books I’m reading

Sharing Secrets +BIG DREAMS+Great Fears

by Karmen |

Is this thing on?

Tap. Tap.

Can you hear me now?

I wasn’t sure if my computer would work it’s been so long since I opened it.

You’ve heard you can’t be two places at once?

It’s true.

To be present offline is to be absent online.

The last month I’ve done my best to be more present in my life offline.

My baby turned EIGHT and still. I can’t even deal.

The farm is busy and H-O-T. Our goat, Sweet Pea, had twins, and all of the HAY is AT-LONG-LAST out of the fields. This year has been the year of repairs. Each trip to the hayfield beckoned a repair to either a tractor, piece of hay equipment or trailer. The cowboy in holy desperation with hands in the air declared more than once, “I’m listening, Lord!!”

tractor

Our garden despite the on-again-off-again rain or lack of is providing plenty for which we are grateful.

garden

Three out of the four weeks in June someone from our family was at Ponderosa Bible Camp.

pbc

I’ve mentioned our boys want to live there, and I’ve decided it might not be a bad idea. It’s quiet, beautiful and tucked away from the busyness of the world. The week I was there speaking our precious friends, Chris & Gina, graciously helped shoot a “What is #PrayBig?” video to be released soon. (Nose shot vs. A selfie stick? Maybe a selfie stick isn’t such a bad idea! )

Speaking of #PrayBig. How about #PrayBig went to CANADA this week?!? A dear friend on mission took 45 journals with her that many of YOU helped purchase! (MUCHAS GRACIAS!!) While there, she met a lady who lives in Georgia who does prison ministry. Because technology is not all bad, I was able to speak to the group via FaceTime a few nights ago, and now a long and short story: #PrayBig is going to be going to the Georgia State Prison!!!! Only God.

In other news, Summer is made for reading, right?

A few books you’re sure to devour:

#1- If you haven’t already, GO NOW! Sure to be a sell-out: A Different Beautiful by Courtney Westlake is set to release August 1. Go PRE-ORDER here–>www.courtneywestlake.com

#2 Fresh Out of Amazing by Stacey Thacker had me at the title. Stacey has allowed me the privilege to be on her launch team. It is set to release September 1. I’ve just started and already sense this will be one to read and reread and reread particularly for those of us who struggle with being all the things to all of the people.

– #3 I’m late to the party on this one but cannot believe how many of the words in this book God has written on my heart! The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams & Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson is THE-BEST- and one of the most challenging books I may have EVER READ!!! Seriously, highlighting every word or every other on most pages. It is that good and has had me on my face.

BIG DREAMS & GREAT FEARS, just so happen to be a couple of my favorite themes because we all have them. Dreams and fears are common denominators God uses to keep us humble and dependent on Him.

What are your BIG DREAMS & GREAT FEARS?

Because accountability is good and this place is that for me, I’m going to be real and share a couple of secrets we’ve been sitting on. I’m going to share because we covet your prayers. And not the, “Praying for you” and forget kind of prayers but the real praying without ceasing kind of prayers. The persistent widow prayers. Bold prayers. The #PrayBig kind.

Fear is entangled in our secret places. It’s in those secret places the enemy whispers lies to us. He tricks us into thinking it’s about us or what others will think of us or say about us when actually, it isn’t about us at all.

It’s all about God.

Honoring Him in thought, word and deed. Glorifying Him.

In Him, we live and breathe and dream and hope.

It’s because of His love for us we can live free from the bondage of despair and death and can share His love with others. It’s because of Him and His love overflowing that we have surrendered to the call to become foster parents.

The tango of “okay God, and no-nevermind, or no, not right now” has been going on for over a decade. We first requested the paperwork to become foster parents thirteen years ago after the loss of our first child. We have sought that same paperwork four times during these many years only to ignore it until now.

Why now?

A year ago this month I visited the Good Shepherd Children’s Home in Honduras. Many tried to warn me and did their best to prepare my heart for the wrecking and by wrecking I mean the undoing. The shaking up! The love overflowing for the orphans I would encounter. Nothing could have prepared me for the goodness of God I experience in that sweet, heaven on earth where the fruits of the Spirit were so thick and evident.

A week later upon returning home, J and I were making our bed one morning when I had the come apart.

“It’s NOT OPTIONAL! We aren’t called to love the widows and orphans when it’s convenient or when we have enough money or when we have enough time! We are commanded to care for them. We can’t put it off any longer. Jesus is coming!”

He looked at me with fear in his eyes not because I was scary although at that moment I was very scary but because he knew it too. It was time.

So, in October, we started the long, wearisome process but because of life, small business ownership, and speaking engagements it is now mid-July and we are just finishing.

Now this, the day before yesterday. The words we’ve been praying to hear and yet knew we would be scared to hear.

“We are looking for placement for a child.”

So here we are, waiting, praying our guts our for the children God has handpicked to join our family. Maybe for a little while and maybe for a long time? Here is where we stand:

There’s not a day ahead God hasn’t seen.

We will trust in Him.

What area of your life is God calling you to trust Him?

Finally, for the BIG DREAM!!

Last year with great hesitation, full of anxiety and inadequacies, I attended the Dave Ramsey/Christy Wright Business Boutique. It was inspiring, life changing and perfect timing because it was exactly one month before the release of #PrayBig.

This year I am making plans to attend again but this time, I have submitted the #PrayBig journal and products to be considered for the vendor hall at the conference.

PrayBig mug

PrayBig Bracelet

PrayBig T-shirt

praybighats_red

PrayBig Necklace

#crazy! I am waiting to hear back from them and would love it if you would whisper a prayer. Whether a yea or a neigh we will praise Him even if…

because

“If you aren’t willing to put yourself in ‘this is crazy” situations, you’ll never experience ‘this is awesome” moments.” -Mark Batterson

So here’s to #crazy BIG DREAMS and great fears!

The best is yet to come!

Much love,

KarmenSmith_signature

Summer things ..and a GIVEAWAY

by Karmen |

Where were we?

Somewhere between reading waaay too many books, back to school bonanza and never wanting to leave the beach.

Sound about right?

Hello Dears,

How are you?

Grab a cup of coffee with a huge dollop of whip cream because tonight’s fat free night and we’ve got lots to get caught up on.

For starters:

SUMMER LOVE

Isn’t she the best? Summer, and her endless evenings. Her sweet sunflowers & luscious garden goodies. Summer is just so generous. Until she calls on the dog days and what was gorgeous, green and lush is now charred like a forgotten steak forgotten on the grill making it easier to bid her farewell.

I always get a bit sappy as summer days draw nigh. When I look at the boys sun-kissed cheeks on their little freckled faces

and I think about how they won’t be this little or this needy next summer

I almost cry but then I don’t. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been soaking it up. And by we, I mean I have soaked up as much fun in the sun as life would allow leaving the sand, sea and pond scum fun to the boys. They savored their time with all the ticks, snakes, salamanders, and frogs. They’ve set traps, caught catfish and even a gecko at the beach. Good times these days, but from the mouth of the old man trapped in my nine-year-old son’s soul, “All good things must come to an end Momma.”

BACK-TO-HOMESCHOOL

My closest coworkers and I used to call it the summer funk. The feeling of, “hey-don’t-panic-but-summer’s-over-and-life-is-about-to-get-whack-again.” So we would wrestle with weighty choices of doing all the things we wished we’d done but hadn’t OR block the week before we headed back to work as “do-nothing-week.”

The struggle is real still with homeschooling but instead of me hitting the panic button-the boys do. I don’t even know the word other than whack. The whole ‘Hey-WELCOME-TO-SUMMER-FUN-ZONE!” Most rules need not apply. Bedtime is merely suggested pending the next day’s planned adventure with apparently as many kids as we can legally squeeze into our car! Eat when you think about it, or not. Chores if we can work them in and then like BAM! It’s over and FUN ZONE mom goes MIA and homeschool Nazi is like:

bed made
clothes on
breakfast made
breakfast cleaned up
teeth brushed
Ready to learn with a smile by 8!

They stare at me as a deer stares into glaring headlights. I do my best to speak in soft tones as not to scare the poor souls who are simply wondering what homeschool Nazi did with fun zone mom. I get it but I remind them as delicately as I can that life’s tough. Let’s move on.

Hands-in-the-air-like-I just-don’t-care-this has no doubt been our best start even with the whole schedule shock. It’s AMAZING what the ability to read can do for a child’s motivation and a homeschool mom’s sanity. Dearest mothers of littles who struggle to read- you have my prayers and I’m not lying about praying. It’s hard. I understand you feel as though your ears may actually bleed and some days everybody cries. Keep going. Keep practicing. Keep reading aloud and recording your voice on your on your phone, and keep making him listen to you read and then record him and have him listen to himself. Keep praying. Keep practicing because in time the tears will cease and HE WILL BE ABLE TO READ and it will be gloriously worth it all!

ALL THE BOOKS!

Speaking of reading, are my eyes crossed? Because I feel cross-eyed from ALL the reading of ALL the books! Do you still love a good book? I know. I love all the gadgets and the iPad and the iPhone and nooks and online jazz as much as you do but there is still something so pure about holding a book.

What have you read this summer? What are you currently reading?

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis, has been such a timely read post our trip to Honduras.

To hear her heart for the orphans, widows, and marginalized has taken my wrecked heart to a whole new dimension. Just last night I said to J, “I need you to look at my face when I say these words to you. Caring for the orphans is not an option, it’s a command. We must pray.”

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker, arrived two days ago and I’m almost done. I CAN-NOT-PUT-IT-DOWN. It is wet-your-pants-funny!

And I need the laughter because I’m also studying Escape the Coming Night. (Insert emoji with BIG EYES) An in-depth study by Dr. David Jeremiah, about the Book of Revelation. I am scared and can hardly wait to go deeper in this study.

Lastly,

Ordinary: How to Turn the Word Upside Down by Tony Merida. Another one I can hardly read fast enough ..my life verse, Acts 4:13 is on the first page for crying out loud.

“The kingdom of God isn’t coming with light shows, and shock and awe, but with lowly acts of service. I want to push back against sensationalism and ‘rock star Christianity,’ and help people understand that they can make a powerful impact by practicing ordinary Christianity.” –Tony Merida

Because that my dearest friends, is the good stuff.

GOOD STUFF & a GIVEAWAY

OH! My! Gracious!!! I have a little project some dears and I have been working on for a smidgen over a year now. I can hardly wait to share it with you and we are so stinkin’ close. I mean like almost, stick-a-fork-in-it-we’re-done-close..

I’m also working on gathering goods for my second GIVEAWAY because YOU were so supportive of the first one. You SIGNED UP for EMAIL (if you haven’t you TOTALLY SHOULD–>GO NOW-> TOP RIGHT–>ENTER YOUR EMAIL) you shared this space with your friends, sisters, and moms and I am THANKFUL, THANKFUL.

We still have more to chat about like the remarkable story about my youngest and his partners in crime (aka cousins) who BEAT A CASH REGISTER they found in a barn (noteworthy side note: not our barn and not on our property) TO DEATH with a garden hoe and a metal rod because they ‘heard a treasure inside Momma.”The delightful details of that story which may or may not also include how our free range parenting strategies are working for us except when they’re not.

Another story we’ve got to talk about that will hopefully be more helpful than the one mentioned above is a story about recent choice to agree to disagree.

Until then, I’m speaking tomorrow to a couple of groups & I would be thrilled if you would pray: for the hearts of all who are present and for God to remove me from me as I speak the truth in love.

I get so weepy when I’m sleepy ..Goodnight sweet friends..

Much love

4 tools to teach LOUD BOYS the importance of a QUIET TIME

by Karmen |

You know those people with soft voices and matchy, clean clothes?

Yea, we don’t make those people here.

Ours look more like this

and this

Which is cool, because the less clothing they wear, the less laundry there is to do, right?

And though we may differ in our children’s’ clothing style, cleanliness or definitions of cool, most of us would agree we want things to be well with their soul.

Another concept we would most likely agree upon is sharing. Because sharing is nice. And I’m sharing because I believe modeling appropriate behaviors for our children, is critical.

But mostly I’m sharing today because…. my boys have been at camp (WOOHOO) this week and I’ve been able to use this time to remember my name, clean our skanky house, buy food for our pantry, balance store accounts and WRITE!

I thought I would share:

4 suggested TOOLS to use when teaching LOUD BOYS the importance of a QUIET TIME:

#1 One Year Book of FUN & ACTIVE Devotions for Kids by Betsy Elliot

Did you catch the key word in that title? ACTIVE. Particularly, if you have boys-activity is essential. We joke about adopting the Dog Whisperer, Ceasar Millan’s philosophy:

EXERCISE, DISCIPLE, AFFECTION

It works. Truly. Boys MUST be able to MOVE! Then you can discipline, next love, and finally teach them what it is you hope to teach them.

No lie, when we are doing school work or even at night just before devotion we have been known to have the boys go outside and run a lap or two around the house or better yet, the pond!

Each day there is a thought-provoking question, scripture reference, short, easy-to-read devotional and activity.

This has been our family fav for quite sometime. Our loud boys, love this book.

#2 In This House We Will Giggle by Courtney DeFeo

This is simply a MUST HAVE if you are a parent and/or childcare worker of any fashion.

It is JAM-PACKED with “inventive ways to help turn your kids’ hearts toward God.”

My friend Courtney, (who by-the-way inspired this place. I would not have started this blog had she not pushed me to do so.) reminds us of the importance of laughter and the countless, Godly truths learned through good-ol’-fashion-fun!

She takes twelve virtues (one each month): joy, love, forgiveness, faith, patience, perseverance, respect, responsibility, service, humility, gratitude and generosity and provides fun activities to reinforce the virtue. She also includes questions to encourage discussion, Scripture memory verses and challenges you to dig in and find what works for your family!

It’s a great book, easy to use, a phenomenal resource.

GET ONE HERE!

#3 Our Daily Bread for Kids Meaningful Moments with God by Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley

This is our newest family resource but we already LOVE it! Like many of you, I have read Our Daily Bread devotionals off and on my whole life. God had used it many times to speak truth into my life. This is the kid version and it does not disappoint. We received the 60-day sample edition FREE in the mail.

The illustrations are captivating and my boys love the FUN FACT included on each page. The devotional are very easy to understand as well as the one-liner taglines provided for each day.

and finally,

#4 The MacArthur Study Bible by John MacArthur

Save always the best for last. This study Bible is hands-down our family favorite. The footnotes, summaries, chapter introductions are the icing on the cake to God’s Holy Word. It is written in the New King James Version.

The Bible as a part of our evening routine is essential because it ultimately trumps any outside resource. It is our hand book for how we are to live this life.

Several months ago I wrote an article about Jake and the rain. The central theme of the story is fear. Truth is Satan wears Jake out with fear. It’s the thing he uses most often to tempt his young soul. God has reminded me through Jake’s fear of our desperate need for Christ alone. I saw early on that fear was something bigger than me. Fear is something in and of ourselves that we cannot beat. Fear is something we have to surrender to the Holy God of heaven and realize that he is the only one who can speak fears and make them flee. In that article, I wrote,

“My children need Jesus, more than my children need me.”

That was true then and it is true now.

As parents, we are not superheroes. We may play that role in our houses and online but the truth is we cannot sustain them.

With all of my heart, I believe the absolute very best thing we can do for our children is to teach them to fix their eyes on Jesus.

Jesus the only one that will never leave nor for sake them.

Jesus is the only one with the power to save, to heal, to deliver.

I hope you’ll find this post helpful but even more than helpful I hope you’ll try using these tools as a family. I pray you will make having a quiet time a priority: personally and together with your tribe.

Be consistent.

Start small, grow BIG.

One final note, as we close out our nightly session we also do a quick prayer or praise. Just a real quick round Robin-go around allowing each person to share a prayer & praise about something good that happened that day.

It’s a nice way to finish up focused on the good things instead of:

How you wished your brother hadn’t pushed you off the bed or how you wished your mother wouldn’t pinch you while you’re trying to pray as a family while the mother is wishing you would pay attention while the daddy is just wanting everybody to GO TO SLEEEP.

Yea, I get it. The hassle.

But do it anyways.

You are loved dear ones. I’m cheering you on from the other side of the screen as you lead your people to grow in the love of our Savior.

much love,

LADIES!~DON'T MISS THIS!

by Karmen |

“How does someone know God?”

“Doubt is in all of us….”

“Unbelief is no small thing.”

“Are there holes in your faith?”

Are you willing to risk it all?

“Until there is total surrender, there is no vision.”

Are you willing to prayerfully surrender and say,

“God, we will do anything. Anything.”

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

LADIES these are just a handful of the nuggets of goodness we will be reading together this summer in our book study:

ANYTHING: The Prayer that Unlocked My Soul And My God

by Jennie Allen

Here’s the skinny on the where, when, what!

WHERE: WILLS VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

WHEN: begins TOMORROW, JUNE 9th @ 10:00AM

WHAT: an 8-week study designed to help you discover your own anything.

“It’s time to trade your safe and comfortable life for one that is……

SURRENDERED
RECKLESS
COURAGEOUS

If those words SCARE or EXCITE YOU, COME & BE WITH US!

CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED

NO COST TO ATTEND

BRING FRIENDS, SISTERS, MOM, NEIGHBORS

THIS IS GOING TO BE G-O-O-D

Because I challenge my boys to do one brave thing a day, I will go first.

Here is a brief retelling of my own ANYTHING prayer.

My prayer, as you listen, is for God to spur you on towards your own anything prayer

You can buy your book HERE

or if you are local, buy from our local patron, The Book Shelf.

I look forward to our growing in the Lord together.

Much love and see you soon!