Thank you for blogging your weight loss journey. I know it's difficult but I know you will be an encouragement for many people traveling the same road. It is a journey. One day at a time. Each day is new and you get to start again. I've been on this road for 18 months now and I have a ways to go yet but it some ways it really is a road to freedom.

I will pray for your situation and for peace.

Thank you.

I am 43 yrs old and I've struggled with weight my entire life. I think I've found the answer. Christmas 2006 I signed up for WW on line CORE program. I set my self some parameters including I would not do anything I couldn't live with for ever. So, I would not say "I'll never eat . . . again" because I knew that was unrealistic for a life time plan. I also said I would loose the weight slowly. It's taken me 18 months to loose 60 pounds and I would like to loose 20 - 30 more to reach my goal weight. I'm okay if that takes me another year or even two. CORE was the answer to eating. I know many people fear it but I think it's a very reasonable way of eating. CORE foods are free to eat, until your hunger is satisfied (a very important thing to learn) and then you are alloted an amount of points for those extras (i.e. pizza, etc.) CORE foods are generally all fruits and veggies, lean meats, non fat dairy, ww pasta, brown rice, etc. I love eating this way and find a lot of freedom in not having to count points for healthy foods. And one other thing I have learned is that there are days I will fall off the wagon. In the past, I would have thrown my hands up and said, what's the point. Or, it's too hard. Now, I start again the next day, or next week . . . I do exercise daily and I love it (I run) but I don't obsess about missing a day because that's reality too. I am hoping I've "flipped the switch" in my thinking and eating and exercise patterns in my life. I do not feel like I'm on a diet at all. I believe I will be able to do this for life.

And I have nothing rational to attribute my fear to (no asthma attacks, etc.). I just need my air space! :001_smile:

My plantar faciatis was so bad and I know it's related to tight calf muscles but I didn't realize how much stretching improves these things. I began an ernest stretching of these muscles several times a day and haven't had a problem as long as I keep the stretching routine in place.

Fortunately, my dd 12 who loves to read can also stay up late and wake up, on her own, usually by 6:30 (I'd be okay with 7). Every so often I notice a little crabbiness and then that night I might say to her lights off by 9:30. My ds almost 12, cannot do this. He has to be asleep by 9 - 9:30 and I'm still dragging him out at 7:30ish. Ds 10 needs a good sleep.

I pick my own curriculum and teach my own kids. My kids will be starting grade six and seven in the fall and I've homeschooled them from day one. No co-ops in my area. I'm not sure what I would do if they were accessible to us. I also think that I may access some on-line courses in the later high school years.

Had I to do it over again I would not have battled him at that young age. My problem was compounded by the fact that he has a sister the same age, who began to read with no problem, and loved it. I kept comparing them and couldn't relax and allow for the differences in each child. It took longer for it to "click" with him. Not just the phonetic code etc., but even the willingness to sit and enjoy it. But it did click and now he is a good reader. He doesn't LOVE it like my daughter and other son do, but he likes it well enough and we still read aloud all the time. I feel bad for the pressure I put on him and me those early years. If I could do it over again. I would just read, read, read aloud to him (which I did do back then) and not worry so much about what he was reading and 6. Time usually rights things, especially with boys I find. (Of course a bone fide learning disability is sometimes a possibility but I think many times it's just plain old-fashioned time.)

I have baked bread for years and never knew this. Is this good for a day or two, a week or two?

I'm going to compile a list for now and for down the road. Thanks.

We are beginning a short summer module on Shakespeare and I would like to maybe watch a Shakespeare movie with the kids. They are 11 and 12. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Watson came to us with her name. She was five when we adopted her. She is most definitely female so I have no idea why she was named Watson -- maybe the previous owners had an affinity for detectives? My son nicked named her Bob -- Bob is my son's best friend. It will be very sad when she dies and given that she's almost 14 we know that could happen at any time. Our Ruby girl also came pre-named. She was one when we adopted her. I didn't really care for the name at first but now she's our Ruby-Mae.

Our berner is the only dog we've ever had that prefers to sleep directly on the floor (not carpeted), in the basement, on her back (I'm guessing to expose her belly and be cooler). And while our other dogs seek out sunshine (in the cooler months) in the house to 'sunbath' in, the berners avoid it. It's quite interesting. Our berner has very thick, velvety hair.

She has low tolerance for heat (and long, thick hair) so on those warmer days we usually limit our running to early mornings or late evenings and if it's warm at those times we shorten the run for her. We do not live in a dry, hot climate and very hot days are limited to short periods of time through out the summer. Mine sits her butt up against the door, so I know what you mean when you say the dog is sad when when you leave her. I also have a portable (cloth like) water dish that I can easily carry with a bottle of water, if necessary. That is rarely necessary here. One other thing I sometimes do is soak her down with water before we start (she hates, hates, hates that!)

It's a great reminder to keep communicating in marriage. It's so hard some times.

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Is it worth purchasing the plus version?

We loved him. He was a basset hound. We got him a year after we first brought a female basset hound home. He was much friendlier than she and very, very lovable. He was a bit more territorial with his "home" but overall a nice dog. We did not have marking problems. He marked, but only when we were walking outside. I think each dog is an individual case. You can have good males and bad males. Good females and bad females.

We will be starting grade 7 in September. I plan to homeschool through high school.

Thank you.

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When I read the OP I recognized my own daughter who is only 12 (and has had her cycle since July/07). She has it pretty heavy and long, 7 days. I keep wondering if this is normal. She is so young I don't want to traumatize her with unnecessary doctor's appointments but having suffered from severe anemia from the same reason I sure don't want that to happen to my young daughter. Unfortunately I have no advice for extra protection during dance class.

I so desperately want to incorporate a timeline into our history study but I just can't wrap my brain around the best way to do it. I see many great ideas but I just don't know where to start. I want to begin work on this as a summer project (and continuing there after). Can anyone offer me suggestions on how to just start and get going? I think what's hanging me up is the fact that we're studying the middle ages right now and so do I just start the timeline with that time period and add the ancients when we're in that loop again? And what is the best time line? Wall? Books? What are the best resources? (I've probably got some.) I want a time line for my kids (and me). Any advice is appreciated.

Actually we have begun at a slow pace but will pick up the pace a bit in September. So far I am very please with it despite the "learning curve" which isn't as daunting as one might think. I'm working out the details. I did buy writing aids and map aids.