viv, who?

Hey y’all, I’m Viv! In May of 2008, I went from being Miss K to Mrs. K when I married Bryan. That’s when we officially became the “Big K Fam”, thanks to the fact that both my maiden name and new surname begin with ‘K’.

 

In late August 2008, God saved me by His grace through faith in Jesus! Praise God! My life was forever changed, and this blog is largely about our family life and our personal walk with God {or what I like to call “abiding in God”}. 

In addition to being a follower of Jesus and wife to Bryan, I’m Caleb’s momma, owl-obsessed {thanks to pledging Chi Omega in college},  beach lover {the only place I’d leave Texas for is Maui}, and DIY wannabe!

Want to know more? Just ask!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” {Ephesians 2:8-9} 

My testimony:

I was raised in a Christian household & when I was 11 I was scared that I would go to hell so I accepted Jesus & got baptized, but I don’t think I truly was saved because there was no change in me or desire to know God, obey him, or have a relationship with him. At 13 I began to struggle with depression, body image, and self esteem issues. Counseling didn’t work and the struggle deepened in high school. Throughout my youth there was a subtle hardening of my heart toward God, I silently blamed him for my depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem. I began to fill the pain, ache, and loneliness with sin in my life. I was searching for happiness however temporary it would be and at whatever cost, no matter how damaging it was, or how hurtful it was for God to watch me choose my sin and adultery over him. The footholds I had given to sin in my life grew worse in college with all of my freedoms and I was slowly being swallowed by shame and guilt. On the outside I tried to pretend everything was perfect, and there were parts of my life that were good, but I lived with shame and guilt and the feeling that I was a dirty person, a failure, worthless, and there was a haunting feeling that something was missing.

In late August of 2008, shortly after my college graduation and marriage, I began reading a book my Christian counselor had given me 3 years previously, called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. That’s when everything changed. God called me to himself from that book. He opened my heart to receive and believe his word, and he gave me the ability to let go of hiding and the shield I built around my heart. I prayed that day and asked Jesus to come into my life. I asked him to forgive me for my sins, my rebellion, my running and hiding, and I turned my life over to him to be my Lord and Savior. Literally after that moment there was a burning desire to know God deeply. Through this past year and a half God has freed me from depression, and has begun to heal my wounds. I know I still have a long way to go, but I’m just joyful to know that what God offers right now is an intimate relationship with him. I thank you God for not giving up on me, for not accepting my rejection of you as my final answer and for your love and pursuit of me even though I was filthy and full of sin. I love you with all my heart and soul, and I am yours forever.