by Kimberly | Jan 8, 2014 | mothering, Uncategorized
Good morning young moms. If you are any like me this morning, you are coming off a night of little rest, or a day that was very hectic yesterday. I hope that this post is an encouraging read to you – in what might be a trying and busy time.
Let me talk about the title before we get started, please. Young Moms – this post is written to any mother, no matter her age, and no matter the age of her kids. Because I’ve learned that parenting trials don’t stop when your young ones start sleeping through the night! Can I get an Amen?!
Care For Your Souls – by this I am talking about more than just your spiritual side, although that is most important. God created our souls, but he also created the rest of us, too. He created our physical bodies as well as giving us a personality, hobbies, desires, etc.
And one last thing…if you are married and doing this parenting thing together, please talk about this with your husband, just as I have done with mine on numerous occasions. Let him hear your needs and how you are doing – where you are struggling, what your joys and fears and hobbies are. Then see if any of these ideas (or any that have been stirred in you by reading this post) would be able to work for your family.
Here we go:
1. Take time each day to read the Word. I don’t mean long drawn out times in the Word (for this first one). I mean doable, short times where you can focus your thoughts on the Word of God – our center. This may mean different times or places depending on the age of your children. You may have to take a longer shower and listen to the Word read as you take one. You may have to keep a Bible on the back of the toilet to read. You may do it while waiting in the car at a practice of one of your children or in the carpool line. You may read it in the quiet of your bedroom while the rest of the house is still quiet. You may read it on your iphone as you are feeding your newborn (which is what I often do). Wherever and whatever time – read the Word.
2. Take longer times to meditate on the Word. What has worked well for us is on Friday mornings, my husband’s day off, I go to Panera and spend time in the Word, journaling prayers for him, writing my thoughts on some passages I’ve read, or reading devotional books. Whatever helps you practice more of the art of meditation – longer times thinking about what you have read. Please do it.
3. Retreat. Maybe there is a women’s retreat at your church or a church nearby. Maybe you go away with a mentor or a dear friend and just spend time recharging for the wknd. Our church had a women’s retreat. This spring there is a women’s retreat at another church in town. For my last birthday, my husband sent me away on a beach wknd with my mentor. We spent time in the Word, time journaling, but also time just eating, conversing, walking around, looking at trees and sitting by the beach.
4. Exercise. I honestly think that this goes a lot further than just slimming your waist line. Many moms I know, no matter how old their children are, want to lose weight, tone up, run longer, have more energy, etc. Exercising can help with all of that. After having two babies in two years, I desperately need to work on this one this year. But, it also is very refreshing. When I am out walking at Two Rivers or doing a power yoga video while the children are asleep – it helps my focus, my stamina, and gives me energy for the rest of the day. And it helps my jeans fit better or that special dress for date night! God delights when we take care of our bodies as He created them to be.
5. Spend alone time with your husband. There was hopefully more reasons you got married than just to have children, though that is an awfully cute reason! Go out on dates. Set aside budget money to hire babysitters or pay for these little dates. Plan in-home date nights for chilling together once the kids are asleep. One of our faves is having popcorn that my husband pops (jerk seasoning and fresh cracked pepper) and an NCIS episode (we are just starting season 10).
6. Hang out with other Moms. Most of my girlfriends, whether close or far away, are new moms. Or newish moms. Hang out with these Moms, have play dates, have mom day out groups that take turn watching the children. But, also hang out with veteran moms. They can encourage you to press on!
7. Enjoy a hobby. I love to read, write, and do photography. So, I spend time blogging and writing when the children are asleep (or laying here laughing in front of me on the bed, kicking the ipad). Or I read in bed before I crash at night. Or I read them a book while we are playing upstairs. I will take my camera with me wherever we go – so if I see pretty nature or smiles on my boys’ faces I can capture the moment! What are your hobbies? Knitting, card making, cooking special desserts – do them! Use nap times wisely, or try to get an hour or so when your husband is home so you can do these things you enjoy. I really think God desires us to find our Joy in Him but he gives us great gifts like hobbies to thank him and give our joy back to him.
8. Get coffee. Ok – sometimes we just need time to stare blankly off into space. Sometimes you need someone to come watch your children just so you can drink caffeine and do nothing. Oh, what a blessing this is! I encourage you to do it. Whether it’s coffee, teas, smoothies, a cookies, etc. Allow yourself some times like this.
9. Take a shower. My husband knows that one of the things I do mostly at night now is take a shower. Showers are very recharging and relaxing to me – but not when I’m concerned about hearing kids crying. So, I wait until my husband is home and our oldest is in bed for the evening. I probably waste too much water, but it allows me a time to breathe!
10. Love on your children. Say yes to them, instead of no all the time. Tickle them. Hold them up and laugh with them. Go play on a playground with them. This is a grand thing – hearing an infant laugh!
What would you add to this list? How do you care for your souls?
by Kimberly | Dec 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
Service.
How do you find ways to serve others around you?
We’ve both been sick in our home – and have two kids ages 15m and under. So, its been a little crazy. And we’re iced in – literally our driveway is a sheet of ice.
I don’t drink coffee. My husband does. Usually he settles for Keurig. Today, he got Airship French Press.
Serving will never be a bad thing…if done with a right spirit.
by Kimberly | Dec 5, 2013 | creatives, Uncategorized
It is no secret that I love the Southeast, the coast, the beach, history, nature, style, great food…so why wouldn’t I love Savannah, GA? Savannah is a town that has everything you need (or can find it within a short distance). My friend, Stefani, is a fabulous young photographer. I got to know Stefani back when I lived in Louisville through my then future boss in Raleigh. Crazy connections. I’ve seen Stefani grow in her photography skills and she is now featured in The Sunshine Mag – a new online magazine. I thought I would feature her on here because I love her creativity, her heart for learning her craft, and would use her anytime to photograph anything!
How did you find your love for photography?
My first camera was a toy camera that used real film, 110 film to be exact. It wasn’t until I was about 14 years old that I picked up my mom’s nice camera and started teaching myself how to use it. It was also about this time that I started to write poetry and journal incessantly. So, ultimately, my love for photography originated from my love for journaling. Photography is really my public journal in picture form. I want the viewer to see what I see when they look at my pictures.
Why Savannah? 
Savannah is such a unique city–a beautiful, historic city off of the Atlantic coast. One of my favorite things about Savannah is the diversity in culture. Between Savannah folk, SCAD students, and the constant flow of tourists there is always a wide range of culture. Sometimes it is seems surreal that I live in such a beautiful place. I love the quaint coffee shops, the historic architecture, the coastal climate, the broad art community, and the people. Savannah is a great place to be an aspiring photographer and I am very thankful to call it home!
How do you incorporate your love for God in your photography?
Ultimately, I want peoples focus to be on God. Even when I capture beauty in creation or something by created man’s hands, I want people to see The Creator and not just the creation. My desire is that my love for God will flow out through my photography.
What are your future dreams?
I would say I have a lot of ideas, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them dreams. Though any future desires I have may be biblical I know that God is the absolute planner of my steps (James 4:13-15). That being said, I would like to finish my bachelor’s degree, while I continue to seek ways to use my photography in missions, ministry or in any other ways that furthers the gospel. Even though my photography feels like the here and now to me, I am pressing forward always trying to improve on the talents God has given me for His glory. I am not necessarily looking at photography as a career, but a way to serve the Lord.
What is one piece of advice for others who want to be creative with their camera?
I think it is essential to know and learn how to use your camera. Seek out quality classes in your community, get to know photographers, and most importantly, practice. If possible, switch to the manual setting and take time to learn it, the more practice the easier it will be to get the picture you want.
by Kimberly | Dec 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
Tuesdays. Tuesdays aren’t very special. Tuesdays aren’t Mondays that get a bad wrap for being the beginning of the work week. Tuesdays aren’t Wednesdays to be known as hump day. Tuesdays aren’t Friday Saturday or Sunday so it can’t be called the weekend.
But, Tuesdays, especially this Tuesday in particular, is good for friends. I drove out to see a friend and spend the day with her and her daughter. As you can see by this picture, we didn’t bring my son’s pacifier so he had to borrow one of her pink ones for him to take a nap. He then managed to hit his head on the coffee table. He wore a pink bib for lunch. He slept in a pink pac and play. I cooked black beans over there that we used for dinner tonight on our breakfast tacos.
We talked about church, kids, hardships for friends, goals for 2014, marriage, running, trips, anniversaries, eating out, etc. We played with our kids. We ate a delicious lunch. I snacked on some Christmas crack (not diet friendly).
It was good just to chill, be real, and sit in a living room other than my own with a friend whom I’ve come to love and just be.
Sit.
Talk.
Eat.
Love.
Play.
(This is linked with Emily Freeman’s Chatting at the Sky Tuesdays Unwrapped for December)
(And I usually don’t let my son have a pink paci – so I can’t believe I’m even posting this!)
by Kimberly | Sep 4, 2013 | Books, marriage
Whoever said being married to a pastor was easy – hasn’t been married to a pastor. Let me explain and in that explanation, tell you why I chose (and liked) Jared’s book The Pastor’s Justification – a book for pastors (not pastor’s wives).
When I went to seminary, I went for the purpose of getting further training so I could do what I wanted to do: disciple. If marriage came with that, great. But, at 23, that was not my main goal. I was there to learn how to do ministry and engage in ministry. I did meet girls there who said they were there because they knew they were called to be a pastor’s wife and seminary was the place to find single men entering the ministry.
Now, 14 years almost after entering seminary, having been married to a pastor for almost 2 years, I can tell you that there really is nothing glamorous about being a pastor’s wife. And that is why I chose to read Wilson’s book. And it’s a good one.
Don’t get me wrong: I love my husband, I love being married to him, I love serving him, and I love being his wife. I love ministry, I love doing ministry – but it is hard. It is hard to see your husband get beat up at work (not currently or literally, no black eyes yet). There have been times when ministry is hard and there are more times when it is a joy. It is hard to see him discouraged at times and wonder why the church would do that to him (because the church is full of sinners), and sometimes you just want him to be able to worship in church with you (but have to wait until vacation to be able to do that). As a friend who is also a pastor’s wife said, “Sundays make me feel like a single mom”.
Wilson, a pastor in Vermont, writes a very personal, very relatable, and insightful book for pastors. But, I also think it can be useful for pastor’s wives as well. Wives: if you want to know some of the heartache, pull, weight that is in your husband’s heart at times, read this book. Know how to encourage your husband in the gospel of Christ when he is discouraged. When your pastor husband feels like a failure and you don’t know what to do, this book might be insightful for you. Wilson takes many of the struggles that ALL pastors face and puts them up against our sinful spirit, and the grace and cross of Jesus. Our husbands aren’t successful because the numbers of the church increase or more people get baptized or the giving is on the up: they are successful because they are in Jesus.
Here are some ways you can read this book:
1. If you have multiple pastor’s wives in your church: read this book together. I think it would be great to have a monthly gathering of pastor’s wives, sip coffee or tea, eat a cookie or fruit, and talk about this book – be real, be vulnerable, and share what God is doing in your marriage.
2. Read this book with your husband. It will strengthen your marriage more than you think. You need to be in constant dialogue with your pastor husband. He needs to know where you are struggling and you need to know where he is struggling. Who else has that much insight into her husband’s heart?
