Almond Joy Drops

Another sweet treat to share! This is a super simple recipe that makes a big batch of cookies that are stored in the freezer for those chocolate cravings I get once in a while all the time... Hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Almond Joy Drops

3 c. shredded coconut

1/2 c. cocoa powder

1/2 c. honey

3/4 c. coconut oil, melted

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Spoon onto a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. The mixture was very crumbly at first but once the coconut oil started to solidify again it became easier to work with.

Pop the tray in the freezer and store frozen cookies in a freezer bag or container. These can be enjoyed straight out of the freezer- you know how fast those chocolate cravings can come on!

I've been having a tough time trying to figure out how to feed Sawyer solids since his body has had a tough time adjusting since we started a couple months ago. After talking to another mom she encouraged me to give a call to Sawyer's doctor and see what his advice would be. I decided to call the gastroenterologist to see how long it would be to get an appointment and God blessed us with an opportunity to take a cancelled appointment for the very next day! The GI doctor was impressed with Sawyer's growth but said his system is just going to be delayed from healing after the allergic reactions early on. He said to stick with just rice cereal twice a day along with a powdered probiotic to mix in the cereal once a day for a month. At the beginning of January he said we can start very slowly with pureed foods.

We are on day three with the probiotic and Sawyer seems to be no where near as gassy as he has been and he is sleeping very well! Selfishly I want him to be eating more solids so I don't have to nurse as often but that time will come and I'm sure I'll be sad when it does. Until then, I'll continue to feel exhausted, but all to the glory of God! I was really encouraged by this devotional I read the other day:

"I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. Hosea 11:4 NKJV

What a picture of humility! What a picture of motherhood! We spend years drawing our children with gentleness and love. We take the burdens and cares of their world upon our shoulders. We take the yoke of their sin and mistakes upon us. We stoop and feed them.

Sometimes as moms we feel like we have emptied ourselves for our children...and that is a good thing. Romans 5:8 says, 'God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Jesus emptied Himself of everything for us. And He did it for us before we came into a relationship with Him, striving to live godly. When we were in our sin and wanting nothing to do with Him, Christ died for us, and that demonstrated His love for us.

For some reason before we have children the idea of dying to self seems more spiritual, and we look for opportunities and people for whom to lay down our lives. Then we marry and have children and feel like we aren't able to do for God what we once did. We can feel like we have lost our identity and purpose. Sisters, we must see that this call of motherhood on our lives is the closest opportunity to be like Christ we will ever have on this earth. We lay down our lives for our children while they are yet sinners. And we keep laying down our lives until every last one of them comes to Jesus. What an amazing privilege! What an amazing honor!"

 
I hope that encourages you moms out there that feel the same way. At the end of the day, the smiles from this boy make it all worth it!