by Kimberly | Mar 13, 2017 | Books, parenting
I’ve never counted them, but I would assume the parenting section at your local bookstore is probably one of the largest sections on the floor. You can easily find a parenting book to help you through and part of the parenting journey. From attempting to conceive, finding out your pregnant, how to birth the baby, how to swaddle your baby, how to get your baby to nap, get on a schedule, eat solid food, potty train, learn their ABCs. All of these books can be helpful to some degree.
When reading parenting books, I often say read whatever you can get your hands on, write down some notes that seem likely to work in your given situation, with your kids, or ones that you would like to try, talk it over with your husband or the people who help you parent, maybe run it by a group of other moms that you meet with or hang out with, and then try it. If it doesn’t work, move on. Don’t get so flustered. Not everything you read in every parenting book is going to be the right thing for your particular child or family.
Parenting with Grace and Truth, a new book by Dan Seaborn (I always think of West Wing when I hear the word Seaborn), is filled with practical help. To me, though, I felt it leaned more toward behavior and actions, rather than to the heart of your children, growing them with hearts that were pleasing to God. I know that there needs to be right actions. And at any stage of parenting you are working to get your kids to act right (we are working on manners right now, as well as many other things.
“Forgiveness was at the heart of Jesus, and as such, it is the foundation of the entire Gospel. God sacrificed His only Son for the forgiveness of our sins – past, present, and future.” – Dan Seaborn
He helps families work through many different things likes crises or trying to become a healthy blended family. He wants to help you discover what your kids talents and abilities are – it is helpful to know what drives them and what makes them tick and what they are good at. I did appreciate the questions that he gave his readers to think through at the end of each chapter. When reading any book, if you are given questions, at least take the time to think through them – it will help as you digest the book and try to implement what you are reading.
If you would liked to find some great tips in this book, just leave me a comment. I’ll be choosing a winner soon – and thanks to SideDoor Communications, you can get a copy of it!
Thanks to SideDoor Communications for the book. All thoughts are my own.
by Kimberly | Mar 11, 2017 | Books
I have learned one thing in the last few years: there is no such thing as balance in life. If you are doing one thing – then you aren’t doing another thing. And so many of us women try to spin about 1000 plates.
Whether we are mommying and working, or mommying many, or doing a ministry at our church or teaching bible studies in our home, or being involved in creative communities, balance is hard to get right.
When I was younger I wasn’t very good at the balance beam in elementary school PE, but now that I’m older I have gotten better at the tree pose in my yoga practice.
Lisa Pennington gets the life of balance. In her book, Tightropes and Teeter-totters, she doesn’t appear to have it altogether, but instead, through humor and great tips, she helps us all maybe not fall completely off.
She hits on marriage, parenting, having a peaceful and clean home, all done with humor, personal illustrations, and biblical truth. Its a quick read and one you can for sure pull some tips from.
Thanks to Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Mar 4, 2017 | Books
I remember making my first trip to Amish country. I was attending a wedding of some friend’s in college…and the bride lived in Amish country of Indiana. It was neat to see a culture within a culture. One so different from normal American culture, yet nestled in the quaint neighborhoods outside of the city. The food was spectacular and the people were friendly. The horse and buggies were iconic.
Now, I read Amish lit because it is fun. Most of the books are filled with a culture I don’t know very well and are in some form religious. Most of them are about romances. Most of them have some form of “coming of age” story.
I think as I get older though, I’m realizing that I’m more removed from young adult fiction. I love a good story, don’t get me wrong. But, I have sensed that most YA fiction is filled with a little drama, but not much. So much of it doesn’t tend to hit on the real hard stuff that hits most of American families.
Home to Paradise was slightly different: stories of God’s acceptance, forgiveness, family, heartbreak, and friendships. Troubled hearts are clearly in this book. If you like Amish lit, you will like this third book in a series by Barbara Cameron and you don’t even have needed to read the first two books. It draws you in and gives you enough of the backstory. Hey, it might even make you go back and the first two.
Cultures are always intriguing.
Litfuse is hosting a giveaway (and thanks for the book). If you would like a chance to win, enter here.
by Kimberly | Mar 1, 2017 | Uncategorized
March is here. March has some hard memories in it for me, but also some wonderful celebrations. Here are some of my goals for the month that holds time change and season change.
Creative Goals: I have many book reviews coming up and I’ll be blogging some creative events and photo sessions too. I’ve got an infant photo shoot, and possibly some more creatives shoots to show you soon. I’m working on a big wedding invitation order right now and I’ll get to set up my “office” (our hutch in our dining room) now that we’ve moved into an apartment. And I’ll get to create (make order from chaos) from all of our boxes, setting up neat little areas in our home.
Health Goals: Not gain weight. I’ve done very good at that since last January – and I need to see a downward spiral happen! For that, I will be drinking more water, eating more whole foods (we moved, so I’m still getting my kitchen organized), and drinking fewer diet drinks. I’m thankful for getting to try Blue Apron meals next week – that will make cooking dinner easier and give me and the mister special meals at night once the boys are in bed.
Reading: I’m currently diving into three things: Words Worth Noting Lent Study, You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons, and Adorned by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth.
Family: We just moved, so my in-laws are coming soon which is always so good because they are such servants and they get to play with their grandsons. And that means the mister and I will get free babysitting for a date night, and I want to take time to read to my older son at bedtime when my mister is home at night because I’ve been having to spend more time with my younger and by the time I’m done the older is asleep. And keep going with our taco nights. I love those. Even if Sundays are hard, we usually regroup and enjoy couch and taco time.
Spiritual: Journal more. That is something that is super helpful. Not only for me but also for my sons. And I’m working through the Lent study. Wanting, and needing, more time in the Word. For my heart. For my marriage. For my boys.
What are your goals for March?
And yall – how do you say no to good things so you can say yes to best things? You need things that fill you up and allow you to give. How do you do both? This lovely shiny print is one that I won from The Brumby Nest. You know me and my love of stationery, so head over and check them out. I won it through a Flourish&Co giveaway on instagram. Yall should check her out too – full of grace and encouragement!
by Kimberly | Feb 23, 2017 | marriage
This past weekend my mister and I got to head just a ways out of the metro for an overnight date which we only get about once a year.
I know to some of you that is extravagant because you never get to for different reasons. To some of you, that isn’t enough, and you go lots more whether its because you have more money, more babysitters, or less children.
Either way, I think little getaways are crucial to good marriages (not necessities, but really really good ideas!)
But, just in case you can’t go on an overnight trip, don’t get many out of the house date nights, here are some ideas for loving your spouse well every day. Just like I’ve told girls getting married and my top piece of marriage advice (besides love Jesus first): study your spouse!
So, maybe these ideas might not be exactly what you would do, but hopefully they will spur you on to loving your spouse well in meaningful ways that will affect your marriage!
- Leave little love notes. I love leaving little notes to my mister throughout the house or in his car. It doesn’t need to be a special day. It doesn’t even need to be a special card. Just a dry erase marker to the mirror, a sticky note, or a nice card you bought. Even write it out in blueberries. The card featured above is by Instead of Ashes, a little Durham designer that I love!
- Pray for your spouse. You probably do this every day, but maybe one day, specifically ask your spouse how you can be praying for them. It might surprise you what they say. And then, go pray for them. Make sure to follow up with them and ask how God is answering the prayer. You might be surprised how short the time is for answers like that (uninterrupted conversations with my mister are hard to come by).
- Drop by their work with lunch or a drink. It doesn’t have to be expensive, since I know budgets are tight. I will sometimes run by with a CFA milkshake in the middle of the afternoon. Today, we took my husband a Zaxby’s salad. Know their favorite drink and drop it by. Sometimes, you might not even need to see them, just have their receptionist give it to them.
- Do the one thing that he loves. Ok – so my mister has always wanted a peaceful house. And in the 5.5 years we’ve been married, I think it would never be defined as peaceful. With 5 moves (6 for me, moving into his house), 2 kids, change of jobs, etc – that doesn’t sound peaceful. But, maybe sometimes you can have the kids in bed, tv off, couch cleaned off, kitchen sink cleared, and just chill and talk. We like to unwind after the weekend with taco night couch nights on Sunday nights.
- Ask them what they need done for the day. I did this a lot more when I didn’t have kids. I would ask my mister what was one or two things that he would like for me to do during the day. Now that I have preschoolers, its just survival mode, maybe an occasional thrive mode! But, sometimes I am reminded that I can love him well by asking him this simple question. Maybe its ironing his favorite shirt for a big meeting the next day. Maybe its cooking his favorite meals. Whatever it is, just say ok honey! And don’t argue. It kinda ruins it!
Loving well takes intentionality and purpose. Don’t let a day go by when you aren’t striving to love your spouse well.
