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rural gone urban
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This really happened.

Do you watch the new show Happy Endings? I happen to think it's hilarious. So much in fact, I tweeted about it.

And, ABC thought they should put it in a commercial.

So they did. Thanks, Erika (aka @gillygal) for sending me the pic.

lifeBrooke Clay TaylorMay 5, 20111 Comment
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lifeBrooke Clay TaylorMay 6, 2011allowance, cancer, family1 Comment
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Urban Young Professional.

lifeBrooke Clay TaylorApril 29, 2011Construction, Devon Tower, dowtown, Festival of Arts, OKC
and so it begins. deke, she’ll throw that ball soon enough. don’t rush the process. 😂
WIDE OPEN SPACES — our calendar is open. all day. From right this second until I close my eyes. Which means I can stare at my sweet baby Elsie all day. And open my #100DaysToBrave devotional. And research wigs. And hop on a call with my favorite client. And fold the laundry. And call a friend. And roll my eyes at @damonctaylor when he leaves something where I think he shouldn’t. And drive the gator around the little piece of heaven. And re-launch RuralGoneUrban.com. What I’m saying is today is going to be my-hormones-are-still-crashing normal. Cancer-is-part-of-our-lives-now-but-whatcha-gonna-do-about-it 🤷🏻‍♀️ normal. My-in-laws-are-going-to-visit-and-hold-the-baby-while-I-nap normal. photo: @hannarunner.co
FINALS WEEK — It’s like Oprah is handing out tests for everyone. You get a PET scan! You get a biopsy! And today: You get a MRI! You get a mammogram! At least I don’t have to walk across campus. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Damon and Elsie dropped me off at the front door and now they’re off on wolf pack adventures for the next few hours. I’d like to bet they’re at Bass Pro, or maybe Dicks Sporting Goods. But, let’s get real, there’s a high probability they’re in the parking lot and Elsie is taking a nap on his chest. #KByeCancer #MyHusbandIsASuperhero also, I’m about to fire up the blog again. Who’s here for it?
SWEET BABY ELSIE JAMES — Today you came along to doctors appointments because your mama has cancer, and to be frank: that sucks. You’re already a baby warrior and that not only makes me tremendously heart broken, but also stupendously proud. Life is equal-opportunity when it comes to heartbreak or illness. It doesn’t discriminate when it comes to things like cancer, which means bad things happen to good people just the same as good things happen to bad people. So we live life knowing we’re not entitled to easy. It affords us the opportunity to appreciate the all the good moments - regardless of grandeur - because we know life is lived in the leading. It’s between the lines the good stuff happens. Like a first family outing between oncology appointments. Or high fiving because your new pediatrician’s office was able to work your appointment around my port surgery so I can go, too. It would be easy to be grateful the only thing you’ll know about this season will be from pictures and stories, but I almost wish you would remember. Remember that we’ll grow our hair out together. Remember that your mama fought to change your diapers and was selfish about midnight feedings. Because cancer or not, we’re already living a life worth fighting for. And it’s buried deep in the leading.
HERD, TRIBE, SQUAD — it doesn’t matter what you call your people as long as you have them. @kiah_twisselman [aka @burleyandbarley 🌱] found inspiration in my post about bravery and turned it into this incredible watercolor. It’s swoon-worthy, really. This is how I feel. I’ve got the guy I first made out with in a pasture the night before senior skip day at my side (true story), my babe in my arms, and all the women who have walked this journey, those who pray for us, those who cheer for us, and those who love us standing behind me. I admire creativity simply because it’s a small glimpse into someone’s ability to see a situation or obstacle from a unique perspective. It’s not exclusive to artists or musicians, and it’s up for grabs for anyone who wants it. Thank you for this, Kiah. It’s everything. 🧡
LOGISTICS - I’m good at ‘em. I’ve built a career on ‘em. This week demands ‘em. Looks like we’ll have a grand total of 8 appointments this week. 💪🏼 We clocked a week of maternity leave, and now it’s time to charge head first into #momlife, that work #hustle, and #kbyecancer. I hear you friends. I hear all of your concerns. I hear your worries. I hear your advice. And I need you to hear me. Two Thursdays ago I took my shirt off in a doctors appointment and said I’m not leaving until you feel this. My voice did not shake. I was not scared. I was my own advocate. I know my limits. I can do this. My team says I can. So y’all are going to have to let me. And cheer for me. In return, I cross my heart and kiss my elbow I will tap out on the hard days. I will make time to rest. I will be intentional. And measured. And, most of all, strategic. Because my intern made me promise. p.s. @taysha_r giving me all the feels with Elsie’s new bows.
TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY — I bought the finishing touches for our surprise-gender babe’s nursery. I spent way too many minutes in the Target office supplies aisle. I ate Hideaway Pizza with my mom and aunt (@comptonandco + @mamahorton), who flew in from Indiana. I squeezed in a phone call with one of my besties (@hannahmomiller). I laughed until I cried because of a baby sign language video @chaoticallykasie slid in my DMs. And @damonctaylor kept my inbox full of treasures like this photo. Just look at them. Those are my people! That girl is going to be wild, and funny, and - Lord help me - be as quick witted as Dorthy Zbornak. And that man is going to keep me rollin’ my eyes until I’m 97. Oh, and I had a PET scan and met my medical oncologist. I learned my schedule for chemo. And learned I’ll have be adding six more appointments to my week. Here’s the deal. I’m not brave because I’m a superhero. I’m brave because so many tremendous women have walked this path before me. I’m brave because I am part of a tribe of the most amazing humans. I’m brave because with every message, text, email, smoke signal, snail mail, et al you guys are filling me up with courage. I’m brave because in a not so great season a few years ago I prayed a big prayer, “if you want me to stay, I’ll stay. I will do everything in my power to continue fighting for this relationship. But, if you say this isn’t my story anymore, that I don’t have to do *this* every day knowing I’ll never be a mom or be part of a healthy relationship, I will not pause. I will not waver. I will trust You completely. And I will leave.” And He answered. And I left. Because He has me. Boy howdy, hasn’t this week shown that He has me? That makes me brave.
WILDLIFE BABY — So many things had to align perfectly so that in this season, we’ve got this guy. The guy who can make me laugh so hard my c-section stitches might pop. Who said, “just cry,” when I hadn’t even been able to say the words “dr frame called. it’s cancer.” Who says “move over” and climbs in the hospital shower to remove my c-section bandages. True story. I’ll for sure blog about that. How insane is it that after he made his tour through Nevada, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska building his career and living the wildlife dream ... and I made my tour through North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, with stints in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Arizona ... we unknowingly moved back to Oklahoma only weeks apart. Wild. Just wild. Day one of #kbyecancer means I’m spending 24 hours away from Elsie James, who sacrificed her cushy womb space and joined the world early so I could spend this week getting a PET scan, meeting my medical oncologist, a mammogram, et al. Today, day one - and her day seven, he’s got her. And me. And she, friends, is already on the job as the cutest little refuge intern.
I MADE DIS — Elsie ... meaning God is my oath ... is named after my great grandma Elsie Canary. I’ve been told she was the toughest, hardest-working mama, volunteer, and farmer’s wife to walk the earth. She was part of a multi-church women’s group to found a non-profit thrift store called The Lord’s Cupboard (Franklin, Ind.) providing jobs, funds, and scholarships for those in the community. And her grandchildren called her Mommo. Mommo Elsie. And this makes Elsie ... Lil’ Mommo. Read as: her debut rap album drops spring 2020.
There’s something special about the moment your ride-or-die ranch dog finally admits the new baby isn’t leaving. She’s been my main girl since 2007. Through undergrad, a ride in the OSU homecoming parade, graduate school, love, heartbreak, calling home to five states, six jobs, adventuring in 19 states, launching a business, saying yes to @damonctaylor ... she’s been there. Through Whitney ballads, old and new Jo Bro pop, Conway heartbreaks, Maren anthems, and Jason Isbell love songs, she’s been riding shotgun. Through learning through failing, she taught me think of anything other than myself in my twenties. She’s been there for every tear, every laugh, every milestone for 12 years. And, now we’re adding two more. She’s my favorite golden girl. And I can’t imagine doing this week without her.
CalendarPartnershipsProjectsThe K. Bye Team

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