A relatively normal post.

It seems like the flu and colds are going around.. and around and around.  I think our household was sick twice through.  It seemed to start with me as well as end it with me and it all began back in October.  I think.  Anyway, it was long.  And the second time through was a doozy.  I haven't had a knock-me-down-n-out kinda cold for a few years so I guess I had it coming, but geesh.

Aside from all the sickness, Christmas was good and fun.  It was interesting trying to figure it all out with V's birthday on Christmas Eve but we got it.  Sorta.  I'll have it better figured out next year.  I hope, anyway.
We started out with my side of the family.   We were missing a few family members as well as non-family members.  We usually have a few non-relations join us for festivities.  And it's a joyous good time!  But not this year and that's okay too.  We watched movies, played games, hung out, ate too much junk food.. Ugh.
After a few fun filled days there we came home for a day and then went on to Bryan's side of the family.  We spend a good three days there with everyone which was also too much fun.  However, I think it's where we got the second dose of sickness.  (It's okay Vera, Aunt Seppy still loves you!!)
It was still a lot of fun and good times, puzzle doing, hanging out, chit chatting over tea, too much good food.  Mmm.  My mil's mashed potatoes.. so very good.
New Year was uneventful.  The girls went to bed as normal and Bryan and I tried catching up on Once Upon A Time.  It was lame.  And then I remembered four years ago we hung out with all of our friends for NYE.  It was a blast.  Sometime we'll do it again.  Maybe V won't be such a light sleeper by the time she's two.  Anyway- Yay 2013!  Bring it on!
However, we did have a great NY day ringing it in with our friends the Pitts.  Yummo food!  And I was good and stuck to my goals. (Which are going great, thank you for asking :)
And on Wednesday night we had our long lost friends the Lloyd's over!  We haven't seen them in the 6 months since they moved to Texas.  It was great to see them.
Anyway, Christmas is down and put away and my house is feeling normal again.  I've gotten back on my routine and the house is getting cleaner and cleaner.
So, now it's time to start preparing for next Christmas.  Isn't that the way it goes?

27/30 Things: Body parts

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

Uh.. I've got nothing.  Ha!  Okay, how about my belly.  Why?  Because I don't like the way it looks.  It used to be flat and smooth, and teeny teeny tiny.  BUT!  Although it's (way) less than flat and so not very smooth at all, it has housed two beautiful little girls.  It's held them as they grew and formed, as they were being created into something truly precious.  And, although I don't care for the way it looks now, it holds precious memories of miracles, growths, and births.  And I hope the stories aren't finished yet.  Because I wouldn't trade my babes for a flat tummy.  
(Although you momma's that can do both, GO YOU!!)

26/30 Things: Popular notions

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

Hm.. I'd have to say being a Christian.  I think a lot of people take on the title of Christian very casually.  You can't just claim to follow Christ, you have to actually live it too.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not perfect and in so many ways.  I fail daily.  DAILY.  But every day I wake up and try to live my day for God.  I don't always get it right but I do try.  
I feel like people who claim Christianity but don't live it make life a lot harder on those of us who really do try.  Christ calls us to love.  Everyone.  Unconditionally.  To show grace and mercy.  To treat others the way Christ would.  In love.  To care for others.  Not judge others.  To lift each other up.  Not pick and choose who we're going to love that day but to love every person we come into contact with. 
Truth: I do fail to do this.  A lot.  But every time I mess I up, I try to make up for it.  
I've been forgiven.  I've been shown grace.  Mercy.  Love.  Every day.  And because of that I work at returning grace, mercy, and love right back out into the world.  And when I mess up, because I always do, I'm forgiven again and again I try to go back out there to love on others.  
Christ calls us to love.  And to love we must do.
One of my favorite quotes is by dcTalk:

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians.  Who acknowledge Him with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world, simply finds unbelievable.

So let us love others.  Let us show Christ through our actions and our words.

25/30 Things: Historic Person

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

(I promise I haven't forgotten about this.  I know it has taken me MONTHS to get this done.  I just never had easy access to a computer before but now I do!  So let's get this thing finished, whadya say??)

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

For some reason I always go to Paul from the Bible (Saul turned Paul).  I would love to know his story personally, the things he went through to share the Gospel, the hard times he endured and how he overcame them, how he got through to people.  But then I think, why wouldn't I just go straight to Jesus.  Of COURSE I want to meet Jesus!  But I figure, Paul is human, he struggled and failed but he still made a go of things.

The other person I'd want to meet is Mother Teresa.  Her life she lived simply and only for God.  To love others as he loves us!  Her life revolved around others and how she could shine Jesus through her every day actions.  She loved to love, she lived to serve, and she made great effort to show Christ to every one she met.  
I want to be like that.

As far as what I'd eat.. I'd eat whatever they were eating!  

Happy New Year

It's 2013 Folks!!  Wowza.  I can hardly believe we don't have flying cars yet!  I remember the end of 1999 and thinking how scary the 21st century was going to be because flying cars and all the spacey stuff would soon follow the turn of the century.  But here we are.  Flying carless.
Anywho.
This year I'm going to try to better myself.

1. Give up sweets.
Hi, my name is September and I'm a chocoholic.  I've done it before, gave up anything sweets related that I was addicted to.  6 months.  I can do it again.  And I'm going to by the grace of God because, my goodness, I just can't seem to get ahold of myself.  I wish I were one of those people that could just have a taste once a day and then be done.  But no, I have to have a taste, eat the rest, and then lick the dish.  I also turn to chocolate when I'm stressed instead of turning to prayer.  So, things have got to change.

2. Go grain free.
I'm sure I've mentioned before that I have hypo-thyroid.  Well, I've done some research and have found that gluten can greatly increase the difficulty of thyroid function when it's already not working very well.  So, although I'm not going to go completely gluten free, I am going to go grain free and as gluten free as possible.  It always works when I go on the Maker's Diet, which now it all makes sense because of the lack of grains.  But this time I'm going to just stay away from grains and eat a ton more veggies and fruits.  Nothing to hard or difficult.  I've gotta make these resolutions easy so I still with them!

3. Exercise more.
It's not that hard, just get up and get moving for a half an hour or so to get the blood pumping.

4. Read through the Bible in a year.
The Pastor of our church has a plan all set up and all we have to do is follow it. I've already done mine for today.  Not too bad.  Although I may have either wake up before the girls do (which is no easy task for me) or read it before I go to bed.  One way or another, it'll get done.

5.  Better wife, better momma.
I just want to keep improving and be the best to which my family deserves.

All in all, easy resolutions.  Nothing too hard, nothing too fancy.