Three

The number three seems to be showing up a lot of places in my life lately. The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity had me thinking about our triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In March (the third month) we became a family of three. Peter is three months old now (how did that happen?), and today Michael and I celebrate three years of marriage. Three years as husband and wife. Three years of God's grace poured upon us in this beautiful sacrament.

{WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY A THOUSAND WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY}

The Gospel reading at our wedding Mass was from John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
       just as I have kept my Father's commandments
       and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
       and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."

{John 15:9-12}

The way He loves is the way we are called to love. And Jesus gives us this commandment that we may receive His joy - not the joy of this world, but an eternal joy. A joy like no other.

Michael, our joy became a little more complete in this third year as husband and wife. I pray we will continue to grow in joy for the rest of our lives together. Today I renew my commitment to always strive to love you as God loved His Son, and as Jesus loves us. Thank you for loving me even when I fail to do that, and for being so quick to forgive. I am forever grateful you chose me to be your bride.

Happy Anniversary. I love you more than I can say.

  P.S. Just for fun: our two year anniversary post // our love story

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7QT {no. 37} baby showers, baby bumps & birthdays

{1}
I just looked back and my last 7 Quick Takes post was written on December 5, 2014 - clearly it has been too long! So here I am! :)

{2}
In case you missed it, earlier this week I shared about the baby shower my family threw for us in Ohio. At the time, I promised to share about our baby shower in Michigan. So, without further ado...

My wonderful in-laws threw us a safari animal-themed baby shower, with the star animal being the giraffe (one of my favorites).

This crib (our baby's actual crib! yay!) was filled with blankets, toys, clothes & more.

{3}

All the food fit right in with the party's theme. My favorites were probably the adorable safari snake subway sandwich...

...and the zebra snacks. Brownies, chocolate-covered pretzel thins, chocolate covered strawberries & grapes -- all drizzled with vanilla almond bark. Yes, please! 

{4}

One of my favorite features of the party was that at each table there were books (about giraffes, naturally) where guests could leave a little note for our sweet boy. Such a fun idea!

We are so thankful to have so much love in our lives. Our baby is being born into two families who already adore him! What a blessing.

{5}

And here's a link to the post about our other baby shower, in case you'd like to take a peek - it's super cute, too!

{Baby, it's cold outside!}

{6}

While we are catching up on all I haven't blogged about, let's see what else I have missed...

Ah, yes - my sweet husband's birthday, which was almost a month ago! I always love celebrating him.

And tomorrow is his church birthday - the anniversary of his Baptism! So much to celebrate!

Of course, there was Valentine's Day. I made an "I love you" pie instead of my traditional "I love you" cake this year - pictured on the left here.

The picture on the right is our breakfast from Mardi Gras on Tuesday! Yes, I said breakfast. (May I confess: I felt so wild & crazy for serving/allowing this! I guess it doesn't take much for me...ha!)

{7}

And I'd be remiss not to include a baby bump picture! (Especially after my last one on the blog was at 27 weeks!) You may have already seen these over on the 'gram. But if not, here are 35 & 36 weeks:

Linking up with Kelly and many more lovely bloggers!

I hope you all are having a very blessed start to your Lent.
Have a beautiful weekend...

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7 Quick Takes {no. 31}inspiration series, gifts that give twice, and giving glory

Wow, Friday - am I glad to see you! It's been a busy week around these parts. (I typed that sentence and wanted to delete it after writing this post earlier this week, but I'll leave it to keep things honest.)

{1}

Last week I showed you some sketches of a new series I was working on for my etsy shop. This week I am delighted to share the finished products with you! Here are some of the new pieces available:

{2}
I designed this prayer inspiration series in hopes that these pieces will jump start prayer in your life:

{prayer inspiration series}

{3}

Here are two close-up shots of a couple of my favorites from the series:

{glory be}

{bless us, o lord}

{4}

I also designed two quotation inspiration prints with quotations from two of my favorite saints:

{the things that we love}

{love is the most beautiful sentiment}

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Gotta love them.

{5}

Speaking of St. Thomas and St. Gianna - as you may know - we named our first child, whom we lost to a miscarriage, Thomas Gianna after these two saints. You also may know about the birthday gift we are giving to the Gianna Center for Women in honor of our child. For one week only, all the proceeds from the sales of this new inspiration series will be going to the Gianna Center for Women as a part of our birthday gift fundraiser. So! If you are looking for a gift - whether it be for yourself, a birthday, a hostess gift, a baptism, (dare I mention) Christmas - you'll be giving twice when you purchase one of these prints. Thanks for visiting my shop and taking a look.

{6}

And, of course, I owe you an update on the birthday gift fundraising. Last week we had raised $715. Here's where we are this week:

Sing it with me! "Ooooooh, we're halfway there! Oooh-OH! Livin' on a prayer!" Thanks to a few generous donors we are now over halfway there. We are so grateful. Only one week left to reach our goal! We need YOU to help us get there! Thank you, as always, for your prayerful consideration.

{7}

I just want to leave you all with this beautiful song that I can't get out of my head lately. I'm sure my long-time readers will be shocked at who is singing:

To the Father, to the Son,

and to the Spirit be,

blessing, glory, honor, power,

might and majesty...

Amen. Amen, amen, amen.

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary and many more - click over to read more takes.

Have a beautiful weekend, dear readers...

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7 quick takes {no. 22} happiness edition

{1}

Happy Friday, friends! Today I am a very happy gal not only because it's Friday, but because on Sunday I will finally be back with Michael after several weeks apart. Woohoo!! I'm tellin' you what: long-distance is for the birds. So looking forward to being back with my man. So much happiness.

{2}

Speaking of my man, last week I got this text from him:

Love that guy so much. What a keeper.

{3}
Do you know what else makes me happy? The power of prayer. I was brought to tears by this instagram post from Mary earlier this week. I have been following Dwija & Beth's blogs for a while now, and to read this story of how their sweet babies in heaven have interceded as prayer warriors for people...it just makes my heart sing. I know our Thomas Gianna is up there praying for us, too. Thank you, Jesus.

{4}

I started praying this novena to St. Anne on Wednesday in preparation for the feast of Saints Anne and Joachim next Saturday, July 26. You can too, if you'd like! St. Anne, pray for us.

{5}

I was so excited today when I realized Bonnie of A Knotted Life (whom I adore) is going to be speaking near Houston on Sunday, July 27. Michael & I are going to try to attend - will you be there, too?

{6}

Are you following Blessed is She on instagram yet? As of right now, I design the instagrams on Saturdays. Here is one from last weekend:

Check our account tomorrow to see my instagram designs this week - but more importantly, to be enriched by God's word! So very good for the soul.

{7}

Well, I am fresh out of takes, which is probably for the best, as I need to get packing. Can't wait to be in Houston with my husband! Then only two weeks 'til we head to Michigan for my brother-in-law's wedding. {Would you keep Matthew & Jean in your prayers as they prepare for marriage?} Lots of joy in this season, for which I am very grateful.

Linking up these takes with many more! Thanks for hosting this weekly blog party, Jen!

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Two Years as One

June sixteenth, two thousand twelve was the happiest day of my life. 

Two years ago today I made a vow. I made a vow to Michael and to God that I would be true to my husband in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I vowed to love him and honor him all the days of my life. 

That's quite a promise to make, especially in the broken world we live in today. Thankfully though, I married a man who, with me, is striving (and failing and striving again) not to live for this world, but for the next. As a married couple we try to lead one another towards heaven. We encourage one another to become more and more the man and woman - the husband and wife - that God calls us to be. Marriage is our vocation, which means "a call." We believe we were called by God to be a living example of His love for the world. We can only do this by God's grace, and heaven knows we mess up (a lot). We are far from perfect; we have so much to learn. But what a gift to be united as one in marriage with my one true love and my very best friend. Thank you, Lord.

Thank you for the most wonderful two years, Michael. Thank you for being my husband, and thank you for choosing me as your bride. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us.

{ALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY A THOUSAND WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY}

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, 
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

                        {Colossians 3:12-17} - the second reading at our wedding ceremony, 6.16.12

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Father's Day {with a child in heaven}

First I want to wish a very happy Father's Day to my dad and my father-in-law! I count myself so, so blessed to have such an amazing dad. He has always made sure I know I have his endless love and support, and that is a true gift. I also must say just how much I adore my father-in-law. Really. I am a lucky girl.

Today I am also wishing my husband a blessed Father's Day.

Goodness, how I love this man. 

We never imagined our first baby would be in heaven for our first Father's/Mother's Days, but nevertheless, that's where our sweet Thomas Gianna is. At home with our Heavenly Father. Thomas Gianna, pray for us.

Speaking from our experience, the father has a difficult role in the event of a miscarriage, a role I think is often overlooked and undervalued. While the father does not have the physical burden to bear, this is no reason to discount his experience. The reality is, we had a miscarriage. We lost our child. Miscarriage was traumatic not only for me, but us.

Michael has told me how unbelievably helpless he felt throughout the whole experience. Wanting to make it stop, to bring me some relief, to do something - anything.

But I have something to tell you: He may have felt helpless, but he was heroic. Michael never left my side. He jumped at every opportunity to serve me. He prayed for me. He fought for me. He was patient - so, so patient. He held me in our suffering. He was the hands and feet of Christ. He loved me in the bad times, as he does in the good. He loved me in sickness, as he does in health. I would not have made it through that experience without my husband, who is a wonderful father.

Michael, thank you. There is no one else I would rather have as the father of our children. I am praying God blesses you in a special way this day.

Lord, please bless all fathers. Bless those who yearn to be fathers. Bless our spiritual fathers.
And thank you, Our Father, for loving us so very much. Amen.

7 Quick Takes {no. 20}

Happy Friday! Here are my quick takes (with Theme Thursday in take no. 5!):

{1}
Today is the feast of St. Anthony. I found this quotation of his this morning, and thought I would share it here:

St. Anthony's words ring truer than ever in today's world. How often external noise - noise that comes in many forms - distracts me from seeing the face of our Lord Jesus. St. Anthony, pray for us. 

{2}

I had an NYC first (and hopefully last) this week, friends: I was hit by a biker. My guardian angel must have been watching over me because somehow I didn't even fall down and the biker didn't fall off his bike. My hand got scratched up from his handlebars and I have a big ugly bruise/goose egg on my calf, but it could have been so much worse. Moral of the story: always double check that no one is coming, even when you have the right of way to cross the street. Oof.

{3}

On Wednesday my 5 favorites were about my favorite flower. I know there's been a lot of peony-love around this place lately, but I just can't help but share this picture with you:

God's creation is glorious.

{4}

Did you see this awesome post by Meg with 100 ideas for serving your church? It's a great read, and gave me a lot to think & pray about as I examine how I am serving the church in this season of life.

{5}

When I heard Cari's Theme Thursday yesterday was old-fashioned, something immediately jumped to mind: When Michael & I first moved to NYC we were engaged, but not married. We were living in different parts of town; Michael lived in Manhattan, near Columbia, and I lived in Astoria. I remember so many people being (very) surprised that we weren't living together. I'll never forget when one person said, "Wow! That's so old-fashioned!" He paused before continuing, "I like it!" Yes! Me too. Would it have been more convenient or cheaper to share an apartment, or less annoying than commuting a total of two hours a day to see each other? Yes. If I could go back, would I change what we did? No way. I wish that our choice to wait wasn't thought of as old-fashioned. I wish everyone could see the beauty of waiting for marriage to live with one another.

#proudtobeoldfashioned
{photo by A Thousand Words Photography}

The joy of marriage: completely worth the wait!

{6}
Speaking of marriage...Monday is Michael's & my two-year anniversary. Stop back then for a special post...if you like that sorta thing. :)

{7}

I'm fresh out of takes, my friends. It's a little quiet around here these days without my love. Counting down the days to seeing him again!

Linking up these quick takes with our guest hostess with the mostess (and that she is), the birthday gal, Kathryn at Team Whitaker!

Have a beautiful weekend!

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7 Quick Takes {no. 16}

Happy Friday!

{1}
On Tuesday night, Michael & I had a fancy date night (my favorite!). There's something about getting dressed up to go out that is just so much fun.

First we had a delicious dinner in the Time Warner Center with a gift certificate Michael gave me for Christmas. 

{view of Columbus Circle & Central Park}

After dinner we headed over to Lincoln Center to see La Cenerentola at the Met, courtesy of my grandpa. If you ask me, Lincoln Center (home not only to the Metropolitan Opera but to the New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic and several other major arts companies) is one of the most beautiful places in all of NYC. I just love it there.

We had such a fun evening, which was a true blessing.

{2}

The next morning I got my hair cut. I hadn't had it cut since November, so it felt great! I love going to get my hair done. It always feels so nice.

Selfie of my new hairdo!

{3}
On Monday I started my Mondays in May: Honoring Mary series. Be thinking of a post you might want to link up (old or new!) for my Marian linkup on May 26th. I'd love for you to join me!

{4}
Speaking of Mary...do you know about the organization Pray More Novenas? If you go to their website you can sign up to pray various novenas with many other men & women around the world. They send the novena prayers to your e-mail, which (hopefully) makes it easier to pray each day. Their next novena is to Mary, Undoer of Knots. (Her picture is always at the top of my favorite blogs, Bonnie's A Knotted Life!) If you enjoyed the Novena to St. Gianna, you might like praying with praymorenovenas.com, too. I've found it to be a great resource in my prayer life.

{5}

I finished reading Something Other Than God this week, and oh my goodness did I ever enjoy it.
Full review coming sometime next week, I hope!

I spy with my little eye, Something......Other Than God!

Michael couldn't put it down either.

{6}
Michael & I are heading to New Jersey for part of the weekend to visit some friends who had recently had their second child on Easter Sunday. We are looking forward to meeting him and to seeing our friends. Another friend of mine - hi, Gina! - had her second baby earlier this week too. Would you say a prayer for my dear friends and their growing families? These sweet new lives are such blessings! And Kathryn had her baby, too!

{7}
Gotta run, so that's all for today! Hop on over to Conversion Diary to read Jen's takes and many more. Have a great weekend!

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Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

When I saw that Stephanie at Captive the Heart was hosting a linkup to share the old, new, borrowed & blue items from your wedding, I knew I wanted to join in the fun. I so enjoyed celebrating this tradition on my wedding day and took care in choosing each of these.

{something old}

We had the wedding veils of my mother and mother-in-law on display at the wedding.
(My mother-in-law's veil is on the left and my mother's is on the right.)

To cut our cake we used a cake knife which was previously used at the weddings of my grandparents, parents, aunts & uncles. Really special!

{something new}

{my sister - tying the bow of my sash}

Of course there are many, many new things at a wedding. I absolutely adored everything I wore for my wedding, but one detail I particularly loved was the sash on my dress. It was a beautiful silk organza flower with crystal accents. It tied around my back into a pretty, flowing bow.

{Loved the cloth-covered buttons on my dress, too!}

 {something borrowed}

I borrowed two beautiful handkerchiefs - one from my mom and one from my mother-in-law.
And they were put to good use throughout the day, let me tell you!

So many happy tears! I'll spare you the ugly cry photos. :)
And, not to worry - we laughed a lot, too.

{something blue}

How sweet is this bridal clutch?
My sister gave it to me as a shower gift so I would have my (subtle) something blue!

{linkup hosted by Stephanie at Captive the Heart}

What a fun, fun tradition! So! Did you have something old, new, borrowed & blue at your wedding? I'd love to hear!

{all wedding photography by A Thousand Words Photography}

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