Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

6 Things I Learned in August

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Oh, August, I have such mixed feelings about you. You signify a transition back into a routine, to which I’m always slow to adjust. But you’re still part of summer, which I adore. And this year, you’ve been so much cooler and pleasant weather wise.

Still, how are we already here? Being more than halfway through the year doesn’t seem possible.

Even while going back and forth with my emotions toward August, I’ve managed to learn some things …

1. Rachel can climb out of her crib.

It’s been an adventure training my 23-month-old girl to sleep in a toddler bed because, hello, freedom. But she’s doing well at nighttime and is hit and miss for naptime.

We had been thinking about moving her out of the crib because we’re traveling in September and a couple of times in November and she has already mastered escaping the pack-and-play. I was hesitating because I didn’t want to totally give up the crib, but Rachel made that decision for us when she climbed out with ease this month.

2. So many good books are coming this fall.

I’ve been getting books to review and joining launch teams, which are definitely perks to my blogger life. Stay tuned for more, but these are all books you’ll want to go ahead and add to your list:

Stay tuned here because “Peace in the Process” by yours truly will be available soon!

(And those are just the ones I know to recommend. I have no doubt there are others!)

3. The totality eclipse exceeded my expectations.

I did wonder if I was going to be disappointed because of all the hype, but I totally wasn’t! I loved watching my oldest get into learning about it – she even researched and wrote a report just because she wanted to! We watched the eclipse about 15 miles from home in Hardin, Ky., where we had 1 minute 51 seconds of totality and some really great snacks!

4. Getting back into the school routine takes time …

… even for momma and toddler! The big kids like their teachers and are glad to be back at school, but we’ve all been slow to adjust to the earlier wake-up, get-going times.

5. Swimmers ear is no joke.

I’ve had ear infections before, but, goodness, “just” having swimmers ear still hurts. The drops definitely helped, but I had so much sympathy for my boy who had swimmers ear twice in July when I had it last week.

6. I won a photo contest!

I was so excited to win a photo contest the company that put in our pool hosted on Facebook. Not surprisingly, the contest involved what summer days at the pool looked like. And, also not surprisingly, I shared a photo of Rachel. I ended up winning a $220 poolside basketball goal that my husband and son were especially excited to have.

(See my winning photo here! Thanks, Aloha Pools!)

How’s your August been? And, really, how do you feel toward the month in general?

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - Porch Stories
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God’s faithfulness in all seasons

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Here they come, second and fifth grades!

(Of course, they aren’t going shirtless or wearing tank tops! That picture is from yesterday, the last day of Summer Break, which we totally rocked. First, we swam in our pool that somehow has 80-degree water again … yeah, I don’t know what happened with August either. And then we went to a nearby water park with friends.)

Anyway, I want to tell you how I’m so sad Summer Break is over and how we loved our slower pace, often around the pool and on our porch. We liked the longer visits with friends. But that’s no secret if you’ve been around here – or social media – this summer.

So, let’s focus on how seasons are good. God does something with the seasons – the ones on the calendar and the ones in my heart. I want to take the freedom and pace of Summer Break into the beginning of the school year, when the weather cools for fall, and along wherever else God leads me in the coming days.

I want to remember what God has done
as we move along to whatever is next.

{Tweet that.}

Here are some specific ways I hope to do that:

  • Remember play can happen before all the work is done because all the work will never be done.
  • Spend time reading and studying God’s word.
  • Take walks with friends.
  • Read fiction books.
  • Continue to invite people over – for lunch, for dinner, for no reason at all.
  • Leave white space on my calendar.

Summer Break, you were exactly what our hearts needed. I hope the kids take what they’ve learned about being friends even though they’re siblings and welcoming others into our lives with them into their classrooms. I hope they’re the kids who play well with others at recess. I want them to be the kids who trust God as He writes their stories as they walk the school hallways and ride the bus in the afternoons.

And I hope we all remember God’s faithfulness regardless of the season.

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Part of what’s next for me is launching my self-published book into the world. There are some spots left, if you’re interested in joining me on that adventure. Sign up here.

*****

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Three weeks {of summer} remain

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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.

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

*****

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