Why, I live in Rocky Mount and use a Mac! You can be jealous of my computer, but don't be jealous of my location! :)
Ha, I totally hear on having no clothes. I lost some weight my first year of TFA and got rid of all my clothes. Then, of course, I got pregnant and those clothes would have been PERFECT for that early pregnancy when nothing I had fit but I wasn't ready for maternity clothes. I was so mad! Then it was the same way after I had my son. Now I weigh what I did pre-pregnancy, but I REALLY need to tone up-- my stomach is still a mess. So things just don't fit quite right. I wear Spanx a lot-- yep, I'm 28 and wearing a girdle!
Speaking of kids, you never told your spanking philosophy! I'm curious!
Have you started nannying yet? When will that begin?

Hey Tammy, thank you so much for the comment on my blog post about my job search frustration. Everything you said was exactly what I needed to hear, so it's much appreciated!
Also, I have some clothes in size 26/28, if you're interested. I can't wear them anymore, but I would be happy to pass them along to you, if you'd like. I have 2 v-neck sweaters with bell sleeves (one rainbow-colored, one brown/blue/green), both from Lane Bryant, and a black & white gypsy-style skirt that I think is a size 26 or 28. It's got an elastic waist, and it's from Avenue.
I have the clothes listed on Craiglist, but apparently nobody in Savannah buys clothes on Craigslist!
Shoot me an e-mail at doublechinned@gmail.com if you're interested, and I'll send you the Craigslist link. :)
Also, for your exercise dilemma, check out this link: http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/16799551.html. It's the story of a guy who lost 300 lbs. by bicycling. It's quite inspiring.

Colleen-- Sweet- maybe it was you! As for spanking, I'll try to explain it without going on for 120 lines!

I'm going to read more about it in my (amazing) Shepherding a Child's Heart book, but basically I believe that the "spare the rod, spoil the child" premise is true. And if you think of spoiled in the context of what the word actually means- something that becomes damaged and is no longer good (like milk, for example) then that's what is happening to the child.

There are arguments about other methods, etc, but like I said- I'm going to read more, but here's how I could do it were I to spank a child- I'll use a real-life illustration as a model :)

I was at a friend's house a couple of months ago. Her 3 year old son freaked out and whaled on his 1 yr old brother over a toy. She told him to give the toy back and apologize. He flipped out more, threw the toy (at her). She immediately told him, "You just hurt me and sinned against me and your brother. You need to go sit in time out."

He went to time out, screamed, and slammed some random object he found against the floor and wall again and again. This time, she told him to go to his room and take the time to calm down (and usually this works really well for this child- he knows he needs removal when he flips out-- I've seen him remove himself and go sit alone before, at his third birthday party, b/c he knew he was starting to lose control and get mean). This time, though, he screamed angrily all the way up the stairs and started slamming his door open and shut. She fought the (clear) urge to yell, took a deep breath, went upstairs, and told him he was going to get a spanking and that he needed to sit on his bed and think about what he had done, why it was sin, and why his heart was leading him to be this way.

He immediately changed his cry from anger to desperation, as only a 3 year old can, of "no don't spank me". His defiance stopped when he was faced with the ultimate consequence. She told him he needed the time to think, so she shut his door, came downstairs, and cooled herself of. I could tell she was praying and seeking the wisdom to deal with him in a way that honors God and that will help shepherd his heart to understanding sin vs obedience to God, and not just behavior modification (plus, she told me !).

When she was calm, she took up what I assume is the spanking spoon (a wooden spoon of sorts), sat down with him, and talked with him about our hearts and how wicked they can be and what the Bible says about obeying God's rules and loving others. She gently talked to him to get out of him why he got so selfish and angry and he shared what was going on in him (as much as a 3 year old can). Then, she explained that she loves him, and it pains her to spank him, but God's Word commands her to because she has to obey God's guidelines for a Biblical parent because she's under God's authority just like he, the boy, is under her and God's authority.

Then, she spanked him (2-3 times, enough to sting and illicit a cry but the marks were gone in like 5 minutes, so not a mean and hard angrily dealt hit), held him while he cried, told him how much she loves him and prays he'll love Jesus and learn to have a heart that loves and serves others as Jesus would, and just basically soothed him without excusing his sin. When he calmed down she gently helped him through asking for forgiveness from God for sinning, and then from her (she forgave him and hugged him and told him she loved him and thanked him for asking for forgiveness). Then she walked him through asking his little brother, having them hug and love each other. Then he was totally fine, for a few hours at least-- he is a 3 year old boy, after all :)

So that did get long, but I like the main principals-- don't focus on behavior, focus on the heart, and the need to obey God because He loves us and wants us to have good, loving relationships and not angry/sad/mean/selfish relationships with others. He's only 3, but I can see him growing up to respect the gravity of his sin, not just pure behavior modification that leads to doing the right thing for the wrong reasons (approval from parents, to get rewards, etc).

So there you go :)

Allison-- I'm going to go watch that video right now!

OK, so yesterday, on my way to the gym (yay!) I was thinking about working out and losing prenancy weight. Nearly all the moms I know (and don't know, but read their stuff) complain about how hard it is to lose the weight. I'm not saying it's easy or that I've done it (I haven't - dangit!), but what I realized is that it's not hard to lose the weight. It's just hard to have self control. If I didn't eat dessert or fatty foods or more calories than I need, and if I worked out every day, then I would probably be back in my pre-preg clothes. But I do eat dessert. And I don't work out every day. And I haven't lost the weight. And I'm not back in my beloved designer jeans. It's a choice...

I'm very glad you're back on the train - or getting back on. I fall off weekly! But it's the getting back on that counts. ANd no diets allowed - because you just end up putting the weight back on once you stop the diet.

Now, if only I could choose to be creative and cook yummy good-for-me foods like Darla apparently does... :)

Thanks for mentioning me by name btw, I feel special!

Oh, and I really am going to reply to your message - promise!

re: exercise
Have you thought about swimming? Or water arobics? I know it seems kinda old lady-ish, but I did one once and it was fun. (and you probably already are thinking this, but just in case...)Don't make excuses about it - it's great exercise and easy on the joints!

re: spanking
Oh, if only more parents did even 1/3 of those steps and techniques when their children need it - how much better the world would be! I've worked with behaviorally disturbed kids and can only imagine how much better of they might have been with decent parents!

re: wedding dilema
I suggest you wear the jeans and a simple top and dress up your head with fun jewelry, fun hair and fun makeup.

Bek,

Ok, I started a reply but I'm just gonna change it to a FB message b/c it's crazy long :)

Molly-

Ok, you are fabulous! Seriously- are you sure you're not another sister that I never had? And when are you moving to Seattle? Because I'm pretty sure you need to.

re:exercise - I really should look back into joining a gym. Financially at this moment it's a no-can-do but once I get going on my nanny job there is no reason why I can't go at least on Mon-Fri, and swimming is something the doctor recommended. But I will look into it.

re: spanking - I agree. The book Shepherding A Child's Heart is completely transforming how I look at parenting and I sit here and wonder how all of the non-Christians / Christians who don't parent like this do it... when you read the book, at least for me, it resonates deeply as not "good" way, or "preferable" way, but THE way to raise godly offspring. A daunting task, to be sure, and I hope I do have few years to prepare, particularly while nannying, but I hope I absorb it and parent that way because I just can't imagine NOT parenting in such a way.

re:wedding - that's a FANTASTIC idea and something like it was at the back of my mind (at least regarding hair/makeup) so I think that is what I will do. You're awesome!!

I really want to say that it amazes me how honest you are in your blog. It REALLY amazes me.