friends – Page 2

The Hammer of Hope

September 17, 2019 by Kristin 1 Comment

“The Hammer of Hope” by Katie Jo Hook is a beautiful book filled with truth. This children’s book starts with the biblical story of Noah building the ark, continues to Joseph working as a carpenter and raising a special son, and ends with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each story is woven together with the hammer being an important tool.

Like the hammer, our lives are a tool God uses to build our trust in His plan and give hope to others around us.

I was honored to endorse this book: “In ‘The Hammer of Hope,’ Katie Hook shares the gospel message in a way kids will understand. Her rhythmic words mimic the subtle beat of a simple hammer building faithfulness and hope in people’s lives. I could see this book becoming a family’s favorite read-a-long story.”

About this book

“The Hammer of Hope” is a 40-page paperback book published by Morgan James Kids (September 2019). It’s aimed for kids 6 to 12 years old, but my younger daughter (who turns 4 this week) loves the rhythmic words and beautiful pictures. As a mom, I love resources that prompt questions about Jesus like this story does. It’s available on Amazon, Katie’s website, and other bookstores.

About the author

Katie Jo Hook and I attended the same college – go, Murray State – but I got to know her when she and her husband lived a couple of apartment buildings down from Greg and me during our first year of marriage in Lexington, Kentucky. At Murray State, she double majored in elementary education and special education. She grew up a preacher’s kid and lived in a ministry where she saw the grace of Jesus Christ change lives. After teaching special education and having three children, God is continuing to use her life to tell people about Jesus. She lives in southern Illinois. Learn more about her and her projects on her website.

About the illustrator

Nathan Corbit is an artist native to southern Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in art education at Southern Illinois University and his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. He lives in a small community with his wife and three children. Along with making art, he also teaches.

*****

I received a free, advanced copy of this book as a gift for endorsing it. But I really love it and my kids actually read it.

Seasons of belonging

August 7, 2019 by Kristin 5 Comments

Even in my favorite season, I’ve hit some bumps. I’m enough of an extrovert that I’ve always created the community I crave. But, honestly, I haven’t had the energy to invest in relationships, so this summer has been filled with my few closest friends and whoever invited me into their life.

Kristen Strong’s encouragement and guidance in “Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People” helped me find my place in my own season of letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things, processing how sorrow and hope can co-exist, and finding renewed perspective in belonging right where I am. She’s spurred me on to seek God’s beauty and adventure right in front of me. While doing so, God filled my soul when I feel empty and reminded me of his promises for me and my place with Him.

One of the gifts this summer was a Bible study my friend Megan hosted. Honestly, I shy away from regular commitments in the summer, but I knew when she asked me about it in the spring that I wanted to go. I didn’t anticipate backing off from some of my usual invitations to others. I didn’t realize sorrow could lead to feelings of not belonging. I didn’t know at the time I would need for someone to welcome me in. (Plus I’ve learned a lot from studying Hebrews.)

This summer has definitely been a season of growing down, letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things about myself and my family. My tendency is to make plans and invite people over and fill the wide-open spaces. But this summer I drew the circle a little smaller and found fresh perspective in belonging right where I am.

“The specifics of how we relax in this growing down season aren’t important. Using the time and not wasting it is. This is not the time to fret about growing up or out to be seen in our belonging place. This is the season to be known by growing down, to build a stronger sense of belonging that is rooted in Christ, in whom our closeness overshadows our place here on earth.”

– Kristen Strong in “Back Roads to Belonging”

Kristen’s words in that paragraph and her whole book came when I needed them most. I preordered “Back Roads to Belonging” long before this season and then I received a copy for being on the launch team. It’s one of those books that literally feels good to hold and figuratively feels good for your soul.

I actually gave my early copy away to my friend Becky who moved at the end of July because she’s been important to my belonging — to this season, to this community, and to Christ. (I also gave her a copy of the mix I made for myself because I needed to hear truths of about how sorrow & hope could mingle together. Here’s that playlist, if you’re interested.)

My friendship with Becky surprised me in the sweetest ways this summer because I didn’t see all our conversations and time around tables coming. But God knew. He knew I needed her wisdom and authenticity. He knew she needed to belong in a different way too. He knew things we haven’t even learned yet because that’s how he provides and sustains us in our eternal belonging.

I’m grateful for my own back roads, Kristen’s words, and the belonging that happens here. As my kids head back to school and we fall into a different routine, I’ve still got belonging on my mind. So here’s to saying yes to others, welcoming others in even when it looks different than expected, and believing hospitality matters because it helps heal.

So, in Kristen’s words: “When you believe you’re in a season of wandering around a barren belonging landscape, may you know you don’t wander purposelessly. God is aware of every bump and bend, and Jesus walks with you through every setback and delay. May you never stop participating in your own life, even through the mystery — because God is moving for you in your life. May you remember Jesus was brought outside so you could be brought inside forever.”

About the author & book

Kristen Strong, author of “Girl Meets Change,” writes as a friend offering meaningful encouragement for each season of life so you can see it with more hope and less worry. She and her U.S. Air Force veteran husband, David, have three children. Together this military family zigzagged across the country (and one ocean) several times before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can find her at her website, DaySpring’s (in)courage, and on Instagram.

“Back Roads to Belonging” is a 208-page paperback published by Revell (Aug. 6, 2019).

Giveaway

And I’m sharing a copy of this book with one of you. Thanks for being here and sharing pieces of your story. Use the Rafflecopter below for various entries. I’ll randomly choose a winner Tuesday, Aug. 13.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stories from the Porch in June

June 26, 2019 by Kristin 8 Comments

I’m going to live in denial that the summer – and the year! – is halfway over. Somebody posted yesterday we were six months from Christmas, so I think I’m going to ignore that countdown for now too. Goodness, I love this time of the year and I want to soak it in. For me, part of soaking it in is remembering what has happened, so that’s what’s happening here. Thanks for joining me on the porch.

Highlights

We started the month with a trip. I know, that’s a nutty plan given how our May was, but I gave Greg tickets to the Cardinals versus Cubs baseball game in St. Louis way back in April before my life turned extra crazy. So we spent two days in St. Louis, and it was really fun. We ate at Fitz’s, where they also bottle delicious soda. We went to the first half of the game that then included a 3 1/2-hour rain delay that sent us back to the hotel and into bed. The next day we went to Grant’s Farm for the first time and really enjoyed it. We ended the weekend by eating at the Boathouse at Forest Park, another favorite STL restaurant.

We were happy to return home and have a stretch of “normal” days that involved inviting friends over to swim, exploring our creeks and land, and being together without an agenda. (I’m also a little obsessed with that field of amber waves of grain in the picture above that we happened upon!)

My sister, Cassie, know lives just four hours away. Considering for the majority of her adulthood and marriage, she’s lived across the world in New Zealand, a dozen hours away in Dallas, and about 11 hours away in Buffalo, NY, I’ll take four hours! She moved to Bloomington, Indiana, this month with her husband and their three kids and after a couple of weeks decided to capitalize on our closeness. She and her kids (and our mom) came to visit and swim. I love watching our kids be together and I love being grownup sisters.

Then last weekend five of my favorite writer friends gathered at my lake house for a retreat. It didn’t really end up feeling like a retreat.

We all came with ideas and disappointments and full schedules and emotions. People had trouble getting here and one of us from the usual group couldn’t be here. We moved locations because my lake house was without power for 18 hours.

But we laughed (and cried), ate several meals together, brainstormed and encouraged one another to work on new projects, watched two movies, and are thankful our usual Voxer conversations came to life around tables and in living rooms. God sure has been teaching me this year about surrendering expectations and holding plans loosely, and I’m thankful to have these friends alongside me – even fro our scattered physical locations for the most of the year.

Favorite Things

Writers’ Retreat – While it didn’t feel like much of a retreat, I’m glad we did it. I call it a writers’ retreat, but it’s about so much more than that. We do talk about our writing – whether that’s actually blogging, book writing, podcasting, or creating products. But we also talk about our ministries and motherhood and marriage and all sorts of other things that don’t have to begin with M. At our retreat, each of us brought our favorite things for each other, so that was fun to share.

And, yes, here are links to all their websites: Mary Carver. Anna Rendell. Amanda Conquers. Kayse Pratt from Anchored Women. Erika Dawson from Faithful Moms. Christen Price.

Yes to Cucumbers Face Wipes – I included these in my gifts to my friends. And I use them every day, usually on my face but also sometimes on my feet.

Burt’s Bees lip balm – I especially like the coconut & pair and mango flavors, but I bought an assorted pack to share with my friends.

(I’m sharing a favorite Summer Not-To-Do List and playlist to my email #PorchStories friends, so be sure you’re signed up. If you’re not already, you can join in the fun here.)

From the bookshelf

“Only Ever Her” by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen – I really loved how this story was told from how it affected different characters. There were lots of relationships and connections intertwined with the suspense of what happened. This was one I didn’t want to put down.

“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover – It’s been a while since I read a whole book in a day, but that’s what happened with this one. The characters are dealing with lots of heavy subjects, such as abuse, heartbreak, and death, but the writing also includes some sweet, funny details.

“The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good On You” by Lisa-Jo Baker – I actually read this one in my crazy May days, but I wrote a review and shared about the fun preorder bonuses this month, so I wanted to make sure y’all knew about it before it officially releases July 23.

“Britfield & the Lost Crown” by C.R. Stewart – Cate reviewed this adventure book for elementary and middle school readers on the blog this month. She has read it multiple times, so be sure to check out her review if the kids in your life are looking for a book recommendation. It’s the first in what’s expected to be a series. My girl is ready for the next one, that’s for sure!

Stay tuned because on Friday I’ll have a complete list of all the books I’ve read so far this year with links to any reviews I’ve written. Of course, here are some tips on how I manage to read several books a month.

On the screen

“Aladdin” – I really loved Will Smith as the genie and loved seeing this classic Disney story truly brought to life. We’ve loved the theatrical version of Aladdin we’ve seen on the Disney cruises, so our expectations were pretty high, but my kids and I all give this one all the thumbs up. Plus I love that there are good family movies in the theater this summer. Greg took the kids to see “Toy Story 4” last weekend while I was retreating with my blogger friends.

“Second Act” – This movie had more substance and emotions than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. I hadn’t heard of it, but my pop culture expert friend Mary Carver brought it to our retreat and we stayed up way too late watching it one night.

“Isn’t It Romantic?” – Again, I hadn’t heard of this one, but Mary came through with more movie goodness. I literally laughed out loud multiple times and Rebel Wilson wasn’t as crass as I thought she might be.

“Designated Survivor” – I am so glad Netflix picked up this show to continue with season three, but a new character is crasser than the original ones. Somebody told the whole show gets edgier, so I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’m a couple of episodes in and want to keep watching at this point.

How’s your June been? What stories would you bring to the porch?

*****

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