Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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What’s in a name?

September 14, 2007 by Kristin Leave a Comment

My farewell column in today’s Ledger & Times

There is much in a name.

And, just for the record, mine is spelled K-R-I-S-T-I-N. But that’s not always what I’ve been called.

My elementary school label of “Mr. Hill’s daughter” wore off as I grew older. But growing up in Oldham County with a principal as a father and a teacher as mother, it was pretty well known that my dad was an elementary school principal.

In middle school, I started developing a slightly independent identity. But then in high school my aunt was my English teacher both my junior and senior years. I never addressed her by name because I wasn’t sure whether to call her Aunt Carolyn or Mrs. Godbey. Either way, other students knew I was “Mrs. Godbey’s niece.”

And so you know, I did get a B in Advanced Placement English at least one of the quarters. So I didn’t breeze through my relative’s class.

When I wasn’t deciding how to get my aunt’s attention those two years, I was probably in the newspaper office. I spent my senior year as The Clarion Colonel editor, a role that prompted another identity — “Newspaper Editor” — but more importantly served a springboard to college.

When I got to Murray State, hardly anyone knew my name. But I found The Murray State News.

I spent much time those four years learning about myself. Despite five years difference in age, my sister and I grew closer. I solidified my love for writing, especially to inform and educate. I made friends I intend to keep for my lifetime. And I met the man who would become my husband.

My collegiate roles were varied, and the labels fewer.

Eight months after I graduated from Murray State, I became Greg’s fiancée. And then six months after that, I changed my last name to Taylor.

We — now collectively “The Taylors” — spent our first year in Lexington, where we started finding our identity as a couple. Then we moved to Murray, where we’ve been the last four years.

Murray is his hometown, but it’s also the hometown of our relationship. This is where we met, and this is where we settled. We started our family here and made big decisions about our careers here.

During the past four years, I assumed another identity: “Kristin at the Ledger.” Since Sept. 8, 2003, I’ve written at least 2,175 stories. And that doesn’t include all the court news and police logs. I’ve laid out pages, taken pictures, answered more phone calls than I could even tally and filled in for my editor.

But most of the work in this job happens outside the office, building relationships and learning the community. I’ve covered 88 city council meetings and two murder trials. Each month, I’ve covered regular meetings at city hall, Murray State, Murray-Calloway County Hospital and CrimeStoppers. And along the way, I’ve kept up with criminal court cases and state politics.

Truth be told: I have liked this job, this identity, more than I ever thought I would. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the way I became part of this community.

Even so, 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.

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Filed Under: Cate, family, Greg, motherhood, work, writing

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

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Y'all have been so awesome celebrating my new book Y'all have been so awesome celebrating my new book! If you've had a chance to read it, I'd really appreciate you leaving a review. For authors, Amazon is the best place, but you can copy and paste the same review on Goodreads and Barnes & Noble too: 

📚 Amazon: bit.ly/createdforcommunion
📚 Barnes & Noble: mavely.app.link/e/RHD4MooDGCb
📚 Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/197602230-created-for-communion

Of course, if you haven't gotten your copy yet, you can buy "Created for Communion" at Amazon or Barnes & Noble (from those links above!) and from the trunk of my minivan! 

🌸 Plus there are FREE resources, including a sample chapter, on my website: kristinhilltaylor.com/created-for-communion

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To live in communion with one another, means to sh To live in communion with one another, means to share meals, space, advice, and prayers. It also means sharing hope, disappointment, dreams, and forgiveness. 

We explore what this looks like in “Created for Communion,” along with other biblical foundations for friendships and community.

🌸 FREE RESOURCES & SAMPLE CHAPTER: 
kristinhilltaylor.com/created-for-communion

🌸 GET THE BOOK:
bit.ly/createdforcommunion

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So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictu So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictures of their daughters yesterday for the completely made-up National Daughters Day. Regardless, today I'm all in my feelings about my daughters. 

They're 16 and 8 right now. Both of their classes have been studying ancient Egypt and had a joint feast today. Sweet, huh? 

BUT THEN TIMEHOP GOT ME! Apparently, NINE years ago today, when Cate was a second-grader, her class had an Egyptian feast. I think about a particular picture of Cate and her friend Kilee from that day AND THEN IT CAME UP IN MY TIMEHOP TODAY. Facebook also told me that same day nine years ago, Monica and I became Facebook friends. We probably were at the Egyptian feast and decided we'd be friends because our girls were friends. Y'all, God has been so good to me through my friendship with Monica. Our families click in a special way with our three sets of same-aged kids, most of whom have been adopted. 

Anyway, my daughters. They're lovely, funny, and smart. I love that Cate helped Rachel with her Egyptian eye makeup this morning and made her a Nutella and banana sandwich. I love that they got to have a party today at school together. I love that even though they're eight years apart, they're sisters. 

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. 💛

#momlife #timehop #documentlife #bettertogether #sisters #siblinglove #nationaldaughtersday #daughters #reallife #schoollife #adoption #adoptionislove #PeaceInTheProcess #CreatedForCommunion #choosingJOY @ncca.lions
I’m pretty much always thinking about my next tr I’m pretty much always thinking about my next trip! Be it a weekend getaway or a family vacation, I’ve always got ideas of where I want to go next. The rest of my family always has suggestions too. Yes, take the (next) trip!

In the blog post HOW TO TAKE THE TRIP, I share lots of links and suggestions on where to go, who can help you, and what to take with you. 

✨ https://kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/how-to-take-the-trip.html

Where do you want to go? What do you always take with you?

#linkinbio #ontheblog #roadtrip #vacation #documentlife #takethetrip #bloggerlife #adventurers #choosingJOY #traveltips
I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on Saturday afternoon — and a chance to finish this suspense book. 

“Between Two Strangers” by @katewhite_author had such an intriguing plot that pulled me right in. I was close to figuring out how it was all intertwined, but I didn’t quite get there through all the twists. Good, quick read!

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #weekending #latergram #suspensebooks #goodreads
Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life, but it’s a good life. 💛

#momlife #siblinglove #bettertogether #reallife #latergram #documentlife #soccermom #boymom #girlmom
When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you ge When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you get some free goodies! Plus, it's a fun way to chat about life, books, and faith. 

I just updated the free gifts to include a lovely PDF that has links to 27 (!!!) how-to posts about life, home, and parenthood. I'm going to give away more goodies when I meet some subscriber goals, so, if you haven't already, please join me on my virtual porch. 

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Well, don't they look lovely together! ✨ Find Well, don't they look lovely together! 

✨ Find them all here: https://amzn.to/3sRUHd7

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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

... You ask a million questions, know the words to thousands of songs, have so many ideas, and still try to sneak into my bed at night. You say I’m the best snuggler in this family. I’ll take it – and your hugs and love, although the middle of the night will never be my favorite time. 

Happy birthday to the girl who loves loudly! 

✨ kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/rachel-is-8.html

#linkinbio #ontheblog #birthdaygirl #momlife #thirdchild #bloggerlife #TeamTaylor #reallife #birthday #thisis8 #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #bestdad
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