After picture

Before Picture

Battle of the Bulge

Last Christmas, we had our family picture taken. I looked at them and was really unhappy with how I looked. Of course, up until that point, I'd just assumed all my pants were shrinking from having been dried in the dryer, not because I'd put on weight. haha

Seeing myself, I hated how my face looked chubby and I didn't feel like I looked like me. I kind of felt the need to lose some weight. I didn't weigh myself often at that point. I had gone to the doctor early this year though and she pointed out that I'd put on a couple of point since the last time. I had gotten up the point where I was almost at my delivery weight with Ekaterina. It was embarrassing.

I started exercising and watching what I ate. Nothing drastic. Just smaller portions. I lost about 7 pounds before going on vacation to Florida in June. On vacation, I lost 2 more. I ate a TON but I was walking so much. Hours out of my day were spent walking and swimming. I loved being able to eat so much and yet still lose.

I came back and held about the same. A few weeks ago, I joined weight watchers. I haven't had HUGE success but I have lost a few more pounds. I haven't had more success because I haven't been rigid. It's all me, not WW. Still, I'm happy to have lost more. I'm down 5 pounds from my after vacation weight. That's 14 pounds since the doctor told me I'd "gained a couple" ;) .

Over the last week or two, I've really struggled with the concept of not just losing weight but maintaining weight. It's hard and quite honsetly, not really all that fulfilling on my stomach. It might be fulfilling for the mirror or my pictures (and even only sometimes then) but I hardly ever feel really that happy with what I'm able to eat to be healthy and not gain.

It is kind of sad to think about how much food consumes my thoughts. As I have a bag of candy (combined from three kids worth of 2 trips of trick or treating) sitting in my kitchen, it's been very tempting. I don't know if it's because I'm actually watching what I eat and I'm not supposed to have it or if it's because I really want it.

So there you have it. That is my struggle. I like food. I don't like giving it up. I LOVE being healthier and I really enjoy fitting back into the pants that I thought that shrunk when really it was just me that gotten bigger. ;)

I've tried three times now to upload pictures. All three times, they put my text, get added in a different order.

GRRRR. No photos for now.

It's been while...

After that week of painting, my life seemed to kind of go into overdrive. All three of the kids took turns getting sick. I am so thankful that it was just a mild fever and some quieter than usual kids and not any kind of flu. God is so gracious!

We're trying to decide what kind of vacation days to take before the year is up. Unline certain cell phone plans, James' vacation days don't "rollover". lol We haven't taken anything since June when we went to Florida and hadn't taken any in the year before that.

I'm hoping we'll get to spend a Sunday away to enjoy a service at the church we were on staff at last. We love going to Life Church and spending time with our family there. Hopefully it will be Christmasy service. Love those!

I noticed this year that God allowed us to savor the changing of the leaves. Last year, something happened and nothing really changed. They were there, and then they died and fell. Not much color. This year, it was a full couple of weeks of beauty. I love it! I'm looking forward to Thanksiving this year with my family. Both of my grandpas have had some health problems. It seems like in the blink of an eye they went from "getting older" to "old". I hate thinking about them not always being in my life.

We have had some great things happen in our youth group. Still, I'd like to see more growth in numbers. Spiritual growth and maturity IS growth though so I am very thankful for that. We had 11 baptisms at service on Wed. 4 of them were adults, 2 kids, and 5 youth.

Our home group went well last night. We seemed to click as a study group and a young man who has never prayed aloud in a group before did so the previous session and did again last night. He also asked James afterward, if we offer any classes for adults who are more like children spiritually. I'm just so excited to see things happening. We're looking at really strengthening how -we- do ministry. We want to make sure we're really discipling and not just leaving people at conversion to fend for themselves.

I think that's enough updates for one post. I'll try to be more regular. (for my 2-3 readers. lol)