have been attending these workshops since she was 3 years old. We have attended both the Lowe's and Home Depot workshops, but I personally prefer Lowe's. The people that host the workshop treat the children as if they were their own. Annabelle says she just likes spending time with me so I'll take that!

A few Saturdays ago we were unable to go there and build a dog treat holder due to extremely bad weather. When we went to Lowe's later that day, I asked one of the employees if there were any leftover project kits. He excitedly went look for one and gave it to us. Regretfully, there were not any project patches left to put on her apron (they give you an apron, goggles, hammer, and a patch or at Home Depot, a pin). I emailed Lowe's later that evening and her patch arrived in a few days. I guess that gives me a reason to prefer Lowe's, but it is not really about the project or the place it is built.

The importance to me is making good memories for us. I want her to build with me for many years to come. I am so glad that we have this opportunity to spend time together and while it doesn't cost a dime, it is priceless. This weekend, neither place held the workshop because of the holiday so we decided to finally build the treat holder at home. What memories are you making each day with your kids? All I know is that I enjoy this time with my daughter more than anything in the world. For more information you can visit http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/ or http://www.homedepot.com/ (search for Kids Workshop).

Let's Get Cooking!

One of my favorite things, other than eating good food, is cooking. I come from a long line of great cooks and actually started cooking at a very young age. I think I was born with a cooking spoon in my hand. Before I started my career in Clinical Nutrition, I worked in several restaurants around Lafayette, including Copeland's, Alcide's Restaurant (now known as Nash's) in Broussard, and Hub City Diner. I helped create the menus and develop recipes for a few restauants in town, too. I was a guest chef on both Passe Partout and Good Morning Acadiana. Winning The Daily Advertiser cookbook competition used to be a goal of mine, but making the finals only one time discouraged me. Maybe one day! My culinary skills are mostly self-taught, but I learned from some culinary masters right in my own family.

One of my favorite Cajun dishes is of course, GUMBO! I enjoy it so much that I will even brave the heat (and crank up the A/C) and eat it right in the middle of July. My wife has become quite the cook since we are married, so she does most of the cooking in our house. I am proud to say that her meals are very delicious and healthy for us. She has altered several recipes to cater to our healthier eating habits. She created a gumbo recipe a few years ago and we've been eating it this way since that time. I will occasionally cook a pot in the winter that is filled with chicken, jalapeno sausage, tasso, and "real" roux. However, I enjoy the recipe that she uses because I can eat more of it and not feel as full. I also use brown rice so my hunger will not return as quickly.

A couple years ago in the middle of winter, Annabelle and I decided to have a picnic. It was about 40 degrees, so we thought it was a great idea. We bundled up and packed TV trays, bowls of gumbo, file, drinks, and even hot sauce. We moved everything we had onto the porch with our rocking chairs and we had the best picnic ever. Although it was a little windy and cold, we had a lot of fun. I will always cherish this memory.

Another memory I have with gumbo was when our entire family was outside enjoying our new fire pit and a mouse ran across my sister's foot. She then kicked it onto me and my cup of gumbo went flying into the air onto my mom! The next day I found gumbo and chicken & sausage dried onto the side of our house. We still laugh about that today!

DL's Gumbo

1 c. Tony Chachere's Instant Roux

2 c. water

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 can cream of chicken

32 oz. (1 box) chicken broth

10 cups water

1 pkg. sausage of choice

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Green Onions, chopped

Cajun Seasoning

Prepare roux with 2 cups water according to directions on package. Saute' onions, bell pepper, & celery until tender. Add garlic; do not brown. Stir in roux/water mixture & cream of chicken; mix then add broth & water. Bring to boil then add chicken; simmer for about an hour. Add sausage then simmer until sausage is done. You may simmer until desired consistency is reached.

WW Points: 1.5 points per cup of juice

*Note: We recommend Butterball turkey sausage or Hillshire Farms Light Smoked Sausage.

You will need to calculate how much chicken and sausage you consume in order to figure the WW points.

Gumbo tip of the day: Your gumbo is not complete unless it boils over at least once. My Dad used to say that if it boiled over twice that would be your best gumbo ever.

...Encourage One Another

My employer started a wellness program at work 5 weeks ago so I decided that after trying Weight Watchers two previous times, the third time would be for life. At times it is easy, especially if I'm around other losers, but it gets rough when you're around those who would love to see you fail. Yes, there are "those" people. With the strength that only God could give me (and lots of sweat and hard work) I hope to make a life change. My wife joined first so the support we give each other helps a lot. Even my daughter has exercised with me making it even easier. Having the support of your family makes a difference. But it's not easy to ignore negativity.

As I faced the scale this week I was handed a choice. Should I walk away with negative thoughts of what I just read or think about how good it is that I've come so far in such a short time? Or should I walk away with negative thoughts of others that shared their weight loss this week or be encouraged that the program is helping me and my co-workers whether we lose or not? I tried to take the high road, but my car had a flat tire. Our leader shared a story about a man who lost 80 lbs. and what a success he had become. I truly heard my name in that story, but couldn't help think, "Whatever..."

In this world it is very easy to become self-centered and negative, but when we move our focus to serving others by offering encouraging words or just a smile, then we realize where I reward lies. It is not in ourselves. It is giving of ourselves. When you pass someone in the hallway or in the grocery store and say, "Hey, how are you doing?" Do you really want to know how they are doing? Probably not and they probably don't either, but you may have just made a difference in their life because you smiled and showed interest. When is the last time you actually encouraged someone by saying a kind word directly to them? I would guess it would be easier to think of something you said about someone while they were not around.

Lord, please help me to remember that it's not about me. Help me to keep going forward and only let me listen and absorb the encouraging words. And help me to give it back to others.

"Therefore encourage one another, and let each one help to strengthen his friend, as in fact you do." I Thessalonians 5:11

Now that's teamwork!

As many of you know, I work for the best specialty hospital in Lafayette! I am very proud to work there not only because we offer excellent patient care, but also because the employees are the best in healthcare. We are one AWESOME team! Never have I worked at such a professional place, yet so much like a family.

I am very honored to have taken part of the United Way Day of Action this year with them. Our project was to build and paint a Born Learning Trail at the Brown Park Recreation Center. With every drop of paint there were two drops of sweat, but every single drop was worth it. The effort pales in comparison to the joy it will bring the generations of kids that will walk the trail. Not only was it fun, but the reward will be returned to us for many years to come.

If you are ever in the area, please stop by and enjoy the trail. Even better, join us next year for many other great projects.

First, start with fresh ingredients...

I used to have a desire to start a blog back in the day of MySpace. Some teenagers are thinking, "Back in the day? MySpace is still cool!" I actually wrote two blogs that drew little attention so I decided to stop writing before I felt like a failure. I have always tried to say things that I thought people would find cool or interesting just to keep their attention. Otherwise, I would keep those thoughts to myself.

You see, I used to be a people pleaser and one issue I had was that my weight was not very pleasing to others. It has always been an issue for me because I didn't want others to label me as lazy. I have since learned that it's OK to have a couple extra pounds (or 50) because no matter what my size or any other issue I have with myself, there is someone who loves me with unconditional love. He doesn't judge me by my size, or the double chin I have (that I've since labeled my second smile), or that I think it would be neat if we could wear shoes on our knees in order for them to be easier to tie. I have since turned my people pleasing ways into serving others. The hardest lesson I had to learn is that the world does not revolve around me. Serving others cannot begin with selfishness.

My desire for this blog is to be a big ol' jambalaya that people look forward to reading. In order to avoid confusion, I want to be clear that it won't solve the current "Oil in the Gulf" crisis, or contribute to world peace, but I know one thing...it is going to be real. I cannot even tell you what ingredients will go in it, but it will definitely be a dish to remember! I just want it to be a way for me to put in writing those things that are important to me. I want Annabelle to be proud of the Daddy that loves her, but most of all I want her to know the God that I know and what He is all about. Along the way, I hope I'm already teaching her other things I know that she loves to learn and she will appreciate.

This past Father's Day, June 20, she told me for the first time that I was her hero. I've heard other Dad's say this and I've secretly rolled my eyes because it sounded so cheesy. You can roll 'em if you want, but that was the best day of my life, by far!

Let's start with some fresh ingredients and get this jambalaya started! I think I smell something cooking...Bon Apetit.