Vote for Hudson...

He is now in the running to be a finalist in the Parents Magazine cover contest! Please help him win.

I know he is my kiddo, but I think he is pretty much the cutest little charmer ever!

http://photos.parents.com/parents-cover-contest-2011/17/2011/787

Pampered Chef Giveaway...

My sweet friend Christy is a Pampered Chef Consultant. I have loved their stuff for several years and am looking forward to buying some stuff in the near future for our new home.

Please enter her giveaway here: http://2lovebirdsonthemove.blogspot.com/2011/04/giveaway.html

Art Business...

I wanted to share on here about my art studio "The Vintage Canvas". My goal is to sell art (wall art, murals, stationary, etc) that glorify God and make people smile.

You can view and buy art pieces on my etsy site: The Vintage Canvas Etsy shop

or on facebook: Stephanie Breznau-Artist

Vintage Pearl Giveaway...

http://thevintagepearl.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-birthday-to-me-big-giveaway.html

hello life...

It has been a myriad of emotions for me living in Michigan. It has been so dark, gray and cold. I am excited to see the area now that the snow has melted (a girl can hope, right?).

We absolutely love our new church family. They have been so welcoming and loving to us. We really do feel privileged to work with the teens and see Christ working in their lives. :-) We already love them so much and pray for them every day.

The house search is going well. We have a wonderful Realtor from our church. Our lives have been so very busy that we have only had the chance to go and look at houses once, but we are constantly looking at listings and praying that God will lead us to the one He wants us to have. :-)

Hudson is growing so fast and constantly amazes us at his quick learning and joyful personality. I enjoy our times of reading and playing together so much. His favorite things in the world are cars, his "bebe" (little puppy blanky he sleeps with), and mama and papa. :-) I've started working with him to sit with us in church. He is a bundle of energy so it may take a while. :-P Any tips would be appreciated. He definitely has a little will of his own and we pray that it will be used to the glory of God someday, but right now we are working on taming it. :-P

Michael is super busy with school and church work. He will walk in the DTS graduation in May, but will receive his degree upon the completion of his thesis in July. We can't wait! It has been an amazing journey, but we are definitely ready for him to be done with papers, exams, and school. Even with the pressures of everything outside our home, he remains sweet, caring, and wonderful. I sure do love my husband!

My parents came for a week-long visit the beginning of March and boy was it fun! It definitely went by way too fast though. My mom really helped me organize and de-clutter! I get to see them again in June when my "little" brother Philip gets married to his sweet Ellen (kind of weird to see him actually old enough to marry).

I try to stay busy with my little home and taking care of my boys. I also spend a lot of time drawing and trying to get my art business off the ground (The Vintage Canvas). I am looking forward to making some friends up here to do things with! I really need a girl's night. :-D

Prayer requests for our family...
* That we can be available to the teens when they need us!
* That Michael can finish school on time and for the glory of God!
* My health... going to dr's soon to try to pinpoint some things.
* That Hudson would be obedient and we can try to skip the "terrible twos" ;-)
* That I can be the wife and mother He wants me to be.

Best Swaddler on the planet...

Just wanted to give a shout out to this miracle product. I know that sounds overly sensational, but I can attest to the fact that it helped my baby sleep through the night completely by three months old. :-D

http://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-SwaddleMe-Organic-Cotton-Natural/dp/B0013RRNLI

Hudson loved it too. He looked just like a little burrito. :-)

Loving People...

I just really love people. I love being around them, observing them, caring for them, giving to them, and being there for them. I am not perfect by any means (that is for sure and certain), ;-) and I am sure I irritate more people than I realize, but I do love people. :-) I think that is why I rarely get offended with people, in that I know people aren't perfect and try to think the best of them. One thing that keeps me from getting mad and bitter at people is to remind myself of how much Christ has forgiven me of. :-)

I guess my thoughts for today are that more people should talk about their feelings. If someone is offended with me, I *appreciate* them telling me so and sharing what I did. That way I can take care of it asap! It hurts me when someone just disappears off the radar because they are mad at me but don't want to confront it. It is usually a misunderstanding 99% of the time. Let's face it, we've ALL been guilty of speaking before thinking, right? I think it IS way easier to just brush it off and not talk to someone again rather than talk it out. This is a reminder to friends and an admonition to myself. Life is much easier when we are nice to people. Friendship is worth all the work. :-)

"When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath your exasperation, your fury or indignation last until the sun goes down. Leave no such room or foothold for the devil give no opportunity to him." ~ Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB