Smell the Flowers

I did my flowers/garden yesterday, and I have the sunburn to prove it! This year for my garden, I am only doing a few vegetable plants, herbs, and flower boxes/pots.  My parsley came back from last year-so weird! We decided to go simple on the flowers this year. I just don't see the need to have tons and tons. Less is always more, I say. I used petunias because I have had success with them before. In other words, I don't kill them! ha! Let's hope I remember to water them. I have been following a blog (the blogger is a cousin of my friend Tanya) that has the coolest ideas for decorating, gardening, etc. A couple weeks ago, she blogged about making a miniature herb garden. It was so cute! I decided to try it myself. I also tried her idea of using chalkboard spray paint to spray a solid outlet cover, cover the holes with ribbon/twine/yarn, and use chalk to write whatever on it. I am going to use this label idea for the baby's toy baskets. I will have a label for everything!  While I was planting, Giana was on a blanket with her toys. She did not like the feel of the grass. Her face was hilarious when I sat her down in it! She cracks us up. :)

Enjoy the pics and your weekend! -AGM

Before

After                                                                                               After (check out the chalkboard label!)

        Front Flowers

                

Backyard Vegetable Garden (see my parsley in the middle?! craziness)

The Cutest Little Gardener Ever

Nana's May Visit

My mom had a chance to come and make a quick visit almost two weeks ago. I have been meaning to share some Mother's day pictures and her visit. I am so blessed to have spent my first Mother's Day with my mom. We had a wonderful time! Jared took us to Fire Rock Grill for a Mother's Day Brunch. It was scrumptious! haha love that word....;) During mom's visit, we went to Holland and shopped at our favorite shops. Mom also went with us to Giana's swim class. Our time together is always so special. I am so thankful for these precious visits. Giana and I will be making trips to RI this summer, so it will be great to see friends and family soon!

Pictures taken:

Olga's in East Grand Rapids

Downtown Holland

Fire Rock Grill

Choir Concert 2012

Tonight, I had my last concert for the school year. It was a Choir Concert with my Cherub and Elementary Choirs. The students were so adorable. They have worked hard since January on their songs, and they were excited to perform them! I had some AWESOME moms volunteer to make this night run smoothly. One mom decided to decorate the stage with music paper flowers! I had to share some pics and the tutorial she used to make them. They came out so cute! Check out the link and the pics:
http://evie-s.com/news/2010/08/31/week-of-paper-flowers/

My choristers gave me beautiful flowers. They sang great! I am so proud of their hard work.

            

 I also had moms volunteer to make cake pops and cupcakes. They looked and tasted awesome! I am so thankful for my Tri-Unity Family!

 

Thanks for reading!-AGM

Swimming Lessons

             Giana started swim lessons! It's a swim class that meets on Saturday mornings that helps babies get comfortable in the water and learn some basic swim skills. Giana loves it! The biggest fear (for mommy) was dunking her fast under the water, but she did fabulous! My mom was able to go to one of her swim lessons when she visited last week. Nana loved seeing Giana in the water. Giana is going to be ready for Papa to take her out on the boat and raft! She is also going to be ready for the beach this summer! It will be so much fun seeing Giana experience the beach for the first time. 

Enjoy the swimming videos and pics from the past few weeks! -AM

Spring Program 2012

I wanted to share what I do (other than being a mommy). I am a music teacher at Tri-Unity Christian School. I have been working there for 4 years. I am blessed to have a job where I am able to use my degree and share my passion for music. I love all the students- we have a blast! They did a great job at their Spring Program. I now have one more Choir Concert this Spring and then I can finally exhale...You would think that I would not get nervous after 4 years of doing them! My voice teacher in high school once told me that being nervous is good- it keeps you humble and on your toes-when you think you have arrived that's when you get in trouble. hmmmm I think I agree with that! It's so important to stay humble and give the Lord all the praise in everything that you do. Anyways, I am so proud of my students, the teachers, and parents who made this concert a success! God was lifted up last night and that's all that matters! Here are some pictures from this year's Spring Program:

My Mom

Happy Mother's Day! I wanted to write about my mom and how much she means to me. Becoming a mother has shown me that the love you have for your child is indescribable. I love Giana with my whole heart and would give my life for her. Understanding and feeling this love for my daughter helps me understand how deep my own mother's love is for me and my sister. She has shown unconditional love to us both. Regardless of all my/our faults, she loves us. My mom is unselfish. She gives generously of her time, energy, talents, and gifts to make our family and friends grow and flourish. Even today, we were shopping and she had to pick up this adorable scarf for my sister because she knew she would just love it! My mom thinks of others all the time. She puts other's needs and wants above her own. My mom is patient and kind. There were many times I know I drove her crazy; but she was always there to patiently guide and help me make the right choices. My mom is beautiful inside and out. I admire her strength and drive she has for life. Today, I celebrate my mother. Mom, I love you and am thankful that God gave me you as my mother.

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~I Corinthians 13:4-7


Happy Mother's Day! -AM

I'm Morbid

One of the reasons I love running is that it clears my mind. On my run this morning, I was listening to worship music, going through my thoughts and sharing with the Lord my concerns and requests. I was telling Jared last night that I was feeling "morbid"....What do I mean by that? I feel like everywhere I turn I am hearing that someone has an awful sickness; someone lost their job; someone has passed away; someone is carrying serious burden. It's so easy for me to get "weighed down" by the problems of others and my own. I tend to lose focus on the Lord and let the problems consume me. On my run, I was listening to a worship song and it started with this: "In the midst of the darkness, You're the Light that guides me through. Our eyes are on You. You are near to the broken. The weak find their strength in You. Our eyes are on You." Our eyes need to be on the Lord because He will never leave us in our problems. He is the one who never fails us and always keeps His promises. Ps. 9:10 "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you."

My challenge for myself today is to keep my eyes on Him, to stay positive and to focus on His many blessings in my life.


Here are some Giana pics:
                       Hanging out in her crib           Walking with daddy to the park

               Giana loves to swing!              Zachary and Giana playing together.

                    

Thanks for reading our blog! -AM

Crawling

What an exciting week for Giana, mommy and daddy! She started crawling this past week. Jared had the TV remote on the floor, and she went after it and started crawling. It cracks me up that babies love "toys" that are not their own! She has been so close and to see her finally crawl and complete this milestone is so exciting. Check out her crawling yesterday after her swim lesson. Giana also turned 7 months today! Our baby girl is growing up so fast.

Thanks for sharing in our lives! -AM