On Life: A long overdue update

So excited to be back here, ready to share with you about the many blessings we have experienced lately. It's going to be a whirlwind, so hang on friends!

1. The announcements have been made, via Christmas cards, facebook, and one on one interactions, but the last step is sharing it here in my blog. Are. You. Ready? {Que the drum roll please}

2. Baby Girl has a name. Sienna Marie. Isn't it beautiful? {hint: if you don't agree, don't tell me ;)}
We wish Sienna had biblical meaning like the boys first names, but it has personal meaning to us as we (my husband and I) met at Siena Heights University. And I'm excited to be passing down my middle name to her as well, a name that has meaning in both my family and Brian's family.

3. Early in December I posted that I really wanted the month to be a time where we, as a family, stepped back and spent more time in the Word, focusing on Advent and the reason for Christmas. I'm happy to report that we did that. And it went well. I also used that time to step away from Facebook a bit, limiting myself to 15 minutes or so a day and really tried to evaluate facebook and it's place in my life. It was a good time for me.

4. As a result of that time, analyzing and processing, I made some changes to my facebook settings and hacked it to be more suitable to my needs as they stand right now. I was fed up with the negativity that would stream into my life through the feeds. I was overwhelmed and annoyed by the ads, political platforms, and the accusations, anger and bitterness people seem to thrive on. But, I also highly value having access to communicate with old friends, church friends, babyfit friends, and family who is spread across country wide, and grow deeper in those relationships. Facebook is the easiest way for me to share family photos with those who are closest to me. But I've come to realize, that not everyone on my friends list needs to see everything I post, and I don't need to know what everyone on my list is doing either. So, I'm utilizing the "Close Friends" list Facebook provides. I've set my status', and photos to be visible to this list only and have selected about 25% of my friends list for this list. These are the people who are edifying in some way, who help me to grow in my relationship with the Lord, who make me laugh, or who simply mean the world to me. Plain and simple. When I log onto Facebook I simply select that list, and scroll through those status's and posts and avoid the main news feed as much as possible. And I must say, I made this change on the first of the year and the difference it has made is unreal. Facebook is now a place that I have some control over. It's a place that brings me light, and doesn't consume too much of my time. I still have access to all of my friends and them to me, and allow my blog posts and occasional status's to go to the whole friends list, but this has helped me to be more productive and allow facebook to influence me in a positive way instead of taking all the negativity with the good.

5. The Lord blessed us with a new car this month. Several weeks back we had a call from a relative saying they would be selling a car and wondering if we were interested in it, for a good deal, we were! With the holidays and a few details that needed to be worked out. Then one day my van up and died, we think it's the battery but my husband can't get it out for several reasons, and low and behold this opportunity was already there for a quick, stress free replacement that was able to help us out before we suffered any of the inconveniences of being down to one car. PRAISE THE LORD! I call the car "Gramps."

6. The Lord is really showing himself and his blessings right now through favor in both of our work places, and that, in a time where our economy is struggling is an absolute blessing that must be sung in praise!

7. This last weekend the Lord blessed us with a rare treat for Michigan. Beautiful weather in January. It was so nice that we took some time out from our cleaning and errands and busy day to get Micah's new bike put together and allow him to experience it for the first time. A giant thank you to my parents for the amazing gift,  a bike is more than just a possession to a little boy, it's opportunity, and personal ownership, it's that feeling of being big. Take a look for yourself (yes, they are in pajamas at 4 in the afternoon, and Gramps is in the driveway so you get to see a lot of his tail end)...

Micah: "Yeaaaaaaa, Micah!" 

8. Owen got a Wii for Christmas, and loves it more than life itself lol. Working on trying to make sure he stays grounded and doesn't get too absorbed into video games. Rules and time limits have been of the up most importance. Micah's imagination never stops working. He is always making up stories, and pretending that his bed is a spaceship has helped improve our bedtime routine by significant amounts. Our lives have been measurably changed, and it all started with a blanket my sister made him for Christmas, a blanket with space pictures, and rockets. The "Magic Blanket." Basically, the blanket just helped us realize that Micah functions in imagination, I'm trying to use this new knowledge to help think of creative ways to teach him things like the ABC's and spelling, phone numbers etc, simply singing a song doesn't work for him the way it did for Owen. 

And, that my friends, is most of it. God continues to stir in our hearts with our new years theme of being rooted and we are so excited about the ministries we are involved in at church and the attitude we are re-cultivating in our home.

"Look mom, it can fly like Mary Poppins"

Photo by Micah

May God bless you abundantly, until Friday!

Teresa :)

2,557 Days

4,583 days ago I met my best friend. 

2,557 days ago we got married. 

1,827 days ago we became parents. 

Day 18,253 well honey, 

that's fifty years, here's to you and me! 

There isn't anything in this world I would rather be, than your wife. 

I can't wait to be by your side as the rest of our story unfolds, blessings and trials I know the Lord will use them to bring us closer together and make our relationship even stronger. 

I love you through and through. 

Happy 7th Anniversary! 

Preparing to be a MIL Series: Preparing My Heart

I've been thinking a lot about my boys, and their futures.

About what it will be like many moons from now when they bring home girlfriends, fiances, and then wives. What a blessing that will be.

I've mentioned before how much I long for a daughter, I love being able to bless young ladies and my friends daughters, babysitters and girls from our church youth group. I love my boys, I can't imagine life any differently, but I always thought I'd have girls. Perhaps I have one waiting for me in heaven, but until then, I want to be used now as a blessing for the girls in my life and those who will be married in before I know it.

Oh how sweet it will be to gain daughters through marriage.

As the mother of boys, and (hopefully) future mother-in-law to two daughters, I have some responsibilities. I have been blessed with two amazing mother-in-laws myself, and greatly desire to be a blessing and loved fully by my daughter-in-laws in turn. So, I wanted to share with you guy's a few of the things that I have been and can be doing, to ensure an amazing relationship. I will post four key areas over the next two weeks that I've been focusing on. I hope you will join along with me on the journey, that you will feel encouraged to share things you do/did to prepare for your own daughter/son in laws.

Preparing My Heart

I have been blessed with the most adorable smiles. 

Blue eyes that reflect their fathers. 

They once had teeny tiny hands. Teeny tiny toes. 

I've held their hands, wiped their tears, doctored their wounds. 

Laughter rings through the house, their sweet voices ask for hugs, kisses, wrestles, "sugars and snacks". 

At four and two I know the memories are just beginning, the many many heart strings I already have are in all reality a fraction of what will be there when these boys have become men. 

Oh how hard it will be to let go. 

To see someone else filling my role as nurturer and lover. 

And that is why the first thing I need to do as a mother, a future mother-in-law is prepare my heart. Even now, for taking a back seat to my new daughters, to let them fill those needs in my sons lives. 

Through prayer and submission I know that the Lord will give me the strength, the heart, and courage. Where I need encouragement my husband will be there, holding me. 

www.liagiannottiphotography.com

It is my prayer that I will be willing, gentle, welcoming, understanding, generous, giving, flexible, and that my heart will grow to make room for the new additions to our family, swelling with love and pride for each one individually. 

What are your prayers, your words of advice for preparing the heart for letting go?

On Wednesday I'll be putting up a few videos of the boys for the second post of this series. Videos of the most adorable thing ever. See you then!

Baby Brag Session

If I try really hard, I can vaguely remember a time in my early adulthood when hearing women brag and drone on about their children drove me absolutely insane. Vaguely. ;)

No, seriously. I remember wondering what was so special about a six month old splashing in the bathtub or a two year old singing a cute song.

{Note: The time this stands out the most, was during our engagement. So, naturally I was obsessed with nothing but wedding talk, and therefore probably drove all the mothers insane talking about nothing but my wedding plans}

But, now I have kids and I magically understand it. They are part of you, they become your entire world.

I do try, to be sensitive to those without children and make an effort to talk about other things, other aspects of life, other blessings. When my girlfriends that I get together with every month, we all make a conscious effort to talk about a spectrum of things, not just our adorable fledglings.

But I can see the attraction, I now understand that passion and desire to brag and brag and brag.

So, this is your warning, if hearing about my children isn't your cup of tea, or if your feeling all children-ed out tonight, well then, this post isn't for you. Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again soon!

Owen really surprised me tonight. As we were driving home from daycare today he started talking to me really quietly. This is how our conversation went.

Owen: "Mom, I have something that I think I have to tell you."
Me: "Ok."
O: "One time, when I was using your computer, and sitting at the table."
Me: "I can't hear you bud, speak up"
O: "I was eating macaroni and cheese while using your computer. I'm not supposed to eat while on your computer but I was anyway."
Me: "When were you doing this?" I asked even though I thought I knew.
O: "When Linnea was watching me."
Me: "What do you think about the fact that you did that?"
O: "That I'm sorry."

I went on to tell him the reasoning behind the rule that he can't eat while on my computer. Have you ever tried to confess a mistake to someone? It's hard work. It's very hard to admit you did something wrong and know that it's possible you could get into trouble. But Owen did it, and I'm so proud of him. So glad that he's beginning to understand what it means to be responsible. Now if only that responsibility would transfer into better listening skills.

He has also been doing an amazing job, remembering the bible verses we have been trying to teach him, and in just a few weeks has memorized the first several books of the old testament.

He has been a good big brother lately too, aside from trying to hoard all of the toys, he makes sure that Micah doesn't eat anything with peanut butter or eggs (allergies) in it and alerts us immediately when "Danger Mom! Micah's ..." Love his protective instincts.

Micah's language is absolutely exploding. Usually when he's strapped into his big boy chair he just starts repeating "out" and "mom" but tonight he turned around after squirming for a few minutes and said "Mom let me out please."
That's like a legit sentence with parts of speech and everything.

I can't believe how much they are starting to look alike, and look up to their dad.

Ok, well it's bed time, so your spared anymore gushing.

Have a great night!

The Simple Little Things

Thank you today Lord, 

For the simple things in life that bring us joy.

Source: google.com via Mindy on Pinterest

For the frilly girly things that make me smile.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

The blessing of not just having clothes 

but cute clothes.

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Teresa on Pinterest

For makeup, wedding rings, sleek black boots, earnings, sweaters and scarves.

Source: polyvore.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Thank you for comforters, pillows, beds. 

Picture frames, flowers, and trinkets that decorate our homes. 

Source: 7thhouseontheleft.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Thank you Lord for the ability to remember 

moments not caught on camera.

Source: Uploaded by user via mk on Pinterest

Smiles, laughter, comforting hugs, 

moments with mommy, 

and night time prayers whispered by a four year old. 

Source: google.com via Hailey on Pinterest

Thank you for this day and each little thing, 

each seemingly small blessing 

that will make it so full and abundant, 

so special it's worth remembering. 
Amen


P.S. Thank you for Pinterest to store and share all of these beautiful images and things we have been blessed with.


Linking up today with: 

Lingering Laughter

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for the simple moments in life, 

where shared laughter lingers together and turns acquaintances into friends, and friends into better friends. 

Photo Found through a Google search

For the sounds of many children across different ages and family lifestyles, blending together to form one giant friendship for the evening. Laughing, playing, creating and simply being content to have company. 

Thank you Lord, for times of fellowship with believers, both times of seeking and those of just being in each others presence.

I've had a wonderful weekend of doing just that with an old friend from work, my husband, and a group of christian friends. Thank you for the opportunity to grow in these relationships, for these moments that will meld together with those we've already had, and those yet to come to help create beautiful lasting friendships. 

Brothers

Abba Father, 

Thank you so much for these rare moments of brotherly love. 

the times where I can see their hearts becoming friends. 

I praise you Lord for this blessing of having each other, that ones tears can be lifted by the others smile. That ones laughter is not alone but echo'd by his brother. 

I thank you for these moments that have been happening more often. For the quiet way they have started to play together, when the wrestling, fighting, and tattling has ceased. 

I praise you for the eyes they inherited from their daddy. 

When I look in their eyes I see the reflection of the man who reminded me to be calm, to be strong when I was delivering both of these healthy more than 8lb babies. I pray that one day, when they are both grown, they will say to their wives "look in my eyes, look in my eyes and breath" and when their wives do, they will see hearts that love You Father, and collect strength and peace that comes from You alone. 

The Art of Being Handsome

Gracious and Loving Father, 

I praise you today for the handsomeness that is my husband. 

I love how the more I fall in love with him the more handsome he becomes

 to me. 

His beauty is greater than his amazing blue eyes, 

dark wavy hair, and beautiful smile. 

His beauty is his fun, his leading, his hard work and dedication to our family, to our home. 

His beauty is in the way he plays with and loves on our kids, 

how he interacts with them and shows them what it means to be 

good husbands, 

strong men, 

with strong faith. 

Thank you Lord, 

for the blessing of a handsome husband with a heart for you.