Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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{God-sized Dreams} Ordinary Days

March 26, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Reading seems ordinary, but her sweet voice is extraordinary.


My life is filled with the ordinary.

I usually wake up around 6:30 a.m., am greeted by my 3-year-old boy soon after, and then wake up my
kindergartner a little before 7. We get ready for our days. Sometimes my husband is still home; other mornings he’s sitting in the quiet of his office trying to get things done before his phone starts ringing. One weekend mornings I sometimes get to “sleep in” until 7:30 or 8.

Cate goes to kindergarten from 8 to 3 p.m. except Wednesdays, when they get out two hours early. {There’s also no homework on Wednesdays. Gotta love the Bible Belt.} Ben goes to preschool on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Ben and I usually go to a story time at a local church on Tuesdays at 9 and often eat lunch with friend Sarah and her two boys afterward.

This week, Holley Gerth asks: What’s a typical day in your life like right now? How can you see God’s hand in the middle of the “small” and ordinary too?

Depending on the day, I may run errands, go to appointments or meetings, meet friends to play, tend to vacation rental business, write, or work around the house. Except for during March Madness, the TV doesn’t usually come on during the morning or early afternoon unless I desperately need my boy occupied while I shower. Ben still naps, so it’s then that I can be really productive — whether on a project or with household chores. Lately, I’ve been spending time tending to details for our vacation rental and the one I manage for another property owner.

Two weekday afternoons I have to wake Ben from his nap to go get Cate and our carpool friends from school. The other days she’s dropped off here. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons include homework. Most days, I tend to our dinner plan after homework and then Greg comes home around 5:30 p.m. The kids go to bed around 7 p.m., so the hour or so after dinner is usually filled with reading books, playing games or getting baths — often while I clean up from dinner.

Once the kids are in bed, I pack lunches on the days those are needed and make sure Cate’s backpack is ready for the next day at school. Some nights Greg and I work on whatever it is we’re working on while we watch TV. {Right now, we record “The Good Wife” and watch “Damages” on Netflix.} Other nights we play Blockus or Words with Friends.

We usually stay up later than we intended and talk about how we should go to be earlier.

I like weekends because we have time together with each other and often times others friends or family. Some Saturday mornings we go out for breakfast. Others we stay home as long as we can. Some weekends are more packed than others. This past weekend was a much-needed balance of productivity and rest. I often procrastinate going to bed on Sundays because I’m not ready for the weekend to end.

At the end of the day, whichever day it is, I’m reminded that God moves in the ordinary. He gives me choices to choose Him when I’m tempted to hold on to my bad attitude. He gives me opportunities to witness my kids soaking up life and to teach them what Jesus would do. He provides a community that sustains me and blesses my life. He gives us all chances to serve and give and love and learn. Plenty of times, I mess things up. But I’m given new chances over and over again because His mercies are new every morning, and, really, every moment.

Yes, these are ordinary days, but you add them all together, it’s really quite extraordinary.

________


I won a giveaway on Holley Gerth’s blog a couple weeks ago. I was excited to receive a “dream” bag of goodies. But I had no idea the bag itself was so sturdy and practical or that the goodies would be so encouraging! That plague is now sitting on my mantel, reminding me of the dreams God is calling me to. I plan to use the mug for office supplies at my desk because, believe it or not, I don’t drink coffee. And, well, we all know I love “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream.”

All of these items — and many other “Holley Gifts” — are on sale at DaySpring’s website. Save an additional 25% with the code HOLLEY25 this week. This deal expires at the end of March. Did I mention I highly recommend the tote?!

________

 Tuesdays are God-sized Dream days around here and I’m linking this post along with many, many other dreamers on Holley Gerth’s blog. You’ll find encouragement, truth and community there. I also recommend Holley’s “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream.” It’s like a love letter for dreamers. You can buy it from Amazon ($11.19) or DaySpring ($8.24 with code HOLLEY25 at checkout). 

I’m also linking up with Soli Deo Gloria Party at Finding Heaven Today. 

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Filed Under: books, family, God-sized dreams, life, motherhood

Comments

  1. Mel says

    March 26, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    I love this post, friend…this week's topic is so fun. I love getting to know you all a little more! Thank you for this peek at your day…you are so right that all the ordinary adds up to extraordinary. What a great perspective. Blessings to you!

    Reply
  2. Mandy says

    March 26, 2013 at 4:51 pm

    Lucky, ducky! You won the dream set, yay! I love how you wrapped this up, meditating on the new mercies each day. 🙂

    Reply
  3. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    I had sort of forgotten I won, so it was such a nice surprise when this box of goodies showed up yesterday! New mercies are necessary for me! 🙂

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    Thanks, Mel! I liked this week's topic too. I felt like it gave me a chance to take a deep breath.

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth Anne May says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    Love this post, and like, Mandy, love the dream set. I like how you say: "At the end of the day, whichever day it is, I'm reminded that God moves in the ordinary. He gives me choices to choose Him." Amen.

    Reply
  6. aualecia says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    It's been fun reading about each other's day! And the fact that God gives us choices with what to do with ourselves, sometimes I choose more wisely than others. And God really does show himself in the ordinary too 🙂 Congrats on winning the giveaway, it looks fantastic!

    Reply
  7. Amy says

    March 27, 2013 at 2:57 am

    I love you sharing your day with us and you being able to see the big picture of the life we live.

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 27, 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Thanks, Amy, for reading and commenting.

    Reply
  9. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 27, 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Ah, yes, free will … 🙂

    Reply
  10. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 27, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    Isn't it awesome our choices are permanent? When we mess up, we can just make a better choice the next time. Thank God for his grace.

    Reply

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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.

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