Embracing the Journey

By Kimburli Matthews and Jeremiah Walker

Embracing the Journey is an offering of poetic experiences from all walks of life. The illustrations allow the reader to visually capture the beauty and wonderment of these experiences. Perhaps “ Kimburli’s” lifelong journey and healing process will provide the catalyst you may need to embrace your own as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973665656

Kimburli Matthews

Kimberly Matthews-Todd, child of God, proud mother, ordained minister, and educator is a spirit filled woman with a welcoming heart. This woman of faith and determination has chosen to take her life experiences and make them purposeful. She understands the power of sharing with others. Always seeking to provide words of encouragement, this woman of compassion is known for her “nugget dropping tidbits” and her calming spirit. A dear high school friend Karin (A Swedish foreign exchange student) shared the Swedish spelling of Kimberly. The teenage author loved it so much--because it was different--that she began using “Kimburli” as a pen name in her writings. Thirty some years later, the name remains special to her. This educator is a Spelman College Alumnus, holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and is employed by Cincinnati Public Schools. Owner of KLT Educational Services, LLC, Kimberly Matthews-Todd is a Parent/ Life Impact Transformational Coach and Fatherhood Practitioner. She is available for women’s conferences, parenting workshops, early childhood workshops, family sessions, and private consultations.

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Copyright © 2019 KIMBURLI Matthews.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Jeremiah Walker

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6564-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6565-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019907524

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/26/2019

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Embracing the Journey is a compilation of writings detailing one woman’s journey. This is a journey of varying emotions, inexplicable life experiences, accomplishments beyond imagination, and amazing life changing transformation.

As with most journeys, there are many unexpected occurrences. Please consider this your personal invitation to become a passenger along the journey. As you embark upon the author’s sojourn, allow your heart to enjoy, your mind to embrace, and your soul to enjoy each and every page.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. (NKJ)

Acknowledgment

First and foremost, I must thank and acknowledge God who is the source and strength of my life. Without this source in my life, this book would not be possible. To my parents who believed in a precocious little girl and pushed me to be all that I could me; I love you! To my beautiful daughter Jade, truly you are a gift from God and have been a jewel to me since the very first time I laid eyes on you. You have been with me through this process. You and your granny were always inspiring and reminding me to finish the book. To my awesome siblings and family, you all have contributed to my life in your own special way and I love each one of you for it. To my extended family members near and far, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives. I would like to personally thank and extend gratitude to Marjorie Dudley Morrow and Melody Foster for your editorial guidance, both of you provided tireless efforts to help me complete this project. Mother Morrow, thank you for reminding me to "embrace’ life in spite of the challenges. To Dion Smith, thank you for your listening ear, sharing the vision, and being my spiritual confidante. Kudos to my exceptionally and talented illustrator, Jeremiah Walker! You exceeded my expectations! Your creative images helped bring life to the words of each page. Thank you for an amazing job! To my Westbow team…thank you for assisting me with my first project and helping me accomplish one of my dreams.

Table of Contents

A Foretaste: A Forty Year Journey

A Child’s Innocence

A Walk With God On A Fall Day

Alone

Answering My Call

Beginnings Anew!

Change In The Journey

Coming Out Of The Storm

Confirmation

Destination

Embracing The Journey

Enjoying The Darkness

God Is Using Me!

God Rescued Me!

God Sent Me, You!

God’s Little Gift

God’s Plan

I Must Walk Away

I Reach For You Lord

I’ll Just Walk Away

Jade, My Precious Gift

Just Reach