• A Gorge-ous Weekend

    ByKristin Greg, marriage, road trips

    About once a year, usually in August or September, Greg and I try to get away to celebrate our anniversary. This year we chose to venture eastward in our home state to Red River Gorge, which is a neat, geologically diverse area with the Daniel Boone National Forest and nearby Natural Bridge State Park. 

    Sometimes we forgot we were in Kentucky! 

    We spent three nights in the cutest cabin that was in a good location to all the places we wanted to go. Honestly, we dove into the weekend without much research, got into some adventures that were harder than expected, had fun anyway, and remained committed to finish. Really, it’s an analogy for our marriage, and I’m especially thankful for the endurance, faithfulness, and commitment we’ve shared over the past 24 years. 

    Here are the highlights of the trip that gave us a chance to catch our breath away from everyday life, reconnect at a peaceful pace, and just enjoy being together:

    And here’s where we ate:

    I’m so glad we took this trip, even though I have no idea what took us so long to see this part of the Bluegrass State. 

    Need inspiration?

    *****

    God authors the stories on our porches and wherever we go. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to receive #PorchStories emails about every other week.

  • How to make the most of family walks

    ByKristin family

    I’ve shared that I quit TimeHop because, looking back, it just wasn’t healthy for me right now. I’m still living in that tension as God shows me how He has me right where He wants me, but there are a few things from “before” that I do long for, and one of those things is family walks.

    When we first moved to the country with three kids in single digits and then again during social distancing days in 2020-21, we went on many family walks. We explored our land, the creeks, hunted Easter eggs, and rode four-wheelers. 

    Now the kids are 19, 16, and 10 (almost 11), and family walks don’t happen like they used to. But, you know, as soon as the weather cools off a bit, I think my youngest and I will hit the trails in our backyard again. Really, it’s a healthy habit for us all, and a fun way to get the steps in. 

    Of course, preparing for any family activity, even a walk down the street, helps the time be more enjoyable for everyone!

    Plot a route

    Okay, if you’re in your backyard, maybe a route isn’t totally necessary, but even then I prefer to stick to already blazed trails! But drive into a National Park or an unfamiliar outdoor area, and you’ll want to have a plan, and probably a map.  

    On some of our vacations, we’ve used AllTrails to find good walking routes. I’m sure there are plenty of other apps, even Google Maps, to be your friend. 

    Plotting a route avoids any surprises and means you can prepare for most things. It also lets you plan any stops along the route for breaks, which will give everyone time to sit down, relax for a bit, and possibly even grab a bite to eat. 

    During a vacation near Lake Placid, NY, we went on a hike to a waterfall. My kids and the cousins were young (three of them were 2 years old!), and they did so well. But then the waterfall was nearly all dried up because of a lack of rain that summer. Planning better would have helped us not have disappointed toddlers!

    Dress well

    By far the biggest reason a family walk can turn into a nightmare is that you’re not dressed appropriately. Again, some of this comes down to planning a route. If you know there will be a lot of mud, then you can pack boots to deal with that. (And probably a chance of clothes for afterward!) Taking a peek at the weather forecast is always a good idea too! 

    If it’s going to be freezing with a lot of wind, then you need clothes that keep you warm, like warm socks from Heat Holders to protect your feet. Consider thermal layers too. If it’s going to be wet and cold, then you need waterproof pants and jackets to keep you dry. 

    And don’t forget about summer walks! You may want a lightweight, waterproof jacket, but around here in hot, humid Kentucky you’ll certainly want breathable shirts and shorts. Of course, if you’re going to wade in a creek, have a net, bucket, and book. Clearly, my kids understood that!

    have Snacks

    Always snacks. Even when just Greg and I were hiking last weekend, I had fruit snacks and granola bars with me. Of course, I needed to be prepared in case my blood sugar dropped, but also you never know when a snack will help a situation! Bring suitable snacks for walking, such as energy bars, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, or crackers.

    Be realistic

    Honestly, my family really isn’t into long, difficult hikes. Sometimes we even laugh that our “hikes” should be called “walks.” When Greg and I were recently visiting Red River Gorge, we chose several shorter hikes so we could see more arches and views. 

    With the right planning, your family walk can be a wonderful experience that everyone enjoys – and remembers fondly. 

    *****

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • Twenty-four years & one week

    ByKristin Greg, marriage

    Twenty-four years ago, Greg and I said, “I do.” Thankfully, we both keep saying, “I do.” These days we say it more with our actions, like him helping me unload the dishwasher or clean out the pool skimmers. But we also keep doing this life together, even when it’s filled with speed bumps, jump-scare obstacles, and new adventures.

    Our anniversary was actually a week ago, but I haven’t gotten this post from my brain & Notes app on my phone to my website. Such is life right now. And I went back to our Alaska vacation earlier this summer to find a picture. We took one together the other night when we went to dinner and Tractor Supply, you know, as date nights are, but Rachel was also in it because we didn’t actually have a date night but rather a teenager-less night.

    After two dozen years of marriage, I thought I’d share 24 things I’ve learned from my marriage to Greg. I recognize marriages are different, but this is a glimpse into us and what God, in all his goodness and faithfulness, has taught us.

    1. The wedding is only the beginning. 
    2. I like my marriage more now than I did before. I’d say it gets better each year. 
    3. I understand why marriages fall apart when kids are teenagers, but I’m grateful ours has become more rooted.
    4. He’s always going to be the fun parent, and that’s okay! 
    5. Teamwork really does make the dream work. 
    6. Having wide-open spaces in the country has helped us both as people, but I wouldn’t have chosen our property without him. 
    7. Take the trip — with the kids & without the kids. 
    8. Make traditions that work for your family. 
    9. And be willing to change them. 
    10. It’s okay to sleep under two separate blankets. 
    11. Say yes to his hobbies. 
    12. Have your own hobbies. 
    13. Have hobbies together. 
    14. Use a shared Google Calendar.
    15. Communicate about more than logistics. 
    16. Go to church. 
    17. Invest in people.
    18. Know how that looks changes with whatever season of life you’re in. 
    19. Host the kids’ friends. 
    20. Have family friends. 
    21. It’s okay to say you don’t know — to yourself, to each other, to your kids — because you’re a team and your spouse holds some of the mental info. 
    22. Separating laundry by color is overrated. 
    23. Eat dinner together most every night. 
    24. Put your phones to sleep before bedtime. 


    *****

    Look back with us: Five years. Six years. Seven years. Nine years. Ten years. Eleven years. Twelve years. Thirteen years. Fourteen years. Fifteen years. Sixteen years. Seventeen years. Twenty years.

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.