Daily Devotions for Dieters (March 19, 2008)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 March 9 Psalm 138:7 Thought I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. I went through a terrible time when I first started dieting. Every once in awhile, I would get light-headed and my knees would buckle. It was not only embarrassing, but a bit frightening. When I spoke to the doctor about it, he told me it was just my mind playing tricks on me. He said my stomach was 'mad at me' for taking away its extra food. I didn't need as much food, but psychologically, I wanted it. I left the doctor and went out to my car to pray. Whenever I felt the light-headedness start to creep in, I asked the Lord to revive me, and He did! Today's thought: God is all the pick-me-up I need! Spring's a Great Time to Launch an Exercise Program With the arrival of spring's warmer weather, you may be eager to shake off that winter lethargy by starting an exercise program that includes running or walking. However, if you've been fairly inactive during the winter, you need to ease into your spring exercise routine, advises Duke University Medical Center. Your first step should be to your doctor's office. That's especially important if you haven't been active for a long while or if you haven't had a recent medical checkup. That way, your doctor can identify any potential problems or concerns before you start putting your body through its paces. Identify your goals and preferences. Are you trying to shed 10 or 15 pounds? Is your goal to complete a 5K or 10K run? Or do you simply want to develop a healthy lifestyle habit? Knowing and setting clear goals helps you decide whether you should adopt a moderate or more challenging exercise program. You should also choose an exercise or activity that you enjoy. Whether it's bicycling, swimming, in-line skating or dancing, you'll be more likely to stick with it if you like doing it. Even if you can only fit in five or 10 minutes of exercise several times a day, you'll achieve significant health benefits. For example, walk to work or park your car a good distance from the office door. Also, put your trash can as far from your desk as possible, so you'll have to get up and walk to it every time you want to throw out something. And use a cordless phone and walk around the office while you talk. At home, remember that house chores such as vacuuming or floor mopping will get you body moving. And get rid of the remote control and walk from your sofa to the TV to change channels.

Yea for me! (March 10, 2008)

Yea for me! I got on the treadmill this morning. What a chore to make myself get up! I want to try to get in the habit of doing this several times a week. I have been exercising at night some but here lately I have been too busy and when I get home so late I don't get on the treadmill. I just hit the bed. I have come to the conclusion that the key to weight loss is exercise. Yes, watching what you eat is important but exercise is a must! When I was going to the YMCA on a regularly basis and participating in their aerobics classes I could eat just about anything and I did not gain weight. It is when I stopped going to the Y that all this weight starting pouring on. And I loved participating in those classes but we were at a point were we needed to cut some bills so my husband insisted on my Y membership going bye-bye so I dropped my membership. I bet he wishes we had not done that! I know I do! But when the Y started the step classes I did not fell like I was losing any weight. When I was doing the "regular" aerobics I lost weight like a mad dog!! I wish they were doing those again. I recently heard about a cardio class at The Gym. I have been thinking about participating in that. I feel a little self conscious because I don't know what "kind" of women will be there. And I don't know what everyone is wearing now days to exercise. I know these things should not keep me from checking out the class. It is a month-to-month charge and you don't have to have a membership. So if I couldn't afford one month I would just not go. But on the other hand - how much is the Y now? It might be cheaper......I might check into that and see just what kind of classes they are offering these days. It was back in 1994 when I was last a member of the Y. I really want to participate in something! Also it depends on when the classes are too. I have a bible study on Monday, a RAFA ministry T.E.A.M. meeting on Tuesdays, church on Wednesday, and RAFA small group meeting which I facilitate on Thursdays. Wow! I am a busy woman! I may have to give up something. Well one thing is for sure. I will never do anything if I can't take some action. That is my plan for now. The next time I blog I will have taken some action to find out about the classes and make a decision. That is my promise to myself. My health is important and since I just turned 51 I am beginning to feel my age somewhat. I know that exercise is good for me and I don't feel so stiff when I exercise on a regular basis. It actually makes me feel pretty good. And since I sit at a desk all day typing - I really need to exercise. I am signing off now. I hope you all have a GREAT day! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I am really a lazy person and this is going to take much effort on my part to go this ball rolling!

No Thanks Wendy's!! (January 28, 2008)

Monday, January 28, 2008 Well, I am overwhelmed. I got so many wonderful and inspiring comments back to me. Thank all of you so much. I am going to make one more rant and then I am going to write out my goals. I am mad! I am mad as hell that I have to be the fat one! Why didn't God make me one of these women who can eat anything and not gain an ounce?? It's not fair! And I get mad that I will have to do this for the rest of my natural born days! There........... I feel better. I really do. Here is a before and after synopsis Before the holidays I was: 1. Counting calories 2. Drinking up to 10 glasses of water or more a day 3. Eating 3 meals and 2 snacks a day 4. Exercising 3-6 times a week. I was walking/running 2-3 miles on my treadmill at home. After the holidays I have been: 1. Not counting calories on spark (I have been playing a guessing game) 2. Drinking almost NO water 2. Eating tons of fast food and sweets, actually WHATEVER I WANTED 3. On some days eating nothing at all thinking that I could starve this weight off! One time I went for a solid week without eating and when I almost passed out I decided that was not a smart thing to do. 3. I have exercised ONE TIME since before Thanksgiving. So...what was my problem again???? duhhhhhhhh! 1. Ok - I drank two glasses of water today 2. I went to the store and bought a diet coke and some Healthy Choice meals. I love the ones with the dessert. It helps with my sweet tooth. No...I did not go to Wendy's. 3. I did a one mile WATP as soon as I got home from work. I didn't even change clothes (I work in scrubs). I did not give myself a chance to change my mind. But the one thing I have decided to do is this - My husband is extremely obese and I have a hard time around him. I want to eat like he does - anything I want, anytime. But last week he started a diet plan so I am going to encourage him and I am going to ask him to do a few things with me. He will probably say no because he has every other time I have asked but I will ask again. 1. I am going to set him down and talk about our weight issues and ask him to encourage me and I will encourage him. 2. I am going to ask him to at least try the WATP DVD with me just one time. (I have begged before and he would not do it). 3. I am going to ask me to make a pack with me that we will BOTH make only healthy choices when we go out to eat. 4. I am not going to purchase any more foods that will temp me. I buy things for my husband and my 2-year-old great niece who I keep a lot and tell myself that I won't eat them..yea right! Besides...they should be eating healthy too. That all sounds like a good plan. And yes, I do have issues that I need to deal with. I know my emotional eating is not just about eating. I have an addictive personality as well. I am a recovered alcohol and addict and have been drug free (including nicotine) for almost 17 years. I have a lot to work on but I know I can do it. I just have to want it as bad as I wanted to stop using drugs I suppose. Once, again, I thank each of you that responded to my plea for help, whether in my blog or in a post. It has really made me stop and think about what I need to do. I may not do it perfect but I still need to DO IT! After all "tomorrow is another day"

Who Stole My Motivation! (January 28, 2008)

Monday, January 28, 2008 Well, I have decided to just be honest on here. Not that I haven't been all the while! But by being honest I mean tell how I really feel..... Today is ok. I ate everything I wanted over the weekend. I keep telling myself that I will eat just this one and then will start my diet back the next day. NOT happening! I seem to have lost all motivation. But I refuse to give up. I will keep on journalizing. I will keep coming to Sparkpeople and I will take time to post and read other posts (which I have not been doing). I think what I should do is - when I feel the need to eat and I don't need to I will run to my computer and come here and post a blog about what I am feeling. I find myself eating for absolutely no reason. And the "control" is not there. I feel....I eat! End of story. And I don't see where I have been stressed. It's like I have no conscious thought of "you do not need to eat that." Where has my motivation gone? Did someone steal it? Did I lose it? I can't blame anyone but myself. I know what I need to do but I don't do it. I have not been exercising. I am at heart a lazy person. Always have been. I would much rather sit and watch tv than walk on my treadmill. I must get my motivation back. I have started on an upward swing...up with the pounds that is! I feel like a fat slob and inside I am dying. I DON'T want to gain this weight back but I feel helpless to control myself. There! I said it. I feel like a slob and I don't like how I look yet I lack the motivation (at this moment) to do anything to change that. What the heck is wrong with me? I post about how I feel and and I get pumped up and then bam! right back to lazy bum sitting on the couch! Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! (unfortunately). Like I said earlier I will not give up. I will not give in completely to my desire to eat anything and everything I want. But, you know, when I think about not ever having a hamburger and fries I think, "I can't do that!" Then I get an email from a friend about "loving your body as it is" and "put on her big girl panties and get over it" and then my mind says, just eat. There is nothing wrong with being a little fat. A lot of people I know are fat and God still loves them, they sill have friends, they seem happy. But that is not what I want damn it!!!!! I want to be healthy and at a normal weight - I really do! So why am I not willing to do what it takes to make that come about! Your guess is as good as mine. Am I subconsciously trying to sabotage my own weight loss efforts. Maybe I need a therapist! Oh well. I will think about what I have written. I will read some motivating articles on here and I will try my darnedest to do better. Right now I really hate myself and I don't like feeling this way. Maybe my antidepressant is not working! (ha) Oh well, life goes on whether I stay a fat slob or not. This is the end of this rant. Maybe I can be more positive really soon.

I Hate Myself! (January 4, 2008)

Friday, January 04, 2008 I am so disgusted with myself. I have GAINED weight! GAINED! I am such a pig! Why do I do this? Why? Why? I am sitting here stuffed to the gill and miserable. My reflux is acting up and I am so mad at myself! Why can't I stay on track? Is it because I stopped coming to the spark page? I let myself go during the holidays. I knew I was going to do it and I did it! My thinking was - I will lose it after the holidays. I love so much to eat. Once I get started I can't stop. How many times am I going to torture myself like this? I have been eating everything in site and I have been on the treadmill only once in the past month or so! I must be insane! Why do I stop doing what makes me feel so good? Do I love to torture myself? When I am eating right and exercising I feel so much better. Everyone is telling me you look so good! And I feel better so I stop watching my weight and think I can be like other people I suppose. But I can't eat like other people. You may think I am crazy but I wish right now that I could throw up. I have tried to make myself throw up but I can't do it! I am so self destructive. I know what I need to do to get back on tract but my mind is sitting here thinking ---- why the *&$*(&^* even bother??????? My mindset is one of ---I have lost a lot of weight, so what if I gain some of it back...I can just lose that again.....! ! ! but at this rate I will never lose any more. I told my husband the other day that if I had lost all that I had lost and gained back I would weigh about 2 pounds right now! God, I need some motivation!!!!!

My Bad! (October 30, 2007)

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 I guess I have been missing in action! I can't seem to find the time to post on here anywhere. I have joined so many teams and I am trying to keep up with them and it is impossible. I guess I should pick a team and stick with it. I feel so bad because I have joined teams and am letting them down by not posting and helping others - not to mention the help I need because of my big PIG OUT last weekend. God, I hate the weekends. I would do okay if I didn't have weekends! ! ! ! ! I do great during the week and then go WAY OVER my calorie intake on the weekends therefor I am not losing any weight - I am staying the same - NOT WHAT I WANTED TO DO! I can't seem to stop eating once I start. If I stay away from the fried foods, chocolate etc. I do fine but then I decide to have "just one" and that leads to another and another and another! I hate being fat! I absolutly hate it so you would think that I could do better. I have decided that I love food more than I want to lose weight. That must be the case because I sabatage my weight loss every change I get! My mom used to go to TOPS and she had this on the fridge: Even though I overeat in private My excess poundage is there For all the world to see, What a fool I've been. Makes sense to me. I must, must, must do better.

Progress Again! (July 13, 2007)

Friday, July 13, 2007 I am so pumped. I suppose my plateau is over. I think what I was doing wrong was recording my treadmill calories burned and they were way off spark people. I am going to go with the spark people from now on. I have lost a total of 50 pounds but have around 48 more to do. What a blessing! I just hope I can keep it off. But I am surprised I have kept off this weight loss so far. So I getting more inspired evey day that I CAN do this. I read lots of articles on the spark pages and I read a lot of the posts. They are so encouraging. I love to see before and after pictures. I have posted one of mine on my spark page. I am so glad I found this place! My mother has cancer and will start radiation treatments on Monday. I don't know how much longer she will be around but they have told us that the radiation should take care of all the cancer. She is in her 70's and has had a good life. When she passes on, be it 6 months or 6 years from now, she will meet my dad, her one and only true love, in Heaven. What a glorious reunion that will be. I wish I could be there to witness it! I was recently on the Biggest Loser web site. I had not gotten to see the last few episodes. I was totally amazed at the progress of the people on there. I have printed out their before and after pictures and am putting them on my fridge. Should give me lots of inspiration. I say, if they can do, I can do it. Woohooo!!! I can't wait for the new series to start. I get pumped up watching this show. MAKE it a GREAT weekend everyone! Keep up the good work! Together WE CAN DO THIS! ! ! ! !

Here I Go Again! (June 14, 2007)

Thursday, June 14, 2007 It seems like all I am posting on here is "woe is me." I have all kinds of excuses for not doing what I know I need to do. I have gained back 5 pounds. I just started back my hormones (Premarin) for severe hot flashes and now I read where they cause water retention and weight gain!!! Just what I needed.!! (I am in surgical menopause) Now I must decide between hot flashes and weight gain. ( I think I willl opt for the hot flashes.) My mother has cancer and I have been going back and forth to the doctor with her. She will start radiation next week. Also we are painting our living room and my house is in massive disarray! I have not exercised but one time in two weeks and I feel so sluggish. I was up to 3 miles a day and I wasn't losing any weight so I got discouraged. But I know this is a way of life for me. I know that no matter how much weight I lose I cannot go back to eating the way I used to. I have to go back to my three meals a day with a low calorie and nutrious snack twice a day. There are some days when I just cannot contrtol what I eat. It is like I am possessed and I make several trips to the vending machine or I eat everything I brough to work with me all in one sitting. I can't explain these days unless they are hormonal related. I am enjoying reading all of the uplifting posts. They keep me motivated even though I seem to be taking backward steps. But at least I get up and start again. I don't get to post often and I wish I could be more involved in the boards but my life is so full ot "things." I don't really have much time for me! But everyone keep up the good work and keep the motivating postings coming. Like my spark page says - NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

It's A Struggle But It's Worth It! (May 18, 2007)

Friday, May 18, 2007 I can't believe it has been since March that I have written in here. Boy, time passes fast! I have decided to take up running. I am really enjoying it. I run on a treadmill. I have been doing 3 miles 5 x a week. I was losing weight like crazy and now I am stuck. I can't believe that I can run 3 miles for 5 x a week and NOT lose weight! That just totally blows my mind. My husband says I am probably losing inches and he is right but I want to see that number on the scale go down. Everyone says I look so good but I am still at 194!!! I don't want to stay there. Because of some things that have come up I have not been able to exercise this week at all so I must get back at it next week. My mother has been diagnosed with parathyroid cancer and I have been back and forth to the doctor with her. When I go on a trip it is like I am a "free" bird. I feel compelled to eat all the wrong things and that just puts back on the few pounds I have lost the week before. I have a problem with losing a few pounds and then feeling good so I eat things I should not and they come back on. No wonder I am at a standstill. It is like I can't be consistent every week. I said when I lost 50 pounds I would treat myself. Well, I did and what did I treat myself with? A big hamburger, fries and a chocolate shake. WRONG thing to do! So I gained back 5 pounds! Next time I will treat myself with something besides food! I really should have known better! But I am not giving up. I guess I will not lose every time and this should not discourage me. But a few weeks I was losing 1-2 pounds a week every week - that was when I first started running. Now I seem stuck. But like I have said so many times - I will NOT give up this time. For those of you who feel my pain and can sympathize with my problem please pray for me. I don't know the outcome of my mother's cancer. We are to go back to the doctor in a week or so and see what treatment will need to be done. They are talking about radiation. But who doesn't have problems in this world these days. I have no monopoly on problems! But, aside from all that - I do feel better, I look better and I can breath better! That is wonderful! I can look at the positive or I can look at the negative. The positive is what I need to focus on. I hope all of you are well and having great success with your healthy life plan. I don't like to say "diet" since this is a lifelong process and will continue until my death. MAKE it a great day!!

When Will I Ever Learn?? (March 28, 2007)

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Yesday was going good and then I was invited to eat out and because of the circumstances involved I did not get to exercise. And on top of that I ordered a meal that I should not have. I will probably gain those three pounds back again!! I just can't seem to gain control of my eating out. On some days I do really good and on others I PIG OUT! I can't even begin to count the calories that might have been in the dinner I chose. Everything FRIED and I am not supposed to eat fried foods. I am so disgusted with myself but I will not let this get me down. I must somehow master some control over eating out. And when I eat the fried foods and too much of it, I feel so sluggish the next day - not at all like I would like to feel! What is wrong with me? How come I can't keep the momentum going? I have lost over 40 punds. Why I can't keep losing? Everyone tells me I look great and that gets me to feeling good and what do I do????? I eat! It's like I have lost all the weight I need to so I really eat now. But I know that is not the way it works. I know this is for life, not just until I have lost all my weight. I still have over 60 pounds to go. I certainly don't want to stop here. I must keep going. I must keep the faith and look at this as a little setback and I will pick myself up and start over today. I will take it one day at a time. Thanks for letting me vent. Betty

Yet Again! (March 26, 2007)

Monday, March 26, 2007 I have been doing great for the past week. I lost three pounds, but these are the same three pounds I have lost over and over. But last week I stepped up the exercise and my food intake. I had been cutting calories way too LOW and was stuck at 199. I never thought uping my caloric intake would make me LOSE weight but it has. So I am going to try to stay within my range from now on. I went to a Beth Moore Conference in Louisana this past weekend and did better than I thought I would. I did go over my calorie range but I will adjust that this week. I walked/ran five days of last week. I try to take Sunday off and many times I take Sat. off too depending on what is going on that day. Today is Monday and I feel good. I needed some encouragement last week so I went to the inspirations page and printed out one of them and put in on my treadmill so I would see it as I exercised. It has helped me so much. It makes me go on to the next mile when I really want to stop. I have been doing 2-3 miles a day. And that is good because I used to be a cough potato. But all in all, things are going great. Take care everyone.

Getting Serios (January 3, 2007)

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Ok! I am going to get serious. I have gained 5 pounds over the holidays. I must get back with Spark and keep the faith! Today is my official re-starting date! I will walk qd....I will record my food and exericse qd and I will drink 8 glasses or water or more qd! I will do whatever it takes to stay motivated! Today is the beginning of my new healthly lifestyle!

One More Time! (August 29, 2006)

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 I have gained some of my weight back and I need to start over. It is so hard when my husband is overweight and eats all the time. I wish I could get him to start eating healthy with me but he won't hear of it! I know I can't blame my success or failure on him. I chose to overeat. I tend to eat the things I am not supposed to when I go out with others and am having a great time. My willpower goes down and I give in the voice in my head that says, "Go ahead, it won't hurt this one time" and then I am back at square one. When I could have lost a pound for that week I either stay the same or gain! It is a vicious cycle and one I wish I could stop! My treadmill is not helping either. It is not working right. It just stops after about 25 minutes and won't go anymore. But I have decided that if I get 25 minutes of exercise that is better than none. Also I have been walking 3, running 1, walking 3, running 1, etc. That will help me get a better work out in the time that I do have on the treadmill. I want to call Sears and have them look at it but my husband says it would cost a fortune! But then again, he is not in any hurry to fix it for me! But I will make the best of this situation and not let it get me down. I know I could walk outside but it is so hot! Oh well, today is another day. I will try to be stronger when I eat out. After all it is MY health that is at stake here, not anyone elses.

I am doing better! (April 12, 2006)

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Today I am doing better. I have finally realized that I cannot eat fried foods. They make me swell up all over. It is a horrible feeling. I had my gallbladder removed some time ago and I believe that has something to do with it also. But I am back on track with my eating. I am still struggling with the exericse. Why is it so hard to "just do it" !!!!!????? I can't believe that something that makes me feel good is something I would not want to do. My son is getting married on the 22nd of this month and I think the WHOLE FAMILY has been trying to lose weight!! HA! I am down to 205 as of today. My goal is 199 by the wedding. I have not been below 200 in 10 or so years. I am finding I am much more conscious of what I am eating instead of just mindfully stuffing my face when I eat. I am learning to eat slower and drink between each bite. I am also drinking more water and less diet cokes. Yea for me! I drink crystal light now like it is going out of style. All in all I guess I am doing okay. I just need to get up off my lazy behind and do some exercise. I have a stair climber that my daughter gave me. It causes me to work up a sweat in 15 miutes where my treadmill takes a lot longer. I figure I can burn more calories wtih the stair climber but I don't have any idea how many calories I would burn. The computer part is broke. The stair climber is not electric, I guess you would call it manual?? It is so hard but I need the workout. I have only been able to stay on it for 20 minutes so far. I don't like is as much as the treadmill because I listen to music while on the treadmill and when I try to listen on the stair climber but it won't work for me because I tend to walk to the beat of the music and I certainly can't do that on the stair climber. But I would love to be able to burn more calories in less time and I believe the stair climber will do that for me. You know, I just had a thought!!!--Why do I think that everything I do has to be enjoyable? Some things aren't. Maybe I can look at exercise that way. It can be a necessary evil that I tolerate in order to be healthy and lose the weight I need to lose. Sometimes we have to sacrifice for something good. Maybe I can look at it that way. I am going to start trying to train in my THR and that way I will know I am doing okay even without knowing how many calories I burn. I have been told to work out in my TRH for at least 20 minutes. It won't take long to get to my THR on that stair master!! Got to run, Have a nice everyone!

I need a pep talk! (April 3, 2006

Monday, April 03, 2006 I guess I should stop feeling sorry for myself. I know exactly what to do about this weight but I am choosing not to do it! Is that crazy or what? I seem to have lost all motivation. But I am not giving up. I have lost some of the weight that I gained back. But I can't keep gaining and losing the same pounds all the time. I have to get off my lazy behind and to something. One thing that has happened is my treadmill is on it's last leg and I really can't afford another one right now. I know I can walk outside and I probably will have to but I don't really like walking outside. But any excuse is as good as the next one, right? I have not been on Spark much laterly either and I really need to hear or "read" motivational stories and I really need an accountability partner. In my faithfully fit class, I just got an accountability partner and I am going to call her and hopefully we can help each other. My motivation has gone to the dogs! But I will try to get it back. I am going to make this a GOOD week. I WILL LOSE THIS WEEK, I WILL! I will hang in there through the good and bad days.

Getting Serios (January 3, 2007)

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Ok! I am going to get serious. I have gained 5 pounds over the holidays. I must get back with Spark and keep the faith! Today is my official re-starting date! I will walk qd....I will record my food and exericse qd and I will drink 8 glasses or water or more qd! I will do whatever it takes to stay motivated! Today is the beginning of my new healthly lifestyle!

March 28, 2009

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 I am struggling really bad for the past few weeks. I have neglected my exercise and have been eating things that definitely not healthy for me. I have gained back 8 of the 30 pounds I lost. I am so terrified that I will not be able to keep this weight off. I have lost it many times and gained it all back when I returned to my former eating habits. it is so hard to give up the food I love. I would not hesitate to say I am a compulsive overeating and I have used food all my life for comfort. We are starting a weight down at church and I am going to do that also. Maybe that will help. Other than that, life is great at the moment. I have a great niece that I keep a lot and I love her dearly. Since her grandmother does not live close to her, I get to play grandmother and I am throughly enjoying it!!

I'm back!

I am thinking about coming back to this blog from another one I use. As you can see it has been a while since I have been on here. I will probably copy and paste my older entries from the other blog just to have everything in one place.

Not your usual topic

I was at a party the other day for kids. I watched as several parents told their children over and over to stop doing something they were doing and the children quit but immediately began to do it again apparently unafraid that to do so might cause consequences. When they continued the parents yelled at them “QUIT THAT” and finally they quit….for a few moments again. Then the parents yelled again and again and again but to no avail. Finally the parents just kept talking and ignored the children. For some reason this incident made me angry. These were not my children and I took it as none of my business so where was the anger coming from? I thought about this for days and finally had to analyze the situation so I could come to grips with my anger and why this affected me in such a profound way. There were a lot of things I did wrong as a parent and I am certainly no expert on parenting but as Major reminds me so often – “I can tell you what NOT TO DO” and that rings in my ears a lot because I feel the same way. I did almost everything wrong when raising my children. I never knew there was an instruction manual for raising children so therefore I qualify myself as an “expert” on what not to do.  As an adult I have learned that God’s word, the Bible, was meant to be an instruction manual. Not only a manual for how to raise our children but also a manual that will bring us peace in times of trouble, answers to many of life’s questions and just about anything we need to know to lead a healthy and productive life. You can ask my children and they will tell you that when I told them to stop – they stopped. Maybe not the first time, but for sure the second time and they may have even got a paddling. I wanted my children to be well behaved. I was “spanked” as a child and guess what? It didn’t kill me. But it did cause me to think about my behavior and maybe I didn’t want to do that wrong thing again. I have known several children whom the parents deemed them to be “out of control.” They were sent to a psychologist, put on medication, and anything else they thought would help. Now, don’t get me wrong - I believe in a psychologist ( I have seen one myself to maintain my sanity) and I believe in taking medication, which I have taken myself, if that is deemed to be absolutely necessary. But sometimes I think we rush to do these things without looking at what may really be going on with the child and how the child feels. I wonder sometimes if it would be beneficial to inquire how discipline is done in the home or if it is done at all. I wonder if we as parents are neglecting to discipline our children as God has said to do. We are all for getting them a computer, an Ipod, a cell phone, a television in their room etc. etc. and they stay in their own little world listening and watching who knows what. God word says in Proverbs 10:17 – He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. What this says to me is that if I fail to discipline my children then I am leading them astray. Whatever happened to a “relationship” with our children? My childhood had its good and bad and we were just as dysfunctional as the next family but as a child we did lots of things together. My family would vacation together every year. We took picnics, went swimming, and played ball with my dad in the yard. We played board games, Monopoly, Battleship, and Risk, (although Risk was a bit complicated for my feeble brain). We ate dinner together and on Sunday nights we popped popcorn, each got one Snickers bar and watched the Disney movie. And of course watching The Wizard of Oz was a special occasion once a year for our family. Now with DVD you can watch it anytime. There are many instructions in the Bible as to how we are to interact with our children and what our duty as parents should be, just to name a few, To love them (Titus 2:4); to bring them to Christ (Matthew 19:13,14); to train them up for God (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4); to instruct them in God’s word (Deuteronomy 4:9; 11:19; Isaiah 38:19); to command them to obey God (Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Chronicles 28:9) to correct them (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 23:13; 29:17; Hebrews 12:7) and to provide for them (Job 42:15; Corinthians 12:14; Timothy 5:8). In Matthew Henrys Commentary he quotes Proverbs 13:24 like this – “He acts as if he hated his child, who, by false indulgence, permits sinful habits to gather strength, which will bring sorrow here and misery thereafter.” I have always heard that pain is a great motivator. The motivation in pain is that when I get tired of hurting enough maybe I will decide to do something different. The Bible in no way, shape or form tells a parent to abuse their children, but instead, shows that if we as parents fail to discipline our child and teach the child to follow God’s law it will be the downfall of child and parent alike. Discipline of a child is necessary to teach the child. In Proverbs Solomon assures us that if we raise our children to be lawful members of society, they will bring us great job. As much as I disciplined my children, I also have to say that I did not bring my children up in church, which I regret. As my children grew up they went through their struggles as most children do and they almost drove me crazy (no, not really, I have been crazy and it wasn’t anywhere near to that!) But I know that only because of the GRACE OF GOD and maybe because of some good discipline (I have to give myself some credit for the way they turned out ) they grew up to be productive, and caring adults and children that I am very proud of today. We as parents have a responsibility to raise our children in a way that is pleasing to God and in a way that will help them cope with whatever life will certainly bring their way. Consequences are one way we and our children learn. We need consequences; our children need consequences. For without them we tend to keep making the same mistakes over and over. And some of our children won’t get a second chance. Discipline was a consequence of my children’s wrong behavior and I hate to think about where they might be today had I allowed them to do and say and act or even dress however they thought was best for them. Young children do not have the mental capabilities or the life experience to make right choices. That is why we as parents are to teach them right from wrong and when they choose wrong, there should be consequences (discipline). I venture to say that some children who are labeled as “uncontrollable” have more than likely never been told no and have received very little, if any, discipline. Many children today are being raised and taught that the only thing that matters is the material things. And most of the time this is done by actions and not words. Children learn by watching what we do. If you have enough “toys” you will be happy. What happened to togetherness as families? What happened to “quality time” with our children? I have heard people say “boy, I miss the good ole days.” Well maybe we should bring back the good old days – at least where disciplining our children is concerned.

Where have I been?

It has been 5 months since I have been on here? Wow, does time fly. I have been busy with my mother who has cancer but she is doing better now. Will try to catch up soon. Oh -by the way I now weigh 181 - kinda cool huh??? Still a long ways to go but I won't give up. Take care