[SunnyD57]

Hi ANGEL
Yep... doing so much better. The last two days we have had some sun and I cannot believe the difference in how I feel. GARY & ANGIE are so lucky to live in California with the sunshine... I really miss it!

I had a wonderful time at the Tea today... there were about 25 ladies and three babies and three on the way. It was a beautiful day all the way around.

GARY & ANGIE,
Your new puppy is adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love, love, love baby animals! Animals in general... And I am glad that you (scrooge ) caved into accepting a new member of the family (not that you had a choice in the matter ). I must agree with SAMI --- That puppy is going to be your best friend EZ! You'll see... Riley will have you wrapped around her pinky (so to speak ~LOL~ ) My nieces dog is a Chocolate Lab and his name is Riley too - he's 2 years old and huge! But so wonderful with kids! You will both love your new family member. Retriever's are a great family dog, so good with people and very smart. Do you know when you will get her?

Thanks SAMI,
I appreciate your kind words & {{{Hugs}}}... back at you I have felt so much better after having warmer temps and sun the last two days - especially today. It makes such a difference. I was rather quiet at the Tea today, but I did have a really good time! I KNOW the lack of sun is making a huge difference in my moods now.

*******

Has anyone heard from MICHELE??? I am worried about her, she hasn't written much lately and she usually writes at least once a day. MICHELE, are you lurking? You feeling okay sweetie?!? Hope all is going well with you...

Well guys, I am so very tired and am going to head off to bed.

"Hello's" to WILMA, MARILYN, SUE, DIVINEFAVOR (You gonna come back?), GARNET, CHRISTIAN- hope that your DF's girlfriend is doing well! and our newest friend-EEYORE

*******

[SunnyD57]

Good Saturday Morning CER's!

Here are some more pictures of my boys and me the first picture was taken on Sunday (last Sun.) and the second picture was taken this past Tuesday (my face & neck are all scrunched up the way I was sitting there & I look plump-er ) and the boys wanted to cuddle with me. Pictures 3, 4 & 5 are of Guido playing with my Ladybugs... yep, I have Ladybugs guys (don't think me strange or odd now). I keep my bathroom door closed to keep the kitties away from them. I didn't have the heart to throw the 2 -3 Ladybugs I found in the house last Fall out into the winter snow, so I kept them and now I have 24 of them. I keep them all under glass in my bathroom, so the boys cannot get to them. I have learned allot watching them. I feed them raisins, apples and cukes to keep them alive and wash out their home every 2 - 3 days to keep everything clean. The wooden heart closes up, so I wait till most of them go inside at night (most do) and that's when I clean their Dome Home As soon as the winter weather breaks I will set them free in my gardens. Hope you all don't think I am crazy now... it's not something I have ever done before, but thought it would be a fun project for the winter and it has been. I learned allot about their habits. Enjoy the pictures [ scroll down to see them ]

Love you guys...

*******

[eeyore68]

Sorry I didn't thank you for your welcomes sooner. We've had some major kid issues - still do, but I wanted to pop in real quick at least. The good news is that in my frustration/desperation I went to bed instead of eating. One thing that I haven't done in a long time is eat out of emotion like that - praise GOD! Now for those other vices...

Sami: I thought it was rough having a blended family with 5 kids - you must have been exhausted in the early years!! Ours are now nearly-16, 15, 14, 13 and 11 - three boys, two girls.. the girls are at the top and bottom of the ages, boys in the middle.

Angel-lover: I like the apple clipart - cute! You must have a ball with all those grandkids. Can't wait till I can spoil the grandchildren and then send 'em home! LOL I absolutely LOVE horses but have never had the space and $$ all at the same time to keep 'em. My dream place has always been a ranch. I'd gladly shovel horse poo to have a few of those great creatures.

SunnyD: thanks for the big welcome and -no- I don't mind a cut and paste. I think the ladybug thing sounds interesting. I never thought of them as pets! hehe And you will have lots of little free pesticiders running around your garden now!! Did you know that the Mall of America uses ladybugs on the plants in their amusement park because they can't use any chemicals.

Well, I need to go see what's up for the day. Hope you all have a good weekend!!

[Angel-lover]

Hi everybody....slow here today. Guess most are out shopping...I'm the only one too broke to go.

Sorry Sunny....Your pics wouldn't come up for me. Message reading they were invalid. I'm sure they were nice, though. Always are.

Thanks EEYORE for the compliment on the graphics. I've enjoyed using them since I first joined the forum. Sunny finds cuter ones....but, I try.
We've only got 2 1/2 acres for our horses. As I said, they are just big pets. Don't cost much for just them. I'm a little afraid, myself, due to a bad experience when I was a little girl. But, can't even go to the shed without them coming up behind me (unexpectedly) & putting their head under my arm...raising it to pet them! Of couse it startles me...seems to tickle them. Almost looks like they're laughing at me! The very first day we got the mom, Molly, we had a 2 yr old grand to pull up grass & feed her. She was so carefull around the little one's fingers. We knew she was a keeper! We would love to have a bigger place & raise horses, also.
Sorry for your problems...will pray for you. Sending you some pics of Molly (mom) & Milly (filly) 1.Molly trotting in pastor. 2.Molly (was expecting, again...but, lost it) 3. Molly & Milly possing! Camera hogs!

Hope all have a good weekend.

[SunnyD57]

Hi EEYORE!
Were you able to see the pictures? Here they are now for you. So good to hear from you, but am sorry to hear that you are having some 'in home' problems with your children too. I will lift you all up in prayer!

Good Morning ANGEL,
I am glad you said something to me about the pictures... the forum wasn't allowing me to upload the pictures the other day and no matter what I did it just didn't work...

Oh well, here they are now - they loaded up this time

PS>>> Your graphics are just as cute - you are such a goof

*******

Click ON the PICTURES to make them Larger:

[wilma12]

I slept in this a.m. and am now enjoying my morning coffee before getting busy doing some chores. I woke up with a better attitude this morning. I decided that if I want to lose this weight I just have to do it. I know I can- I just need to say NO to sugar and some white flour products. So here goes once more!!

eeyore: I don't think I've welcomed you here yet so WELCOME!! The great people on this board are very supportive. I am almost 45, have a super husband and 2 college age boys who are living at home while getting their education. I am a faithful Curves goer and am struggling to get the last 30 lbs off.

Sunny: Ladybugs! I love them but have never thought of having them as pets. I couldn't get the pictures to work. A message came up saying they were invalid so I couldnt see them.


Sami: Thanks for the encouragement. I keep telling myself that at least I haven't gained weight back so that is a positive. we just need to keep plugging along.

Angel: I hope your day is going well.

Gary (and Angie): Your puppy is adorable. Riley looks just like the dog we had to leave behind when we moved. Rudy (a girl!!) was a great dog- lots of personality. It was hard to leave her behind but being an outside, country dog she would have been killed in the city within a week. She turns 14 next month and is going deaf. She now lives on a farm and loves to be around the animals.

Sprout: Great job on the Curves!! Is the 6 week challenge the weight loss class? Here we have to pay $65. to go and I feel I know what to do so I don't need to spend the money. I also think that with what we pay in fees we should get things like that free.

Michele: Thanks for the encouragement. Hope everythings okay with you. We miss you!

Have a wonderful day! I'm off to bake bran muffins for me and cookies for the men.

[SunnyD57]

Hey there WILMA...
I got the pictures to come up
Take another look see...

[Angel-lover]

Got the pics this time Sunny...they're great. I had trouble too. In fact, went back in to fix the pics & color of print on the last post & almost lost the whole thing! The other day I posted a long message 3 times & finally gave up. Just put in the link to another thread....wouldn't you know...it took that!

Hi Wilma....my day is lazy so far! Gotta get up from here & get soundtracks together, though. Gonna be singing on Praise the Lord time at the TV station tonight. That's what we do on Saturday nights. Sometimes bring in groups from out of town. Sometimes it's some of us. Lots of fun either way! I'm also working on a new soundtrack. Made one about 5 yrs ago. The money was donated to me, so I gave them away. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to give them away & my feelings would be hurt. To my surprise, I gave all 200 away & had to make more. Oh well, life can be full of surprises. Some of them nice. My hold up now, is my tape cover. I'm trying to decide which of the many pics to use. I'm getting very tired of looking at myself! Then, when I record the master, I'll get tired of listening to myself! Sure hope others don't feel that way.

Have a good day.

[sprout]

Another week gone past already!!

Went for my walk this morning - did 1.25 miles which brings my total miles walked to 730.50 - getting close to making my next milestone of 760 miles!!

Since January 1 I have released 5.5 pounds - not much but it is going in the right direction.

Next week will be one month at Curves - they will weigh and measure at that time. As of today I believe it looks something like 2 pounds released and 3 inches -- I will take it!

Wilma: The 6 week challenge is at Curves. Here we pay $60.00 and for every meeting you come to you get back $10.00 so if you attend all 6 meetings the cost is 0. And it comes with their guide. I do agree though that I really do no what I have to do - it is just to do it. And after looking at their plan not sure whether I would follow it anyway as I prefer the outline from Dr. Phil better.

Am working on setting goals - have been doing this now all this past week - every night I set goals for the next day (re my health) and at the end of the day I go and be accountable to whether I accomplished them. They have been pretty much the same all week:

(1) Drink 40 oz of water each day (not much but a start)

(2) No eating after 8 pm

(3) No bread or potatoes

(4) Intentional exercise each day - I list whether it is just my walking or both walking and Curves

(5) To say something positive to each of my family members each day

So far so good -- am working on balance eating with enough protein and veggs with 2 fruit a day and 1 serving of milk each day. Keeping all of that processed food away!!

Anyway, it is lunch time, kids are hungry, I am tired ( to many headaches lately ) so better get off of here and get some more work accomplished.

[wilma12]

It worked this time Sunny. Cute pics!!

Sprout: I'll have to ask about that at my Curves. It would be worth it if just for the support. How is Dr Phil's plan different?

[sprout]

Wilma: You asked how the Dr. Phil plan is different from Curves. I found the biggest difference in the start of each of these programs.

Curves:1st two weeks: Heavy on the protein, a lot more restrictive in general. I counted up that in a given day in the 1st 2 weeks you eat min. of 5 servings of protein where Dr. Phil's is 3 servings. I find that Dr. Phil's is just generally more balance right from the beginning. Also Dr. Phil does not refer to 'you are on a diet' when you start his - where Curves starts of by 'you are on a diet until you lose the weight then you go back to eating' - whenever I have done that in the past I never kept the weight off. I understand that Curves is wanting the women to change their life style but the terminology used is a bit different - diet rather than life changes.

What I am working on re my food plan is:
(a) 4 - 6 small meals daily - rather than 3 meals and 3 snacks - just breaking up all the food to equal amounts throughout the day

(b) processed food (white flour and sugar) I am working on deleting completely from my food. This means no sweets, which include no chocolate bars, pop, juices with sugar added or listed in the 1st 3 ingredients. Also means eliminating white bread, (whole wheat ok), white rice (brown rice ok), past (whole wheat ok), staying away from all 'canned' foods as they are just to processed as well.

(c) no eating after 8 pm - am thinking of lowering that down to 7 pm

So what would my food look like:

(a) plenty of chicken, fish and red meat (listing red meat last as it is usually the highest in fat)

(b) eggs and cheese ok - have to watch the cheese though as it does a number on me

(c) 1 serving of milk per day

(d) fruit - 2 of these each day

(e) unlimited on the veggs / greens

(f) 40 + oz. of water per day

Some days are better than others. It is the sweets I tend to have a problem with so I am having to go more strick on getting in the eggs, veggs, fruit and chicken each day. When I do this I am full but when I succum to the sweets all havoc comes - guess I need to do some more work on 'detoxing myself'

Anyway that is where I am at - and I find that the Dr. Phil 'plan' is the best out there for me anyway.


My verse for today is:

Philippians 3:19
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

[EZMONEY]

HI LADIES

Haven't been home much to post. Was at tennis, soccer or softball games (the kids) every night this week and today. My daughter's match got rained out today after they were half way through the singles, they still had doubles and the boys still had to play--- and they say it never rains in southern California I enjoyed the time with my kiddo though, I took her down some pictures of RYLEE though which ALL the girls oohhhed and aahhhed over. Angie changed the spelling of her name from RILEY to RY (the first 2 letters of my son's name) LEE (his middle name)-- she did this because he wants(?) a dog less than me she figures this is one way to bring him around

SUNNY Thanks for the pictures (yes-I couldn't get them at first either) How many raisins can a lady bug eat anyway? Should get RYLEE either next week-end or the following.

ANGEL Good luck with your soundtracks. How is SIL liking being back home? Have a dear friend of mine and my son's who just joined the Army, he is bootcamp in Fort Knox right now and another son of a good friend of mine just joined the Air Force-- we need all those good guys don't we.

SAMI I hope this finds you and Molli feeling better. How much weight did Pepper put on with all that Valentine candy

WILMA glad to hear you are feeling a little more chipper. I talked to my mom who is with her mom in Illinois and they are going through some gloomy days with the weather. You will conquer the sugar!!

SUE Working are you? for that trip...er..our trip

SPROUT You certainly are on the right track. Is your husband still walking with you? How is that boy doing?

MICHELE Boy hunting again and too busy to post?

EYEORE Welcome! I am the only male the gals put up with here-- and that's only 'cause my wife covers for me.

Well have a few chores to do... discussing WHERE to put the puppy's house, etc..aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

IN HIS CARE--Worship tomorrow... Gary

[SunnyD57]

Hey there GARY,
25 Ladybugs eat quite allot... Smarty-pants

I like the spelling of RYLEE... that's neat how she came about it. Okay, Big guy, time to stop acting as if you won't like this pup - you are so in denial about how attached you'll be gettin' to her. Joe told me "NO ANIMALS" when we first got married and I have had 4 pet hamsters, a pet rat (Richie), a pet skunk (Sweetpea), fish, and 6 cats (not all at one time & Joe brought home the second kitty! )... not to mention my Ladybug collection, so watch out - you too will be smitten by the baby animal club too, you'll see. I'm so happy for Angie... I remember when I brought home my first kitty. I was so excited - I didn't sleep for thee nights! No kiddin'

Haveta go... dinner is ready. Just a simple baked chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes - but oh so good!

[SunnyD57]

Hey there guys...
Guess what!? Joe & I got tickets for this Thursday at 1:15pm to see Mel Gibson's "The Passion" We are going with our friends, Mike & Peggy, and just cannot wait to see it!!!

I hope that your Sunday was good for you all - restful. And that you all went to Church today...

Hey... ... ... I am the one that is suppose to be missing on the weekends what's going on here anyway???

No MICHELE, No GARY, No SAMI, No WILMA, No ANGEL, No MARILYN, No GARNET, No SUE, No EEYORE --- --- Shall I go on? What's happenin' ~ I'm beginning to think that if you could smell things on the net, you all were telling me I have bad breath or something. Or maybe... nawwww

Just come back guys, pleeeaassseee

[doitforme]

Sunny- You are as fresh as a daisy, summer will be here soon, and you can start gardening so glad your feeling better. Welcome- eeyore- I am 42 and single, a work-a-holic. Very active with my church, do bullitins, youth mission trips, youth programs overall. ect, Have an awesome church family Great christian friends for support both here and at church. I have 6 nieces and nephews, so busy alot with them too, and a very supportive family. Wilma- so glad to hear your doing better, attitude is everything, glass have full, or glass half empty. E.z. The puppy is so cute, love labs they are so friendly Got 17 hours overtime this weekend, trip almost paid for. Yeah! Mitchy hope your feeling better soon, pray pain in back is better, Sami- so sorry for all your troubles as well, will keep you in prayer. Angel - so happy sil is home safely, pray for the rest of our soldiers, Garnet pray your asthma is better. Sprout- still praying for you and your sun, thanks for your example to the rest of us, great job with all the walking! It took me awhile to catch up again. I am doing great I lost 7 more pounds so down 13 all total. I had been bad for a few months and gained alot, so being good now just gotta stay that way. I have not felt hungry so far so I think the shakes do a better job leveling out my blood sugar. Spring is coming then I get more active. Like camping yea! Hi to everyone, and those I missed.catch ya all later. love ya's sue