Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Three weeks {of summer} remain

July 19, 2017 by Kristin 15 Comments

I have my kids’ school supply lists saved on my phone, but I’m ignoring them. But knowing they’re there has me wanting to cram more summer into the next three weeks.

Yep, three weeks from today my kids begin fifth and second grades. (Let’s not even ponder how this is even possible. Weren’t they just babies?)

Even in a swimsuit, summer is comfortable to me.

{Tweet that.}

Comfort is homemade mac and cheese, long conversations with those who know you best, songs that bring back the best memories, popsicles on summer days, and books with redemption. It’s a T-shirt, slow mornings, snacks on a road trip, and traditions.

Comfort can come through any of the senses, sometimes when least expected. It interrupts the hustle of normal life and calms a weary soul.

This summer has been particularly sweet when it comes to reminiscing. I’ve had my 20th high school reunion, a small college reunion with some friends who gathered at a friend’s 40th birthday party, a dear friend and her four kids who used to be part of our everyday life when they lived here come visit for a few days, and a host of other summertime memories that weave themselves into our days as I make new memories with my kids.

(And I know one day they will be glad I made these friends hold hands and jump into the pool together because, really, isn’t that pretty much a metaphor for life?)

We’re going to Sam’s this afternoon to stock up on paper plates and popsicles for these next three weeks and probably some afternoons when the temperatures still indicate summer even after my kids have to get back to school.

Of course, there are still things we want to do. Maybe visit a nearby water park. Try the still-new-to-us Bahama Bucks. And maybe drink another a milkshake.

Then give me my current fiction read with some more time beside the pool for the next three weeks. Let my calendar be filled with friends and the freezer with enough popsicles to go around.

Oh, and don’t worry, I will let the kids get their school supplies before Aug. 9 arrives.

*****

In case you missed it, I shared about knowing & trusting God deeply enough to dream alongside Him at God-sized Dreams earlier this week.

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - Porch Stories
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Filed Under: Porch Stories Tagged With: seasons, summer

Comments

  1. Susan Shipe says

    July 19, 2017 at 6:11 am

    How can it be? 3?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 19, 2017 at 9:15 pm

      We’ve been out since mid-May, and I’m just thankful they don’t go back “until” Aug. 9 because my friend teaches at a school that starts a week earlier than that! Good thing we’ll still have the pool for after school so summer really isn’t over!

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    July 19, 2017 at 6:33 am

    Wow, you guys start school early! I’ve got to start ordering homeschool curriculum, but am really in denial.

    I love that you are so committed to the joy of summer.

    Reply
  3. Candace Playforth says

    July 19, 2017 at 6:42 am

    I’m so glad you’ve had such a wonderful summer, Kristin. I’m dreading the end. It will send my daughter back to college. They really do grow up way too fast. It’s great to see you this morning :).

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 19, 2017 at 9:13 pm

      My 10-year-old likes to tell me when my youngest (who is almost 2) is her age, she’ll be 18. Thanks, kid. Like I needed that reminder. 🙂 Glad you’re here, Candace, and I hope you’re enjoying your summer with your girl!

      Reply
  4. Meghan says

    July 19, 2017 at 8:27 am

    I love the last line. I am saying this too LOL!!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 19, 2017 at 9:12 pm

      We’ve got to stick together!

      Reply
  5. Lisa notes says

    July 19, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    I want to do summers at your house, Kristin. 🙂 What wonderful memories you are creating for your family!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 19, 2017 at 9:12 pm

      Come on over, Lisa! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Maree Dee says

    July 21, 2017 at 9:16 am

    Great picture! Enjoy the last part of summer. Thank you for the link-up.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 23, 2017 at 5:11 pm

      Thank you for being here, Maree!

      Reply
  7. lynn says

    July 22, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    You paint such a vivid picture about what’s special about the lazy days of summer. That photo of the kids, jumping in the pool holding hands — priceless. In addition to sleeping in and popsicles and milkshakes and water parks and days at the pool with a book, I would add snacking on frozen green grapes, afternoon (cheap) matinees at air conditioned movie theaters, blowing bubbles in the backyard, reading books about summer, and blending up some watermelon-y slushy drinks and pulling out the straws. School and all those schedules come too soon.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 23, 2017 at 4:44 pm

      I love summer, obviously! I’m glad you can relate. Thanks for being here, Lynn!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Comfort Can Be Found in a Variety of Ways - Words, Photos and Art says:
    July 19, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    […] #FreshMarketFriday, #TuneInThursday, #FaithonFire, #Glimpses, #MomentsofHope, #CoffeeforYourHeart, #porchstories, […]

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  2. Homeless and Us - Survivors Together says:
    July 20, 2017 at 7:12 am

    […] sharing with Carmen, Debbie, Brenda, Holley, Kristin […]

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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 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.

Learn more about my story here.

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Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ #TeamTaylor #girl Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ 

#TeamTaylor #girlmom #boymom #momlife #reallife #summerisbest #siblinglove #countryliving #poolpeople #getoutside
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But this made me wonder: how do we know if a book is going to be weird, contain elements we don’t like, or go places that don’t make sense? I don’t like to read much about a book before I read the book. Usually, I do a better job of picking books for myself. 

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I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant we I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant weather, a mixture of productivity and rest, and had plenty of wide-open space to enjoy our property and each other. 

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And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watch And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watching them both play. 

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Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ And Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ 

And when I say summer, I mean we are ready to shake up the routine, mentally regroup, turn off the alarms, establish some new habits, soak in the sun, and catch up with friends we’ve been crossing paths with too quickly. 

I want to savor the #84daysofsummer and I want to embrace this new season. And it’s almost time. Three more days of school. (Deep breaths.) 

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep collecting the moments — the hard, hurried, happy, and heartfelt. The seasons do change, but this is the life we are living. 

“The moments you collect may not be loud or flashy. They might be quiet or covered or a far-off view you were lucky to catch. But this I know to be true: A moment savored says to your soul, ‘You have lived something beautiful.’ And it keeps you buoyed. It sustains you when you’re running empty. It lifts you up and carries you forward.” — Joanna Gaines in @magnolia summer 2023 journal issue no. 27 

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This second novel by @carleyfortune speaks right t This second novel by @carleyfortune speaks right to my summer-loving heart. I loved Will and Fern’s love story, appreciated the depths of some of their experiences, and enjoyed the happy ending. Put this one one your summer reading list! 

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