Granola

I started making granola.
Our family loves granola. I used to buy whatever was on sale, but after meeting Lisa at Kitchen G.A.L. and trying her Epic granola--I learned what great granola could taste like. 

I stumbled across a recipe for Pumpkin Pie granola. My husband and kids raved. Next, I tried Gingerbread granola. Again, raves. I made my own modifications to the recipes. More raves. No one wants store bought anymore. 

Try these. Please.

Pumpkin Pie Granola

• 4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 cup pecans chopped
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used apple butter)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons flax meal
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions 

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together gluten-free oats, chopped pecans, and flax meal until well combined.
In a small sauce pan heat brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, simmer until sugar is melted.
Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients and with a spatula, mix until everything is coated.
Spread the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove and mix for even baking. Repeat twice (for a total of 1 hour of baking) or until the granola looks nice and golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool before stirring in the dried cranberries, if you chose or add in before serving.
Store in an airtight container.

Blueberry-Pecan Gingerbread Granola

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 4.5 cups uncooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons flax meal
• 1/2 c of dried blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 275.
In a medium sauce pan, combine first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil.
In a large bowl mix oatmeal, coconut, nuts and flax meal.
Pour boiled molasses mixture over oatmeal mixture.
Stir well. Add to a cookie sheet.
Bake for one hour total time, but checking and stirring granola every 15 minutes.
Granola will turn a rich color. Remove from oven and cool.
Remove from the oven and let cool before stirring in the dried cranberries, if you chose or add in before serving.
Store in airtight container. Good for 2 months. (Let's be honest though, it will be amazing if you have any left after 2 days.)

Owen's 1st Swim Meet

25 Freestyle

25 Back

While he was nervous on Day 1, by his 2nd race he was "in the zone." His next meet is in February. He'll be doing 6 events! Very excited for him. Definitely bringing a cushion for my tooshie this time.

Facebook De-tox

Once or twice a year we do a detox or cleanse. It's usually in the spring, and it feels great to flush out the body and get all systems functioning normally (if you get my meaning).

Well, my "anti-resolutions" led to some detoxing of another kind. For whatever reason, and it really was random, I woke up on a Friday a couple weeks ago determined NOT to get on Facebook. I had no idea when or if I would get back on again. It was enlightening and astonishing to realize how much my world had come to revolve around Facebook. My thoughts are in "post" form almost constantly. I feel deprived and go through withdrawal-like symptoms. I was disgusted with myself. For 100 hours I avoided Facebook. It wasn't easy at times, and others it was a relief. When I did get back on I had no desire to post, comment, or "like" anything. I really only got on b/c I was curious if I had any messages (I had 3). I then changed my settings to e-mail me if messages came through, thinking that I'd go back to neglecting FB on a regular basis. But I didn't. Like an addiction to a drug I've "had" to check FB throughout the day. I kept saying to myself--"Well, there's nothing to do right now," or "I might as well, while I wait on X." Pathetic.

It was nearly two weeks before any of my supposed 500+ "friends" noticed. I was delighted that even one person noticed I went from several daily posts to nothing for two weeks. I guess that's something, right?

So, now what do I do? I fully rejected social media when it first started. I fought FB until my sister basically said that's they only way to connect with her (irony: she is no longer on FB). I fully embraced FB a few years ago, and in fact became a huge promoter and maven. I said it was the modern mommy water cooler--the best way to connect with moms across the world, especially when it can feel isolating being at home with kids all day. It's a fantastic tool for small businesses...or is it? I manage 5 FB pages. Stepping back now, what is FB really doing for me? Why am I on FB?

I know that being off FB has led to more time with my kids, more time connecting with my husband and friends, and more peace. Mental peace. I also sleep better. I'm still thinking in "post" form, and I'd love for that to stop. I miss not sharing every hilarious thing my kids say or do, the food I make, and liking and commenting on friends' posts, but why? I think, if I'm honest, I like the attention. So, basically then, I use FB to brag about all the awesome things I do--even when they are the awesome-awful things. You know, the ridiculous "fails" we post. Oy. I think I sound a bit narcissistic. I "like" and comment sometimes b/c it feels like the accepted and expected thing to do. Oh, you're pregnant--I'll like that! Oh, you made granola? Yum, like that. Have an opinion on guns? Me too! It's your birthday? Thanks to FB, I actual know & now must spam your wall. (Let's be honest, would you wish a happy birthday to half the friends you have on FB if it weren't for FB reminding you? I'm lucky to remember my own birthday.)

Recently, a friend of mine shut down her FB account--insisted upon by her then fiance (now husband). He didn't like how stressed FB made her. She would read other mom's posts and feel like she was a failure. She'd read people's rants, and get stressed--feeling a need to voice her opinion too. At the time, I thought it was extreme to drop it all together, and that maybe she was just taking things a bit too serious. Now, I'm rethinking that it wasn't such a bad idea. There are definitely better ways to spend our time.

Another issue is that I really don't like FB now. It's not what it was a few years back--definitely functions with a focus on profit. Sad.

I don't have a conclusion. I'm not ready to fully close my FB account. Right now, I'm continuing to wean myself down. I'll start with FB-free weekends and FB-free homeschooling. (Is it ironic, sad, or pathetic that I will post this blog on FB?)

For those friends & family members on FB who've missed the latest "happenings" in our world, here's a FB-style run-down:

• Matt accepted a new job at Frontier Charter Academy doing IT. He still teaches music lessons, and has a full load of students too.
• We are finally all healthy after a nasty flu bug. Eden started & ended it. Her detoxifying came with a couple days of hives. (I was hoping it was a kick-off to chicken pox, but no such luck.)
• I am no longer working outside of the home--full-on SAHM (with a doula/lactation client here & there, and a PR client occasionally). A dream in the making for nearly 8 years. 
• Owen had his first swim meet. He did great. Well, he at least did not come in dead last. :)
• Homeschooling is awesome. That is all.
• I actually did make homemade granola. Pumpkin Spice and Blueberry-Pecan Gingerbread. They really are awesome. Not sure it's saving us much money. I think we're just eating a lot more granola now.

Anti-Resolution List

I am a goal-setter and a list-maker. New Year's resolutions are a natural part of what I love to do, but this year is different. The past few years I've achieved plenty. I've done much. I've given more and more. Anyone that knows us, knows that 2012 was an incredibly difficult year for us. We are definitely glad to close that chapter, and thankful to move on to another. 

Through this difficult time we've struggled to hear God's voice. Speaking for myself, I felt cut off and in the dark. Left to wander...and wonder. It was awful. I cried out for my God to speak. I cried out for my ears to be open to hear. I poured my heart out, "God, oh God, why?" After what felt like an eternity...my God spoke and I heard.

"I'm trying to slow you down."

When I heard Him speak, all at once my heart swelled and I was warm. I felt relief wash over me. I wanted to scream and tell everyone. I was bursting. I told my husband and my pastor. Both rejoiced. I told my sisters who had been praying over me. We wept and hugged. 

It's true that in the times of my life that I hear God daily, confident in what He has me doing, and assured of where He's taking me--I achieve and accomplish much (ever making Phil. 4:13 so very true in my life). Lately, when I was--what felt like--closed off from God, I was aimless and felt adrift. Very unnerving for someone like me (recall: list-maker, goal-setter).

Despite the many changes that happened in 2012, I still carry a lot on my plate. Day by day, the door has closed on many projects I had going. God is stripping away, and literally slowing me down. Purposefully giving me less. This would normally make me feel awful, but I feel radiant. I feel free to truly focus on the FEW things I have set before me now. 

I have an anti-resolution list this year. Items begin with words like:
1. Less
2. Fewer
3. Don't
4. No
5. Stop

I'm slowing down. It's not easy (though, starting 2013 with the flu helped slow life down). It's probably harder for me than constantly achieving. I'm kind of excited too. The anticipation of wondering God's purpose in slowing me down is a bit exhilarating. Is something big coming? Is it more refining? Blessings? Or maybe simply for my own health? I'm content to wait and find out.

Philippians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. So, I'll finish this post with one of my favorites passages (Phil 4:4-9) which is always relevant in my journey:


⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Better From Me

As yesterday's horrifying news was constantly berating us, I wondered how much was getting through to my kids. I made a point to keep the TV off, but after "muting" the radio for the 100th time my intuitive 7yo son asked, "Mom, why do you keep turning down the radio?" I swallowed hard and debated on how to answer. I wanted to be truthful, but I wasn't sure exactly what to say.

"They're talking about something that I don't think you should hear about right now."

Of course, this led to a barrage of questions, and now his sister's curiosity was peaked too. I thought then that it would be much better to hear from me what had happened, then to get it from another child or adult, or heaven forbid--from the media.

With carefully chosen words, I explained that a young man with evil in his heart shot and killed some kids in a state far away. This young man also killed some teachers and himself. I kept it to a bare minimum, and avoided any extra adjectives or details.

My childrens' responses are so very telling of their personalities:

The Little Man: "Well, it will be okay, because God will bring them back to life."
Mini Maven: "Well, if anybody tries to do that to us, we'll punch him in the face!"

After telling my daughter that sticking around to punch someone who has a loaded weapon isn't the wisest of choices, I explained to them that if they have fears or worries over what happened (or if they want to talk at all about this) that they need to do that with Mom or Dad only. I helped them understand that a lot of kids don't know what happened and it might be scary to hear. Of course, I also reminded them that I protect them, and they are surrounded by people that love them very much.

My heart aches for the moms in Newtown. I grieve the hero teachers and staff that put their students' lives above their own. My parents are teachers. My friends are teachers. Those kids are the same age as mine. Lord, come quickly.

Talk to your kids. Tell them you love them. Most importantly, tell them how Jesus loves them. I say over and over, if it is the only thing I accomplish as a mother--that my children KNOW that Jesus loves them--I have succeeded. If Jesus is filling their hearts--then evil cannot.

2012 In Review

When I logged onto facebook today there was a link to review my highlights from 2012. I'm not really sure how they determine which posts were the most interesting, but I decided to do my own.

First visit to dentist

First day of re-starting homeschooling

Library Days

Annual shaving cream slide

Bangs!

Emergency room visit

No more training wheels

Buena Vista

Farmers' Markets

14th Anniversary

Betsy

Camping & fishing

Knitting

First day of school (pre-K and 2nd grade)

First mini golf

Thanksgiving

First teeth

With Christmas still to come!

Day Off

I'm taking the day off. Mom's don't get days off, but I'm rejecting that notion today. I'm not sick (though, I'm fighting a headache and general tired/not feeling so great). I just want a day off.

Here's how a day off works for momma:

1. MY schedule. Most of my days revolve around the schedules of others. Today--we eat when I want to eat, get dressed when I want to get dressed, work when I want to work, and so on. Don't like it? Find your own food. My kids are thankfully now old enough to feed themselves.

2. FREE from worry/guilt/pressure to perform. Most days I do everything because I should. Because it's good for me/us/the world. Not always because I want to. (Before you get all holy-than-thou, I do take joy in my work, but we all need a break sometimes.) Guess what--today, it's only if I want to. Workout? If and when I feel like it. Eat something not-so-perfectly healthy? Yeah, maybe. I'm giving myself permission to do whatever, whenever, and not think twice about it.

3. DO something I don't usually get to do. Or several somethings, if I choose to. I'm going to hang out with some girlfriends today at my favorite restaurant. I'd really like to start a couple knitting projects and get lights on the tree. We'll see.

 Basically, there is no to-do list today. There is no schedule. I'm going to hang out with my kids, without hurrying.

 In other news: I really love Food Network. It may be all I do today.