Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

Butcher Paper, let’s be friends …

September 29, 2012 by Kristin Leave a Comment

First grade, I think …

I’m pretty sure I butchered my first real experience with a large roll of a blue butcher paper and the classroom door on which it was intended. {I couldn’t resist “butchered” there …}

My mom is a retired teacher who taught fifth-graders my entire childhood. My dad is a retired principal, who was actually my elementary school principal. Yep, I was Mr. Hill’s daughter. Nanny worked a board of education and one of my aunts is a retired teacher who happened to teach my English class both my junior and senior years of high school. {And, no, I didn’t always get an A. That AP English class wasn’t the easiest thing I ever did, even being related to the teacher!} My best friend here taught third grade before she stayed home with her babies and is now easing back into the system.

“Teacher” used to be my answer when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Then I realized I don’t like to be in charge or rooms full of kids and I don’t like speaking in front of groups of people of any age. So, yeah, I changed my answer from “teacher” to “journalist.”

I was hired as an education reporter as my second job after graduating with that print journalism degree that kept me from ever stepping foot in the education building. I covered two public K-12 districts, one public university, and one private college all in the one eastern Kentucky county in which I worked. That’s lots of school board meetings, university administration interviews, and school activity photographs.

Then I moved and got a new job at another local newspaper. I covered another public university regularly and for a dramatic season one public school district that was having a per-pupil funding conflict with another public school district.

I understand education lingo. I’m a product of public education from half-day kindergarten where I learned to tie my shoes all the way through earning my bachelor’s degree in something other than teaching. And now my daughter goes to a small, private school that impressed us with its philosophy and mission.

I’ve been volunteering at Cate’s school once a week. I’ve helped with Grandparents’ Day breakfast and an apple pot luck. I’ve made copies and cut out cardstock stencils for preschools to use to make crafts. I’ve sorted school T-shirts and glued maps to index cards so third- and fourth-graders could make books about states.

And yesterday I decorated a door.

Seriously, nobody told me how hard it would be to hang that butcher paper on the door. I’ve seen so many cutely decorated classroom doors in my years of walking school hallways. And who knew getting the foundation paper smooth and straight was such a project!

The “straight” cut across the bottom wasn’t nearly as smooth and … well … straight as I had hoped. And don’t even get me started about cutting around the handle. I did better around the door stop at the bottom.

That blue paper got on the door, but I wondered if the teacher was regretting asking me to hang paper on her door. I didn’t let that stop me from asking her if she wanted me to help her decorate her door. I know, really. One would have thought I should have just stopped while I was ahead. But, come on, I’m a scrapbooker at heart. Surely I can finish decorating the door, despite the challenge of the butcher paper covering, which I … well … I can’t help it … butchered.

The teacher told me she wanted to make a tree, using a strip of brown butcher paper and some pre-cut leaves she had. Sounded simple enough. And, truly, the tree was much easier than the blue paper. I thought later, though, that I should have have added the shadow of an owl hole in the trunk. Perhaps the teacher will perfect what I started on her classroom door.

I’ll walk by and see when I’m there next week. Until then, I’ll be glad I’m a parent volunteer who knows how to work the copy machine, can cut and paste, and doesn’t have to speak in front of a group of people of any age. God bless you, teachers … and your classroom doors.

________

Want more? Subscribe to get “Insights” in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.

  • 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: motherhood

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 eighth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear fifth-grade boy, and our joy-filled preschool 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

  • Taking a [spring] break
  • Ways to connect with your partner
  • Hope at home with Dolphin Island
  • Hello, March!
  • 3 Ways to Boost Our Kids’ Confidence

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I asked Greg what he wanted to do for his birthday I asked Greg what he wanted to do for his birthday (which is next week) and he said have friends over to play. So that’s what we did yesterday.

The birthday boy turning 43 soon, a few other husbands, and a bunch of kids played kickball and basketball. Us moms mostly talked and enjoyed the fact most of our people were engaged in community and activity. Of course, we ate well too.

It’s had been a long time since we had a party where multiple families mingled together on our porch, in our kitchen, and all around our property. We missed this, so good call on letting us your birthday as an excuse, husband.

#weekending #birthdayboy #choosingJOY #countryliving #bettertogether #morethangroceries #PorchStories
First game of the season in the books. I love this First game of the season in the books. I love this time of the year. ⚽️☀️ #soccermom #girlmom #thirdchild #momlife #choosingJOY
Our Precept group went to @bidwellfamilyfarms this Our Precept group went to @bidwellfamilyfarms this morning. While us mommas discussed Acts 16-17, Scott took the kids on a tour of the farm. Truly, this group of women is a blessing for me and the effects ripple through my whole entire family. I’m so thankful for the way God knits people together.

#precept #preceptministries #biblestudy #bettertogether #momlife #countryliving #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
I finished this book on Easter Sunday while laying I finished this book on Easter Sunday while laying in my hammock soaking in the sunshine. I liked the story enough, but sometimes young adult books baffle me with all the adult drama. These characters navigate young love, racial tension, and pains of growing up — of which some storylines were better than others. 

Maybe most importantly, this book got me back into reading on my Kindle. I like physical books, but I love the convenience, deals, and library of the Kindle. I always feel like I have to choose books or Kindle, but truth is I can have both.

Do you prefer Kindle or physical books? #KHTreads #booklover #kindlebooks #latergram #bookstagram #kindle #youngadultbooks
We took a (spring) break in St. Pete Beach, Florid We took a (spring) break in St. Pete Beach, Florida last week, and now I'm old-school blogging about it. So pull up a porch swing, and come read about what we did and ate on our five-night getaway. 

#linkinbio #ontheblog #bloggerlife #springbreak #beachvacation #PorchStories #choosingJOY #vacationlife #seafood #beachlife #momlife #TeamTaylor #adventurers
Until last spring, I always assumed the yellow fie Until last spring, I always assumed the yellow fields were goldenrod. I learned it’s canola plant — not our state’s flower that’s actually a weed that grows in the late summer and early fall. The seeds from these plants can be crushed to make canola oil and meal. 

Whatever it is, I think it’s beautiful. After the dreary colors of winter, it’s a lovely welcome to spring and a reminder of how new life sprouts right where we already are. 

#seasons #kentucky #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #countryliving #spring
Spring Break was good to us. I’m having my usual Spring Break was good to us. I’m having my usual Sunday night mixed emotions - thankful for our time & adventures together as a family, eager to be productive in my quiet house, and sad everyone will head their separate ways tomorrow morning.

#reallife #sundayvibes #springbreak #beachtrip #momlife #momconfessions #TeamTaylor #adventurers #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully
I finished my third Spring Break read before we go I finished my third Spring Break read before we got home from the beach. This World War II book is so good! I loved the characters and their stories that unfolded mostly in occupied France.

This is the first book I’ve read by @healeyjane, but I’m glad to know she has other historical fiction about women who made a difference.

#KHTreads #springbreak #historicalfiction #recommendedreads #bookstagram #books #booklover #kindle #kindlebooks
This girl believes she’s a mermaid. But even mer This girl believes she’s a mermaid. But even mermaids need to rest. 🧜🏻‍♀️

#thirdchild #springbreak #vacation #beachlife #choosingJOY #momlife #girlmom
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorite Places & Projects

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 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.