We went LOCO and got a dog..

It only took 10 years of  my husband nagging me plus two years of his recruiting the children to nag and I finally caved agreed.

It started as any other day.  Chaos.  Children whining and fighting.  A mother already in over her head with four children.

Perfect idea to add a dog into the mix, right?

Well, a friend on Facebook was asking for help.  There was a dog at a kill shelter in GA that would be put down the following morning if no one adopted her.

When I saw her picture.. I was convinced she would be our dog.

She looked sweet in the face.. and downright scraggly in the second picture.  But just knowing that she could get a second chance at a family who would absolutely adore her, made me excited.

I called my hubby at work and told him about her.  And that if he were willing, I would call right then and make the verbal commitment to get her.

He said to go for it.

So I did.

After that we had to wait about five days until we got her.  So we prepared.

We got a crate:

Which doubles as a nice stowaway for children..

We also had a family vote for the dog's new name.  In the running was: Lola, Stella and (Eva's suggestion) Passy Gassy.  Stella won by a landslide.  But because we did have one kid fighting for "Lola" we ended up agreeing on "Stella Lola Garcia" and she would be called Stella, and on occasion.. Passy Gassy.

And when we went shopping the night before for toys.. I felt like I was shopping for my children.  I was very excited.

We drove to Montgomery the next day to pick her up at Ashleigh's house:

The kids immediately loved her and Stella did GREAT in the car.

She had her first bath AFTER her first swim in the creek by our house.

She loves all the kids but has attached herself to the oldest, my very own dog whisperer, Jorge.

While it took about three days for her to stop growling at the kids, she has figured out how to get relaxed even in the chaos.

Her favorite respite is her crate. I am very thankful for that.  The kids have learned this is the "no touch" zone.  When Stella is in her crate she is telling us she wants a "time out." 

And of course the couch is her favorite spot.  But so far, she wants to rest ALONE. She happened to get one of the most affectionate families on the planet, but we are patiently accepting that, while she loves rubs and snuggles at her choosing, she prefers to sleep alone.  Maybe one day that will change and we will be begging her to stop laying on us.

Her torture is her own doing.  She simply can NOT stand the kids playing outside without her.  But as a puppy, she doesn't quite get that she can't nip and bite at the kids when they play.  Of course, she is playing as well, but she outweighs all of my children.  So they ask me to bring her in when they plan on running around the yard.  The temptation is too much for her.

The first three days were terrible, for me.  It was more difficult than I imagined, what with having to train FOUR children to leave the dog alone as well as training the dog about her new life here. After all of the difficulty and the daily chewing of everything in the house, she is a sweet dog.. I realize that.  And she is actually a very obedient dog, very willing to please.  And I am very thankful for her willingness to love me even after I've repeatedly gotten on to her.  There is so much we are all learning that there has had to be plenty of grace to go around.

But she is worth it.

She just better stop pooping all over my yard.  I have to clean shoes at least three times a week.

I know, that's wishful thinking.

in which the homeschooler goes to school..

So what is the equation that allows the homeschooler to be enrolled in public school?

              Mom's emotional breakdown + no money for private + child wanting to learn= public school 

Yep, that's about it.  

Four months ago my eldest, Jorge, asked me if he could go to school.  "Why?" I asked.  "Because I can't focus here. And can you make Isaac stop crying so I can finish my math?"

The kid had a valid point.  But I gave him my husbands lawn mowing head phones, industrial strength, and he seemed happy.  

Fast forward four months to two weeks ago.  I had been in denial for about 4 weeks. I was overwhelmed, tired and frustrated.  While the homeschool day had worked with kindergarten it was way harder to pull off now.  I simply could not orchestrate enough consistency and quiet to allow for Jorge any time to learn, especially new concepts.  

Then we got a dog.  

Oh yeah.. that should make me sane.  That is a separate post entirely.  But God used the dog to show me how little I was actually getting accomplished anyway.  The morning of my "aha moment" I had spent two hours dealing with the dog AND I had gotten up early just to make sure that we got school accomplished first thing.  Needless to say, I realized how hard it was to pull this off and I then sat in a crying heap on my couch realizing the obvious: Jorge deserves more.  

Sure, the schooling aspect was going GREAT!  I could teach and he could learn, all day long, if it were just the two of us.  He is such a willing student and a hard worker.  However, it's not just the two of us. I know that there are so many people that are able to pull this thing off, but I was beginning to lose it.  I realized just how tired I had become and, angry.  I was so tired of hollering out at the younger three "Hey, go find something to do!  Anything!! Just please stop interrupting our school time!"  

I wanted so much more for them too.  I wanted to be able to do the "fun" things I was able to do with Alex and Jorge when they were that age.  Like, actually play with them.  I wasn't able to pull that off either.  

So, I called the school to find out what we needed to do to enroll.  

I was serious. 

When my husband came home from work, I ugly cried explained what was up.  He did all he could do to contain his glee and said "I really think this is good.  I think it's going to bring a lot of balance to our home."  He has always been my biggest supporter, but had "suspected that it had gotten harder" for some time.  I wasn't in a good place and he could tell. I am so grateful that he allowed me "my process" and supported me no matter what. 

The original plan was to wait until January, but an educator friend of mine (Shelley) recommended going on and sending him so that the teacher could assess him and start strong in January.  Of course, Jorge was thrilled with that idea.  

So he started December 3rd.  I think the highlight of his life was the fact that he would finally be able to ride the school bus with all the neighborhood children he already knows.  

He woke up at 5am that morning, dressed and ready to go. I was excited too, since I had been in contact with his teacher, Ms. Davis, via email and her excitement curbed some of my anxiety.  

Of course, I mourned as well.  Sadness over not having my sweet leader boy here with us all day. But I knew he would be having fun and thriving!  

On his first day, we took him to school and then he rode the bus home.  Then after that day he would ride to school as well.  I asked the grands to come celebrate his first day!  

                                                                 Here comes the bus! 

                                                            The crowd of supporters!

                                                                     He is so happy!

                                                    Mrs. Christine, our precious neighbor.

                                                                           Nana!

                                                                            Vita!

                                                                          My big boy!

I will say that the second day was harder on me than the first, but we got through.  And now I simply adore 3:35 every day! That's when he comes home.  Of course, he is doing so well and his teacher has had nothing but good things to say.  I am also so proud of him!  He was able to stand up and "do what's right" without me being there!  While on the playground his fourth day, he realized some of the other boys were playing a game of "hurt the girls" and he told them (what he has heard from infancy) "God made you strong to protect girls, not hurt them" and they told him "whatever, we will do what we want."  So Jorge went to the teacher and told her!  My good little "tattle teller!"  Ha!  The best time to "tattle" is when someone is going to get hurt if you don't.  That event was such a great conversation starter for us  (as well as him telling me that one of the boys later sang a song titled "women's boobies, women's boobies"  I was extremely thankful for that conversation as well).  

I am hoping that given a couple of years, I can return to homeschool.  It will continue to be, as it always has been, a year by year review.  

I really appreciate all the support we have gotten.  As I know this issue is very controversial to many.  To us, we are celebrating this season and know that God is in control of ALL.  Praising God that after all these years He is still faithful to teach me and stretch me in the places I tend to think "I'm okay here."  

Part TWO of this series is linked here: My exercise in transparency. 

I"m only HALF crazy!

Well, I did it.  I ran my first half marathon!! And what a fun weekend it was.  

I handed off the kiddos, on Friday, in two different locations (younger two to Tuscaloosa with my younger sister Rachel and the older two with my OLDER sister, Mishka in Montgomery).  

Then, me and the hubs were Pensacola bound!! And an added bonus: our friends Kristen and Jesse were there too!  Kristen is "full crazy" because she was running her first FULL marathon.  Wow! 

So we arrived Friday night and connected with Jesse and Kristen and ate dinner at Pegleg Pete's.  Being sure to start my weekend of "carb loading" (yes, I know it's only for the night before a race and not two days out) I chose to eat this: 

                                                                the grouper sandwich! 

And then we went to get coffee and chat!! 

The next morning I awoke to this view from our hotel room: 

Then we did a laid back 2 mile run to loosen up the legs for Sunday. And then we went to breakfast.  Y'all, only a picture will do justice to show what I ate.  

I eat the same, if not more, than a grown man.  I said I wouldn't eat the pancake but I ended up eating half.  Again, carb loading. Right? 

Then we went to pick up our packets.. and drive the course. 

*It should be noted that everyone was fine driving the course, until we veered off to follow the marathon route.  Everyone kept commenting on how boring it was to drive this route. LOL.  And poor Kristen was the only one "manning up" to run it.  26.2 miles is a loooong run.  (like I said, I'm only half crazy.. at this point).  

So then Jorge and I headed back over to the beach to get the necessary beach pics: 

                                     

 Ahh.. it was refreshing.  I loved being able to just have some "us" time.  Then we headed back to Mollie's house (who was hosting us Saturday night) in time for some yummy pasta (more carbs, YAY) and unfortunately, a terrible Alabama football game.

Then it was time for an early bedtime and an earlier wake up call.  It was 4:30 when my alarm went off letting me know it was time to stuff my face with a cream cheese bagel sitting beside my bed.  Then roll over and try to go back to sleep.  The final alarm going off was at 5:10.  Time to get ready.

Much to my chagrin, we arrived by 5:45 and in time to use one of these:

(thank you hubby for yelling "GOOD LUCK, BABE" for everyone to hear). 

Then it was time to go stand in line and wait: 

                                                    (it was a wee bit chilly, even for Pcola) 

                                       (it got a bit more bearable and then it was racing time)

And then off we went.  Me for the 13.1 and Kristen for the 26.2!! 

                                                  (in the second mile.. still smiling..)

And then I did it!! I finished.  13.1 in 2:02.  I'll admit it.  I was really hoping that I'd finish in under two hours but when I hit a wall at the 10 mile mark (my foot was hurting..among other things) I was just so glad that I finished.  When I ran my 10k last weekend I was on pace to finish in under 2 but like I said, I slowed down at the end and couldn't get it back.  But needless to say, I have no regrets! Just another reason to train harder!  

I also had a nasty chaffing spot under my arm so I had the pleasure of getting that "taken care of": 

And you better believe I took advantage of the free massages:  

And My gal Kristen wanted to finish her first marathon in under 4 hours.  And that girl finished in 3:57!!! 

I have to say: this was an insanely fun weekend! A getaway with my hubs, a run with a sweet friend and lots of CARBS!!!

Lets not talk about how sore I was for the first 24 hours.  And that I am totally gonna run another half soon!  I got two minutes I need to beat!!

A special thanks again to my awesome hubby for so proudly supporting me and telling me over and over how proud he was of me.  For my sisters, Mishka and Rachel for braving children and loosing sanity so that we could go.  To Mollie for hosting us and making us laugh. And to Kristen for being an amazing coach and running partner (and friend)!! And Jesse for showing us how to run with a jacket!!

Now I am asking myself the obvious next question:

Who knows.  I have no plans at the moment.

Any races y'all are running?

Random thoughts..

1.  Cooler weather secures my spending ways as I will gladly keep buying new bags of socks to replace the ones I refuse to look for.  Four kids and missing socks= insanity.

2.  You may call me a feminist if your definition is "one who looks on the division of labor in the home as 'see a need, fill a need- regardless of your anatomy.'"

3.  I am evermore convinced that there is no such thing as "getting caught up on laundry."  We are all "behind" at least 4-10 loads at any given point in time.

4.  You are not classified as a "mexican restaurant" if I ask you for cilantro for my taco's and you say you don't have any.

5.  I can see that a big cause for so much tension among Christians is because some seem to take some issues way more seriously than others'.  And feel that those "others" need to feel the same way as they do.  Creates a terrible outcome over and over again.

6.  The GNO (girls night out) is not about "getting away to refresh my spirit so that I can come home more calm, relaxed and ready to lovingly approach my children."  No, the GNO is solely to keep me from snapping on my children or as my sister M said "one more step away from the looney bin."  It does not, I repeat, does not mean I will come back a different person than when I left, it means I will delay the evolving into the monster I don't want to become if I were to stay.

7.  I hate that counting calories doesn't work like rollover minutes: the ones I didn't consume today can be used tomorrow.  Especially since I plan on not working out AND eating a ginormous cheeseburger.

8.  My kids made a song about butts being on fire.  I am trying to remember that they will embarrass their own children one day.  THEN it will be cute.

9. Will it be awkward when I get to heaven and see some of my legalist brothers and sisters in Christ eating dinner with people they NEVER thought would "make it?"

 10.  I think I may lose more friends over my support for Rachel Held Evans than my participation in Halloween.

We like to think we are WILD!

So my hubby signed us up for the Warrior Dash.  We ran it. It was muddy.  It was cold.  And it was completely AWESOME!

Here we are just starting out.. a mile in, is my guess.  We were still dry. 

We are no longer dry.  Just had to swim through that creek behind us, walk across the platform and jump back in and swim to the bank.  It was cold. 

Did I mention there was fire? It was awesome.  Although, I didn't realize there was a camera. 

My husband, on the other hand, performed nicely for the camera.  I love that man. And his amazing legs. 

And to finish we had to swim under barbwire through a pool of mud water.  Here we are about to cross the finish line.  3.1 miles of pure fun (and insanely steep muddy hills). 

I highly recommend finding a race near you.  I was very thankful that my sweet husband decided to race "with"me because he surely could have finished at least 5 minutes before the time we had.  But even with our slower race time (hello 10 obstacles), we finished in the top 21% out of 4800 racers for the day.  

Pure awesome!

Next up for me: my Half-marathon race in Pensecola on November 11th!  I am super excited!! 13.1 miles.. here I come!

My parenting book: "Im just as messed up as you."

Recently, I had a friend ask me for book referrals for parenting books.

I cringe at the thought.  

Oh I know, to some this is a shock. I used to live by making all my opinions known and most of them were well versed in LAW.  That means that they generally left you feeling completely lacking.  And not because I had arrived as a parent. I just set up this standard that was pretty difficult to reach.  For myself included. But that didn't stop me from being a good little pharisee.  Because remember, Pharisee's can't see how they themselves don't measure up because they are too busy watching everyone else.. and making the rules.

So back to cringing.

Of course I haven't read any books recently on parenting.  And I haven't read any in the past that I would EVER recommend.  Also, this is a HUGE trigger for me.  Anything with my parenting, in the past, caused me to feel humiliated.  Inadequate.  Depressed.

And then God transformed my life with something called: HIS GRACE.

Not just in the area of my own walk with Him. But in my understanding of control.  And how little I actually have.  Especially as it relates to the choices of my children.  Even the young ones.

So with this in mind, I desire to send out some encouragement to you moms out there in the blogosphere.  Step right up and gawk at the ridiculous transparency that I will try to use to help you feel less awkward, humiliated, inadequate and depressed.  Because the title of my parenting book, should I ever write one, would be titled: "Parenting 101: I'm just as messed up as you are."

So take a deep breath and read along to the "how to's" of my *new and improved* parenting philosophy.  (SPOILER: if you are hoping for quick anecdotes on behavioral issues.. that is NOT this post).


1. Face it: your kids are maniacs. 
For the first five years of my parenting journey I was angry.  ALL the time.  When my kids spilled something, it made me mad. When my kids fought, I got mad.  When my kids smeared poop on every flipping surface, I got mad.  When they looked right in my eyes and told me, "NO!!!!", I got mad.  When my kids threw a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store, I got mad.  You get the point.  There was not much that they could do that would actually make me happy.  In fact, I think I vaguely remember a blog post in which I told everyone to go look at pics of their kids to remind them how much they truly do love their kids.  Craziness.  Here is what I thought those first five years:  "These kids are not supposed to be like this.  They are supposed to be polite and not wopp each other on the head. They are not supposed to be rough.  They are supposed to be quiet and talk only when appropriate.  Why do they have to be crazy?"

Ya see, I had this idea that if I told them something one time, they should do it (or vice versa).  I didn't realize that I am dealing with four INDIVIDUALS with INDIVIDUAL WILLS.  They make their own choices and it isn't a reflection on my parenting.  I was angry all the time because I thought that their behavior was ALWAYS a direct result of somewhere I was lacking. Or slacking.  And heaven forbid I actually take into consideration the ages and emotional maturity of each of my children before I go expecting perfection major leaps in one single bound.

Let me sum it up. All kids will do everything at least once.  NEVER say, "my kids would never." That pretty much guarantees it will be done and with incredible execution.  Your kids are doing what kids do: act a fool.  And our job isn't to make them good, sit still, stop talking and generally just sit there looking like dolls (although, I do try).  No, our goal is to help them see that their choices have certain consequences.    And that no matter what they do, they are deeply loved.  To their core.  Because that's how God loves. And that's our goal.  To learn how to accept that from God ourselves and give that gift to our children.  Therefore my biggest fear in life isn't about how my children behave in life.. it's whether they reject God's GRACE and LOVE for their own life.

Well, you do have the job of keeping them from hurting themselves long enough to reach an age where it sinks in.

2. God LOVES you..even when you throw a tantrum. 
This is the continuation of #1.  When you understand that you yourself are broken and make foolish choices (umm.. don't ask me about how much I yell) and then you consider how much you are LOVED, it changes your approach to parenting.  No longer am I hell bent on making them good.  Well because, honestly, I'm not that good myself.  I am the genius that does the classic, "STOP YELLING AT EACH OTHER AND CALLING EACH OTHER NAMES..   (muffled...you terrible brats...muffled...)."  Yeah. Exactly.  I have now become the "do as I say, not as I do" idiot.  But if I can recognize that I fail, and often, and tell that to my children.. they get to see the example of forgiveness and God's love.  He loves even me.

Bottom line: once that message sinks in.. it starts to seep through to your kids, and to other's in your life. You start to realize that we are all pretty much the same: broken people with a desperate need to know the love God has for us.  For me, it's finally starting to sink in that my children and I are on the same "playing field."  I just happen to have more experience with  bad choices life.  Then I am reminded that this is my goal as a parent.  To help my children see that they are never beyond the reach of that same GRACE.

3.  Comparing kills brain cells. 
If you have an enemy it's definitely in the comparison game.  For me it's the mom out in public with her kids.  They all seem to be walking quietly alongside their mom.  The children talk quietly as they interact with each other.  When asked to do something they respond with a quick "yes ma'am."

Oh yeah.. then I look over at my rugrats and think, "geez, this bunch would NEVER do that."  And then the self hatred begins, or WORSE, the angst toward my own children.

But this scenario could go one of three ways:
1.  That mom just used every last vocal cord she has threatening her children, before entering the store, that if they so much as breathe the wrong way they will pay for it once they get home. Oh, and they won't get dinner.
2.  Those kids are acting.  They know that if they obey long enough to get home they can act a fool and  mom will be happy.
3.  (and the more likely one). The kids, mom and all the universe are having a good day.  Something has clicked and the kids are deciding to live in harmony for five minutes and the mom sees that she doesn't really have to threaten (today).  The very same kids may choose to "act a fool" a different day, but we won't see it.  And that mom may decide to scream frantically on another shopping day, but alas, we won't see that either.

Bottom line: If I compare my bad day to every one's good day.. I will certainly be disappointed.  The next time you see a mom with all her "ducks in a row" you can say to yourself, "wow.. so that's a good day, huh?"  She has not arrived and neither have her children. In fact, she could probably talk your ear off about her own self-hatred.  The good news is that comparison can stop with GRACE.  And remembering that you have good days too.  And as your children get older you get more and more of those successes.  So much so, that the fight becomes trying to remember from that whence you came.

4.  No one asked your opinion. Even if it's right. 
So now you've had a good day (or more) and you feel validated.  Your little parenting belt is getting a good stroke (if you've forgotten #2) and so now you are on to conquering helping other moms' kid conundrums.

But here is the problem.  No one has asked you to take on that battle.  So instead of heaping grace on a mom, it comes out as judgement.  And insanely prideful, even if you don't intend it to.  Don't believe me? Ask me how I know. I used to do it to mom's all the time.  Here is the conversation low down after a friends child is throwing a fit:

Friend: Ugh.. I just don't understand what is wrong today.  He just isn't grasping that he can't just keep asking me the same thing over and over again.
Me: Yeah.. I know what you mean.  Mine do that too (see, I"m off to a good start... )
Friend: I mean, how many times do I have to keep repeating the same thing? (this is meant to be rhetorical, btw).
Me: Yeah.. mine did that and then I started having to say "If you ask me again, I will tell you no and you won't get to play" so that he would learn the consequence of continually asking me when I've given an answer.

DOH.  I just did it. I coached her on parenting and didn't even realize it.  She didn't ask me for my answer to the situation.  Even if it worked.  It doesn't matter.  What she could have used was a little bit of GRACE.. not a little bit of instruction.  I could have left it at her last response. Let her rest in the tension and then if it felt like the right time I could have said something like, "Ugh. it is really rough some days."

Now, if she had asked about my stellar parenting ideals, then I have every freedom to share my insights.  As long as I can hang on to myself and remember that I have not arrived.  And maybe throw in a few example of how I've failed. And often.


...to be continued...

What are your thoughts so far?  Do any of these points strike you as urgent?

An evolution in exercise..

This time last year (August, actually) I started a "Couch2-5k" training program.  I had never run farther than my back yard and about died the first time I had to run for one minute.. continuously.

In fact, I was 15 lbs heavier.  So running was difficult for several reasons.  I was out of shape and ready to give it a try.

So by October (2011) I was done with the training and ready to run my first 5k (3.1 miles).  Here I am right before the start: 

I made my goal.  I finished, and with a pretty good time (31 minutes).  

Unfortunately, I lost all desire to run again.  In fact, I lost all desire to do anything.  

So fast forward to February 2012.  

I had had enough.  I was ready to get fit.  Four kids and lots of excuses later.. I was done.  So I started with the "Lose It" app.  on my phone (and computer).  This motivated me to watch what I ate and to actually ENTER in exercises.  We renewed our membership to our local YMCA and I was set.  

Starting in May I decided to start training for a triathlon.  I didn't have a bike, so I focused on working on learning to swim (at least the proper technique).  By July, I was able to swim 2 miles (in 70 minutes).  

Last week I had a new "first."  My friend Kristen (who is training for a marathon) asked me to run some 400m sprints with her.  Speed drills, she said. Like an idiot, I said yes.  While I hated it toward the end, I LOVED it when we finished.  I felt great.  I didn't feel any faster (haha), but I knew it would help me later.  

all sweaty after the sprinting. 

And then today, I ran 6 miles.  I know that seems like it's not a lot for some, but for me it's HUGE.  Especially when this time last year I could barely run for one minute without needing a breather.  Today, I ran for 61 minutes.  And then I came home and mapped out my next run: 8 miles.  And even though I know that it will be a killer goal for me, I am super excited to do my best.  

I'll have to keep you posted on the triathlon.  The "not having a road bike" is really holding me up.  But  I will continue my training.  And I may actually run a half marathon (13.1 miles) by the end of the year.  

I am just amazed.  Not only did I lose weight.. but I can now say that I am "fit."  And I feel it.  And at 34.. I am loving it!  

Do you have any fitness goals you are training for?  Tell me, so I can get some good ideas! 

The Food Wars

I woke up this morning and opened up Facebook.

In my news feed were pictures like this:

Now there is NOTHING wrong with the food pictured above.  In fact, I love it.  I've lost a good bit of weight recently (and still losing, at least that's the goal).  However, today struck a nerve.

I realized that, while I do have a few food snob friends that would NEVER admit to eating junk, most people don't post the food that they eat that is junk.

So I updated my status with: "You know all those pictures people post of all their healthy foods they are eating? Not that Im against that or anything.. but why not post the junk food too? Lets keep it real for erbody. So, if you eat junk today, will you take a pic and post it?? You can even tag me in it."




Here are some of the pics I got (some of these were googled, because I couldn't transfer the actual photos from my phone from texts from friends). 

This is mine.  And my Diet "toxins." 

My goal was twofold:  for people to be able to actually admit that it's okay to be themselves.  If you eat healthy all the time, that's great.  But if you are like most of the general population, sometimes you enjoy some junk.  And there is no shame in that! Then the discussion turned more philosophical (which I truly enjoy).  


"or post when you don't exercise or you gain weight? Facebook is for the most part just a bragging machine- a way to boost self-esteem and I know I am as guilty as anybody and that is being real" -Melissa


"I think it comes down to the fact that most people don't know how to relate to someone that isn't like them or doesn't do things the way they do. It permeates every part of our lives: parenting, religion, sexual orientation, food, birth, politics.., the list is endless. We have to get to the point where we can find something in common with the person who seems even the most unlike us. And then we won't be so worried about what they do that annoys/angers/shocks us."-me


"So this raises several points that I've long observed: (1) People forget facebook really isn't a private medium even with the (ever changing) privacy settings. Anything posted on the internet goes somewhere and is stored on someone else's servers that may or may not forever be secure. (2) For the 'friends' that post aggressively antagonistic comments, you have to wonder if they would say these things to your face in person. If they would, great, I have no problem with them posting it on facebook. If, however, they wouldn't, I think this becomes an example of how folks feel safer in their opinions when the internet provides the facade of anonymity. Ok, I'm going back to eating my junk food now. :)" - Joi


" ‎Joi you are right on both accounts. There seems to be some alternate reality that some live through on facebook. But as most things, I think a lot of it comes back to issues of the heart. When a person feels it's best to persuade someone else to their opinion by being overly critical of that persons opinion. Or showing them how they themselves do it so much better. However, the error began at the thought that you could change someone else's opinion. No matter how much you tell me that fast food is bad for me it will not change my love of it. Now, I am smart enough to realize that if I want to lose weight and get fit.. I have to limit my intake of said food. But at the end of the day you can't change my philosophy: I like junk food. So no matter how many photos of "kale and turnips" someone posts on their facebook page, it won't change how I feel about fast food. Do I know that it's not healthy, or the healthiest, yes. But I am not trying to tell them to stop eating Kale because it has no taste (to me). The bottom line.. rest in the tension that everyone has to walk in their own shoes and trust the Lord with their process. If they want to lose weight, they will likely figure out how to make that happen. But it's about balance. In everything. And sadly, this whole thesis applies to every other topic I listed earlier in this thread. At the end of the day a person wants to be loved no matter the choices they make." -me


I think the point here is to chill out and let people be where they are.  And also remember: Social media is not reality.  Ever. 


What are your thoughts??