High Five for Friday

This week has been a great one. I honestly, have been inside a lot (can we say hermit) I have been cooking and crafting. It has been so much fun. I'm ADDICTED to Pinterest. I just love this site so. You have to check it out but warning-- 2 hours later and you will still be pinning-TRUTH--

1.We started the week off going to the Lowery Park Zoo with my good friend, Debbie and her daughter Emma. Its so cute to see them together because it really does look like our mini me's:)



2. I love thrift stores and we were able to find a lot of cool things, one including a bike for Gracie that cost $9:) She was thrilled with the purchase. We cleaned it up, bought her a helmet and bell. She was set and just kept saying over and over "Thank you, Mommy for my bike"... She even wanted to sleep with it.





3. While we were visiting my mom, Gracie and I were able to see a calf be born. It was an expericence but a really cool one. I just love seeing life, it was so precious to see the Momma cow and baby bond and then to see him start to walk right away was amazing. Gracie enjoyed it too!



4. I have been pinning a lot of things on Pinterest and just getting the fever to craft. I have been wanting to make a Burlap wreath for some time now and think I succeeded. The burlap roses were the hardest part, and my trusty youtube helped me finally nail down what I was suppose to do after an hour or two  I created this---->



My little Thrift store find shelf plus my burlap wreath!

5. Ahh Fall has arrived come and I have been wanting to do a table centerpiece that was unique but also really FALL. I yet again found this off Pinterest and it was so much fun to create. The spray painiting was kinda hectic because lets face it I HAVE no PATIENCE to wait for it to dry :)



Oh and I cant forget my new finds--- RUN go to Wal-mart and get these awesome candles. The Hazelnut cream is a FAV but the Mulled Cider is to die for. It honestly smells like I'm a baking genius and I love that :) These only cost $3.25 and it has three wicks which is awesome, because your house will smell like lovely fall ...







Until Next Time,

Kim

My Friday...

This week has yet again been a blessed one.

Today, while taking Gracie to the park to play I met this older gentleman and we talked about life- he is a Christian, and it was refreshing to open up to him about my life and then him share with me about his. Its funny because, living across from a park, Gracie constantly asks me to take her over there to play and usually I'm so busy that I do not- Today, though I decided to let the laundry and mess wait and just let her have a fun morning. I'm so thankful for Gracie. She pushes me to do things sometimes and in the end I receive a blessing from it.
Mr. W testimony is very different from mine. He is a recovering drug addict, he was saved at 30. I love hearing people give me their testimony especially ones when they come to know the Lord later as adults. What a blessing it was to hear him speak about Jesus and about his love for the Lord. I left, thinking how awesome our God is and how even though his life was harder and different we are all sinners saved by Grace.

I love people. I love hearing their stories about their life, I will never forget as a youth becoming good friends with Mr. Shorty, he was an elderly man in my church as a teenager. Such, a wonderful man of God- a blessing to all. He didn't have a lot of money but he said he had enough. He just really blessed me as a 15 year old girl. I would sit by him during the service and when he passed away it broke my heart.

Building relationships with people and sharing the Gospel is what it is all about.

Hearing Mr. W today talk about his past struggles and how far he has come in return uplifted me. If I had never opened up to him or even talked to him today, I would have missed a blessing.

So many times we get busy, I do it we all do it. We get lost in our kids, our chores our jobs and forget to see people. We forget to love like Jesus does. Then when someone hurts us instead of loving and forgiving them we shun them- we want nothing to do with them. We grow bitter and lose all blessing that the Lord is waiting to give. We lose site of what matters and its there that Satan steps in. As believers we are called to forgive.

I wanted to share tonight what the Lord has been teaching me through this whole process. He has taught me so many things but I think the most valuable is that when someone wrongs us-- I mean they say or do something so hurtful it cuts your heart like a knife, we tend to as the flesh harbor hatred towards that person. I have learned that when you are wronged instead of looking at their flesh---- get this look at it as sin.

We could be on the other side where we are the ones doing the hurting, what does Jesus see in us. He sees our sin, then when we repent it is wiped away.

If we can see the sin instead of the flesh then its there where Jesus can do this amazing work in your heart and forgiveness begins to come.

Trust me- on this I have been wronged, I have been heart broken but in that dispar is when Jesus wants you to run to him and give it all over to him-- ALL of IT!

I pray that these words are a comfort to you. When you let God in and let him be the center of all that you do, your life is never the same. Oh, its something so special and amazing.

Kim

Fabulous Friday

Each Friday, I will be doing a Fabulous Friday, where I post my favorite pictures for the week. This week has been full of fabulous happenings and I'm SO excited about the coming months, especially since Fall is just around the corner:)

1. I have officially went Pinterest crazy this week. Two of my most fabulous things are recreations of my favorite "Pins". I found this awesome tutorial on how to make scarfs from t-shirts. They call it up-cycle and its so neat. I made two but the Green is my favorite, a must for Fall fashion. 2. Stephen reads to Gracie every night (all day actually, that girl loves stories) and each night he prays with her. She is a huge daddy's girl and it blesses my heart to see them pray together-love. 3. Another Pinterest creation- a yarn wreath isn't it darling. I just love the colors and I'm thinking about making one for my living room with teal although this could go in there too. It only cost $10 to make but it took over 4 hours to create... The yarn wrapping is the most time consuming part, and the felt flowers are my favorite. 4. I have been searching and searching for a cute pair of BROWN boots for Fall. I own a black pair but I really wanted a pair that were shiny-low and behold we visited a suit store for Steve and these babies were waiting for me on a shelf:) After coupons I spent $10 out the door--- Score!

Hope your week has been a blessed one. We have had the best week, and look forward to the cooler weather!

Until next time,
Kim

The day I met Rev. Stephen Ahrens...

Today, 8 years ago on a Sunday morning, I met my precious Stephen. The pastor introduced us and then 11 months later married us. My cousin- is the music minister at East Chelsea and he wanted me to sing a couple songs that Sunday morning. I remember hearing this deep voice from the pulpit-- and I look up and its Stephen. I knew in that moment that I was going marry him. At that point in my life I was young-18- now looking back I was really young. I had no intention on dating anyone let alone marry someone.

YES- I am one of those girls who kept every note, every baseball ticket-okay everything from when Stephen and I dated. This is the bulletin from church that Sunday :)

After church, Pastor Ray wanted to know if I would consider going on a date with Stephen his youth minister. I kinda hesitated, but said "sure". He said "Okay, be here tonight and after the service I will introduce you".

After the Sunday night service, Stephen said the most romantic pick up line EVER-- "I'm hungry are you?!? Wanna go to Steak and Shake and get something to eat"?!!? 

This was when he did his Peter drama and I sang a solo (before we were engaged)
I love how he is looking at me in this picture--- Love <3

After our first date the rest was history. Through the hurricanes that August I was able to get to know his sweet family better and after many looong talks on the phone we were engaged right before Christmas.

I had thought we were having a family get together with his parents and sister and my whole family but really he was going to propose to me. I remember him wanting a root beer and I couldn't understand why because there was plenty to drink inside. That was his excuse to get me to go on my parents back porch. I love how simple our engagement was. A lot of people now a days do these extravagant proposals but Stephen's was my favorite--because it was simple and to the point:)

Stephen and his new mustang he got when we were dating-- oh and Wilbur :)

Our wedding day!

Fast forward to now-- My sweet life of a Pastor's wife is just that sweet. We have a beautiful 3 year old daughter who is a great mixture of the two of us. Ministering along side, Stephen is such a blessing. Looking back the Lord's hand was in our meeting each other. My heart gets so full when I think about the sweet prayers for Stephen to find a wife just weeks earlier that Mrs. Lillie (the pastors wife) prayed. 

God has each day planned out. He knows our future. Be patient and he will guide you each step of the way.

What a mighty God we serve!

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

Random...

I wanted to do a light hearted post since lately, I have posting to the heart topics :)
 I love my phone camera it takes the best pictures and then there is an app where you can transform the picture into something cool. I have not printed pictures in a looong time and I think days like today, when its raining outside is when I should get back into scrap-booking again. For awhile there I was not doing anything with it because, well Gracie wants to "help" and that just ends in disaster.

I have been coupon-ing and LOVE it. At first it was hard, remembering to get 2 newspapers every, Sunday and then clipping-- was a huge ordeal but now I honestly LOVE it and I bring out Gracie's little table and she helps me cut (she cuts her own) this also teaches her hand coordination too--win win!

Here are few of my most favorite pics lately that I have taken from my phone.

Gracie made this in Sunday school and these are the people and things she prays for. Notice her animals--how precious.

I just LOVE this quote. One of my most favorites right now!

My brothers. Both so different but yet such great guys. I'm blessed to be their big sister. My prayer for them has always been to find what you love to do and do it. To love God and honor him in all ways. To find a church and attend it. To fall in Love with a believer and live a Godly life that too honors the Lord.

My little ballerina who continues to show us just how independent and creative she is each day.
This little girl has stolen our hearts.

I just love Stephen. I fall more and more in love with him each day. Its crazy-- we have been together almost 8 years. Each year gets better and better and I'm so thankful and blessed to have a Godly man in my life who is there for me and encourages me. I look forward to growing old with YOU <3

Changed!

I have not blogged in awhile it seems. I love reading others blogs, especially ones pertaining to fashion. I recently, have been in a blog funk you could say. I have all these grand things I want to post and then when I go to write it just doesn't come. I love how blogging can be therapeutic in a way. I love it because it gives the world a glimpse into my heart and what I'm all about. It also gives me a chance to write something down about my sweet Gracie. She says the funniest things and I love posting them.

I have been reading a book called "the Bumps are what you Climb on"... it has been a HUGE encouragement to Stephen and I. I love how a simple book the Lord can use to teach you something and I just had to share it with you.

In the book he talks about how God knows how to balance our lives so that we have sunshine and rain, calm, and storm, laughter and tears. On the road of life there are levels areas and then there are difficult places that challenge us. If we get off God's will and go on a detour the way will be rough from start to finish. The detour is always rougher than the main path. But, as he writes there are rocks and bumps even on the path God chooses and we have to learn to accept them and benefit from them. --The bumps are what you climb on.

How awesome is that?! Mr. Wiersbe could know my heart and how I feel exactly..... The Lord knows what lies ahead we are to learn from it and go on. I tell ya, my heart is completely new. I mean the love I have for the Lord is amazing and to think he died for me is unfathomable. I'm in awe everyday with the blessings he continues to give me.

I'm not a poet or a writer or a bible scholar but I know what it feels like to be completely dependent on the Lord. Its in this place where I feel closest to him. This past month has been a roller-coaster of emotion and I know the ride is going to continue and I'm ready for it-I'm excited for it. I know everything is going to okay-better than okay- great.

Have you ever felt a loss for words. At times believe it or not, thats me. I just sit by myself and marvel at how wonderful and amazing the God of the universe is. Before a huge trial strikes in your life you think you got this whole life thing figured out and then in a moment a second really it changes and God reminds you that he is the one who is in control.

This trial and the ones to come have and will make you a stronger better person or bitter. I choose God's way-better. I look forward to the future and I'm excited about what it holds. I pray that you feel this way and if not that God changes your heart.

Warren Wiersbe said " The very rocks that seem like barriers to humans eyes will, to the eyes of faith, become blessings.

Psalm 91:15: 

"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."

Flash~Backs!

My mom recently uploaded a few pics from when I was little. They are some of my favorites, I have not seen in awhile thought I would share them with you.


Is this Gracie---- No this is me at 2 1/2 years old :)

I look back on my childhood and loved being a kid. Growing up in the country was the BEST! I ran around everywhere with no shoes on, my best friends lived on my street. Life was simple and I look back and smile.


Me-Steven- and my brother Jarrod coloring Easter eggs

My brother and I are two years apart. My mom says I was his little momma and would always take care of him. I loved Being the big sister-- although sometimes it was tough, I'm thankful now. Then years later---8 years later my sweet little brother, Yancey was born. He was always my dance and workout partner. I would get wild hairs and would want to get really in shape= or try out for cheer-leading (never did) and he would run with me. We laugh to this day over what he said to me one morning. He woke me up at like 7am and said "Kimmie--- Kimmie-- I saw on a commercial where you can eat more and exercise less, and lose weight" haha!! I love my brothers.


This is one my favorite memorys as a kid. My mom asked one day "Do you wanna have a Halloween Party" of course we said "YES!" So, it was planned and SO much fun! She had everything decorated, and a pumpkin cake-- I loved it!




Then my mom posted this pic of her and I under the Christmas tree at my Grandma's house. I love this picture. It shows how fun my mom was( and still is). She had to work a lot when I was little because for awhile she was a single mom. I know now how much she had to sacrifice for us kids. I'm so thankful for her strong Christian influence on my life. She would say-- Oh I wish I did more-- But, mom you were the best!!


Love the BIG hair and earrings--- in the mini director suit for the next year that she--made!


I love this pic-- My daddy and little Yancey-- A favorite memory of mine!

Here's to many more years with my sweet "Ray Family" I love you all an thank the Lord each day for blessing me with loving parents who always had my best interest!

Love you all!

-Kim