Christmas Pictures 2010

We had these pictures taken at Portrait Innovations in Spartanburg that just opened. It is very challenging to get an energetic four year old and two year old to look at the camera at the same time!

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year. This year I am very thankful for Jackson's wonderful mission friend teacher and Sunday School teachers. Christmas can be very confusing time for a Preschooler. I think at the beginning of the season Jackson actually thought that Christmas was Santa's birthday, not Jesus' birthday. Santa gets the kids one or two gifts, but we give them the big gift (trying not to make a big deal out of Santa). We definitely do not tell that Santa is watching him. Lastly, we try not to get them more than three presents each (representing the three Wiseman gifts)

Do you have any other suggestions on keeping Jesus the focus of Christmas for a Preschooler?

(I plan on getting the Little People's Manger Scene for next year).

Update on our House: Having Faith

I talked to our Realtor yesterday and he informed me that our house is the last house in our new neighborhood for sale (which is good) by Realtor. When we were in Columbia last month, I laid hands on the house and prayed in Jesus' name that it would sale soon. Literally two minutes later, a couple was in our driveway and I showed our house to them. I have never had a prayer answered so quickly! This definitely increased my faith.

But, we never heard back from this couple, and a house in our neighborhood did sell in November. Yesterday we lowered the price again, to a Biblical number ending in 7 (this is only the second time we have lowered the price). I also put our house on Craigslist.The market in Columbia is down 40 percent from the year before, and the year before that is was down 40 percent as well. Please pray with me that our house will sell by March (in February house will have been on the market for a year)! Let me know if you have any other suggestions on selling our house. http://www.realestatebook.com/homes/listing/101-3000234304/209-Gardenwalk-Dr-West-Columbia-SC-29170/

This week in Bible Study a verse that really hit me hard was Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

I think many times I think the worse is going to happen to protect myself from getting hurt. This action, however, is NOT acting as a woman of faith and confidence in the Lord. I trust the Lord and know He has reasons for our house not selling yet. His reasons are for His glory and my good.

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this, How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another." Isaiah 28:10-11

Merry Christmas!

Below is last year's encounter with Santa. She is scared of the Chick Fil A cow too...
At least this year she would get near Santa...

Pictures from Celebrating Cousin Jake's Birthday!

We had a great time celebrating Jake's birthday Saturday at Monkey Joe's in Columbia. Jackson's favorite place on earth is probably Monkey Joe's, so I started telling him about this party last Monday. Jackson woke up early Saturday morning, and was VERY excited about getting to go celebrate Jake's birthday there. Abigail and Jake's birthdays are only two weeks apart so she got to open up her presents from them then. Jackson and Abigail are so blessed to have cousins so close in age (Zach and Abigail are only two months apart in age)!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Sweet Baby Girl!

Dear Abigail,

I cannot believe you are already 2 years old. Time has really flown by with you! You are so sweet and loving. You hug me, pat me, and tell me it is going to be ok all the time. You love babies and love taking care of them. God has gifted you to be so smart. You talk in sentences now, and know your colors, and remember lots of people's name from the church. You are also very content little person, and whenever it is just me and you at the house, you are able to entertain yourself. You are a joy to be around. Things have come pretty easy for you, just like the day you were born. Delivering you was one of the best days of my life. I was not in labor for a long time, and only pushed two or three time and you were born, instant relief. I was a little concerned that you did not cry, and it really looked like to me and everyone else that you came out smiling. We are so blessed to have you as a daughter. Every day I thank God for you. Children really are the most precious gifts God could ever give to a person! I cannot wait to see you grow in the fear and wisdom of the Lord. You love your Bible and carry it around with you a lot. You are going to be such a great wife and mom, and I pray for your spouse every chance I get. I love you with Christ's love that cannot be measured.

Love,
Mommy

Thanksgiving Pictures

We had a great Thanksgiving in Spartanburg! It was the first time in forever that my cousin Wade and his family got to come. Aunt Sandi planned a surprise birthday party for Abigail and she loved it (her birthday is Dec. 5th)! She kept on saying my birthday party! Afterwards, the only present she could remember that she got was her pretty boots that Gigi got her. Abigail loves shoes and shopping (unlike her mother). We are so blessed that Abigail is talking in some sentences now, and tells me all the time that she is a big girl. We are so thankful for God giving us Abigail. God has gifted her to be so smart, and so sweet!

WeightWatchers Points Plus: They Changed Things for the First Time in 13 years!

I was pretty shocked that WeightWatchers changed when I went to the meeting last Monday night. There was so many people there that I was there 30 more minutes than I usually am.

This week is probably the busiest week I have had in a long time. This week so far we have put up the Christmas tree, got Christmas cards done, got presents for everyone on Cyber Monday (I got seven presents at Kodak Galleries for $50 and saved $38!), my mom had nasal surgery Monday, I got Abigail present for her birthday that is this Sunday, and finally got some stuff ready to go to the SEC Championship Game that is this Saturday (it will be the first time I have left both babies). Wow...

So I am only going to give you a few bullet points on what has changed with WeightWatchers (more to come for sure).

• The main thing is that now you HAVE to get a points calculator because they have totally changed how calculate points values for every food that you eat (they are only $5.95 each right now through the end of Jan.) They do not even take into consideration calories, but you figure out how many points a food is by entering in how many Proteins it has, Carbs, Total Fat, and Fiber.
• I have found that most of the foods I like to eat have gone up in points value. Fiber One yogurt that was 0 points, is now 1 point because of the carbs, and my 2 point WeightWatchers brownie is now 3 points instead of 2. Basically all WeightWatchers food have gone up 1 point.
• But, now even the smallest person has to eat 29 points a day (in the old program I was trying to only eat 23 a day), and now everyone gets 49 extra points for the week! If you are more than 20 pounds overweight you can calculate how many points you get using your points calculator. They say they have been doing scientific research for the last 13 years to make WeightWatchers as scientifically proven as possible.
  
• Last, but not least, they say all fresh fruits (not canned) are 0 points! Fresh veggies are 0 points as well. A banana that once was 2 points is now 0 points. WeightWatchers has all new books for this new Points Plus system, and good deals on them as well.
  

Let me know if you have any questions. Jan 1st would be a great time to join WeightWatchers ($13 a week here). I have now lost 9.4 pounds in 7 weeks! Yay!

Jackson was in Last Week's Kings Mountain Paper

David Baptist Church is a drop of location for Operation Christmas Child boxes and Lisa does a wonderful job organizing it! For Awana, she had the kids help pack over 200 OCC boxes, and she took this picture of Jackson and his best bud Xander. In the paper, it says, "Below: Jackson Wallace and Xander Blanton help to pack OCC boxes at David Baptist Church (using this picture above). "

It also says, "The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

It was so exciting to see our church and Jackson in the paper!

Chick-Fil-A FREE Calendar with Purchase of $20 Gift Card

In the Calendar, there are $30.81 of free coupons!

Since we eat at Chick-Fil-A once a week, I might get a $20 gift card for the next couple of weeks (not sure when they stop selling these calendars).

Here is the list of coupons in the calendar:

January:Free Spicy Chicken Biscuit($2.09) or Small Bowl of Chicken Soup($2.35)
February:Free Yogurt Parfait($2.15) and Dasani Bottle Water($1.49)
March:Free Large Diet Coke($1.75)
April:Free 8-count chick-fil-a nuggets($2.85)
May:Free Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad($5.45)
June:Free Small Hand-Spun Milkshake($2.59)
July:Free Medium Lemonade($1.65)
August:Free Large Sprite($1.75)
September:Free Spicy Chicken Sandwich($3.09)
October:Free Large Coca-Cola($1.75)
November:Free 3-count Chick-n-Minis($2.19) or Large Waffle Fries($1.85)
December:Free Large Coca-Cola Zero($1.75)

I heart Chick-Fil-A!

Pictures from Last Weekend

It has been a long time since we have been this busy! We were basically out of town for 4 days last week. We got to spend some precious time with Charlie's parents, and Mimi got an ipad that Jackson and Abigail loved (she downloaded one Toy Story book). But, one of the most exciting things that has happened in the last week was that on Sunday I showed our house to a couple that seemed very interested!

I actually laid hands on the house and prayed in Jesus powerful name that it would sell, and literally 1 minute later went to the garage to get Abigail's stroller and there was a couple with their window rolled down. I do not think I have ever had a prayer answered so quickly! God gets all the glory. Please pray that it works out for this couple to buy our house in the powerful name of Jesus. Even if they do not buy it, it gives us hope that one day our house will sell.

I did not weigh in this week because I went to Spartanburg on Monday for the day to see KK who had a dentist appointment. The week before I gained 1 pound, but I have been doing really well and think I have lost 4 or 5 pounds in these last two weeks (I have been too busy to eat!). I will have a Weight Watchers post on Monday after I weigh in.

Thank you so much for praying! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Gymboree Coupon Code: 30% Off Total Purchase---Friends and Family

Use this coupon code online: REWARDSCOF

Hurry this coupon ends November 7th, and you can earn gymbucks to be redeemed in January (it is like free money at Gymboree) right now.

I just bought matching Christmas church outfits and pajamas for the kids (30% off and earning gymbucks is a great deal, plus some of the items were on sale!). I heart online shopping at Gymboree!

Halloween 2010

Emily's Rule of Life #213 (thinking like Olivia today . . . Preschool show Jackson loves): "If you have a one or two year old it is really cute to dress them like an animal for Halloween (especially a cow since you can use it again for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick Fil A).

PS-Halloween can be a great outreach time. You can print off something inviting trick or treaters to your church and to your Fall Festival. Our "Trunk or Treat" at David Baptist was great, and the kids had the best time!

Weight Watchers Weigh In: Week 3

Well...

I lost 2.4 pounds this week! Yay!

If you have been keeping up so far I have not lost any weight doing WeightWatchers until this week.

What was the change?

Patience, and having a friend at the church go with me. In the middle of last week, I was ready to give up. I was already going over my points daily by 5 or 10 per day, and had a Halloween weekend coming up. I facebooked my friend and she said she was doing good, so that gave me encouragement to keep going. Doing it with someone is really a bigger deal than I had originally thought. Did I eat candy? Yes. Did I eat lots of candy? No, and I am sending a big zip lock bag of candy to work with Charlie (it is hard because Jackson does not like candy...but my sweet baby girl loves candy).

Weight loss is kind of like college football (which is on at our house right now a lot). Sometimes you are down by two touchdowns, but is the game over yet? No. Sometimes in weight loss you have actually gained a pound, but is it Monday and weigh in day? No. Never giving up is huge because once you give up all hope, you have lost the game or the battle. There is power in thinking positively, but there is even more power in knowing that you have the Holy Spirit working supernaturally in you not to sin. We might lose battles here on earth, but praise the Lord King Jesus will win the war and sin will be defeated once and for all. I am really looking forward to that day right now! Praying daily that the Holy Spirit will empower me to love myself less and not indulged myself and depend completely on Him. All the glory to Him!