Health Check In

Time for another check in! Things have been good this week. I exercised regularly, memorized my verse, and did fairly well on my eating. God is really changing my perspective on food and I'm so grateful to be gaining some victory. One of the major realizations I made this week is that Christ already defeated my sin on the cross - so the struggle I have with overeating is my own making. The victory is already there, I simply have to tap into it. 

The other simple truth that has changed my eating habits is that I concentrate on food too much. Even if it is to determine what God would have me eat, or how much or when, I am still focusing on FOOD. When I give it no thought, or immediately shift my focus when I do, this whole process becomes a lot easier. It becomes unimportant in my everyday life - secondary to everything else, including my time with God, my husband, the kids, things that need to be done in the house, etc. Sometimes not thinking about food does cause me to suddenly be very hungry, but instead of flipping out and eating everything in sight I make myself prepare something very calmly and eat slowly, so I don't overeat in my hunger. I didn't consciously know it before, but being hungry used to really worry me. Why? I am not really sure. It isn't like I don't have food at my disposal at almost all times and I certainly am not going to wither away. Either way, I am trying to change that feeling of panic to a realization that hunger is a good thing - it means I haven't been focusing on food. 

The verse for this week is Philippians 3:18-19: "For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things."

I lost 1.2 pounds this last week and I praise God for the victory!

Fall Photo Shoot

I hope you are ready for a WHOLE LOT of pictures (55 to be exact)! We have been having some great family fall fun, and this post is dedicated to showing the best parts. 

Earlier this week I realized the kids would probably enjoy playing outside a lot more if they had something to play on. A quick post on facebook produced a toddler slide from some of our friends for F-R-E-E! Let me tell you, these kids have had an awesome time playing with this thing. We mostly use it inside to tell you the truth, but here they are playing outside with the new slide and their water table from Meme and Pepe:

(they love to run up and down the hill)

(they look like they're in prison, haha!)

While working in the kitchen, I looked over and saw them reading together. <3

On our Fall Bucket List was a trip to a pumpkin patch. Although our original plans of visiting a local place with a hayride, pumpkin patch, picnic area, etc. fell through, we were still able to go to the little patch hosted by a church nearby:

(at first I was too afraid to let Harry loose, so he had to stay in the stroller)

Eden was really sweet and kept bringing pumpkins for Harry to hold. 

Trying to sit on top!

Harry kept reaching to touch the pumpkins while he was in his stroller so I finally felt bad enough to let him out!

(he kept trying to pick up the really big ones)

Grammy came to help them pick out the perfect ones to bring home. 

These are the ones that came home with us! 

After the pumpkin patch we picked up some McDonalds and headed to Grammy's for a picnic on her back patio. The weather was beautiful and the kids had a good time eating outside and running around. We got to go up to Auntie Sara's house to play in the leaves after dinner:

(LOVE this shot!)

Of course we rode on the golf cart since the weather was so mild. 

Harry eating pecans, still in the shell. :) 

Then Sara brought out a big surprise - a kitten! Eden was in love from the start. 

After a visit with the kitten, we headed across the street to say hello to Poppie and play in the beautiful leaves in his yard too:

Even Uncle Kenny came out to play. 

We had such a fun time and the kids loved it. The only thing missing was Jason!