work

Six years here.

September 14, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

From the newsroom to the front porch.

Six years ago, I filed a story about a MSU Board of Regents meeting and then walked out of the Murray Ledger & Times newsroom for the last time. Months of thinking and praying and talking and dreaming and figuring were put into a decision that turned out to be one of the best of my life.

I always saw myself as a working mom. I liked seeing my byline and feeling the rush of adrenaline as election results were tallied or news stories broke before my eyes.

But I know myself, and I’m an all-or-nothing gal. Being a newspaper reporter and a momma was going to pull me in too many different directions. And I knew God was giving me a choice.

{I’d like to say here, everybody’s life is different. Responsibilities and circumstances vary. This was just my life in 2007 with a newborn adopted daughter in my arms and an entrepreneur husband who supported me then and continues to now in every way imaginable.}

I chose to give up a job I loved for a new season I knew nothing about.

And here I am. Six years later. So thankful I did the hard, right thing. I’m better for it. My girl is better for it. God surprised me with a couple friends who came directly because of my decision to quit working and several others who came into my life more indirectly. God surprised me with new dreams and desires. There’s still adrenaline and I still want to be all in.

Today isn’t the first time I’ve written about this decision to leave that newsroom. It was a big deal for me, people. So, here, take a look at some past posts …

What’s in a name? {Sept. 14, 2007} :: “I’m going to replace my pen and notebook with toys that rattle and squeak, bottles, naptime and smiles that melt my heart. She’s only 4 months old, but she’s changed me. I’m fully embracing my new identity as “Cate’s mom,” starting officially after I finish writing about the Board of Regents later today. There is much in a name. But there is more to be said about purpose.”

One year at home {Sept. 14, 2008} :: “So, here’s the truth, 365 days later: There has not been one day I wished I still worked at the Murray Ledger & Times. Seriously, not once have I wondered if I made the right decision.”

Becoming momma {Sept. 14, 2011} :: “Motherhood is hard. This is harder than any of the 88 city council meetings or two murder trials I covered. This is more challenging than asking U.S. senators and university presidents questions about controversies. But motherhood is rewarding. It’s more thrilling to listen to my son learn to tell stories in broken, incomplete stories than it was to write a breaking news story. It’s more precious to hear my daughter talk about Jesus than to hear about our public hospital’s budget. And my job here is far from over. My kids are little. They have a lot of growing up to do. And I’ll get to have a front row seat that doesn’t require any media credential.”

Five years down this road … {Sept. 14, 2012} :: “I came home feeling like a burden had been lifted because I wasn’t being stretched between what I assumed my life would be and what my life had become. … Quitting my job was certainly a new leg of the journey, and I couldn’t really see too far in front of me. But looking in my rear-view mirror, I’d go around that curve again, especially knowing my life is absolutely nothing like I planned and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And, you know, for being a stay-at-home mom, I don’t even stay home that much.”

________
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.”

Eight Things I Learned in July

July 31, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Cousins walking through the Louisville Zoo on Sunday.

I’m sad July is over. It’s not my favorite month, but it means the end of summer is approaching. My kids go back to school two weeks from today. I’m feeling a mixture of denial and mourning. I’ve always considered summer my favorite, and this one seemed to go by especially quickly. Didn’t I just write Nine Things I Learned in June?!

Summer is like no other season. And it’s filled with so many of my favorite things. Days that don’t begin with an alarm. Swimming. The lake. Lunching at the park with friends. Grilled kabobs. Berries. Road trips. Did I mention swimming?

Now that I have a school-aged child who is getting ready to begin her second year of “real” school, summer has a different meaning. It’s like a break from the routine. And, y’all, I really took a break from all things school. I didn’t even participate in the summer reading program Cate’s school organizes. I seriously hope she’s not the only one who didn’t earn points. She read. Really. Every night out loud to herself. Greg and I read “Beezus and Ramona” with her. She’s read to Ben. She’s read to me. She’s read to Greg. She’s read in the car. And she’s stood over my shoulder and read whatever I was working on.

But I didn’t write down a single book from the suggested reading list. Y’all, I don’t even know what was on the suggested reading list.

So, with that. Eight things I learned in July, in no particular order …

1. It’s OK to say no and not participate in everything. Like your school’s summer reading program, apparently. Oh, and, the one at the local library too. We had a few camps/Bible school weeks we wanted to do. They made it on the calendar. No other regular commitments did.

2. Dinner doesn’t always have to be served at 5:30 p.m. One of my favorite summer afternoons/evenings went like this: Kids and I left the house to swim at the city pool at 3:30 p.m. I emailed my husband as I was walking out the door: We’re going to embrace summer and swim. I have no idea what we’re having for dinner.

He responded: How about I come up there when I leave work? No hesitation from me: Yes! I’ll leave your clean swim trunks out. {Because, you see, I may have slacked meal planning and preparing and executing, but, hey, I did laundry so my husband’s swim trunks no longer had lake water on them. It’s the little things, people.}

So we swam. Until 6 p.m. For kids that go to bed around 7:30 p.m., that’s creeping into late-night dinner territory. But we came home, put on dry clothes, and loaded back up for Cracker Barrel because that’s like a home-cooked meal, right?! AND THEN I really kept on with the “Let’s embrace summer!” mentality and suggested Dairy Queen on the way home. We brought cones home and sat on the front porch eating them. {Well, OK, so mine wasn’t actually cone. Mini Reese’s Cup Blizzard for the win.}

AND THEN, more embracing summer. The kids rode bikes and scooters in the front yard and then I engaged my son in a game of chase in the front yard. It was past bedtime, which is admittedly looser in the summer, and everyone was so happy and content. I really had no idea what time it was.

3. I taught my husband Scrabble strategy too well. Really. I used to beat him. Years ago, I was on quite a streak when we sat down at the table and played the actual board game. Now, he wins. Of course, now we also sit next to each other on our iPhones, verbally nudging each other to take their next Words with Friends turn. Since the beginning of June, he’s on a 22-3 streak.

{Do you wonder how I know the win streak? Oh, at the beginning of June I started a list on the phone. So, yes, if you’ve played Words with Friends with me since June 1, I’ve got our games tallied too. Oh, and, hey, if you want to play, my user name is KHT. I’m never one to turn down a game.}

4. My favorite passage of scripture contains encouragement for one of my constant struggles. OK, so, maybe, I didn’t technically learn this this month, but it was brought to my attention in a new way, thanks to God-sized dreamer friend Mandy. I quote pieces of Philippians 4 regularly to friends having a hard day or myself throughout any given day. Yet, I realize I skip one crucial line about gentleness, which Mandy mentioned in our Voxer conversation.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {Phil. 4:4-7}

{More on this later. I typed a bunch, but it was weighing down this post.}

5. God knows I learn by repetition. “Pray about Everything” is one of the songs from the “Kingdom Rocks” VBS my kids went to this summer at a friend’s church. And we often have the CD playing in the minivan. This song taken from the New Living Translation of Phil. 4:6-7 is my favorite track. Of course, God.

{Hey, Mandy, the gentleness part there is a reminder to be considerate in all you do.}

6. Adding freelance writing work just as the busy lake house season was beginning may not have been the most logical strategy, but it worked for me. I’m a doer. In school, I wanted to write a paper, not prepare for a test. Anticipation for a presentation or an upcoming change was always harder on me than the actual event. I like to see results and progress. Had I spent too much time thinking about the timing of beginning freelance writing right as I would be managing two busy vacation rentals, I probably would have gotten overwhelmed and stressed before I even got started. But when it all sort of just happened, I was able to dive right in. Finding a balance between work and play was the hardest, but even that was alright, thanks to my kids making sure I figured out when we would swim.

7. The creators of The Bachelorette knew what they were doing by scheduling when most shows are taking a break. I tell myself I’m done, but I always get pulled back in. Really, though, is there a better show to have on while folding mounds of laundry? Not really. Yet if “Parenthood” or “The Good Wife” were on with new episodes this time of the year, I may have an easier time saying goodbye to “The Bachelorette.”

So, yes, I’m watching this season. I was a Zak fan. Now I’m a Chris fan. I wasn’t surprised Brooks broke her heard. {Am I the only one who saw that coming? Clearly Des didn’t!}

8. I can make low-sugar, delicious strawberry lemonade at home. Jaclyn shared this recipe with me and you’ll be thanking me that I’m sharing it with you.

2 cups Sprite Zero
1 package lemonade mix for a 16-ounce water bottle {I used Crystal Light}
8 frozen strawberries
2 packages of sweetener {I used Splenda. Packages are likes the ones at restaurants.}
6-10 ice cubes or 1 1/3 cup crushed ice
2/3 cup water

Put in blender and blend. I’ve been making two blenders full at a time because that fits in my plastic pitcher. And, trust me, you’ll want more.

I could probably go on, but I think I’ll stop there. Goodbye, July. You were fun, but couldn’t you have stayed around longer? Friends, what have you learned this month?

________
I’m linking my list up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky. Come join us! And, yes, you may have noticed the permalink is “seven things …” I totally came back and added one.

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.”

{God-sized Dreams} A Reflection

May 28, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

It’s been a whirlwind first half of 2013 for me. Most of it has been ordinary days of striving for balance between mothering and writing, working and playing, going and staying. It’s been in this process, God has done big things in my heart. I can’t even seem it all, much less describe it all, but I know He’s continuing a work he began long ago.

Sometimes this balancing is exhausting. And when I get there, it’s usually because I’ve been holding on too tightly. Letting go really is good for my soul. And so is regrouping and stepping away from it all, which is what I did this weekend. I looked out at that lake. I enjoyed my parents and siblings and their families. I read a whole book. I stayed up too late and got up too early. But I didn’t work or write or really even plan.

And now this morning, my body is tired but my mind and heart are rested. I’m looking out again, this time at the past six months and how God has moved. It’s as vast at that lake.

Author Holley Gerth has led a group of us women these past six months as we pursue our God-sized dreams. I had no idea what would come out of this group, but it’s been nothing like I expected and more than I thought possible through online friendships. This is the last official link-up post, but I get the feeling it’s only the beginning to real-life dreaming.

As part of this God-sized Dream Team, I formulated a mission: I believe God has created and called me to communicate stories from my own life and others’ lives for families to know God as the author and creator of every detail through writing, promoting and serving.

And then I listed out three dreams and now I’m including updates:

Pursue publishing a non-fiction motherhood book I’ve been writing. I’ve been working on the book sporadically. Some friends have read it. A stranger-now-friend read it. I’ve added to it and put it in the hands of a couple other friends I’m still hoping will read it. It’s certainly a work in progress, but it’s still there and will be for awhile because I’m convinced it’s a project that will be best spanned over time. It’s one of those then-and-now stories that deserves time.
Continue praying God would lead us to a birthmom for our third adoption. We’re still praying and hoping and waiting. Our home study for an independent adoption has expired, but I have the paperwork to gather the information, again.
Build an on-the-side freelance business. This is the one that hasn’t progressed like I expected, but it’s certainly progressed. Along with managing our own vacation rental lake house for the second summer, I now also manage the details for another property owner’s house. It’s a niche I didn’t realize I’d like, but it’s a good work-from-home job for me. I’m also officially a freelance writer, having taken several writing assignments for a local parenting/family magazin e.

Photo taken by my brother-in-law Zac, who happened to have my camera and noticed the view.

These dreams aren’t the only ways God has moved. In thinking about publishing a book and building a freelance business, I’ve worked on improving and expanding this blog space. I’ve written posts that publish about six days a week. I’ve connected with readers. I’ve had guests write here and I’ve written other places. {You can read my posts at Circles of Faith, (in)courage, The Riches of His Love, and Gindi’s.} In dreaming and writing here, God has meshed the dreams I laid out at the beginning and created new desires in my heart.

But the asterisk, which, really, is the foundation and not a footnote is that being a wife and mom come first. These are the most important roles in my life, just after seeking God, of course. Everything else comes after. In these six months I’ve gradually transitioned to a work-from-home mom, but it’s the parenting questions and strategies that still weigh most heavily on my heart. My work-related appointments and commitments fit around my family on my calendar.

Yes, it’s a balancing act, but the view is nice here. Yes, the horizon is vast, but it’s a place I believe I’m meant to be.

________

Tuesdays are for God-sized Dreams here as I link up with Holley Gerth and many other dreamers. You’ll find encouragement and community at her blog. If this topic is new to you, Holley has wonderful resources available as you discover where God is leading you: “The Do What You Can Plan” is an ebook that is worth every bit of the $1.99. “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream” {$8.99 for Kindle; $11.71 for paperback} is packed full of encouragement.

I’m also linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today, where she throws a weekly Soli Deo Gloria party and offers much transparency and truth.

Want more? Subscribe to get “Insights” in your inbox. Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Or follow me on and Instagram. Affiliate links included.