The twins at three...

I am not sure if easier is the right word to use but things are definitely better now that the twins are able to speak in sentences. New challenges abound like fighting, competition, potty training, eating meals and other rather daunting issues. One thing is for sure Micah and Kerith are VERY different and for that I am very thankful but they do have one thing in common and that is they love their mom A LOT. So much so they won't go to Children's Church anymore. It's been the one challenge that has Eric and I both scratching our heads. They are well behaved as they participate in the adult service both cuddle up to me and let me rub their heads. I have to admit I am starting to treasure the moments even if it sort of takes my mind off the sermon. Seeing Micah try to sing praise and worship has been priceless, and watching Kerith try to take notes with her pencil has been another memory I will treasure. 

Their current favorite game is Mom and Dad. They usually fight over who gets to be Eric. Nice huh? I guess my job is not glamorous enough for a three year old.

Kerith's favorite saying is "I am not hearing it" she picked it up from me. I say it to the kids when they are tattling on each other. Micah's new word is actually which comes out as "axually" and everything is "axually mom..."

don't worry I haven't forgotten the rest of the kids I'll update them as well. I know you want to hear all the funny stories I have. I have many. Lots of blackmail...

Snow!!!

We finally had our first snow fall. Even though it was only a couple inches we still had a bit of fun.

Jake had some fun too.

Taylor not so much.

Capturing Carissa

Head on over to my new blog for my photography and weight loss journey. capturing carissa Of course A table for eight is still my main blog where I will continue to post about daily life and the kids. I thought I could use the page feature to journal here but didn't like the format so I just decided to have a blog devoted to pictures and weight loss.

The Spiritual Detox

Lately everything on my facebook friends list has been about people detoxing. Seems everyone is on a detox diet this new year. I am always struck that people go to such great lengths to rid their body of waste. With the new year everyone is making those healthy resolutions myself included although mine are a little less taxing.
I wonder how often we detox our spiritual body? I wonder if we have the same focus and determination to eliminate the toxins that stand between us in our relationship with Christ. I wonder if we are even aware of what those toxins are?

The answer is easy for myself. I do not detox spiritually enough. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit brought it to mind as I was reading facebook(see some good things come from facebook!) now I can be in prayer and ask God what toxins I need to get rid of.  I often put an emphasis on outward appearance when my heart and mind really need the overhaul. I like what Ephesians 4:17-32 has to say in The Message.

The Old Way Has to Go

 ^17-19And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.  ^20-24But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
 ²⁵What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
 ^26-27Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
 ²⁸Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
 ²⁹Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
 ³⁰Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
 ^31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Weekly Health Check In: Week 1

I am trying to get back exercising and have been doing the Wii Active 2 9 week challenge. So far my goals are to burn 1,000 calories a week and work out 4-5 days a week. Week one goal accomplished.I've got to get some motivational things on my blog for this. To say it's a struggle is an understatement having a metabolism disorder AND pituitary tumor doesn't make it easy. Easy to gain five times harder to lose. Yeah I am not fat for overeating and being lazy. Imagine that? If I get a little venty in my blog I'm sorry. I plan to use my blog in the coming year at least once a week to write about my journey and it's sure not going to be all green grass and butterflies, I am sure there will be spiders and weeds a long the way. One way or another I plan to be lapping everyone on the couch no matter how slow I go.

About Grace...

Every year I say I will be healthier, I will work out more, eat less, drink more water. This year I am not saying those things. This year I am setting a spiritual goal because one thing I know is when my spirit is healthy the rest follows.

Something struck me on Christmas day as we learned of a young women passing on just before the service started. Our Pastor's wife asked us to pray and as we finished praying my young daughter Grace was on her knees. My six year old daughter was on her knees before God with blind faith. What a testimony. I asked her after the service was over why she was on her knees. She said "just praying". How God used her in my life. What an example to me of crying out to God. What a testimony of where I need to be before God. What a reminder of Mark 10:13:16

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

New Living Translation.

Grace has told us that one night in October she asked Jesus to be her Savior. Just like she quietly got on her knees, in the quiet of her bed just her and her God she came to him asking to be saved, receiving her free gift of salvation. We've seen her grow coming out of school and exclaiming "I want to tell everyone about Jesus!" and in her attitude towards her siblings. I do not know what God has in store for her life. My one and only prayer is that she will continue to walk with abandon with her savior and continue to be a light to not only myself but the rest of the world.

Happy New Year from All of Us!

If there were any picture to capture us in our true fashion this is IT!

I hope it brings a smile to your face because it sure brings some smiles to mine.