Our Week At a Glance

  Ok...so I know it is only Sunday and I already posted this week, but I am trying not to take a nap today.  Anyway, yesterday we went to visit Mrs. Mobley, like we do every week.  Sometimes she goes out with us to the grocery store...but mostly we shop for her and bring it back.   So...her complaint yesterday was that she agreed to keep her grand-nephew's dog and she told us about 20 times that she would never agree to keep the dog again...but she certainly was cute...

 Micah and Noah love playing in her yard.  I hope we have a good yard for playing in someday soon...

We went grocery shopping and every week the boys get to pick out a treat.  Micah chose modeling clay and a dinosaur.  NOah chose a ball.  In the picture below, he was in the middle of throwing it around Publix.  A publix employee played for about 20 minutes while we waited on Micah to choose something.  "For the love of all things son...choose something"...I think that was my exact statement after 20 minutes:)

 

Here is me trying to take a picture of Mrs. MObley and myself...we were both looking a little rough...

And lastly, a picture of my matching boys!  Compliments of FeFe...this was before church as they ate their bagels and Cream cheese (compliments of Mimi:)) Noah copies everything Micah does...and I was trying to get him to hold his in his mouth.  He did...but as soon as I picked up the camera...he took it out.  The little stinker.  

 And now, Micah is watching netflix...and Noah is in the bed with a fever.  Life never slows down.  Until Next time!!!

Alright Party People...
    I am back at this blogging thing.  I am really going to be intentional about it because I was just told by a friend that you can make your blogs into books.  What a special gift to give my children by writing about their lives and printing it out as a keep sake.  So...here's what has happened over the past few months....weeks....years...whatever since I blogged last:)  I tried to put them in order...but we are just gonna roll with it.  From here on out...I will take pics during the week...and post what's happening...so it will be more organized:) 

Noah is growing up...here are a few of pictures of his growth

 Micah being himself:)

 Our dear friend Mrs. Mobley...

 Halloween 2012 and shirtless fun:)

 Aunt Becca started keeping the boys...answer to prayer!

 Micah will not throw a box away.  These are his many creations...

 Andy got a new sound board for church...he played with it for days....

My chefs!

Santa Claus came to Fefe and Yoyo's this year...but Mimi and Bobo came in January and brought LOTS of presents!

 One of our best friends, Jeremiah left to continue pursuing his music career...we miss him...

Andy and Micah running sound at Radius.........Me and the boys just hanging out.

And I almost forgot...Micah's new friend Chester lives at FeFe and Yoyo's house....

Ok...so again, I apologize about the randomness of these pictures.  Hopefully it will get better and these will be treasures in the future!

Sweet Aroma

     So, I have started a new waking up routine with a good friend in order to "maximize my mornings" compliments of inspiredtoaction.com and this morning was the first morning.  I didn't want to wake up, but a few minutes into my quiet time...and I was alive:).  I took the time to spend in God's word, pray, encourage my husband, worship, stretch, sing, eat breakfast, sit on the porch and marvel at the beauty, look in on my sleeping boys, and all of that in just 45 minutes.  It was good.  

     And then as I was getting ready for work, I was drying my hair and smelled baby powder.  I was not wearing baby powder and kind of detest deodorant that smells of baby powder...Then a funny thought hit me.  I was reminded of our ladies' retreat last year where we talked about a "sweet aroma" to Jesus.    And I laughed, thinking that my sweet aroma during this time in my life is that of baby powder because I am a mama:).  Praise God for a beautiful morning where I was encouraged to get out of bed and spend time with the One who made the morning.  

Who I am to You...

So the last few weeks have been rough. I think at some point, we all battle the thoughts in our heads and at times find ourselves defeated by them. That's been my past month. I was reminded last night by my husband that there are some big things on my plate in the next few weeks and these things could potentially (and hopefully) draw people closer to God. It seems as though these are the hardest times to fight what Satan attacks with...and generally, if you look from the beginning of time, Satan has us doubt who we are and our purpose in this life. The serpent asked Eve, "did God really say that you couldn't eat from this tree?"...she knew what God said...maybe she let doubt slip in...I don't know..I wasn't there. But I recognize that doubt is a swift beast that moves in and attacks we don't really notice at first.
But last night, I was reminded of who I am. Andy and I had some time to talk last night about life...and as he prayed for me...I just felt peace. Yes, God, this is just right. I went in to check on Micah and Noah before I went to bed myself...and Micah was sitting up with a fear on his face (although his eyes were closed)...as if on the verge of tears...I laid him down and placed my and on his arm...and instantly he went back to sleep. In that second...I felt God say, "I heard you...I hear you, Lannie. This is my reminder that I am here...just like your touch calmed Micah...let me do the same" (and He already had!).
And then, today, my mom talked to me about the song "Remind me who I am"...such a gentle reminder from God that when we ask, He does...

When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home,
Remind me who I am.
When I can't receive your love,
Afraid I'll never be enough,
Remind me who I am.

If I'm your beloved,Can you help me believe it.

Tell me once again who I am to you.
Who I am to you.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you.That I belong to you.
(excerpt from Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray)

--Lannie

Why I am not a good blogger:)

Ok, so I stink at this whole blogging thing. I admit it and that's the beginning of change:). Anyway, a lot has gone on in the Ott family over the past few weeks. Just thought I would post a few fun pics to catch you all up.

Opie, Micah's class pet stuffed owl, spent the week with us...

They played trains together.

We went on a family camping trip at Santee State Park...and had lots of fun. It was very windy so Noah and I had to spend time inside...

We met some neighbors, Stephanie and Stephan Walz...if anyone knows them, let us know...we can't find them on Facebook:(. They let Micah and Andy take a ride on their canoe.

Country boy Micah in his Carhart overalls...thanks to the Seeby's for hand me downs:)

We forgot Noah's Bumbo seat...so we made one out of a small cooler...2 words...red neck...or is that 1 word?

We decided that we need this little camper in the background...just slightly better than sleeping in a tent:) I grew up in the country and we would camp all the time around thanksgiving...but I have no desire to camp without access to a bathroom and a hot shower.

Tailgating with a friend at Radius for Baptism Sunday...

Halloween Costumes...superbaby and an angry bird.

Micah said he wanted to be an angry bird...so we made this costume...will be a great memory. His mimi bought a cowboy costume...which he sported for the 2 weeks prior to Halloween:)

And this face was too cute to pass up. I am so thankful for my sweet boys!!!!

Day 1

ok, so yesterday I had multiple auras beginning at work (an aura is a visual sensation prior to a migraine)...I did get the headache but it was manageable. Today, Micah and I did our stretches and ab exercises on the front porch. He likes when I lift him on my feet like my mama used to do. Tomorrow or Thursday we are going to try and go get "hula loops" and work on our core :). We went and picked up the inversion table...which Andy tried to pretend he wasn't excited about but he has been on it twice. It felt good to elongate my spine...we shall see if I see benefits tomorrow. Generally, every day I have pain getting up and down off the floor at work. I also have a hard time standing up straight and my back has to work itself into an upright position. So...that's today. More to come tomorrow.

30 days of Core Strengthening...

Ok...so there is more to this core strengthening thing than you think. I have a bad back...it was worsened by babies but the pain has always been there. So I went to the chiropractor and he could never adjust my lower back and he would always say "strengthen your core". Then, my doctor would say "strengthen your core". My sister who is a PTA always says "stretch your hamstrings and work your ab muscles". So...in an effort to challenge myself...I am going to keep tabs on this whole deal. I am going to work on a variety of things this month.
#1-I am going to pick up an inversion table from a friend in an attempt to stretch out my back on a daily basis.
#2-I am going to do ab exercises every day for a month...including a fun hula hoop!
#3-I am starting a prayer journal. Not only am I going to try to strengthen my actual core...I am going to work on my spiritual core muscles.
#4-I am going to blog about it every day in order to hold myself accountable and see my progress over the next month.
So starting today...I am doing this thing! Good thing is I am back to my weight pre-Micah...and I am working to get back to my weight pre-marriage (or at least closer than I am not:)) This is also going to help my body I hope. SO...keep up with me if you like...if not...that's great too. But I am doing this thing!!!! Another blog tonight about my back...