Coconut

Raspberries

Chocolate Chips

You Need:

Brownie Packet Mix (plus whatever ingredients it requires)
1/2- 1 cup Flaked Coconut
1/2-1 cup Extra Choc Chips (always a necessity!)
1 tsp Coconut Essence
1 cup Frozen Raspberries

What To Do:

1. Make brownies as per packet instructions.
2. Add in coconut essence for a nuttier taste. Stir well.
3. Lightly stir in raspberries and extra choc chips.
4. Bake as per packet instructions.
5. When baked and cooled, mix up icing.
6. Spread icing on top.
7. Sprinkle with toasted coconut.
8. Cut, serve, eat, enjoy!

Raspberry Coconut Brownies

I was so excited to receive this beautiful book (Meditations by Lorien Atwood) a few weeks ago. Sadly, I was one week post surgery on my right shoulder at the time, and as much as I claim to be vaguely ambidextrous, the thought of getting stuck into it with my left hand was all too much.

Meditations by Lorien Atwood

Over the past couple of weeks since the book has been released, I have followed along on the Facebook Group 'Colouring In Truth', watching beautiful images emerge as people have spent time in God's word, putting time aside to meditate on the truth. All this time I was itching to get started on my own interpretations.

Finally, my arm was out of the sling and I could begin without fear of too much wobbly out of the line actions...I am a perfectionist in some things...surprisingly, colouring in is one of those things. So it was a great joy to have enough movement (and confidence) to get started.

Now, I have been a fan of adult colouring long before it became cool. In fact, colouring in or doodling is something we use to encourage the participants in our training courses to do to assist concentration. It has also been something that I have been able to do when Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has left me unable to do much at all!! So, it definitely falls into the 'What to do when you can't do a thing' category for all those struggling with life with a chronic illness.

What is different about this book is that instead of mindlessly being mindful colouring in some random pattern or picture, this book provides something to actually meditate on when colouring. A timely redirection in a hustling busy overwhelming world. After having a pretty average couple of weeks following moving house, shoulder surgery and a major Chronic Fatigue flare I felt it was only appropriate to focus on this verse in Lamentations as my starter...

Lamentations 3:22-23

There are also some pretty cool features of this book...removable pages, one sided images, thicker weight paper, and free downloads once you have purchased the book. There is also an option to purchase group licences of images for event use. If you want to delve deeper into the passages and the thoughts behind them Lorien has begun blogging about them here.

A lot has been happening this past week...birthday celebrations, adventures with fun friends, appointments, days recovering in bed, and then to top it off having my article published in Mamamia. I am loving how the awareness of CFS is spreading...it is such an invisible disease, and so so many people are affected by it. Thank you for sharing the awareness with me!!

I don't have a lot to say today...blame the brain fog! But really wanted to say thank you to those this week who have encouraged me, celebrated with me and blessed me abundantly.

My cocktail on Saturday!!

However, I was also a bit excited when a post I wrote for The Mighty was published today. 

Here is a taster...

Each and every day I am fighting to challenge the perceptions surrounding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), whether this be with well-intentioned family or friends, disbelieving medical professionals, or random acquaintances who are convinced to sell me the special (expensive) supplement that healed their great aunt.

Walking through life with this disease has been both a battle and a blessing for me over the past three years. It has turned my life completely upside down. It has impacted my health, fitness, social life, finances, living situation, independence and career. There have been plenty of hard days, but surprisingly many moments of joy too. However, one challenge I end up facing time and time again is not from the disease itself, but from those around me, and their understanding of this disease.

So, here is what I wish people understood about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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