Last Friday was Ted's day off...Woo hoo!!! Since we've been back from vacation he's been working really long hours and his days off have been few. Our brother-in-law has a brother who is an amazing photographer, and we've been planning for months to do some family photos. For weeks we've been looking forward to doing this especially since Bobby is changing so much every day! So, Friday was finally here and time for pics! We couldn't decide where we wanted to take our photos and then they mentioned the Rose Garden. Everytime somebody talks about that place it makes me all happy inside. That is Ted's and I's "place." It's the place where his parents got married, it's the place where we would spend many evenings walking and talking about our future, it's the place that he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him, it's the place that we fell in love! So, we were pretty excited to take photographs there...
We started out with a Duff family photo including Ted's family. Then we took many more photos of the kids! Ted and I decided that we'd like to have some special pictures taken together. Chris (our photographer) asked us what spot we'd like to take our pics together, and Ted and I immediately said, "how about the spot where Ted proposed!" As we're walking there, Chris is giving us many compliments on our family and Ted and I's relationship, and how happy he is to be able to photograph us FINALLY! We get to our spot and it was like deja vu! The flowers looked EXACTLY the same as it did the day he proposed and I felt the same butterflies in my stomach that I felt that very night. For those next 10 min it was like time stood still. Chris did some creative poses with us and most of them were us gazing into each other's eyes. I kept thinking how blessed I am to be this man's wife, and how blessed I am to be the mother of his children. 7 years later, 3 kids, and madly in love with each other. When my husband looks at me, it's pure love in his eyes. I'm not kidding when I say that he gives me butterflies...frequently! He makes me feel like I'm the prettiest woman in the world, he makes me feel important, and he gives me a confidence that I wish I had years ago. As we stood in this same place I kept thanking the Lord for saving this man for ME! I prayed for years for my future husband and WOW the Lord gave me BETTER that what I was praying for! We hadn't visited "our spot" for quite sometime, but I'm so glad that we did! I'm thankful for that 10 min that we shared where time felt like it did stand still for us. Having 3 kids under the age of 4 is CRAZY! We're always on the go and Ted and I have to really work hard to make sure there is time left in the day for each other. But in that moment, I felt 19 all over again!! Thank you Teddy for being my leader, my best friend, and my true love!
All this to say, I encourage you to take some time and just BE with your spouse. Be with them in the moment without thinking about babies, dishes, laundry, etc. Be in that moment and thank the Lord for ALL He's given to you!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Black Bean Soup
Ok, after a month off I think it's time to get back to my blogging. After my husband posted that sweet post about my triathlon, I think he's even hooked. You may be seeing more posts from him in the future...
My sister, who lives in Guatamela, is looking for some new receipes. I think we can all relate to getting in a "rut" so to speak when it comes to cooking. I wanted to share this receipe with her, and then I thought I should share it will all of you. I found this receipe in one of my Biggest Loser cookbooks. Usually I wouldn't be too excited about a receipe with no meat in it. I was hesistant because I thought we won't get full, and I wasn't so sure my children would like it. When Ted was laid off this was a go to meal a lot because it's so inexpensive to make and YES, you will be satisfied! My children even like it!
1 TBS olive oil
1 lrg chopped onion
1 TBS chopped garlic
28oz can fire roasted tomato (I have used rotel in its place before)
1 TSP cummin
1 TSP chili powder
1 TSP red chili flakes (optional)
3 (15 oz) cans of black beans (you can also use kidney beans, white beans, or chick peas) or 4.5 cups of cooked beans
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
OPTIONAL: 3 cups fresh choppen spinach
Combine in large pot and simmer for 1 hour.
We top ours with some low fat mozz cheese!
It's so yummy! I hope this helps you Sara Beth! Check out her blog here http://fragrantaromaofchrist.blogspot.com/
My sister, who lives in Guatamela, is looking for some new receipes. I think we can all relate to getting in a "rut" so to speak when it comes to cooking. I wanted to share this receipe with her, and then I thought I should share it will all of you. I found this receipe in one of my Biggest Loser cookbooks. Usually I wouldn't be too excited about a receipe with no meat in it. I was hesistant because I thought we won't get full, and I wasn't so sure my children would like it. When Ted was laid off this was a go to meal a lot because it's so inexpensive to make and YES, you will be satisfied! My children even like it!
1 TBS olive oil
1 lrg chopped onion
1 TBS chopped garlic
28oz can fire roasted tomato (I have used rotel in its place before)
1 TSP cummin
1 TSP chili powder
1 TSP red chili flakes (optional)
3 (15 oz) cans of black beans (you can also use kidney beans, white beans, or chick peas) or 4.5 cups of cooked beans
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
OPTIONAL: 3 cups fresh choppen spinach
Combine in large pot and simmer for 1 hour.
We top ours with some low fat mozz cheese!
It's so yummy! I hope this helps you Sara Beth! Check out her blog here http://fragrantaromaofchrist.blogspot.com/
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The TRIATHLETE
So, Amy and I were talking about how we need to update the blog so here I am. I really just wanted to get on here and tell you all how PROUD of her I am, and that she completed her first Sprint Triathlon!!! What an amazing event to witness, and to top it all off she meet a professional triathlete the day before who also was an olympic sliver medalists. But it gets better, while she was in the last portion of her race, the run, Michellie came along side of her and paced her for a minute to give her that extra boost she needed. Not many people came say they have completed a Triathlon, even fewer can say that they have completed in an event WITH a professional athlete along side of you. WAY TO GO AMERS!!! I guess you have set the bar and now I need to be inducted into at least one of those groups.
Love you babe!
Ted
Friday, August 20, 2010
#2
Happy Friday to everyone!!! I know it's been awhile again since my last post, but my goal is to post more often! So, we shall see!
I wanted to give my husband props today! As you know he just started working for Sprint only 2 short months ago, and previously he was in the construction business since I've known him. He was so nervous about the change of career path because as always he wanted to succeed. Well, he sure has!!! He is #2 for top sales at his store! There are about 14 other people working there, so we were SO proud to hear that he's #2! Anyone who knows Ted, knows that this is the perfect job for him...he gets paid to talk to people! :) It was so great seeing him come home this morning after his meeting and seeing his beautiful smile...he is truly happy! I'm so proud of you, Teddy!!! I knew you would be awesome at your new job! We love you so much!
P.s. he has had 3 professional football players come in in the last 2 weeks...isn't that so cool! He got great feedback from all of them!
Have a great and profitable weekend!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Prove it!
Deut 13:3
"Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
I have been getting so much from the Lord in Deut. The Lord really convicted me yet again on my love for Him. This verse is talking about proving just how much we love the Lord. I can say ALL day long that I love the Lord to a million different people, but the words aren't enough. The Lord wants me to prove to Him just how much I love him. Since I've had three kids and since Ted's started a new job, it has become difficult to juggle everything. I'm with the kids 24/7 and without Ted a lot more than I used to be due to his new long hours. I'm having to be diligent about getting in the Word first thing in the morning before our day with a full schedule starts. The Lord keeps asking me, "Amy how much do you love me?" Of course I love the Lord, but do I love him with ALL my heart and soul? Meaning, am I willing to daily sacrifice sleep so that I can get up and be with Him first thing in the morning? If my flesh isn't willing to do that, then I don't love Him with all my heart and soul...see where I'm going? How much are you willing to sacrifice temporally in order to reap so much more eternally?
Saying you love someone isn't enough! Your actions speak louder than words. My father is a man of very few words, and he didn't say 'I love you' every day to us. Even now, I hear it a few times a year...maybe. But, the actions he did told me that he loved me. I never questioned if my dad loved me, I knew by all the things he was physically doing for me. Even as a grown woman he still is helping me physically. I say I love the Lord, and I really do, but what is my testimony projecting? People are always watching, even at times when we think otherwise...what do they see? Do they see that I have an awesome intimate relationship with the Lord or do they view me as just another worldly woman? I want to stand out, and I want to be different because I know what my eternity is going to look like. I don't care if people think I'm crazy, all I care about is pleasing the Lord!
I hope you too take the time to sit and think about how much you love the Lord. Is it will ALL your heart and soul, or only the parts that are convenient for you?
Phil 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
This is my life verse because I love the Lord with ALL my heart and soul and to be with Him is better than anything this world can offer! I look forward to meeting with my Lord face to face. I encourage you to live a life that pleases the Lord. Love Him FIRST, your spouse second, then your children, and I guarantee everything else will fall into place!
"Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
I have been getting so much from the Lord in Deut. The Lord really convicted me yet again on my love for Him. This verse is talking about proving just how much we love the Lord. I can say ALL day long that I love the Lord to a million different people, but the words aren't enough. The Lord wants me to prove to Him just how much I love him. Since I've had three kids and since Ted's started a new job, it has become difficult to juggle everything. I'm with the kids 24/7 and without Ted a lot more than I used to be due to his new long hours. I'm having to be diligent about getting in the Word first thing in the morning before our day with a full schedule starts. The Lord keeps asking me, "Amy how much do you love me?" Of course I love the Lord, but do I love him with ALL my heart and soul? Meaning, am I willing to daily sacrifice sleep so that I can get up and be with Him first thing in the morning? If my flesh isn't willing to do that, then I don't love Him with all my heart and soul...see where I'm going? How much are you willing to sacrifice temporally in order to reap so much more eternally?
Saying you love someone isn't enough! Your actions speak louder than words. My father is a man of very few words, and he didn't say 'I love you' every day to us. Even now, I hear it a few times a year...maybe. But, the actions he did told me that he loved me. I never questioned if my dad loved me, I knew by all the things he was physically doing for me. Even as a grown woman he still is helping me physically. I say I love the Lord, and I really do, but what is my testimony projecting? People are always watching, even at times when we think otherwise...what do they see? Do they see that I have an awesome intimate relationship with the Lord or do they view me as just another worldly woman? I want to stand out, and I want to be different because I know what my eternity is going to look like. I don't care if people think I'm crazy, all I care about is pleasing the Lord!
I hope you too take the time to sit and think about how much you love the Lord. Is it will ALL your heart and soul, or only the parts that are convenient for you?
Phil 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
This is my life verse because I love the Lord with ALL my heart and soul and to be with Him is better than anything this world can offer! I look forward to meeting with my Lord face to face. I encourage you to live a life that pleases the Lord. Love Him FIRST, your spouse second, then your children, and I guarantee everything else will fall into place!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Charge, Encourage, and Strengthen...
Deuteronomy 3:28 "But charge Joshua, and encourage him, strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see."
In my daily reading, the Lord showed this verse to me and it really convicted me. Three keywords are in this verse: charge, encourage, and strengthen. This really convicted me as a mom because this is what I am to do with all my children. Everyday, I am charging them to obey like Ephesians 6:1. I sound like a broken record sometimes because I'm always saying, "choose to obey" to the kids. Even as small as Bobby is, I quote Ephesians 6:1 to him because I want it to be hidden in his heart. But, the Lord showed me that charging them isn't enough! I must encourage my children daily...Paul talks about edification over and over in his epistles and that's what I'm to do too. As weary as I may get some days, I must continually encourage each of my children. They need to know that Ted and I are their biggest fans. They need to know that we believe in them to obey. The Lord showed me that by us encouraging them, then it will automatically strengthen them. It's a domino effect. Throughout the days now, those three words are being played again and again in my head to remind me of my responsibility as a Mommy.
I am so thankful for a Lord who can always show me through His Word areas that I need to shore up on. Thank you, Lord! I want to please Him and bring glory to Him in every area, even in being the best Mommy I can.
In my daily reading, the Lord showed this verse to me and it really convicted me. Three keywords are in this verse: charge, encourage, and strengthen. This really convicted me as a mom because this is what I am to do with all my children. Everyday, I am charging them to obey like Ephesians 6:1. I sound like a broken record sometimes because I'm always saying, "choose to obey" to the kids. Even as small as Bobby is, I quote Ephesians 6:1 to him because I want it to be hidden in his heart. But, the Lord showed me that charging them isn't enough! I must encourage my children daily...Paul talks about edification over and over in his epistles and that's what I'm to do too. As weary as I may get some days, I must continually encourage each of my children. They need to know that Ted and I are their biggest fans. They need to know that we believe in them to obey. The Lord showed me that by us encouraging them, then it will automatically strengthen them. It's a domino effect. Throughout the days now, those three words are being played again and again in my head to remind me of my responsibility as a Mommy.
I am so thankful for a Lord who can always show me through His Word areas that I need to shore up on. Thank you, Lord! I want to please Him and bring glory to Him in every area, even in being the best Mommy I can.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Family Pics!
I know it's been well...FOREVER since I've posted anything! It's been a crazy month...my husband having a bike accident, putting our dog to sleep, and getting a new puppy. But today I want to share with you our new family pictures.
My cousin and his wife are in town from Denver, CO this week. We've been having so much fun swimming and visiting of course. I asked Stephanie, who is a photographer, if she would take some family pics for us. I was expecting like maybe one good picture because I have 3 kids under the age of 4 and frankly one who doesn't like her picture taken. Let me tell you, I have come home in tears before after trying to get my daughter's picture taken. We always go for their milestone pics, and the Target photographer can never get her to smile. I have had the photographer smile and say, "oh we remember you! You won't smile for us!" Which after hearing this time after time I came home and shed a few tears out of frustration and having my feelings hurt.
Today it was a beautiful sunny day up until the time we were to take our pics. We hurried over to the park and it was thundering the whole time. Again, I was thinking oh boy, this isn't going to go well. Was I surprised!!!! Steph does amazing work! We got SO many awesome shots! I want to share just a few with you, and if you want to see more...check out my facebook page!
Party of 5!!
My sweet first born!!
I LOVE this of my little girl!!
Isn't he so sweet! I could kiss those cheeks ALL day!!!
I hope you enjoy looking at them. I also hope you all have a great weekend! I will post more often...really I will :)
My cousin and his wife are in town from Denver, CO this week. We've been having so much fun swimming and visiting of course. I asked Stephanie, who is a photographer, if she would take some family pics for us. I was expecting like maybe one good picture because I have 3 kids under the age of 4 and frankly one who doesn't like her picture taken. Let me tell you, I have come home in tears before after trying to get my daughter's picture taken. We always go for their milestone pics, and the Target photographer can never get her to smile. I have had the photographer smile and say, "oh we remember you! You won't smile for us!" Which after hearing this time after time I came home and shed a few tears out of frustration and having my feelings hurt.
Today it was a beautiful sunny day up until the time we were to take our pics. We hurried over to the park and it was thundering the whole time. Again, I was thinking oh boy, this isn't going to go well. Was I surprised!!!! Steph does amazing work! We got SO many awesome shots! I want to share just a few with you, and if you want to see more...check out my facebook page!
Party of 5!!
My sweet first born!!
I LOVE this of my little girl!!
Isn't he so sweet! I could kiss those cheeks ALL day!!!
I hope you enjoy looking at them. I also hope you all have a great weekend! I will post more often...really I will :)
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