I've got a restless heart. [Hawaiian Granola]

I've always been a bit of a nomad.  I grew up as a Navy brat moving from the West to the East coast and later when my parents divorced traveling that same distance to see one or the other.  As my Dad was stationed different places I would visit him in Guam or San Diego.  When Andy and I started dating the restlessness continued, I never imagined myself being the kind of girl you could "tie down."

After dating for a year we moved down the coast of California to be with his family and after another move back to Stockton we got married and moved yet again to Hawaii.  Since that time we have moved homes countless times, gone to the mainland and back and never stayed in a house much longer than two years.  Even the one we bought.  Errr. I have lived in 4 states, a U.S. territory, and over 15 cities. I wanted to get restless tattooed on my knuckles, it's that bad.

But sometimes the restlessness makes me nervous.  Am I destined to be one of those people who isn't happy no matter where they are?  Or am I the type of person that's thankful to be where they are.  I hope I'm the latter.  I love Hawaii, this time around, I've made it a point to be thankful for the things I do have.  A beautiful ocean, lush palm trees, no rent to pay in a crazy expensive place.  And when the parts that make me sad creep in, like the fact that we couldn't afford to leave this place even if we wanted to, family is always at least a 5 hour plane ride away, and there's no In-N-Out, Chipotle OR Trader Joe's.   I force myself to look again at the good, because I know there is so much and I am so blessed.

Whether I am here, there, or anywhere if I'm with my family and if I'm in God's will it doesn't really matter anyways.  And if God wants to cure my itchy feet and Hawaii is where we're meant to stay I will be ok with that.  Or if he wants to give us that push to the next place we're supposed to be I'll be ok with that too.

I'm tired of being restless.  I want to be rested and refreshed.
Where you go I'll go, where you stay I'll stay, God I'll follow you alone.

 [The Swap!  Look at that awesome teepee!]

But right now I'm in Hawaii!  And I made granola for a local Peaceful Parenting Network swap I just went to which was awesome.  All us Mamas got together with whatever we had to get rid of and swapped, haggled and gifted all of our kids stuff for other people's kid's stuff.  It was pretty awesome and a great way to save money, get some new to us stuff and just hang out. 
I made this granola as an extra bargaining chip and it turned out great!  Definitely easy to adapt to your likes or allergies, add more honey if you like it sweeter, dried fruit or even chocolate chips at the end!

Happy Hula-Gan Hawaiian Granola

4 cups oats

1 cup rough chopped Macadamia Nuts

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey, preferably local

1/2 cup Chia seeds

1/2 cup Hemp Seeds

1/2 cup uncooked Quinoa

1/2 cup unsweetened shaved coconut

1/2 cup Coconut Oil + 2 tbs. for Greasing Pan

1.  In a large mixing bowl toss together all ingredients until everything is well coated with the oil.

2.  Grease a baking sheet with more coconut oil and pour the mixture on top.

3.  Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until granola looks toasty!

4.  Let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

This granola is great on yogurt, as a snack, with milk or whatever!