classic flip flops

classic flip flops (clipped to polyvore.com)

Long Sleeve Jersey Dress | New Arrivals Dresses

Long Sleeve Jersey Dress | New Arrivals Dresses (clipped to polyvore.com)

Gifts and Gratefulness

So I've never been the best at receiving gifts, funny as it seems its true.  I feel guilty that sometimes I can not give back as much, or my desire to give so they can feel the same sense of love and care I have.  So I'm learning in life that it is a beautiful thing to freely receive a gift someone has purchased or donated or maybe given their time.  I take it to heart and store it away.  But love like that does not just sit dormant, it overflows, it wants to give back to someone else who may be in need...in need of food, clothes, but maybe just a listening ear or even compassion or acceptance.  It awakens my heart to receive a gift, to give one, and stirs up desire and question to my own life, what blessings do I already have and what can I give of myself.

So as I've been meditating on this... I'm thinking that it is not so ironic... God gives freely gifts of His love, His Spirit, His Grace, ...Man, seriously I could go on forever...But how do we receive these things sometimes.  Some might think we don't need these gifts, some might think they don't deserve these gifts, so we pass them by and go on.  But when we do by faith accept these wonders we are ever so richly blessed.  Our hearts are full of living hope and joy beyond our understanding.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. -Romans 3:24-25 So I may not always have the right words to say or a way to show how Grateful I truly am, but know it is never forgotten and it is truly cherished, and yes,  like a river keeps flowing, it overflows into desire to bless others.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  -Romans 8:32

Early in the Morning...

"Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  -John 20:29 Easter is my favorite holiday and not because of candy bunnies and dying eggs, but the feeling of waking early in the morning,  The light just peeking through the freshly lit budding trees, the soft green dew covered grass, the feeling of newness and hope after a dead winter. I think of the day that Jesus was crucified, I have heard the story many times...beaten, whipped, carried the cross he was to be hung on,  hands, feet, and side pierced.  What would it have been like to be there that day.  Some mocking with laughter, some weeping for their friend, their brother.  Some feeling hopeless maybe?  Confused, was the son of God now here to die?  Jesus had wept for days, knowing what was coming.  He was human, He felt great sadness, mourning for us.   Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You" -John 17:1 The punishment of our sin, poured upon Him,  The cry from the cross, "It is finished!" What a powerful time it must have been when darkness fell at noon day, the veil of the temple torn.  The earth shaking.  I know how I feel with every little aftershock, but to have darkness fall at mid day.  Did some of the mockers fall in repentance, did some hopeless now feel a bit of God's power and peek hope again? He had told them, you will sorrow, but it will surely be turned to great Joy! So many questions, This story would be so gloomy if it was not for this day. Mary waking early in the morning to go to where her Lord was buried.  An empty tomb,  of course it would only make sense to us that someone had removed Him.  To conquer death is not in our understanding. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  -John 16:33 Even those who walked with Him, had not understood as He told them over and over,  I will go to my Father, I will not be with you forever, but I will return to you"...   Our simple little minds, yet created in the image of an everlasting powerful creator and Father.   We sit and try to understand these great things, but God says "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe." "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." SO take some time and sit and think of the Love that was poured out for you and enjoy the newness of this lovely spring Easter Day! Here are some of our Easter blessings already this year, Resurrection gardens, and new little baby Chicks :) Happy Easter Everyone!!

My take on energy bars

So it's finally hit me,  I really have to watch what I eat!  Not that I have ever been a huge junk food person. But a snacker, for sure.   Now all of a sudden my body wants to rebel against milk products...That means Cheese!! Oh Cheese has always been my weakness.  I've come to realize that some cultures must be immune to lactose intolerant...like Italians!!  We went to one of our favorite restaurants the other night and thank goodness my self control was in full force that day because all I could see on the menu was savory words like "melted with mozzarella" and "our creamy white sauce"

Umm..Yea I saw this the other day, and this was the only thing running through my mind at our lovely little candle lit dinner.  I burst forward and blurted " I will have the salad with grilled Tuna"  Ugh Not my idea of an Italian dinner.  It was good nonetheless and we had a great time.

But back to my strange intestinal issues.  I feel so much better lately once I cut out all dairy.  I can see and feel a huge difference in my stomach bloating.  I am easing my way into a juice fast, so for now only "living foods" for the most part.  I am cutting back on gluten and wheat products but I wanted to try to create an after workout bar, modeled after my favorite snack bar.....

The cashew cookie is my favorite.  I am not a huge fan of the highly textured bars, I love these because they are smooth but still have enough texture left to them so not to mushy.

So here is my take on creating a similar bar

Bake at 350,  I used a 9 x 9 pan lined on the bottom with wax paper

1 cup of presoaked almonds

2 cups of cashews

1/2 cup Peanut butter

1/3 Cup of Rice milk (Or other non dairy milk)

1/4 cup ground flax

1/4 Wheat germ

1/2 Cup of raisins/craisins ( I used golden raisins and pomegranate cranberries)

3 Tbsp. Honey, stevia, or agave

In food processor blend almonds, cashews, flax and wheat germ till desired texture.

Move to bowl and mix in Peanut butter and rice milk, and honey or sweetener.

Add raisins and mix together well.

I lined my 9x9 pan with wax paper and just smoothed the mixture into the pan.

Baked for 20 min.

Let them cool 5 min. before cutting in bars.  Then let them cool another 10 or so until you remove them from the pan.

SO for a few tips with my recipe,  I soaked my almonds in boiled hot water for about 30 min.  Drained then repeated the same step.  After another hour I removed the outer shell from the almonds then let them sit in room temperature water for another 30.   

Also if you want to do them gluten free you can always leave out the wheat germ, though it contains the most nutrients from wheat.