Delicious Grain Free Pumpkin Muffins!

These were so delicious! I started off a few months ago making Elana's pantry Paleo Breakfast Bread, and these are a far reaching adaptation of that, I suppose, though it's not really much like it anymore!

Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/4 c almond butter
1 15 oz can pumpkin
2 eggs
1/3 c sugar (I use raw.)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1 T cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t ginger

For the topping, I just sprinkled mini chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and a combo of both on the top. I used only a few tablespoons of each, I suppose.

This isn't very Elana's Pantry-ish, but throw it all in the mixer and mix on a low speed until mixed! Spoon into muffin tins. Bake on 350 for 15-20 minutes. (I forgot to turn on the timer, but I did the toothpick check to make sure they were done.)

Makes about 18 muffins.

* Yes, that's almond butter, not almond flour.
* B/c of the sugar it's not Paleo. These are awfully moist, so I'm not sure honey or agave would work. Someone else is welcome to try!

My favorite part is that they have protein in them, so it's much more substantial than just a baked treat. Jacob said, "Welcome to muffin heaven!" :)

Maybe I shouldn't feel guilty

So as Mattie's first grade year is well into the first semester, I find myself sad that she's getting so much less of the fun stuff that Jacob got.  When Jacob was little, there were several of us that got together to do the fun things (that aren't my strength). We don't have that now for her, and it makes me sad, because honestly, she'd probably enjoy it much more than he even did!  There were cousins his age - lots of them, and we don't have that with her, so it's all just different. But as I was lamenting tonight and feeling sad that I'm just not doing well enough in that area for her, I realized that Jacob's early years were very special... only him, activities geared toward only him, interests chosen for him, time with only him, books chosen for only him, etc.  But then I realized that her high school years will be the special time with only her as Jacob will have likely gone to college... activities geared toward only her, interests chosen for her, time with only her, books chosen for only her, and I guess it will all balance out. I still get frustrated that I'm not so good at the fun stuff, but this did balance it out a bit!

BEECH Retreat

So one of the things I do for my new part time job is blog for Five in a Row.  I do a lot of editing and posting articles written by the authors of Five in a Row, but I also get to input some of my own stuff as well.  Because I have no marketing degree, and a marketing degree isn't really a social media degree, I'm not sure yet what the right balance of different types of information is... product info, how-to, inspiration, etc.  There are so many things I'm still learning by trial and error!  But there's this amazing retreat in this amazing location, and I'm really hoping I get to go!  There's also this amazing giveaway that I'm participating in to increase those chances of attending. :)  If you enjoy blogging and want to learn more, check it out! I know, I think I'd want to go even if I had never blogged a day in my life!

What Mattie knows about common sense

Tonight while cleaning up her bedroom, Mattie asked if she should put a toy away.  

I said, "Of course you need to put that away! Use some common sense, Mattie!" 

Her quick reply: "I don't even know what common sense is except that Thomas Paine invented it!" 

lol!!  At least she was listening this year...

Overwhelmed

Just a list of things I'm thankful for today...

a reminder of how quickly the time goes...

Listening to Mattie read her short little reading lessons fluently... at long last!
Seeing Jacob understand some of his grammar concepts... also at long last!
Watching our freshly reinstalled bird feeders get busier and busier with our favorite feathered friends.
Healing after ten months for my cracked tailbone and sacral vertebrae.
Finding an old video of Jacob reading a book out loud when he was little.  Such sweetness in that little voice!
Healing via surgery and recovery for Robert's leg and back.
The joy the kittens have brought to our family.
Hearing Mattie play upstairs with a friend her own age she clicks perfectly with!
Watching Robert find enjoyment in books as he recovers.
Jacob having fun at his first sleepover. :)
Our free art class at Carson-Newman.
Robert's presence at home while he recovers from surgery: company, friendship, understanding in the craziness, help with schooling, family Bible lessons from his perspective, kids' laughter that he causes.
Planning our nature study fun!
Re-doing fun 6 year old things with Mattie.
Hoodie weather.
Looking through old photos and remembering the memories of Jacob's six year old year.
My new job. The way it fits me perfectly. The way it can fit our family perfectly. The way God handed it to me.
And my favorite: God truly opening my eyes and heart to a deep-seated understanding of His grace in spite of me... an answer to prayers prayed for many years.