by Kimberly | Nov 13, 2017 | kcreatives photography, photo shoot
This family is a favorite. I love this lady’s barstool, where the past three years I’ve spent many an afternoon, sitting there, talking, creating, sharing parenting secrets. Our boys plays so well with their kiddos, like hours on end. I’ve had to kick a door in at their rental because the door was locked with kids locked inside. We had a few taco nights under our belt.
Because chips and salsa and fajitas cement a friendship!
This past Saturday was chili but we had great sunshine as we ventured to the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. It was fun to show off our new town.
by Kimberly | Nov 9, 2017 | Books
I love makeover shows. What Not To Wear, Fixer Upper, Biggest Loser, Flipping Virgins, etc.
HGTV and TLC are some good shows.
I love how you take the norm and make it into the fabulous new norm.
And what about Christmas? I love having Christmas in my own home with my own little family: my mister and two boys. I love the quietness of the day. I love the phone not ringing and you can sit around all day in your pjs. It is always hectic up until the day: church activities, retail hours, shopping, work. But, that day is the quietest of the whole year and I love it that way.
Melissa Spoestra in Total Christmas Makeover, gives her readers some ways to make over your Christmas this year. Christmas is more than buying gifts and giving gifts, singing in cantatas, and eating too much, and doing all the school crafts!
Christmas is more about thinking of the One who gave up everything for us – all for his glory. These short devotionals in Melissa’s book have Scripture, gospel, prayers, applicable writing geared where you are, and activities to help you work out the truths that you’ve been reading about. And they are short to read – you can think about it all day as you go about your day. Because we all know that the Christmas season is probably the busiest time of the year for most people.
Thanks to Litfuse for the book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Nov 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
One of the things I love most about my relationship with my husband is couch time. Yup – we just like to sit together and have a drink or a snack, watch some Netflix, read a book, watch a movie, eat tacos. Whatever we can do from the couch.
When we first got married, and even during the short time we were dating, we would go out. We wanted to be in public places where we could protect ourselves from being alone. We had a spots at Washington Duke Country Club, Starbucks, or friends’ homes. We enjoyed traveling to see family, or hitting the beach on our days off.
But, now, with two kids who have early bedtimes, babysitters hard to find and expensive, we would much rather just stay home.
And the other thing we love is Popcorn. Yup – you heard me. Popcorn. We usually make it ourselves with cracked pepper and jerk seasoning. Or some m&ms and/or sharp cheddar. It makes for a light dinner or a late night snack.
And when its cozy outside, put a log on the fire, get some apple cider moscow mules, and the original Skinny Pop popcorn (thanks to my friend Becky for introducing me to it). Its easy and fresh and just open the bag – its great when there isn’t any energy left after a hard parenting day – or week – or month. It makes for a glorious and cheap evening. We don’t even need any babysitters.
How do you enjoy date nights with your spouse – that don’t cost a lot of money? We are always looking for date nights.
by Kimberly | Nov 3, 2017 | Books, Worship
Is worship easy for you? Let me rephrase that – it worship of God easy for you?
Six years ago my life changed. I went from being single in control of my mornings, time to myself, pick the church I want to being married (to a then worship pastor, now someone still involved in worship ministries) and a mom to two littles who don’t always let me run my mornings or my days like I would like.
And Sunday mornings – we all know what Sunday mornings are like. They are crazy. My mister leaves before the the rest of us to rehearse for the morning service. Usually by the time I drop the kids off at church preschool ministries they’ve disobeyed, needed discipline, and I’m not in a “good frame of mind” to worship God.
And we’ve changed churches so much in the last 7 years. So, community and preaching and worship styles and kids ministries and women’s ministries – they all affect my ability to worship on Sunday mornings.
And I’m still working on it. Some Sunday mornings I’m in a better worship mode than others. Some, its just rough from the get-go!
Can any mom relate?
But, of course, worship is not a Sunday morning thing – not exclusively. Being in the Word, singing praise songs, working, cooking dinner, playing with our kids, dating your spouse – all of these can be acts of worship. Tuning Your Heart to Worship is a new book by Lavon Gray (New Hope Publishers) that will help you focus some time in the Psalms. The Psalms is sort of the worship guidebook for the Bible. The psalmists, under direct breath of God, experienced so many of the emotions and daily things that we face. Yet they worshiped.
In this book, there are 100 passages from the Psalms. 100 days for you to spend time in the psalms, reading them, and hearing about worship songs, ministry insights, and application points. The author encourages you to read the whole psalm not just the 1-2 verses that he highlights. The Word of God is living and active. The Word through the power of the Holy Spirit can and will change your heart of worship.
This is also a book full of application. You will be encouraged to think and process as you read through the devotion each day, but you will also be encouraged to do something next. Journal, pray, write, think, share.
I do agree with the author that this is not an academic devotional. It is more personal and one that you might use with a more academic commentary if that is something you desire.
Thank you New Hope Publishers for the book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 31, 2017 | 31days, lavish hospitality
Here it is. The last day of Write31!
Thanks for joining me on this journey and I look forward to writing more about this in the coming months.
But, to end well – what kind of hospitality should I talk about?
As I’m typing this, I’m about to head into a doctor’s appointment to talk more about my newly diagnosed autoimmune disorder and how it is not cool with my body. I’m tired. Food plays a huge part in the way I feel. I’m getting use to taking medication every day – and for the rest of my life too.
And yall, I don’t like being sick. I’ve been super healthy until I got married. I had a hard first pregnancy, an easy second one. Then I had more stomach issues (which I thought was all over since I had my gallbladder out many years ago). I had a cyst in my knee which I had to get removed. Now, autoimmune.
It makes me think about death. It makes me think about what is important and what isn’t important. It makes me quote the truths of Scripture that I’ve known so many years and say them over and over to my soul.
God the Father through Christ is the most amazing example of hospitality to us. He created us, we rebelled against him, and through Jesus, those who believe in him will spend eternity sitting at his table, eating the King’s fare. Being wrapped in love and in his glory.
My mothering verses come from Psalm 90-91. Here is just a portion of how hospitalilty Jesus is to us.
I hope you have enjoyed this series. Thanks for reading!
