God and Food

Well I have defiantly hit a low in my cooking career. My poor husband I am sure if he did not love me so much would have fired me! I have been working hard on being healthy. And with that has come a cost. The cost is all the yummy and fatty foods I used to make all the time. I, like a lot of woman struggle with weight. I am not looking to be a super skinny fashion model kind of person. I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin. And for years I had been counting my calories and trying really hard to get to a spot I would feel happy at. Nothing I did seemed to be working. I ended up meeting a woman who has changed my way of thinking about food. I was at a low and she helped me find the right way for me to eat. It is more of a protein based diet. I eat very few carbs and when I do they are usually the healthy ones like brown rice, beans, oatmeal and fruit. I no longer count my calories (yahoooooo) and I just eat a pretty simple diet consisting of protein shakes and bars for a snack along with almonds. Lots of salads and bunless burgers. I have discovered that I really like meatballs. But these are all things that my husband does not like a lot. He does not mind eating a salad once a week or so for dinner. But he is used to me cooking lots of stuff with Bisquick, and lots of pastas. Ever since I have started eating healthy like this I have lost 20 pounds and more important than that I feel great! I used to get tummy aches ALL the time from the foods that I ate, I just didn't realize it because they were always there. But now I hardly get a tummy ache. And if I do it is usually because I ate something that was outside of my eating plan. And I recognize it right away. So I am very happy with how I eat now. But dinner time has become a stress. It is hard for me to cook a yummy gooey dish of enchiladas and not want to dive in and eat it. So I don't make those any more. If we have a mexican food night it is either a taco salad which praise the Lord Aj does really like those!! Or I make tacos and I eat my taco in a lettuce shell. Or if I make meatballs I will make spaghetti with it and Aj and Rylee eat that and a few meatballs and I eat a salad with it instead of the pasta. So not every night is a losing meal. But I feel like lately Aj is just tolerating my food which is so different from when he LOVED my food. So here is the part where God comes in. I have decided that from now on I am going to pray over my dinner. Pray that God helps me to not over cook it, or burn it, or ruin it in whatever crazy way I can and pray that it turns out wonderful and that I can meet the needs of my family and still stay healthy. So here is hoping that this new plan works out. If I can't seem to get it right I know God can help me with this. And I know he cares about silly things like this too. What ever is important to us is important to him too! He loves us that much!! If you have any healthy recipes that are sneaky (meaning they hide all the healthy stuff in it) please share it with me! Thanks!!

XOXO,

Amy

Uncle Dave

This a brag blog! 

Rylee has the BEST uncle ever!! 

My brother aka Uncle Dave. 

We used to always just call him Dave. 

But now he is pretty much always referred to as Uncle Dave. 

Growing up poor Uncle Dave was stuck as the middle child between 2 girls. That is tough stuff...or so I hear =). I don't remember it being too bad but Dave has said it was pretty rough with me and my sister. But after we became adults and all moved out of the house I think our brother/sister relationship added the friend aspect to it. 

I remember when we got pregnant with Rylee and I was wondering how my family would be with this new addition. Rylee is the first grandchild for our family?? My parents have this cute little chihuahua that they have babied BIG time. And I remember telling my dad that I was afraid that my parents would care for the dog more than the baby. I am sure a lot of that was just my pregnancy emotions talking. Looking back I now realize how crazy that was. And my dad reassured me that would NEVER happen! I just had not ever seen my parents or my siblings with a baby, so I was not sure how they would take it all in. 

So anywhoo back to Uncle Dave... After I had given birth to Rylee the next day we had lots of friends and family stop by the hospital. Dave was planning on being there early I think but somehow we had some friends what had beat him to the hospital. And he was on the phone with my mom and said to her "They can't see my niece before I do!!" And he rushed in as quick as he could. From the moment he laid eyes on her I would say he has been pretty smitten with her. I have not EVER seen Dave smitten before. But I can honestly say that he loves her more than I ever imagined possible!!

 It is so beautiful to me!!

After she was born Uncle Dave had heard that drowning was the #1 death for children. So as soon as he heard that he called me and said Rylee NEEDS swim lessons. She needs to know how to swim! He told me to go find a place that teaches babies to swim and he payed for all of it. And as a single income family that is a HUGE blessing. I was so excited to go and look for mommy/daughter swim places.

Every year for her birthday and Christmas he gives us money to add to her college fund that he had set up for her when she was born. He truly wants the best for her and her future!! 

Another fun/funny thing is that he absolutely does NOT like to be tickled. But every time he sees Rylee he lets her tickle him because she loves it. It is just little things like that, that I totally appreciate. He is such an amazing uncle for Rylee and everyday I thank Jesus that he is my brother and friend!

I hope that today you have something special that you are thankful for! God gives us so many blessings around us. Some BIG and some small. But all still special!!

XOXO,

Amy

A Favorite Verse

One day a few weeks ago I was riding in the car with my friend and we were talking about God and all the things he is doing in our lives. The good stuff and the tough stuff. And she shared with me how she had a life verse. A verse that she felt was her promise from God. After we were done hanging out I was thinking about it and wondering if I had a verse like that. I prayed about it and asked God if he had a verse for me. Instantly I knew I did and it was a verse I have loved FOREVER (I think I memorized this in High School or maybe even Jr High. Either way it has been in my heart for a long time)

 Well I felt excited and I wanted to share it with you. I would not say that it is a verse that is a promise for me {I would say that is Jeremiah 29:11.... I LOVE that verse!!}

 I would say that this verse is his commandment to me. 

So with out further ado here is my verse....

There are a few reason I like this verse. 

• I want to always give glory to God. And this is a great reminder to do it. And it does not matter what we are doing as long as it is ALL for the glory of God!!!
• I love food!! And I love how even in the bible it talks about eating food (Like a yummy cookie, or a delicious pot of fondue) or drinking a drink (A Starbucks, or a milkshake) and how it can all be used for his glory!!

Anyways I just thought it would be fun to share my favorite verse! I hope you have a blessed day!

 And I would love to hear your favorite verse. 

XOXO,

Amy

Memory Lane

Time is flying by way to fast!! And I am doing my best to take each moment in and enjoy each stage of Rylee. I am always amazed and overwhelmed by my love for her. I just look at her sometimes and I am in awe of her beauty. I just listen to her at times and I am amazed at how smart she is. I feel so lucky to be her mommy! So today I wanted to show a few of my favorite photos of her growing up. Now when I say a few of my favorites....boy is that hard to say. I really love all my photos. They all hold a treasure of a memory that is special and sweet. I sure can not wait to have another baby and build more memories with that one. And then watch Rylee be the best big sister ever! I just know God has more planned for us!! Anyways I hope you enjoy my photos and all the cuteness of Rylee!! 

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! And I would love to leave you with this verse.

And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your

 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 4:7~

XOXO,

Amy

 Sheesh it has been FOREVER since I have blogged last! I think about doing it often. I will be going through something in life that might be tough and I will have great intention to blog about it. Or I will be doing a fun craft with Rylee and I will think how it would be so fun to blog about it. I usually ALWAYS take pics of whatever I am doing with her. But for some reason I never end up blogging about it.

So I thought I would check in and write about the latest things in life. I think since my last blog we have moved. Me and Aj have moved over 10 times in the 11 years we have been married. and this was by far the hardest move. This was our first move with a child. In the past I would be able to just put things away at my own pace, but this time I was at the mercy of my 4 year old. She does play by herself every once in awhile. But for the most part she likes to be with her mama. So I did my best to play with her while unpacking. I would say that I got frustrated more than usual, it was pretty overwhelming for me to meet her needs and try and put everything away. Praise the Lord though we all survived it and we are pretty settled in our new place!

Another big thing that has happened since I wrote last is that I had a surgery to see if I had Endometriosis. Which for most people they would never want to have that. But I have been struggling with fertility issues for the last 10 years. And so far my doctors have always told me that I am healthy and that there was nothing wrong. I kept feeling like there was so I finally took the leap and seeked a fertility doctor. This was a great decision for us! He has been so wonderful and very helpful. He felt like I had a few signs for Endometriosis. And the only way to find out if I had it was to go in surgically, and if it was there then he said he could fix it while in there. I just had the surgery 2 weeks and 2 days ago and I did end up having it and I had a pretty sever case of it. I did not have a lot of it, but what I did have was VERY deep and I most likely have had it for years. When I heard that I was so excited!! I knew there was something wrong and I knew that he could fix it!! I believe so strongly that God can work his miracles through his own hands or through the hands of a doctor. And I was just praying that he would do either option. So right now I am feeling the continued hope that he is going to bless us with more babies!! He is so faithful and so good to us!! I know he has good plans for us. That leads me to the next thing I want to share.....

Missions. I have been writing on here for years about my heart for missions. We have not left yet and are not sure when we will leave. But I feel like God is still brewing in our hearts. And I believe FULLY thay he has still called us in this way. So we are praying about some new directions we think he might be sending us! I can't wait to hear from him and hear his plans for us. Right now I feel like we are not living in his FULL blessing. I believe he has more for us and that it will happen when we head in his direction and his will!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I really do hope to become more consistent with blogging. I was even thinking about trying to blog more about food and crafts. We will see if I can do it! I sure love when I sit down to write. It is so therapeutic and feels so good to get out all my thoughts! I hope you have a blessed week and thanks for checking my blog out!

XOXO,
Amy

Fashionista

I can not tell you how much I love having a 4 year old. She is just a blessing to me in every way possible. And the older she gets the more fun we have. And the more blessed I am to watch her grow. she has always had a pretty independent side to her. She has loved dressing herself for a long time now. She has been doing it since she was about 2 1/2 I think. And I always giggle at the outfits she puts together. There are times when I want to dress her because I want her to be all matchy-matchy. But many times I let her do her own thing. Here are a few pics of her little fashionista style.

I just look at her and I can't get over the cuteness it is just too much!!

 Everyday I think God for her total and complete cuteness!! =)

Cute Quotes

I have recently gotten tons and tons of the cutest quotes and pictures from my mom. I have no idea how she gets these but I LOVE it when she sends them to me. And I thought it would be fun to show them to you. All of these I thought were really pretty and inspirational. 

I love how there is so much of God in everything around us. Even the yummy cookies above I give credit to God for those. He gave us the gift of creativity. And with out that gift we would not have all the yummy treats that we see in the pic above. I hope and pray that you can find God's creativity and beautify all around you!!