DPP 2011 > A Plan & Purpose

Vivid red petals with golden drops of rain... the flower was made for me to enjoy its glory and beauty. To remind me that there is a Creator.


It didn't just happen... there was a plan and purpose for that flower. Just like there is a plan and purpose for you and me. It was planned for this flower to take root, grow and show off its vivid red glory for me to enjoy... for anybody who wants to take the time to enjoy its beauty.


The beauty that God surrounds us with is breath-taking.


Have you taken the time to stop, look around and admire the creation?


It was created for you and me... for our pleasure!


I can't tell you how many times I go through my days without taking a peep at the beauty outside my house.


I get busy and caught up on laundry, cooking and family... We all do.


What a difference it makes when I purposely take the time to stop, look and enjoy.


When I do that... I can feel the tension around my eyes fade away. My mind clears up. My lungs take in a deep refreshing breathe of air. My heart sings. My body feels restored.


I feel recharged and ready to finish the day with a song of praise in my heart... bursting out from my lips. I often noticed that my kids like hearing me sing, it relaxes them and it relaxes me.


Remember, enjoy what's around you... embrace the life you have... it will be gone in a moment.

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Mexican Chocolate Coconut Tres Leches Cake (Gluten-Free!)

I have a confession to make...

I've kept this recipe from you all for 2 years now...

Why? Well, life happened! Moved to Honduras, no internet for 9 months, pregnant with little man and a year of adjust to the cultural shock all rolled together in the last 2 years.

Will you all forgive me? Will you still love me?

Whew! Glad to get that out in the open. I am thrilled to finally get this yummy, moist, rich cake out of my secret files and share it with you all!  ;o)

So... yeah, I made this cake back in Christmas of 2009 when we were living in Costa Rica. I mentioned this cake back when I was doing the Heavenly Sugar giveaway and my friend Katie (who won the giveway) requested the recipe for this cake. So sorry it took this long, Katie! Thanks for understand ;o)

As most of you probably already know... Tres Leches is Three Milks Cake and is a very popular cake among the Latin Americans. I remember having my first taste of it back when we were missionaries at Rancho Sordo Mudo (located in Baja California).

It was sugary, soggy and milky... yeah, I didn't like it.

I would always try a bite whenever a family would bring their kid a Tres Leches Cake for their birthday... hoping there might be one that I would like. No luck.

So, when I got the Heavenly Sugar packet to review and saw the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk in the box... I knew exactly what I was going to make.

I started looking around online for recipes, I did not see anything that interested me because I wanted to go for something more unique & healthy (of course!) with the flavor and ingredients.

Found NOTHING... well, I did find a couple gluten-free recipes, but they called for all these different kinds of flours that I don't use and weren't exactly healthy.

I started thinking... what about coconut flour?

The coconut flour is PERFECT because all the eggs it calls for creates a wonderful sponge to absorb the tres leches... YES!

That's how I came up with this unique & healthy Mexican Chocolate Coconut...

Chocolate Coconut Tres Leches Cake (Gluten-free!)

Chocolate Coconut Cake
3/4 cup coconut flour, sifted
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
10 eggs, separated
1 cup coconut oil or butter
1 cup raw honey
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp cinnamon


Set oven at 325 F. Greased a 9x13 pan and dust with coconut flour.


In a small bowl combine the flour, cocoa, sea salt and baking soda. In a large bowl blend together the egg yolks, oil, honey, vanilla and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients into the large bowl and blend together till smooth (very well combined). 


Put egg whites in a clean glass bowl, sprinkle some lemon juice and beat till stiff peaks form.
Fold egg whites into the batter and be careful not to over mix!


Pour mixture into 9x13 pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Before taking it out, test it with a knife and if it comes out clean… it is done.


Remove cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely. If desired, turn the cake unto a large plate or keep it in the pan.




Tres Leches Sauce
8oz Heavenly Sugar sweetened condensed milk
1 14oz. coconut milk or evaporated milk
1 cup whole milk or cream


Pour milks into a large jar and mix very well. Pour over the cake slowly in sections. Do not pour it all at once!


Note: if the coconut milk is very thick, you will need to water it down till it is the same consistency as regular evaporated milk.




Mexican Chocolate Sauce/Frosting
1 cup dark chocolate
1/2 cup coconut oil or butter
1-3 Tbsp raw honey
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of sea salt
pinch or more of hot chile powder (optional)


In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and coconut oil or butter. Stir in honey, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and optional chile. Let it cool. Heavily drizzle it over the cake (if desired) and serve!


If you want it more frosting-like… place the sauce in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Remove from the freezer and whip the frosting with a hand blender until fluffy and thick. Carefully frost the cake and serve!


Have a wonderful Merry Christmas! Please let me know if you make this... I do hope the recipe with give you the same success I've consistently had over the last 2 years.


My family raved over this cake and I will be making it again this year  ;o)

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DDP 2011 > Bellybuttons & Raspberries!

I enjoy laying down to play with Tobi. It is interesting to see the world from his view... what goes through his mind when he sees things bigger than him? Does he understand how small and vulnerable he is?


Whenever we start to play, he LOVES to look for my bellybutton and when he finds it... he gives me a drooling raspberry. That gleeful smile on his face always brightens my day and my heart swells with fierce love for this little guy!


I am SO blessed to have a little man! Bellybuttons and raspberries are my remedies to soften up a hard day  ;o)


Check out DPP 2009 Pictures: Day 4 & Day 5




PS- I missed yesterday because we were in Teguc and got back late.

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DPP 2011 > English Muffin Addiction

Made a double batch of sourdough english muffins today! We love these muffins and I try to make them least once a week. I always make a double or triple batch... they are delicious and go fast!


What are you favorites way to enjoy english muffins? Ours it with lots of butter and raw honey, but we also like have salmon or egg salads, mini-pizzas, melted cheese on top (and then topped with raspberry jam - yum!), egg & avocado sandwiches and hamburgers.


My girls and I have started a habit... we like to sit down with some english muffins (still warm!) topped with lots of butter and raw honey after we finish. Brew up some rooibos tea to go along with it... perfect!


If you haven't... go check out the fantastic GNOWFGLINS eCourses (that's where I learned how to make my Honduran Sourdough!). They are running specials until New Year. When you purchase eBooks, join a class OR sign up for their weekly menus... you will receive some pretty awesome videos - FREE!


Check it out: DPP 2009 Picture

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DDP 2011 > Rainbow Girl

My beautiful, silly girl was learning to write her R's and wanted to write "Rainbow"... Isn't she a beauty? Thought this picture was fitting because we read & learned about rainbows the day after we saw that beautiful "Rainbow of Promise".

2009 DPP Picture

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December Photo Project 2011 - The Rainbow of Promise

Some of you might remember my series of photos for the DPP 2009. I LOVED it! I was bummed to miss out last year's project, but knew I couldn't commit to it because of being pregnant with little man... who came into this world on Dec. 14th  ;o)

Now, this year I want to take a shot at it again. I don't know if I will be able to post every single day, but I will try.

If you take the time to look my pictures from the DPP 2009... you will see pictures of how we first came to Honduras and heard God tell us this was the "promised land" for RO4Y. Wow, that was 2 years ago...

A lot has changed and happened these past 2 years. While, you are sitting here reading this... PLEASE take a few minutes to pray for the purchase of the property. Things have gotten complicated and the owners are not making it easy. We know, without a doubt, we are to buy this land that we established RO4Y on... but the devil doesn't want it to happen.

Thank you for praying.

Now, here's the first photo... well, actually two  ;o)

We don't see rainbows very often around here. So it is a very special sight to see this! It was a full and HUGE... It was too big to take a full picture of it where I was standing.

What made it even more special was that it went right over our property! It was amazing... God's promise hovering right over us.

Again, thank you for your prayers and enjoy the special month to come!

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Strawberries & Thankfulness

Day before Thanksgiving day, I checked our small strawberry patch and what did I find?

Our first 2 beautiful, deliciously red & sun-riped strawberries!

It is simply crazy for me to think that in the USA everybody have finish up harvesting their garden bounties and huddling up for winter, while we are watching our strawberries flowery, forming and slowly growing.


This is my first time growing strawberries. I never thought it would be possible to grow strawberries up here, but they are growing beautifully & organically! 

They smelled earthy, fresh & sweet! My girls and I couldn't stop smelling them. Hmmm!


So, I had to hold the girls back from eating those two precious gems and wait for their Daddy to come home to share the love. Seriously, what is better than a simply strawberries & cream?

Now, on a different thought...


The night before Thanksgiving Day, like everybody else, I started thinking about things I was thankful for... Of course, there is so much and it comes naturally to think of all the good things when all is good.


But...


What about everything else I should be MORE thankful for? Having the attitude of thankfulness It a 24/7 choice we make. Not just on Thanksgiving Day!


So my thoughts changed direction... What things in life should I have the attitude of thankfulness?


Am I thankful when I might not have the house I want? Am I thankful for the things I already have? Am I thankful that God called my family to be missionaries? When my healthy son wakes me up in the middle of the night to nurse, am I thankful?


Are you thankful for that job, even when you don't like it or it doesn't pay well? Are you thankful for the trials in your life? Are you thankful when you struggle with your weight? Are you thankful for that car you have? Are you thankful for that person that bothers you?


Are you thankful for the life God has given you... good & bad?


"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)


"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."
Colossians 3:15-16 (NLT)


"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
Colossians 4:2 (NLT)


"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

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