by Kimberly | Feb 14, 2017 | Uncategorized
So many years I was single. Valentine’s Day wasn’t fun. Back then nobody was really doing Galentine’s Day.
Then I started enjoying Valentine’s Day by loving on the married women in my life. Just sharing with them how they had impacted me.
Then I got married. Valentine’s Day is fun – and never going out is a key to that! We do low-key – which is so good!
Then, I started doing special things for my girls that I had discipled over the years, married or single. Just to share with them that I love them and am so thankful for them!
This year, I wanted to do something with our boys. Just love on women who impacts our lives on a daily basis. So, this morning, Trader Joe’s had single roses for 1$. We bought 4.
One went to one of the ladies at Trader Joes who loves on us every Monday and has for almost 3 years.
The second one went to my son’s afternoon bus driver.
The third and fourth went to the girl who has been serving in the kid’s club at the healthy gym I go to in the afternoons. My boys definitely give her the right to get roses.
When we gave them the roses – all of them were so surprised. Its just little things yall. Live in the little things. Love on people. It took 4$ to make 3 peoples’ days. I always want to teach my boys to love on others in little and big ways!
by Kimberly | Feb 10, 2017 | Books
I don’t know of a single person who loves rejection. We may learn from rejection, but it isn’t fun to go through.
I remember having to wear army green orthodic shoes in 3rd grade. Yeah, that’s cool.
I remember being heavier than everyone in my class. Another cool factor.
I remember not making the music group in high school that I wanted to make. Tears for days.
Then I didn’t make the cheerleading squad the second year or the JV Volleyball team – more tears.
Then came guys. Not being the one your favorite guy (at the time) ends up marrying. Not having a real date all the way through college. Not being the one the cool kids want to hang out with when doing youth ministry.
And let me tell you, at the age of 40, it doesn’t get any easier. The rejections are just different. Sure, you may be more confident in who you are or you may be able to get over the rejection easier, but rejection still hurts.
Kari Kampakis writes a great book that would be ideal for mothers to go through with their pre-teen or teen daughters. You need to be talking about these things with your daughters. Know the biblical heart that they need to hear. They will find their worth somewhere and you need to teach them, lovingly, with full compassion, that their worth is set.
She gives you a great tool here. And you can win a copy of this book – just leave me a message telling me one thing you like about yourself! 🙂 . Thanks to Tommy Nelson Mommies for this giveaway opportunity and the book. All opinons are my own.
by Kimberly | Feb 9, 2017 | Uncategorized
Every single week, there is one specific area where I feel like I have to prove something. Don’t we all – you may have more than one area, but I know specifically there is one area. Sometimes there are more, but always this one.
And this doesn’t communicate to my heart that I am loved.
When we always feel like we have to compare or measure up – or we feel that we will never master or hit the mark – we feel unwelcomed and insignificant.
In Jennie Allen’s new book Nothing to Prove, she knocks it out of the park with creative prose on Bible stories, the highlight and masterful connection of the Gospel in every chapter, and you can tell she loves women.
Yall, this girl understands the gospel and loves women. You need to read this book. I even loaned it out and already want it back to re-read all of it – and underline more of it. It will be a yearly re-read for sure.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Feb 9, 2017 | Uncategorized
If you love purple mosleskins, you will definitely want to enter this giveway, which also includes a book, bag, bracelet and more!
I have always liked to be in control. I can tell it in my driving, my learning, and my relationships. This is one area that has been the hardest in terms of living the Christian life. I’ve really never doubted God’s sovereignty – but if His sovereignty is true, then I am definitely not in control.
Shannon Popkins’ book Control Girl is a good heart searcher to see if you might have control issues too. And in some way I think we all do.
I loved how Shannon shared personal stories and was real about her own struggle with control. Even though she wrote this as a Bible study, I think it was more of a book that included Scriptures and make sure you ask yourself some questions. She didn’t really hit the Bible study part hard. Bible studies study the Bible, dig in, really take time to invest in the Word itself. While this book was well-written I think it missed the mark on the Bible study part. That isn’t to say it doesn’t have merit – it would still be a good book to read. And maybe you can take the Scriptures she gives you and invest and dig deep in the Scriptures – more than she does.
by Kimberly | Jan 27, 2017 | Coffee with..., creatives, Georgia
Atlanta is such a hub of creative powerhouses! So many are excited to collaborate, meet up for coffee, help you excel in your craft, and champion you to help you be a better creative. Seldom have I found a competitive spirit among the creatives I’ve been introduced to.
Audrey and I are currently neighbors, which we didn’t know until I had to drop off her wedding vows, like literally a quarter mile from each other – in a huge metro area! We bonded over Davinci Donuts and milk while my younger son watched Thomas the Train and Curious George.
We talked life, photography, and church. Audrey took some amazing photos of the calligraphy wedding vows I did for her and her husband. And I got to know another beautiful photographer in this town.
How’d you get started in photography and what advice do you have for newbies?
When I was a kid, my dad had a Minolta film camera that I would play around with. I’d go to the library and check out every book I could get my hands on about photography. If there was a photo I loved, I would literally copy the settings out of the book onto my film camera and try it out. A lot of trial by error! Haha. But my love for photography grew and I kept learning. My advice for newbies; always be teachable. As an artist you are constantly learning and your brain should always be open to learning new technology and new techniques. Just when you think you have learned it all….you learn something else. And always be thankful for where you are and what you have. Comparison really is the thief of joy. So what if you have limited equipment? Rock it! Don’t let anything as silly as what camera or laptop you have hold you back. Think of it as a challenge!
What do you love about the creative vibe in ATL?
Atlanta is such a cool area to live in. I love how diverse the art scene is. There’s not too many areas where you can go to an all white modern studio space and next door is a wall of colorful graffiti. And everyone has that southern charm and respects each other and their art. Love that!
Where are your favorite places to shoot in the ATL?
That’s such tough question! I have so many favorites! Just a few recents; The Goat Farm, Ponce City Market and The Belt-line have beed really fun to explore. I also love…now this sounds weird….but photoshoots in clients homes! There’s something so intimate and cozy about taking photos of clients in their own environment. And the window light is always gorgeous to work with!
What advice would you give to newly engaged couples trying to find their ideal wedding photographer?
Pick me! Haha, ok. Just kidding. But my advice would be to get an idea of what you like before you go “photographer shopping”. It’s so easy to look at it as “how much can I get for the least amount of money?”. Working with a professional will make a huge difference in your experience and end results. I also tell brides that you don’t realize how much your wedding photographer is with you on the wedding day. They are pretty much with you the whole time! So make sure you comfortable with their personality and demeanor. Will they be a source of peace or add stress to your day?
If we were hanging out and having coffee, where would we be and what would you be drinking?
I absolutely love Chattahoochee Coffee Shop on the river. It’s so relaxing and peaceful. I’d have a vanilla latte of course! Or in the summer…an iced americano.
What other creative avenues do you enjoy?
If I have free time, I love watercolor painting. As well as cooking! I’ve been trying a lot of new recipes….even though I usually end up not following them and going my own route. I guess that’s the artist in me! haha.
How do you balance your life and your business?
I’ve always been thinking of ways to implement this more! It’s one of those things that seems easy to do; but practically….I just want to give clients all my attention. I can be such a perfectionist! When really that’s not fair to my family or….even me. I’ve recently made the choice to only respond to emails before 6:00pm. It’s the best! And I have chosen this year to not work on Sundays. Having one day off to just relax and focus on close relationships has been so refreshing and beneficial. I highly recommend it!
