Looks like a bunch of good healthy choices, but being perfectly honest here, I would gain weight if I ate that much. If you are making healthy choices I bet the issue is quantity, not quality.

Neither, or both, depending on how you want to view it. You need a small amount of healthy fats, and you need a good amount of healthy carbs. But going extreme on either side is only good for short-term effects. I believe it's important not to "diet", which is a short-term mentality, but to change your eating habits to a healthy pattern that you can be comfortable with for life. Have you tried keeping a food journal? Write down everything you eat, every day. You'll see extra stuff you're eating that you may not even realize, you'll recognize your hunger patterns, and it is mighty difficult to force yourself to write "one package of Oreos - whole thing" so there's some built-in deterrence. :D One last thing: I saw this advice and consider it gold. Eat breakfast like a king, eat lunch like a prince, eat dinner like a pauper. Load your intake into the first half of the day. A big dinner is the kiss of death to me if I'm trying to lose!

Scramble some eggs. Throw on some cheese to melt. Wrap in a warm tortilla. Serve with salsa and sour cream. :D

Elaine - felt a bit like a tomato was on the way - and I appreciate the clarification. :) General audience :D - I'm not about to judge Sarah Palin based on what little we know. It is our business to make our voting decisions as objectively as possible, and to do that, we MUST make judgments about what we know about her. I'll say it again: none of us knows when they found out, or what sort of discussions the Palin family had about Trig having a mom who happens to be VP and how they as a family might seize this amazing opportunity AND succeed as a family. I have no objective reason to think they have been dishonest. I think it is entirely possible that they are doing their level best to support Bristol AND encourage her to do her best with the responsibilities that are now hers. I choose to believe that they are an American family with a mom who is in this particular place for a reason, and they're working out their imperfect lives along the way. Hm. That could be any of us, couldn't it? I may not be up for VP, but I cannot see the future, I cannot make my kids follow the path I dream they will take, and I have to deal with what life hands me as best I can.

BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!

Then please show that by not generating speculative rumors.

As I said, personally, according to me, and I get my view from the Bible. Is it judgmental to state my belief??

There are way too many generalizations and assumptions here. I don't know anything about what the Palin family knew/didn't know. I know Christian Democrats. I know Republicans who are atheists. I know plenty of Christians who don't consider themselves to have a higher anything. I don't know of any people who encourage or think sex at 17 is okay. I know a wonderful family who are Christians, deeply involved at our church, whose 18 year old daughter is unwed and pregnant and deeply loved/protected by our church family because they came to the congregation for forgiveness and help. It CAN happen to anyone. If any of us think our children are protected or inoculated against sin (or errors in judgment or mistakes or whatever you want to call it), I'm afraid we're in for some serious shocks. Our children will make their own choices, sometimes they will go completely against all we think we taught them, some will have to suffer serious consequences for it. But don't delude yourself into thinking "MY kids would never ___ because *I* raised 'em RIGHT..."

Sure they do. Personally, though, I believe there is a distinct role for mothers, different from but no less/more important than a father's role, and that is why I would have no problem with Sarah Palin stepping aside to nurture and support her daughter through her first steps of motherhood and marriage.

Despite my enthusiasm for what Palin meant to the McCain ticket, I agree Kelli. If I were in her shoes I'd step out - NOT because of shame but because my children come first.

If one advocates for condom distribution, early sex ed, etc, then points fingers at the Palin family saying the daughter's pregnancy means Sarah Palin is now disqualified from VP on that basis, then yes, I would consider that a double standard. I am not pointing to any specific person or post here. I'm saying that if the Democrats and Obama supporters leap on this to discredit the Palin family, they are treading on thin ice.

I think we'll have to see how this plays out, but I think it is very, very premature to say the election is now decided. I don't understand anyone celebrating another family's struggle. Regardless of political posturing, I think any mom would be saddened for her 17 year old unwed daughter to get pregnant, whether from moral grounds or simply practicality - a 17 year old single mom has a very difficult road ahead, and to marry at 17 is mighty early for many girls. It's like the sordid glee some took in seeing the Bush daughters drinking at college parties. Frankly I see a double standard when some advocate strongly for early sex education and sexual freedom and distributing condoms and keeping visits to Planned Parenthood a secret from parents, and then point fingers saying "her kid got pregnant so she's not worthy." We're human. To us Christians, it's a symptom of the fallen world we live in. All of us fall short of perfection in some way or another. Our children will, too. This hasn't changed my vote one bit; the Palins are dealing with a situation the best they can, and God help us, we might one day be on that same road.

Make it a joint effort. What about a wall chart or a big jar - something that you fill up as you read books. Put a marble in the jar, or color in a space on the big caterpillar on the wall, that sort of thing. For each book you read, or that either child reads (out loud or to themselves), you add to the jar or the chart or whatever you're using - and when it's full you all go out for pizza or ice cream or a movie. Seems like anytime I track my kids individually, they go into competition mode. If we're tracking something together, they pull together.

Y'all have seen Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy version), haven't you?? "Ohhh, Mike Douglas........"

I have not, Pamela, but don't let that mean anything one way or the other. We lost a baby to miscarriage but because it was pretty early, I don't even know if the baby was a boy or a girl, so we named the baby Morgan in order to have a name rather than "it". I have a tough time imagining Morgan as anything but an infant, to be honest. I do believe that those who have passed before us are aware of being in God's presence, so I trust that Jesus is Morgan's everything - more than we could have given as earthly parents - and I do believe that I will meet him or her when I get there.

That sounds divine. I'm not sure I'd care what it's called, I'd just say "gimme a slab of that!" Sorry. Bad manners. "May I please have a big huge slice of that marvelously glistening berry chocolatey thing?" Better. Fruit-Studded White Chocolate Tart. (too dominatrix?) Glistenberry White Chocolate Tart. (I have a thing for "glisten".) White Chocolate Fruited Tart. I'm no help whatsoever, am I???

My husband will.not.eat.vegetables but these, he will: Dice 2-3 slices of bacon into a medium-large pot and saute in a dab of olive oil. When bacon starts to render (when the FAT starts to MELT!), add 1 large yellow onion, diced. Saute until tender. When onion is tender, stir in 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 14-oz can beef broth, and 1-2 Tbsp cider vinegar. Simmer a couple minutes then add 2-3 lbs fresh green beans, washed and trimmed. Season to taste with salt/pepper. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender (depending on how limp you like 'em, anywhere from 30-60 mins)!

Kathleen has already said much of what I would say, so :iagree:. Unrepentant unforgiveness is sin, fed by pride. There is plenty in the Scriptures about forgiving one another. Scripture also tells us that one who is locked in sin does not want to hear about it (John 3:19-21, Prov 15:12), and one who loves his sin will not appreciate the one who draws his attention to the sin (Prov 9:7-8). We are poor examiners of ourselves (I Cor 4:4). You can't talk the sinner out of his sin; the Spirit does the work of conviction and brings repentance. The only "cure" is repentance - the blood of Christ, sought and obtained through repentance, brought to bear on our hearts by the Spirit and the living Word of God. 1 John 1:8-10 So I would suggest that the only thing that will reach your friends' hearts is Scripture. Are you willing to risk their dislike, even their hatred, for pointing it out? Is the Spirit urging you to speak Truth over their lives, reminding them that unforgiveness is sin and that their relationship with God is broken as long as they are walking in it, unrepentant (Psalm 66:18 among many others)? If He is - arm yourself with the Scriptures He brings to mind, and then obey. If He is not - pray consistently that their hearts will be softened to hear His rebuke. Keep restoration as your motive. I think at the very least it is completely reasonable to ask them both to leave you out of the situation. Assure them that you are praying and ask them not to mention it any further to you. I also think that we Christians tend to (pardon the expression) pussy-foot around each other, afraid of hurting feelings, afraid we'll lose a friend, when the Bible tells us repeatedly that we are to correct one another in love, keep one another in line with the Word, always doing so with an eye toward restoring one another to fellowship. HTH. :001_smile:

:grouphug: We have a baby in the Father's tender care, too. Praying that His peace will enfold you, Andrea. Your poem is lovely.

Serendipity Roxanne An Affair to Remember Tombstone (not your typical chick flick sappy romance but loaded with some very fine lookin' fellas) any movie musical because I love to burst into song but dh tends to look at me like I'm whacked: The King and I (Deborah Kerr & Yul Brynner), South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof...

"If she were..."?? You're implying that she does NOT care, does NOT understand American women, and does NOT care about other people's children, which is a mighty arrogant place to be. I can't speak for whether she does or does not. Don't you see that there is more to it than this? I think it is extremely narrow-minded to say that the majority of women "want programs funded that will prevent women from getting pregnant", because while I certainly am in favor of not getting pg in the first place, it's about how to accomplish that. Not every woman follows the Dem logic that a government program funded by more taxes will solve the issue of millions of babies aborted for the sake of convenience. Conservatives who vote against this or that 'program' aren't voting against it because they are hard-hearted haters of special needs children who want women to have back-alley unsterile abortions. They vote against programs because they are full of pork, or because legislation and tax money doesn't change peoples' behavior in the bedroom.

Go get it checked immediately. I recall a study that came out when I was working in PT that said the severity of an injury isn't related as much to the size of swelling as it is to the immediacy of swelling/bruising. If it swelled/bruised that quickly, it warrants immediate attention. Let us know how he is, please!

Jennifer, he is absolutely adorable. I can see the humor in his eyes! :001_smile:

Here's my suggestions as mother of another Mr. Look At Me I'm A Comedian!!:D If he is going to draw everyone's attention away from the subject at hand with his comedy, then you all will still have to spend those minutes on the subject later. One day, keep track of how many total minutes are spent with the students distracted by Mr Goofball, then tack that many minutes onto the end of the school day with quizzes or copywork or recitations until you all "make up" the time. I don't mean in a nasty/punitive way - just matter-of-fact. Write various household jobs on popsicle sticks and keep them in a jar in the classroom. If anyone distracts the rest of the students from doing their work, they choose a job and must complete the job to Mom's satisfaction before any free time. Put an empty jar in the classroom and add a scoop of beans to the jar every time your students complete a subject without a comedy outburst. When the jar is full, reward everyone - go out for ice cream or have a movie night or whatever. I do think that it's a wonderful ability to make others smile and see humor and I wouldn't want to squelch that. It's certainly fair and reasonable for him to learn when it's appropriate to do so, and I also think it's reasonable to get the whole family working on this together. If the other kids can learn to control their responses, you will have help in keeping it from escalating out of control!

Evolution should be in the philosophy class, too. It is a theory which is unprovable by scientific method, just like creation. Science classes should stick to true science: hypotheses can be directly observed and verified through repetition which achieves the same result. Can't do that with the OT Creation story, and can't do that with evolution either.