by Kimberly | Jun 2, 2014 | creatives
Being a Father is tough.
And many of you might be saying – Kim, you are a mom – how would you know?
Well, because I’m married to one. I see the importance of providing for his family, caring for his family, leading his family, praying for his family – all of that – weighs heavily on him.
Being a Father isn’t just about working hard to provide financially. Being a Father isn’t all about playing on the floor with your children at night or giving your wife a break from the kids sometimes.
Being a Father is mostly about shepherding the family that God has entrusted you with to look more like Christ – EVERY DAY!
This past weekend I was able to do a Scripture art piece for a father that I know. I got to pray the Proverbs for him as he leads his children. I got to pray the truths of Deuteronomy 6 for him as he shepherds his family by the Word of God. I got to praise God for the man of God that He is and how is wife described him.
What a blessing this man is to his family and those around him.
Do you want a personal gift for Father’s Day? Contact me about Scripture art – fully custom piece.
And please remember: be thankful for your fathers and the fathers that you know. And pray for them!
by Kimberly | Jun 2, 2014 | Books
Do you live a life in a glass bubble where everything is rosey and lively and romantic, free of trials, every day? Since when do we not know of hardship, trials, anger, feelings of worthlessness or just mad at what others have done to you or what you have done to others?
God doesn’t promise his children the perfect life. But, He has promised to always walk with us. That is a treasure in hard times. Life, in these almost three years of marriage (and Renee and I got married in the same month) have not been perfectly photographed and stages. My husband and I have had the greatest joys of our life (children) and some of the greatest hardships of either of our lives (dealing with personal sin and then the dealings of other sins to us). It has been a marriage of joy and hand-holding, and months of tears and hard conversations. I wouldn’t trade my husband for anything in the world and am so glad I said yes to him almost 3 years ago (Thursday, to be exact).
Hardships are real. If you know any of that, then you want to pick up Renee’s Kindle devotional: Dream Devotional.
What I like about Dream Devotional:
1. Renee is real. I love being a real friend and person. Sometimes, that has come back to bite me, but I hate being artificial and fake.
2. Its free until June 5. Amazon. Kindle. Thank you!
3. Readability. You find yourself in the stories and thoughts that Renee shares and you can find hope in the truths that she finds hope in. And they are short. When you are a mother – you don’t have time to read long chapters – so I like short ones!
4. Hope. We are not stuck in our hardships. We are not stuck where the going gets tough. God uses hardships to grow us more like Christ. And we all need that.
by Kimberly | Jun 2, 2014 | food
Usually I just type my menu into my iphone notes and go from there. But, since I need every practice and lettering and calligraphy – I usually attempt to jot down my menu on a notepad. I’m in the process of making a set of menu note pads and grocery list pages for the Etsy shop – so be on the lookout!
This week is going to have BBQ chicken written all over it. I opened a bottle of sauce the other night for some pulled beef and now need to use it up – so we are bringing on summer with three bbq meals. I know they will be delicious and I feel like we should eat them outside – but we have no deck furniture – or a deck for that matter – we have a slab of concrete. Today we sold our home in Little Rock (or should because today was the day) and I loved our deck there – complete with charcoal grill. We had one in the townhome where we spent our first married year – and it made it possible for us to enjoy each other’s company longer in the courtship process.
What are you cooking this week? The only reason there is no sweet stuff this week is because I’m doing 7 days with no sweets – baked goods. That’s been good because last week I ate way too many. Also starting the gym today – so that will be good in helping me get off the lest 23 baby pounds – from two babies!
Monday: CPK frozen bbq chicken pizza – veggies
Tuesday: Spaghetti Pie – garlic bread – veggies
Wednesday: Turkey Sloppy Joes from Joy the Baker (I’m using store bought wheat rolls) – salad
Thursday: BBQ chicken – roasted corn – roasted reds
Friday: BBQ chicken chopped salads with homemade ranch dressing
Saturday: Brinner: bbq chicken bagel sandwiches with pesto aoli (idea from macheesmo)
Sunday: Heading to the city for Sunday Suppers with the parents.
by Kimberly | May 28, 2014 | food
Menu planning is an activity I like to do in our home. I’m glad my husband likes me to do it as well – that he is an adventurous eater! That makes menu planning even more fun.
There are many ways you can plan a menu, but as I’ve been doing it weekly I find there is most flexibility in that for our family. Honestly, I sometimes change mid-week or something comes up and I have to change it, but food usually lasts a week. The reason I don’t like menu planning for a month is I like spontaneity. I don’t like even me having that much control over what I’m going to eat that day.
So, here’s what I do.
Each week I sit down and think through 6 categories (one is leftovers). Sometimes the categories stay the same, and sometimes they change. Here are some samplings of categories I have on my menu list any given week:
Slow-Cooker
Meatless
International (Italian, Mediteranean, Indian, etc)
Date Night (a little more fancy of food that we will eat for dinner once the boys are in bed – and includes a fun dessert for two)
Salad Night
Taco Night
Pizza Night
Cookbook Night (I love cookbooks, but actually usually get my recipes off the internet.)
Brinner (Where we have breakfast for dinner. This one is usually delicious, easy, and inexpensive.)
When I have chosen my categories for the week, then I look at our family calendar. I know Fridays are my husband’s day off – so I either let that one be a slow-cooker day if we are going to be busy or I let that be a day when I have more time to spend in the kitchen because he is home to play with the boys. Maybe we are busy one night, so I need a really easy meal or I know we are going to need to eat early or late that night. Flexibility is the name of the game.
Then I think through what is in season right now. I may make more strawberry, peach, or blackberry foods and tomato and corn meals since we are coming into the summer months. In the fall, I will make more soups with pumpkin and winter squashes and sweet potatoes. This is also a way you can cut the cost down in your food budget.
Then I look through a Bloglovin feed of blogs. I love seeing the artistry which people create new foods and photograph those foods on their tables. It inspires me. Then all I have to do is decide (and narrowing down is sometimes I difficult thing) and ask the Mister if he has any requests that week – and fill in the blanks.
How do you plan your menu?
by Kimberly | May 27, 2014 | creatives
While I anxiously await the updates for this website and all the fun that it will bring – I want to introduce you to my creative side. I know you’ve seen it in photography and cooking, but now you will see it in hand-lettering (which I’ve always loved), calligraphy (picking up from my 7th grade days), and other art.
This is one that I did for a sweet friend of mine. I have several pieces like this around our home because another mutual friend did them. I love, like her, to get the Word into peoples homes and hearts. While I was penning this art I got to pray that a sweet little girl would grow up to love Jesus, make him known, and that she would realize that God made her beautiful – and wonderful. Most of our girls growing up in our society today won’t here that. I think we do need to tell every child that, especially now when they hear so much contrary to that.
How do you get Scripture into your child’s heart? How do you pray over your children?
And I accept custom orders. Email or contact on fb for order information. My Etsy store is KDCcreatives.
by Kimberly | May 26, 2014 | marriage, Prayers for the Journey
How do your survive and thrive in marriage? My mister and I are coming up on three years in October, and I’ve learned a lot about praying for him through these three years. Prayer is such a vital connection in our relationship to the One who loves us like no other, who desires our hearts above all else, and who pursues us when we don’t feel loved.
Nehemiah is a book in the Old Testament that talks of a servant of the Lord who pursued fighting for his people and the land. He worked against strong opposing odds and diligently worked on the task He knew was of the Lord.
How much more does something describe marriage?
Marriage is between two sinning servants of the Lord. In marriage, both partners are sinners. If you need more information, just watch how you interact with your spouse – there you go. I’m a great sinner – see it everyday in how I communicate with and fail to love my Mister.
Marriage is a fight – it is a battle. Yes, there are opposing people who want to see your marriage destroyed. Look at media, news, the world, even some in the church (as we see the divorce rate just as high in the church as out of the church). This world glamorizes the wedding – but not so much the marriage.
This task of marriage is from the Lord. The Lord designed marriage ultimately for his glory and to show a lost world the glory of the Gospel. The only way to survive and thrive in marriage is with the Lord on your side!
In the series of e-books I’m doing – devotional, prayer guides for wives to use to pray for their husbands – Nehemiah is here! You can get it free by clicking and downloading. I’m thankful for Amy, Jeanie, and Laura who helped this one come together. Eric – thank you for reading it and being blessed by it.
Love your marriage. Love God. Pray for your spouse. And if you aren’t married ladies – pray for your future spouse (if God so wills) now!
by Kimberly | May 26, 2014 | Uncategorized, What's Eatin?
Changing up things for the menu planning! Just to keep you on your toes!
When we lived in Little Rock, I called my kitchen the Rainwood Kitchen because we lived on Rainwood Road and it sounded like a cool restaurant name. But, I don’t like the sound of our street here in Marietta in line of a kitchen name. But, I thought through this name for a little while and really like The Charming South Kitchen. I am from the south, born and raised in central Florida, moved to North Florida, then made my way to North Carolina for over a decade, with just a few years in Louisville, then to Little Rock, now back to Georgia. Although I love to travel and love seeing the world – I don’t know if I will ever live outside the south. I love everything about the south: the beach, the weather, the people, the slow pace of life, the friendliness of strangers.
So, I wanted to bring that out in my food and what I cook for our family and those who eat at our table. Therefore – the Charming South Kitchen. I cook a lot of non-southern foods – but the south is now a melting pot – and so it my kitchen!
And this week, I’ll be writing a post about how I menu plan. Stay tuned!
Monday: Strawberry Spinach Quinoa Salad with those fresh strawberries I picked this weekend at Southern Belle Farms. Also to celebrate Memorial Day, I am making The Pioneer Woman’s Peanut Butter Pie and we are having watermelon.
Tuesday: This delish dip with some flat out bread I picked up on sale with some peanut chicken
Wednesday: Brinner night with potato pancakes, eggs, and sausage.
Thursday: Date night!!!!!
Friday: Slow Cooker beef for some sandwiches w pea salad (I’m still planning on sharing the recipe soon)
Saturday: Spring risotto from Big Sur Bakery cookbook
Sunday: leftovers
by Kimberly | May 22, 2014 | Books
If you check any seminary bookstore – you will find a plethora of theology books. I suppose that is a good thing because we need to study theology and most of us, like me, love to have help in that department.
I remember being in seminary at Southeastern, I was asked to read Erickson’s for my theology class, and Thomas Oden. But, when I got out of seminary and started teaching a college girl’s bible study, I wanted to read Grudem’s Bible Doctrines.
I like a theology book to be solid and based on the gospel – of course. But, I also want it to readable for the every-day person – meaning a person who doesn’t have seminary background necessarily and they can still understand it. And I also want to know something of the author and know that he is applying this study of theology to his own life. I remember working at SBTS where Dr. Hamilton is a professor, seeing him walk down the hall, interact with students and colleagues, and witness a humility that can only come from studying the Scripture and knowing the God of the Bible.
Hamilton’s What is Biblical Theology isn’t going to be a starter theology book – I would highly recommend Grudem’s that I mentioned above. However, it will take you to a deeper love and trust and knowledge of your Bible if you dare go there. Especially as a writer, Dr. Hamilton points out the Bibles literary pieces and bigger themes. God was the writer that we should all strive to be! You can trust this book. You can learn from it. And Psalm 119 tells us that knowing the Word of God is a blessed way to live a life that pleases God!
by Kimberly | May 20, 2014 | Uncategorized, What's Eatin?
We definitely have a busy week with nights where one of us is out of the house. And I’m learning I just feed the kids when E is at work – me, just snacking as I go – feeding two takes both hands. And its cool outside while I’m planning this menu, so all I want is comfort food – so you may see that as a result of the weather! Enjoy. Please tell me what you are cooking this week too!
Monday: I have a women’s gathering to go down in Midtown so I want something easy I can throw in the crockpot. Found this chicken and broccoli over rice (which my mister loves) so I’ll have that for me for dinner when he gets home and the boys go to bed.
Tuesday. One day a week (at least) I love to go purposefully vegetarian. This week is will be these corn and red pepper enchiladas.
Wednesday: Taco chopped salads (loving this trend of chopped salads and it is colorful and healthy too.
Thursday: Brinner night. Thinking of keeping it simple with eggs, breakfast muffins, and fruit
Friday: Slow-cooker Chicken Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches with a side of apple slaw and some of these mascarpone brownies. Hey, why not, its Friday.
Saturday: These french bread pizzas will be inexpensive and easy
Sunday: leftovers probably
by Kimberly | May 15, 2014 | Georgia
You may be wondering why my blogging has dropped off to almost nothing the past 2 months. Well, let me give a life update:
1. First, the biggest, we moved. We now reside in Marietta, GA about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta. I’m loving learning this new area, but don’t love the traffic.
2. The mister works a lot and fights traffic, so we love it when he is home, and try to find stuff to explore while he is at work.
3. And my blog is getting a new emphasis and re-design by Green Hill Lane Designs. I’m very excited to show yall what we’ve been working on and get your thoughts and basically take this blog in a somewhat new direction. I’ve been blogging now since 2005 and sometimes you just need new vision, new something to keep you going.
4. Here’s what I’ve been reading:
Dream Devotional by my friend Renee Fisher
Haunted by my former roommate Charity Tinnin
Bread & Wine b S. Niequist (interesting thought: I just read an amazon review of this book and one noter said she couldn’t relate to the author because she seemed to be living the “charmed life”. Its a memoir. She can only write about what she knows and is living. We can all live how we want to live no matter where we live, what we do, if we have children, money, food, etc. But, the feelings of life or the feelings of a person are what draw us together – humanity – need. Everyone has those no matter what you do during your summer!
Glimpses of Grace by Gloria Furman.
5. I have a long list of books to read too:
Modern Calligraphy (coming in the mail today)
Stronger
Delancey
Beekeepers Bible
All Joy and No Fun
What are you reading right now and what do you want to read this summer?
6. I’ll be heading up the Georgia Women Bloggers soon! I am excited about showcasing this new state that I live in and also building relationships with the women who live in, love on, and blog about this state of Georgia. The Arkansas Women Bloggers were a highlight of my time in Little Rock, so I jumped at this chance to make it happen.
7. Our boys are growing. E is 20 months and S is 7 months. So, there are always new stages to enter and exit.
