Micki’s Meanderings
Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking
forward to a fulfilling and fantastic 2018.
I am not a big believer in New Years’ resolutions as I’ve learned
over the years that many of them just aren’t that successful (at least
for me…). But this year as I was contemplating the New Year I
thought I would make some resolutions. So here goes…
My Resolution to Do Opposites!
I resolve to keep my eyes wide open to the wonders of the
world we live in. Wide open to see the smiles of my wonderful
grandchildren and children and wide open to see the happiness
around me.
I resolve to keep my eyes shut. To keep my eyes shut when I’m
praying. My eyes shut when I am thinking and reflecting on the
many positive things in life.
“Best Life Ever”
Glenda Lanning is a staple in the lives of the people who frequent
the Yankton Community Library. You can find her behind the desk
most days, ready to suggest a good book that she’s just read. However,
some people might not know that Glenda has been living with
Diabetes 2 for 10-12 years. Glenda was diagnosed pre-diabetic at first
but she figured she would be ok and ignored it. It eventually developed
into Diabetes 2 and she could no longer put it off. “If diagnosed prediabetic – pay attention” is the most important piece of advice Glenda
wants everyone to know. Though if you ask her about her journey
she will tell you it’s not as hard of a journey as it’s made out to be. She
finds herself fortunate and believes that the diagnosis might be one
of the best things to happen to her. She has learned to take better care
of herself and she’s learned to eat better. She is also fortunate enough
to only have to take one medication. Her husband, 4 children, and
6 perfect grandchildren have supported her through all of this; her
youngest child is actually the one who bought her the first membership
to Avera. Glenda also receives a lot of support from work who
understand her limitations and are supportive of her using her lunch
hour to go work out, which she does for 20 minutes every day.
Glenda, a self-proclaimed homebody, has always loved to cook.
Just because she’s diabetic, this hasn’t changed. She has just learned to
cook healthier and plans her meals better. Glenda loves to make a soup
of the week and that’s the mainstay of her lunches. Sometimes she’ll
add a sandwich, fruit, or vegetable but the soup is the main part. She
has also learned to eat a big breakfast to help her not snack between
meals. She makes sure to eat vegetables with every meal and says this
is an important thing to follow. She also makes a point to never weigh
herself. She has lost weight but that’s a result, not a goal. Glenda’s goal is
just to be as healthy as she can be. Artisan bread is a weakness of hers,
all breads really, and her baking has become limited but she will be the
first to tell you that she still “sins” sometimes. If she cheats too much,
however, her skin will break out and that’s a sign that she needs to cut
back.
Glenda’s one wish is that people know that being diabetic doesn’t
mean you can’t eat well, in fact, you can eat just as well but in smaller
4vHERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
I resolve to care more. To care more about the people that matter.
To care more about those in need and to care more about life!
I resolve to care less. To care less about things! To care less about
the trivialities that at times weigh me down and to care less about
things I cannot control.
I resolve to be strong. To be stronger in my faith. To be strong in
my relationships with others and to be strong for those that may be
weak.
I resolve to be mild. Mild in my relationships and when I deal with
others and mild in my thoughts, that they may be filled with more
patience.
When I thought about resolutions of opposites the list could go on
and on but I think I’ll stop here and let you fill in your own blanks if
you choose to.
Happy New Year, God Bless,
portions. “Diabetes isn’t a punishment.” A doctor told her, when she
was first diagnosed, “if something doesn’t taste good, it’s good for
you.” Glenda doesn’t agree with that. “So many healthy soups don’t
taste ‘healthy.’ It’s a good lifestyle and it’s a manageable disease where
you can still enjoy food, but just in a healthier way.” The hardest thing
about diabetes for Glenda is seeing others who aren’t taking care of
themselves; that are still in denial. Otherwise, Glenda’s journey hasn’t
been hard and in fact, she’d tell you she has the “best life ever.”
Glenda wanted to share a couple of her favorite soup recipes that are
delicious but also healthy to prove you can still have great tasting food.
The Best Homemade Minestrone Soup
Glenda Lanning
1 cup wine
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped onion
2 leeks, cleaned, cut in half moons
9 cups chicken stock
1 package coleslaw mix
2 cups chopped zucchini
1 small piece of Parmesan rind, optional
¾ cups tiny orzo pasta
1 package baby spinach
1/3 cup chopped fresh herbs (always use rosemary basil)
salt & pepper to taste
Cook in crock pot or oven until vegetables are tender.
Lentil Pumpkin Soup
Glenda Lanning
2 cups lentils
olive oil
chopped celery
chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
smoked sausage – sliced
16 oz can of diced tomatoes
16 oz can of pumpkin
salt & pepper to taste
Thyme, rosemary to taste
6-8 cups of chicken broth
Cook in crock pot or oven
vBy Brandi Bue