Monday, January 30, 2017

1.30.17




How is January practically over?! I am not complaining... I loved the newness of the new year... but the coldness is no fun... so I would like to fast forward to April right now :)

Thankful this week  for...

Fellowship Friday ( a new catch phrase ;) One "couples goal" for us in 2017, is to invite more believers over to hang out & get to know them on a deeper level then the "Hi how are you" on Sunday morning, when really I do care about them but I truly am side tracked wondering how many dry erase markers Hudson has found and how many walls he is drawing on 😲.
We have dedicated 2 Fridays each month to this and Month 1 was success!!


random deer crossing the cemetery road at 4pm.... it's so peaceful driving home from the crazy fast paced city... and then a few blocks from our house we saw this...


Thankful for CBD's awesome customer service with our bible delivery!

Thankful for beginning new reads with a great friend
Image result for children matter book


Thankful for another amazing PGM Bible Program graduation night! 
Nic is next to Matt, and if you look closely you can see a black heart on his shirt. 
During his testimony on graduation night, he took off his graduation robe, and showed everyone his "new heart". He is too much! Such life! So encouraging!




 This was a special night for Matt, as he was asked to speak... normally he speaks to the homeless night guests, but it was extra stressful and extra special that he was speaking to his peers, families of the graduates, Bible Program guys and a bunch of homeless guests. As you can see from the pics, he was animated and full of the Spirit- there were some moments when I was praying he would just breathe and not have a heart attack- literally seemed like a cardio workout up there- but the Lord gave serious help ... and Mary was a peach and kept our kiddos home- so I could be there solo with my preacher man 💘


 Thankful for another blessing from PGM.
 Food Friday! Dirt Cups for our Plant unit ( And to my teacher friends- how crazy that we have a plant unit in January!? Makes NO kinda sense.!!)




Thankful for joy in the parenting journey...

 Saturday morning is my FAVE weight class... Saturday morning Harrison woke up looking like a pirate with one eye glued shut with crusty nastiness. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh... I might have told Matt "he owes me big for missing my fave weight class" to which Harrison said "sorry mom but at least we get a date!" Wow this boy. Insert all the feet in my mouth. Insert all the heart emojis for this boy. So my reset button was pushed. Date time it was. First stop Urgent Care, Next stop antibiotics for sinus and pink eye.
 Showing off new Nikes, thanks to PGM!
 Third stop- breakfast!! Fourth stop- shopping. Yes big H, it was way better spent then lifting weights. You are such a special kid & at 11, you kill me with your flipping water bottle self- but the love in my heart for you is so much. 💚💚💚

Sunday morning comes, and we decide to worship at an assembly a block from our house, leaving Harrison home alone. He has Matt's phone and 15 minutes into service... this is what we get... lol... oh Harrison... that washing machine is scary ;)


Lunch date out


 XO
 XO




Happy last week in January!!!

Monday, January 23, 2017

1.23.17




Attitude of Gratitude for the week's blessings....

Thankful that Mary got home from her travels safely!
Thankful that baby Allen was born!
Thankful that Mila and Dusty are over the moon with love for this munchkin, and have begun their parenthood journey.
Thankful for warm weather!
Thankful for a sick weight class that has me finally getting back in shape slowwwly.
Thankful for  prayer time.
Thankful for a new bible study beginning with Lysa Terquerst. Interested? https://www.p31bookstore.com/products/finding-i-am-bible-study-book
Thankful for our tax guy.
Thankful to be in my final class.
Thankful that Matt got approved to student teach at my school, in the class with my former kids from last year. Prayers appreciated as we navigate the changes between him working full time and him potentially student teaching full time for 16 weeks..if the Lord wills.... changes in schedule, structure and finances.




Friday, after work... the Lord totally lifted Matt's spirits by helping with the 1st job fair at PGM! 15 businesses came in to speak to Matt's group... the week leading up Matt was met with lots of doubt and hindrance from other co-workers.. funny how the devil uses other believers to throw the 1st stone of doubt ... who don't embrace the growth mindset... But God is bigger.... and Friday came.. and all the wonderings about this new idea of a job fair on site... were met with amazing realities... and the joy that was spread was amazing... the hope that was spread ...  BAM... unreal... Yay!
 Happy fam headed home from hospital xo

 Star Speller! Mary helped Hannah study her hard words this week and this girl ACED that test!!! A new snuggle buggle bear was for sure needed ;)

 These two. xo
 This baby has us all obsessed. Such a perfect little buddy....
 Hannah was blessed with two parties this weekend and one had a super cute clown doing great face painting.


Image result for ann voskamp prayer warrior
Found this on Ann Voskamp's site last week, printed and have it on our door ... so this GREAT reminder hits us every single time we leave.

Enjoy the week friends. XO

Friday, January 20, 2017

Welcoming our adorable nephew




Image result for being an aunt quotes  Yes, Winnie  you are 100% correct.
This little guy is too much to handle. So much cuteness. So much miracle. So much blessing. We are thankful and very very very excited. #tryingnottosmother #Ijustcanthelpit #AuntieAliisinfullforce

{So at times like this.... I see God smiling and just wanting to say Hey I told you it ALL works for your good... we got back from FL with grudging hearts about the Whys of living in the cold windy gray state of IL... and we know God put us here.. for now... and for times like this when we can snuggle our newborn, 3 hour old nephew, and embrace a tearfully, emotional brother, and hug on and love on the new momma... this is why God has called us here... this is a piece of our Chicago puzzle... and we are loving seeing God use it all for His good... even if it's cold 80% of the time... our hearts couldn't be warmer..}


 
Brand New 
Allen Zigmund Hill 
*A*Z*H 

 The perfection of God's handiwork... the teeny nose... those lips... and those itty fingers!?! 
This baby comes at the PERFECT time when I may be having the teeniest amount of baby fever... Little Al Pal will be my cure :) 


Big Bro... the guy who we totally had on record that 1- he was for sure not getting married and 2- would adopt a little boy & spoil him rotten... 
well thankful he married beautiful, fun Mila!! And here's that son... the son that will be so loved on by so many.. and has been prayed for so much already... the Lord has big plans... and how amazingly cool to see the glorious unfolding...

Mimi and Grandpa Ray 

That face!!! Kissable!!!

We meet at last. Smitten. 200000%. 

Only dreamed about this day... and here it is... soo special.
 
The cousins will love lovin' on him- but it was like wayyy too much for them in the hospital room...Hudson was not a fan of sharing momma! 


Those cheeks!!!


Image result for being an aunt quotes