Ferreira Family News

Burn the Ships !

2011-02-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

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 !

2010-12-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-07-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

Seattle Photo Walk

2009-05-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-20T11:21:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

"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

2008-11-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-09-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

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.

School is Back

2008-09-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Summer *is* over. And now both boys are at the same school.
Here we go again !

Photos from Brazil

2008-08-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

I finally uploaded some of the pictures from our trip to Brazil.

It was a great trip and the kids didn't want to come back this time, they wanted to stay a month longer....

Piano Recital

2008-06-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

It's Philip's first Piano Recital (mine too). He did great and the best thing is that he liked.
There are a few pictures below and the performance at the end

From PIano Recital

Bubbles

2008-06-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

Bubbles + New Camera = Fun !

From Bubbles

I am still learning the controls of my 40D, but so far I am loving it !

Check the other few pictures on the album (link above)

Baseball

2008-05-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ah! Baseball season ! It is always fun to watch your kid play while a bunch of parents scream from the bleachers.....

From Baseball - Blog

Spring Break 2008

2008-04-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

We had a great time navigating the Mexican Riviera.
For first time cruisers, it was way better than we expected.
Check out the pictures ( click on the photo below)

From Spring Break ...

Easter 2008

2008-04-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Lot's of fun day on Saturday. Rainy Sunday and 1400 people at church (cool).

DC Trip

2008-03-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

We went to DC during mid-winter break to visit Sam and get to know the area.

It was a great week. We had so much fun. Here are some of the pictures we took there.

Washington DC Trip

Xmas Parties !

2007-12-29T19:16:00.000-08:00

Yes ! We had more than one party for Xmas Eve and one on Xmas Day...
Added to the fact that Eric was playing on all Xmas services at Church (2, 5, 7 and 9), it made for a very interesting day....

First our Neighborhood Party ( click on the picture for the whole Album)

Second The Brazilian Party

and finally, Xmas Day Lunch ( and Pedro's Bday Celebration)

Multinomah Falls

2007-10-22T19:13:00.001-07:00

On Friday we went down to Portland for a seminar and decided to visit this fall. It was raining, so we could not enjoy it for very long. Here are some pictures.

One tragic-comic moment was when leaving the falls going to the Hotel, our GPS unit would go in loop and reboot trying to find the place. It only found itself a few miles later....

Summer in Whistler

2007-08-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

It was a amazing trip with lots, lots of activities. See all the pictures we took here.

All good things...

2007-07-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Must end. We left the Hotel on Friday with plans to return next year, this time for a whole week.

Those "monitors" will remain in our hearts

Now we will spend the rest of our time visiting friends and Family, in Araras, Leme, Campinas and Sao Paulo.

2007-07-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

This picture is how I feel today. In peace. This is the sunset I was able to witness today, after a Bike Class, after a movie, after...
Today I finally relaxed and let the kids have fun with the monitors without my presence.... It is very cool.
I've uploaded more pictures today to the album.

As I write this, kids are in bed, very happy and very, very tired.

See you tomorrow.

Brazil

2007-07-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

We made it to Brazil ! All is well. This week we are spending on a Hotel in Pocos de Caldas .
Kids are having a great time. We are too !
Look at the pictures so far....

Clam Digging

2007-05-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a long weekend and we went clam/oister digging on Saturday
[Fim de semana prolongado e fomos pegar ostras e mariscos na praia]

See all the pictures:
Veja todas as fotos do passeio aqui:

Clam Digging Trip

It's Baseball Season

2007-05-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Baseball is one of Philip's favorite sports.
Check out all these pictures of him and his team:

[Baseball eh o esporte favorito do Phil.
Veja fotos dele e seu time em acao]

Easter !

2007-04-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

Visit to Eric's New Office Building

2007-04-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

The boys had a lot of fun visiting "Dad's" new office

There is a great view from the top of the new office building

Ben's 4th Birthday - Mar/17/2007

2007-03-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun with "Ben's Band" to celebrate Benjamin's 4th Birthday

Harrison Hot Springs

2007-02-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

We went to a Hot Spring place in Canada (1 hr East of Vancouver) that was amazing.

Even though it was under 40F (and sometimes snowing),
the boys didn't want to leave the whater

We must come back in the Summer !

Mid winter Break in Canada

2007-02-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

We went to Canada for mid winter break.
We stopped at Vancouver for Lunch and some cool shops.

sign: " Please do not touch for feed the bear"

We had snow on Friday Morning, it was soo cool!

The boys found a playground,
but it was too cold to stay too long outside
Better head inside
for the Hot Spring (yes, hot water gallore)
See next post.

More Sledding After Xmas

2007-01-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Sledding after Christmas

2007-01-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2006

2007-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

This Christmas we have much to celebrate !
[ Esse Natal temos muito que celebrar ! ]

Merry Christmas and Happy 2007

Ferreira Family

FIrst Snow 2006

2007-01-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

September - First Day of School

2006-09-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

4th of July Celebration

2006-07-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with fireworks that we can't wait for next year !

Weekend Fun at the Pool(s)

2006-06-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Hike

2006-06-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

Third Year we go with Phil's School. Always Fun.

Take your Kids to Work - 06/09/2006

2006-06-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Weekend Trip to Victoria BC

2006-05-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

We love the city and the Gardens are awesome !

Whales and Bears like these all over the city....we took pictures with each of them !

Blue Jays - Little Legue Baseball

2006-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

April 13th - San Diego - Day at the Beach 2

2006-04-25T01:20:00.000-07:00

April 13th - San Diego - Day at the beach

2006-04-25T01:18:00.000-07:00

April 12th - San Diego - Sea World 2

2006-04-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

April 12th - San Diego - Sea World

2006-04-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

April 11th - san Diego - ZOO

2006-04-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

April 10th - San Diego - Wild Animal Park

2006-04-25T01:09:00.000-07:00

April 9th - San Diego - Day at the Pool

2006-04-25T01:07:00.000-07:00

April 8th - San Diego trip starts.

2006-04-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

On Saturday our trip started with a visit to the pilot's place. It was really fun !

We met "Uncle Sam" at Sas Diego as well.

Saturday Hiking - Part 2

2006-03-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday - Hiking at Twin Falls

2006-03-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

This Saturday we went hiking at Twin Falls with a few friends (all boys). I was great !
It was Philip's 3rd Hike and Benjamin's 1st. Both did really well on the1.5 Miles and 300 ft altitude diference.
We plan to do this type of activity all Summer long... wait for the pictures !

Saturday - Snoqualmie Pass

2006-03-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

We had a great time sledding this weekend !
THe weather was good and the kids had a bast. We need to go up the mountain more often, since its only 20 minutes drive.

Enjoy the pictures.

Viana's Visit over the weekend

2006-01-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

We had a great time with our special guests from China. Great food, awsome time with them. It's a real blessing to have friends like them.

Polar Express

2006-01-14T01:32:00.000-08:00

On the line to watch the Polar Express IMAX/3D - Cool Movie

2006-01-14T01:26:00.000-08:00

Year end party at Philip's School

2006-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

We are starting to create this blog to share our pictures and adventures with family and Friends.