Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

A scattered brain and some unexpected love

July 24, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment


I went missing for about 18 minutes last week. Thing is, I didn’t know I was missing.

Let me tell you the story: It was one of those days {like them all last week} where I had commitments and appointments and responsibilities and plans back to back to back to back. My calendar was pretty full without all the last-minute additions that happened. Such weeks can be exciting, but they can also create a weariness in my momma brain.

Anyway, so it was Tuesday. Cate had been to Robotics Camp and Ben had been at Vacation Bible School. We’d ended up at lunch with some friends after all swapping kids who needed transported at different times and from different places. {That’s just setting the tone for what was a slightly chaotic day.}

So after lunch, we came home and I prepared dinner for a friend whose daughter is recovering from surgery while the kids played/rested/napped. I doubled it, actually, so my family could eat the same thing the following night. King Ranch Chicken Casserole, Spanish Rice, brownies and salad all ready to go.

I had a small window of time between that and needing to be back home to meet my husband so we could go to Paducah {45 minutes away} to get our fingerprints done at a certain location with a certain FBI-approved machine, the only one in western Kentucky, for one of the few remaining documents required for our adoption home study. Again, just setting the stage. Important appointment. Short on time.

We pulled into my friend’s driveway and I left the van running and told the kids to wait in their seats and stay buckled while I dropped off the food. Now, I should tell you, this friend and I aren’t super close. We have a mutual friend, really, but I like chatting with her. I hadn’t seen her in awhile, so we chatted. Perhaps we chatted longer than I planned.

So long my kids got unbuckled {so much for obedience, of course, I hadn’t really done the quick drop-off like I planned either …} and came in. Apparently one had to use the bathroom and the other was just along for the social outing. They ended up swinging on a cool swing in the backyard while I finished chatting.

I glanced at the time and realized we needed to go. So I rounded up the troops, well, my two kids who are social they are sometimes more like cats. Have you tried herding cats? Anyway. Finally. We all made it back to the van.

My phone buzzed with a new text. Y’all. I had five missed calls and a “Where r u?” text from my husband and texts from three friends. I called my husband back, obviously that needed to be my first step. I knew I was cutting it close on time, but I still had 7 minutes to make it home. {We live in a small town, you know.} Turns out, he thought we were leaving for our fingerprinting appointment at 3. I thought we were leaving at 3:15.

Ah, yes, a miscommunication that, according to the emails I later consulted, was my fault. And, yes, I’m the organized one who planned our departure time. It had been one of those days. It was only Tuesday, but it was one of those weeks. And my brain was scattered and weary. I tried to fit a bit too much into my day.

Can I confess something, though? I felt loved to know if I went missing, the search party would start after less than 20 minutes. It’s not like I struggle to feel loved. But it was an out-of-the-blue affirmation that I’m surrounded by family and friends who care about my well-being. And they {well, at least the one I’m married to …} apparently also care my current location and estimated time of arrival. 

I pulled in the driveway, picked up my husband who was waiting for me on the front porch, and then started our detoured {thanks to construction!} trek to our fingerprinting appoints. Greg’s appointment was at 4:10 and mine was at 4:20. We pulled into the parking lot at 4:11 and we walked out of the little ink/mail shop about 10 minutes later, fingerprinted appropriately for the possible expansion of our family.

We went on to Hobby Lobby to buy a birthday present, some scrapbooking accessories, and school supplies and then to dinner at Rafferty’s. This is what happens when the small-town folks make it to the decent-sized city. And then that’s where my recent favorite out-of-the-blue moment happened. {See last week’s post for the rest of this story.}

Despite the chaos of the day, my heart was full, some friends were blessed with food they didn’t have to make, and our home study was one more step closer to being finished. And yet again love overshadowed the crowded calendar.

________

I’m linking up with a few of my favorite online places: Kristen Strong’s Out of the Blue series at Chasing Blue Skies; Jennifer Dukes Lee and other storytellers for #TellHisStory; and other moms who know about scattered, chaotic days at Hope for the Weary Mom. 

Want more stories? Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram. Follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’. Subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link 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: adoption, friends, Greg, life, motherhood, summer

Comments

  1. KristenStrong says

    July 25, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Kristin, I just adore this. I know I say that all the time, but it's true all the time.

    "And yet again love overshadowed the crowded calendar." ~ Great words.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    July 25, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    You're so sweet, Kristen. Thanks for always taking the time to encourage me when I link with Out of the Blue. It's seriously my favorite series.

    Reply
  3. Cheri Nixon says

    July 26, 2013 at 12:23 am

    I too love the "and yet again love overshadowed the crowded calendar." Such a great reminder- I tend to forget this on over scheduled days. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    July 26, 2013 at 12:26 am

    I'm glad you were encouraged, Cheri. I have to remind myself too. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and commenting.

    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

  • Books of 2022 … so far
  • Helping adopted teens belong
  • Laundry talk
  • Brave Ben & his broken heel
  • Fifteen

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

While the big kids went bow hunting yesterday, Gra While the big kids went bow hunting yesterday, Gran-Gran, Grandmom, and I took Rachel to @countrybumpkinfarm. It was perfect for her. She fed animals, played by herself, made friends, and played some more — for 3 1/2 hours. I found an Adirondack chair and finished my third book of the trip. 

#wisdells #wisconsindells #thirdchild #momlife #choosingJOY #favoritethings #88daysofsummer #summerisbest #wisconsin
These three went bow fishing today. Cate wasn’t These three went bow fishing today. Cate wasn’t even sure she wanted to go and the shot one right in the mouth — something the guide said he’d never seen in his 20 years of bow fishing! 

#momlife #wisconsindells #wisconsin #88daysofsummer #firstborn #boymom #girlmom #bowfishing #wisdells
We are having fun — and some forced sibling love We are having fun — and some forced sibling love — at @wildernessresort in Wisconsin Dells. We’ve played at four water parks here since we arrived yesterday afternoon. 💦

#WildernessWI #WildernessResort #roadtrip #88daysofsummer #TeamTaylor #reallife #wisconsin #wisconsindells #wisdells
Nothing like starting a road trip by finishing an Nothing like starting a road trip by finishing an @elinhilderbrand book. I’d held off reading “Winter in Paradise” because the premise that a father’s death exposes his secret life hits way too close to home. But, really, fiction books can be therapeutic. 

I appreciated the raw emotions of a wife, two brothers, and others learning of tragedy and processing the ripples of that moment. Of course, who doesn’t love a story set in the U.S. Virgin Islands? AND it’s this the first in a three-book series, and I’ve got the next two ready to go on my Kindle. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #roadtrip
My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And ki My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And kids today don’t know how to sign yearbooks. Cate, my rising sophomore, says it’s because they have phones to take photos and text each other. She’s probably right. 

But the whole conversation and experience took me down memory lane. So much so, I got these yearbooks from my high school days off my bookshelf and read notes. Admittedly, I can’t remember a few people who proclaimed what a great friend I was and I never called some people who wanted to KIT — that’s Keep In Touch, kids — and left their phone numbers (and pager number in one instance!)! 🤣 

I also proceeded to text the three friends (well, really, five, because two girls married two guy friends of mine) with whom I do actually KIT. I have their numbers saved in my iPhone, thankfully. We have made grown-up memories together. We message and try to see each other. My husband knows their maiden names. 

Truly, how has it been 25 years since I graduated from Oldham County High School? I’m sitting on the porch now, rememebering how faithful God has been and thinking about how high school seems like a lifetime ago but also like yesterday. 💙

HAGS, everybody! 

#memorylane #highschool #livingfaithfully #yearbooks #choosingJOY #reallife
Cat nap! 💕 #catsofinstagram #thirdchild #napt Cat nap! 💕 

#catsofinstagram #thirdchild #naptimeshenanigans #PorchStories #reallife #88daysofsummer #summerisbest
A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domesti A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domestic thriller. I’ve always seen @diane.chamberlain.author’s books, but this was the first one I read. I’ve already downloaded others to my Kindle. 

Living with a secret is all Eve Elliot knows. Her life unravels when she confesses to what she knows and there are ripple effects for her husband and two daughters. I thought I had it all figured out and then there was another surprise right at the end! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #booklover #weekending
Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️ Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️

#poolpeople #thirdchild #88daysofsummer #choosingJOY #PorchStories #weekending #momlife
Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honest Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honestly, it’s hard to believe two-plus years later, and COVID is still interrupting all kinds of things. I know it’s a privilege to travel, but there’s still disappointment. Regardless, we can’t board a cruise ship in Canada on Monday to go to Alaska when my boy tested positive for COVID last night. (Yes, twice. 🤦🏻‍♀️)

But the real point of this post: we are regrouping and going to Wisconsin Dells next week. I’m excited to see somewhere new, even if it’s not what I’d been planning. Let’s be honest, the logistics to get to the cruise were already a lot, so maybe this closer-to-home trip is meant to be right now. 

Anyway, who has been to Wisconsin Dells area? We found a condo and have a list of things going, but I’m accepting all entertainment and restaurant recommendations.

#wisconsindells #reallife #covid_19 #covid #momlife #88daysofsummer #summervacation
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

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