Hi {!firstname_fix}

I have some very sad news to report today. One of our oldest and long standing members of our community leadership, Marie Yacuzzo, passed away today. Marie for years has shared about how the program changed her life. She was a liaison for the Diabetes list. Last year, the leadership team made her a quilt for comfort. Patti wrote a poem for that day when we did a *Marie Ranch* (she was housebound). Here is her response today:


I looked at the poem I wrote to Marie when we gave her the quilt. And I re-wrote it to her now. I wanted to share it with you all. For those of you that weren't here back then, we got a quilt and had all of our names embroidered on it and sent it to Marie with a poem I wrote so that she could feel "wrapped" by us.

We must Carry On

We may be separated by life and death, by earth and sky,
And yet we feel as though you're close, nearby.
Your hand in mine, and mine in another's,
For heaven and earth cannot come between sisters and brothers.
It's as if a symphony is created by our spirits, so united,
In unison our souls grasp hands; nothing can be divided.
We can no longer wrap you…you need it no more,
Instead it is we that wrap each other, our courage to restore.
We can no longer wrap you…you are now in The Light,
Instead we wrap each other, to comfort us in dark of night.
We can no longer wrap you…you are with the One above,
Instead we wrap each other, holding pain in love.
We can no longer wrap you..your battle now is done,
Instead we wrap each other, so grief won't overrun.
We can no longer wrap you..your pain has now subsided
Instead we wrap each other, uniting to be guided.
In love and grief we weep that you are gone,
And yet we wrap each other for we must carry on.

In loving memory of Marie,
Love, Patti

 We have had several Radiant Babies, but this is our first Radiant Death. I think those of us who knew Marie feel at peace that she is free of suffering, but saddened by the loss of a dear friend and colleague. And now she will join the angels who guide us.

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We will be starting these new classes this week beginning 6/26:

Brain Chemistry Beta Endorphin - Week 1 is the next in the series of the brain chemistry classes we do. I love this series, hope you will join us.

Step 4: More Intriguing Than You Think is our fun potato class. We will talk about refining your step 4...how much, when, why and no matter where you are, LOL.

Step 6: Planning Your Detox is for those of you who are thinking of going off sugar. Learn how to do it skillfully.

Working With Clients is for people in the helping professions. Let me show you key issues to consider in bringing the program to your patients or clients.

The following week we will be starting these classes beginning 7/3:

Using Community Resources is the Free introductory guided tour for new people. Come hear how the web site is put together and what resources we have to support you.

Anxiety - Week 1 takes a look at the brain chemistry of anxiety and how doing the program can help.

Back to Basics 2 is the second level class for step 7 people wanting to get back on track.

I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned.

A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time.

And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum.

Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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June 26, 2006
** Quote From Kathleen **


Being steady means being firm, unfaltering, unflappable, and unwavering. Being steady means driving in cruise control.

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** Testimonial for the Week**


The books were right. You were right. I messed up. Even though the main premise of the plan is mastering one step before moving on to the next, I was so sure that I could do it all at once because I was REALLY, REALLY ready and motivated.

So, for almost two weeks now, I've:
  1. Eaten breakfast with protein every morning (but not quite within 1 hour of getting up)
  2. Written in my journal - (OK, not so much!)
  3. Eaten three meals with protein (did that)
  4. Taken vitamins and eaten bedtime potato (did that too)
  5. Shifted from white to brown (ditto)
  6. Eliminated sugars (even did that and am VERY proud of myself)
But, here I am at Day 12, and I'm tired, frustrated, and most of all sick of counting protein. I'm putting up a fierce resistance to an earlier breakfast and I don't know why. Worst of all I'm developing an attitude - one that I've struggled with on every diet I've ever been on - where I'm just ticked off that I'm even having to do this, where I know it's not going to work long term, and where I'm close to giving up. Seems I've bitten off too much at one time. (Just as I was warned!) And to top it off, it's PMS time!?

So....I know you're all going to say go back to Step 1 with a beginner's mind. Oh how tired I am of that phrase! But that's my intent. I'm going to focus on breakfast and have ordered a supply of George's Shake so that I can have it on the go within an hour of waking up.

Melanie

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**Recipe of the Week**


I saw this recipe in the December 2005 Food & Wine Magazine and thought that it sounded beyond delicious! Well, guess what? It is!!

Vanilla Bean-Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
  • 4 pounds medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, slit lengthwise, seeds scraped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°. Poke the sweet potatoes several times with a fork and bake for about 35 minutes, or until tender. Let cool slightly, then peel and transfer them to a food processor. Puree until fairly smooth.

In a small saucepan, combine the cream with the butter and the vanilla bean and seeds. Bring to a simmer. Remove the vanilla bean. With the processor on, carefully pour the vanilla cream into the sweet potatoes and process until smooth. Season the sweet potato puree with salt and pepper, transfer to a bowl and serve. MAKE AHEAD The sweet potatoes can be refrigerated overnight.

(You could probably lighten this up by substituting milk for the cream, but it won't be as yummy (grin).)

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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**


Well, we are getting ready to take an in-depth look at how to improve YLD. Vicki and I are doing some brainstorming and then will talk with some of our members about the ideas. I will keep you posted.

The ironic thing is that the most powerful part of YLD is the weekly chats we do - one with Vicki that includes questions and answers and one with me that is topic oriented. I hope you all realize that you do not have to be doing weight loss to be a part of chat. But stay tuned for more.



If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. It is not too late to get into the classes if you come right now.
 


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**David's Corner **



Hi Lizanne, glad you posted!

Yes, I have the cookbook and it is tattered and dogeared from so much use. There are many great recipes in it that have become part of my standards (Kathleen's lasagna has never been matched, in my opinion), and it is also a very good little reference book. There are also spaces where I have written a few of my own in.

The recipe for Kathleen's baking mix is in the book, and I use that too, it is quick and easy.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Verla
I love it that these comments keep coming up around the community. And of course I love the cookbook!

Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

 
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**Our Online Groups**


Hello. My name is Janie. I'm the volunteer liaison for RadiantParents. I have four children, three of them are teenagers, yikes! I have suffered from depression since my early twenties but it wasn't until I had children that my depression really got worse. I went to all different doctors and tried all sorts of medications and remedies but nothing ever worked for me. It wasn't until I found Potatoes not Prozac that I finally found the answer to what was wrong with me. I started doing the steps and have never looked back. Then when I read The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program and discovered that there was an on-line community, I was in heaven!

After I had been on step 7 for awhile I decided to turn my attention to helping my children. I definitely noticed that my twins were sugar sensitive. They were just like me, overly emotional, sensitive, dramatic and absolutely adored sugar. It took me a little bit longer to figure it out with my oldest daughter, Alexa, and my youngest daughter, Grace. I think Grace has had the most dramatic turnaround. She used to get so enraged she would bare her teeth and growl at me. Now, she is just an angel.

I really love helping other parents with their sugar sensitive kids. I can really empathize with parents who are new to the program and they come seeking help. I want to be able to help them create the life with their kids that I now have with mine, thanks to Kathleen. On the list we discuss ways to get our children to buy into the program which I must admit has been a hurdle for me but it's fun to get advice and hear about all the things the other parents are doing. We also share recipes and success stories. It's a great list and I feel honored to be a part of such a caring and wonderful group of parents. Come join us!



Or come to the group page to see all our groups. http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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**Good Byes**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


Marie's death has filled me with sadness tonight. Each death we experience activates every loss we have gone through. Every saying goodbye, or every not being able to say goodbye is touched again when someone we care about leaves.

Part of recovery, whether we want it to not, is about saying goodbye and taking leave of what was. I think it is the hardest part. Sometimes recovery means letting go of old places or people. Recovery always means having to confront giving up old patterns. And this, no matter what, and no matter how long we have been doing it is hard, hard.

This is why the community means so much. We can see how to hold this, how to make sense of it, how not to isolate, how to stay connected. It teaches how to love even when everything seems so hard.





©Kathleen DesMaisons 2006.

Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster puts it all together
Naomi, liaison for step 4 gathers the recipes
David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have.

You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm.

©2006 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear.

Banner Photograph by Geraint Smith