travel

Stories from the Porch in May

May 29, 2019 by Kristin 21 Comments

May days are my favorite but these May days were especially crazy days. That’s about all the introduction necessary, so I’m going to dive right into the recap.

Highlights

I love my birthday and entering this new decade (hello, 40s!) hasn’t bothered me. We had a great weekend at the lake with four of my dearest friends. (Want to see pictures?) A group of school mom friends celebrated another morning with breakfast. I was really filled up with love, which ended up being exactly what I’d need to carry me through the coming weeks.

Four days after my actual birthday, my dad went into cardiac arrest and never recovered. He passed away two days later. I had a complicated relationship with him, but this past weekend my mom, my siblings, his brother and sister, and I remembered the good parts – how he was innovative and creative as an educator and created an environment at the schools he led so teachers and students thrived.

Between my birthday and dad’s death, Cate turned 12 and we celebrated the second weekend of the month with a Harry Potter birthday party. (Stay tuned because I plan to blog about that!) Plus there was Mother’s Day, which is when Greg snapped the picture I shared above.

The third week of May meant the end of school! There was a day trip to the Nashville Zoo with Ben’s class one day. Then we picked up the big kids from school on that Friday and headed up Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Jockey Being Family is a foundation of Jockey International (yep, the underwear company!) that supports adoptive families. We connected with JBF when we were in Washington, D.C., for the Angels in Adoption event and were glad to get to know more about how they connect and support families like ours. We were one of five families honored at JBF’s annual fundraising gala and golf tournament. I’m going to blog more about this soon too, but it was a wonderful weekend of being cared for just when I needed a vacation. (And here are some pictures!)

Favorite things

Water Wow coloring books – Rachel is really into these Water Wow books and they keep her busy! Using just water, the pages can be “painted” and then when they dry they can be painted again. And again. And again. She’s been coloring in fairytale and animal books, but I just ordered some others, including one about letters and numbers.

Slugs & Bugs books – Slugs & Bugs music has been my kids’ childhood soundtrack. When creator Randall Goodgame expanded the gospel-centered fun messages from songs to books, I knew I needed them. I shared more about them in a review post.

Pan fried fish at home – When we were at Kentucky Lake with my friends for my birthday, the guys – both the grownups and the kids – caught enough fish to feed us lunch before we all went our separate ways. It was delicious and so fun! Then Greg and Ben went fishing with a friend on Memorial Day, and they caught enough catfish and crappie to feed our family for more than one meal. I pan fried it for dinner on our porch – talk about holiday perfection!

From the bookshelf

“After Anna” by Lisa Scottoline – I picked up one afternoon when my kids and I had a few extra minutes and decided to spend them in the library. Over the next two days, I read it in parking lots when I arrived early, during my son’s soccer practice, while I was waiting for the kids to get ready for bed, and before I fell asleep those nights. Obviously, I was gripped by the story and characters. Told in a before-and-after back-and-forth sequence, the way the story unfolded was well done and kept me completely invested. There was a twist I totally didn’t see coming, which propelled me through the ending.

“What I’ve Done” and “Secrets Never Die” by Melinda Leigh – I’ve mentioned this Morgan Dane series before and was happy to dive back into the fourth and fifth installments. I love the characters’ continuing storylines and like the quick-read mysteries that are told from the perspective of a private investigator and defense attorney.

“The Middle Matters” by Lisa-Jo Baker – I was really excited to be on this launch team and read an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved Lisa-Jo’s last book, “Never Unfriended.” I enjoyed this one too. Having just turned 40, I related to so many chapters. This book officially releases July 23, but you can preorder it now and there will be goodies to come. Stay tuned because a full review is coming.

“The Orphan Daughter” by Cari Noga – I really enjoyed this one about a 45-year-old woman who is named the guardian of her 11-year-old niece she doesn’t know well. While several of the storylines involve loss, the book is a good reminder of how people’s stories intertwine to heal. And even better, this is a free read for Amazon Prime members.

“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens – Cate gave this to me for my 40th birthday and I’m glad I had to get into it. The writing is lovely, the setting is inviting, and the main character is captivating. I’m not quite finished with it, but I’m really enjoying it.

On the screen

“The Village” – I binged this after it had already been on for several weeks, and I really loved it. The show centers on a group of neighbors from an apartment complex whose stories intersect and overlap. I cried in more than one episode, but I really am looking forward to a full season of this show.

Tell me about your May days.

*****

Stories from the Porch in February

February 27, 2019 by Kristin 22 Comments

Well, February, I know you have fewer days than the other months, but, even so, you were so full. And wet. Oh the rain. My friends who live farther north have had snow while we’ve had many, many inches of rain that have come with flood warnings. Meanwhile, time continues to fly around here, even though I keep trying to slow it down!

Highlights

It’s the month of love – both for Hallmark and here for Team Taylor! Greg and I met 21 years ago on Feb. 7, 1998, and then went on our first date a week later. Yep, that would have made it Valentine’s Day. Before kids we called it First-Date Day, now it’s still that plus some more traditional Valentine’s Day sprinkled in because kids certainly make it more fun. {Read more of our story here.}

One of my favorite Valentine’s Day traditions with the kids is to hang up hearts on their bedroom doors that list things I love about them. I even do it on Rachel’s door because one day she’ll be able to read and until then she’s got people who love to read to her.

This month the love continued when we took a few road trips:

I gave the big kids tickets to see TobyMac (along with opening acts Aaron Cole, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Jordan Feliz, and Jeremy Camp) as their Christmas present. We finally cashed in that delayed gift with the concert earlier this month. Initially, I was in it for the kids – and the delicious steak dinner we had beforehand. But the concert was so good!

On actual Valentine’s Day, we met some friends for dinner at one of my very favorite restaurants and then watched our beloved Murray State Racers win a close game at Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The after school the next day, we went to Louisville to hang out with my mom, some new friends, friends who used to babysit our kids, and my brother and his family. On that Saturday night, Greg and I detoured for a date with my oldest best friend and her husband before our own date to see Kentucky beat then-No. 1 Tennessee, which drew the third largest crowd ever at Rupp Arena. It was a weekend that filled my soul.

Favorite things

Chrysler Pacifica – After our fun couple weeks of travel to the concert, basketball games, and Louisville, our 2011 Dodge Caravan started making noises. A trip to the dealership service department revealed a transmission issue we weren’t sure we wanted to pay to fix. That decision was confirmed by a mechanic specializing in transmission issues. So we traded that van in toward an upgraded (majorly!) to a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. It’s great and I’m super thankful for the protection and provision God has shown to us during this unexpected situation.

The Couch with Mary Carver – I’ve actually shared about this here before, but I got to be a guest on her podcast, which was so fun! Mary and I talked about our favorite TV marriages, so I’d love to hear about who you would add to our list. {More on the episode here!}

Refined series at Lyli Dunbar’s blog – I got to share a piece of our story about Ben being burned and how community helped us heal as part of Lyli’s blog series. She has an encouraging space on this big ‘ole internet and I was happy to be there.

Crock Pot – I told Greg and I needed a new Crock Pot, so he bought me one for Christmas … and it’s the best! The six-quart appliance has brown/saute, slow cook, bake, and keep warm functions. That means when I made taco soup recently, I could brown the beef and onion first, add the other ingredients, and switch to the slow cook function. One pot. Yes, please. Plus the one pot is stainless steel and way easier to handle and clean than the ceramic pots I’ve always had before.

From the bookshelf

“Since You’ve Been Gone” by Christa Allen – I borrowed this one for free from Amazon on my Kindle and really enjoyed it. It was a quick fiction read about a woman who was uncovering some truths while navigating grief. The characters were relatable and the plot line had enough mystery to keep me intrigued. This author has several other books I added to my list.

“The Secret Orphan” by Glynis Peters – This story is set while World War 2 is raging. I really liked the main character and her story. It was different than other books set in this time period that I’ve read because it focused more on a commoner and how the war infiltrated her life.

“Good As Gone” by Amy Gentry – I read this book in three sittings, but I’m not sure what I thought about it. The story was intriguing, but it also seemed far-fetched. That said, I was surprised more than once and was eager to finish it.

On the screen

We’re glad “Survivor” is back on! I’m a longtime fan of this show, but I’m even more of a fan of watching it with my oldest girl. Meanwhile, I’m sad “Manifest” is over for the season. What cliffhangers!

What are you loving, reading, and watching?

*****

#PorchStories Party

Stories from the Porch in October

October 31, 2018 by Kristin 16 Comments

Well, it’s fall, y’all. I know that’s not news, but it actually feels like fall now in western Kentucky. We closed our pool, we’ve been wearing sweatshirts and jackets, Ben wrapped up his soccer and running club seasons, and our two favorite college football teams are having great seasons.

Highlights

Rachel keeps asking to go back on the “big, big Mickey boat,” so, obviously, our Disney cruise was certainly the highlight of our month. One of my favorite things about Disney vacations – the parks, the cruises – is the hospitality. I had to put some planning in before we went, but once we arrived on the boat our time truly felt like a vacation. For a mom who spends her days coordinating details for people, an actual mental vacation while on vacation is sweet.

That photo of us is from our stop at the top of a gondola ride at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. I like soaking up porch views from all over the place!

Greg and I also spent an afternoon and evening in Nashville recently so we could have a date and see Ben Rector is in concert. I didn’t love our seats at the back of the main floor at The Ryman, but I loved seeing Ben Rector live and having time with my husband.

Favorite things

Partners in Care Foster Closet – I’ve had an idea to have a foster care closet for quite a while now. Greg and I have talked about it periodically, I’ve mentioned it to other people, but it just hadn’t been the right time to move forward. Until now! We’ve gotten to team up with a local foster mom to make this happen. It’s a new project that’s still coming along, but we have donated space, thanks to an area social services supervisor, and some donations of hanging racks with clothing for various sizes, toys, shoes, diapers, some medical equipment, and baby accessories. Partners in Care is operating as a project of our adoption and orphan care ministry at our church, so any donations are tax deductible. As foster families have new placements, we’ll be able to help provide them with some materials to make the transition a bit smoother. (You can learn more at Partners in Care on Facebook.)

Shellac fingernail polish – I feel a little unlike myself admitting this new obsession, but it’s true. Before I went to Washington D.C., I got my nails done for the first time in many years. I just wanted to because it made me feel fancier and more put together than my normal life. I got talked into shellac polish by a few other women in the salon. Y’all, it LASTED weeks, and really the only reason it needed to be redone a month or so later was I had chipped one thumbnail and the polish there. Plus my nails were growing out so much (another win for polish that keeps me from picking at my nails!) that there was an unpolished portion beneath the color that was starting to look strange. Anyway, that’s the story of how I came to love having professionally shellacked nails.

Chris Tomlin’s “Holy Roar“– This new worship CD takes me right to the throne of God wherever I’m listening. I reviewed the CD earlier this week and am giving away a copy, so be sure to enter to win by Thursday evening.

From the bookshelf

“A Secret to Die For” by Lisa Harris – I’ve been a fan of Lisa Harris for several years now, and her books keep getting better. This one is a fast-paced suspense novel with a touch of romance. The whole book takes place over just a few days, which kept me wanting to turn the pages. In addition to the case at hand, this novel touches on the value of vulnerability, processing grief while still living, and how God isn’t afraid of our doubts and questions. I like when fiction novels don’t shy away from important real-life messages and Harris does that well with this story. (I reviewed this one in a previous blog post.)

“Whisper Me This” by Kerry Anne King – I got this one for free several months ago, thanks to Amazon Prime’s monthly free book choices, and I really enjoyed it. I actually added some more books by this author to my to-read list, which is forever growing.

“The Almost Sisters” by Joshilyn Jackson – This fiction read had a lot of layers to its story, but it was well written and enjoyable.

“Hope Your Heart Needs: 52 Encouraging Reminds of How God Cares for You” by Holley Gerth – This is a new devotional I’m happy to have around here. (I also wrote a review of it earlier this month.)

“The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home” by Russell Moore – This is my current read, and I get the feeling I’ll be sharing more about it around here. Stay tuned because I’ll share more about this one.

On the screen

“Suits” – We finished the seven seasons on Amazon Prime. Obviously, if I’m willing to binge watch that many episodes without quitting it, I recommend it to you. Now I’ll be waiting for season 8 to be included with Prime.

“New Amsterdam” – A friend suggested I watch this one, and I’m glad I listened. Ryan Eggold (aka Tom Keen from “The Blacklist”) is the main character who drew me in.

What have you been watching, reading, and loving this month?

*****

Loading InLinkz ...