Burn the Ships !

Monday morning I was on the treadmill and this song came up. I was not prepared for it.
It hit me like a brick.
I have come so far in my weight loss and the last 1/3 is taking the most time. I've slip back to some old habits that need to die.
It dawn on me that God is the one that brought me here and is for Him that I am doing it.
Not myself, not my family. God.

I've being looking at the Daniel Plan and started to follow it's plan. I will report back on the progress.
Hopefully on a weekly basis.

There are many other changes going on in my life that requires some "resolutions".
I will have say no a lot more and even stop some things I am doing. But it is worth it !

" Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone "


Burn the Ships !

Merry Christmas !

It's Christmas Eve.
All here are still asleep. It's me and Biscuit.

I am so thankful for my family.
God gave me the greatest gift I could ask for.
Fla is returning to her field and I get to be part of it.
The excitement, the hours studying, the patients and the big adjustment we are slowly doing to make sure all that needs attention, gets it.
The boys are at a beautiful age.
Age of reasoning, initiative and discovery. They are more independent and at the same time need more close attention than ever. They need us to be available to ask, cry, laugh.

An event that symbolizes how I feel this year is when a Ridge Fitness trainer (that has followed my weight loss journey) bragged about me to other people: "Eric was the first Biggest Looser winner here, and he kept the weight off for over a year". True, but I spent this year trying to lose the last 30LB, not keeping it off !
So there you go. Everything is going great. Looking from the inside, there is a lot more work to come.
We count on God and people closest to us to be instrumental in this Journey.

So, to all my friends, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! It is a a honor to Journey with you !

Ferreira Family
Dec. 2010

2009 in Review

2009 was a challenging year.

A year where I Challenged Life.
I lost 60Lb, ran races, was very active.
Did the 60x60 experiment
and found God is interested
in the details of my life.
I got closer with my family than ever before.

A year where Life Challenged me.
Mom went to be with the Lord.
I had to work more hours that I can count
Saw dear friends moving away.
Gallstones were a painful reality.

What about 2010 ?
I plan to reach my goal weight
Remove my gallbladder
Turn 40 in the best shape of my life
Grow closer to God and my Family
Move to Amazon AWS team.

It will be a challenging year again.
Challenge is good.
It is what God uses to make me grow.

Here are a few pictures that , to me, highlight 2009's journey.
Happy New Year !

2009 Highlight

Philip's Piano Recital

I am a bit late on posting this, but here we go, this year's Piano Recital from Philip

Seattle Photo Walk

Today I had the privilege to participate on a Photo Walk with Scott Bourne. It was another trip to a market I've known for 6 years. This time I Took the time to shoot things I normally don't. Hope you enjoy



Here is the link to the set on Flickr.

Mid Winter Break

This year we did a short trip (2 nights) to the Great Wolf Lodge. Our first time in that hotel (1.5 Hours South of Seattle). Great place for kids to get exercise and parents to get rest ! I still have to work on the pictures (not many anyway), but here are to teasers...

Philip's Birthday Party

I know I skipped Xmas and New Years and I will still come back and post an album with the best pictures.
But today I am posting the pictures of Philip's Bday Party.

We did his party at home with only a handful of his friends. Philip is turning 9 tomorrow and I already miss all the years that are behind us. Phil and Ben are growing so fast ! May God keep blessing our family and giving the boys wisdom (to know what is the right thing to do) and courage (to do it). At the bottom of the picture there is a link to the album.

From Phil Bday

Thanksgiving

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God . . . Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. . . the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

Abraham Lincoln - 1863

14 Years of Joy

Today we celebrate 14 years of marriage ! We spent the day together as a couple and, after school, as a family. The best part was reviewing old photos of our honeymoon and the birth of each boy. It was a great day like many God will give us in years to come.
Here is a picture from 1994

Chris Tomlin

It was a cool experience to meet Chris Tomlin in person and have him tell stories about the tour and album and also to sing to us.
He specially liked his trip to Brazil and sang "How great is our God" in Portuguese.
Way Cool !

 

 

One of the perks of working for Amazon.com.