tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128546447991961652011-12-14T17:12:57.735-06:00noun /ˈhōmˌmākiNG/  The creation and management of a home, esp. as a pleasant place in which to live.Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-46992650963597628012011-12-02T16:25:00.074-06:002011-12-14T17:03:48.492-06:00

There are so many wonderful people who are sharing in our excitement about your upcoming arrival.  I thought I would share with you some of the sweet messages that have come our way since announcing the news. Amy Kletecka WeberYay!! So glad you're letting everyone know!!! I LOVE you and that precious baby so much!!!! Martha Ann Pratt Yay!!! :D You know we are SO excited!!! Jennifer Duvall Janney

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-14816389096512677892011-11-27T17:05:00.003-06:002011-12-14T17:10:24.742-06:00

This was an especially wonderful Thanksgiving, knowing you are on your way!  Daddy and I got to spend the holiday with my family in Alabama.  Everyone was there.  Your cousins Jonathan, Zachary, and Nicolas are very happy to know they have a new cousin coming this spring.  When we were sitting around the family room after dinner, my sister Kelly asked if I thought I was beginning to show yet. 

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-22822369022125197152011-11-10T16:21:00.010-06:002011-12-14T17:05:10.572-06:00

I went to the doctor for my 12 week check-up and got to hear your heartbeat again.  All of the test results officially came back from the second ultrasound and everything seems to be going well.  So, your Daddy finally said it was a good time to let our friends and family know about you! He was so cute.  I think he told every friend he had that very afternoon!  He's so excited about being a

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-23518196417543420322011-11-09T16:15:00.001-06:002011-12-14T16:20:58.388-06:00

I have to say, I feel so very blessed!  The first trimester has come and gone and I haven't had nearly the negative side effects as I hear so many complain about.  I had a little bit of morning sickness between weeks 6 - 10 but it was never really that bad.  I did have some food aversions, though.  Your poor Daddy couldn't eat chicken or fish at home because those did not sit well with me at all!

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-70508492277174487392011-11-07T16:09:00.010-06:002011-12-14T16:13:51.083-06:00

Because I am what they call "advanced maternal age" we had a second ultasound around 11 1/2 weeks to take a closer look at how you are developing.  They also did a blood test.  It was so wonderful to get to see you again.  You've definitely grown in a few short weeks!  This time not only was I able to see your heart beating, but I got to hear it for the first time, too.  So amazing.  You were

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-29033414467310188652011-10-12T15:59:00.012-05:002011-12-14T16:09:00.138-06:00

We went to the doctor today to confirm that we were pregnant, and during our first ultrasound, there you were!  It was pretty emotional to actually see your heart beating a strong 165 beats per minute.  I looked over at your Daddy and said, "Look at that!  There's a baby in there!"  You are due on May 23, 2012. 

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-21080412541708175342011-09-28T15:50:00.020-05:002011-12-14T15:59:11.663-06:00

I just couldn't believe it.  After only 4 short months of trying, we got the most wonderful news ever...we're pregnant!  It was so fun to walk in to Rodney's office in the morning before he left for a meeting and show him.  We both scratched our heads and wondered if it was actually true.  We couldn't be any happier.  Now it was time to call the doctor to schedule a visit for confirmation. 

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-44766721495843649762011-09-06T16:34:00.009-05:002011-09-06T16:34:00.042-05:00

After eating delicious, flavorful steak at two different friends' homes, I figured it was time to learn the trick and do this at home!  I marinaded the filet in balsamic vinegar with salt and pepper.  Then I actually sliced them in half to butterfly them for more even cooking.  I have cooked these outside on the grill but I really love to just broil them in the oven.  It's even quicker and they

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-7060370737572120412011-09-03T15:32:00.018-05:002011-09-03T15:32:00.688-05:00

I love roasted chicken!  Love it.  After buying these little beauties pre-made at the grocery store for years I figured surely I could do this at home! Take a whole chicken (remove innards and rinse and pat dry) and tie the legs together with a little twine.   Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Also preheat your pan! Lightly coat your chicken with some olive oil and then some salt and pepper.  

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-85866734049996046732011-09-02T16:31:00.011-05:002011-09-02T16:31:00.352-05:00

I grew up eating meat, potatoes, and corn at the majority of our family dinners.  I don't know if that is the reason I am no longer a big potato fan, but I can typically leave any potato dish.  My husband, on the other hand, loves them!  So, I figured I better figure out a couple of potato recipes I would enjoy as well. I can't believe how simple roasted potatoes are.  I just put a little olive

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-6994898951778591722011-08-29T16:30:00.006-05:002011-08-29T16:30:00.923-05:00

One of the simplest pleasures I find is cutting flowers from our yard and bringing them inside the house.  We happen to have many rose bushes that bloom almost all summer long.  My Mom gave me this gorgeous rose bowl when I got married this spring and it's such a joy to pull it out with some roses from the garden.

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-32075157228881234772011-08-26T14:27:00.016-05:002011-08-28T17:30:19.011-05:00

Just as with pancakes, I don't make waffles from scratch either.  With the help of some Hungry Jack pancake and waffle mix, however.  I make a mean waffle. Waffles were always such a "treat" whenever I would eat at a breakfast buffet.  When my husband and I were registering for wedding gifts, I picked out a waffle maker.  He was a bit hesitant as he didn't think I would actually use it, but I am

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-35299033443161857542011-08-23T13:28:00.024-05:002011-08-28T17:25:08.956-05:00

I first made this simple, chocolate no bake pie about 10 years ago.  I had completely forgotten about it in my years of "non-cooking" in between but on a recent trip to the grocery store, I looked up and saw "Dream Whip."  I just knew I had to try this again. There are basic recipes on the box of this whipped topping mix, but I like to change it up just a little.  Mix 2 envelopes of the Dream

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-51258340555650283532011-08-21T13:24:00.011-05:002011-08-28T17:15:22.448-05:00

I do not make pancakes from scratch.  Not yet, anyway.  Some of my favorite pancakes are from The Cracker Barrel, and they sell their mix.  So convenient.  I had made them for years but couldn't figure out how to get mine to taste as delicious as theirs.  A couple of months ago I actually read the directions, not just the ingredients, and saw the missing link.  Butter.  I had been just spraying

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-21940464961764478212011-08-19T16:23:00.015-05:002011-08-28T17:08:49.795-05:00

Just look at these chicken breasts!  I am definitely a grilling novice, but I have to say that my first attempt turned out beautifully. First, I marinated my chicken breasts in a baggie in the fridge all afternoon.  I just purchased a bottled marinade but I'm sure making one from scratch will be quite simple, too.  I like the balsamic vinegar flavored marinades as they are a great punch of

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-462197616420753822011-08-16T17:20:00.000-05:002011-08-16T17:20:22.977-05:00

I love lasagna but it always seemed to be too complicated for me to want to make.  I knew I could, but just didn't want to bother.  That was until I read up on recipe variations and learned more about "no boil" noodles.  You can use the recipe (below) or I just make my homemade meat sauce and use it instead. Ingredients: 2 large cans tomato sauce 2 lbs meat (turkey, beef or I use a mix of beef,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-43252214667098848002011-08-14T17:20:00.000-05:002011-08-16T17:36:07.027-05:00

This is a great side dish for any Italian meal as the flavors blend beautifully.  Next time you plan to grill up some zucchini, try this tasty alternative instead.  (Recipe is from "Italian:  The Essence of Mediterranean Cuisine" by Carla Capalbo.) Ingredients:10 sun-dried tomatoes (dry or preserved in oil)3/4 cup warm water5 tbsp olive oil1 large onion, finely sliced2 garlic cloves, finely

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-33631524739984936862011-08-12T16:50:00.001-05:002011-08-22T17:21:45.829-05:00

Once I discovered how easy homemade marinara sauce was, I made up another batch, doubling it this time.  I used some for spaghetti and meat sauce the first night and froze a couple more batches for the future. I boiled some penne pasta and put it in a casserole dish, covered by the homemade sauce and sprinkled mozzarella on the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for an additional 10 minutes.  Serve!  

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-71999427954291544482011-08-07T19:28:00.001-05:002011-08-07T20:25:02.076-05:00

I am always looking for new side dishes, especially ones that I can bake!  This super easy recipe is something I was introduced to at a friend's house for dinner last month.  It's delicious and quick to put together.  I think this would be a perfect dish for potlucks as well. Ingredients: 1 box Jiff corn muffin mix 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup sugar 1 stick melted butter 1 can yellow sweet corn,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-68306747274771831352011-08-03T16:33:00.005-05:002011-08-16T16:54:43.304-05:00

One of my husband's favorite meals is pasta!  Who doesn't love a great pasta dish?  I've always been pretty simplistic in making spaghetti but I thought since I'm cooking more, why not make my own sauce?  After some web searching I decided on My Grandmother's Spaghetti from Epicurius.com.   I made mine in a dutch oven so it could simmer all afternoon.  I chopped the onions (which always make me

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-77825694725417345782011-07-31T09:52:00.016-05:002011-08-01T11:07:17.197-05:00

At my last neighborhood book club meeting, we all shared what some of our "simple pleasures" were.  Mine was a great cup of coffee, and that was before I discovered that I could make ice coffee at home!   One of the ladies said she loved fresh flowers in her home.  So do I!  Unless you are allergic to them, I can't imagine anyone not loving the beauty and fragrance they bring to a room.  She said

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-24059259470973879542011-07-29T21:51:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:11:48.563-05:00

The first time I grilled chicken breast this summer, it was shockingly great!  I couldn't believe how moist and flavorful it was.  I contribute that to a great marinade and a meat thermometer.  So, I thought I would do it again.  Unfortunately, I tried a different marinade and the result was a very bland, yet still perfectly grilled, chicken breast for dinner.  My husband and I didn't even

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-40562323992845316092011-07-20T19:33:00.015-05:002011-07-29T22:11:37.749-05:00

In an attempt to find some new recipes for dinner, a friend of mine suggested I visit The Pioneer Woman website.  While there are many savory dishes that are peaking my interest, I was immediately drawn to her "perfect ice coffee" recipe.   I love my morning coffee but have never made the cold variation at home as it was always too watered down for my taste.  So, I decided to give it a try and

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-88759881288971043302011-07-11T09:22:00.002-05:002011-07-29T22:12:29.773-05:00

I have always wanted a craft room.  Someplace I can spread out and not have to pack everything back up at the end of a day.  One of the many blessings I have received by moving into my new home with my husband is a place to call my own.  I'm so excited! So, while it is still taking me a while to unpack all of the boxes, one of the first things I went on a search for was a way to store all of my

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-70669786856468554362011-06-29T21:21:00.000-05:002011-07-29T21:21:28.500-05:00

Like many others, I find myself very "on" and "off" in regards to my blogging efforts.  I've stopped and started so many times over the past several years it's no wonder I can't get in the groove or gather any followers.  What remains, however, is that I find myself consistently writing in my head.  I don't know if anyone out there is interested, but I'm recommitting to documenting some of my

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-71592074532561893632011-05-06T11:57:00.000-05:002011-05-06T12:06:29.323-05:00

For all of you who have asked ... our wedding pictures are now available for viewing. You can login to see them all now by visiting Phindy Studios website and clicking on "proofing." We're listed under "Rodney Hamilton and Kimm McEntire." Here's a sneak peak ...

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-46846844131878174492011-03-25T11:07:00.000-05:002011-05-06T11:08:39.351-05:00

WE ARE SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU! BLESSINGSfrom: JILL AND JEFF FORBESS3/18/2011 9:15:56 PMSo happy for both of you! And so looking forward to the big day!from: Jodie Wait3/9/2011 9:16:47 PMCongratulations!!from: Cathy Stevens1/21/2011 8:52:37 AMlove you both !from: mom mac1/15/2011 9:03:08 PMUL and I are thrilled for you both, looking forward to sharing it with you!from: Aunt Sherry1/13/2011 8:10:39

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-43439159206392265152011-01-16T11:08:00.000-06:002011-05-06T11:55:04.940-05:00

Kimm and Rodney plan to honeymoon in Quebec City. We're looking forward to exploring this French Canadian city in the snow!We'll be staying at Le Chateau Frontenac.

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-25038816780142948652011-01-06T10:28:00.000-06:002011-05-06T10:30:21.029-05:00

We have made parking arrangements with the Nashville City Center which is conveniently located across the street from The Hermitage Hotel. The driving directions that were included with your invitation are to the parking structure!! Please tell the attendant you are attending the McEntire-Hamilton wedding.The Nashville City Center is located at 511 Union Street. The Hermitage Hotel is located

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-68252606167374838742011-01-02T10:30:00.000-06:002011-05-06T10:43:55.751-05:00

There are rooms available at the Hermitage Hotel for those who wish to stay there. We do not have a room block at this time as we did not foresee that enough guests would wish to stay there. Should 10 or more people want to stay at the Hermitage, we can make those arrangements for a discounted rate. This is a 5 star hotel. The standard room rates start at $259 plus an additional $25 a day

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-27224509846432009662010-12-20T11:03:00.000-06:002011-05-06T11:06:51.502-05:00

For those of you who mind find yourself here a day or two before or after the wedding, we thought we'd share some of our favorite places to eat. So, if you see any of these fine establishments, you just might want to check them out for yourselves! Pucketts Grocery - Located in both Downtown Franklin & Nashville Cajun Steamer - Cool Springs, near Hilton Garden Inn

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-26669092625385696052010-12-16T10:48:00.000-06:002011-05-06T11:03:21.078-05:00

As it turns out our wedding weekends happens to land during the start or end of a lot of our guests' spring breaks! So while that means we may miss many of you, it also means many more of you will be able to join us! For those of you looking to expand your trip to visit the area, great news! There is a LOT to do and see in Nashville!The Adventure Science Center The Nashville Zoo The Ryman

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-36160126737405574142010-12-08T14:52:00.001-06:002011-07-29T22:14:15.361-05:00

We all have Christmas traditions, or anti-traditions, for some. I look forward to breaking out my favorite Christmas music right on Thanksgiving to officially start the season for myself. Some years I get so antsy I even start early. For me, music has always been my gateway to feeling connected to something bigger than myself. There's something about putting the simple lyrics to a melody

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-91974094333350709522010-12-06T10:23:00.000-06:002011-05-06T10:28:12.105-05:00

Flights may be booked to Nashville International Airport (BNA). Family Members: Once you have your travel plans, please let either Kimm or Rodney know when you will be arriving and departing. Nashville is conveniently located within 500 miles of over 50% of the US population! (Yes, that is the Realtor in me quoting that statistic.) There are many ways in and out and through Nashville. We

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-6780220800752966732010-12-01T10:04:00.000-06:002011-05-06T10:23:54.428-05:00

Rodney and Kimm will be getting married at the historic Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee in March. The Hermitage HotelThe wedding ceremony will be in the Veranda Room.A cocktail hour will immediately follow the ceremony in the Hermitage Lobby.There will be a sit down dinner and plenty of dancing in the Grand Ballroom for our reception.

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-69097401911873084902010-11-20T10:44:00.000-06:002011-05-06T10:48:24.275-05:00

Kimm's attendantsKelly McEntire Cimino, Matron of Honor, Bride's SisterAmy Kletecka Weber, Bridesmaid, Bride's FriendCarleigh Underwood, Flower Girl, Groom's NieceDe Ann Underwood, Reader, Groom's SisterWanda Hadley, Soloist, Groom's FriendRodney's attendantsMark Pratt, Best Man, Groom's FriendMichael McEntire, Usher and Reader, Bride's BrotherJoseph Cimino, Usher, Bride's Brother-in-LawJeremy

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-18902014996543582852010-10-06T09:47:00.000-05:002011-05-06T09:56:14.297-05:00

Kimm McEntire is a REALTOR with Benchark Realty in Brentwood, TN. Kimm was born in Saginaw, MI but spent most of her childhood in Decatur, AL. She is the youngest of 3 children (yes, the baby!) and is the proud Aunt to her nephews. She graduated from the American School of Paris, France in 1993. Kimm received a BA in English Literature from the University of Califonia, Santa Barbara in 1998.

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-59260912491970905142010-10-02T09:56:00.000-05:002011-05-06T10:51:19.785-05:00

The first time I heard one of my friends ask Rodney how we met he said, "I picked her up out of a line-up." Hmmm. I'd never thought of it that way. We were introduced to each other through Match.com. He emailed me. We exchanged a couple of brief emails and met shortly thereafter. I joke with him now about how nervous I was on our first date because we hadn't had a single conversation

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-850328205559570242010-09-30T10:00:00.000-05:002011-05-06T10:04:15.208-05:00

Rodney and I had actually been talking about getting married for a couple of months and we even went ring shopping together at the end of June. So, I knew "it" was coming but I didn't know when or where. He had talked about going to New York City for a weekend trip since pretty early on in our relationship and we had decided that the fall would be a pretty nice time to do so. We had been having

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-82564608483838937792009-10-28T18:51:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:14:26.100-05:00

What I Thought I Wanted by Sara Groves Tuxedo in the closet, gold band in a box Two days from the altar she went and called the whole thing off What he thought he wanted, what he got instead Leaves him broken and grateful I passed understanding a long, long time ago And the simple home of systems and answers we all know What I thought I wanted, what I got instead Leaves me broken and somehow

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-63316380099214298142009-07-13T18:53:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:00:51.329-06:00

The Bright Red HatThe glance of a female, in a mirror ...At 2 she looks into the mirror and sees a princess.At 7 she she sees herself as the beautiful Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.At 14 she sees herself as a young lady, but fat with pimples and thinks she can't possibly be seen this way. "How awful!" she says ... At 20 years of age she sees herself as too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-85404529037627432622009-05-12T18:56:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:14:36.391-05:00

I heard this song for the first time a couple of weeks ago at my church's Sunday worship service. It speaks to me, exactly where I am in this moment... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYK6TxWX7s This is my prayer in the desert When all that's within me feels dry This is my prayer in my hunger and need My God is the God who provides This is my prayer in the fire In weakness or trial or pain

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-54425730191738045062009-05-12T18:54:00.000-05:002009-11-28T18:56:12.158-06:00

I know that's a movie set in Kenya and starring Kim Basinger but it has been the subtitle of my life for the past 5 months. I still dream of Africa. Malawi specifically, and I dream about it at least once if not twice a week. I can still picture the beautiful faces of the people I met there. I hear the children's laughter and I hum their contagious tunes. I don't know what these dreams mean for

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-7934653885358219832008-12-12T18:59:00.001-06:002011-07-29T22:14:45.184-05:00

Why did I go? What did I hope to learn from going? About a year and a half ago, I began to feel a yearning in my heart to "go somewhere," to "do something." I was feeling very complacent in my "good" job, my "nice" home and my "great" community but I felt like something was missing. Having lived overseas before I was actually longing to leave the country again. I wanted to travel somewhere,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-49016715829441678132008-12-10T19:00:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:04:54.183-06:00

I've been back from Malawi for 2 1/2 weeks now but in many ways I feel like I'm still trying to adjust to being home. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about what I experienced and the people I met there. I'm not sure what to "do" with that yet and although I think about it constantly I haven't written yet because I don't know where to start. I've been asked by many of you for

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-69741216573619310932008-12-01T19:43:00.001-06:002011-07-29T22:13:22.049-05:00

THANK YOU!!! Thank you to all of my Malawi Mission Trip PRAYER and FINANCIAL Supporters • Allison Francis • Amy & Jeremy Weber • Amy Burns • Angela Jones • Annie & Derrick Cozart • Aunt Heidi & Uncle Don Newland • Aunt Sherry & Uncle Larry Simpson • Becky & Jon Lowe • Beth Torrence • Bonnie Gloth • Brandon Hall • Brooke (Baumer) & Tom Crawford • Chris Jones • Cousin Jenny Newland •

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-33421159631473936592008-11-18T19:04:00.001-06:002011-07-29T22:13:50.768-05:00

Hi! Your Aunt Kimmi got you each something special from Lake Malawi on Saturday! This is a picture of Godfrey, the man who made your gift for each of you. :) I love you! Xoxoxo

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-30275269826773704102008-11-18T19:01:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:03:44.088-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything about my time here in Malawi, so here's a little update on some things that have been going on since last Friday...Friday we spent the morning at the school in Kauma Village. It was seriously a beautiful morning that I can’t even begin to describe here. There were over 200 kids there that day and I feel like it was one of the best experiences of the

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-76344166800241104282008-11-08T19:10:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:11:15.405-06:00

It's Saturday evening in Malawi right now. We've been here for just over a week now ... and what an amazing week it's been! There are so many things to say and I don't know where to start.We do have internet access now. Apparently the "tower" was down when we got here so that's why we couldn't get online. I've been able to email some this past week but we're up pretty early, busy all day long,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-87944581766665941842008-11-08T19:08:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:09:55.174-06:00

Apparently the brick-layers LOVE me! Teehee. Here’s the short version of what happened our first full day on the jobsite …Them: “How old are you?”Me: “33”Them: “How many babies do you have?”Me: “None.” (then, I have to go on further explain due to the language barrier and their complete disbelief …”zero,” “no babies,” etc)Them: “What?! Are you married?”Me: “No.”Them: “What?! Why not?!”Me: “

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-76296587930214219002008-11-08T19:07:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:08:32.456-06:00

Here's a snapshot of what a typical day looked like this past week ...Wake up at 6:30am. Breakfast at 7:15. Leave at 7:45 for Adziwa, the community where we are building the houses. Each of us will work at various tasks with local workers (digging trenches, sifting dirt, making bricks, working with mortar, transferring bricks from one location to another, etc). At 10 am on Tues, Wed, and Thurs a

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-13700961391852470732008-11-08T19:06:00.001-06:002011-07-29T22:14:00.838-05:00

Your Aunt Kimmi loves you very much! I know tomorrow is your day to pray for me with Grandma. Thanks for doing that for me! I can feel it! I love you and miss you very much. Xoxo

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-47769060946842479042008-11-02T19:11:00.000-06:002009-11-28T19:12:46.690-06:00

Greetings from Malawi! Well, they say to always expect the unexpected. Thankfully we made it here safely on Friday. We’re adjusting to the African mindset … a very slow way of life. Things aren’t quite as we planned. Unfortunately, there’s no air conditioning so for those of you who know me well can imagine … I’ve had a little bit of a meltdown of my own. Today went better than last night so

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-82250963923768441912008-10-30T19:12:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:13:43.786-06:00

After a very smooth day of traveling we made it to Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm sitting in our quite nice hotel room now about to get some sleep before we head out for Lilongwe, Malawi in the morning. Here are some highlights from the past 24 hours ...It seemed sort of funny to me that I am on my way to another country that I've never really felt a desire to visit. I never longed to go there

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-83627445415360596002008-10-29T19:13:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:14:28.731-06:00

We leave for Malawi in the morning and I am excited and nervous at the same time. I've anticipated this day for months and it's finally here. I'm not sure what's really in store for any of us going on this trip but I feel so fortunate to be part of a great big adventure. A friend of mine asked how she could pray for us as we began our trip. While I know there are so very many requests we could

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-60140725782159987692008-10-15T19:14:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:15:30.073-06:00

Malawi is the 6th Poorest COUNTRY in the World.Franklin is the 10th Wealthiest COUNTY in the U.S.

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-68233579895496507822008-09-08T19:20:00.000-05:002010-08-22T11:26:21.663-05:00

Even though I still wasn't sure why I was supposed to go to Africa, I was struck with an overwhelming sense that I was going to go for longer than the original 15 day trip that I had commited to on July 1, 2008. I don't really know when that started, but it just became quite clear to me. When people started asking me how long I was going to be gone, I would answer, "a month." Sometimes I would

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-76193018347833945342008-09-08T19:19:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:20:34.708-06:00

Because of the extended trip time, the overall cost of my trip did increase by about $500. The great news is that the support has been amazing and I have already raised $2,960!!! THANK YOU! I only need to raise a total of $4,000 (from the original total of $3,500) so I am still trying to raise $1,040. If you have been prayerfully considering donating any money towards my trip, I very humbly as

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-78418864038220810142008-09-08T19:18:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:19:19.443-06:00

Others have you have asked, “Do y’all need anything?” Since the resources there are extremely limited we will be taking all of our supplies with us as donations to the community. Each craft project that we chose to do with them will need to accommodate 300 children! We were told by the previous group, “If you could see the piece of chalk the teacher uses to teach her lesson with every day you

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-77794719906257974892008-09-08T19:17:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:18:24.955-06:00

Many of you have asked, “What are you going to be doing in Africa?” I understand your question!!! Overall, our basic itinerary is to have a team constructing the houses during the day (both morning and afternoons) and to have a team serving the kids in the school (telling stories, singing songs, playing games, making crafts) every afternoon. Their typical afternoon program consists of about 55

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-35399739171050509772008-09-08T19:16:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:17:02.834-06:00

While I am away, I am going to be requesting for some of you fervent prayer warriors to commit to praying for me. Ideally, I’d like to get as many of you as possible to commit to a day to pray for not only me but also for the entire group that I will be there with and for the people we are there to serve. Since I’ll be gone for several weeks I know it may be difficult to pray for us every day,

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-10905905492409874992008-09-08T19:15:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:16:19.807-06:00

First and Foremost --- Thank you so very much to each of you for your encouraging words. I sincerely appreciate every email, phone call, card, and prayer that has been shared with me! When I committed to going to Africa several months ago, I never imagined that decision would touch every area of my life. I thought I was signing up to go on a trip in November. I knew there would be things to

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-59182197107827857922008-08-05T19:35:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:12:54.794-05:00

Housing is provided for those families identified by the community committees as worst-affected by poverty and HIV. The families, who often care for multiple orphans, move onto the Adziwa compound into a home. The houses are 2 or 3 bedroom, with a sitting area, a kitchen, and outdoor pit latrines. Caregivers in these households are not charged rent, but are requested to participate in Adziwa

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-16844945937422138122008-08-05T19:32:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:13:10.331-05:00

ADZIWA, meaning ‘He knows’ in one of the Malawian language (Chichewa), is a positive expression of hope in God for the future of orphans. As of January 2008, ADZIWA has registered 388 children who are being taken care of by their aunties, grandparents, elder siblings and other relatives. There are currently 97 orphan care giving families whom ADZIWA project is helping in the supporting of the

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-22598888472450245412008-08-05T19:30:00.001-05:002011-07-29T22:13:34.809-05:00

The Republic of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) is a democratic, densely populated country located in southeastern Africa. Often hyped as the "warm heart of Africa," it is bordered by Zambia to the north-west, Tanzania to the north and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The origin of the name Malawi remains unclear; it is held to be either derived from that of southern

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-91164519382419956632008-08-05T19:27:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:30:45.009-06:00

My brother, Michael, is part owner of Bamboo's Martini Bar of Tampa, FL. He called me Monday night after reading my support letter about going to Africa. He and Kris decided to ask their liquor distributors if they will donate any alcohol to them so they can create a martini to sell in order to help raise funds to support my upcoming mission trip this November. So, I'm not yet sure what the "

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412854644799196165.post-42950742232372082162008-07-28T19:21:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:27:55.113-06:00

Hello my dear friends!It feels like forever since I have written to so many of you, especially since I didn’t send a Christmas card this year. So much has been happening in my life over the past several years since moving to Nashville.I updated you all on the first 2 years in the last letter but the biggest changes seem to have unfolded since December of 2006. At that time I went on my first

Kimmi Sue Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013539674020539815noreply@blogger.com0