Christmas Everyday?

So I didn't get the Christmas letters out this year and I'm bummed.....I'm bummed because it's one of my favorite things to do.....But I may still send them out any way. Sunshine told me to send out Happy New Year letters and ya know, I think I just might do that!

Christmas came early this year. It came all bitter sweet. It came in unexpected surprises. It came with joyous tears. 

And as I have been going about my Christmas duties and tasks I was often reminded by the smiles of strangers and check out clerks, friends and every day people that Christmas didn't  happen for just one day. Christmas came down for all of our days. And I want to know why we don't keep our Merry through out the year? I want to know why we don't do random acts of kindness and smile just a little bit more? I want to know why we walk around like we have lost our hope?

And some would say, "But Christmas is special."  "That one day a year gives you something to look forward to."   "It wouldn't be special any more if we had Christmas every day."

Can I challenge you, me? Can we try to be as giving and loving every day as we are at Christmas time? Because really......I don't think being joyous and smiling like we were just given a gift everyday would get old.....I think we would all be better off. I think this world needs a lot of Christmas everyday.

I wanted to do random acts of kindness this month.....I didn't get done all I wanted to accomplish, as a matter a fact I just recently did one act of kindness to a stranger the other day.....I paid for a woman's lunch that was behind me in the drive thru- at Chic fil a. I must tell you I thoroughly enjoyed it! Such a high to step out of that comfort box and be bold with kindness...That lady followed me all the way to the Target parking lot, pulled up beside me and said "Did you just pay for my lunch?" Yes Ma'am! I said.......She smiled wide and said "Wow! Thank you sooo much!!" She couldn't believe it. She didn't understand it. She asked me Why? I told her, just because and Merry Christmas!

I want to be Christmas everyday to someone who needs Christmas everyday. 

Love came down one night long ago so that you and I could have CHRISTmas in our hearts everyday. Shouldn't we at least be gracious enough to share that gift? Shouldn't we thank Him with joyous hearts and spread the love more than once a year? 

Merry Christmas!

Twelve Days Before Christmas Tradition

I just wanted to take a quick moment to share with you one of the things we are doing this month.....

Twelve days before Christmas!

I took twelve Christmas books, some we already had and some I bought to add to our collection and I wrapped them each up individually. 

I never knew this and just discovered this recently that there actually were little shepherd girls.....Who knew and didn't bother to tell me? I really just assumed they were all boys and men......total ignorance on my part I guess.

Every day, starting the twelfth day before Christmas they will get to open one book and we will read it together......I wanted to slow the season down a bit....{if that's really possible} and take the time to really lead them towards Christ. Sure we do Santa because it's fun and they get a big kick out of it and truth be told we do to.....But I want there hearts to know, see, taste, touch and feel the meaning of Christmas....

I want them to know with out a doubt little baby Jesus came to save the world!

Do I think traditions have a tendency to crowd out Jesus..... to numb the mind of the real reason for Christmas? Absolutely! But I also think traditions are important when used in the right context...Traditions hold families together....Cherished memories handed down from one generation to the next. But always remember the super glue is Christ. Traditions are just tape.....Ahhhh, they will hold you together for a little while, but when the storms come they tend to lose their stickiness. 

And yes we will bring out our little elf on the twelfth day as well.......Autum decided that she wanted to name her elf  Bell.......So we roll with it....Apparently Bo Jingles just didn't make the cut with her.

How to Give Thanks in a Thankless Changing World

This year has been a whirl wind of change and lately I've been known to just sit and stare and wonder.......

How do you give thanks in a thankless changing world? How do you show gratitude when hearts turn and people seem to be growing cold? How do you give thanks when people are leaving behind everything they've ever known?

It's simple and yet often gets over looked and buried by other things........

It gets buried by hurt and anger. And thoughts of us knowing how to fix things, because at times we really know the answers.........don't we?

It get's pushed aside by control and is blinded by the need to have power over situations that we have no power over.

And yet we struggle, tug and pull at the very things we were never meant to fight........on our own.

Giving thanks is accepting the people, places, and things we can not change and loving the fact that God has the power to change it all. Giving thanks is giving it all up......control, anger, hurt, fear and exchanging it for love.

Because really, LOVE is the answer to all the hurt and confusion in this world......It has the power to be patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.

How do we give thanks in a thankless changing world?

We allow God to do the changing and the moving. We allow God to fight the battles. WE give God control......And all of this while we learn to love unconditionally, because isn't that how He loves us? And isn't that the best way to give thanks?

Sometimes We Have to Wade Through Pain to Get Joy.

It amazes me how time can fly but, when your living life in moments of pain, hurt and frustration, oh how the time nearly halts to a stop. No matter how much you think you are prepared, suddenly you find you were never really prepared at all.

Sometimes we have to wade through the pain to get the JOY. Sometimes there are lessons that need to be learned even when we feel like we are drowning. It's all of the time that He wants us to surrender and give in. To give into this life and give up our hearts......Completely.

They say some things are worth waiting for.........And while I believe that to be true most of the time, Sometimes it's in the wait that we find the meaning and it's in the wait that we find how to let go of the pain.....

So we can move on to the JOY.......Funny thing is, our joy never went anywhere, it's what helps us move through the pain.....He helps us through the pain if we just remember to surrender.

 It's in the waiting that we prepare for what comes next, because life goes on living and this world keeps spinning. It's in the memories that we heal. It's the raw hurt that helps us to help others with that same raw hurt.

She waited a whole year to let go...A whole year to say goodbye.....A whole year to move through the pain.

She never lost her joy but, in the waiting she found He was always there. I told her, "you may never know the reason why.......But you will always remember the pain. It's what you will use to turn into good when someone else is wading through their own kind of pain."

In the waiting she was given another blessing.....

Love you,
Me

Surrender Your Brush

In the midst of my days I feel the winds of change blowing in.....This life, it never stays the same. And yet I have to ask if we lived day after day as routinely as possible do we still call it living or is it that we just exist?

To just exist seems so mundane. To stay the same and never accept change is not true living. All around me I feel the cool wind blow in and I can sense that some things are just not that easy.....Not so simple. That old saying "It's easier said than done." So rings true for so many willing to take that leap of faith into change. And so many times we are so eager to hold on to the mundane for fear of letting go and losing control. We feel it's safer there. Stay inside the lines. Keep our boundaries because honestly, that's all we've ever known.... all we've ever done. And we fear change, because change pulls at heart strings, makes us feel uneasy.....Suddenly blows us out of control.....Makes us feel vulnerable.

Can I tell you again how you should never blink for longer than a sweet moment because this sweet baby girl will be 18 before you know it and my life will change........

That's what happened with my little man...I swear it was only for a moment....I turned away just for one sweet moment and when I looked back he changed into a young man of 18. 6'1", sweet and gentle, yet strong and a passionate follower of Christ. I'd like to say that I had a hand in raising him, but in all reality I was growing up right along with him. Changing with every breeze that blew in.

If there is one thing that we should know.....One simple truth that would lead us into transition it's this......Sweet, Simple, Surrender. To surrender all that you have, all that you know, all that keeps you from changing....Just let it go and give Him control. Surrender your fears, doubts and failures. Surrender your control. I was teaching my girls in Sunday School Class this morning and I wanted them to know that the only way to live a Free life is to Surrender their life.

The illustration that was being taught was like that of an artist and how they surrender to the canvas....No intimidation just total abandonment giving the control over to the brush and letting go of the rules and the laws, the perimeters that keep them from painting life. Verses the paint by numbers crowd...You know the ones that feel the need to have everything under control. The ones that have to paint with in the lines because to them it's safer with in the lines, with in the perimeters set. No room for error or creativity. No room to put a splash of color here or there. They have it all planned out for them. But you know life isn't really lived that way....

We try to stay in control but staying in control only makes us feel more and more out of control especially when things don't go the way we had hoped.

  Can I tell you that He's got this. He Loves to plan. He loves to be the Artist in your life. He's got it all figured out.....All we have to do is just SURRENDER and TRUST. Trust that He knows what He's doing. Trust that when we surrender, I mean completely surrender, our life will be this beautiful tapestry of colors......Changing from one brush stroke to the next.....And when we look back we can see how He has painted in every heart changing moment with brilliant colors and daring brush strokes. He paints wildly and dangerously...He paints the way life should be lived with bold passion not by dull, boring numbers.

In this life...In this God fearing life we are called to SURRENDER so that He can live passionately with in us. So that lives can be rich with brilliant colors. So that life can be lived for the glory of the one who created us. Change is never easy...I get that....I'm living that right now, but change is needed and it's necessary to grow.

Do you really want to live like the paint by number crowd or would you rather live the life of a true artist?

I say SURRENDER your brush.........

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:24-26

Watch The Grace Flow

I've often asked the question "If I could have it all together would I still be happy?" Every corner swept, every sock matched and every dust bunny shooed....Would I be better off than I am now?

If every runny nose was always caught before the drip, every supper always on time and the tea always made.....Would my life be perfect?

If I never raised my voice, always had a clean sink and never forgot my shopping list would there ever be any reason for GRACE?

If the baby had a bath every night, the kids all tucked in and prayers said and not forgotten.....Would there be need for a Savior?

Some days I come all ugly and soaked in sin. On most days I'm lucky to have my teeth brushed. And so many times there seems to be seasons where I can never get caught up and I find myself painfully wishing the next season would bring change. Oh but in my heart of hearts the last thing I want is change......

I've learned to accept the fact that having the perfect life is not where the happiness lies. It's not what makes my life rich. I've also learned how to let things go. I've learned not to be so hard on myself when things don't get done and my life doesn't look picture perfect. What I've learned is that there is a place and time for everything......And this time is for those blessings down the hall.

We need to accept the fact that there will be seasons where things are not going to be the way we would like them, but they are the way it is supposed to be for such a time as this. And as strange as it may sound we need to embrace the dirty faces, runny noses and the pitter patter of dirty feet running across our freshly mopped floors because I know with out a doubt there will come a day that we will long for the busy, crazy, hurried days.......The smudged windows and the living floor of toys scattered about that makes a bold statement,  life is lived here. That bold statement that also says, Love is unconditional here......That GRACE runs wild here and the need for a Savior speaks loud volumes here.

It's not to say that we shouldn't strive to become better, there is always room for improvement.....It's to say that there is always grace for those seasons in life that seem to last too long, (but never ever long enough)...


Motherhood is crazy confusing like that......Makes you want to leave and run back home the moment you get a mile down the road......Makes you love all wild and unconditional.......Makes your heart hurt deep in the most intimate places.....Makes you love like you never knew you could. Makes your life Happy, fulfilled and rich with blessings. And those blessings were meant specifically for you. God picked, God kissed, sent from above to bring Him glory......

If He is the ultimate GRACE GIVER the one who gives it freely, shouldn't we then learn how to give it too?

Mama I know this life can make your head spin. I know you have days that never seem to want to end, I have them too......But Mama give yourself some grace. Jump into His lap, let Him know you need Him so and then sit back and watch the GRACE flow.........

In this season of my life right now the theme seems to be "Letting go". I wanted to show you what I allowed myself to do when I let a few things go the other day........I enjoyed spending time like this....Don't seem to get to do it often cuz I always seem to have something else to do.......But the other day I let that something else go for a while......Sometimes we are so busy being a Mama that we forget who we are deep in our soul. (You are His child) We forget what simple things make us smile because we are so busy trying to keep others happy, quiet and content......Mama don't forget to let the grace flow. Enjoy just a little something for yourself once in a while. Be creative...Make a bold statement......Most of all know your not alone!

He Shows Up when You Let Go

In the midst of the quiet I hear love breaking barriers.....He always shows up when you let go. When you let go of the idols and the images of this world.....

And this world? It just keeps spinning....keeps turning faster than I ever care to go....And there are so many days I'm begging to get off, so many times I've wanted to stop this world and just find a little corner all my own. A little place where it's just me.......Just me listening to "I AM"

This is my little corner. My little place to call my own. I miss coming here, because oddly enough there have been so many moments where it's been just Him and I here. And you all get to see a glimpse into my little world where the God of Love convicts, shapes and molds my soul.

I'm still learning....He's still sharing. He tells me I have a long way to go, oh but beloved He also says I've come so far from where He first found me.

Ya know He never ceases to amaze me the way He grabs hold of hearts and pierces the soul. I've been in His word and He tells me this...... That I should not speak of anything which Christ has not accomplished in me...through me, in word and in deed so that I may not lead others in disobedience.......

I can not come here and write of things that I have not worked out with Christ. And Beloved when I'm here it's usually because of conviction.....It's usually because He's been working in me. Of course I write about other things like my children and homeschooling, recipes and preserving what is good, but I want you to know that I will not share anything that would hinder or alter your walk with Christ....I will not share anything that I have not experienced myself. And I will not pretend that I have it all together for the sake of numbers or accolades.

When you come here you will find Honesty and Real life, cuz you all know that I'm all about being real!

With that said I will be once again joining the blog and FB world , but I have set a limit to the time I spend on here. I am only allowing myself to get on at night when things are quiet and all of my priorities have been taken care of. No more stopping and checking through out the day and if I find that I am getting carried away I will deactivate once again.......

I know I wasn't gone very long, but I was reminded by someone very close to me, but still lives so far away, that God puts us in places and spaces to cross paths with those who may need to hear, see and know that they are not alone in this thing called life.....That there is someone out there they can actually relate to. Someone to show them GRACE and what it's like to be picked up and dusted off by the one and only GRACE GIVER. And Beloved I can show you GRACE and how it drips from my life. I can show you a Mama that isn't perfect But, she knows the perfect one......And He made all her mistakes and failures from her past just disappear.....I can show you that He is always working on this girl's heart. I'm not saying that I have arrived. what I am saying is I'm on this journey And the God/Man? He's my guide.....I would love for you to join me and maybe together we can make this little part of the world, this little place that we are in Shine BRIGHT. And to those who have continued to ask about me and tell me how much they have missed me......I am humbled. I really never expected the response that I got. You have BLESSED my socks off!

I know your probably wondering why I just didn't set a time limit before.....Because I believe He wanted me to let it go completely...I needed to let go of it completely because that's what He wants. He wants us to let go of the strong holds, the very things that keep us from Him. The things that consume our minds, take over our lives and confuse our priorities....I have a love/hate relationship with technology. To be truly honest I believe we were much better off with out it. Before it...We all went outside. We knew our neighbors. We wrote letters instead of them pesky e-mails. I would much rather get a letter the old fashioned way. I would much rather send one that way.

You see temptations come in all shapes and sizes.....Distractions are no different. I have come to the conclusion that SIMPLE really is better. And OH did I get a lot accomplished when I pushed out those distractions......It even gave me blog material because I have actually been living life the way He intends for me to live it. *Smile*

Beloved it really does work when you put GOD first.....Honest! I've been experiencing just that for the last 10 days........Putting Him first I mean.

So what ever has a hold on you.....What ever your holding onto won't you try letting it go.....I promise He will show up if you do.......  In all reality I truly believe He is always there, don't you? We just need to let go of all that keeps us distracted.

A Whole Lot More Than I do.....

She comes to me with flowers.....My little Flower Girl. And she is one of the many precious reasons I'm letting some things go for a season. I've said "no" way too many times to that precious smiling face. I bet she will enjoy hearing yes for a change.

This little pumpkin, she stole my heart. The 6th time around I might add......And I have to say You really do love each one just as much as the first! But you do love them differently, because certainly they are all different.

What will I be doing while I'm away? Soaking in His word a whole lot more than I do. I'm sure I will be reading lots of great books right before bedtime.....I have visions of making, baking and creating with little hands and curious eyes......Saying yes a whole lot more than I do. Finding more time to live this life real.......

Oh I'm sure I will be back but, only when He says it's time.........In the mean time I will be taking lots of pictures and making lots of sweet memories. I wanna touch the lives of the ones who call me Mama. I wanna love on the one that keeps me grounded when this life of mine seems to take flight. I want them to know they are my priority. I want God to know He comes first.

I want to be filled with Christ so that others see only Christ in me........


He has asked me to TRUST Him and let go of what keeps me from Him.......I need to move. I'm going to move.........

Putting This Place On Pause

Precious Friends,

So many days and hours spent here in this place. So many times I have been convicted by the very words that have been tapped out  in the quiet of the night.

I've been known to make excuses for the reasons I stay. Yes I believe that places like this are good to help uplift and to encourage but, sometimes I have to wonder, I have to ask what my real motivations are......Why at times I feel so compelled to stay.

Because if I were to be real, a place like this can make you all puffed up. Make you feel like your accomplished.....Make you confused about priorities and where they lie in this life. Make you someone your truly not.

You know me I'm all about being real....and I must tell you.....

I'm a failure.....

I fail daily. I handle my day to day tasks like they are heavy burdens to bare. I've been known to throw my hands up in the air, raise my voice and call it quits.

I fail daily at soaking His word in.....And it's places like these that take me away from the living. I've been known to blog about precious moments and prioritizing our time. And yet I still fail at this very same thing.

God has pressed upon my heart time and time again that virtual worlds cause Real life neglect. I've been given precious gifts. I've unwrapped them, been in awe over them.......But have never really given my 100% to taking care of them the way that they should be taken care of.....

Oh and I know all about grace, but grace is not an excuse to keep on making the same mistakes.

I love to write. I love to share what works and what hasn't. I love to share what God has taught me and He still continues to teach me every day.

I must tell you that the only way to truly make an impact for His people is to be present with His people. The virtual world can not make an impact like the gift of a real person serving another real person. To touch, smile at and love with real precious, spoken, audible words. That's what people remember. They remember the actions not empty words.

I need to make time for Bed time stories and random hugs and sweet kisses. I need to make time for tea parties, movie nights, quiet walks and long talks. I need to live this life real!

That's where I'm at right now........

I need to be present for the precious gifts given and for all I may cross paths with. I need to be His child. I need to listen more than I speak. I need to be where He wants me to be. And I feel Him pulling me away from here and from FB. I don't know how long I will stay away. I'm sure He will let me know if ever I am to come back here. For now I must say so long. I loved being here. Truly I did. I've learned so much as I shared with you. Been convicted more times than I can count......

But, now is the time to take this very conviction seriously. I will be deactivating my FB account 1 week from now. I will miss this place and you all so much.

I pray love and sweet blessings on each and every one of you and may you all find that place He truly wants you to be.

In Christ I dwell,
Kimmy





 

Teach Them With Passion

It's morning and I put my feet on the floor with out thinking. My day begins with baby girl kisses and a 3 year old demanding her chocolate milk.......I race around, wake up big brothers and older sisters because we have a schedule to meet.

We cram ourselves in the car along with the United states map and my tote full of information on the Cherokee tribe. Our co-op is learning about Indians this month and this week it's the Trail of Tears. And there is so much more to learn even at the ripe old age of 43.....So much more I'm learning now than I ever have before. It's humbling to learn about the past and the lives that shed those tears. Strong people, those Cherokees. Determined and hard working. United and faithful to there people. 

I stand up in front of class. I tell them, "learning our History is so important." WE can not move on and grow...We can't stay United if we don't know our past. If we go about this life forgetting those who fought before us then we are doomed to repeat the failures.

I read the "Trail of Tears" and talked about Chief John Ross. How many times he had been betrayed and how many times he never quit.........Never gave up, because even he knew that FREEDOM comes at a huge cost.

American History is one of my passions. I believe children need to know where they came from and how we got here. I believe they need to be told truth. 

So what do you do when the rose colored glasses seem to have gone on sale and every one is drinking the orange kool-aid? How do you share what is bound to repeat itself again when they live in a state of utopia? 

You give them what you know. You give them truth. Don't stay too long and argue. If they continue to argue, It's clear they take no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing their opinion. Then you move on. 

This I know to be true, we need to reach our children...we need to teach our children Truth. Not watered down useless information that numbs the mind and hardens the heart. Tell them with passion. Let them know it's important. Their future depends on it! 

It's ironic to me that today I chose to talk about The Cherokees and how our Government kicked them off their land all those years ago.....And today our Government is kicking people out of their homes to prove their point.....Did I not say that history repeats it's self?

I don't want my children to grow up in a world that has no recollection of our heritage. I want them to know their God given rights.....I want them to know and read the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. I want to teach them with passion........I want them to have PASSION.

My passion for this great Country comes because of my passion for Christ. Because America's foundation is laced with GRACE. And people need to know TRUTH.

Pumpkins And Chickens

 Good Evening all! Fall is finally here and I have been canning up a storm with the help of Sunshine and Butterfly Girl. This is absolutely my most favorite time of year! I so miss the crisp cool mornings and the change of the leaves up home but, memories are such a precious part of life!


This is one of my favorite pics. This was taken quite a few years ago. My how my kids have grown!!

 Pumpkin Season is here and my pie pumpkins have arrived! I'll be sharing a few recipes with you and all the amazing things you can do with pumpkin!

 I also I wanted to share with you about this natural pest control for your chickens!
Natural Pest control. So much better than harmful chemicals and you won't have to worry about eating chemical laden eggs! Diatomaceous earth (food grade)

I use this to dust my chickens with to get rid of  fleas and other pests. It's also a natural worming medicine. Just mix it with your feed  the bugs will stay out of your feed and the worms will stay out of your animals....There are no harmful side effects unless you breathe it in due to it's very fine powder like substance...You don't want it in your lungs!

Stay tuned I will be Jarring pumpkin shortly. I will be posting my recipe very soon!

It's In the Brokenness

This life is busy. I watch my days blur into nights. I often think about time and how we seem to exist only to watch the minutes race by into years. Oh but this mama knows we exist for so much more than mere minutes.

As a Mama, I often have mixed emotions about pressing the pause button  and skipping to fast forward. And God? He must sit up there in all His glory just shaking His head with a big ole' grin, saying "Some day that girl of mine, she'll get it right."

I come before Him all messy inside, stripped of my pride because more often than not I have failed at the very thing I have been called to do.

And every morning I wake up, I should be thanking God for the very breath that's with in me. I should be on my knees thanking The God who gives Gracious second chances abundantly. And how do you go about giving Him everything you have when you feel like you have nothing left to give?

When your fresh out of smiles and your meek and gentle spirit  seems to be M.I.A.......

You give Him what you have left.....

Your fuzzy mind and aching feet. Hand over the raw fleshy moments......The "oh what about me?" attitude "Who will wait on me?" kind of days.  Give Him your messy lil' self and let Him know you've come broken.

It's in the brokenness....His grace is in the broken shattered pieces of your jumbled up days. And as He is piecing together your one of a kind mosaic take care to notice where and how He places each piece......

Because there will be days that you will want to look back just to see how far He has brought you. You will want to pull from the colors and watch them shimmer in His light.

And Mama, don't ever think for a moment that He won't use all those broken moments to help heal another Messy Mama. They will notice your prism colored glass and they will have to ask because they are desperately seeking to shine in a way that pleases their Father.

It's in those moments, the ones that are full of loud reality, screaming for grace that others  so desperately need to see.....They need to see that they are not alone in this. They need to hear how life isn't always Face Book perfect.

They need to see a Perfect God bring all the broken pieces together to make their mess Beautiful.

Mama He hears you. He knows your heart and how much you want to get this Mama thing right. It will never seem right unless you let Him take charge of all that's messy...All that's broken....Give Him every last broken piece of glass and watch what He does..........

Mama your not alone.