by Kimberly | Jun 17, 2015 | Books
Over the past few years with the pick up in social media sites, I fear that more people (mostly women I’m writing about here) are better friends with the people on their social media networks than they are with people in their daily lives. I am not saying those online friendships are bad, I just want to make the case that they are insufficient.
I would say that the main way I see this dominating the circles I follow are online Bible studies. Again, I’m not saying these are bad – I’m just saying they are insufficient. You can only be so real with people you only know through a computer (that’s why I think there are great problems with online dating). The good thing about these online Bible studies is that you study the Word and you get to know people…but that can’t take the place of real life Bible studies if you have access to good ones.
Neither can these online friendships take the place of real life friends. Since I’ve traveled a lot and moved a bit since being an adult, I have plenty of my best friends that don’t live in my immediate area. Social media is definitely a way I keep up with them and know what’s going on in their lives – and they know how they can pray, encourage, and help me along in my sanctification process by loving me and loving the Gospel.
I’ve been reading a surprisingly good book A Friend in Me by Pamela Havey Lau. It is about friendship – but more importantly, an older generation of women being grace-imparting friends to younger women. Sounds very much like Titus 2. I found this book for women to be refreshing because its deeper than most books on friendship. This has been a convicting read to me in getting to know knew women, continuing relationships with women I already know, pursuing Gospel love with them, encouraging them in whatever stage of life God has them in right now, and even in my parenting and imparting the Gospel to my boys who are so little.
Thankful for this book on friendship, real life friends, and yes, social media where I can keep up with all my friends spread throughout the world.
I received this book from LitFuse in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Jun 13, 2015 | hearthopejustice
Here is another way that heart.hope.justice gets to support families who are loving orphans!
I’ve known Aaron Tant for about ten years (and his wonderful family). I met Lisa when they moved to Louisville and I got to know them when we were all attending Sojourn Church there.
Here is a brief synopsis of their story:
Aaron and I have been married for 9 years this July and we have two children, Elias, who is almost 7, and Sophia, who is 4. We have always had a heart for children with special needs and we desired to one day adopt a child with special needs. A few weeks ago a friend who is a social worker made us aware of a child who will soon be available for adoption. In order to be consider to be this child’s adoptive parents, we must become licensed foster parents in our state and we must get our home ready for the required home study. The biggest priority is remodeling the basement. Currently we have a guest room on our main floor which will need to become this child’s room. That means that our basement, that is partially finished but not a very pleasant place, needs to be remodeled into a functioning guest space. We would also like to open up our kitchen to accommodate more people. Another large purchase we will need to make is a mini-van. We are currently working to raise money to cover the costs. Our goal is to raise enough money to purchase an appropriate vehicle and do the necessary renovations in our home. Then if there is any money left over we will use that money to pay down our debt. We want to be the best stewards of our resources so that we can best care for our children, and we feel that getting rid of our debt is one way to do that.
You can support them by heading over to the heart.hope.justice page and taking a look at the print and then sending me an email (kimddavidson@gmail.com) and tell me what color cardstock you want your print in. The ink will be black, but I can vary the cardstock color. The prints are 5.7 and 16$ 10$ of every sale will go directly to the Tant family and the rest will go to printing, shipping, and supply cost. I make nothing.
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2015 | Books
I was supposed to write this blog a few days ago, but time got the best of me – and I was out enjoying my family – so here it is.
Even though we were an active family growing up: sports, fishing trips, playing baseball and basketball in our yard, ballet, etc – we didn’t eat healthy. My brother was the more active one and had a much higher metabolism than me, but I didn’t. And my body definitely showed all the southern foods that we ate a lot of.
I remember being chubby by the time I was in 3rd grade. Man, I hate that picture in the yearbook. But, I stayed overweight. I remember buying a size 12 dress pants to wear to school to fit the school dress code at my Christian school that I attended. I played volleyball and had that baby fat white (no tan) look in all the team photos. I even cheered, and I still have my cheerleading uniform to try it on every now and then.
But, even though I was active, the food I ate didn’t warrant a healthy lifestyle. Going to the corner convenient store almost every summer night to get a pm snack to eat while watching the Mets play baseball. Once I could drive I would drive over to McDs and get a Big Mac meal for dinner after the school activities. When we would go to Chilis after basketball games I chose the most fattening thing on the menu – the chicken crispers with fries and corn – at 10pm! No wonder I came close to 200lbs by the time I graduated high school.
I’ve struggled with weight and addiction to food and a gluttony and laziness in regards to food. My heart and compassion and eagerness to love and guide goes out to every overweight person – but especially those in elementary and high school.
That’s why I wanted to read Who’s the New Kid by Heidi Bond. It is a story of her daughter’s struggle with weight in elementary school and how she lost weight, changed eating habits, and became active. What I did like about the book was the recipes and activities and the eager outlook that things can change. You don’t always have to be heavy.
I think I would approach fitness and health with a family member differently – but everyone, no matter the situation, should look at each situation with compassion and knowledge, and seek to counsel in love and truth. No situation is the same.
My boys are going to be really tall. They are going to be boys. I don’t want them to be overweight. I want them to be active and healthy. I feed my boys yummy desserts, but also greens and fruit and grilled meats. They run and play every day. Balance is good! I want to cook them healthy foods – but not swear off doughtnuts and macaroni and cheese.
(I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.)
by Kimberly | Jun 8, 2015 | The Charming South Kitchen
My parents are here this week so we are both eating out and cooking more than normal.
This is going in the crockpot for my Dad’s Father’s Day meal – with some southern greens cooked with bacon.
Going to make banana pudding cheesecake for this dessert.
Making a quinoa detox salad. This looks so yummy and fresh and full of variety.
When people come in town to visit – what do you like to make? How also do you encourage people to an overall way of eating that is healthy?
by Kimberly | Jun 3, 2015 | Books
You know when you are supposed to do a book review for a giveaway in May and you can’t find the book because your children love it so much that they’ve hidden it somewhere? Yup, that’s me. Thanks Tommy Nelson for the book.
I did find the book stuffed under a car seat in the car. The Daddy Loves You So Much book.
This is a companion book to one that came out a couple of months ago – Mommy Loves You So Much. So glad they didn’t leave the daddies out!
Daddy-life gets a bad rap. I am so glad that they didn’t leave us hanging wondering if the daddies loved their little boys and girls. My husband definitely does.
I’m so glad that Fathers Day is coming up because it is a great day that my husband gets to celebrate being a daddy to those little boys of his. HE loves to give them their baths at night (when he’s home), he usually gets up the boys in the morning so he can have some time with them before he goes to work. He works selling pianos right now and loves to have them come play some pianos at the store and then help him sweep up the store at the end of the day.
This book is full of wonderful illustrations and lovely created father-son/daughter animal characters. It is a durable board book perfect for those lap-reading sessions at the end of the day. My boys definitely love to read this one in the car looking at all the beautiful animals. (Since they can’t read yet).
This book definitely is a great celebration of fathers. If you would like a copy of this book – perfect for Father’s Day coming up – just leave a note either here or on Facebook about one way you love watching your baby’s daddy interact with your children – or if you are a daddy – how you love to interact with your kids!
