Everything Else

a NEW SITE & a bit of wisdom from a moron

by Karmen |

Y’all, the NEW SITE is almost done and by almost I mean like ALMOST DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m excited and use lots of ALL CAPS as well as inappropriate punctuation when I GET EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soon we will be bidding farewell to the too-long-gosh-there-are-so-many-letters-did-I-spell-it correctly- blessingsbeyondthebarnyard dot com. Which, by the way, is a name that will always be special to me because a near and dear from the school where I taught suggested it because she said our blessings extend far beyond our barnyard. She was right, then and now.

The teacher in me thinks it is imperative to learn as you go. One of the primary lessons blessingsbeyondthebarnyard has taught me is that there are too many letters. I have learned from this experience and decided it best to simplify. So for the love of sanity and simplification, the name of the NEW SITE is…………….

www.karmensmith.com

That’s Karmen spelled with a K, not a C, which will be tricky for some. I know because autocorrect tries to persuade me all-the-live-long-day. She says Karmen should be spelled with a C, and then I ignore her because I am Karmen with a K, for just shy of 39 years and have thus learned to introduce myself as, “HI, I’m Karmen Smith. Karmen with a K.”

I feel confident the blessingsbeyondthebarnyard family will be able to handle this transition because:

You’re a bright bunch
There are fewer letters in karmensmith dot com
Lest you forget and decide to type in blessingsbeyondthebarnyard out of habit or because of your love for lots of letters we are going to link you automatically to the NEW SITE

Speaking of the NEW SITE or, in this case, SITE(S) yes, plural. Our feed store site is almost done as well!!! P.S. with lots of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A bit of wisdom because we are friends- {never launch two NEW SITES at the same time. Only a moron would do that.}

Speaking of NEW SITES…Here are a few things you can expect to find at karmensmith.com…..

a fresh look
new pictures compliments of Rachel Clarke Photography (follow her. Her art is intoxicating)
a sliding header (my favorite part)
User-friendly contact page
easy navigation, NEW social media buttons (<–buttons? tabs?) and more……………….did I mention the store ??????????????
WHAT??????????!!!!!!!!!YES!!!!!!an ONLINE STORE !!!!!!!! because we want #PrayBig readily available to you and your tribe!

There’s more to share, but I have to stop because I want you to be surprised because surprises and NEW SITES are exciting!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday because it’s midweek post-SPRING FORWARD and the world is sleepy and in desperate need of a nap but who’s got time for a nap!

KarmenSmith_signature

(Hi, I’m Karmen with a K)

P.S. HEY LOCALS-make plans to drop the Southern Home & Family Show in Rainsville, Alabama this SUNDAY, March 20th from 11-2pm I will be at the Agribusiness Center chatting with friends about the #PrayBig Journal and will have other #PrayBig goodies available as well. Hope to see you there!

4 people I trusted with a crazy idea

by Karmen |

trustyourcrazy

No way-would-I-or-could-I have pulled this off without this herd of amazing people. It’s with overwhelming gratitude from now unto eternity plus two days I will sing the praises of these sweet sisters!

They are the movers and shakers behind #PrayBig. Know this: if you have a crazy idea whirling around inside you, and you need some GIFTED-blow-your-mind-talented people to help you make it happen, start here:

Meet Jeanne:

Jeanne is a prayer warrior. And by a warrior, I mean she leads the pack. And by pack I mean anyone and everyone in this community who knows Jeanne would agree she is one of the kindest, most thoughtful, intentional, selfless women on the planet. I consider it a privilege to call her friend and an honor to have had her praying this project into being. She believed when I doubted. She pushed me when I was ready to quit. Thank you forever and ever, Jeanne for loving Jesus and others so well.

Meet Janie:

Janie is a graphics girl. Designing is her jam. Check out her online portfolio on Behance. Fonts, spacing, placing words on the right pages, uploading photos, arranging and rearranging are just a few of her tricks. The #PrayBig journal, could not- would not be what it is if not for Janie. You MUST contact here for your graphic needs. She is a precious soul!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A JOURNAL

Meet Alice:

I’m addicted to Alice. Her creative energy is infectious, and her hand-written letters make angels sing. I’m sure of it. The week the journal was sent to print Alice dropped by the feed store to buy some flowers to decorate her shop, Alice Circle. We got to talking about Jesus and serving Him and others with our giftedness and ended up having revival on the feed store porch! I told her I was thinking of having a #PrayBig shirt made and asked her if she would be willing to do some lettering for me. The next day she sent me a few texts with #PrayBig scribbled on a notepad, and I was like, “BOOM! Yes!” She had drawn EXACTLY what I had in mind. Thus, hashtag PrayBig was born. Before #PrayBig, Alice was an acquaintance now; we have to be BFFs forever.

[P.S.- we are trademarking #PrayBig]

Meet Lisa:

A day or so after #PrayBig was born while putting on my jewelry another idea hit me. I was dubbed most absent-minded in high school and have unfortunately not outgrown the title. I need reminders.

We need a cuff to remind us to #PrayBig. I immediately began searching Instagram (because it’s my Google) when I found Lisa. She is the owner/designer of Love Squared Designs. I messaged Lisa after seeing a picture of a bracelet she had in her feed. It had a fancy embellishment and the words Pray Big. I sent her a message telling her about the journal I was getting ready to release, how forgetful I am and how I would love to have a cuff to serve as a reminder to #PrayBig. A couple of weeks went by when I received a message from Lisa asking me to give her a call. On a normal Tuesday, this total stranger and I had an immediate connection. Lisa shared this story.

The day before she had taken one of her children to the doctor when she stumbled upon a leather shop. Upon entering the store, a worker in the shop offered her a splendid deal on a bulk bundle of leather. Brown and black. Lisa began wrestling with God over the leather. Why would I need this much leather? She typically makes her cuffs out of thrift store belts. The deal was too good to pass up. She bought the leather on Monday. I called her on Tuesday and requested one hundred cuffs. “I want brown and black.” We laughed and cried. God is always two steps ahead and right by our side. Lisa would have never been able to say yes to me had she not bought the leather from the day before.

I shared what I wanted the cuffs to look like with Lisa.

“Simple.”

A few days later she shot me a picture of the cuff she had made for me.

“YES!”

and then a few days later…. these arrived!

Next, I asked her to make a necklace:

If I could have texted a picture from my brain it could not have matched more perfectly. Lisa is a true artist dedicated to serving her Savior, Jesus Christ through creating jewelry that speaks life & hope. Shop Love Squared Designs on Etsy

See?

Life is better together.

Now, because it’s Saturday and I’m going to BURST if I don’t share at least a sneak peek of the new site because it’s almost and yet it’s not…

Soon and VERY SOON you will be able to share #PrayBig with all of your people and they can share with their people and their people because our #PrayBig ONLINE store will be OPEN SOON!!!!!!

store

Remember today-LIFE IS BETTER TOGETHER!

and because it is I’m signing off for the weekend to enjoy some togetherness with my people,

much love,
KarmenSmith_signature

Exciting, Mundane & Scary things you may need to know

by Karmen |

Hello Dears,

There is much to share with you! Exciting things, mundane things, farm things, scary things and upcoming things like:

When I got to the airport three and a half hours early last week (yes your read that correctly..early=me) to pick up a friend from the airport and then my phone died in an area of Atlanta where no one should go without a phone or a friend.
Our first house guest. There should, and will likely be a post written about our last few days because the fact that one of our kids asked, “Momma, what will she smell like?” is surely a sign that we are raising weird kids or that we should invite more people outside the family circle to visit the farm more often.
How I am considering investing in a selfie stick because meeting and encouraging so many of you in your places is so refreshing and should be better documented!
The preciousness of new piglets on the farm is well, simply precious.
How much #boymoms ~~need~~ LOVE longer days with more minutes OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How much fun and how funny are your comments on the #adventuresoftuckandjake Instagram & Facebook! Maybe you’re right? Maybe we should consider a YouTube channel for all of the adventurers out there! Leave your vote in comments.
The BRAND NEW HOME for the blog is almost ready, and it’s so lovely because of the AMAZING web designers and photographer who are so good at what they do and I CAN.NOT.WAIT.TO SHARE. IT. WITH YOU —>SOON!
Speaking of exciting things and EXCLAMATION MARKS. My sweet friend, Ann shared this space with her sister, Kathy who shared this space with her people, which in turn grew this space of over 100+ people in 24 hours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!which may not mean much to you but to me..well I cried and then I thanked the Lord and cried some more because kindness is contagious.
You know what else is contagious? Laughter. Our precious friend, Bethani has started a vlog. She is adorable inside and out. This particular vlog, however, is not adorable. It was terrible. I ran short of breath and almost died. Thank you, Bethani (except not really) for documenting such hysteria.

Speaking of hysteria! Did I mention the BLOG is well on the way to the NEW WEBSITE (yes it’s worth repeating) because I’m going to GIVEAWAY another HANDMADE QUILT!! — You must STAY TUNED!
Wrestling season is upon us and for #boymoms it is much more intense than it probably should be, but there is just so much man-handling, so much sweat and so many tears. It’s hard to deal. #forreal
The ground is warming with plants, and seeds are arriving daily at Fort Payne Feed & Garden. Get your ground ready and then come and see us!
#PrayBig is spreading and growing because of YOU and we are so grateful I may burst…
Meet my new friend, Tiffany Castleberry. You can find her, and a bunch more of her friends at stuffandthingsblog.com She and I had a delightful conversation on a recent podcast. We’d love for you to LISTEN and tell us what you think.
Where I’m going to be, how much we would like to meet you and LOVE for you to make plans to attend:
Liberty Hill in Collinsville, AL -Thursday, March 10th @6
Northeast Alabama Home & Garden Show -Sunday, March 20th (11-2)
Nazareth in Rainsville, AL -Tuesday, March 22 @ 6
First Baptist Church, “One Nation Under God”- Fort Payne, AL -April 18th @6

Have a fabulous day! May it be productive and peaceful or, at least, kinda-sorta something like that.

Much love,
KarmenSmith_signature

Lessons + Life Without a Microwave

by Karmen |

Our microwave blew January 1, 2013. We were moving full throttle into uncharted waters having left my career with a predictable income just a few months prior. Everything about life as we had known it looked different except for our address so why NOT try life without a quick defrost or popcorn button.

Little did I know then how often God would use the absence of a microwave in our kitchen to remind me, in a right now world some things take time.

photo @baileyjrobert

We are living in a day where a fast food drive thru isn’t fast enough. Now, your roadside favs have people who will gladly approach your car in the parking lot with an iPad in hand, ready to take your order or better yet you can download your favorite restaurant’s app and order before you arrive! Did you ever in your wildest dream predict in one-click on Amazon you could have a gallon of milk or a case of toilet paper by the door in twenty-four.

I get it. Time is marching on, biological clocks are ticking and yes, I’ve heard Adele’s new album, and her declaration in at least three songs and know none of us are getting any younger!!! #fortheloveofyouth

The young want more birthdays.

The newlyweds want their dream house.

The barren want a baby.

Empty nesters wish they could see their baby birds more often.

Who doesn’t want to be debt free?

The dream job

World peace

We want it all, and we want it RIGHT NOW or better yet, yesterday!!

But in a right-now-world, some things take time.

How much time?

I don’t know.

What I do know, God is at work in the wait.

How can we endure the present?

A few suggestions that may encourage you and yet some days I forget:

Fix our eyes on Jesus. What does that look like? Look for the activity of God today while we wait for tomorrow. Ask God to make today matter. As we set our eyes above, ask God to use us where we are with what we have. In doing this we take our eyes off of ourselves and begin to see the needs of others we may have otherwise missed.

Accept, what is. Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there.”

Pray. It sounds simple and yet so many of us underestimate and overcomplicate prayer. You’ve heard; prayer is talking to God. Yes, but what if we take it one step further. I recently read somewhere we often pray one-way, a monologue. But what if we prayed in dialogue allowing our conversations with God to become a two-way street? What if, after time in His Word we let God’s Word lead us in prayer with Him? His Word speaking to our hearts and us lifting our prayers up to Him, connecting the two disciples: God’s Word & prayer.

If you and I were having coffee or lemonade, I would speak these words to you with my serious face as humbly as I know how:

“Learning to pray God’s Word back to Him has been the most practical, beneficial and valuable discipline I’ve ever learned.”

A game changer.

A few life lessons we’ve learned in living life without a microwave: we wait for meat to thaw, pre-plan meals, and reheat coffee on the stove. I suppose it’s silly to some, relating life without a microwave to seasons of wait & prayer.

But God in his goodness has so gently reminded me, in those little moments of delay, in a right-now-world some things take time.

In His time: He is working ALL things together for our good.

He is God. We are not.

He is faithful and wants to bless us exceedingly and abundantly.

He is always near.

He loves YOU and me and will never stop.

A prayer of encouragement for those who are weary in the wait:

Father, thank you for loving us like you do. Revive us, O Lord as we seek to live and love in ways that honor you. Give us grace for the wait as we trust you are working all things together for our good because God, you are good. When we forget Father, help us remember, To everything there is a season, a time and a purpose under heaven. With our eyes fixed on you, bless us this day we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.

Much Love,

PS-Need more encouragement? Grab a friend, your Bible and a #PrayBig journal and practice together. Or better yet, I’d consider it a privilege to come and encourage you and your people. We are working on my calendar and would love to include your ladies group, teens or just you and a couple of your friends. God is so gracious and has answer many of my #PrayBig prayers through YOU!