by Kimberly | Dec 19, 2015 | Books, food
Who doesn’t like bread? Ok – I know some people can’t eat it for health reasons or allergies, and some people don’t eat much of it because they don’t want to gain a lot of weight – but seriously – the smell of yeast in my kitchen mixed with melted butter, or garlic, or cheese – bread is a good things.
Blogging for Books gave me the book Hot Bread Kitchen – the new cookbook that not only teaches you how to make bread in many different forms, but also trains and helps women with skills that will improve their futures.
I love the philanthropic nature of Hot Bread Kitchen and what they have set out to accomplish. And I can’t wait to try their breads. The cookbook is not only a book full of recipes and pictures, but stories of women who make them and where they come from.
So, its a little bit of history, bread, photos, bread, women, bread, stories, bread. Can’t go wrong?
by Kimberly | Dec 18, 2015 | Uncategorized
Over the river and through the woods.
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Grandma got ran over by a reindeer.
Walking in a winter wonderland.
No matter how you travel this holiday season, you definitely want to arrive safe, stay safe, and return to your home – hopefully without a trip to the hospital! I have already traveled over this holiday season with my two little boys, and I wanted to share some tips with you!
- Eat healthy. I know, crazy, and hard to do. But, this helps! If you pack some fruit in the car, get applesauce, clementines, or fruit pouches when you go in for lunch at your favorite lunch place while traveling, and definitely if you get those fluids going. This is especially hard when you are aiming for speed on your trip – because diapers need changing and if you are potty training then you stop often. But, just know that fluids really do help your body (and your little one’s body) stay healthy!
- Get exercise. When you get to your destination – and even on the way – incorporate exercise into your vacation plans. My boys love parks and would play all day! And at those rest areas, do some jumping jacks or run around in the grassy areas.
- Be prepared. If you son or daughter takes medication, be prepared with how much you will need. If they have allergies, make sure you understand the place you are going and what you might encounter. Always know where a medical doctor is. Whether it is a clinic, an emergency room, or a hospital – this is crucial. We usually go places we know for the holidays, so I always know where places are. But, if I’m going somewhere new, I would use Amino’s great guide to help you find what you need in your time of stress. All on one site, too!
- Be loved. Stress is such a killer during the holidays. Whether its the traffic or the relationships, look on the bright side, slow down, love.
And with that, happy safe and healthy travels. Thanks Amino for the hint!
by Kimberly | Dec 17, 2015 | Books, Shepherding Children
One of the sentences I most say in life is “I’m sorry.” Well, maybe sometimes I insert,”I’m such a failure.” This is so true in my marriage and parenting. This parenting this is so difficult most of the time!
But, then I come to the title of a book (you can win one, stay tuned) – Grace for the Moment. How crucial is this to remember. I grew up on Max Lucado (in my spiritual walk I mean.) I started reading his books in late middle school and read them all the way through seminary. Still one of my favorite books on the incarnation is God Came Near. And that incarnation is what makes God’s grace so real to us because that was God the Father’s best gift.
One of the areas I need most encouragement in is my communication with my boys. As God speaks his grace to us, to my soul, I can therefore speak it to my boys, who are sinners and desperately need to hear God’s grace and truth in their souls. This set from Max, including Grace for the Moment for Kids is a great way to fill your soul with a quick daily devotional (because all moms will tell you that one of the hardest things is to get prolonged quality time in the Word) and then read something similar on the same day to your kids. That way you are filling your soul with similar truths! How perfect for family devotionals. This is a great devo for older children and has some practical applications for them to live out the truth they just learned.
Here is how you can win this set of books – perfect for starting out the new year with truth from God’s Word: tell me one thing you are looking forward to doing with your kids in the new year. Me: cooking more for them instead of always grabbing fast food in the car. Thanks Tommy Nelson Mommies for hosting this giveaway and for my free books!
by Kimberly | Dec 11, 2015 | Books
Th
is is a season of Advent – of hope, of awaiting, or mystery. Of incarnation.
One of the beautiful things about the incarnation is that God the FATHER sent His only perfect beautiful son into the world. I can’t even imagine giving up one of my boys.
Back to the story…the men in our lives play several roles. Man, husband, father, employee, friend, son, brother if applicable (my husband is an only child), worshiper, etc. The list is pretty inexhaustive just like our list is.
But, for me, I think two the most important at least in my husband’s life is husband and father. There is such a burden on him to provide, protect, lead well, shepherd all of us to know Jesus. He just isn’t living for himself anymore. On no given day can he wake up and say, “I think I’ll do what I want to do today,” but instead he wakes up to snuggles, cries, diapers, commuter traffic, my texts complaining about the disobedience of our boys, etc. There is always so much crowding his heart and his mind.
I long for him not only to have an intimate close relationship with his heavenly Father – but use that relationship to guide his relationship with his boys. Our boys are incredibly blessed with a father who is gentle and patient and one who loves Jesus more than he loves them. He plays cars and basketball with them. He takes them to the park. He provides for them. His desire is for them.
Isn’t that so the heart of the Father for us? That His desire is for us – to know him and be found in Him?
Pete Alwinson’s new book, Like Father Like Son, is a good read that goes through different aspects of a relationship between the Father and his children, men. I think some of the concepts can definitely be applied to men and women. I think, honestly, that the book might be more with a female tone in mind, I don’t know. I don’t know if I can see my mister reading this book or really any of the men that I know.
But, I do see it as useful for wives to pray for their misters. That’s why I got this book. I want to be more knowledgeable about how to pray for my mister and his relationship with his Father as he seeks to know his boys and lead them to the Father.
Thanks to Litfuse for the book in exchange for my honest review.
by Kimberly | Dec 8, 2015 | Books
If you are looking for a great new cookbook that is going to be perfect for that new cook – but one that is looking for knowledge, adventurous recipes, and helpful information, and beautiful pictures – then this cookbook is for you.
I picked this cookbook out from my choices at Blogging for Books. There are a couple of things I love about this cookbook (besides the recipes):
- The pictures. I want to cut them all out and hang them in my kitchen. Better yet I want to go take pictures of farm fresh eggs and berries and everything in between.
- The information. This gives you ways to make a variety of the same things (like the difference between jams and eggs) – and teaches you the things you need to know when picking out poultry, or other types of foods, etc.
- I love the story-telling. That is the best part of any cookbook. I want to curl up on my couch and wrap up in a warm blanket – and sit down and read it word for word.
