27 Mar 2013

Becoming Amish

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

No electricity, milking cows, sewing my own clothes…that’s not what I mean.

However, the Amish people have a simple way of life that I think would benefit everyone to look at more closely.

Leadership strategies and professors and books would say the same thing: be intentional and prioritize your life. To be successful at anything you can’t try your hand at everything. So, how am I as a wife and mother (as my day job) seeking to live this out on a daily basis?

I have five goals. 5. Count them on one hand. Everything I do in this life I try to stick to each day (note: some days are better than others).

1. Love Jesus. Ok, this is a copout right? Wrong. If I don’t get this one right, then I don’t get any of the others right. As Matthew’s gospel says, “Seek first…JESUS”. What this looks like in my life: praying without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17), hearing my hubs read the Word or read books to me (love this time either right when we wake or right before we go to bed – this week its Passion by Mike McKinley in time for Easter), studying and journaling through my devotions (right now it is Psalm 119).

2. Love my family. My husband and son, outside of Jesus, are the two most important men in my life. I live with them, love them, serve them, rejoice with them, weep with them. I would NOT want to live life without them. So, during my day, I ask myself: what would most benefit them? Then, I try to do it. That may be doing something I dislike: ironing pants or changing diapers – or something I like: making a yummy dessert or snuggling with my boy.

3. Invest in my home. I am at Rainwood (our home) most days out of the week. I actually really love it. That is not to say that I don’t ever like to go out and have somewhere fun to go and yes, I do get stir crazy when its really cold and I don’t want to take Little Buddy out in the cold to go for a walk. But, I love seeing what our home is capable of: painting, designing, cooking, grocery shopping, menu planning, etc. I’m not a wonderful homemaker like some people I know are, but it is growing on me. I doubt I will be like some homemakers I know who sew everything, cook everything from scratch, and are up at 430 in the morning. That’s not me. If that is you, go for it. Live intentionally!

4. Invest in my creative outlet. I have two main creative outlets: this blog and other writing projects and also Grateful Praise Photography (see link at top of page). I have to have a creative outlet somewhere and these two are it. I want to put time and energy into writing and taking photos/making cards/running this business so it is successful.

5. Have meaningful friendships. I want to live a life of authentic community with people. I love opening up our home and having people in to eat and hang out with us, be a part of our family. This is something the Sweet Mister loves as well. It is our shared common vision for Rainwood and our marriage. I also want to have real relationships with people. You can’t have real relationships with people if you aren’t wiling to go beyond the surface in your conversations. You have to be willing to admit your failures. Especially as an Elder’s wife in a church: most women in their church don’t know their elder’s (or pastor’s) wives. This needs to change. And I can help implement that change.

What are your life’s goals and how do you structure your schedule to fulfill your goals?

10 Feb 2013

Little Buddy’s Nursery

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

Several of you have asked to see this, and we finally got it put together to the point where I was ready to show you. I’ll tell you at the end what other things we still wish to do in his little room! We are thankful for finally be in a spot, now that he is almost 5 months old, for him to actually have his own room with all of this goodies in place!

This lamp was designed by Ashley, our sweet friend in Durham. LOVE IT!

We got this in St. Augustine shortly before little guy came into the world. Buddy gave me 12$ to spend, and I found this mobile of a lighthouse for 11.95!

This is the first big book we are reading. I read a chapter to him about 3 days a week. LOVE Pooh and all of his friends!

Our little library lamp is from Eric's nursery. It is charming and plays a little song. — Our little library lamp is from Eric’s nursery. It is charming and plays a little song.

Thank you Jenn for getting LB this for a shower gift! It sits perfectly in the window sill of his library nook!

I've had this ulster mouse from Ireland in my collection since 3rd grade. It's from a friend of my Dad, David. Thank you! He is still in good condition! — I’ve had this ulster mouse from Ireland in my collection since 3rd grade. It’s from a friend of my Dad, David. Thank you! He is still in good condition!

This door knob goes to a secret hideaway in his room - really a large storage area. Once we make sure it is safe - we will let him play in there (when he gets really old)! — This door knob goes to a secret hideaway in his room – really a large storage area. Once we make sure it is safe – we will let him play in there (when he gets really old)!

LB's life verse - as we've been praying for him. My friend from Flagler, Karisse, made him this! Thank you! — LB’s life verse – as we’ve been praying for him. My friend from Flagler, Karisse, made him this! Thank you!

My adorably talented best friend, Rachael, painted a little something for Baby Campbell for his nursery. Love it, friend!

I painted these for LB while my friend Gray was over (she was cooking). It was fun to be artsy!

This was Eric's changing table. Thank you Oma and Granddad for the new pull knobs and thanks to Heather for the bedding! We ordered a special fit pad because it is a different size than standard for today — This was Eric’s changing table. Thank you Oma and Granddad for the new pull knobs and thanks to Heather for the bedding! We ordered a special fit pad because it is a different size than standard for today

We keep all his storage stuff in there: diaper bags, diapers, bath goodies, meds, etc. Thanks to the Elders wives at FBCD for this useful gift!

This is the latest piece to the collection. This came in the mail from Oma and Granddad. Love it! Keepsake. They ordered it from Morgan Imports in Durham

We love the paint color and the light from this little window in his reading nook. The boat pen and ink is the mainstay in his room of the USS Constitution and thanks Mimi and Pops for the crib and Heather and Billy for all the bedding. The America map came from Peggy and Bekah - thank you! Can't wait to start traveling with the little guy! — We love the paint color and the light from this little window in his reading nook. The boat pen and ink is the mainstay in his room of the USS Constitution and thanks Mimi and Pops for the crib and Heather and Billy for all the bedding. The America map came from Peggy and Bekah – thank you! Can’t wait to start traveling with the little guy!

This sits on top and is a Scripture pic from my friend Kathy in St. Augustine. Such a beautiful reminder to pray Scripture over him!

So, what do we have left to do. I want to do more canvas art for his walls including a Calvin prayer that Mister loves for him. I want to paint the bookshelf red to match his room. And we want to get a little rug. The rug we had picked for his room doesn’t fit. So, we’ll have to use it somewhere else!

Thanks – and visit anytime, to see it in person!

6 Feb 2013

Whole Foods and the Church

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

Yesterday I visited my friendly neighborhood Whole Foods (I love that it is less than 2 miles from our new home) and walked out the door with this thought: “I gotta write a Danny Franks blog post”!

As I was standing in line I was casually listening to the customer in front of my interact with my cashier. The skinny jean wearing, burlap bag carrying customer was buying her very first Pacific Rose apple. She had never had it before. The cashier was telling her what kind of apples she did like and why she didn’t like red apples (the skin is too thick). The purpose of this blog isn’t to discuss apples, but to discuss how we can be like this Whole Foods cashier in our local church.

I’ve never met a rude or unfriendly Whole Foods cashier. They always want to talk to you, see how you are, they are interested in what you are buying, etc. This friendliness needs to happen in our churches as well. I’ve been in some grocery stores where the cashiers hardly speak to you, they have a scowl on their face, and just want to do their job. I’ve been in some churches where that is the case, too.

My husband and I recently visited a church in Orlando. The winning factor about this church was the friendliness of their people. We walked in and over to the Information desk to see where the nursery was in case we needed it for LB. Before we got to the desk, we were greeted by the pastor, then another person showed us where the cry room, nursing moms room, and nursery were located. Then he handed us a bulletin. We sat down in the back row, and before the service started at least 5 people came to talk with us: elders and regular members a like. While I could just claim they wanted to see baby – this was not the case. They were asking us about where we were from, why we were in Orlando, if we had been to this type of church before, how we heard of it, etc. What a great experience.

I’ve been in some churches that I was there the entire service and before and after and not one person spoke to me. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration. I was greeted at the door and during the obligatory “shake hands” time a few in front of me turned around to say hi. That was it. That is a sad realization in most of our churches.

Here are some practical ways that you can make sure your church has a friendly atmosphere to those visiting, or even members.

1. Have someone at each door to greet those walking in. This may seem like a no-brainer but it doesn’t happen in every church. Even after the service starts, I would have someone in the main entrance because there are always late-comers.

2. Have a welcome time for first-time guests after the service. I say this because it is very awkward for first timers, especially unbelievers, to stand up or where a funky name tag, or wave their hands or something during the meet and greet. But, they will come to talk with some folks after the service.

3. As regular members of the church – talk to people. If you know them, if you don’t know them…talk. Say hello. Comment on a necklace. If you’ve never seen them introduce yourself and ask how long they’ve been coming to the church.

These are just a few examples. There are many more. Be creative. The church we are attending now is very good at friendliness before and after. We’ve been warmly welcomed here – even on the first Sunday we ever visited and no one knew who we were – it was great.

Make your church like a friendly, neighborhood Whole Foods: a company who loves what it offers and wants others to benefit as well!

5 Feb 2013

Gospel and Those Irritating Besetting Sins

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

When your almost 5mo naps well and sleeps well at night, you have opportunity to think a lot. That is what I’ve been doing – and it isn’t easy on my heart, to say the least. The mister and I have had many conversations about discouragement in certain areas for me: good thing is he is a man who prays for his wife.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’ll always struggle with ________”? What that said person is saying, in my opinion because I say it too, is “the gospel isn’t big enough to cover that sin”.

Oh, how far we are from the truth when we assume that we will always sin or struggle with a certain sin – is the blood of Christ not richer and deeper than that said sin?

Instead of pointing fingers, I’ll speak about some areas that I have said that:

1. Weight/Food. I’ve been overweight since I was in 4th grade. Don’t know what happened. I was thin in 3rd grade, and pudgy in 4th grade and the pounds kept coming. Puberty? Too much eating? Family dynamics change? I don’t know, but I do know when it occurred. Since then I’ve either been overweight or thin – but never able to stay either place for long. I’ve eaten too much, grown out of my clothes, been too lazy to exercise on a consisten basis – then the scale numbers have gone up and I’ve been unhappy. (Note: I really think the Spirit being grieved in a believer’s life will make us sad.) And if the scale is going down or at a point where I want it to be: I concern myself with clothes or looks too much, counting calories too often and it consumes my every thought, or I judge those who are eating too much. Do you see how many sins are wrapped up in this one area of “overeating”

2. Patience – or my lack thereof. Here is one example where this has come to light in the last few months. If I have to repeat myself or feel like I am not being listened to, I get all huffy and repeat it in a snappy tone and very unloving to the one it is said to. Since when is pride and impatience a part of love?

So, do I really believe all this talk about the truth of the gospel and how He can penetrate and change every heart that is out there because He created every heart and all things were created for Him and to Him and through Him? Do I really believe that God has a grand plan for my life and it doesn’t include these sins or any other? Then why do I allow myself to struggle with such sins?

God is bigger. God is better. As a friend of mine said today about something totally different: “I can’t do this.” You are right, M, you are right. I can’t do this. But, the power of the gospel working daily in me to make me more like Christ can (Romans 8). I am reading Elyse’s new book on Comforts from Romans and I look forward to hearing the nuggets of truth ring in my head as I am reminded about the gospel once again. I am in daily need of it.

The phrase that the Spirit put in my head today is: Your heart must be Mine. And that is the truth. I need my heart to be captivated by Something so much better and bigger than me that I no longer desire to struggle with weight and food issues, impatience, bitterness, popularity, judgment.

Is the Gospel big enough in your life

4 Feb 2013

Dream Living

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming lately and living in reality. So, I was thinking of how the two of these can live in harmony with each other.

My dreams are just those: dreams. I have many ideas in my head and I want to see them come to fruition and be reality. Some of my dreams include: cards, books, clothes, stages. There are a lot of specifics behind those very vague dreams, but know some of them are just tucked away.

But how do I examine these dreams in light of my current reality – which I love?

1. Live during today. Don’t dream away your reality. I love giving kisses to my 4mo little boy. I love cooking meals for my husband. I love making our house a home. I love shooting photos with my iphone and my Rebel. I love sitting on my red couch and hearing the giggles of Little Buddy. I love getting to know our church family and practicing hospitality at Rainwood. But, I dream in the quiet times of the day.

2. Journal. I have a whole box full of journals that need to be used up. I’m doing better at it. I need to write down my dreams and what I want to do with them. For me, I’m not too specific because I think that would be discouraging. But I put down just enough info or sketch just enough to bring a little life to those dreams.

3. Pray. A lyric of a hymn says this about discouragement “take it to The Lord in prayer.” That is my husband and I have been doing. Taking some of these ideas to The Lord and seeing what He will do with them. He knows the every minutes of your day and of your life. He knows what you were designed and called to do (Eph 2.10). He will make it clear and He does care.

4. Examine. Why do you want to do those dreams that you are dreaming? Are they for your glory? Are they for His? Are they for your good or the benefit of others? Some dreams will just be for you – but others will be designed to benefit others.

5. Accomplish. While not neglecting your tasks that you need to accomplish today (housework, caring for your family, working, taking care of your body, time in the Word, etc), then make those dreams a reality. See if God will accomplish great things through for His name and glory. Design little girl’s dresses like a friend of mine did, shoot photography for a living like other friend’s of mine have done and are doing, whatever it is – work, as unto The Lord, not unto men.

What is in your head and in your heart? How do you dream big? How do you live off paper?

29 Jan 2013

9th Letter Press Giveaway

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 9

Love her Valentine's Day line of cards — Love her Valentine’s Day line of cards

Oh cards just make me happy!

While i was in Orlando this past week, I was able to take the LB and get a quick peek into the exciting-to-me world of letterpressing. As most of you know, I love cards, make my own with my photography, and keep the post office in business by the amount of snail mail I still send out in an electronic world.

9th Letter Press was introduced to me by a friend of the owner/designer, Isabel. She is creative and loves to doodle. How cool that she makes a living and blesses other people with her DOODLING! Sheli, the other runner of the show, seemed to handle the business side of affairs and handles the wholesale side of things – which they do a lot of right now.

For all the food lovers in your life? Color cards: red, yellow, green, and orange - coming your way soon! — For all the food lovers in your life? Color cards: red, yellow, green, and orange – coming your way soon!

These pens cards - I could by a whole slew of them! — These pens cards – I could by a whole slew of them!

I can’t show you a picture of the Valentine’s Day card I picked up for the Mister, but trust me, it is cute and he will love it (he also reads this blog sometimes, and I still want it to be a surprise. I could have dropped some serious money in there because everything I saw I could have found a purpose for and made your day by you receiving something so cute in the mail. They had feminine cards, generic cards, or cards that could be masculine in nature (cards to send to men are very difficult to find): fountain pens card and her nautical cards were among my favorite.

Wouldn't you love to give this card to a certain Mister or Mrs? Or just get one in the mail from a friend? — Wouldn’t you love to give this card to a certain Mister or Mrs? Or just get one in the mail from a friend?

I’m sponsoring a giveaway. One card that most people receive is a birthday card. So, there is a set of feminine gray and pink birthday cards (8 in total) ready to be sent out to the winner of this giveaway. Here are some ways you can enter – with each way giving you another chance for your name to be drawn:

1. Leave a comment here and include which one of Isabel’s cards you would like to receive (visit her website).

2. Like KD316 on Facebook

3. Follow KD316 and Isabel9thLP on Twitter (and come back and leave your @handle on a comment)

4. Share this blog on your facebook page and tag me or KD316 in it.

This giveaway ends at midnight on Sunday, February 3 (for all you Super Bowl watchers) and I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning, February 4.

Thanks to Isabel and Sheli for allowing me to come and photograph their shop and get the scoop of letterpressing!

Pretty ribbons...makes all packages lovely — Pretty ribbons…makes all packages lovely

Monograms are all the rage - even in letterpressing. — Monograms are all the rage – even in letterpressing.

28 Jan 2013

Prayers for Our Children

by Kimberly | posted in: mothering, parenting, Uncategorized | 0

This past week I did a lot of driving as I was back and forth the length of I-4 in Florida. This provided me time to listen to Z88. I was listening to a Mark Schultz song and after sobbing, swo=iping tears, trying not to wreck due to my blurred vision through tears, I prayed aloud these three things for my son who was in the back seat.

1. I want him to know and love God.

As I read, pray through, and study Psalm 119 this year, I am seeing a lot of cohesiveness between knowing the truths of God and trusting them and being blessed by them. In John’s gospel, Jesus says that His sheep know His voice and elsewhere in Scripture God says that if we love God we will obey His commands (and we have to know them to obey them). I don’t really knnnowhich comes first: the knowing or the loving. Either way, we would not seek to know this love or know the Lover if the Lover had not first loved us. All of this life and a relationship with Him is because of grace. We know HIm because He has revealed Himself to us (Psalm 19, Gen 1, Rom 1, Rom 8). We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 1) We, as sinners, do not freely choose to love. But, I pray, that God in His foreknowledge, has predestined my Son to be His (Eph 1). Mister and I will raise our son (and any future children we might have if the Lord wills) in light of this (Prov 22.6, Deut 6). But, in the grand scheme of things, God has made the decision and knows if our son is one of His. We will see in time if Little Mister desires the things of God and runs hard after Jesus – knowing and loving Him.

2. I want him to love and be loved.

I want Little Buddy to know what it means to be loved and to love deeply. Is there pain in doing that? Yes! But you see and experience the world in a much brighter and better way when you know you are loved unconditionally and you are able to love to your fullest measure with one person. Do I know if it is in God’s plans for the LB to be married one day and have children of his own? No. But, again, we trust in God’s perfect plan and we will strive to raise him in such a manner that he will make a great husband and father one day. And if he is never married, then those traits will be good of a man of God!

3. I want him to see and change the world!

One of the bestEST aspects of my time being single (the other one is discipling many girls and living life with them) was the fact that I got to travel a TON! I was usually travling on my day off, weekends, or weeks or mission trips. I loved the freedom God allowed me so much time being single so I could see more of the world He created. That is one thing that the Mister and I love doing together – traveling. It started in our courtship and continued to our honeymoon (a two week, two country road trip) and continues now. I want LB to love to be in the car, plane, or train or boat or rikshaw or what have you! I want him to see God’s beauty in the Rockies or in Alaska or in Thailand or in Mexico or in NYC or in PEI or in China or in South America or in South Africa. I want him to know the beauty of sunsets and sunrices on every continent and in many different time zones. I want him to see the waves from every ocean that is on the face of the earth. I want him to go in search of wonder and explore all that God has created. I want him to go and learn to love cultures of every kind and see the beauty and diversity that God has filled this earth – and that seeing those sites would cause him to yearn for heaven. I want him to desire the nations for the glory of God.

What are your prayers for your children?

23 Jan 2013

Not So Tenderhearted Moments

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 3

This comes after a night of very little sleep for both me and the little mister. So, its just one of those days. But, even on one of those days, I must take every thought captive to the Risen Christ.

I have so many dreams. I won’t share them with you on here. Some of you know some, some are tucked very tightly in my brain and heart that not even my husband knows about them, I feel like sometimes if i tell them then none of it will happen and I’ll just look silly. Or unfulfilled. Or discontent.

As the Mister came home for lunch today , I had had a morning of an irritable crying 4 month old. For those who know the little mister, that is not typical, but when it happens I often don’t know what to do. I said to him in my I’m a great Mommy voice – Today is the day I don’t want to be a mommy.

Now before all of you Moms hate me or quit reading my blog or give me all this advice, know it was a moment of weakness and I was venting and crying to my husband, who completely understands that I wouldn’t trade the cute little mister for anything, but it was just a moment.

I told him that I was just trying to post a blog and he was fussy – though he was warm, fed, and clean. I finally got the blog published much later – as he finally went down for an afternoon nap.

As I was driving around Central Florida listening to Z88 (love the station) they read a verse – that we need to be “tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Jesus forgave us.” I prayed right then that God would give me grace to be tenderhearted toward our sweet little boy. Tenderhearted because even when I throw temper tantrums at God He is tenderhearted toward me.

And then the song by Francesca Battistelli came on – Its Your Life – and these lyrics stood out to me: “Every day the choices you make, say what you are and who your heart beats for, its an open door, its your life.”

I know that I would never trade all the dreams in the world for one second of time with my little mister. So I pray that God would change my heart in a million ways to either fulfill those dreams in new ways, the same ways, or completely give me other dreams.

What do you do with your dreams?

22 Jan 2013

Writing and Reading Go Hand in Hand

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

How do you write?

January is a hopeful month! With a new calendar, a new month, (for me, a new year of life), I always wonder what the new year will hold.

For me, I like to write, so I wanted some writing challenges this year. Besides continuing to write on the James Bible study I am working on (in between feedings and cuddling sessions with my 4 mo), I wanted to get back to writing on the blog, which definitely fell by the way side during the months of October-December.

One of the ways I propel my thoughts for writing is by reading. I pick up magazines in doctors’ offices to see if there are any articles I can respond to, even if it is just a sentence. Sometimes I will rip out the article or just jot down the quote in my phone. I may read a passage of a book, or a passage of Scripture and I’ll get a whole blog from those thoughts.

So, here are some ideas to attack reading and writing together:

1. Pick great books to read – because you’ll get more fill for your money and it will teach you how to write better.

2. Occasionally read a book that isn’t good – just to see what is bad about it (content or style) and then write a reaction, or just jot down some ideas as to why you don’t want to write that way.

3. Always have something to write down your thoughts on while you are reading. I usually read with a pen or pencil in hand. I underline and highlight and jot notes in the margins of my books. It is harder for me (and not near as much fun) with my e-reader.

4. After reading for a while, start forming sentences with the thoughts that you jotted down. If you quoted something the author said, make sure you cite your source. Ecclesiates says there is nothing new under the sun. We don’t have original thoughts this late in the game…we all got our ideas sparked by something or someone, but if you do quote someone please do not count it as yours.

Reading before, during, and after you write will greatly strengthen your writing habits! Do you want some more ideas about how to start writing? Check out my friend’s site at http://www.devotionaldiva.com/2013/01/start-writing-now-synchroblog

21 Jan 2013

Playing Games

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 2

Comparison

But yours is better…

During my childhood, my family and I spent countless weeks up on the Suwannee River (whistling the tune now aren’t you?) in North Florida. When we weren’t spending time on the river, down by the lake with our cane poles, or cleaning fish, we played card games. I loved playing rummy. It was about the only activity we could do at night without getting eaten up by mosquitos.

Those card games were fun, and still are. But, the evil game of comparison is not so much fun, for my mind or my heart.

The game of comparison happens in every part of life. Here are some examples that I am experiencing right now:

1. This first one is really how this blog post started. I was introduced to a woman who has taught the Word for decades and faithfully gives up her time each week to rise early, make meetings, and teach others the Word. Instead of being grateful for her knowledge of the Word and thanking God that here was His daughter, soaking in His Truth day after day, year after year. I played the comparison game, and it led me down a road of despair. I didn’t do that. I didn’t get up at 5am on Fridays or wake up that early to spend time with Him. I felt accused by the evil one to jump into the I’ll never be that good so why do anything” pit. She offered no condemnation (Romans 8.1) and didn’t even brag about it, but simply states the exceeding joys that were hers because of the faithfulness of God rewarding her obedience.

2. How about in clothes? My husband and I often walk the mall during the cold months. Instead of being thankful for the clothes and accessories that are hanging in my closet, I think to myself how I would love that one.

3. How about in your physical body? Do you often desire to have someone else’s butt, thighs, chest, arms, abs, hair, eyes, etc? Do you wish you could wake up and look like those models on tv who wake up with their hair in perfect place and their makeup fresh and clean? My husband took a picture of me and baby sleeping one morning. I thought it was a cute picture but wondered why the actresses on television never woke up with chapped lips, I could see mine were. I didn’t’ immediately thank God for the little boy sleeping next to me, I instead complained and compared and was discontent.

4. This happens to me in blog world. I love to blog because it gives me an outlet to write about anything I want without anyone giving me a deadline or dictate what I write about. I have so many friends who have a similar blog to me but their blogs are read by thousands of more people than mine is and they have greater influence than me. Why can’t I be satisfied with the sphere of influence He has given me, and not compare myself to others. Blah.

Colossians 3:15-17, “and be thankful…with thanksgiving, giving thanks to God the Father through JESUS!”

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