Day 5 Giveaway- Gratitude

Congratulations to the winner from Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Gwendolyn Quitberg

This past weekend I flew to Wichita, Ks to watch my one and only niece graduate from College and Nursing School. It was quite the journey of four years, two moves, and getting married in the middle of it. We are all so very proud of her and grateful for God’s sustaining perseverance. It is so easy to just give up and quit! But, she did not. We love you, Megan.

At the commencement, the keynote speaker who is now a teacher and a registered nurse began her talk about her experience and why she became a nurse. Her speech started out something like this, I was a young scared pregnant teenager and at the hospital alone. My nurse who came into the room said my name is Jan and I am your nurse. Jan took care of me over the next few days and taught me how to care for my new baby and showed no judgment and was gracious with me. The way she cared for me made such an impact on who I am today. One of the things she taught me was when I am scared or when things are going wrong to stop and write down three things I am grateful for about for that day and one goal to strive for even a small one. She said that doing this seemingly small task would help me in life. From that day I did just what she said. As the years went by and I was a little older and needed to make a plan for my future I decided to become a nurse because I wanted to make an impact on others’ lives the way she did for me. Everyday at dinner with my family we all list the three things we are grateful for and our one goal we are striving for and I cannot recommend enough that you do the same in your homes. Those four little words “I am grateful for…” have the ability to set your focus on the good things in your life and will propel you towards your goals.

As the New Year approaches this might be something you can adopt in your home. Start a new tradition and stay focused on the good and make small steps towards each goal. That process works so well for everything we teach here at Little Choices Matter. It is these little things we do every day that add up to BIG results.

For today’s Contest Entry:
In the comments below share three things you are grateful for and one current goal, you are working towards.

Prize: Today’s prize will be a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card and a gratitude journal mailed to you.

Snowball cookies are a favorite Christmas cookie recipe, but these cookies are delicious all year long!

Coconut is a very healthy and delicious source of fiber, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. You can obtain the many benefits of coconut by drinking the juice (milk or water), using the oil, and eating the meat – both in flake and manna form.  The unsweetened flakes are a bit higher in calories, though, as they are very concentrated, so that needs to be taken into consideration when determining a portion size! Eat in moderation!

Sweet Snowball Cookies

3 C. unsweetened shredded coconut
1 C. almond flour
1/4 C. sweetener of choice: honey, brown rice syrup, organic blue agave, or maple syrup
8-10 drops stevia
4 Tbsp. coconut water or water
2 tsp. pure coconut extract

Cover a plate or tray with parchment paper. Set aside.

Add all the ingredients in a food processor. Process on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until it forms a crumbly dough easy to bring together in your hands to shape balls. If it is too dry, add an extra 2 tsp. of coconut water (or water) and process again.

With a spoon take about a tablespoon of batter and roll the dough in your hands to form a ball. Roll in a bowl with extra coconut and place on the prepared plate.

Chocolate Option: Drizzle Creamy Chocolate Syrup on the top of the balls.

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for at least one hour before eating.