To connect more with my online friends and readers here, I’ve decided to update my About Me page by introducing you to the real no-filters-allowed ME! I know you might say “well I already know Kimberly.” And though that may be true, if we met through this ministry, you probably know a filtered version of me and my life.
The Lie
The truth is I long for deeper connections with my sisters in Christ. If you only see what I post next to a photograph of a Bible journaling page or my creative notes on His Palette’s social media accounts, you might possibly assume I have it all together. However, that is a lie.
The Good
Let’s start with the good news first and I don’t mean THE Good News 😉 . I truly am just a Jesus freak with a journaling Bible. I fell in love with this creative worship process the very first time I learned about it. The fact is I adore Bible journaling and honestly feel called to share it with others, so they too can get excited about God’s Word.
The Past
But knowing that, does not make anything easy for me. Being a Christian, in no way rids me of my faults. I struggle a lot! I mess up even more. And I ask God to forgive me on a daily basis.
So what is the truth?
In my teen years, I ran away from home, took drugs, and dated a known Southern California gang member. I cursed like a sailor. I smoked. I got drunk a lot. And I was absolutely dreadful to my mom and dad.
Fast forward to my 20s, I went clubbing five days a week and again, I got drunk a lot. There were times I went to work in the morning still drunk from the night before.
I got married just a week after my 23rd birthday. You’re right! I was so so young. Yet I felt (like most 20-somethings do) that I was mature beyond my years and I knew what was what. I know! That statement is laughable now, at 49 years old.
I lived an average life, raising two children practically on my own. My husband, who wasn’t and isn’t a Christian, always worked long hours, so for much of our 25 year marriage he wasn’t around.
The Terms
Because of reasons too personal for me to comfortably share with the world, I left my husband in 2018. Though I fought and prayed for our marriage to be restored throughout our entire relationship, in October 2018 an event took place that forced me to consider that my marriage was possibly not of God. And after speaking to a friend and pastor, I came to terms with the idea that my marriage was clearly something I alone wanted. The truth? My husband left me years before (emotionally, spiritually, etc). We just happened to share living quarters.
Please know, this idea or “truth” was extremely difficult for me to accept. I was terrified of disappointing God because I knew he was not pleased with divorce.
Now I tell you these things as a broken Christian woman. I am a sister who has made some seriously awful choices in my life. But I’m standing before you now, warts and all. To be my most authentic, raw, unfiltered self, you need to see the ugly parts of me.
The Present
Currently, I am a mother of two ah-mazing adult children and I suffer with chronic pain and depression. This is just a couple of reasons it is nearly impossible for me to work a normal 9 to 5. Some days are simply too challenging [mostly due to pain] for me to get myself out of bed. So I pour every bit of myself (what I possibly can) into my adult children, the Bible journaling community, my print shop, and this ministry.
I am a lover of all things 80s and 90s, including sky high Aqua-net infused hair. I am an unlikely fan of rap and R & B. And I’m still trying to convince my doctor that a lifetime of loud and heavy bass is not a contributing factor to my severe hearing loss in both ears. I love making people laugh, even at my own expense or by saying things that could be considered a bit inappropriate.
I love my family and friends deeply, even when I’m annoyed or about to lose my mind (up in here. up in here.). LOL!
The Hope / My Hope
I pray that once you’ve read this, you’ll continue to look around and be a part of the His Palette community. I pray that the things I’ve revealed here today, give you the hope and the courage it takes to be a Christian in these modern times. I pray the truths I’ve shared bring us closer together and connect us in ways we didn’t know were possible.
Sisters, I promise to continue giving you all I can of myself and of my creativity. My hope is, while you are here, you will feel supported, encouraged, and loved. God adores you. And so do I.