Punch Bread Down

Baking bread and banana bread this morning reminded me of the following post and thought fitting to share once again....

Lately I have been making a lot of homemade bread and starting to really feel comfortable with the steps.  Mix flour and spices, yeast with warm water, add to flour, shape and let rise.  After you let the dough rise you punch it down so that you can shape it and let rise once more for baking.  As I was thinking about the steps I wonder how many times do we feel like we are being punched down? But even more than that how many times do rise again! We should be encouraged that we can only rise up and conqueror to be who God has called us to be regardless of circumstances. 

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37

Style Ideas

I just loved these looks and how they are grouped together.  From here not only do I see how but I can use the color pallet to piece what I may already have in my closet.

Here is the article and the link so you can look through it...I hope you enjoy just as much I do.

Ingredients… For a Perfect Fall Wardrobe

9/21/2011
by Lauren Conrad

LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Dress, Zara Clutch, J.Crew Darby Loafers, Topshop Chiffon Shirt, J.Crew Striped Sweater, LC Lauren Conrad Bow Earrings, Paper Crown Hudson Short, H&M Suede Bootie, J Brand Olympia Wash Jeans, Oasis Leather Skater Dress

Here are my ten style staples for fall… (Note: I’ll be doing an entire post dedicated to finding the perfect coat—hence the missing jacket.)

1. Sheer Oxford.
2. Stripped Crewneck.
3. Fun Jewelry.
4. Pleated Pieces.
5. Booties.
6. Bright Accessories.
7. Dressy Shorts.
8. High-Waisted Jeans.
9. Boudoir Slippers. 
10. Leather (or faux leather) anything!

Living Room Dance Party

We have been enjoying this new 'trend' in our home of just dancing around with the kids.  This act of jumping around silly with no beat at times is such a great way to build small moments that create memories.  Sure the kids at first just starred at me as I danced, or should I say wiggled around calling it dancing, but they love it now!

There are plenty times where the kids see the disciplinary side of us so it is good to let them see us be silly with them  This allows for them to flourish in their personality with no reservation. Believe it or not I have a good amount of sanguine in me but because of how I was raised I am far more reserved. Take your husband out on your living room dance floor because that is a moment you can have for your relationship too.

Really it is simple, there are no rules, there are no certain songs or even time of the day. Whether it be one song or 5 songs go for it have a dance party because overall and most importantly it is about creating a family that share memories together!

Cozy Monday

In being back home Monday mornings have a new feel. It does not fail every Monday, there are several social site updates on Monday blues. For me though it is not blues but almost an anticipation as kids and husband leave allowing my Monday some quiet time to unwind and reorganize for the week.

By Monday morning everyone is tired from the weekend and a bit weary of getting out of bed. I remember having to wake up early to get ready to rush off to work and try to focus. I would sit at my desk and recount the weekend wanting to just be home. Mondays would set the tone for the week depending on what was due or on the calendar.  Getting through Monday in some mechanical way just to get to Friday seems to be the norm. Sad thing to be 'Monday' in so many people lives....however for me it is a beuatiful thing!

Before going on make no mistake or misinterpretation of my love for the kids! I adore my husband and wish he could be working from home everyday, I cherish my kids and love to spend the day with them. With that said though I feel as Mondays are a small gift of 'me time' to me. Some me time where like this morning I snuggled on the couch with my youngest son watching Good Morning America...which I realized in the last couple weeks I have missed the show. So many Mondays I longed to have the time of just loving on Noah giving him some individual attention and now I do! Mondays for me also bring a breather of the commotion of a house of 3 kids all under 6 and a year a part. It is my mental break.  I can piece the house back together the way I like so that we can get things done during the week. 

This particular Monday it is cozy with the light rainy cold weather, Christmas tree on giving a warm light in the living room.  Change was something I went through the summer but I find myself cozy in what change brought to me.  Mondays are now my Fridays and I am not only cozy in my house but cozy in my heart knowing that I am blessed!

Happy Monday

Bleubird Diary

I am renaming my blog primarily because I bought a domain name and want to use it.  This will now match that and I can hopefully expand with ease.  I know I have not been consistent in my posting however with this 'new name' I seem to have hit the refresher button to write. Here is preview if you will on my upcoming journal accounts of my life...

I am now a stay at home after being a working mom for almost 4 years. I think often of the debate between working moms and stay at home moms and I must say that they are both equally different. I am happy, honored, thankful and at peace with being back home full time. Things are different around here now that the kids are older. Things are different because I have changed. I love where I am at with myself, with my family, with my life! Here is to Bleubird Diary

Blooming even after a drought

It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working.  I Corinthians 3:7-8 (MSG)

Yesterday as pulled into our driveway from going grocery shopping I saw that we had a gardenia bloom.  My husband planted these in the spring so I thought it was odd to see it have a bloom now.  All day I had that flower in the back on my mind. how could there be a bloom now, after a scorching hot summer, after a summer of drought even though my husband faithfully watered it. 

Later that evening as we pulled into our driveway I saw not only the flower but another bud beginning to bloom. I heard in my heart "I am the one that brings growth regardless of time or seasons".  We go through so many 'events' in our life. Many times that we might feel like things are too 'hot' or seasons of drought. However I am encouraged and reminded that even if we have moment of dormancy in our life God is the one that still bring growth.

What do I mean? Think about the grass and how in the fall it begins to brown, it is going into dormancy for the winter.  We might water it still but really once the winter hits it is just there. Some how it knows when it is time to return to its color of green and then the lawn mowers come out because it grew! We might feel like things or just ourselves go through dormancy but then God brings growth into our life.  We need to continue to water our hearts, to be planted by the streams of Life - God life!

I just know that the blooming that I saw yesterday was not just the gardenias in our driveway but the new buds blooming in my heart!

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  Psalm 1:3 (NIV)

Thought Transformer

Removable As we approach this holiday season many are faced with an upheaval of emotions that have been buried all year.  It is important to realize that these energy draining emotions are removable.  Most of them can be removed for us to enjoy a consistent flow of joy and happiness.  The Christmas season is about joy and life, but they will elude us if these energy draining emotions are not removed. Anything that is disruptive to human happiness and well-being, anything that fastens itself adversely to the human spirit is removable.  It is not without difficulty but it can be done.  Practicing the following steps will in time bring positive energy that will be felt through the emotions of joy, happiness, and well-being. First, listen to yourself and become fully aware of the negative words coming from you. Second, become completely honest with yourself so when the negative emotions being expressed, you can ask yourself if you really believe what you are saying and want what you are saying and feeling. Third, adopt the practice of saying the exact opposite of what you are saying and feeling.  Shakespeare said, "Assume a virtue and you will have that virtue."  Your new vocabulary will cause the emotions of hope and energy and vitality will come. Fourth, put the best possible outlook on every person and every situation.  This will stimulate a good outcome.

Consider asking God to guide you and show you His best as you follow this week's Action Steps:  Action Steps  1.  Practice the above steps and be determined to remove those defeating emotions. 2.  Don't give up but instead keep it up daily until you win. These simple yet proven "Thought Transformers" will change your thinking which will change your life, if you let them... The "Thought Transformers" are not just ideas, they are the principles I follow in my daily life. If you enjoy the "Thought Transformer", consider forwarding to a friend today.We would love to hear from you. You are God's best!  Dr. Rob Carman Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rcarman2

info@robcarman.com