WHAT CONSUMES YOU?

I sit here in awe, yesterday was like a rollar coaster of emotions and all im left with is sadness. Lately the Lord has been working on my heart and whispering to me that i need to fast from facebook and focus more on my family and him. Im saden to say that i was addicted go ahead and laugh but really it consumed me. I no longer saw it as this witnessing tool but an ugly monster full of gossip and slander. People were hurt because someone deleted them and a huge thing broke out over it. That happening showed me just how evil these networking sites can be. I made the tough decision to deactivate my page so that i could have a month off focusing on my family and the Lord. I will reavaluate in a month if i can handle it again and then there will be some changes made like only having my closet friends and family as friends on there. My question for you today is: what consumes you?!?! is it facebook like me-your job-gossip-hobbies... What ever it may be please listen to that voice from the Lord saying follow me.

This is the Stuff

Love, Love this song! Hope you love it too!

Love, 

K

Love your Enemies- Cook Them Meaty Mac & Cheese!

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you! 

Matthew 5:44

 Yesterday, as I was cleaning the Lord spoke these words into my heart. I right then prayed and knew I had to share it with you all. I know that in this crazy world sometimes its hard to love someone who acts unlovable but isn't this what Jesus does everyday. We should strive to be more like Jesus each and everyday. The Lord also said to pray for that person- when the devil tempts you to think negative thoughts- pray- asking God to change that persons heart or pray that they have a good day filled with the Lords blessings. I'm not a bible scholar. I have never been to bible college- I do know that when the Lord speaks to you- you must listen and follow his commands. I hope this helps you in some way today as it has helped me.

 On to cooking. I do not cook- although I know how to... Growing up in a house where your mom is this awesome chef- you feel intimidated at the thought of cooking and then even more when I have to clean up after I cook:/ So when I married Steve I told him, if he cooked I would clean and for almost 6 years we have done just that. Since Gracie has been born I have been cooking some here and there. Today, I got the cooking bug and wanted to surprise Stephen with a cool dish.. I needed something easy, and simple... and this is what I found:

Meaty Mac & Cheese- I love this dish soo much:)) Try it!

• 4-6 Servings
• Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

2020

Ingredients

• 1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1-1/2 cups salsa
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
• 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
• 3 tablespoons diced pimientos
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped tomato

Directions

• Set aside cheese sauce mix from macaroni and cheese; cook macaroni according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the salsa, corn, olives and pimientos; cook until heated through.
• Drain macaroni; add to beef mixture with contents of cheese sauce mix. Cook and stir until blended and heated through. Sprinkle with cheese and tomato. Yield: 4-6 servings. 
  
  Note: The milk and butter listed on the macaroni and cheese package are not used in this recipe.

Thankful Thursdays!

First off- Try to Right click---- you can't--- YAY!! I may still put a watermark over Gracie's face but this should stop people for a while... I love to blog, it has been so therapeutic for me! I don't really know if many people read my posts. I don't want to become famous like others, I just want to share with others my heart and what makes me tick:)

I have to say I'm so very thankful. This week has been so wonderful- the tantrums and all, I'm thankful. The Lord has been showing me this week that the little annoying things that drive you crazy are actually not big at all... Its what you make of it. Each morning we should wake up feeling ready to start the day and leave the past where it should be- the past. Let go of things that have been bothering you because they will just hold you back and make you bitter! I love how each time I pray for forgiveness The Lord gives it to me.. No matter what I've done he's right there.

Today I'm Thankful For:

1. Music- I love old hymns they speak to me.

2. My hubby who this week has been really busy with church but still makes time for us and is the Best daddy!!

3. Afternoons- Like tonight, Gracie and I played in the driveway:)

4. A Dishwasher- Yes its the little things!!

5. Friends- who are always there for me

6. Kids Patch- I love consignment stores and this one is my fav! I sell some of Gracie's clothes and things there.

7.  Friendly people- tonight while playing outside I met a really sweet women who was a single mom

8. Hope

9. My blog- I love this thing its like my journal

10. Our water sprinkler thats automatic- First time owning one, and our plants have survived 2 years because of it!

I'm thankful for this little girl too- How could I forget her!! These are few cute videos of her made this week and a few months ago! One has her counting to 12 and the others are of her singing:)

"I will Stand By You"

I'm not a huge fan of Rascal Flatt's, but this song came on the TV the other day while I was flipping channels and I fell in love with it.. It made me think of my sweet Steve.. I love the words- they mean so much to me and really is what our marriage and ministry is about.


Being in the ministry can be hard sometimes and other times very rewarding- seeing lost souls come to know the the Lord. The other half of the 50% is hard-really hard.. When you are doing something for the Lord- Satan is always there trying to bring you down and mess up the plans that the Lord has. Satan also has a way of getting into peoples minds and making them think and do evil things that they normally wouldn't do.. This "job" is not like others. I've heard someone say once that being in the ministry is like all other jobs and the answer is - No its not... its very different, its more demanding, its more emotional because you give your heart to it, and its different too because you involve your whole family in it..


I wouldn't trade this- "Job"... I have come to the realization that the Lord was preparing my heart many many years ago when I was younger to be in the ministry. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have been married to a pastor. But, I can honestly say now that I wouldn't have it any other way.. The Lord gave me special spiritual gifts that I have realized are a help to Stephen.... I love working side by side with him... 


One day I may write a book on being a Minister's Wife... I know that the Lord wants me to share with other Pastor's Wives on what it means to be one- what to do when you feel like giving up and so on...

The song I posted is for my sweet husband Stephen. Who is my pastor, my best friend, the best daddy in this world. I dedicate this song to him.. I will stand by you, Stephen all the days of my life..


I love you now and always!

LOVE,

K

The Little things..

I love hearing Gracie talk. I have been saying for a while that I want to write down everything she says and it seems I get busy and forget. Today's post is all about Gracie:) This is a more positive and light hearted post as I know the past ones have been very deep...

She has been cracking us up lately with the funny things she says and does. Yesterday morning she woke and said "Up, Mommy" then said "Eat, breakfast".... She then told me "Daddy's, mean" I said why and the reason was because Stephen didn't want to get up right away.... She just makes us smile and laugh all the time... She has this funny "cute pose" that she does... Every time she gets dressed she runs out and says "I'm cute" and strikes this pose:

Gracie has been coloring really well too... Today she showed me a picture that she had colored and she stayed in the lines... She also is a handful. She is the most stubborn little girl. She is too smart for her own good and because of that she gets bored easily which in turns makes her get into things. Also, every time I put a dress on her, she spins and says "I'm a princess". Then when she sees a picture she loves- she'll tell me "Awe, so cute" hehe makes me smile!


The most sweetest thing Gracie does is say "I wuv you" and then give you a kiss or a hug... She gives the best hugs and kisses.... Here are a few pictures from Stephen's birthday in St. Augustine.

I love the life I live with my two most favorite people. I'm so thankful that the Lord blessed me with these two... Stephen is the best Daddy and is so caring and loving.... I just love my family!!!

LOVE, 

Kim

If you Don't have anything nice to say..

The other night the old saying that we are told as kids came to my mind: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at ALL"... Why is that we teach our children this rule but do not listen to it as adults. I think sometimes people who are full negativity just thrive on it... I don't understand it and probably never will.

After becoming a Mom- Gracie has really showed me what it means to have compassion. What it means to have child like faith.... I love her innocence, and sweet spirit. She loves people and animals. Today, I showed her the movie "Charlotte's Web" and she began to cry at the beginning when the little girl "Fern" has to take the piggie out to the barn... It broke her little heart that the pig- "Wilbur" didn't have his Mommy there to comfort him... She kept saying to me "Hold him, Mommy"... she wanted to comfort that poor little thing:)

In that moment Gracie taught me something. When we see people hurting why do we turn away from them? Why do we act like nothing is wrong?!? We should feel like Gracie did with seeing that little pig hurting= to comfort him...

I challenge you today to comfort a person you see hurting... you could send them an email, card, or give them a call:)

Love, 

K

To Clean or Not to Clean....

Off the subject but I'm so much better today. My mom called and said "How are you feeling, today" and honestly like a weight has been lifted and my eyes opened more than they ever have been in my life. I see how the Lord works in mysterious ways and it has amazed me so much. I know now that the Lord allowed that situation to not only impact my life but others too. I'm just so overwhelmed with Thankfulness right at this moment. If your reading this please know that I have been in your shoes. I have had a hard life... I could be bitter... but chose to be Better! We all have choices we make in life and my choice is to not let my past or future dictate how I am today! I don't by any means love Oprah- but there is a quote that I absolutely LOVE: 

Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past can be changed.

On to cleaning- to say I'm a little OCD is an understatement- HA!! I love me a clean house! I have friends who say "how do you do it- keeping your house clean" and this post is for you. When I was working full time before Gracie my house was a WRECK! You would think after kid that it would be harder to keep clean and messier and the answer is NO, it became easier.

I see keeping my house clean as a job. I just told Stephen this the other day. I just love going to bed with everything spotless and waking up to it all clean. Its crazy I know but since I've been a SAHM I see my raising Gracie and keeping our house in order as a job and one I really good at if I do say so myself- HA!

Stephen doesn't pay me- hehe! But he does encourage me in telling me how nice everything is. I also Iron for him. Before kids and working full time we would have his things dry cleaned. Now, for you ladies out there that think- "why, don't you just pull out of the dyer right away'?? Well, I cant because most of his things are 100% cotton and him being a Pastor he needs to look good, so that is a little extra I do....

I don't really have a list of what I do during the week- but I found an awesome blog and she put one on her page.. check it out!! (love the name too-hehe) My Stilettos and Diapers.blogspot.com

My Cleaning Schedule is all over the place- one thing I have to have is a DISHWASHER! When we first got married we lived in a trailer and it didn't have one.. Stephen joked that to save our marriage LOL we needed to find a portable dishwasher and we did and it was the BEST!!

Have a Great Rest of your week!!

Love, Kim

Standing on the Rock

Ephesians 4:29;31

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers... Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

I have had kinda of a rough day well and weekend. It's funny to me how you can be having the best morning and then Satan LOVES to bring you down. I have to laugh now at how hurt I was over "this issue" but as I sit writing this, my heart has changed. I no longer feel hurt, I feel sorry. I feel sorry for that person.

I'm such an emotional person. Sometimes thats great but most of the time its not:) I take everything to heart. Some people- take my husband for example can let things go and slide right off his back but with me I take it harder. I see it as how can you say those things and be a women/man of God- a Christian. I love talking to my mom because she always has a way of bringing me back down to earth and letting me know that this is small- it will pass- hold your head high and know that in the End you were the bigger person.

Yes, I'm a pastors wife- and yes I hurt just like you! My mom also taught me to share with people your hurt and concerns dont hide them like your better than them. We are all human and hurt the same. Me speaking about my feelings may help someone who is feeling just as I was today.


Are you hurting today? Has someone said something to you or about someone you love that cut you to the core? Well this post is for you!

I want you to know that no matter what your going through the Lord is still there. He has NEVER left your side. Even though the cloud of heartache may be so deep that you cant see-remember he is still there waiting for you to come back to him. Please remember that PRAYER is what works... Friends/ Moms are great for hearing you out but talk to the Lord about what your feeling, he is the one who will be the comforter that your seeking.


The Lord spoke this song to me today. My heart was immediately comforted with these words.

Standing on the Solid Rock

Through my disappointment, strife and discontentment,

I cast my every care upon the Lord.

No matter what obsession, pain or deep depression,

I’m standing on the Solid Rock.

Chorus:

I’m standing on the Rock of Ages;

Safe from every storms that rages;

I'm rich but not from Satan’s wages;

I’m standing on the Solid Rock.

Even though He’s gone, now, I don’t feel alone now.

With comfort came the Spirit of the Lord.

And with His Word to guide me, from temptation hide me,

I’m standing on the Solid Rock.

Chorus:

Oh, I’m standing on the Rock of Ages;

Safe from all the storm that rages;

I'm rich but not from Satan’s wages;

I’m standing on the Solid Rock.

Now, I’m pressing onward, each step leads me homeward.

I’m trusting in my Savior day by day.

Close is our relation, firm is It's Foundation.

And on the Solid Rock I’ll stay.

Love,


K




This is another version that I love!!



PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF MY PAGE TO CLICK MUTE TO LISTEN TO THIS SONG!

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

I have been debating on whether or not I should delete my blog. My number one reason would be because there are some crazy creepy people in the world that would steal my photos, and use them as if "G" was their own child or other things that make my skin crawl... I have a few friends who have blogs and this has happened to them and it scares me. If I copy off FB then you cant click the picture but you can right click and copy the picture. I'm looking into how to disable the right click. Its just sad that we have to guard ourselves like that. In this day and age there some as my brother Yancey would say "Weirdos". Until I find out what to do I will not be posting pictures anymore without a watermark stamp across the face and my daughter's name will be "G".

"G" has been talking up a storm lately. This is such a fun age. The other night when I got home, while sitting on the bed she does the Tinkerbell handshake and says, Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust... I was so amazed at how for one she remembered the saying and two even doing the handshake. It was soo adorable... Lately, too she has been really learning things fast. I'm interested in the Leapfrog programs or Home-school programs because she gets easily bored.. I spent 5 minutes teaching her about Noah and the Ark. She picked up everything I was teaching so quickly. I later asked her what did Noah build- she said "Boat" then I said what went on the boat and she responded "Animals"...

We visited Stephen's parents and they have a community pool. G LOVES swimming so much. She refuses for us to hold her- so we tried out the arm floaties and she loved them because it gave her independence. I'm so worried of her falling in because she is so brave and not scared at all of the water. She even jumped in and went under and it didn't faze her one bit. I'm interested in getting her swim lessons this Summer.


This is a really cool video of a 2 year old swimming:)


Stephen's Birthday is Wednesday....

Until Next time,
Kim