Kristin Hill Taylor

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How snow days free us

February 17, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I remember the faintly sounding phone ringing. It interrupted my sleep enough I knew what it meant – I could go back to sleep. Long before the days of texts and automated calls, the phone tree went to work spreading the good news our school district was closing for a snow day.

My dad was a principal of one elementary school and my mom was a teacher at another. There was one year my brother, my sister, and I were all at the same elementary school where my dad was principal. I was in fifth grade, Kevin in second grade, and Cassie in kindergarten.

We rejoiced on snow days.

In a family whose life revolved around the school calendar, these unexpected days off were treasures. I figured when I grew up, I’d care less about snow days, being a girl who loves summer and all.

Not true. I still really like them.

Sure, having snow day often means moving the last day of school back another day. But there’s something freeing about a day you didn’t expect to have totally at home. {Tweet that.}

I couldn’t do it forever, but I can hunker down with books and my scrapbook table. The kids make tents and build with LEGOs. Cate makes crafts and reads so many pages from so many books. Ben pesters his sister to play with him and asks about time like he understands what minutes and hours really are.

And when the school principal send the text mid-afternoon to inform everyone that tomorrow is another snow day? That’s the best. I don’t even have to set an alarm for the next morning. Yesterday was a scheduled day off for Presidents’ Day – ironically, it was a built-in snow-day make-up day, but we didn’t have any days to make up. Until yesterday.

The kids went sledding with our nearby friends. We ate two batches of snow cream and leftover soup. There is a pile of clothing by the front door and my husband’s hanging coveralls keep spooking me because I think there’s a person standing in our foyer.

The kids watched episodes of “My Little Pony” and “Wild Kratts” while Greg and I watched “Blacklist” and “Scandal” on the DVR. There were rounds of Phase 10 with Cate after Ben went to bed. And then there episodes of “Blue Bloods.”

Evidence of our day at home is all over – crumbs under the table, layers of clothing scattered in multiple places, dirty dishes that didn’t fit in the dishwasher, books and toys in every room. Real life isn’t always tidy, but it’s full of joy. {Tweet that.}

Today is Snow Day #2. There’s probably at least six inches covering our yard, maybe more. And there is another inch forecasted for tonight with lingering cold temperatures. This is Kentucky, so who knows when we’ll go back to school and our normal routine.

But maybe when we do go back, we’ll be a little more relaxed, less stressed, and ready to soak up the joy around us. Snow days are opportunities to breathe deeply and regroup. God gives us a chance to remember that he makes all things new and washes us clean because spring is coming. {Tweet that}

What’s the weather like where you are?

________________

I’m linking this with Mary Carver’s Works for Me Wednesday. Despite loving summer, snow days do work for me. They’re good for my soul. The interruption in routine is freeing for my Type A self and teaches me to let go and be present. 
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EDITED on Friday, Feb. 20  :: We’re on Snow Day #5 now. And there are more flakes falling. I recently shared about #FringeHours … and what a week to epitomize that. This week has been full of time at home with my favorites, opportunities to sit at my scrapbook table, and chances to cuddle up on the couch and read fiction. Next week may be a rude awakening when “real life” sets back in, but, for now, I’m enjoying the extra time to care for myself and my family in simple ways. 

I’m linking up with Jessica Turner, author of “The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You,” who hosts a weekly link up focusing on how women like to spend pockets of time dedicated to self-care. 
________________

Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.” Amazon affiliate links included.

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Filed Under: Ben, Cate, faith, Fringe Hours, JOY, life, motherhood, weather, Works For Me Wednesday

Comments

  1. Beth says

    February 17, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    I just loved this statement — "Real life isn’t always tidy, but it’s full of joy." Enjoy your snow days! Me…I'm ready to make my way to San Diego and leave the snow behind. 🙂 Loved those pictures!!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 17, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    Thanks, Beth! I'm glad I'm to a place in life where I get that. My house is a disaster today but everyone is happy. 🙂 I'm so excited for your trip and look forward to hearing about it and seeing pictures!

    Reply
  3. cmclaire says

    February 18, 2015 at 8:50 am

    What a lovely post – those unexpected days are so precious. Here in London the weather is crsip and cold, with nary a flake of snow to behold.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 18, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Thank you! We're on Snow Day 3# today. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mary Carver says

    February 18, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    I'll agree with a caveat. 🙂 Snow days are lovely when I can figure out how to afford them. You know? When work isn't so very pressing…or, SIGH…when I'm not down with the stomach flu. But what I DO love is when God forces me to slow down and LIVE, not just DO. So there's that. (Feel free to ignore my grumpiness. Stomach Flu Day 5 here. Blergh.)

    Reply
  6. bethwillismiller says

    February 18, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    Kristin, thank you for stopping by and leaving a message on my post today. I love this post! Having lived in Florida all my life, we only had one "snow day" in 1977…but I loved your quote, "God gives us a chance to remember that he makes all things new and washes us clean because spring is coming."

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 18, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    It sucks you have the flu in your house again. I'm so very sorry. The winter has been terrible for sickness. I know that doesn't really make you feel better, but I really do sympathize. "Slow down and LIVE, not just DO" really should become my mantra. Hope y'all feel better soon and stay that way!

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 18, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    I've lived in Kentucky all my life. We sometimes get snow, but our weather has a reputation for unpredictable. 🙂 I like Florida. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

    Reply

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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 high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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To live in communion with one another, means to sh To live in communion with one another, means to share meals, space, advice, and prayers. It also means sharing hope, disappointment, dreams, and forgiveness. 

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So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictu So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictures of their daughters yesterday for the completely made-up National Daughters Day. Regardless, today I'm all in my feelings about my daughters. 

They're 16 and 8 right now. Both of their classes have been studying ancient Egypt and had a joint feast today. Sweet, huh? 

BUT THEN TIMEHOP GOT ME! Apparently, NINE years ago today, when Cate was a second-grader, her class had an Egyptian feast. I think about a particular picture of Cate and her friend Kilee from that day AND THEN IT CAME UP IN MY TIMEHOP TODAY. Facebook also told me that same day nine years ago, Monica and I became Facebook friends. We probably were at the Egyptian feast and decided we'd be friends because our girls were friends. Y'all, God has been so good to me through my friendship with Monica. Our families click in a special way with our three sets of same-aged kids, most of whom have been adopted. 

Anyway, my daughters. They're lovely, funny, and smart. I love that Cate helped Rachel with her Egyptian eye makeup this morning and made her a Nutella and banana sandwich. I love that they got to have a party today at school together. I love that even though they're eight years apart, they're sisters. 

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In the blog post HOW TO TAKE THE TRIP, I share lots of links and suggestions on where to go, who can help you, and what to take with you. 

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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

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