When the roof was mine and the walls were theirs…
When my boys were little, we baked two gingerbread houses from scratch—no kits, no shortcuts, not even cookie cutters for the construction. 

Each son had his own house to decorate, and the kitchen was lively and messy with frosting and sprinkles everywhere. 

As they grew up and schedules got busier, we shifted to one gingerbread house. Each boy took two walls. The roof was mine.

Now that my boys have grown into men, there’s less time for rituals like these. 
Work, commitments, and living apart makes it harder to get together.

So this year, I’m changing it up again.

I made the gingerbread dough.
My engineering‑student son, Willy, created the templates for the building pieces, rolled and cut the dough, and prepared all the parts.

And instead of a traditional gingerbread house…
we’re making a Japanese temple, inspired by my daughter‑in‑law, Rica, who is Japanese.

Willy and I will build it together and decorate it sometime this week. And when Christmas comes, we’ll dig in and enjoy it for dessert. A new twist on an old tradition — and a way to bring back the fun, the memories, and the connection.

Do you have a tradition that’s lost its spark?
Be creative. Revive it.

Joy, meaning, and connection are important for health and happiness.

What tradition are you considering bringing back?

PS. This the Japanese temple that Willy and I built. This makes my heart happy.
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This blog is dedicated to Irl Flanagan, who was my friend and grammar mentor. Over the last 20 or so years, he spent countless hours editing my manuscripts and teaching me the intricacies of sentence structure and the true meaning and the proper usage of words. 

Irl died 4 months before his 100th birthday.

About Me

I’m Peggy Kraus, an exercise physiologist and diabetes care and education specialist. My clients often tell me my superpower is helping people reverse type 2 diabetes — but the impact goes far beyond blood sugar.

After almost 30 years in cardiac rehab, I’ve seen how the American diet has affected people’s lives. I know health isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about reversing disease when possible, feeling strong and energized, and getting your life back.

I’ve helped thousands of people lower blood sugar, lose weight, improve cholesterol, and reduce blood pressure — all through simple, strategic lifestyle changes rooted in science and compassion.

My signature 6‑week program, 5 to Thrive, teaches the five key strategies my most successful clients use to create lasting change. And my newest program, Diabetes Rescue, is helping people move toward type 2 diabetes remission with a bold, plant‑powered approach that gives them the tools, support, and confidence to take back control of their health.

A plant‑based lifestyle is powerful. And so are the results my clients achieve.



Photo of Peggy Kraus