Chocolate Chunk Banana Buckwheat Muffins (and Recipe card freebie!)

Hey all!

 

It's been a little while since last time I posted.

Life in our household has been a bit busy. Mainly the things that have been the biggest time consumer was that we started Homeschooling with the 5 year (and some with with our 2 1/2 year old),

 

Aren't they cute? ;)

 

Our little guys have been on again off again sick non-stop it seems, and I have been struggling with very high blood pressure. For anyone who struggles with this, or knows someone who does, you know how it feels. Needless to say, some days it has been a struggle to do normal things.

Because of these health concerns, I have been trying to think outside the box in regards to the food my family eats. I've already changed the way I cook many things; but sometimes you just want something sweet. So I've been stalking Pinterest about Gluten Free food and recently the Paleo ones as well. I also have some good friends who either for health reasons, or life style choice, live this way everyday. And because hospitality is one of my gifts, I always want to have something (some treat) for them to enjoy (and for me too!). So this muffin was tossed together one day when we had a function to go to. It tasted great, and my boys loved it, so we made it again for a different occasion. It seemed we had a hit!

So I hope you try it out and that you enjoy it!




I used mini cupcake pans in this pic instead of regular cupcake pans like in the recipe.

 

Feel free to change around things to suit you and your family =)

 

 

And here is a cute Recipe Card Freebie!

 

27 things I am grateful for while I was 27

Now that I've had my 28th Birthday I put these thoughts together:

27 things I was grateful for while 27, in no particular order because my mind is everywhere: (If any look like a repeat, I'm just really grateful for that one...haha).

 

 

 

☆My Hubby Will for going out of his way to surprise me, and how he takes care of our family ♡♡♡

 

 

 ☆For kids who say 'please' and 'thank you'. (Well, at least mostly...sometimes?..at least in public, haha)

 

 

 

☆For family and friends (who are like family), being there for us and helping when we need a hand ♡

 

 

☆Facebook birthday/event notifications,  lol. My memory isn't the best, so it is nice to have    reminders of important things :)

 

☆Having opportunities to be crafty.

 

 

 

☆Cute sounding words my little guys say. One because he is missing teeth, another because he is learning to talk :)

 

 

☆The logic of my 5 year old and 2 year old.
Ian: " I have lava in my brain. There is lava in my tongue and it's going to my finger.
My stomach is full of lava it's hot because I'm a ninja."
Isaac: "I do, I do!" (Translation: I have lava in me as well brother!)

 

☆Good neighbors.

 

☆Being able to help others.

 

☆Coffee...I need all the energy I can get with my little crazy boys.

 

 

☆Choir. Worshipping through song is one of the ways I feel very close with God. I treasure the times I get to sing with choir.

 

 

☆The ability to see pictures of friends who moved away and their family's grow up with social media ♡

 

 

 

 

☆Having a gym in town, especially during the hot summer months.

 

 

☆New Friends.

 

☆That my boys have little friends that they can play with nearby.

 

☆Legos. For keeping my boys entertained.

 

 

 

☆People who volunteer to help with different ministries, and for those who wish they could but aren't able to.

 

☆Eating together as a family when we can.

 

☆Being able to finish making and decorating a cake while watching my little guys. (This is a major success if it happens, lol)

 

 

 

 

 

☆When dinner turns out great, and the kids even eat it without bribery.

 

☆Having family close by ♡

 

☆Having what we need, and most of what we want. And knowing the difference between the two and being thankful ♡

 

☆The blessing of being able to stay home with my little guys ♡

 

☆Cuddling with my family ♡♡♡ spending time together ♡♡♡

 

 

 

 

 

☆Teaching something new to the boys.

 

☆Being able to spend time with all the different age groups at church. (There is so much knowledge to learn and pass on. I feel it is a privilege to teach/befriend the ones younger than me, and an honor to learn/befriend the ones older than I am.)

 

☆That even though life is crazy and unpredictable, I can put my trust in the one who is holding it all together. Who sees the beginning and the end, and all the threads that connect the two.

 
 

 

Prayer for this coming year as a 28 year old:
       -Be a good wife and mom (lean on God when I can't do it by myself)
       -Focus on delving deeper into the Bible (a thirst for reading it)
       -pray more for those around me

Mission: Mom-Mom Day?

Agent Small Person: Isaac, age 2
Mission: Mom-Mom Day?

   Mom-Mom and Da-Dee are acting strange again.

   We just got back from the Big Building with lots of Tall People who like to sing and listen to a man talk a lot. They put me with the nice Tall girls and other Small People in the place they call "nursery". Which I am convinced is code for, "let's sneak out without them noticing". Silly Tall People. We notice.

   After coming back to the home base, and taking off my shoes "like a good boy", I notice the Mom-Mom starting a strange dance of cleaning and cooking, while the Da-Dee drives off in the Big Car on something called an "errand". (Will investigate more later).

   I decided that I should see if this strange behavior had affected E as well as the Tall People. His preference for being a "nin-JA" and playing with the tiny blocks had not changed. I don't think E has noticed anything strange is happening today.

   A more direct approach is needed for this mission today. I go into the Place of Food (or kitchen in Tall Person), and calmly ask the Mom-Mom for a drink how I usually do. She is distracted and doesn't understand. I try to say it again. This time there are better results, and I am shoo-ed out after receiving my drink.

   Conclusions drawn: We are about to eat a lot of food. And if I am a "good boy" (which of course I always am), there will be a reward of sweets.

   New Mission: Try to behave  (aka do what Mom-Mom says) so as to get sweets today.

   This shouldn'tbe too hard, a long as no other Small People come over today. Then I would be forced to show them who the Alpha Small Person is. It should be fine. Mom-Mom hasn't mentioned other Small People, just other Mom-Mom's and Grand Mom-Mom's. I think I'm good.

¤¤¤¤¤¤

Mission Update : I was not good! I repeat, not good! They came in packs and droves. Every surface of the homebase was packed. Tall People everywhere. And with them more Small People. Luckily they were ones that I recognized, the "Cuz-signs". So the fight for Alpha Small Person wasn't as bad. Not too many toy casualties this time.

   On the plus side, all the Tall People brought more food, and the much anticipated sweets. Needless to say, I received cake as my sweet payment for "playing nice".

   (Side note: Tall People really like smiles, hugs, kisses. Odd, but effective).

                         Signing out,
                           Small Person Isaac.

2016: year of cakes!

Undated: 6/5/2016

It seems I've been making cakes all the time lately.

It's been kinda fun to be creative that way :)

Balancing my little guys with baking at home has been challenging (especially when the little guy tries to lick the icing bowl), but it has been fun for the most part. 

Making cakes has kind of become my creative outlet. There is an emotional attachment with every cake. A story that needs to be told. A process to every layer. The joy from making someone's day. 

And of course the delight of eating your "masterpiece", lol :)

 

Leah's bday cake. 

Chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream  icing. 

Jacaui's bday cake.

Gluten free/grain free cake with buttercream icing. 

Epp's baby shower cake.

Strawberry cake with vanilla icing and buttercream icing. 

Grandpa Glen's bday cake.

Chocolate cake with chocolate icing. 

"Florida Orange" cake, that we donated to a funraiser. 

Orange-sickle cake with orange flavored buttercream icing. 

My lovely Lea's 21st bday cake.

Strawberry cake with buttercream icing. 

My Ian's 5th bday cake.

Yellow cake with buttercream icing covered in marshmallow fondant, with candy legos as accessories. 

My hubby Will's 30th bday cake. 

Yellow cake with buttercream icing. 

Ashley's baby shower cake.

Yellow cake with buttercream icing. Fondant turtle on top.

Greg's bday cake.

Cookies N Cream cake.

Christi's bday cake.

Gluten free /grain free cake with dark chocolate drizzled on top.

 

Isaiah's bday cake.
Yellow cake with homemade buttercream icing. 

 

 

 

My grandbaby Zane's first bday cake =)
Yellow cake with homemade buttercream icing. Covered and decorated with homemade marshmallow fondant. 

 

I don't think I like this Merry-go-round.

So today started like every other Friday has for the past few months (excluding holidays that fell on a Friday).

Isaac  (My two yr old), woke me up; I took my thyroid medicine; and I parked my butt on our sofa to check my Facebook on my phone.

See? Same old, same old. Happens almost every Friday. Pattern rarely broken for anything.

Check the news feed (or friend stalking, lol).

Click like on posts.

Occasionally comment on a post.

Then check notifications. Where some days you might get a neat surprise from years past. Cute pictures of the kids you had forgotten, funny pictures of the hubby, or good times with friends.

And today, some of those types of old memories did pop up, which was lovely ♡

But, a different old memory popped up as well. One of those picture quotes. The kind that look good on a certain day, while you are feeling a certain way. The kind that makes you feel important and smart at the time for posting it.

Well that day is not today. I do not feel important nor smart for posting this picture quote three years ago.

In fact, I feel mostly chastised by it.

"If you keep telling the same sad small story. You will keep living the same sad small life."

Jean Houston

It's not wrong to have structure, or to do some things the same everyday. That's normal.

But, I'm pretty sure I've been living in a pitiful Merry-go-round of my own making.

I don't know when it happened,  or if maybe I've always been this way, but I've become a grumpy complainer.

If it's not whining about my weight (and not doing anything about it), or overreacting to something the boy's normally do, there seems to be an endless supply of things to complain about.

I've got this sad pathetic story that I've put on repeat.

Round and round it goes, yelling the same things over and over.

This isn't going the way I wanted!

That was supposed to happen, but didn't.

Why don't they do what I told them to!?!

I feel so empty....

They seem to have it all together!

I put myself on this ride, handcuffed myself in, and threw away the key.

And now I feel stuck.

I don't want to keep telling the same "sad story".

I want to tell a joyful story.

A story about a woman who struggles with being happy, trying each day to smile.

A story about a mom who doesn't get it right, but apologizes when it's needed, and tries each day (with God's help) to be the best mom her kids need.

A story about a woman who looks at herself and sees a beautiful creation made by God, not trash.

☆☆☆

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 NIV

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51:12 NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 NIV

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 NIV

☆☆☆

So now I'm praying God unlocks these handcuffs I put on myself, so I can get off this ride.

To take life one trial at a time, with joy in my heart.

And maybe make a few new habits that are better for myself and my family ♡

Fall fun with my little Guys.

Going to the local pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkin.

Our adventure carving our pumpkin. Fun and messy (mostly for mommy)! Ian decided the pumpkin should be called Mr. Chubby. Very appropriate =)

My life is geting away from me...oops!?!

So.....

I have come to the realization that...(drum roll please)....I think I have too many interests, and not enough time/energy to spare for them all.

I am interested, or distracted by many things throughout my day. I get so caught up that by the time I finally resurface, my day is gone. And more often than not, I have nothing to show for it but my grumpiness.

I think it is important to evaluate how I spend my time. Because, let's face it, time is precious. We only have one life to live. 24 hours each day (give or take how much sleep you can squeeze in at night).

I want those hours to be spent to the best of my ability living to the fullest, and less on the things that distract me from living my life and being there for those around me.

So now the real questions would be, what are the most important things that I believe I should focus on? And what are the things that I need to focus less or none of my energy on?
 
Some of these are easy, like: my relationship with God, my husband, my children, my ministries.

But, when I think of what I should spend less time on, I get this feeling inside of myself. Kind of like an angry child who is being denied something they desire.

Why shouldn't I do this? What's wrong with doing that? That other mom gets to do it. It's not fair!

The answers usually go:

Why shouldn't I do this?
Because there are even better things that you can focus your time on.

What's wrong with doing that?
There may be nothing wrong with it, except it is drawing my attention away from what is more important for my life.

That other mom gets to do it.
I am NOT that other mom who seems to have it all together. And that is ok! I don't know what she goes through, or what she wishes she could do but can't. 

It's not fair!
No, sometimes it's not fair...but that is how life seems sometimes. Especially if I am already in a state of mind where it is all about me and what I want. Life isn't about me, but rather what I can do to help those around me. When I focus less on myself and more on others, I don't tend to miss all those things that used to be so important.


So now here comes the hard part, putting this into action. Trying to focus my day on what I feel really matters. And being ready for when I mess up to forgive myself and try again.

So, if I'm not on here as much as I used to be, it's because I'm out trying to make my hours count. And if I am here, hopefully it's for something that matters =)


What do you thing you should focus your time on?



 

Fall Vignette

Vignette

A vignette is a brief but powerful scene. A good vignette leaves you wanting more.

 

To get myself excited about fall (aside from spraying the house like crazy with cinnamon apple spray), I was inspired to make a vignette in my dining room.

From watching all those fun design shows on hgtv, I was reminded that a beautiful vignette does not have to be super matchy matchy. In fact, it is better to find things that are complimentary.

So I had a goal, and only a small window of time to do it (it was nap time, yay!).

As fast (and quietly) as I could, I went around the house grabbing all kinds of things that might work. Looking in closets and drawers. Paintings, candles, little toys, vases, and leaves rounded out some of the things I grabbed.

Once I had my loot, I started to play around with what should go where.

I tried not to only use the typical fall colors. So I found some pretty blue items to tie into the sky of the mountain painting that became sort of the focus along with the lovely round fall plate.

 

 

 

Overall I'm happy with how it turned out. I look at it and it reminds me of lovely memories. 

 

 

But if I get tired of a particular item, I can always switch it out for something else  (which I have).

 

The best compliment came from my four year old son. He was sitting at the dining room table eating, and looked over and asked if I had made that. I said yes. He said it was beautiful. Then he enthusiastically told his daddy all about it.

 

Moments like that melt my heart.

 

I hope you are inspired this Fall, and create something beautiful!

 

Helicopter Mom (with a dash of bubble wrap)

I'm that mom you see when you leave the house.

The one with the panicked look on her face. Watching her kid's every move.

Worried that they are going to get hurt, break something, or hurt someone else's kid.

Helicopter mom. Hovering, always trying to anticipate what my (as I've affectionately nicknamed them) little tornadoes are going to do next.

It's exhausting. I exhaust myself silly trying to box them in.

It drives them nuts, which drives me nuts. The circle continues.

It's so bad most days, that the mental struggle to leave the house and go out where people can see us (and what I think is going to be choas), is almost crippling.

Before we had children, I had this thought in my mind that I would be that free spirited mom because I'm so artsy. The one who was okay with her kid's getting messy while having fun. The calm mom who didn't flip over little things.

The reality became clear quickly. I'm more of a bubble wrap mom.

I hate it.

This new me and her fear and desire for control has got to go!

I know actions speak louder than words, so I've been praying that God will help me to let go of this fear and desire for control that I didn't realize I had until now. To release this stress to Him and let Him carry some of my burden. So I can be the best mom that He created me to be.

To allow my kids the chance to try things out and make mistakes along the way. So they can learn through these moments. To become adults who can take care of themselves, and know how to rely on God when life gets tough.

Some days are better than others. Those are the days that are filled with the most laughter (and dirty hugs and kisses).

But other days are still a struggle back into the fearful me I don't want to be.

I pray so hard that my children will see Jesus in me, despite me micromanaging them. And that He will continue to strengthen me to take one little step forward at a time. Give control to Him, and trust Him to lead my family.

One day at a time. One step at a time. One mess at a time. One moment at a time.

Giving my all to my heavenly Daddy, so that my children can have the best of me.

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

For I am the Lord your God

    who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

    I will help you.

Grateful vs. Overwhelmed

I'm tired.

My energy level is close to nonexistent.

But there are things to do. Kids to entertain and take care of. Chores piling up. Ministries we are apart of. Meals to fix (and hope the vegetables are eaten). Throw in some schooling, and these are just some of the things floating at the top of my head.

What has to be done, verses what can be pushed back for a little bit?

Life can be overwhelming.

But it doesn't have to be.

For me to not start the slippery slope of complaining, it seems to help to have things in perspective.

What am I grateful for on this day?

(Takes a few moments to jot some things down)

Just writing down some things I am grateful for, puts things into perspective a little bit and reminds me of how blessed I am.

I don't want to get so caught up in trivial things trying to fit the mold of this world that I lose focus on what is important.

Faith. Family. Friends.

I have a God who loves me. My family is taken care of and happy. We have what we need, and sometimes a little extra. We are blessed. I am blessed.

Today I choose to be grateful.
But if I do get overwhelmed (which I will, because I'm human and just sometimes life can be hard), I trust that God will hold me in His arms and give me some of His strength.

Prayer to start my morning:

Heavenly Daddy,

Thank you for another day to serve you.

Thank you for my family.
Please help me to be the wife and mom you want me to be.
Help me when I can't.

Thank you for providing for us.
Help us to bless others.

Thank you for all the wonderful people in our lives.
Help us to love those no one wil.

Thank you for protecting my heart.
Please help me and my family to stay focused on you.

I love you.
Amen.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Isaiah 40:27-31 (msg)

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “ God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”?

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.

He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.