Summer is coming...
Summer is starting to breathe down our necks. The air is getting warmer and filled with tinges of humidity. The children are getting more and more restless each day. It gets harder and harder not to surrender to the "eh, whatever" attitude. The last week of school is one of the hardest weeks of the year. My brain feels fried. I question whether or not I picked the right career. My head is spinning with closing things well and also with a million new ideas of what I will do better next year.
Yet something happens in those last days. I have been asking for weeks, has it been enough? Did I teach them enough? Will they be prepared? Did I love them enough? Do they know who God is? Will they remember anything, educational or otherwise? I start to let it soak in... no it will never be enough. There will always be more. But that's why these children belong to God. It's my time to let them go, knowing I've done my best. All of sudden these children who a few weeks ago I was certain had turned into mutant versions of themselves called middle schoolers have turned back into the endearing children I remember from the beginning. I suddenly feel sentimental and feel like I need to give them one more speech, one more devotion, one more word of encouragement and pray that love echoes in their ears. The truth is they really have changed and while it doesn't feel like enough, they have grown, matured, and learned this year. They've become better readers, writers, mathematicians, and friends. I love each one of them in a totally unique way and I know they will continue to grow and soar as they move on. Yes, the end of the year is bittersweet for this teacher, but I can't say I'm sorry that summer is coming.
During this end of the year, everyone seems to bring in treats. It can become rather hard to resist. I've been trying to limit myself but also find healthy alternatives. One of my healthy alternatives- some "granola bars" packed with tons of healthy energy. No sugar added. No flour. No butter. And yet still really pretty delicious, give it a try!
Here's what you'll need... I buy most of my ingredients at Aldi or Kroger.
\
1 cup of whole oats
2 T flaxseed
2 T chia seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup dried fruit (I used cranberries)
1 large ripe banana (or 2 small, about 3/4 cup)
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of vanilla
2 T of organic raw honey
1/4 cup all natural almond butter
2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate (chopped)
1. Mix together oats, flaxseed, chia seed, coconut, cinnamon, dried fruit, and chocolate.
2. Mash banana and add to the oat mixture.
3. Melt in microwave or stove top the honey, vanilla, and almond butter.
4. Pour almond butter mixture over oat mixture and stir together.
5. Press into a 8X8 square pan.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes
Cut them up! They stay freshest in the fridge because of the banana. They definitely satisfy a sweet tooth even without the added sugar and provide a great energy boost! Enjoy!
Yet something happens in those last days. I have been asking for weeks, has it been enough? Did I teach them enough? Will they be prepared? Did I love them enough? Do they know who God is? Will they remember anything, educational or otherwise? I start to let it soak in... no it will never be enough. There will always be more. But that's why these children belong to God. It's my time to let them go, knowing I've done my best. All of sudden these children who a few weeks ago I was certain had turned into mutant versions of themselves called middle schoolers have turned back into the endearing children I remember from the beginning. I suddenly feel sentimental and feel like I need to give them one more speech, one more devotion, one more word of encouragement and pray that love echoes in their ears. The truth is they really have changed and while it doesn't feel like enough, they have grown, matured, and learned this year. They've become better readers, writers, mathematicians, and friends. I love each one of them in a totally unique way and I know they will continue to grow and soar as they move on. Yes, the end of the year is bittersweet for this teacher, but I can't say I'm sorry that summer is coming.
During this end of the year, everyone seems to bring in treats. It can become rather hard to resist. I've been trying to limit myself but also find healthy alternatives. One of my healthy alternatives- some "granola bars" packed with tons of healthy energy. No sugar added. No flour. No butter. And yet still really pretty delicious, give it a try!
Here's what you'll need... I buy most of my ingredients at Aldi or Kroger.
\1 cup of whole oats
2 T flaxseed
2 T chia seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup dried fruit (I used cranberries)
1 large ripe banana (or 2 small, about 3/4 cup)
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of vanilla
2 T of organic raw honey
1/4 cup all natural almond butter
2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate (chopped)
1. Mix together oats, flaxseed, chia seed, coconut, cinnamon, dried fruit, and chocolate.
2. Mash banana and add to the oat mixture.
3. Melt in microwave or stove top the honey, vanilla, and almond butter.
4. Pour almond butter mixture over oat mixture and stir together.
5. Press into a 8X8 square pan.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes
Cut them up! They stay freshest in the fridge because of the banana. They definitely satisfy a sweet tooth even without the added sugar and provide a great energy boost! Enjoy!
Comments
Post a Comment