Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

One year at home

September 15, 2008 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I drafted most of this in the little notebook I carry in my purse while I was sitting in the waiting room at the dentist office this morning …

Every now and then I surprise myself. Quitting work a year ago was one of those times. And, actually, there have been several moments of surprise the past year as I reflect on just how satisfied I am with that decision.

I’d given a month notice, so after making the decision in early August, I was more than ready to be home when mid-September arrived. I remember sitting in a Murray State Board of Regents meeting on Sept. 14, 2007, and having these bittersweet feelings: I’m really going to miss being out and about in the community, informing people of what is newsworthy. But have you seen my daughter? I can’t imagine anything being any better than being with her.

So, here’s the truth, 365 days later: There has not been one day I wished I still worked at the Murray Ledger & Times. Seriously, not once have I wondered if I made the right decision. One time I did want to write a breaking news story (when Gov. Ernie Fletcher commuted Harrison Yonts’ sentence …), but even the fleeting desire to make some phone calls, ask some questions and put it all together in a story didn’t make me want to actually do that again for a living right now.

Understand that I loved my job. I cherish the relationships I built throughout the community. I took pride in educating the community about Murray City Council, MSU’s administration, Murray-Calloway County Hospital, police business, court actions and various other people and places, all depending on the day. I loved being out and about and then returning to my desk to get it all down for tomorrow’s paper.

But there are no words to explain how much I enjoy being a mother and how much I adore my daughter. I realize staying home isn’t right for every family and every situation, but it is positively right for us. I am so thankful I get to play with her, take care of her, teach her, watch her and have her company at Kroger. I realize some of this would be possible had I continued cranking out stories for the Ledger & Times, but I love the quantity of quality time I get with her.

I am more easy-going than I used to be. Don’t worry, I haven’t completely let go of that perfectionist deep inside me. But it doesn’t bother me to let Cate learn to use a spoon with yogurt ending up lots of places somewhat near her mouth. I just put a bib on here when Grandmom gave her a Push-Up. Baths clean off evidence of playing.

I like the little ways I’ve been changed the past year. I can’t explain them all, but I feel them every day. My heart is calmer. My schedule is less hectic. My purpose is far greater. Cate and I have our routine, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other assignment.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Cate, motherhood, work, writing

Comments

  1. Teaque says

    September 15, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    very well said… i can’t believe it’s been a year! Isn’t it grand when we KNOW without a doubt that we’ve made the right decision on something!

    Reply
  2. Peggy says

    September 16, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    And what a wonderful mother you are. I have seen the change in you this year and am so happy for you. You truly do have the most important,sometimes challenging and rewarding job you can have when you are raising your children. Enjoy this wonderful time.

    Reply
  3. Shelley says

    September 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    I’m so glad you enjoy it. Evan and i had a conversation just this morning about me staying home. I told him i wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Life as I know it says

    September 16, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    And think that if you hadn’t made that decision, I never would have met you. Unless, of course, God had another plan up His sleeve for our paths to cross, which I’m sure, given how rewarding knowing you guys has been, He would have.

    So, Cate can’t thank you in words yet for your decision but I can – thanks!

    Reply
  5. Katy Gorrell says

    September 20, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Congrats on a year at home. I know Cate’s glad you did it.

    Reply
  6. Jaclyn Tompkins says

    September 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    I know those feelings well. I’m having them now too.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • Fifteen
  • Help kids have healthy eating habits
  • How to organize your home
  • Let’s come before the throne
  • 3 Ways to Enhance Kids’ Cognitive Skills

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #mo School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #momlife #siblinglove #summerisbest #maydays
I’m proud of myself for … … surviving and t I’m proud of myself for …

… surviving and thriving this school year. I resist change almost all of the time, and the past nine months have been full of so many transitions for our whole family. I know, that’s life, but these changes seem like the kind that will mark us forever. 

My kids navigated new beginnings in kindergarten, middle school, and high school. As a mom, sometimes I’m too close to see the growth, but this year it happened in each of them right before my eyes. They navigated friendship hurdles, embraced new friends, and settled a little more into who God created them to be. Middle school isn’t for the faint of heart, but I feel like I’ve come out of this year closer to my son, so I will take it. 

I’m proud of myself for leaning into where God has me. I’ve grown deeper friendships, invested in my kids’ school as a board member and business manager, and seen God work in our ordinary days. 

Y’all know I’m a summer girl, so I’m proud of myself through getting through the winter and coming into summer stronger and braver. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #summerisbest #bettertogether
I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book sooner. I loved so much about it, but I did want some of her stories to be  less repetitive and offer more practical advice for living out “radical, ordinary hospitality.” Rosaria Butterfield defines hospitality like this as sharing what you have in real time, preparing to continually life this lifestyle, and bringing strangers in so they become neighbors who become family. 

I took notes throughout, but especially during the introduction. I came away with an appreciation that hospitality can involve lists, schedules, and habits. I felt encouraged, even if I thought the book could have been organized better to include practical tips and other people’s stories. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #audiobooks #livingfaithfully #bookreview #booklover
Something I don’t usually share (online) … I Something I don’t usually share (online) …

I am an opinionated person, but I don’t usually share political opinions on social media. People who know me in real life know I value being pro-life, having less government involvement in our everyday lives, defining marriage as God intended it, and being fiscally conservative. As a former newspaper reporter, I still get excited about elections. I admittedly pay a little less attention in the almost 15 years I haven’t been in a newsroom. But I still care and have plenty of opinions. 

I voted today in Kentucky’s Primary Election. I’m thankful for the freedom to share my opinion by darkening some blocks on a paper ballot. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #reallife #livingfaithfully
Old friends and live music are two of my favorite Old friends and live music are two of my favorite things, so having them together is the best. My friend Aaron and I went to multiple Dave Matthews Band shows together during our college years, so now two decades later it’s fun to do it again as grown ups with our spouses for a band that speaks truth into our lives. 

@needtobreathe put on the loudest acoustic tour I’ve ever seen, but it sure was good! And its encore of completely unplugged songs was especially sweet. 

#NTBlive #needtobreathe #bettertogether #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully #weekending
Happiness is … … a slow morning that gave me Happiness is …

… a slow morning that gave me a chance to finish reading a good book right after I fixed my favorite cinnamon toast. 

… some shade to invite me to pick some more weeds around the house. But why doesn’t my Apple Watch count this as exercise? It felt like exercise to me! 

… an appointment with my oldest girl for us both to get our nails done this morning. 

… my youngest girl’s last soccer game of the season, even though the heat made her a little grumpy. 

… pool time, another good book to read, my mom visiting for the second weekend in a row, a little more weeding, and a night at home with no specific plans. 

Happiness is everyday, normal life with my people, especially when it comes with a slower pace after a hectic week. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #soccermom #KHTreads #momlife #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #poolpeople #PorchStories
I regretted having to go to sleep last night befor I regretted having to go to sleep last night before I finished this book, so I picked it up at breakfast and didn’t do anything else until I finished it. 

I loved the Alaskan cruise setting, the quick love and understanding between Greta and Ben, and the realistic ways grief changes people. Well done, @jenniferesmith! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #booklover #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #weekending #recommendedreads #poolpeople #amreading
Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of s Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of school next week and then it’s #88daysofsummer! Obviously, we’re ready. ☀️ 

Here’s to a refreshing weekend with much anticipation of what’s to come! #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #thirdchild #momlife #summerisbest #poolpeople #PorchStories #maydays
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve already bou ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve already bought three copies of “Glad You’re Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences” by @walkerhayes and @craigallencooper to gift to specific friends. I’ve referenced this story in conversations this week and will likely recommended it for years to come. 

This story is about two seemingly different guys befriending each other because their kids were on the same baseball team and their wives became friends. They kept showing for each other, encouraged each other, and changed each other for the better. In fact, their friendship was the catalyst for Walker deciding to follow Christ. 

Give me Applebee’s on a date night, a real-life story of how we are eternally better together, and an audiobook that makes me want to drive and I’m a happy girl. I’m fancy like that. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bettertogether #livingfaithfully #hospitalitymatters #audiobooks #booklover #favoritethings
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2022 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.