books

Stories from the Porch in September

September 26, 2018 by Kristin 13 Comments

As you read this, Greg and I are in Washington, D.C.! He’s been there before, but this is my first time and I know I’ll have so many stories to bring home. We were invited to attend the annual Angels in Adoption events because U.S. Rep. James Comer nominated me for this recognition for adoption advocates. I’m honored and excited to be part of this and see this city!

(You can read more about my recognition here.)

Highlights

Fall decided to show up on the day of Rachel’s birthday party, which was going to be a swim party had the weather cooperated better. Even so, we’ve had a fun time celebrating my baby girl who is now three years old! The celebration included two goldfish that now live in a bowl on my kitchen counter. They don’t have names yet, but they only cost 28 cents each.

Favorite things

Race finishes – I don’t like to run, even though I went through a phase several years ago when I tried to like it. But I love finishing races. Turns out, I get teary at finish lines even when I’m not running! Ben is running cross country this year. As an elementary student, he runs a mile at the meets, and I love seeing him cross the finish line. I also love the team spirit I’ve seen from these kids.

Ticket to Ride – This isn’t a new game around here, but it is new that both the big kids know how to play. I love being able to play games that aren’t Candy Land with them! (Here are some of our other favorite games!)

From the bookshelf

“Remember God” by Annie Downs – I preordered this book and then received a free copy of the audiobook. So I listened to Annie Downs tell me stories of remembering God as I picked up my kids from school, drove them soccer practice and horseback riding lessons, and ran errands. I loved hearing about cathedrals and her baptism. She welcomes God’s goodness and kindness when life is hard. She knows God prepares us for seasons and then walks into the changes with us. She recognizes the holy moments.

“It’s All Under Control: A Journey of Letting Go, Hanging On, and Finding a Peace You Almost Forgot Was Possible” by Jennifer Dukes Lee – I mentioned this book last month, but I read it this month. I like to have control, but God has been teaching me about surrender. If you’re like me in even the slightest, trying to hang on when you should let go and let go when you should hang on, then “It’s All Under Control” is a book you’ll want to read. These pages are full of encouragement, biblical truth for hanging on and letting go, and practical advice from an author who speaks like a friend. I underlined paragraphs my heart needed to hear, thought through the questions and exercises she had at the end of each chapter, and closed the book feeling like someone understands.

I also shared some of Jennifer’s wise words about how God’s got it – whatever it is in your life. I was so glad she could join us on the porch earlier this month with this message.

“White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege” by Amy Julia Becker – I’ve realized I certainly live a privileged life. But, after reading “White Picket Fences” by Amy Julia Becker, I understand privilege differently. That’s what sharing stories does for people. In this book, Amy Julia shares her story and challenges us to think about our own. “White Picket Fences” would make a great book study because there are so many discussion points. I’ve actually already recommended it a few times to real-life friends because certain passages reminded me of them or I recognized the importance of this message.

(I’ve always got book recommendations if you need more ideas! And I reviewed a new favorite this past month.)

On the screen

“Jack Ryan” – Greg and I binged this eight-episode season on Amazon Prime. I had to cover my eyes a few times because war is messy, but I really enjoyed the show.

“Suits” – We’re still making our way through this series on Amazon Prime, but we recently started season seven.

(Fun fact: Wendell Piece is in both these unrelated show as Robert Zane and James Greer!)

I’m looking forward to new TV episodes! I’ve got “Survivor,” “The Voice,” “The Resident,” “This is Us,” “Manifest,” and “Madam Secretary” set to record on my DVR.

What stories do you have to share from your September?

{Tweet that.}

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The Ministry of Ordinary Places

September 12, 2018 by Kristin 17 Comments

More than once, I’ve been restless and fully aware of God working to prepare me for something. When this has happened, I don’t know what that something is, but God has always proved himself faithful to continue what he starts.

That restless has started again. God has shown me some of where he’s leading me, but I get the feeling he’s not done in this season.

Meanwhile, I recently read “The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God’s Goodness Around You” by Shannan Martin. After a long break from non-fiction Christian living books, this was the perfect one for me right now. I marked paragraphs and jotted notes down because the message of loving people, opening your life, and letting God use us where we are echoed what God has been doing in my heart. Shannan’s words were a welcomed mixture of wise older sister and teammate.

“Though our lives feel ordinary and small, we’re compelled by the possibility of making a difference where problems loom large. We want to offer the hope of Christ in a world that feels increasingly fractured and gloomy. We believe we can be world shakers from our own little corners, where there are crumbs on the floor and no righteous plan for the dinner hour barreling toward us. We’re growing desperate to experience the mess of the gospel, trading our tight reins and safe ways for the mystery and mayhem of God’s kingdom making its way down.”

It was passages like that in the “The Ministry of Ordinary Places” that left me thinking and praying and hoping. I’ve texted friends sections that reminded me of them.

Chapters six and seven were especially healing for my soul as I wonder what next steps should be for our group that gathers most weeks at my house or in our community. Her words didn’t give me answers, but they gave me hope that God is near. I’m excitedly anticipating what God is going to continue to right here in our ordinary small-town life.

“These small moments, over time, stack into something much bigger than ourselves. One tiny risk, one inconvenience, one imperceptible nudge after another, and here we are, thick in community … . I won’t speak for you, but surrounded by cynics, worrywarts, doomsday prophets, and Facebook apologists with lofty solutions, I’d rather be a hope-holder with mud on my shoes.”

About the book

For Christ-followers living in an increasingly complicated world, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to live a life of intention and meaning. Where do we even begin?

In “The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God’s Goodness Around You,” Shannan Martin offers a surprisingly simple answer: uncover the hidden corners of our cities and neighborhoods and invest deeply in the lives of people around us. She walks us through her own discoveries about the vital importance of paying attention as well as the hard but rewarding truth about showing up and committing for the long haul. With transparency, humor, heart-tugging storytelling, and more than a little personal confession, Martin shows us no matter where we live or how much we have, as we learn what it is to be with people as Jesus was, we’ll find our very lives. The details will look quiet and ordinary, and the call will both exhaust and exhilarate us. But it will be the most worth-it adventure we will ever take.

This 240-page paperback book is published by Thomas Nelson (Oct. 9, 2018). You can preorder it now on Amazon or wherever else you like to buy books, and Shannan has some goodies for you if you do! For more info on this, visit the book’s website.

About the author

Shannan Martin is a speaker and writer who found her voice in the country and her story in the city. She and her jail-chaplain husband, Cory, have four funny children who came to them across oceans and rivers. They enjoy neighborhood life in Goshen, Indiana, a place they fall more in love with every year. Read more from her at her blog, Shannan Martin Writes.

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As a member of this book’s launch team, I did receive an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. But, y’all, I’d recommend Shannan Martin’s words all day long. Both her books are included in my favorite reads. Go ahead and also read “Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted” if you haven’t already. In fact, I quote that one in my own book as well as the FREE How to Serve Your Community with Your Family guide you get when you sign up to receive email updates from me. Plus I just started Hospitality Matters, an email series to encourage you to open your heart, your home, and your life – regardless of what season you’re in.

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Sharing a love for books

September 5, 2018 by Kristin 19 Comments

When I heard about a local Little Free Library right here in Murray, KY a couple of weeks ago, I knew I had to tell y’all about it. I met Lauren Smee a few years ago through mutual friends. I’m always glad when our paths cross in our small town because she’s always ready to recommend a good book or podcast and she’s a joy to be around.

Welcome Lauren to the porch today as she shares about her love of books and how her family’s Little Free Library came to be.

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“Little Free Library” was a phrase I heard for the first time about three years ago. “What a great idea,” I thought! Who doesn’t want convenient access to free books? You don’t even have to be fully dressed and presentable to grab a book? Sign me up! Flash forward to today and I now have my very own Little Free Library sitting at the edge of our yard just waiting to be discovered.

To explain how important reading and access to books is to me, I have to backtrack. Reading has always been a big part of my life. Some of my most vivid childhood memories are my mom reading and singing to my three siblings and me. We were homeschooled and frequent visitors to the Craighead County (Arkansas) Library. Because my parents were our main educators, they were able to frequently indulge our family’s love of reading. My mom’s story time voice was and is amazing! (She now does this for my own children in story time.) She brought books alive. I remember how I felt when awful Abigayle ran through the streets in “The Innkeeper’s Daughter” and how the strawberries smelled in “The Poky Little Puppy.”

As I got older, I would stay up for hours reading in my bed, long past the time I should have been asleep. Thankfully, I have been able to continue this practice in my adult life.

I remember when I finished graduate school and feeling immense relief that I could now pick up any book I wanted and read without the guilt of not reading a textbook. I prayed my children would love to read as well. So far, my two children who read absolutely love reading and my two non-reading children clamor to be read to!

I am an avid listener of Anne Bogel’s “What Should I Read Next” podcast. It was there I would hear guests talk about Little Free Libraries. Later, I searched Instagram and found these libraries are quite the trend – and one I wanted to be a part of.

Months ago, I had a passing conversation with my cousin Michael (who happens to be quite handy) about these tiny buildings that served such a big purpose. Little did I know that he and his wife started to work on building the library and called me a few months later to say, “We built this! We are going to come this weekend and put it in the ground for you!” I’m so grateful for people that use their God-given talents and bless others with them. While I wanted my own Little Free Library badly, I just was not able to devote the time and mental capacity to bring it to life.

The number one question I am asked is “What are the rules?” There are no rules! No book? No problem! We have had and will have so many donations. My biggest hope is that people continue to use it and tell their neighbors and friends.

Creating access to education and basic needs such as food and a safe neighborhood is everyone’s responsibility and I want to encourage everyone to consider how they can contribute. Maybe it is a freestanding food pantry or a park-based food program. Maybe it is your own Little Free Library. These concepts build community and ask people to look outside of themselves and serve others.

My hope for you is to read. Read to your children. Read to yourself. Read about the world, other cultures, and food. Read about things you disagree with. Allow yourself to have perspective and a level of empathy for others. That does not mean compromising your beliefs. Experience with your family what it feels like to walk through Narnia for the first time, or how Harry Potter felt when he first arrived at Hogwarts, and bring Bible stories to life! Last but not least, visit our library and others, often!

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Lauren Smee and her husband Shawn both work in employee wellness and recruitment at Murray State University in Murray, KY. Their four kids range from two to nine years old. As a family, they love to travel and, of course, read!

To make a donation or learn the exact location of this Little Free Library in Murray, Kentucky, email Lauren.

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