Christmas

Stories from the Porch in December

December 29, 2018 by Kristin 1 Comment

Oh, December, I have such mixed feelings about you. I adore Christmas season, even when we approach all the festivities simply like we did this year. But I’m not so sure I’m ready for 2018 to end. Obviously, I don’t have any choice in this matter of time. I’ll take the mildness that let me go on walks outside, the sweetness and joy that come with Christmas, and wonder for just a little bit longer if I’m ready for 2019.

Highlights

Obviously, Christmas was a highlight. I love the way Christmas lingers while we catch up with friends are who aren’t always near, reminisce and plan with family members, and enjoy some slow days of working puzzles, reading books, and building new Lego sets.

I also really loved reflecting on 2018 and anticipating 2019 with my friend Kayse Pratt from Anchored Women. She hosted #reflectandrefresh2018 on Instagram and the prompts were just what my heart needed. (Here’s one of my posts. I’d love for you to scroll the others and share your reflections. Plus I didn’t realize how much this challenge would help me sort the thoughts in my head and come to a word for the year I wasn’t expecting. More on that on Wednesday.)

Favorite things

“One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book” — I’ve filled this out almost every day this year and am excited to begin year two in the five-year journal. I gifted it to three people this year.

23andMe DNA tests – I wrote a post about our experience testing my kids and then ordered kits for Greg and me. We’re going to send off our saliva samples soon!

Murray State Basketball – We love college basketball around here, and are happy to be in the midst of a fun season cheering on our Racers. In December, we took a road trip with friends to see MSU play at Middle Tennessee State and got to watch an exciting game against Auburn on TV the Saturday before Christmas.

Christmas cards – I know social media threatens this tradition, but I sure do love sending and receiving Christmas cards, family photos, and year-in-review letters. I’ve got the ones we’ve received hanging in our kitchen bay window and I may just keep them there for a while.

From the bookshelf

“Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional” by Paul David Tripp – I really enjoyed reading this advent devotional and have no doubt I’ll bring it out again in the years to come too.

“Letters to the Church” by Francis Chan – I’m reading this one slowly, but it’s excellent. Our small group is actually getting ready to work through the video series and study guide.

“God Over Good: Saving Your Faith by Losing Your Expectations of God” by Luke Norsworthy – I’m excited to be into this one. I’ve been waiting for the mental space to start reading this.

Here’s a list of all the books I read in 2018. I got several new fiction titles on my Kindle, so I’m reading to immerse myself in those.

On the screen

“Smallfoot” — We saw this in the theater for not-quite-first-run movies while visiting my family before Christmas and I really loved it. It reminded me of “Trolls” in some ways, but I loved the message so much.

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — I think I liked the second season better than the first. (This is included with Amazon Prime!)

*****

As one year ends and another begins, it seems appropriate to share some lyrics from Rend Collective I’m loving:

“Your grace will never be forgot
Your mercy, all my life
Will be my source forever song
My story and my light

From mountain top to valley low
Through laughter and through tears
Surely the goodness of my God
Will follow all the years

For all that You have done for us
For every battle won
We’ll raise a song to bless Your heart
For all that you have done

… In unity we’ll stand as one
As family we’ll go
Shoulder to shoulder
Hand in hand
Into the great unknown …”

Stories from the Porch in November

November 30, 2018 by Kristin 2 Comments

November included some of my favorite traditions – Friendsgiving and our Christmas Tree Hunt. Surprisingly, it also included a snow day. November also means Thanksgiving, Ben’s birthday, and National Adoption Awareness Month. This month’s view from the porch is actually my son throwing a snowball at the kitchen window while I was watching the kids enjoy the early snow that gave them a day off school.

Highlights

In 2011, we started cutting down our own Christmas tree on my mother-in-law’s land. Then we moved to the country and continued the tradition on our own property. Thing is, these trees weren’t raised and trimmed to be Christmas tree, so we’ve had unruly trees right in our living room. Despite all my Type A ways, I really love the perfectly imperfect trees. They help me enjoy the holiday season more.

The perfectly imperfect one from 2013 may have been my favorite tree. You can read about the adventures from 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016 too.

With November having five Thursdays, we have more time after Thanksgiving before December begins. This is the earliest we’ve ever put up our tree, but that’s just how the calendar worked out. And I’m not sad to ease into December.

Earlier in the month, went to see Zach Williams and Matt Maher in concert. It’s one I’ll remember for a long time. Of course, I shared about that in a post too.

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I shared about our past Novembers, offered a free download of the Kindle version of my book (that 173 of y’all downloaded!), and welcomed two friends to share their stories on my blog. (If you missed those, Kelli shared about how waiting for and adopting her daughter gave her passion for other mommas that she’s turning into a ministry and Michaela shared about how God unites families for his glory.) I also got to see “Instant Family” with some of my dear friends.

Favorite things

Good Grit magazine – I heard about this on That Sounds Fun because Annie Downs was the guest editor of the November/December Beholden issue. It’s a beautiful magazine filled with so many lovely stories. The actual magazine even feels beautiful. I’m happy I subscribed. Magazines in general have been among my favorite things this year. I currently also subscribe to Southern Living, the Magnolia Journal, and the Pioneer Woman’s magazine.

Canvas pictures – I really love documenting our memories on our walls. My new canvas is a favorite addition. And I’ve actually added a couple things to the gallery since I took the picture in this post and have another canvas (which I got free during Black Friday sales!) on the way.

Thirty-One’s Casual Carry-All – I’d been on the hunt for the right everyday bag. I wanted it to be big enough for my planner, Kindle, and all the normal purse things, cross-body strap, pockets, and durable. I don’t change purses often, so I wanted to find the right one. And I did!

Lego Table – For Ben’s birthday, I wanted to give him a huge Lego table that would fit in his bottom bunk, and I love how it turned out! Greg got a piece of wood cut at Lowe’s that would sit down in the bunk bed. I ordered enough off-brand base pieces to cover that piece of wood and glued them down. Greg trimmed the edges with a Dremel tool. Ben told me it was the best birthday present ever, and I’m happy the Legos now live off the floor.

From the bookshelf

“Secret Daughter” by Shilpi Somaya Gowda – I bought this paperback at a book sale for 50 cents this past summer. I wish I’d picked it up sooner because I really loved this fiction story about family that spans two countries. The story provides bittersweet peeks into culture in India, international adoption, and motherhood.

“The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home” by Russell Moore – Usually I read quickly, but I’ve been taking this one slow over the past several weeks because there is a lot to digest. Moore’s perspective on marriage, children, and church family is encouraging, convicting, and thought-provoking.

“Come Let Us Adore Him: 24 Daily Advent Devotional” by Paul David Tripp – I’m excited to read this devotional as Christmas approaches.

On the screen

“Manifest” – Greg and I have been binging the episodes we had on our DVR. We’re caught up and totally intrigued.

“Grinch” – On Thanksgiving evening, we went to see this new movie in the theater. I love going to the theater and I especially loved watching this one with my youngest, who laughed at all the right parts and ate her body weight in popcorn.

How’s your November been?

Seven Things I Learned in December

December 27, 2017 by Kristin 10 Comments

This year has been good and bad and hard and quick. It’s certainly been full of adventures! In a year that had me learning (more) about being more flexible, it’s only appropriate I had to adjust (or, rather, mostly sit out) some holiday plans while I had the flu, which was, thankfully, fairly short lived.

As I think about the new year and what that may look like here, I’m thinking I may change these end-of-the-month posts. I like them, but I need to breathe some new life into them. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but, if you have any ideas of what you’d like to read, let me know!

Until then, here are Seven Things I Learned in December …

1. Having the flu the week of Christmas stinks.

I was feeling like I was getting another ear infection and was coughing so much my back hurt. So I went to an immediate care center while we were in Louisville for a few days of Christmas there. Turns out I had the flu.

So I missed all my extended relatives and most of my family gatherings. I did get to see one high school friend with her kids as well as my sister and her family. But the time I knew I had the flu, I’d already exposed them.

Even though the nurse practitioner wanted to send me on my way with an antibiotic for an ear infection, I persuaded him to explore further because I knew I didn’t usually feel that bad with my previous ear infections. Thankfully, Tamiflu seemed to help.

We came home earlier than expected, which prompted my first use of Kroger’s Click List and Panera’s online ordering app. Both were quite helpful and will likely be used again soon!

I’d still like a Christmas do-over with my family!

Thankfully, I was able to get off the couch and enjoy Christmas Day with my family of five and then spend the afternoon with family and a friend we brought along to Greg’s Nana’s house. I was pretty worn out, but I was happy not to miss out on that gathering.

2. I don’t like to watch most movies more than once …

… although there are a few worth repeating for Christmas.

I like to watch “The Holiday” and “Love Actually” each year, although I also end up watching “Elf,” “A Christmas Story” and “Christmas Vacation” because I’m not the only one who lives in this house.

On the holiday movie note, I accidentally made my oldest into a Hallmark movie fan. That’s what happens when momma is sick and wants to do nothing more than lay on the couch and watch the Hallmark movies she’s recorded. At least they’re all rated G.

3. I only like dark chocolate in a York Peppermint Patty.

I know that’s weird. And I don’t know what to tell you, except you can keep all the other dark chocolate.

4. Needtobreathe’s acoustic show helped me process the year.

Plus it was my first experience at The Ryman, which was wonderful. Of course, I already wrote a post inspired by this, so I won’t repeat myself.

5. Talking out loud about counseling helps others.

I’m pretty much an open book, but I got a little nervous when I told some people I’d started going to counseling. But nobody has reacted negatively. It’s been a good conversation starter more than one and allowed others to share with me pieces of their story they might not have otherwise been so willing.

I wrote a fairly raw post about counseling as I reflected on the year recently.

6. “Wonder” is a wonderful book and movie.

I read the book during our Thanksgiving trip and then took the oldest two kids to watch the movie earlier this month. Cate (who is a fifth-grader) also read and loved the book. I’d say the book is best, but the movie is well worth your time too.

Speaking of books, here’s the list of everything I read this year as well as my favorites, if you’re needing recommendations.

7. Somehow I have a child with braces on her teeth.

I was just telling a friend who it’s weird to be in a season of parenting a child old enough to be experiencing things I remember so clearly experiencing myself. I remember later elementary school so clearly – the teachers, the classrooms, the friends, some moments – and now I have a girl walking through some similar journeys.

Of course, I had to have my last baby tooth pulled in high school so I could get braces and here Cate is with one baby tooth remaining and braces on most of her top teeth. She has an appointment in a few weeks to get braces on her bottom teeth.

*****

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