by Kimberly | Dec 28, 2016 | Books
Many times life just seems to stop in between Christmas and New Years. People take vacations, couples sit by fires, being warmed by the flame and the glow. People slow down from shopping and in turn spend more time with family, on vacation, playing with new Christmas presents, or indulging in sweets or fun activities.
God is such a gracious God to give us a time in the calendar that work slows down and friends and parties and time to chill increases.
My friend Trillia Newbell, author of Fear and Faith (one of the best books I’ve read in the past 2 years), has written a new book that will help you make sense of what to do with all this free time, how to enjoy everything that is at your disposal, not feel shame in enjoying it, and how to be grateful for all these gifts.
I often feel that in some religious circles, it is just not ok to have leisure time. To not be working (outside of one day a week for a rest day). Many will say that watching tv is a waste of time, exercise or the arts is only good for functional reasons (and you can’t really enjoy them). Enjoyment is severely underrated – yet God gave us everything for our good and His glory. So, why shouldn’t we enjoy it.
Trillia takes on many different good things in life – and seeks to show us how we can not only have them for function – but also for enjoyment. And in enjoying these good gifts – that actually brings God great(er) glory!
“We must not take ourselves so seriously that we forget the wonder, we forget to delight, we forget the joy of living, and most important, to forget the God who gives it all to us.” Oh how I love this quote, and I think Trillia rightly sums up her book this way.
Some of the areas she invites us into for a closer look are work, relationships, marriage, food, art, nature. We need to think about our work as enjoyment and not task driven or a punishment. My husband has just finished a great book that Trillia also recommends on this subject. Relationships. With this – I think its ok to just enjoy one another without turning everything into a heavy religious, discipleship, sin conversation. Yes, those are needed. But, what is often missing in my world is good friends just to enjoy tacos, guac, pancakes, coffee and good conversation about life. Food is the hard one for me as enjoyment can lead to indulgence which is sin for me. Art – all types of music and art can lead to glory for the Creator of music. And nature – same way – I love to be outside just because the colors or sometimes even the gray is gorgeous and soothing and invigorating (and my boys can run off energy).
So, going into the New Year, maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions can be to enjoy the great gifts of God that He has given you.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for this book (and Trillia of course for her thoughts). All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 13, 2016 | Books, creatives, mothering
One of my favorite questions to ask moms is : what do you like to do, you know, besides being a mom?
That question can be controversial, but I really don’t mean for it to be. What I want to know is what is inside this woman, other than being a mom.
We all know that with being a mom comes a ton of love, responsibility, and fun…but not lots of time for ourselves, or our former selves. Motherhood has to be selfless – which is really hard, I’m learning. And I’m not great at that – but God is teaching me in his generosity that that is what I need.
One of the ways God wired me is in creativity. Actually, that is one of the reasons my husband said he married me – is because I’m fun – I love to be creative and think outside the box. I also love to do that in my motherhood journey. I love to try new recipes – all the time. I go all the time, taking my littles with me to new parks, or library story times, or just to a new aisle in Target. I love reading books with them and letting my boys be in the kitchen with me – or in the yard with me learning about new bugs (oooh, gross), or new flowers that seemed to have popped up over night. It is never ending. I don’t like boredom, whether in life or in motherhood.
And I love to be creative in my personal life too. I have loved photography since high school. Loved to cook since college. Loved to letter and write for what seems like forever. These are things that still excite me. So, they are also things that fuel me. How do these things help or help me engage in motherhood? Well, I love to take photographs of our every day – or of our special days. I love to cook for my family and for other families. I love to letter to help me meditate on the Word (to help my heart) or to give to others, or to help with our family finances.
Life Creative is a book written by two women who seek to encourage moms to not only be creative, engaging with their creative side (and we all have one because we are made in the image of a creative God) but to also encourage moms to encourage their kids to be creative. We may not be talking about painting and cooking. Creativity can take on many different forms and be used in many outlets.
Whether you are struggling to find your creative outlet, think your kids are getting bored, or are maybe struggling to decide how to use your creative gifts right now (especially in the throws of motherhood), this is a great book to encourage thinking and discussion. I would read it, discuss some of it over coffee or tea or wine with a fellow mom, and also, discuss some of your thoughts with your husband – who I hope will encourage you to use your creative gifts.
Litfuse, the group that gave me this book to review, is also hosting a giveaway for you and a Facebook party!
by Kimberly | Sep 24, 2016 | Uncategorized
I can honestly tell you this week has been an emotional roller coaster for me. Our schedules have been crazy. We had a 4th bday party at our house on Monday – that was super fun hanging out with littles and eating cake and playing with dinosaurs.
When life isn’t as beautiful (in some ways) as you would like them to be, how do you find the lovely? I am reading Looking for Lovely by Annie Downs and loving just the simple ways that she finds joy in life – in the little and the big things: like the Ryman and sushi and working out.
I’ve been working through Colors with This Humble Hive with the boys – love the different activities. Even though we probably have two color blind boys – the activities are fun and we are engaging with them in their learning.
Now that Fall is here, and I’m not weird for cooking with pumpkin and apples, even though the temperature is still kinda warm here in Atlanta, I can now salivate over every beautiful thing on this page.
Lots of new books are coming my way right now, but the ones I’m looking forward to digging into are Love, Henri (I read much of Henri Nouwen in college at Flagler College) and Falling Free that was recommended by a friend of mine.
I’ve discovered the place that I could live forever (if my mister was with me) (until I went to Heaven)…it has beautiful beaches, not as touristy as some other places, gorgeous skies and trails and oaks and spanish moss. Beautiful bridges, lighthouses, coffee shops, memories, and I can’t wait to go back any time I can. Where would you live forever if you could live in one place?
by Kimberly | Aug 22, 2016 | Uncategorized
Aren’t sunflowers happy and bright? I think they make a perfect flower for a Monday. And I love surprising people with flowers, especially when my local Trader Joes has such a variety of pretty stems for such a great price.
Mondays are often a hard day for folks. Whether its a return to normalcy (I didn’t do any dishes yesterday so I have a sink full), alarm clocks (yup, mine went off early this morning), or just because you are sad the weekend is over…Mondays often get a bad rap.
- Plan something beautiful. Whether its a coffee date with another creative, a play date with a friend, or blow-drying your hair and putting on make up, plan something for every Monday that helps bring extra beauty in to your day.
- Make a list of happies for your Monday. It can be some quiet time to regroup from the weekend, special lunch date with your littles, find special things to be grateful for and write them down!
- Buy flowers. Most Mondays include a trip to Trader Joes for me (or us, my littles and me). We love the relationships we’ve formed there over 2 years of going every Monday, produce to start our weeks out on a healthy note (to detox from the weekend), and the pretty flowers that greet us when we walk in the door. This week, the flower of choice was sunflowers.
- Breathe. Yup. Its that easy. Sometimes just taking time to breathe, whether you are sitting in traffic or practicing yoga, breathing helps bring life into our whole bodies. Remember, God breathed life into dirt to form man and gave him a soul to long after Him. Breathing is crucial to our well-being.
Enjoy your Monday friends.
by Kimberly | Mar 18, 2016 | Uncategorized
Pinterest is a go- to for me.
When I have time to kill in the car, when I have time to kill somewhere else, when I’m trying to fall asleep but I can’t. I usually turn to this mega camp for all things everything for food and lettering and boy stuff. It is fun and usually gives me fresh ideas. Here’s some for you:
What are you go-to Pinterest places and who do you love to follow?
These pretty ranunculus (and a good vegan recipe)
This dress would be a perfect goal dress when I lose the rest of my weight and when a friend takes new headshots for me – or maybe just for Easter.
To do this for an area in the new house we are renting. I need more counter space!
Want to do this to the remaining one bookshelf we have – I think it will be down in our office anyway
My husband drinks coffee every day, we love making coffee drinks, and we love tea! All things pretty. Wouldn’t it be fun to create a little area in the corner of a dining room or kitchen!
A friend and I were just talking about herbs yesterday and this is such a great idea – especially for tea lovers!
Just found this one and am going to make it next week. hopefully the boys will love it!
This one will be filling and I know the boys will love it!
I like taking photos I’ve taken and turning them into cards to mail to people!
May make these for a boy party on Easter that is a possibility! How fun would this be!
Because its spring and you need these cookies – and they make great favors for any showers you may be hosting in the near future.
How do you teach gratitude to your children – even when its not Thanksgiving.
