WHY

Establish your WHY.
Many successful people will tell you the element that made them who they are today was simply figuring out their WHY. There can be lots of WHYs. They are all taylored to the individual. Because the individual is the one who does the tayloring. A WHY is something that takes you through the thick &thin. It will keep you going through some if the worst garbage in your life. It will give your successes meaning.
If you have never heard of this concept, it might be difficult to grasp temporarily. But its really and truly simple, yet so significant. When it was introduced to me, it was incredibly hard to fathom. I had stopped dreaming about 6 months prior. I had given up on anything I wanted for myself to happen. I wasn't happy with my decent paying job, and threw myself into cake decorating for $2/hr less. But for once, I was happy, and healthy. So when a better opportunity came my way, I didn't jump on 100%. What a huge mistake that was!!! I'm so grateful that my husband has a stubborn streak! So I finally decided to give this new opportunity a chance. The people involved are AMAZING. They care about individuals on an individual level. They helped me start dreaming again. And until then I didn't really have a strong WHY. Better yet, I had a huge WHY, I just was afraid to let myself in on it!!!
Nothing will change if you are complacent. If you are unwilling to be brutally honest with yourself. Get down and dirty with yourself. Figure out where you are dwelling, and what you are allowing to control your life. For me, I was blaming my husband for holding me back, my job for demanding I give it top priority and paying squat...etc. Etc. But when I was brutally honest with me, I realized I had allowed my job top priority, and my husband was smart in saying we couldn't afford this or that. I was dwelling on things that were, rather than how they could be. I was surrounding myself with people in the same rut as I, and we weren't helping each other dig ourselves out.
next, start paying attention and dwelling on what you want for yourself. At first they are small. Body builders never started lifting 200lb. weights!! Don't hurt yourself by trying too much too soon. Starting small for me meant: I want to shop, shop. No window shopping. I want to be able to assist my friends and family when they it, without considering finances. Don't worry about the how, wants. Underlying those wants, is your WHY.
At one point, my WHY was to have the courage to dream again. Did you notice I said, At one point? That's because as you achieve WHYs you discover there's more! Yes, I have started to dream a little, there's light at the end of my tunnel now! Not dreaming wad the darkest point in my life. Something I never recommend experiencing. Yet, it gives me the drive to never experience it again. That is my very basic yet most bare and true WHY. To never experience the darkness if lost hope, and to prevent it as much as possible in my family's and friends' lives. The very essence of this blog.
I hope for each and everyone of you the peace of knowing where you are going, and that you have help to get there.
We Love You! God bless you on your journey!

"Kindness is just love with its work boots on."
   ~Shelly from the House Bunny

August 20, 2013

No longer forward nor behind I look in hope and fear; but grateful take the good I find, The best of now and here.

John G. Whittier

Bread

2 1/2 c. Milk, warmed to 110 degrees
1/3 c. Honey
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. Yeast
1/4 tsp. Salt
8 1/2 c. Flour

1.  Combine warmed milk, melted butter, honey, and yeast. Allow to activate, 15 minutes.
2.  Combine 5 C. flour, and salt. Add to activated yeast.
3.  Combine in mixer, start adding more flour 3/4 c. at a time until dough pulls from sides of bowl.
4.  Continue mixing on 2 for 15 minutes. This kneads the dough so you don't have to.
5.  While dough is kneading, prepare a separate bowl with 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil.
6.  When dough is kneaded, place in bowl, and turn to coat in oil. Lightly cover with plastic wrap.
* To bake today, follow "A" instructions. To Bake tomorrow, follow "B" instructions.
A.  Place in warm place to rise to double. Prepare 2 loaf pans with 2 tsp. Olive oil each.
B.  Place in fridge over night.
7.   Punch down dough.
A.  Divide into 2 pieces. Roll out, and roll up (like cinnamon rolls). Place each piece into prepare loaf pan.            Place in warm place to rise. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
B.  Refrigerate until risen to double a second time. Remove from fridge, punch down, and allow to warm up          for 20 min. Follow directions from A.
8.   When dough has risen to double in pans, gently place in preheated oven. Bake for 30 min.
9.   Check for doneness. Bread should be golden, and sound hollow when tapped. Take internal                   temperature. If not 190 degrees in center, place in oven 2 minutes for each degree needed.
10.  Place pans on cooling rack. after 3 minutes, dump bread onto racks, allow to cool 10 minutes before slicing.
11.  ENJOY!!!!
*VARIATIONS*
   a.  Replace 1/2 the flour with wheat flour
   b.  Use as Rolls
   c.   Use as Bread Sticks, top with garlic butter after baking, place in oven long enough to melt butter.

August 19, 2013

But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?
~Albert Camus