Regardless of whether it is a salvation issue, other Christians can sometimes be stumbling blocks and push each other away from God and the church. I guess that my point is that so much hurt, often unintentional, is done this way. I would just be very cautious pressuring anyone into going to church. Open invitation sure. But pressuring can cause harm for some people. Maybe not for your sister. Maybe she is totally fine spiritually and was just really feeling lazy and wanted to watch some Netflix and chill. 😎 I am not making any judgments here about either of you, just offering a different perspective to the others voiced here about pressuring/ expecting people to go to church. It honestly sounds like most of what you are dealing with in regards to your sister is a lot of bottled up resentments about small issues. Sounds like you usually suck it up and finally the dam broke loose. I would just personally try to avoid having church be the straw that breaks the camel's back between you two.

Has anyone actually lost a steady amount of weight using intermittent fasting? I have read a lot on fasting and dabbled a little, and I am well aware of the research on longevity and health benefits. I am curious about it from a weight loss perspective from anyone who has actually been successful with this approach. What does your week look like? How long have you been doing it? Have you lost a significant amount of weight?

Well it sounds like hosting your sister is good for you spiritually. Family can be good for our spiritual struggle! It is making you examine some of your own motives and actions. It looks like some good fruit is already coming out of that recent struggle, as you face your own motivations and desire to have things your way. I understand some people just go to church because family does on these type of occasions, and that seems like no big deal for some people and an easy way to make others happy. For some people, they might even get a spiritual benefit from doing so, if they are open to receiving it. But for OTHER people, this kind of pressure can be quite harmful and push them further and further away from God. I was one of those people. I always say I would have found Jesus a lot sooner if all those Christians and the Church hadn't gotten in my way. They were a huge stumbling block for me spiritually. The best way to lead these kind of people to God is by your living testimony. Not by pressuring them to attend church and possibly driving them further away from God in the meantime. Don't let church attendance become a wedge between you and your sister. Let her see the love and peace of God in you and pray for her to long to be touched by it and come to God in her own way and in her own time.

I have used lots of different moisturizers over the years for my sensitive skin. I am finding Neutrogena Naturals Multi vitamin moisturizer to work really well right now.

I love that skirt!

I bought one for the first time in years but the news was not as good for me. Ignoring the number has led to my heaviest weight ever. I have also bought a food scale!

So they did end up giving me the 25% off the 4 items and I am returning the one I couldn't exchange for a smaller size. They did say basically it was a one time exception to the rules.

Yes and then they want to do it again in 30-45 minutes lol... Snow is exhausting with little ones!

I agree- wallpaper is such a pain! Sometimes I am tempted to use a small amount somewhere but it is just too hard to change your mind later. And I change my mind a lot!😊 It's going to be so worth it when you get it all down and have your new paint colors up!

I have done some basic research but was curious about personal experiences. Anyone in your family enjoy this? How much exercise does it help you get? What kind of small items can we bring to trade? Anything you wish you had known or that we should know starting out? Thanks!

I am looking for a health book for ages 12-14 (6th-8th grade). Something that covers exercise, nutrition, maybe a little bit of biology/basic reproduction overview though I have done a bit of that separately so it's ok if that part is not there. Any suggestions for a textbook or other book I can use as a spine?

I work nights and home school during the day. I think a lot depends on the ages of your kids. Mine are in middle school now and are a bit more independent. I can leave them with a list of things to finish up or chores if we don't get everything done before I leave for work. But honestly most of my hours are on the weekend anyways. So I basically have no life on the weekend but I am able to do a lot things like housework, schoolwork, and activities during the week. I work 25-30 hours at night. Are you talking about working more than 20 hours during the day when you need to do school? That is much trickier, but again it depends on the ages. Some older kids can be quite independent. What hours do you usually work and what are the ages of your kids?

You might consider a sleep study to make sure there isn't an underlying problem like sleep apnea.

So even if you let yourself sleep as long as your body naturally needs you still struggle with waking up? I am a natural night owl too, but if I let myself sleep until I naturally wake up without an alarm clock it is not difficult to get out of bed at say, 10-11 am. Is the problem that you are forcing yourself to get up earlier than your body needs due to the kids? Or does this happen even if you sleep in without an alarm clock til 10-11 am?

My guess is you could make a much bigger impact in the food department. If you can cut enough expense there, maybe the nails can be your reward. I don't think spending $40-50 a month on something you enjoy and makes you feel good about yourself is excessive. As long as you can afford it, of course. I am focusing a lot on self care this year though. I realize that can take different forms for different people. I am tired of always putting myself and my needs and wants last. I am kind of tired of the mother=martyr syndrome I have developed over the last ten years. What is every one else giving up? Are the kids having to cut out anything? Your husband? Or just you? I have decided the last few months that I am worthy of treating myself from time to time to something that brings me some joy.

Editing for privacy. Still open to ideas for indoor solitary activities a 12 year old boy can do for an hour or so or maybe longer during a weekend block of time.

Editing for privacy.

If she is young I would go with a text message over email and I agree PayPal is simpler. Generation instant, lol... I would just say something like , "I know the holidays have been crazy but if you get a chance could you throw a check in the mail for the gift we went in on? If PayPal is easier for you guys here is a link" For the future I would simply be the one to hand her a check next time she wants to go in on a gift. She can order it and you can save yourself this frustration.

If this bothers you buy a puzzle mat and roll the puzzle up when you aren't working on it and stash it somewhere. Then unroll it when you are available to do it with her. Open puzzles lying around just naturally invite people to fiddle with them and try to find a few pieces. It would probably not bother you so much if it was a big complicated one as you might appreciate the help! With such a simple one though, I could see where the fun was all gone when you got back to it lol. Let this one go and next time try a puzzle mat!

That is a big lifestyle change! I have experience going from a large house to a small house but I don't know much about condos. Sounds like the town and area might be a really good for for your adult kids with special needs since they could have a bit more independence? Is your spouses job an issue? Would the condo be big enough for all the adults?

Ugh...you guys are making me dread next week. After break battles are no fun! It has calmed down a lot around here the last year or two after some threats to stop home schooling. But I can still tell everyone hates heading back to school due to the heavy sighs and body language lol...it hurts my feelings after all those hours of researching resources! They know mom is on the edge and would be fine with sending them off to public school for high school. They decided they wanted to keep homeschooling so they know better than to grumble out loud now as I have told them I am pretty burnt out and only willing to homeschool cooperative teenagers. At the younger ages I just dealt with it as I was firmly committed to homeschooling those years. But at these ages? I don't have the energy for it anymore. They have to go to school but I don't have to be the one to do it and listen to the negativity.

Sounds like you are talking about a faux wrap top or a top with ruching. Or even a faux wrap top with ruching. 😊 It is a flattering style for a lot of women. If you search those terms in any major department store online (Macy's etc..) you should find some options.

Well my husband says tools for him are like shoes for me. You can never have too many and there is always a new one you need just for that one job. Like I need new shoes sometimes for one event or one outfit. But I know not every husband loves tools as much as mine.

I joined weight watchers online a couple of weeks ago. I need something that doesn't restrict food groups or types of food. Restriction leads me to binge eating. It does kind of guide you towards making better choices and wisely using points, but there is freedom to occasionally indulge. I have no idea if it will be successful. The one time I was successful losing weight I wrote down all food and exercise and tried to stay in a certain calorie count. I think mostly I need to actually pay attention to what I am eating and not put my needs last. I tend to make sure my family is taken care of and my husband has good food to take to work but then I end up not eating all day while I homeschool and clean and grab some junk item on the way to work! I need to plan for myself. Also I bought a scale (gasp!) and weighed myself for the first time in years. I usually go by my clothes which were getting tight. I realized after weighing I am the heaviest I have ever been. I also bought a food scale and I am trying to pay attention to portion size. Instead of throwing a big dallop of butter or oil I am measuring out a teaspoon. Using half an ounce of cheese instead of a whole ounce, etc.. I have lost about 4 pounds over a week or two right at Christmas so far with no exercise other than my job, which is somewhat active (not sitting at a desk the whole time). I figure if it works during such a treat heavy time it will work the rest of the year too. I had a lot of junk the last two weeks but still lost weight just paying a little more attention to food. No exercise yet but things will calm down soon at work and I will have time to create a new habit there. I am so busy that I was looking for some way to lose weight without exercise though, even though I know for my health I need to add that in eventually.

Help Stitch Fix experts! I think I want to keep all 5 items but I need to exchange one because it is too big from this month's fix. I went to checkout and it said an exchange was unavailable for that item. Will they still honor the 25% discount on the other 4 items or do I have to keep the thing that doesn't fit to receive the discount? I got a great work outfit of slim straight Olive pants, a cute navy and peach polka dot top and an open cardigan in the same peach/pink/orange tone. Whatever color it is I find it flattering! I also got a burgundy cowl neck sweater (the too large item- the shoulder seams are halfway to my elbows) and a royal blue maxi dress that I thought I would hate but it's pretty cute. The work outfit literally went straight on from the box and I wore it tonight! It came earlier than expected but I am claiming it as my last Christmas present. I am also enjoying longer tops than I would usually wear! Instead of making me feel frumpy like I think they will from the pictures, I am feeling quite pulled together lately.😊