2/3 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
8 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons salt
6 cups gluten-free rolled oats
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1 1/2 cups raw almonds (sliced or chopped)
1 cup chopped raw pecans
1/2 cup golden raisins or other dried fruit

Preheat oven to 325°

Prepare two half sheet baking pans with cooking spray or parchment paper.
In large microwavable mixing bowl, combine maple syrup, brown sugar, coconut oil, butter and salt. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds or until butter and coconut oil are melted. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.
In another mixing bowl add oats, coconut, almonds, pecans, and raisins. Mix thoroughly.
Combine all ingredients together thoroughly.
Divide mixture between the two baking pans and press firmly until evenly spread across pans.

Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate pans and switch racks after 15 minutes and return to oven for final 15 minutes.
After removing from oven, sprinkle dried fruit over hot granola. Let granola thoroughly cool and cut into bars or break into pieces.  Store in resealable bags or containers.

**We buy Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats and Costco’s  coconut oil, nuts, vanilla, Maple syrup, Kerry Gold Butter.

Enjoy!

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
 

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Col. 2:2-3

Not The Normal
While our normal year end goal setting activities include a variety of areas in our lives, this year my heart’s cry is a longing to embrace Paul’s goal in Colossians 2 with my whole heart. I need serious focus and audacious trust as I walk each day (In my case as I roll each day). When I focus on upcoming life changes and challenges, anxiety immediately wells up within me. Yet when I focus on the word of God and the love of Christ his peace settles me and assures me of his good gifts and promises. Christine Caine said it well this morning in her daily email devotion…

“God is so faithful. His mercies are new every morning. His love endures forever. He has gone before you. He is for you. He is with you!

New Normal
Don’t waste another minute today thinking about yesterday or last year. Don’t spend today fretting about tomorrow or the months to come in this new year. Enjoy today, be in today and trust God, for He knows the plans He has for you. They are plans for good and not for evil. Plans to prosper and not harm you! (See Jeremiah 29:11.)”. Christine Caine, First Things First

Welcome to the new year and prayers for much hope on the horizon of every new dawn ahead. Let us search our hearts and seek guidance for the Father’s desires – and trust his goodness as we live our daily moments,  our rising and setting each day, planning wisely for the future without forgetting our purposeful and precious current moments.

Grace and peace to you each day ahead as you walk through joys and sorrows.   We love to hear from you.  ~Madge

Have you considered your goals? We hope a bit of new and renewed direction is on your mind. A couple former ‘practical’ goal setting posts are linked after my heart expression on our current goal setting. 
Our heavenly father has graciously led us to set a few sturdy and clear goals for our family, but contemplative prayer and earnest listening are honing details as we seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and understanding regarding life-change situations we certainly face. We document and clarify direction as a matter of course each year, but only regular communion with the Father, along with reflection and remembrance of his mighty promises can keep our anxiety levels down and focus our actions toward his daily will for us.

For me, for us, this upcoming year is a year for relationships, for outreach, change and big trust. We want more of Jesus more than anything. Our hearts are overwhelmed with the knowledge that he loves us and he loves you, our dear friends, with his immeasurable love. Let us set our hearts and minds on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God….This year…each day…

His word WILL be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

He WILL guide us as we keep our eyes fixed on him.

He WILL offer his peace when we fear or are anxious.

He WILL comfort us when we mourn or experience pain.

He WILL not stop pursuing us, not one of us.

Oh Lord Jesus, we humbly come before you to offer our lives as your dwelling place. Powerfully use each of us to touch others and minister your grace, peace, and your gift of life in all our relationships. Let us be children of the day, children of the light, as we serve others in powerful ways this year – forgetting what is behind and pressing ahead to stand firm in all your will as we walk through this time you entrusted to us. Thank you for your unfailing faithfulness, the hope held out in the gospel and your amazing love. Amen

Now let’s bring on the new year! Prayers and love from the Wisdom and Faith home.

Former goal setting posts:

Set Goals! Reach Goals!

Improve Your Life – Goal Setting Will Really Help!

A New Year – Honing Some Habits

We love beach fun…and beach wheelchairs to add mobility and adventure to our travels. New Mobility magazine features our family as well as a variety of accessible beach options in this issue. beginning on page 42. We share a favorite spot near Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Go to page 42…In Gulf Shores, AL with a powered beach wheelchair.

Is your beach trip planned?

We are always on the lookout for accessible travel options. Where is your favorite beach paradise? Does it have accessible features and beach wheelchairs available?

Please share!