Thank you Mags, Holly and Ginny. It has really been an eery feeling in this little town to go through their little
neighborhood and most of you know when Charles and I married 31 years ago Grove Park was where we lived and then
moved over here about 23 years ago. Always the children
walked to school, including mine on this same route. I
have never been able to figure out how this happened. I
guess it was a random thing. Maybe the city can start to heal a bit; I know it will be a long time before her mommy
does.

Guys, there are so many new members on the new blog. That
is so exciting.

Oh Phyllis, I'm praying for her mom and for all of you in Orange Park. Your whole community must feel violated, well thank God this man is no longer out there. Little Somer will be the angel that will help her mom. Hugs. Ginny

Phyllis,
This story has made me cry so many times, so glad he was found..I can only imagine how sad this has been for the whole town and how it's impacted you all.. Many prayers for the family..

**Holly**

Thanks for the update Phyllis, and the family will certainly remain in my prayers.
Margaret:)

Guys, if you haven't heard, an arrest was made of a 24-yr.
old man in the Somer Thompson case. She was the little girl killed on the way home from school and later found in
a Ga. landfill. She was from our small town of Orange Park.
Evidently the man was living with roommates in Callahan,
another very small town outside Jax, and his roommates
found things that made them think he was linked and turned
him in. Detectives and police were in OP all last night
and it was determined that he had lived for a short time
with his parents, who have now vacated the house. It was
on the path from Somer's school.ents. This has been so sad, so traumatic and has impacted this town so much. I
hope this is over. Guys, I felt I needed to bring
this up; so many of you were praying about this and want-
ing to know if anything had ever happened. We can really
keep her mother and family in our prayers. She still will have so much to go through.

Ginny, you always know when to write. What a wonderful
tradition with that little music box. That is the sweetest
thing. Yes, I, too don't mind a good blizzard. The last
one I was in was the Christmas before Geoff moved from Ct.
back to Florida and then had Si the next year. Pauline was
coming to Jax to spend Christmas with her mom and Geoff was going to be all alone in CT., unable to get off work.
So, I flew up and the two of us had the best, whopsided,
two Aquarians, and two dogs and one kitty, Christmas you
have ever seen. Geoff is very intellectual but just has
enough of me to be very precocious at times. He cracks me up because of his personality. Anyway, it said on the news that night that this could be the worst blizzard to hit New England since the Blizzard of l965 which made NE and New York black for 3 or 4 days. So, of course, I came downstairs Christmas morn and announced to Geoff hat "this is no blizzard, Son. I was in that one in l965. That was a blizzard." It's always worse when you look back!!!
Well, we walked to the park with the doggies and he loaned me a pair of his l0 1/2 sneakers and he couldn't find any clean heavy socks so he gave me a pair he had already worn and off we went.Didn't bother me a bit! I love a good snowstorm, too. Love, phillie

Hi everybody,
I missed last week's meeting and I went on line for last nights and nothing. Did something happen or a different way to get to the meeting? I have been keeping track of everything I eat and down about 14lbs since I started. Still a long way off from my finish but hope to be down to below 190 by the end of Feb.
Love to all
Sue (suezq86)

Hi Phyllis, and I just love that we're replacing negative words with Cute, and how about Diva? I have to tell you Phyll, once I'm snuggled in at home, I LOVE a good storm, and the other night I waited & waited, nothing. The little it snowed in the afternoon didn't stick...well maybe 3 or 4 flakes! Schools were closed, businesses closed early, we were ready, now the Cape was a different story. I think Mike and I would be good Storm Chasers, when we have an unusally high tide, and the waves are crashing over the wall, we are there! Happy Birthday to Geoff and you! I do the same thing when it's my daughter's birthday, I call her at 9:36pm on December 6th and sing to her! We also have this tiny music box that we send back & forth to each other on our birthdays which you wind, and it plays happy birthday. You are such a loving mom, your children have been blessed with such a dear mother. Hugs to you. love Ginny

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is having a great OP day.

I'm doing ok with my healing...my pain pump has run out, so my pain is a little more now. Also, TOM started the day before surgery and I was forced to wear pads, which I never do and hate...blah...and of course I had an allergic reaction to the sticky tape on the pads...Yea...so now I have raised welts down there...telling this story sounds like a comedy show. The doctor has me using topical Benadryl cream along with taking oral Benadryl. It's always something isn't it...lol Oh yeah...I still have my beautiful Michelon Man hands...I need to take a picture of them so I can look back and remember this moment...just the hands, not the rear...hehe!

Congrats to all our losers this week.

Good luck to everyone weighing in today.

God Bless,

Kara-Lee

Current total weight loss 173.4lbs
33lbs left to lose
Goal Weight 105lbs

Mags and I have been sending valentines all morning and
I want to wish everyone a wonderful, happy Valentine's
Day. Love Phyllis

Kara-Lee, I have been thinking about you all day. Hope
you are feeling okay; sometimes the 2nd and third days
are the toughest. Love and Hugs.

Jillie, that is a great idea and brings to mind something
Ginny and I have mentioned lately: We would probably feel
so good about eating, say a carrot with hummus, celery with
tsp. of PB2, ... that we would not want to inhibit that feeling. I asked Gin the other day, why would we want to
lose that sense of well-being from eating on program, for
something that will make us feel so guilty, so out of con-
trol, etc. Of course, that plays right into what we've
learned, if we do have a temporary "fall out of the race
car" moment. it's just that: Temporary!

Having said that Jillsie, I am looking up Kim's desserts from last night and writing you before you go to the store!

Sonya, how cool is that?:) your hubby AND Jeff Gordon?:)!Margaret:)

Good morning everyone. I just got back from my WW meeting and I gained. This week has been filled with so many ups and downs and I thought I was doing so well. I will not let this gain hold me back. I am pulling in for a Nascar pit stop, I am putting four fresh tires on and will be ready to get after it again this week.

I think that is why I love this group. I can come here and even though I have a bad week, you all understand but most importantly you will encourage me to get right back on track.

Sunday should be an awesome day. I get to spend the first part of the day it with my husband and then I get to spend the other half of it with the other "love" of my life, Nascar and Jeff Gordon.

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day.
Sonya

Morning Kimmies:) Hope all is well out there for you wherever you are. My exercise has been ok this week, but what I'm actually eating is a little less so. That is just one thing my mind and attitude haven't completely got hold of yet--again. Any prayers you could send up for me--and for anyone else going thru the same thing, I know would be greatly greatly appreciated.:)

Phyllis, thanks for your kind words, about me as a mom, and about Hunter. That's very sweet of you. And nice to hear.

Margaret:)

TGIF everybody! hope everybody is going to have a wonderful weekend. we have rain here in florida right now.

xoxox
Tammy

Jill, MANY MANY THANKS!!! That is an AWESOME and very helpful idea! I really want to try this! And as you said...if I finally would eat the chocolate or what ever, I ate 10 good things before and that is something which my mind can work and I´m ok with. And who knows...it could be that I don´t want the chocolate anymore. Thank you for your help! XOXOXO

I want to thank everybody here for being so wonderful and letting me vent...it really hepls to have somebody to vent to...besides my husband of course. (he's ALWAYS here for my venting and tears).

Phyllis - I guess ya'll made news again tonight with the taking into custody of that 24 year old male.

Sorry had to miss the meeting AGAIN...had to work of course...sigh! Hope everybody is having a wonderful week.

Tammy

Angel's post reminded me of a little trick I read about a long time ago to help with the wanting to eat more than you have planned or when you're really craving something that's not a good choice for pt/cals. If you really want, let's say a candy bar -- you put it at the bottom of your "food list". Before the candy bar, however, you list 10 items that you have to eat BEFORE you're allowed to have that candy bar. The 10 items must be very low pt/cals. -- like a handful of carrots, an apple, etc. -- even a cup of hot tea or 20 cal. hot cocoa -- but you have to have 10 items on this list and the 11th item is the one thing you're craving and/or trying to avoid. Then you must eat your way down the list ---- hopefully before you get to the bottom, you'll be full, have to go to the store to buy something on your list, or just plain bored with the whole idea and are willing to forget trying to make it to the bottom! I've tried it in the past and it works -- but like I typed earlier, I sort of forgot about this --- you might give it a try and if you do make it down to the actual candy bar - and you do eat the candy bar -- you've still had 10 good for you, healthy items first! It may sound like it's teaching you to eat --- but it also teaches you to try healthy items first when you have a craving. It's more like a last ditch effort -- we should try all our other tools first to try and forget about the candy bar. But if that candy bar is going to be eaten - it has to get in line and wait it's turn! More food for thought --- some it might help - others it might not -- for the person who had shared this idea, it was working very well --- she hardly ever ate her 11th item.

Jill

Gloria, yes the meeting is at 8:00 tonite. see you then!!

I am not defined by the numbers on the scale.
Gloria T.

Is there a meeting tonight? The schedule shows the next meeting as February 18.

hi :)

currently I begin work at 6 a.m. and leaving not until 5 p.m. every day. Two of my colleagues are on holiday and one of them is back next week. This stress is not good for my food decisions. I bought M&M´s today...the big pack...and a chocolate croissant yesterday and today which I tried to forget with the big salat in the evening, but it doesn´t help...and I hate it to look into the mirror and see my double chin :(. I have the feeling as I´m blowing up like a balloon...*peng*!

kara-lee, I´m so happy that you are ok and back again! :))

Hi Kara, so glad you are on here and know you must be a
little out of it, even tho you don't sound a bit like it.
So glad your mom is there. I was just talking to Patti and
we are both so glad you are doing so well. You are amazing, but I know you have planned this for so long and that is why you are going to do so well. How are Lauren
and Ryleigh doing? Write when you can, we want to be here
with you through all we can. love p

Good Afternoon,

I hope everyone is having a great OP day.

I'm still taking it easy...I have been up moving around some per doctor's orders. My pain pretty controlled with the pain pump, tylenol, ice and pain pills. I'm not taking to many pain pills, because they always make me sick. I have doctor's appt. with nurse next Wednesday to take out some the sutchers from my chest, and then two more appts on the following Wednesdays to get the sutchers out of my arms...Yeah! My mom is here for another week and Darrin has next week off also...so things are very good for now.

I can't wait for tonights meeting...see everyone there.

Congrats to all our loser's this week.

Good luck to everyone weighing in today!

God Bless,

Kara-Lee

Current total weight loss 173.4lbs
33lbs left to lose
Goal Weight 105lbs

Hi Mary Angel, glad you slipped in here on blog sounding
so upbeat. See you tonight, sweet girl! love p

Tammy, we will be there for you every step of the way
keeping you in our love and prayers. I have heard so
much (in my real estate business that has been so stressed)
of wonderful people like you who have lost their jobs, homes, have taken lesser jobs (like you did) and it is
the most challenging period I believe I have ever seen
at my advanced age! One thing you have in abundance and
that is courage. Your heart is so big and you are there
for people when you yourself are down. We love you!

Holly, I love your family -- and all the animals. You know
how I love animals. This seems to me to be just the perfect life for you. I bet those kids are all into helping you, and I can just picture it. You are such a
go-getter, no wonder you look like you do! I sure hope
your precious husband doesn't have a long deployment cim-
ing up. Love and a big Hug!

Glo, just kick that voice right of your head and remember
PREVENTION MAGAZINE (Jillie and I love this magazine) says
that a brownie is a MUFA meal and is good for you. XO
Our Kim and our Kimmies Group have taught me that we can
do this.

Kara-Lee, I can't believe you wrote us, but thank the
Lord above you did and you are okay. I'm with Ginny,
you are such am inspiration to us all. Proof what can be done. Actually, girl, YOU NEED TO WRITE A BOOK! lOVE and
if you feel like it, we'll see you tonight...

Sonya, Wow, you are such a star! We are honored you told
us even before your office. That has got be one challenging job and you have been rewarded for your
amazing qualities. We sure do love you!

First, Magsie, I am getting ready to call you, as you know,
but let me brag on your Hunter for a moment. Guys, Hunter
just wrote a paper about education that as I read it my mind began to search for people who would really understand
and appreciate it. Its words reflected my feelings that
I, personally, have never been able to convey. Somehow
Hunter expressed all that having an education could mean,
and not just doors opened, but within your own self. This young man is so remarkable, and I know I am biased, but Mags is one of the best moms I have ever known. Hunter is only l6 and has contributed so much, even at church, when he was chosen to be youth pastor and his sermon was dynamite! I can't brag enough about him; and he's a regular teen with an adorable girlfriend and everything! Love you, Magsie.

Phyllis, what a SWEET thing to say about Geoff:)
Margaret:)