Karmen Smith

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4 MUST SEE online spaces & places!

by Karmen |

The ongoing love-hate relationship many of us have with the Internet doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Like you, I have had many discussions concerning the pros and cons of social media as well as the necessity of balancing real life and life online.  Instead of splitting hairs and further discussing the have, have-nots, should and should not for the sake of this post we are going to celebrate the goodness of others!  

 

Be encouraged to visit and follow these four spaces and places who are using online for good!

Prayers for Girls

 

Teri Lynne Underwood and I met a couple of years back at She Speaks and have kept in touch.   She is a precious Alabama, girl mom who is doing great things for our sweet Lord.  We share a passion for praying God’s Word.  Teri Lynne and her team of contributors are being very intentional with their online space, and I STRONGLY encourage you, if you are a girl mom or an aunt or a grandmother or a woman who is influencing girls in any way share this page with your people! It’s beautiful inside and out!

 

Next,

 Alice Circle

If you love fun, funny, decorating, creating & adventuring this online space is one you’ll need to bookmark!  Alice is a creative wonder!  My boys and I visit her bricks and mortar shop often because she is JOYFUL loves Jesus and is flippin’ HILARIOUS! She is a dear friend and the artist behind our #PrayBig product line. Her free-handed logo is on our #PrayBig shirts, decals, mugs & hats.  We love Alice!  She will inspire your inner creative and help you make all kinds of lovelies for yourself and others without blowing your budget.   Be captivated!  Shop Alice Circle online and be glad!

 

The Summit of Fort Payne

Speaking of glad, we are beyond thrilled, in fact, we have been AWED at the good things the Lord has done! Addiction is no respecter of persons. I dare say not of you one reading this screen hasn’t been affected by addiction in some way shape form or fashion.  It’s a growing epidemic.  In visiting and ministering at the jail over the last couple of years, it quickly became evident to me and was already known to many the women coming out of jail needed somewhere to go.  Many had been praying for years, some of us met, and then the Lord did what ONLY He could do.  The more than graciously, generous Truett Cathy family donated this 96 acres, 16,000 square ft home to women struggling with addiction.  To God be the glory!  The Summit of Fort Payne is a 12-month faith-based recovery home for women struggling with life controlling issues.  The home is opening February 1, 2017, and we want you to partner with us in this great work!  There is work for all to do!  Make plans to attend our first banquet, January 28m 2017.  Pray.  Support.  Donate online.  Watch this video. Join the team of volunteers!  You’re going to want to be a part of this modern-day miracle!

 

Last, but certainly not least.  Meet

 

Bozo Smith

Bozo is the cat with a last name.  Scout is a cat whisperer.  No, this is not a joke.  The girl talks cat or something.  If you who have followed my blog for any length of time this may help you to have a better understanding of her passion for cats =her feelings for cats are equivalent to my husband’s feelings towards horses. Scout has had a number of cats in her short seven years of life because well, the circle of life but the cat she has now-well, he’s unmatched. His tolerance of her shenanigans leaves any audience shaking their head.  My words can not do such “Cat Tales”  justice.  Go!  Follow Bozo Smith on Facebook and be ready for your face to hurt from smiling.  See for yourself, the wonder of the seven-year-old cat whisperer.        

 

Happy Saturday!

Much love,

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Alice Circle, bozo the cat, celebrating others, create, friends, laughter, online spaces, prayer, prayers for girls, the summit of fort payne

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!

IMG_4773

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.

praybig

[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!

IMG_4700

Next, I asked her to make a necklace:

IMG_4907

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

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Filed Under: #iheart, #PrayBig Journal, Everything Else, Fabulous Friends, faith, Inspire, Life ~in our neck of the woods, store Tagged With: #PrayBig online store, Alice Circle, Love Squared Designs

Order Karmen's 6-Week Prayer Journal "When You Pray, Big Things Happen"

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