Homemade Almond Butter

The older I get the more I am concerned about what goes into our mouths....I've always cooked from scratch, but have also taken short cuts and used canned foods, like the creamed soups that had way too much junk in them and processed foods that shouldn't even be labeled food!

I wanted to get back to real food.....I wanted my family and I to eat food that our bodies recognize and can use instead of storing it away as fat because our bodies have no idea what to do with it! Plus omitting the chemicals and things I am unable to pronounce just made sense to me!

I also notice when my kids eat junk their behavior gives them away every time! There is something to be said for keeping food whole... I've been a witness to major meltdowns because of what they have taken in. I have also seen digestive problems decrease as we eliminate the junk!

So I have been on this whole food kick for a couple of years. Now I must be honest and tell you I just didn't quit cold turkey and I do eat some junk from time to time but no where near what I use to! What a difference it has made! I feel better...more energy....well as much as I can feel being pregnant..baby seems to be sucking some of that energy up from time to time, but all in all I really feel good!

 I wanted to share with you my Almond Butter recipe...Have you ever looked at the label of a p-nut butter jar? Yikes! Very scary! And I love p-nut butter! I also knew I needed a natural alternative.....Now this is not as creamy as the store bought but I don't mind......There is one thing I have learned over the years of eating and that is what your body eats your body craves! If you eat healthy food you will crave healthy food...It's as simple as that!

2 Cups Almonds
1/4 Cup Real Maple syrup
Sprinkle of sea salt
1/4 cup Raw honey
2 Tbl. of coconut oil

Take your two cups almonds mix them up with your maple syrup. Pour them on to your baking sheet, sprinkle them with sea salt and roast for about 20 minutes making sure to toss them at least once. Take them out and let them cool for ten minutes before you put them into your food processor.

Put them in your food processor and add your coconut oil and raw honey. Blend until creamy......Mmmmmm

You will need to store this in the fridge. I thought about canning it and researched it. Some say because of the consistency you will not be guaranteed a perfect seal...So I just decided that you can store nuts very easily and I will just make it as I need it.

If you don't like the taste of coconut you can use the expeller Pressed coconut oil and it won't have the taste. Or you can use another natural oil. You can also omit the maple syrup and add an extra teaspoon of raw honey. Just experiment with it until you get the right flavor your looking for.

Hope And Peace

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, oh God. Psalm 42:1

Reading Psalm 42 this morning..........

In this lost world when hope seems to slip through the cracks. When the enemy crowds in and tries to suffocate all that is good for the sake of equality and acceptance...... I can't help but feel scared.

 And it comes at a high price. When we sacrifice what is truly good in God's eyes. When we walk away from all that He holds sacred and precious for fear of confrontation or persecution..... I feel his heart ache. I draw closer and long for a better place. I long for Him to hear our cry and I beg for Him to make me feel safe. And  in His very word I find peace, hope and life.......This is not my resting place, this is not my home.


And it is written in red  Matthew 24:6
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come topass, but the end is not yet.

Homemade Vanilla

Isn't this Beautiful?

In order to make this amber goodness I have to make an awkward stop at the liquor store.....But you really can tell the difference in your baking and cooking when you make your own!

I found this gallon size Ball jar at Target and thought it would be perfect for my Homemade Vanilla!

All you need is two 1/2 gallon bottles of Vodka and about 65 to 70 Vanilla beans. split your beans in half and place them in your jar. Pour the vodka in.....Let brew in jar for about 6 months in a dark, cool place. Put in smaller decorative jars and give away as gifts or keep them for yourself and stock your shelves!

I keep sniffing my fingers cause they smell like vanilla! Mmmmmmm

Little in Size, Big in Heart

When you think your too small to make a difference in this world.......think again. Even the smallest of gestures can make those with huge circumstances feel stable.

I love her willingness to help at such a young age. To her, body size doesn't matter.... She already seems to know it's the size of your heart that matters........

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galations 6:2

Just A Cup Of Sugar Away

The travel seemed easy...The days seemed short and the time clock, not once did it stop ticking....... I took lots of pictures and a long the way I will share them with you. But for now I want to leave you with this one photograph....This is what I prayed for...And if you could of seen her eyes sparkle with tears when I walked through the door it would of warmed your heart......

Life is how you choose to live it. Time is how you choose to spend it. And memories are always in the making if your willing to move and be a part of someone's life. This dear woman has been a part of my life for almost 42 years now.......And yes I have the memories because she took the time.

Distance can be a form of torture at times.....Like my sister said a couple of days ago "sometimes I wish you were just a cup of sugar away."

Good thing the heart has lots of rooms to store up those beautiful memories......It seems to soak up love like a sponge if you let it.

My heart is full........

He's Got This!

I look into the faces of people and I wonder about their story and the road they have traveled to get to where they are right now....... I never use to take the time to look into the eyes of strangers and consider what their story might be. I was quick to judge and lay the blame like a heavy blanket of burden added to their already troubled life.

 The road can be long and travel can be hard.....No one ever said this life would be easy. As I walk this path, the one that God has set before me, I ask Him to join me....to guide me because no matter how strong others think I might be, it's not my strength they see. He holds me up when this soul of mine feels weak.

And when I forget about stopping and refueling I am quickly reminded that I can not run on fumes alone.....He talks about a thirst that can not be quenched by anything or anyone in this world.....I can bare witness to the dry deserts of this life.....I've thirsted and tried the world's well and came up dry every time.

And it amazes me how rejuvinated I feel when I stop to take a drink from the well of life, the only one with Living water.

I'm always discovering something new when I open his word....Even the verses I've read before...I read them again and they quickly breathe and come to life and show me what I may have missed. What I wasn't willing to see or maybe what I wasn't ready to see.......

As I travel with my family this week I ask for your kindness and if it so moves you, could you pray for our safety? I have asked God to guide us every step of the way. And as I love on family and friends, I ask Him to give me the grace in the the things I may not be able to see  in the eyes of those around me.......To remove the heavy blanket of judgement and show them the comfort of mercy.......

My prayer is that in the short 10 days I will be up home I will make moments that will be cherished for a life time....Ones that I can tie up in beautiful ribbons and enjoy  for years to come. Are my expectations high? I don't think so....I think moments are what you make of them. Whether they turn out the way you expect them to or not...It's all in how you choose to handle them that matters. So if the moments don't turn out the way I would of liked....It really doesn't matter...It's all on how I choose to handle the ending.

 My heart is full and my soul is excited...my camera is ready and no matter how bumpy, how many rest stops, or how many pot holes...I know He's got this......He's got it all planned out and He is ready to guide us every step of the way....

Father I am yours!