Punishing winds to guide or to grow

Running is my time. It's my time with God. It's my time to be quiet. Something neither I, nor those around me, do very often. When I'm quiet, I can hear Him. And I purposely ask Him to speak to me when I"m on a run. I love how He answers prayers.

Do you ever feel like you're being punished? Like God is against you? Like everything is "going wrong"? Do you ever feel like you are hitting wall after wall? Sometimes adversity is for our gain and can strengthen us and draw us nearer to God and teach us perseverance; grow us. Yet, other times, adversity may be from God Himself and not for our growth, but instead for our awareness and hopefully to alert us of where we are going "off course". So I'll ask you today to read with discernment of what I share into your own situation--what type of adversity are you facing today? Is it for your growth or for your warning to guide you in His ways rather than you own?

I know He's spoken this to my heart before, but today it was another reminder. When I ran with the wind, it was as if it pushed me on, led me, guided me...like it was FOR me. Yet, with the rain pelting me in my face and the harsh early spring wind wildly punishing my body, it was as if the exact opposite happened when I turned. The wind, the rain, the hills, it ALL was against me. Or, was it that I had turned the wrong way? See, I believe what God was asking me to do was to talk to Him and examine myself. He was asking me to examine my heart, my mind, my motives, my actions, my words. He was leading me to ask, "God, in what ways am I turned from you? In what areas of my heart and mind am I going AGAINST you instead of running WITH you?"

So, today, my prayer is that we can ask that question together. That we can ask God to reveal to us in what areas of our lives we are turned from Him and ask Him to give us the wisdom and strength to turn back and go His way, to run with Him! Are your punishing winds guiding you or growing you? Maybe you just need to "turn around" in some areas of your life so that you aren't facing the punishing winds at all:)

Blessings,

Abi

The "quiet time" guilt lie - I'll take my loud times

I used to "struggle" with this so often... but then God gently spoke to my heart and reminded me that He is in every aspect of my life, in my mundane and ordinary and in every moment I can find Him and be reminded of His words without sometimes putting that pressure on myself to "work" at it or feel like if I don't find that "quiet time" that I'm somehow missing Him. I don't say that to mean it isn't valuable to try to find quiet times or spend consistent time studying His word but when it becomes a source of frustration or something that makes me feel like I failed because I didn't find or keep it or spend actual "quiet/uninterrupted" time...then I think quite possibly I'm missing the point... like I've missed Him altogether in what He longs for creating with me.
Especially as a busy mom with young kids it can be so difficult to find that quiet time. So I've found it vital for myself to seek Him in the dishes, in the tantrums, in the late nights and early mornings and in the craziness of life too:)

I've also been finding especially in my new family of 6 household that speaking Gods word is not only powerful and life altering for myself, but it has had to become such am integral part of my everyday language with my children! One verse in particular we have been using quite frequently is "A gentle answer turns AWAY wrath. a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 all I have I say is THANK you Proverbs!! My mouth is changed because of your reminders and my children's little lips are being shaped by your reminders too!

God's quiet times with me are often rather loud lately:) and to be honest, I wouldn't want it any other way! At the end of the day am I utterly exhausted and sometimes overwhelmed by the day that just flew by me like a fart out of a bean filled gut? (Was that potty humor at its finest or what?! Didn't I tell you I spend my day with kids?! Fair warning for next time!) Well yes I am. But I'm spent as well as filled to the brim and overflowing with joy and stories and love and hugs and cuddles and kisses and "I love you!"-s that could just cause me to burst!!

So, you have your quiet times! I'll take my loud times with God:)

Cauliflower

Cauliflower Tortillas (Paleo, Grain Free, Gluten free)

4.8 from 47 reviews

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Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 17 mins

Total time: 27 mins

Serves: 6-7

Ingredients

• ¾ a head of cauliflower riced or 2 cups riced and packed
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. For these I actually rice my cauliflower slightly more fine that cauliflower rice. Toss ¾ a head of cauliflower cut up and most of the stem removed and pulse until you get a texture slightly finer than rice. (Once it’s riced measure it to make sure you have 2 cups packed.)
3. Place riced cauliflower in bowl and microwave for 2 minutes and stir, then another two minutes and stir again then place in a dish towel and squeeze excess water out as hard as you can. (You’re going to want to get out as much water as you can and be careful not to burn yourself because it’s going to be very hot.)
4. Place drained cauliflower back in bowl and add two eggs, salt and pepper and mix until well combined.
5. As a note it will be a little bit runny but shouldn’t be pure liquid either. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet into 6 small fairly flat circles.
6. Place in the oven for 10 minutes then pull out of the oven and carefully peel them off the parchment and flip them and place back in the oven for 5-7 more minutes.
7. Once they’re done place them on a wire rack to cool slightly.
8. Heat a medium sized pan over medium heat and place the tortillas into the pan pressing down slightly and brown them to your liking. (Don’t skip this step because it gives them slightly crispy on the edges and gives them a wonderfully nutty taste)

http://slimpalate.com/cauliflower-tortillas-paleo-grain-free-gluten-free/

Pumpkin recipes modified for low sugar/low flour/low milk

pie crust recipe: (this recipe makes enough for one 9in crust)
1 c white whole wheat flour
1/2 c red cooked quinoa
1 tsp stevia
1 tsp honey
1/2 c canola oil
2 Tbs coconut oil melted and spread over top of molded to pan crust)


Pie filling: (this recipe makes enough to fill two pies)
1 c honey
1/2 c raw organic coconut sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
4 lg eggs (if you are looking for lower cholesterol you can substitute flax seed and water for as many eggs as you want)
1 29 oz pumpkin
1 c lactaid milk
2 c unsweetened soy milk

Bake at pre heated 425 oven for 15 min then turn down to 350 for approximately 45 min

Delicious pumpkin cake recipe
1 C honey
1 C raw organic coconut sugar
1 C canola oil
1/4 C safflower or olive oil
1 tsp coconut extract
2 C canned pumpkin
2 eggs
2 Tbsp flax seed with 6 Tbsp water (to replace 2 eggs)
1 C stone ground whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 C chopped/ground walnuts

Bake 30-40 minutes at 350

New natural alternatives

Natural laundry detergent:
1C grated fels naptha soap
1/2 C washing soda
1/2 C borax
Use 1Tbs per load

Natural deodorant
2Tbs baking soda
2 Tbs cornstarch
3 Tbs organic expeller pressed coconut oil
4 drops young living essential oil of your choice... i use lavender oil

Natural baby wipes

2 cups hot water. 2 Tbs baby wash. 2 Tbs coconut oil. 2 drops lavender essential oil.

Natural lip balm

• 1 part beeswax (example- 1 tablespoon)
• 2 parts shea, cocoa or mango butter(example-2 tablespoons)
• 2 parts coconut oil (example-2 tablespoons)
• 2 drops per lip balm container of desired essential oil 

"We miss you every day... but we know there's a day when we will see you!"

How do I feel about Joeli’s birth day?

Six years. Six years seems so long ago that I sat five months pregnant with our second child, completely devastated, in disbelief and barely able to breath, staring at a lifeless ultrasound screen. But, when I think about that night it feels like it’s only a breath away from me and steals my breath all the same.

Life doesn't always work out the way we pray, hope or wish. When I look at our family picture, it still feels it’s missing our Joeli. That doesn’t go away. And, time hasn’t healed the wound left in her absence. But, something very important has happened in these past six years. It’s something that doesn’t devastate me, but instead it brings me hope and a sense of peace. Peace, however, is something that I’ve learned doesn’t mean “healed’ or “whole” or even “a state of acceptance”, but instead, means a trust and a faith that remains despite all else being shaken and moved. Peace that is like a River, a rushing, often crushing or twisting or winding River. A river doesn’t always make sense or take the same easily gently flowing path. It is MOVING and changing and real and active. That is the peace I’ve found. And, the important thing that has happened over these past six years is that God has been with me through it all. He has led me closer to His heart. He has heard my prayers. He has brought me opportunity to share about His great love and grace through Joeli Grace. And my hope and I believe a calling on our family is that through our experience with her deeply painful loss we have and take the opportunity to walk alongside and encourage even one other couple facing a similar loss. I do believe, by God's grace, we have been able to do this. And to me, more than anything else, I see my precious daughters life and through these past six years I can do nothing more than thank God that I too, have been changed by her life. God is with us when life isn't going the way we planned. When we can't feel Him we must make a choice to believe in this promise anyway!

Shortly before I became pregnant with Joeli a prayer of mine was that God would open doors for me to be bold in sharing about His great love. I was asking Him to give me more opportunity to share about Him with others. I journaled about this and looking back can see God using Joeli’s life as an answer to that prayer. Her life and loss have opened the doors for so many people to hear about God’s love and His plan for our lives. She emboldened me. When I think of that I can smile because I believe she has truly touched so many lives in her short time with us. I can’t help but be so grateful to be the mom of such a beautiful blessing to this world!

I can smile, but I won’t lie, I also have done a lot of crying over the past six years when I think of her life cut short. We wish she was here! I wish she could be one of the older sisters in this crazy big messy goofy family fighting for a turn to hold our little Jemma. I wish she was blowing out six candles on her cake. I wish I was kissing her goodnight along with our other children. But, I am at peace (the kind I’ve found) and I truly believe with all of my heart she is with her Maker and oh how that makes my heart long for my true Home in Heaven one day.

She has led me closer to Him! She has made Heaven more near to my heart! She has changed this world because of her presence here! All of these are things I hope for my other children, as well. I hope they lead others closer to Him, I know they have already given me glimpses of the Fathers love like nothing else on earth could, and I hope they change this world for His glory! Because of her amazing brother and sisters, I feel her here sometimes. I see her smile in theirs. I can almost hear her laughter in their giggles. And I like to think of her smiling down on us knowing one day we’ll all be together glorifying our Maker hand in hand.

I have a couple requests of YOU for her Birth day this year. If your life has been touched by Joeli would you please take the opportunity to share the simple words, “God loves you!” with someone on January 30^th? Maybe even share those simple words with six people in honor of her sixth… Maybe even take the time to tell someone God has a special plan for their life and tell them that a little girl named Joeli has touched you even before she breathed her first and so you KNOW God has great plans for their life too! How special would that be that YOU can be a part of God’s plan for her life too and share about His awesome gift of love and eternal LIFE?! It would bless and encourage our hearts so much to know that her story and her life are still touching others! SO, if you take the opportunity to do that please please share with us! And lastly, please say a prayer for us on the 30^th especially, as we remember her this year.

Thanks for considering joining us in remembering her life and legacy in this meaningful way this year for her 6^th! We haven’t been on this journey alone. Along the way many encouraging and supportive friends and family have helped us stand when we felt incapable and walk when we were crippled and rest when we were weary. For those of you who continue to encourage us and also remember her with us, for those of you who openly speak about her life not just her loss and what it has meant to you…THANK YOU doesn’t even touch how grateful we are for YOU!

Happy 6^th Birthday Joeli Grace Dougherty!

~Abi Dougherty

“We miss you every day and we miss you in every way. But we know there’s a day when we will see you, we will see you!” -Watermark

Apple butter

6 lbs. apples – peeled, cored, and sliced (I used Gala)

1.5  cups water

1.5  cups sugar

2  cups brown sugar

1  tbsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. nutmeg

.5 tsp allspice