Failing Math

Good morning, Siestas! How has your week been? Ours has been good. We had our last night of Bible study on Tuesday and it was a strong finish. In fact, I think it may have been my favorite lesson I’ve ever heard my mom teach. At the end there was a very special display of affection for Beth from our attendees and I teared up at least three times thinking about it. Lots of our buddies from LifeWay were visiting from Nashville and we loved having them there.

Afterward we had a little ice cream party for everyone who worked so hard to make Bible study possible this semester. It was catered by Tasti D-lite, which I knew nothing about until this week. I only let myself have two bites because I’ve been on a diet since March. Come to find out, the ice cream was really low in fat and calories and now I’m kicking myself for not eating the whole thing! I’m just going to have to pay their store a visit soon.

All this diet business came about because of some very stubborn baby weight that would not come off – even when I was running several mornings a week! I was determined not to have to change my eating habits, but I finally got desperate. Making these changes has been difficult, but it’s actually been a lot easier than feeling bad about the extra weight. As of yesterday I had lost ten pounds. I really can’t believe I did it, y’all! If anyone else out there is working on something similar, know that you are not alone and that you and the Lord can do it. (I’ve been doing Weight Watchers and have been very pleased with it. For my WW friends, that ice cream was only 2 points!)

We’ve been planning a picture-filled post to recap our trip to the Dallas, but your blog administrator (that’s me) hasn’t yet gotten the hang of posting pictures and text simultaneously. WordPress is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. Thankfully, I have a helper and she is going to give me a tutorial soon.

When I was in school – from about fourth grade until college graduation – I hated math. Most other subjects came pretty easily to me if I studied, but when I looked at fractions or graphs or equations, it was like my eyes bugged out. I would constantly say to my friends, “I’m failing math!” Actually, I usually had a B, but it felt like failure. This is a very unfortunate character trait (flaw) that I have, but I just hate doing anything that I’m not reasonably good at. Since we moved the blog to WordPress, I feel like I’m constantly walking around saying, “I’m failing math! I’m failing math!” It all boils down to pride, pride, pride. When this is all said and done, I pray the fruit will be a more professional blog and a more humble me.

Well, I started this post with the intention of doing a giveaway, but we’ll just wait until next week. My sweet baby is under the weather, so I’m going to go minister the Tylenol and take advantage of her snuggliness. Have a great weekend, Siestas!

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155 Responses to “Failing Math”

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Comments:

  1. 101
    Lindsey E. says:

    I just finished up The Fruit of the Spirit bible study, by your mom. And on the last session she talks about self control. I was STRUCK DOWN with conviction! I hate it when she does that to me.. or I should say God does that to me. LOL 🙂 I am trying, oh so hard, to cut back on sweets and well.. just plain junk! I love when I read the LPM Blog and feel like it was written just for me! I am going to push forward with it and get this 5 or 10 lbs out of the way so I can just be done with it! Keep up the good work Amanda!!! You go girl! 😉

  2. 102

    Congrats on the 10 lbs! Honey, when you are approaching 40, it takes weeks just to lose 5 and then you can gain it back in one meal. Don’t ask how I know this.

    And, if you figure out how to post multiple pictures on WP at one time, please let me know! I despise there isn’t a bulk photo uploader included. But, I do love the rest of the WP platform..

    Hope you girls had a great weekend!

  3. 103
    Valerie says:

    Congratulations on losing 10 pounds! You looked great in the Easter pictures.
    It’s so hard isn’t it? I love to eat and am trying to cut portions. You wouldn’t know it by what I ate for lunch yesterday. (see yesterday’s blog post) :/
    I’m sure you’ll have WordPress down in no time. It took me a few times on here to know if my comment was going through and then I actually added a picture all on my own.
    I’m praying your baby girl feels better real soon.
    Have a great week!
    Love,
    Valerie

  4. 104
    WisGalinOkee says:

    Hello Amanda – a quick CHOCOLATE and very tasty treat is — Take a German Chocolate Cake mix and find some Canfield’s Diet Chocolate Soda. One can of soda, add to the cake mix and stir. ( I have tried different flavors of cake and different Diet Sodas — but this one is the BEST) Anyway, fill in 24 cupcakes — and 1 pt. a cupcake!! I love WW! Lost about 27 pounds some 6 years ago – but have enjoyed stress too much and chocolate and I turned 40 — so, about 13 of that is back. I went spring clothes shopping today — sick of my closet. Spent 30 min. trying on stuff — ‘I know where the 13 pounds are as the gain back has NOT caused me to get new clothes — stuff just shifted’. Anyway, I had been thinking I needed to sign up again for meetings for WW and now I know I will!
    Michelle
    Okeechobee, Florida
    44

  5. 105

    Oh, man. I have that same pride problem (and unfortunately, my middle daughter has inherited it!). Thanks for the gentle, convicting words.

    And wanting to shed a few pounds w/o changing what I eat? I’m still there, but fading quickly. I had such a beautiful metabolism for over 30 years. I should be thankful for that, buck up, and start eating right.

  6. 106
    Betty says:

    Last week’s Bible study was a great blessing! I was in tears seeing the study come to an end but filled with great joy to say Ebenezer, Thus far has the LORD helped us. I have to say, I refused to completely finish my homework…I didn’t want for it to finish! Last night I finally made my self finish my homework…”it has come to an end! Finish it!”, I kept telling myself. I felt like a child refusing to come inside to bathe when playing outside. It’s so much fun to play outside with the kiddos.

    Biblical Sound doctrien makes me happy!

    My homework has been finished but my desire to have a heart like His has continued ever so fervently.

    May the Lord keep Beth and all the LPM team in grace and favor. May His face shine upon ya’ll.

  7. 107
    Betty78 says:

    Amanda…you look great! You never looked as if you need to lose weight! Congratulations on the weight lost…

  8. 108
    Kim B. says:

    AMANDA!
    Your words about WW were an encouragement to this “Failing WW’s” Gal’s heart! I have not been obedient the past few weeks (even missed a weigh in!), but THIS WEEK is REDEMPTION WEEK! Praise the Lord and pass me a carrot stick!

    Thank you Amanda, for the shout out about fighting the fight to lose the LB’s!
    I’m standing in the gap for you and will now remember to pray for you too every week when I weigh in! Rock On!

    I help my clients every week to LET GO of all the excess in their homes and offices and lives (I’m a Professional Organizer), but I am struggling to cheer my own self on to letting go of the excess that is sticking to my hips! Go figure? But YOU have encouraged me today. And your sweet Mama encourged me HUGE this weekend in Tampa to hang in there with my family! What an annointing time it was at Idlewild Baptish Church! Powerful!

    And today I have a Holy Hangover.

    BTW, how do we get our pictures attached in this new WORDPRESS Blog?

  9. 109
    Brandee says:

    It was a great last lesson for “A Heart Like David’s”! 🙂 Such a sweet memory for me. Many blessings as you transition to the new blog system…just want you to know it’s a blessing to read the words and hear the hearts of you ladies on this site.

  10. 110
    Siesta Mary from MN says:

    Dear Amanda,
    I am so glad to hear I’m not the only one to this day who hates math. Fractions always made me crazy. I’m sorry to hear your little muffin is under the weather. Just an FYI, if she ever has a bug that moves into her chest-try to get her to blow bubbles as that keeps things moving and will help prevent pneumonia – that’s what we do at the Children’s Hospital I work at. Just something to keep in the file of your brain. Grin. I have started dieting myself and said bye bye to 4 lbs! I won’t say how many more I have to go…Love ya!

  11. 111
    Mardell says:

    I started trying to loose weight back in March also. I have done WW and Quick Weight, etc and the weight came back on. Due to health issues I had to get my weith under control This time I called on God to please help me, give me the determanation, will power, what ever else I needed to get my health back in check. At this time I have lost amost 17lbs. I give God the credit and thank Him for helping me and pray he will continue to help me. I have about 5 more lbs to reach my goal.

  12. 112
    carla says:

    So very true. So many folks miss how many reunions because of the not so perfect body. I have found that at each reunion I am reacquainting myself with folks in a different way. We evolved into people that knows what trully matters, each other. The pressure we put on ourselves for what reason, I don’t know. Glad we all share the same struggles.

  13. 113
    Lee Ann says:

    Had to chuckle at the “I’m failing math!” and actually having a “B”. I think I do that in alot of areas of my life. I consider myself a failure simply because it’s not easy. Hmmmmm, then you had to go and call it by it’s name, Pride! Yikes! Thanks for the challenge this morning. I truly needed it.

  14. 114
    Dana says:

    I agree Amanda ~ Tuesday night was incredible! Good job on your weight loss, I’m at 10 lbs too!

  15. 115
    Becky says:

    Amanda –
    Oh sweetie, you are doing a grate job with this new blog thang. Don’t be so hard on your self, you really are doing fine…hang in there.
    As for as math…honey, I ‘was’ failing math, from grade 4-12 wheeeew I’m a arts person not a numbers person. My husband is an accountant so the joke in our house is…
    I have the artistic side of the brain, he has the other side, so between the two of us, we have a whole brain. ha-ha-ha-ha-
    love ya

  16. 116
    Alyson says:

    I moved to Houston a year ago and one of my favorite parts was attending Tuesday night bible study! I loved the study on Revelation and David! I was also there last Tuesday and was so proud to be able to show Beth at least some type of appreciation for all of her hard work!! She deserves way more than just a standing ovation!!!But it was very meaningful and powerful! I am forever grateful for her teaching me so much!!!!She has such a wonderful gift! My husband and I are moving again I will always remember my special time in Houston on Tuesday nights “with” Beth. I am forever changed and blessed to have had this oppurtunity!

  17. 117
    Kristen says:

    Congratulations on your weight loss! It’s so hard to do… but anything worth while isn’t always going to be easy! 😉

    BTW… I hated math too! I think the same expression was my frozen “math countenance”

    I also tried WordPress and went back to blogger! One of these days I will figure out “new math”

  18. 118
    Royana says:

    I am also a fellow Weight Watcher. I have struggled for a few years now with an extra 10 to 15 pounds. It seems to just keep coming back! It could have something to do with the bowl of ice cream I can’t live without every night. Haha!! The only way I can seem to get it off is WW. It just works and instills discipline and restraint in my life. You’re doing a really great job with this whole blog thing and I truly enjoy your posts. Keep up the good work and don’t let it get the best of you. You are a blessing to so many.

  19. 119
    Missy says:

    I am doing Weight Watchers, but I feel like all I am doing is Watching my Weight go up and down and up!

    You know, you can’t worship The Lord and a donut at the same time! I really feel I need to give this up to God…

  20. 120
    Kristy says:

    Amanda, I wanted to switch to WordPress so bad, and even set one up and tried to get help from someone who swore it was easy. But it wasn’t!! No matter what I did, I couldn’t change font, or personalize anything. I didn’t know what to do. So, I finally went back to blogger. Don’t feel bad! It was surely not easy for me.
    I hope that baby of yours feels better – and your hubby!

  21. 121
    Mimeriffic Girl says:

    I TOTALLY get the math issue – I’m allergic to it. The thought of numbers maks me hyperventilate & break out in hives. Not really. But sorta kinda. I remember being so frustrated in school – I was an honor student with a high GPA, but rarely made the HONOR ROLL becuase of math – only I could get straight “A’s” & a “C” in math every six weeks! Awwwggh! Oh well . . . whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger . . . and provides more work for my shrink! (Joking! Sorta.) Have a blessed day, and lots of prayers that your little one feels better, & you stay well!

  22. 122

    Hey Amanda,

    Praying for your family now for sure, wanted to let you know that. I have been concerned about my baby weight too, but I am still nursing, so I think I shouldn’t diet too much, it might diminish my milk supply. As soon as she’s done nursing, though, it game time. I did a lifestyle change about three years ago with my eating habits, and it got me down to my goal weight before I got pregnant, now, it’s a matter of implementing it again, but this time, more excercise. The Lord is going to have to help me keep that commitment, I’m not so good at exercising:) I’m excited for you, ten lbs is an accomplishment!:)

    Blessings, ((HUGS)), Love in HIM,

    katiegfromtennessee

  23. 123
    Rhondaz says:

    Amanda…I have had the same trouble with stubborn baby weight (only my baby is now 2 1/2!). Along with feeling very yucky about the extra weight I was carrying, my cholesterol started climbing and my doctor asked me if I would consider starting on medicine for it. I was only 34 at the time. So I joined Weight Watchers. I was always determined that I would never PAY to lose weight…but I have lost 26 lb. in 11 months (and dropped 58 points off my cholesterol!!) and I am feeling so much better about myself and my healthier lifestyle. Keep up the good work, it WILL come off even if it is only a couple tenths of a pound at times:)

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