Recipe to Try

This was posted on FB.  I figured the only way for me to pin it on Pinterest was to put it on my blog!

Raw Almond Butter Truffles (GF)

by The Nourishing Home on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 7:43pm

Deliciously decadent truffles that are healthy - could it be true? Oh yes, it is! Hope you enjoy these delicious real food truffles too! Mmm!

Raw Almond Butter Truffles
1 cup creamy raw almond butter (I like Maranatha brand)
1/2 cup, plus 2 tbsp raw honey
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp filtered water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups coconut flour
3 tbsp ground golden flax seed
1/2 tsp sea salt
Optional choices for rolling truffles: Unsweetened shredded coconut or carob, cocoa or raw cacao powder; or dip in melted dark chocolate

In a large bowl, mix together the raw almond butter, honey, coconut oil, water and vanilla until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut flour, ground flax seed and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well to combine. Use your hands to really knead the dough well to combine all the ingredients together. Then, scoop out tablespoon-size portions and roll into balls using your hands.

Next, roll each truffle in your choice of toppings (such as unsweetened shredded coconut, carob powder, cocoa powder or raw cacao powder). Or melt some dark chocolate and dip each ball into the melted chocolate and place on wax paper to set.

Refrigerate truffles for 30 minutes before serving. Makes about 24 truffles – perfect for parties, or just for fun! Enjoy!

Note: For information about why I only purchase fair trade chocolate and other products, click here: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partne

UTI

My baby Liza has a UTI.  Poor thing.  I've been loading her up on cranberry juice, coconut water, water, homeopaths and anything else I can think of to help her out.  I'm trying really hard to avoid antibiotics at this point.  Anyone else have experience with this?  How long before you would take a kid in?  What symptoms would make you take her in?

She had a couple of UTI's as a baby.  We had the whole VCUG - kidney reflux tests done.  She's fine.  We haven't had any issues until recently.  I weaned her in August and started working harder at potty training her (she was about 90% there at that point).  Potty training quit working.  She kept leaking and seemed to have no control over her urine.  I gave up!  Put her back in pull-ups and figured we'd just wait.  (She still pooped on the toilet every time.)  She always stunk like urine, strong, nasty urine.  I just figured it was her.  A couple of weeks ago I started giving her some cranberry tincture I had on hand.  It seemed to help a bit with both the potty training and the smell, but I wasn't being extremely consistent about it.  Then Sunday she peed her pants at church and kept having to go to the bathroom.  I didn't think about it too much - she just does that sometimes.  Sunday afternoon she seemed uncomfortable, but nothing completely unusual.  I gave her some cranberry and went on my merry way.  She woke up Monday morning and cried when she had to pee, peed every few minutes, etc.  Classic signs.  Poor baby.  She's doing better today, but certainly not 100%.

Any advice?

***(Follow up)  I tried to take Liza in to the acute care clinic this morning, but it was packed.  I didn't have time to sit and wait around, so I came home planning to go back this afternoon/evening.  But she seems to be doing MUCH better!  Her urine doesn't smell and she isn't complaining and peeing nonstop.  I'm adopting a wait and see attitude.  If it is worse again in the morning, I will take her back tomorrow.  Oh, Mau, I ordered Uricare.  I have purchased Native Remedies before, but didn't think of it this time.  I might get it as a back up!  Thanks!

Frustrations

This past week was LONG.  Nothing enormous, just small frustrations and it all added up to me feeling very done. 

It started with my engagement ring breaking last Sunday night.  Then I got a flat tire.  It was dark and there is no cell coverage where the tire went.  Thank God I was able to get coverage 10 feet in front of the car.  The wind blew part of our kid's play set over.  (We despise the wind out here - our trampoline blew away a couple of years ago.)  We've had some ongoing HUGE issues at our church and someone wanted to talk about it this week.  I didn't.  I lost.

It's now Sunday afternoon.  I have a raging headache, want to cry for a few hours and am praying this next week is much better!

Current Events

My older girls and I spent 5 days last week in Ohio with one of my dearest friends, Marie.  She mentioned that I don't blog much at all, so this one is for Marie!  :-)

My in-laws are due in town today and we are having a blizzard.  They are driving!!!  This is our 3rd snowstorm of the year, so I'm expecting a bit of a long winter here.

We have been super busy since school started this year.  I usually work very hard at making sure we don't have stuff scheduled every day.  Somehow I've failed this year at that.  Well, we aren't supposed to have something every day, but it seems to be working out that way.  Every other Monday, Abigail has a friend over to work on science labs.  Every other Wednesday we have a world history discussion group at our house.  (Which has turned into most Wednesdays.)  The girls have piano lessons Thursday mornings.  Eric and I have been helping with music at church frequently too.  ETC ETC ETC.  We're busier than I like.

Well, Marie is calling me, so I will talk on the phone instead of blogging!!!

Motivation, Part II

I love Sally Clarkson.  Her books, her blog, her words.  She speaks my heart over and over and over again.  Her blog today fit perfectly with my post the other day about motivation.

I Heard Him Call Come Follow

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou my inheritance, now and always; Thou and thou only first in my heart, High king of heaven, my treasure thou art.”

Motivation

What motivates you?  What makes a person get up every day and keep going?  I recently had a day where I just had no motivation left.  I kept thinking of verses that talk about keeping our eyes on the prize, running the race, etc, but nothing.  I finally had a few moments to think about it and I realized that, in my mind, the prize we are running towards is heaven.  And frankly, I'm not too worried about getting in (no I'm not trying to be arrogant, I just know where I stand with God).  So no motivation there.  Then there's rewards in heaven - crowns, mansions, etc.  None of which I'm interested in.  Now what?  WHAT motivates me?  What has kept me going for all this time to work at my marriage, homeschool my kids, clean my house, make food, etc?

Some of you know me well enough to know the answer.  My husband knew it immediately.  Relationships.  I value real relationships more than anything in this world.  My relationship with Christ, with my husband, with my children, with my friends.  The thought of not obeying what Christ has asked of me would hurt our relationship, so I don't want to do it!

Now, can someone help me with a verse that I can put up to remind me of that motivation?

Weaning

I think I mentioned that I weaned Liza recently.  It's been a month now since she's nursed.  She and I can still have tears over it together (and separately for me).  But when I weaned her, I never filled up or felt a let-down.  Definitely nothing left.  I have been much sadder over all of this than I thought I would be.  She is 3 now and I always have another baby by now.  And while I don't really want to be pregnant ever again (I'm worn out, old, exhausted, etc), the whole thing is just making me feel OLD.  When did I get old?

I think I'll go cry now.