by Kimberly | Dec 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
It is still December. What does this last weekend of 2013 hold for you? Do you like to make lots of goals or do you just not make any because they are hard to keep? I would encourage you to take a look back this weekend and look forward – see what life may hold for you in 2014?
Here is my weekend and week ahead:
Hanging out with friends.
Exercising.
Cooking new meals.
Finishing up the Nehemiah Prayers for the Journey by the new year.
Completing my recipe index here on the blog.
Packing for a trip to Florida next wknd for TWO weeks! Bring on the sunshine state, friends, family, and the beach!
Watching a sleeping baby.
What are you doing on the last weekend of 2013?
by Kimberly | Dec 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
From our neck of the woods in Little Rock to all of you – wherever you are. Merry Christmas!
by Kimberly | Dec 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
I guess there is always one week that will make the holiday season rushed.
My husband had two concerts this week, we had two parties for our church and office. We are trying to get out of town for a Christmas weekend getaway. I had several appointments for the boys.
But, we spent it with each other, with friends, and the weather was beautiful!
by Kimberly | Dec 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
I often wonder how so many bloggers I read actually have time to cook all the pretty food, take photos of it, live life and go out on dates and do ministry, read tons of books, and write too. Oh and stay physically fit, get sleep, and be. Oh, and not neglect their family or children.
Here are some time consuming reduction habits I need to implement:
1. I deleted all games off the ipad and my iphone
2. I need to hang up my clothes when I finish wearing them.
3. I need to start using my crockpot more.
4. I need to simplify my belongings. I learned this from JessLC over with her purging 100 things tasks. Started doing that before we were married. Now that our church as a share and swap – I have a huge pile of many boxes already begun for the spring event.
5. I need to unload the dishwasher at night when possible so it is cleaned out to be loaded with dirty ones the next day.
6. I love and will keep doing the majority of my laundry in one day.
7. I need to spend some part of my day reading – either beginning or end.
8. Organization is a big thing. We are working on cleaning out our walk-out attic (years before we turn it into a functional bedroom) and I need to get things organized so I quit spending time looking for stuff.
I actually think most of my time wasting is pure laziness, and that is not the habits of a Prov 31 industrious woman.
by Kimberly | Dec 14, 2013 | Arkansas
Oops I missed posting yesterday. It was a busy day in December, so I didn’t sit down at my computer all day. I had a haircut, errands to run, a nutrition appt with the younger little, then hanging out with my family, then date night with some friends. But, that is how I got the idea for today’s post.
Enjoy the pictures. They were taken at the Old State House Arkansas Chamber Singers Christmas concert. We went with some friends of ours who live down the street and work with my husband. Dinner and a show. The concert was great – they sound beautiful. The OSH was beautifully and simply decorated for Christmas.
One of the pieces the Singers did was done (the music) by one of their own. But, the poetry came from this guy: David Keig. It is called A Christmas Tree. Here is one of the lines. I’ll be writing more on this line later, but this is the line that stuck with me the most from that song:
“with dark green needled memories”
What Christmas memories do you have around the tree?
by Kimberly | Dec 14, 2013 | fit fridays, Uncategorized
Yay!!!
Milestone week!
My baby is just 2 months (today) and I hit the 50 lb weight loss mark yesterday! Very exciting. People are asking me how I’ve done it and will continue;
1. Who has time to eat when you have two boys under 15 months?
2. Determination.
3. Press your NO THANK YOU button – a LOT!
4. Exercise as much as you can – which is hard because its been cold but I need to do this more.
5. Set attainable goals. I’m planning on doing a 10k in April and I want to be 3lbs less by my birthday.
The above picture was taken at a friend’s house when we dropped off the boys so we could go hear the Little Rock Wind Symphony for their Christmas concert. It was fun.
This hat – I’ve gotten the most compliments on it EVER! And I think my friend Kasey gave me this JCrew sweater – which I LOVE!
Press on!
by Kimberly | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
I make it no secret that I have two favorite Christian Christmas CDs: Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God and Sojourn’s Advent Songs. I went to Sojourn when I lived in Louisville and loved singing the Advent songs. I could listen to both of these albums year round all the time!
I also have a favorite guitar lick ever – it is found in Glory Be, the second song on the advent cd.
This year, in thinking of the sins that beset each of us, and the reason that Jesus came to earth in the first place, I love this line in that song:
Sing for joy, all the earth, Messiah’s come to set you free.
It is amazing that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who was the spoken Word of God at creation – came to earth to set me free from the bondage of sin. As Elyse Fitzpatrick says in her new book Found In Him, “He is not shocked or surprised by your weakness or sin.” (pg 30). Isn’t it amazing that this statement is true – and yet God still loves us. And sent Jesus?
What sin do you need Jesus to set you free from this Christmas? Let us rejoice! And all for His glory. GLORY BE!
“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25a
by Kimberly | Dec 12, 2013 | Bible
Oh, with Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, and Silent Night – we often approach Advent and the Christmas season with a much anticipated (and deserved) joy in our hearts, smile on our faces, and bounce in our step. And rightly so. The hope and knowledge that the second person of the Trinity came willingly to become a little baby born to obscure people in a remote nothing town – amazing.
As Elyse Fitzpatrick teaches us “The Son agreed to be sent as a redeemer for a race of men yet to be created, but in order to do so, He would have to become a new sort of person, one in the likeness of his fallen brothers and yet immutably God. He agreed to do this not out of necessity, not because he was forced to or lacked something in himself that only the incarnation would provide, but because of God’s own purpose and grace…” (pg 30, Found in Him).
Jesus knew that His mission when He came to earth was to die. Who would do that? Certainly not you or me!
But, God did. Jesus did. Full of the Holy Spirit.
So, when we open Christmas presents and sing carols and drive around and look at lights…remember that the cross was in the future. For you. For me. For the glory of God.
by Kimberly | Dec 11, 2013 | parenting
Or take one of the most popular fast food chains around, Chik-fil-A. Every time you get something from there you are left with “My pleasure!”. But, I know from personal experience sometimes the My Pleasure doesn’t come with a smile or even eye contact.
So, what are some ways we can instill this happy heart of reception into our children?
1. Encourage them to say thank you when they receive something.
2. Get them in the habit of writing thank you cards. Even before they can write, you can have them draw pictures or color something to send in a thank you card.
3. Say grace before each meal. Not the trite prayers that we often say, but maybe before each meal ask them what they are thankful today. Then, express that to the one who gives us all things by His good hand.
4. Interest them in the Gospel. Remind them that there is nothing they have that didn’t come from God and through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4 and Romans 8 are great places to start, Psalm 96 – so many ways you can teach your children about this!
“But thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
Especially at the holiday time, both Thanksgiving and Christmas – with gifts and goodies constantly being given and received, teach them from a young age how to have a grateful heart!
by Kimberly | Dec 10, 2013 | food, Uncategorized
Well, I typed out the whole recipe into easy recipe and it disappeared on me. I’m going to do this the easy way.
Make this shortbread
Make this caramel sauce
Add chopped pecans and a chocolate drizzle.
Chill before cutting
Serve at room temperature.
