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!

October 2010 Pictures

"Woody" and Jessie

"Woody" and Jessie at the "Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade" this morning in Kings Mountain. Jessie is on Jackson's soccer team and her real name is actually Jessie. This week has been so much fun here in Kings Mountain, NC!

Toy Story Mania at Our House

It all started last summer when Toy Story 3 (the movie) came out and we got passes to go. That was Jackson's first taste of Toy Story, and his first ever movie, and of course he loved it! Then, we went and played with David at his house and he had a talking Woody and Buzz doll. Well, I knew then what we were going to get Jackson for his birthday! He played with all David's Toy Story toys for a long time.

We got him the talking Woody doll for his birthday and my parents got him a small talking Buzz. Then, Mimi and Pop Pop got him Toy Story 1 and 2 on dvd for his birthday. He loved watching the movies! The day after his birthday is when we got rid of his pacifier and he got really attached to Woody, and wanted to bring him everywhere and I let him because he chewed on him after getting rid of his pacifier.

Preschool has really helped with his imaginative play, and now he would much rather play with his Toy Story toys than watch TV (still would not recommend sending your baby to Preschool till they are in a 3 year old class). He puts Buzz in positions where he is rescuing Woody all the time. He tells me every day that for Christmas he is going to get a talking big Buzz and Abigail is going to get a Jessie the cowgirl doll.

So, guess what Jackson is going to be for Halloween? Yes, you guessed it, Woody. I found a great Woody costume at Walmart for a great price. He got to dress up like Woody to go to the nursing home with the Moms Club, and today for Preschool (they had a Halloween party), and tomorrow for parade at Kings Mountain for little ones. Jackson is loving living here in Kings Mountain, and we are so thankful!

Weight Watchers Weigh In: Week 2

I did not lose or gain any weight again on week two.

But the good news is:

1. I have a friend now going with me and I know that is going to get me even more motivated.
   
2. Think about all the weight I would be gaining right now...
3. Feel so much better, I am getting healthy, and working out three times a week doing Jillian Micheals workouts. I am trying my best through His help to glorify God with my eating.

Some things that have been helpful this week:

1. Charlie loves Hersey Bars and is not overweight at all. He is being helpful by hiding his candy stash in his room.
2. I love the meetings in Shelby. I have gone to Weight Watchers meetings in Columbia, Spartanburg, and Sumter, and my teacher here is so enjoyable, and does not go on and on about things we do not really need to hear. Studies have shown going to meetings people lose twice as much as those who do not stay for the meetings.
3. I have always done 8 minutes abs, but I found 7 minutes abs on YouTube and it is really working.
4. Weight Watchers Chicken Alfredo (my favorite meal) every other day (in the freezer section / 6 points).
   

For Halloween allow yourself 1-3 pieces of candy, but then I would try hiding the rest (one small piece of candy is usually 2 points). Another trick my leader told me and that when she bakes cookies she allows herself to have one as she is walking out the door so then she is physically not able to eat anymore. Please pray that I can lose some weight this week. I am not going to lie, I am getting a little frustrated.

Caramel Apple Salad:

2 golden delicious apples (cubed)

1 Box sugar-free butterscotch pudding

1 cup mini marshmallows

1 small container fat free Cool Whip

1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits in its own juice

Mix all together
Store in refrigerator

1 cup=1 point

"God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him." 1 John 4:9

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Keep Praying

for our house to sell!

Click here for the link:

http://www.realestatebook.com/homes/listing/101-3000234304/209-Gardenwalk-Dr-West-Columbia-SC-29170/

If you would like more info feel free to email me at emilywallace80@hotmail.com

If you have a minute right now please pray in Jesus' powerful name that our house will sell. Thank yall so much for your support and prayers!

Go Gamecocks!

Found matching shirts at Old Navy in Spartanburg and could not resist...matching shirts are awesome.

In Heaven

Jackson is missing his naps, and he can sure sleep on my dad's wide shoulders any day. They were both in heaven.

First Weekly Weigh in at Weight Watchers

I did not lose any weight this week with my first week back from WeightWatchers (after losing my 10 percent back in April).

It is important for me to become a lifetime member at WeightWatchers so I can lose the weight and keep it off (by weighing monthly). I hope to accomplish this by next summer.

The week before this week, I ate everything in sight so I am probably still paying for that and that is the reason I believe I did not lose any weight this week. I did not overeat this week or go over my points.

Victories this Week:

1. Worked out three times at home this week for the first time in a long time doing Jillian Micheals 30 day shred, and Last Chance workout by her (free on exercise on demand with Time Warner).
2. Went to Harris Teeter in Shelby to get Jolly Time popcorn that is the snack size which is only 1 point for the entire bag. I had a mommy friend tell me that this popcorn is what got her through at first (she is 4 weeks away from being a lifetime member!).
   
3. I felt better all week, and was down at all.
4. Ate WeightWatchers brownie (2 points) and heated it up in the microwave for 10 seconds and put light whip cream on top, and that helped my craving for chocolate. I also REALLY enjoy the WeightWatchers Chicken Alfredo (in the freezer section) meal. The new cheeseburger meal is excellent as well.
   

The hardest time I had was when my children do not finish their plates. I have a VERY hard time throwing away their food and "wasting" it. I actually had to pray through not eating their leftovers and there is power in prayer, the Holy Spirit, and in Jesus' precious name. I prayed to the Holy Spirit that he would give me supernatural strengthen. Please keep me in your prayers that I can lose this weight, and not be overweight and unhealthy. Let me know what helps you stay healthy and not overeat!