If you read my last two posts, you’ll know that there has been a very important and life changing thing going on in my life at this time. It’s hard to string into words the emotions that have been swirling around this house for the past few months, but it is nearly impossible to convey. Suffice it to say, there have been many tears, arguments, tense moments, quiet thought, introspection, discussion, belly laughs with friends, changes in routine, diet, habits…there have been ups and downs and everything in between. But this family is stronger than ever now and we only have each other to thank.
It’s hard when you are used to telling the whole world what’s going in your life. When something comes up in that life that seems too important to share, too intimate to show to everyone and anyone, then everything comes to a stand still. What could I possibly say here that would not share our secrets, air our dirty laundry for all the people to see? I felt empty. I couldn’t sit at this keyboard and write anything, say anything without thinking I was saying too much. If I share our lives at this tender time, will it make things worse? Will it be therapy?
Instead we chose to keep to ourselves, to only talk to our close friends and family. We started a round of therapy together. Yes, I admit it. Something so many people refuse to admit, but I will tell everyone. Talking to someone as impartial as a counselor can do wonders for your lives, and those that share it with you. We chose to work hard at this life, this marriage, these kids, this family. We’ve been through a lot, but we’ve come out the other side and things are looking pretty bright.
I don’t think I hid much in my last posts. If you could read between the lines, you could probably see it for what it really was. A struggle. A voicing of what had been left unsaid for so long. This blog has been my therapy for so many years, and continues to expand my life in so many ways. I’m so thankful for all those of you who have stuck with me through the first struggles and these new and fresh wounds too.
On this day of resurrection (for those that are religious), I find myself in a similar situation. I like to see it like the mighty phoenix rising up from the ashes. There is beauty in loss and destruction, but we have to see it for what it is. If we go through life’s lessons and hardest moments without growing than what kind of people are we? We must expand our minds, refresh our attitudes, bring new and fresh breath into each moment of every day because when we don’t do these things, life becomes stagnant, dreary and boring. Change is what keeps us alive, keeps each day exciting.
I can’t predict the future or pretend that I know what it holds for us, but I can think that working hard and doing whatever we can has brought us this far already. It reminds me of a ritual not many have seen in the wild. I’ll share it here for those of you who have not. Bald Eagles, when courting, have an amazing aerial display of locking talons and falling almost to the ground where they split apart at the very last second. It is a beautiful and poignant metaphor for me.
One year ago: Halibut Cakes
Two years ago: Meat Lasagna
Chocolate Chia Energy BallsIngredients
- 6 pitted large medjool dates
- 1/4 agave nectar or honey
- 3 tbsp chia seeds, ground
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts
- 1/3 cup (1 scoop) Chocolate Vega One Protein Powder
- 3 tbsp dried blueberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup crunchy natural peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- 2 tbsp cacao nibs
- 1/2 cop rolled oats
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, blend all the ingredients except the cacao nibs and oats. Make sure the paste is evenly mixed and all the blueberries are chopped up.
- Remove from bowl and scrape into a new bowl or out onto a clean and dry surface.
- Add the cacao nibs and oats and knead into the dough to evenly combine.
- Scoop out a Tbsp size amount and roll into balls.
- Refrigerate and store in layers separated by waxed paper. Keeps up to two weeks.
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Similarly delicious recipes from other fabulous food blogs:
Vanilla Goji Nut Balls from FitFluential
All Natural Energy Balls from Breakfast to Bed
Almond Carrot Bodyrock Balls from Running to the Kitchen
Chia Pudding from Healthy Green Kitchen
Chia Hempseed Buckwheat Cereal from Pure2Raw