Weight Loss, Love Cookies, and Prayers

It's random day here. Currently we're under a "Winter Storm Warning"...they say we're about to get the worst weather we've had here since 1980. Looking out my bedroom window I see ice on the windsheild of the car, and a tiny bit of snow on the ground...I'd say the snow better start coming, or a lot of people are going to be disappointed! I really feel like Mrs. Haid about this storm, but like her, I must also speak carefully, because I'm sure there are people who are without shelter or can't pay to heat their home, who this is effecting greatly.

The kids have colored this morning, eaten breakfast, and the boys are now playing X-Box Football. Although sometimes it's hard to stick to our guns by greatly limiting their TV time, I am greatful for it on days like today because they are SO excited to be able to play X-Box and watch movies when we let them.

Today is Tuesday...weigh day! I was talking to Lincoln about it last night and I've decided I've come to the point in my journey where I'm just not sure what to expect every week. In the beginning I felt like could tell that I'd lost weight each week...but not so much anymore. I suppose when it comes off about 2 pounds a week there's not much difference. I'm glad that it's coming off slowly, I think the slower it comes off the more time I have to make this a lifestyle change and not just a diet. I have more time for my taste buds to forget the taste of those greasy McDonald's hamburgers and french fries, and learn to love apples and cabbage. I'm really thinking of this as a journey to a healthier me...a change in my life where I train my body to crave exercize as a stress relief over sleep, a change in my life from fast food to delicious energizing food.

This has been another good week - I lost 2.8 pounds this week! That means that I've lost 18.8 pounds so far. I was also able to move down 2 pants sizes!! For me, that is the most important milestone I've reached so far. I'm actually only one size above what I set out with as my "goal"...I don't know what the means, but I do think I'll keep going on my weight loss journey past my original goal. At the time it seemed so unattainable, and now that I'm almost there, I have set my sights a little greater. I think that's okay.

Today was the first day of my kids Love Cookies. They weren't as crazy about them as I had hoped, I must be honest, but I hope that they begin to look forward to them each morning in the next 14 days. Today they opened the following:

Blake: Colossians 3:12

Silas: Ephesians 3:12

Hunter: "You are forever my love"

Graysen: "We love you like a turtle loves it's shell"

My kids continue to inspire me each day. I learn so much from these little boogers, I don't know why I continue to be amazed at them, but I am...and I hope I always will be. This morning as they were taking turns saying prayers before breakfast, I was so humbled as they each thanked God for things like:

His Word

Going to School

Having shoes to wear

Each of their brothers and sister and parents by name

"Giving us everything we have"

I was reminded that far too often I get too big for my pants and start taking the credit for things that we have...it's not mine, it's not ours, it's God's, and we need to be grateful every day for the fact that (for some reason), He's given us these things...what are we going to do with them...?