ULTIMATE Unbaked Brownies (Vegan, Sugarless, Gluten Free)

I know some of you tried the Chocolate Fudge balls and decided you would swear off gluten free, vegan, sugarless treats - but these are worth taking another chance. ::snort::  BTW - WE still love the fudge balls - and THESE  are MUCH better than the black bean brownies - much better.  This recipe is from Chocolate Covered Katie.

Michael liked these and the girls raved about them. Arielle suggested they were too sweet. I agree. I'll be cutting out the frosting next time.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 C loosely packed pitted dates
1 1/2 C walnuts (I used pecans)
6 T plus 1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
1 1/2 tsp, plus 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, divided
2 tsp water
3/8 tsp salt
1/4 C pure maple syrup
2 T vegetable oil or melted coconut oil (I used coconut oil)

DIRECTIONS
Combine dates, nuts, 6 T cocoa powder, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, the water and salt in a food processor. Process until completely smooth.

Grease an 8 in square baking dish. Smoosh the dough FIRMLY into the pan with your hands until it evenly covers the pan.

In a bowl (or the pan you melt coconut oil in) combine remaining 1/4 c coco powder, 1/2 tsp vanilla, maple syrup and oil. Stir to form a paste. Spread evenly over the dough in the pan.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set, then cut into squares. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 2 weeks, or freezer for up to 2 months.

NOTES
We found these VERY sweet - but we have sworn of sugar. I will either skip the frosting or play with using 1/2 the maple and see what happens. I will make them like this to take out in public - but I doubt I make them with this level of sweet for home.


These are unbaked - great for summer; baking them won't heat up your house - AND they are stored in the fridge or freezer so they'll be a cool treat.

The brownie is sugar free - skip the frosting to cut the sugar and calories.

NUTRITIONAL INFO
16 brownies; frosted
Calories 140
Fiber 3.5 grams
Protein 3.5 grams
Fat 7 grams
Carbs 20 grams
WW points 4

Jamin - Mr. Academia and more

Another shameless Mommy Blog.

Jamin has been busy since he was here in California for Christmas. He went home, packed up and moved into a small house - his very first SOLO living situation - ever.  He seems to be enjoying it, and it couldn't have come at a better time for him.

This final semester of his college years at ASU has been full.....the need for quiet and privacy to think, process and write was at a premium.  By this time next month, he will be graduating with a Masters of Security Study - National Security.

He began this semester's big project with a  pile of books, online sources, and interviews...


His thesis is  about human trafficking and its impact upon national security.  This topic has been studied from a lot of different angles, but studying it as a security threat was a new angle that excited both him and his professors.

Eventually the information began to sort itself into an outline....





A few weeks ago, he finished his thesis and submitted it to his advisor for input and review.  This was a good way to begin the feedback portion of the project. ::grin::  Thus, proving homeschoolers CAN write.....last names are purposefully smudged.

Jamin is sweet to thank Michael (and I hope ME)  for all the years of critiquing his writing and papers.

He will defend his thesis Tuesday, 14 April. Prayers appreciated.  We are planning our trip to San Angelo for his graduation! Woot!

This week, he found out he was accepted into an exchange program which will allow him to spend the month of July in Osan, South Korea at a Korean university.  He'll come back from there and move from San Angelo. Move?

Yes. Another Gherkin will be missing from San Angelo next fall. Jamin  made many trips back and forth to College Station for tests and interviews in the hopes of being accepted into  Texas A&M.

In early March he heard he'd been accepted to the Masters of International Affairs Program at the  Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. He's also been awarded a scholarship.  I should say he's worked HARD to put himself through his under-graduate and graduate courses debt free. Go Jamin!

 He's also been busy with a program he masterminded and shepherded through the Student Government Association and the board of regents. The program may be adopted throughout the TX university system. Basically, students compete monthly to see which dorm can be the most energy efficient.  Money is set aside each month and the five random dwellers from the winning dorm are chosen to receive a $100 scholarship towards their tuition and fees. Its a win/win for both the university and the students.  It's already making a difference in the University's energy bill and the program has just begun.  Way to leave your mark, Jamin.

Jamin also manages to enjoy college life.

Jamin - 2nd from Left



Jamin 3rd from Left - he may enjoy a new college "sign"



I'll finish with a fun photo of ASU's last three 10K record holders (Jamin's record still stands) and their coach. 

Jamin on the Right

Mr. President

Here's an update on our "older Gherkins."  It's been months since a blatant Mommy Blog- aren't you dying for one?  I'll begin with "Jr" - the youngest of the out the house male Gherkins.

Jared is enjoying life as the President of the Student Government Association at ASU. More than simply enjoying life - he's worked hard this year for the university and earned a nice scholarship because of the work.

There have been multiple video clips and news clips in recent months - but they won't print well....and I've not shared them all here (though I have on Facebook). 



Along the way it's become apparent to others, besides Mama, that this boy has the gift of gab/ blarney and he's used it well this year. He's been invited several places to speak....too numerous for me to remember or list them all - though I will update if he sends me a list. ::wink::

Most recently, he was able to go to Chicago with a group of students and speak there at an Alpha Chi convention.

Thus, we put aside  concern that homeschoolers won't know how to give a public speech or relate to their peers.





In the Windy City

One project his team has seen through to implementation is the "Ram Tram." These shuttles will pick students up on campus and take them to historical sites, restaurants and businesses around town. In other words they'll run between downtown and the campus.  This will be nice for students without cars and helpful to  international students. You can hear him being interviewed here. 

Along the way - he has taken time for fun and school (earned a 4. - way to go!).

Jared (2nd from R) and Jamin (R) also in Student Government

We love Larissa!

School spirit

Finally, he's been selected as an intern for the Fourth Congressional  district in Washington D.C. He'll live there for 6 months and get a taste of politics from the inside. I fully intend to visit him some day in DC. LOL  He'll be back for one final semester at ASU  the end of next year.  I think he's fully lived his college years.

We're proud of you son.

What I Learned at TAP or EVEN THERE

After the first day I left home each morning PREPARED

I got up early every a.m. this week and attended the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) with Michael.  I was surprised to be the only spouse on all days until the last day (VA Benefits).  This is a GREAT program that the Department of Labor and Department of Defense host to prepare ALL who are separating or retiring from the military. I highly recommend the program. I can't imagine how generations of previous Veterans navigated the system without this program.

What did I learn?   We learned much about translating our experience to civilian speak. We learned about resources, benefits, and job hunting skills. Personally, I learned that I do not want to be out of my home 10 hours a day - full time work is not for me. Part time - I believe is manageable with the ages of our children. I could write a smoking resume from my years as a home school teacher and a women's ministry volunteer. Collecting references to back up my claims could be difficult - military life being what it is. ALWAYS collect references immediately and save them if need be.

We have much to research.  We have many forms and steps to complete in the next few months. We have been encouraged it is important we step back from NOW to prepare for THEN. I think we needed someone to give us permission as the retirement date is now 4 months and 3 days away.

Honestly, we have a Plan A, which our hearts long for and truly is our passion - being missionaries in Japan. However, we also have a Plan B, which would provide income greater than our current income. We are sitting in a good spot  - though nothing is firmly nailed down, we know our passions and have options.  It would have been impossible to sit in hours of discussion about the future and retirement plans without Plan C and Plan D hovering on the edges of our consciousness.  The realization of Plan C or Plan D would significantly impact Plan A and Plan B.

My soul screams, "NO! We want Plan A."  We wait - we do all we need to do to retire, and we seek answers to rule out Plan C or D. The thing is we can't seriously plan for our transition without considering the possibility of Plan C or  Plan D.

My conclusions: There are things far harder emotionally and financially than death - I would prefer not to walk any of these paths.   And here is the biggest thing I learned on a gut level at TAP:

The Spirit whispers to me, "EVEN THERE His strength will guide you and sustain you."

God knows! He knows our daily activities, our thoughts and plans, He scrutinizes our plans and is intimately acquainted with all the twists and turns in our lives. Even before we voice a word or thought, He knows it all. He encircles us, and walks hand in hand with us in the twists and turns.

It's beyond our understanding, so much more than we deserve.

There is nowhere we will go where we will be out of His presence or hidden from His Spirit. Heaven or the grave, East or West, Plan A or Plan D....

EVEN THERE His strength will guide us, His strength will support us and settles us in the place to which He leads. The uncertainty  won't overwhelmingly cover us - darkness is not dark to God!! The darkness  is as bright as a sunny CA afternoon because EVEN THERE- God shines. EVEN THERE - God resides.

We trust in God with all our being, we don't need a clear picture to trust. We'll obediently seek God in the twists and turns, and He will reveal the path we are to travel.

If we have to surrender Plan A or Plan B - EVEN THERE He will walk with us, lead us and sustain us.

We truly are in a good place.

We would appreciate your prayers as we eliminate Plan C or Plan D.  We'll share more info about Plans B - D should they become reality.

Yes, the words the Spirit whispered to me, my thoughts and our responses are based on passages of the word which are dear to me - Psalm 139:1-12; Proverbs 3:5-6

Morning Drive

By Michael

Interesting drive in this am. Turned onto A Rd, drove about a quarter mile, and came across an accident. Two vehicles were in the ditch on the right side. The farther vehicle was at 90 degrees to the other with its nose in the ditch. Saw a young man out in the roadway talking on his cell phone. He was bleeding around his mouth. No emergency vehicles were present, but there was a vehicle ahead of us with the woman driver out of the vehicle. 

We got out to see how everyone was doing. The young man was not doing particularly well, but he was functioning. I then found out that the other guy was still in the other vehicle - untended. I ran up to check on him and found him totally unresponsive slumped over on his right side. The right side of the vehicle was caved in to within a foot of the center console or where the center console should have been. The side airbag was deployed. He was breathing, and there were only minor cuts from flying glass - no real bleeding. He had to be not older than 20 years old.

 De'Etta was calling 911 because the first guy was trying to call his dad instead of 911 - he was much more banged up than he appeared -adrenalin and shock being what they are. 

The second guy finally started to awaken, but he was delirious. His right shoulder was causing him a great pain. I kept him still and in place. The ambulance showed up a few minutes later. I was glad to do a hand off with the paramedics. He was really hurting.

Then the dad showed up... "LOOK AT MY +^#%*^€£#]\+*¥!?#% TRUCK. WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TRUCK?" Not a good fatherly moment. This kid was really shaken up; he had done everything right. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

I did not get their names, but your prayers are appreciated. God knows...

De'Etta note - we did give them our name and number and continue to pray for the trauma of all involved.  This brought home to me again how much more important relationships and people are than things.

Resurrection Day 2015

We woke up early, took a family photo and headed for the chapel....

Arielle, Staci and Me; Michael, Nolan and Alex/Zander

 

Michael preached. I didn't hear the sermon; I was playing in the nursery.  I know the Holy Spirit was working. How do I know this? Several got saved! What a fun day to enter the family of God!

 

We had decided yesterday afternoon to enjoy a relaxing dinner here at home! I'm so glad we did. John and Nadine joined us. Stephanie and her children joined us. Praying Brenner has a great Easter where he is. Rob is home on a mid-tour. His parents are in for a week. They all joined us...and the fellowship was sweet. It was fun to hear John and Bernie share their stories (both are retirees).

 

When we made the plan it was bright and sunny. Today we enjoyed some much-needed rain....Michael was prepared.  I had lots of help pulling the sides together.



Steph and kids

 Arielle, Nolan and I had prepared some eggs for the kids. We put non-edible stuff in most the eggs, but each child had their name on two special eggs - one  with chapstick and another with candy. They all had fun looking. Rob and Michael hid the  eggs for our young adults and they were quite a bit harder to find.


Clara Beth finds her egg



Cole finds HIS egg



Elise.....

 

Stacia finds the egg with her name



Arielle FINALLY found hers



Nolan's was high



Zanders was also high

 Here's a shot of all the "kids"

Front - Clara, Elise, Arielle, Stacia and Cole
Back- Zander, Nolan and Daniel

Left-Right - John, Nadine, Michael, Rob, Bernie, Mary

Cynthia

Once again God confirmed people are more important than a perfect meal....and  it pays not to wait until things are "perfect" to invite others over. ::wink::

March was an INCREDIBLY busy month.  Today was a wonderful day of connecting with old friends and new ones too - being an extrovert it did energize me. 

Tomorrow begins another busy week. I thought it would be a lazy week as PWOC is on spring break - but I'll be busy from 8 a.m.  - 4 p.m. every day outside of the house. This will be new.

Adventures with John and Nadine

Each Chaplain is endorsed by a denomination to represent that denomination in the chaplaincy.  And each denomination has a person who oversees this process called an endorser. For most of Michael's career John has been his endorser.  He and his wife, Nadine, are just starting a four month trip to visit all the chaplains....and we get them this weekend.  We visited last night.

Today, we took them sightseeing - though it seems there is a lot of eating involved in sightseeing.  We stopped by the German POW cell block on base.

We went to the little town of Grass Valley and walked the streets. True to the norm the only store we entered was a candy store.

After a couple of false starts we found our way to Big A's - yummy freshly made root beer and giant burgers - even the veggie ones.

 

Our next stop was the Empire State Mine - where Stacia was happy to be our guide. She loves maps.

 

Wisteria tangled in Ponderosa Pine - very pretty

 

Arielle had just said she was waiting for Mr. Darcy

 

The reflecting pool

Bourne Family Cottage

 

Our final stop was the SR 71

 

Somewhere along the way we all decided it would be much more relaxing to eat here at our house tomorrow than to fight the crowds at a restaurant. This necessitated a trip to Walmart. We decided we needed a bit of an Easter Egg Hunt.