Forstrom Family Frenzy

New Pics posted!

Scroll down to Tyler's 4th Birthday and view pics from the family party and kid's party!

It's been a long time

Sorry I have been so negligent with my blog!  One of the things I like to do the most with the blog is post pictures.  Well, I lost my digital camera in the beginning of January and then lost my motivation to post!  I did get a new camera for my birthday though, so hopefully I will be back on track.   My sister-in-law and a preschool mom took pictures for me of Tyler's 4th birthday on January 25th.  I'll try and get them up today.

Other than that, life is crazy as usual. Between work, school at night, ministry, and family, it's hard to ever feel like I am catching up.  As much as I LOVE my seminary classes, it does take time to read 400 page books and write 15 page papers (my 2 biggest assignments among many this semester).  I am happy though that my per diem PT work more than covers my class costs.

I turned 34 last week.  I do feel older.  I still have the same amount of energy but I now feel like my life experience is a lot more.  Chuck will always have 12 years on me but I think I can hold my own now in most ways.

Tyler - the perfect angel

Tyler debuted in his first Christmas pageant last night.  Unlike I said in my Christmas letter, he played the role of an angel rather than a star.  He looked adorable and I posted a picture from after the show.  It's nice for him to finally get some attention in that way since all of the shows and concerts have been focused on Kylie.  It was his turn and he did a GREAT job!  Yeah, Tyler!

Update...sorry so late!

Wow!  I didn't realize I haven't blogged since Halloween!  It's been one thing after the other and I'm just getting a breather right now.  I thought I'd post that I finished my first seminary class this past Saturday.  It was an excellent course and I'm excited to keep going.  It's so hard to take only one class at a time but at the same time I see it as a blessing.  While the other students have so much work with their full case loads, I can really enjoy the class I am in and take my time with the reading and papers.  In fact, I turned in one paper 2 weeks early!  I don't know if I've ever done that before.  My next class will be Church as a Social & Cultural Institution next semester.  Interesting title...we'll see where we go with that one!

The Christmas season is upon us and it was 55 degrees today!  I personally love the warmer weather but I know some of you are bummed about the prospect of a "green" Christmas.  Anyway, I am thankful for the "whiteness" that comes from a Savior who came to earth as a baby.  I am in awe that a loving God would do that for me!  It seems so undeserved.   Love to all and Merry Christmas!

Tyler debuts in the preschool Christmas play next Wednesday.  Look for posted pics next week!

Halloween

We trick-or-treated this year in Grammy and Grampy's neighborhood.  Kylie dressed up like a bunny and Tyler was a duck.  It was a quick run but they got lots of candy!  Everybody had fun.  Check out the posted pics.

Check it out!

I just posted the pictures from Kylie's 5 year old Kid's Party.  Check them out!

Lifetime member!

Oh!  I forgot to mention that I maintained my goal weight for 6 weeks in Weight Watchers!  I have now reached Lifetime member status.  And, what does that mean???  Now, as long I keep maintaining this weight I can go to all the meetings and do all the weigh-ins for FREE!

Kylie turns 5!

Kylie turned 5 years old today!  She had a family party this last Sunday and will have her kid's party tomorrow.  Her kid's party with be at our local YMCA down the street.  I had asked her what type of party she wanted and she told me "an exercise party" so she's having a Y-Be-Fit Kids party at the Y.  She still does her Pilate's video occasionally which is really a riot.  I hadn't actually seen her do the entire thing until a couple of weeks ago.  But, lo and behold, she did 17 out of the 18 Pilate's exercises!  Quite impressive.  She even got upset with Tyler when he barged in and interrupted her "routine".  She's like a "little Crista" as Chuck would say!  She's growing up so fast and we are so proud of the little girl she is!  Happy Birthday, Kylie!  I posted some pics from her family party.

A true blessing

I saw patients for the first time in 4 years today.  I had been in orientation at a new home care agency and now they've released me back into the medical world!  I have to say I was a little nervous.  I just prayed that God would work through and in spite of me and (guess what!) He was faithful (again!).  I was blessed with a wonderful first visit with an elderly woman who became very teary at the end of her treatment due to her physical situation.  Before I knew it, I had asked her if she prayed and then moments later there we sat in her kitchen asking God to heal her and take away her fear.  It was so natural and such a blessing.  We were both beaming ear to ear when I left.  God is good.  All the time.  I'll only be working one day a week but I can already tell God is going to give me nugget to take home with me each week.

I did it!

Well, after monthes of being in Weight Watchers I finally reached my goal weight!!!  It was hard work but I learned some great strategies for weight control.  I can honestly say now that I am back to the weight I was when I got married 10 years ago!  I may even be where I was before my knee surgery when I was 17!  It feels really good.  And, the best thing about it is that we are all eating healthier now.  If I maintain this weight for 6 weeks, I'll be a lifetime WW member and all my weigh-ins will be FREE!  Gotta love that!