by Kimberly | Dec 24, 2012 | Uncategorized
Sojourn’s Joy to the World
Merry Christmas. Do yourself and me a favor: go listen to the video above. You’ll be blessed.
This Christmas will be unlike any other I’ve ever experienced: Elijah’s first Christmas. He won’t remember much of this one but we will. We look forward to celebrating with new friends here in Little Rock. It will be a joyous day.
As I think about Christmas Eve, and knowing full well that Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25 2000+ years ago, but go with me. Now that I know what it was like to be the day before my child was born, I can think a little about Mary.
I was in pain…so was Mary.
I had a nice hospital room and pain killers…Mary didn’t.
I had a camera and friends surrounding me…Mary had animals and her fiance’.
I had overhead lighting…Mary had the twinkling lights of heaven (and her baby had created them – John 1)
I had a striped blanket hospital-issued to wrap him in…Mary had swaddling clothes.
So many differences, so many similarities! But, one thing is the same. We both had baby boys.
My baby boy, no matter how cute he is, needs her baby boy, the perfect Son of God, creator and upholder of the entire world!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
by Kimberly | Dec 22, 2012 | Uncategorized
Almost every year I find a blogging santa swap to participate in. It is fun and sort of a modern day penpal. This year I participate in one partly hosted by Syndal @ www.synfullydelicious.blogspot.com I had fun putting together a cute little Christmas package for a blog friend.
I got my package a few days ago, but since we’ve been sick, this is the first day I’ve felt like doing anything. I have worn my present though (see scarf above, ok, sorry for the no makeup, I just had to run to Target to get formula), and I will be writing a quick thank you note on some pink stationery (that I had taken a picture of at Target and sent to my husband – saying that I really liked it for a potential stocking stuffer) – and lo and behold she got it for me! Abbey at Finding My Forever thank you for everything – including my little ornaments – love them!
by Kimberly | Dec 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
I love having the privilege to pray for my husband. It is something we as wives must do EVERY DAY . I need help in having that faithfulness, especially now since having a baby.
I like to read books along with the Bible that teach about his role as a husband or elder. This book, The Shepherd Leader at Home has been wonderful. Witmer has been forthright and winsome in giving husbands their job description in leading their wives and children. What an important and large task at hand!
What’ve I’ve learned most from this book is how I can be a helpmeet to him. That is why I read these books. I want to know what they are commanded to do from God, then how I can help them be a better husband. One way is not sulking when I don’t get my way, but joyfully following his leadership.
This book is conversational and easy to read, has study questions that would be great for a group discussion, and is centered on Scripture and not just man’s opinion.
by Kimberly | Nov 22, 2012 | Uncategorized
All day long I’ve pondered the little boy that I now hold in my arms, feed, change, laugh with, cry with, etc. I wanted to take the time to write out his birthstory and name sake story for all of you.
Elijah was due on Sept 13, 2012. I really wanted him to come early because we were supposed to move to Little Rock soon after he was born and I was ready to begin a new part of life. Well, due date came and went with an appointment but no headway in the birth department. I had been secretly trying different “wives tales” about how to hurry up birth, but nothing was helping.
My friend Jena-Marie suggested I go to her guy at a nearby salon for a pedicure. It was the best foot massage ever – and started contractions. We then went to walk North Gate mall and they kept coming – but then they stopped. Nothing more all weekend.
Monday, Eric and I were packing and just biding our time. I started having normal contractions about 10 minutes apart mid afternoon on Monday. On Tuesday we had a scheduled appointment and I was hoping she would get us going. Eric left for a tire appt down the road at 830am. I told him when he left that we probably wouldn’t be coming back to the house without a baby. I was eager and nervous. He got back. We left and we loaded our bags into the car: we had remembered all of our chargers and plugs and going home outfit.
Got to the Durham Women’s Clinic ( I LOVE THEM) and I was 2 cm dialated. Ok – but that wasn’t as much as I wish I was. So, we went to NorthGate again and walked and ate lunch. We saw my FIL in the mall and he could tell how much pain I was in. We only made it halfway around the mall and I knew we better eat some lunch and get back to the clinic. By the time our MW saw us I was 3 cm dialated and he was coming on his own, so she sent us to Durham Regional.
We got to DRHand walked right into our delivery room. Fabulous reception! I didn’t want to take meds right away, so we hopped in the tub. The nurse filled the tub so full of water that when I got in there was a tidal wave of water – we had about 2 inches of water on the floor. Oh, that was humiliating but we laughed about it. Then I got out and took some stadol. Then I got back in the tub. By this time my BFF got there, my makeshift Doula, Leah. She was amazing – being by my side to cheer me on. Husband, BFF, and fabulous midwife, Jualeah, I couldnt go wrong.
Got back in the tub, but knew I needed the epidural. I couldn’t do it. I am a wimp. 🙂 So, I got out and we tested me – 7 cm – but I wanted that epidural. I got it – piece of cake. 830pm – here we go, not quite there yet ready to push. About 1am I finally fell asleep. Woke up at 230 – was told to start pushing. Little Elijah came at 335am on Sept 19, 2012. It was hard, but wonderful. She told me to push the last time then bend down and pull my son out. What an amazing relief and experience. To hold that precious boy on my chest. To know the face of which I had only felt the kicks and heard the heartbeat.
After they took him away I was in the wort pain of my life. I had multiple blood clots, all the pain meds were gone, and I had had a third degree tear. My husband was my hero right then, never leaving my side. Leah was amazing taking pictures of our new son.
Shortly after he was born, the doctors noticed little pin prick bruises all over him. They knew something was wrong. So, after our pastor had time to pray with him, the doctors came and took him to the special care nursery at DRH. Then, they took him to Duke. That was the hardest part post delivery. My Big E had gone home to get some sleep (with my blessing) and my little e had just been taken to a different hospital then his momma. I was so lonely and hardly slept at all.
We finally got to bring little e home on Monday and it was an amazing time walking into our home with our son. Thanking God for rescuing his platelet level and giving him to us on loan to raise as a man of God.
Elijah, in the Bible, was a close-walking man of God. We both loved his character. We landed on Elijah pretty soon after we found out it was boy. Then we couldn’t decide on a middle name of a long time. But, then we came across this blog and I knew we needed it. Carl Levring Stam was Eric’s mentor and dear friend. Chip, as he was known, was a professor at SBTS where E went to school and I worked. I only got to know this sweet man after he had been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer took his life in May 2011. Eric talked to Chip before asking me out for the first time. Chip thought highly of me. I thought highly of him. The main thing he taught me: how to die well. He taught Eric almost everything he knows about worship in the Body of Christ. Levring was his maternal grandfather’s name. He was from Denmark. The blog talks much about who he was and his family. It talks about women of God in his life (Chip’s mother and grandmother). I began praying for Elijah’s wife that she would be a woman of God like these women.
http://www.carlstam.org/familyheritage/janestam.html
We are dearly grateful for our little buddy that we have in our arms. Happy Thanksgiving from our little family to yours.
by Kimberly | Nov 15, 2012 | Coffee with...
Panera is good for lots of things: food, writing, second office, and meeting new friends. Today: it was a bit of all four!
I was introduced to Tricia before I moved to Little Rock and I knew I wanted to meet her. She is a few years ahead of me in life and many years ahead of me in writing and motherhood. She was a blessing to sit down with and learn how she got started and what her life is like. With these pictures and short interview: I hope you will feel like you joined us at our table at Panera.
1. What is your greatest joy as a Mom? Snuggling and reading books. It is one of my favorite times of the day!
2. When did you start writing? When I was a stay-at-home-mommy at the age of 22. A friend was working on a novel and I realized it was something I could do at home. I went to my first writer’s conference in California in 1994. I love the friends I met there and the community I still have with them today.
3. What is your favorite menu item at Panera? Broccoli-cheddar soup. I have to find a healthy(ier) item to balance it out. The seasonal pumpkin muffins are wonderful!
4. What is your favorite book you have written? Night Song was my second novel. It was set in my favorite country: the Czech Republic during WWII. It is about a 13-year old boy. I cried while writing it. I haven’t read it since it was written in 1994. I hope I still like it 🙂
5. What is the Scripture that has been encouraging to you this week? “If we humble ourselves, He will lift us up.” Coming back from Allume, I was so blessed by all the women I met, such a community, such a blessing. I in turn want to help people all the time.
And today, Tricia, you were. Thanks for helping me network, encouraging me as a mom and writer, and for having lunch!
You can read all of Tricia’s books: fiction, non-fiction, devotional. Check out her blog and find her on facebook and twitter.
by Kimberly | Nov 7, 2012 | photo shoot, Snail Mail Happies
Hey folks.
As I am in a new season of life, i would like to use my photography skills for means of blessing other people.
So, please take a look at my photos – whether here or on Facebook – and let me know what I can do for you.
I can print notecards – they come in a pack of 24 for $25 and that comes with pretty packaging. They can be personalized on front or back with scripture, name, or anything else you may want. If you don’t want them personalized they can come in smaller quantities, again with prices varying. Check out some ideas under the tab Snail Mail Happies
You can order a print which will be varying in prices depending on what you want (canvas, size, etc).
These make great holiday gifts or hostess gifts.
If you are in Little Rock and would like to do a photo shot – maybe for your holiday cards or for Christmas presents for family members: it is $50 a session and you get the CD and rites to all the photographs.
There you have it! Now, I just need to get an Etsy page going and a FB page going!
by Kimberly | Nov 6, 2012 | Bible, James
I am sure every one of you reading this has received and given many gifts. Some have probably been small and insignificant (every white elephant Christmas gathering you’ve ever attended) and some have probably been costly and important. Let me share a few of my favorite gifts with you that I’ve received.
I’m looking at two of my favorite gifts as I am writing this chapter. One is a water color painting of the skyline in St. Augustine, Florida drawn from the viewpoint of the Bridge of Lions. I studied at Flagler College in that beautiful north Florida coastal town and for the last two years daily drove over this bridge and got stuck at the drawbridge. I loved this town and all that it brought into my life: a wonderful church, mentors, and friends. My mentors gave me this as I graduated from college. I loved it and have always wanted to have a home to display it in. We have it in our apartment on the mantel as a gorgeous reminder of home and friendship.
Another favorite gift I’ve received is my engagement ring. When a girl has waited so long for something to important – it better be good! Most typical girls I know have searched the websites and looked in jewelry stores picking out their ideal engagement ring; I was no different. I didn’t want a solitaire because I was afraid it would get caught in my hair or messed up with food as a I was cooking. I wanted the main stone to be flat and round. I, like any smart girl, told both of my best friends what I desired in a ring. My smart boyfriend asked them what I liked. He then picked out the ring himself. When my best friend saw it weeks before he proposed, she knew I would LOVE it. And believe me, I did. Even now, I sit and stare at it as the light bounces off the shiny stones and reflects its warmth. It is a sign of my husband’s love for me, not because it is shiny and pretty, but because he thought of me when he was buying it.
These two gifts are reflective of the love and relationship of the people who gave it to me. My mentors and my husband are definitely 2 of the most important earthly relationships that I have. These gifts are earthly – one will collect dust and the other will need to be cleaned to keep its sparkle.
What is a gift? A gift is something undeserved. Did I deserve an engagement ring? No. Did I deserve a beautiful painting? No. If I had, these would not be gifts, but more like paychecks. They wouldn’t mean as much either. But, because both parties desired to give me something just to show their love for me, these gifts meant so much more. Thankfully, they gave, because I didn’t deserve either one of them. God demonstrates Himself to be a gracious giver to us time after time in Scripture. This giving demeanor is still true in our lives today. Let’s take a look at James 1 and see what this little book says about God’s giving nature.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
by Kimberly | Nov 4, 2012 | Bible, James
Finishing off from James 1:12
Psalm 73:25 : Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
So, how does this command to desire nothing line up with the awaiting a crown? I understood this a little better after a conversation with my husband over dinner. The crown will be given by God Himself, and therefore my desiring of the crown, is a good thing because it is a gift from God. Here is an example:
My husband comes home one night bringing me 7 fresh-picked yellow roses for our 7 month anniversary. He says “Thank you for being my friend.” What would happen to our friendship if I took the roses and threw them in the garbage? I am positive that would not be the reaction that he wanted. But instead, I did what any grateful wife would do: I hugged and kissed him, told him thank you, then placed the sunshine-filled vase in a place where everyone could see – and even posted a picture and put on social media exclaiming what a great husband I had.
The same idea applies for our heavenly crown. Would we want to be handed a dingy crown when we got to heaven? Certainly not. We want a crown reflective of the One who will give it to us. We want to work for the praise of God. And when God gives it to us, we will be thankful because we will fully understand then that our good works were not for our glory but for His (Matthew 5).
When we say we desire a crown, or we work and are faithful to receive the “crown of life” – we desire God’s praise. This is something we should desire. All of life should lead toward hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
by Kimberly | Nov 3, 2012 | James
Taken from James 1:12:
There was a Saturday each September when I was growing up that was special to my Mom and me. Most Saturdays in September were spent watching Gator football with my entire family, but on one Saturday night the television when to an entirely different type of competition: the Miss America Pageant. We would get out some paper and pens and make our secret lists of who we thought would be in the top ten, then then top five, and then finally who we thought would take the night. My mom and I continued this through my college years and beyond. Then they switched it to January and put it on cable and it just didn’t seem to be as good anymore. I remember two things mostly about those nights: spending time with my Mom and about 2 minutes after the crowning of the new Miss, I would alway start a new diet.
The end of each pageant there was a moment all the contestants and viewers awaited: the crowning. There was a song and flowers and applauding, but most importantly there was the dipping of the head to allow the crown to be safety-pinned on to secure it on the head of the winner. There were tears. There were flashes of cameras. There were scholarships and cars. But, every girl who walked on that stage just wanted one thing: the crown.
A crown has been given to the winner of this pageant since it began in 1921. For over 90 years, women have wanted to win to earn scholarship many and wear a crown. The current crown has over 700 jewels on it; a crown which each winner gets to keep at the end of her year’s reign. The crown has had many changes in designers over the years, but it is always beautiful, shiny, and coveted.
For Christians, we should covet another crown, not the one of earthly mold, but one given to us for completing the race that God has set out for us to run (Eph 2.10)
by Kimberly | Nov 3, 2012 | Books, parenting, Uncategorized
Do you ever hear the term “Family Worship” and think how in the world am I as a parent supposed to do this? I ask myself this as I have a newborn – only 6 weeks old. For me, right now, it looks like praying with him while I’m feeding him or talking to him about patience when he is screaming for food or for his diaper to be changed. But, I know as he gets older, my husband and I have the primary responsibility to lead this little treasure to Christ and to help him grow to be a man of God and to have a heart for God.
Timothy Smith’s new book, 52 Creative Family Time Experiences, helps parents succeed in their role as their child’s primary Christian influence. This book is a great jumping off point for parents who really need help and direction with leading Family Worship.
Here are some great points about this new tool you can use:
1. It is adaptable. If you have kids of varying ages, you can use this book with all of them. It gives you ideas to make the lesson more applicable to older children and younger ones alike!
2. It is organized. Everything from the opening activity to the closing prayer, this book gives you 52 weeks of creative ways to teach the Bible to your children.
3. The main point is there. Smith definitely gets that it is the parent’s role to be their child’s main discipler. It is not the church’s. I’m thankful that he gets it! I wish every writer writing for families and for youth/children would get that main point. That is clearly what the Bible teaches.
4. It is varied. Smith understands that all children (and adults) do not learn the same way. He has examples and activities that hit in every learning style: auditory, smell, vision, touch, doing, etc. This helps when all of your children learn different ways.
My only hesitation for this book is that it is not gospel-centered enough for me. I would want to teach the explicit Gospel of Jesus in every lesson. Take just one lesson – the one for Thanksgiving. It says we need to thank God because He is good and blesses us. We need to be thankful. It doesn’t mention that we need to be thankful for the cross of Christ because it is the only way our sins are forgiven. There are some that teach that and have it written in the lesson, but not all of them.
All in all, this is a “get book” – especially for parents who are striving to teach their children about the Bible and have no clue where to start!
