Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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walking shoes

March 25, 2010 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, I had to trade my walking shoes for rain boots today.

Let me back up, I wanted to join a gym a few weeks ago. Mostly because I’d like to lose a few pounds and have some motivation to stay active. I found what I thought was the perfect option in an aerobics class that met from 8 to 9 a.m. three days a week. Included in the family membership was childcare. Well, I got my hopes up too soon. Turns out the childcare is more for toddlers and not so much for infants. So, maybe next year.

But I was briefly discouraged.

I brainstormed other possibilities. I already walk with my best friend most weekdays, but between kids’ routines, mommas’ commitments and her pregnancy, I don’t always walk as much or as often as I’d like … well, more so, need.

As you probably know, I am an insulin-dependent diabetic. I was diagnosed as an adult, so I guess in some ways I’m still learning the effects this chronic disease has on my everyday life. One of the struggles for me has been insulin and how one of its side effects is complicating weight loss. So a vicious cycle can easily trap me. If I eat high-carb foods, I have to take more insulin. And I’ve realized lately I cope with stress by eating. Stress also causes blood sugar levels to rise. When my blood sugar is high, I have to take insulin. The more insulin I take, the harder it is to lose weight and, in fact, insulin can be blamed for some weigh gain. And then I have to take more insulin because I put on a few pounds …

And, remember, I welcomed a new baby the week of Thanksgiving [when excessive eating is part of the celebration] and then had a couple overwhelming weeks adjusting to being a mother of two.

See where I’m going?

Exercise can interrupt the cycle because it helps lower blood sugar levels and relieve stress. So if I eat right AND exercise, I’m really interrupting the vicious cycle. And I feel better. Physically. And emotionally.

The emotion part is especially helpful as I care for a baby and a toddler and try to be a pleasant wife. And just ask Greg, he can tell you when my blood sugar is high. I get especially irritated and snippy. It’s obvious when it’s too low because I break out into a sweat and start talking in confused, broken sentences.

I’m in a much more peaceful place as a momma, so that alone is helping everything in my life. But I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to join a gym. I wanted to exercise with some accountability and have some affordable, convenient childcare. Well, my plan didn’t work out, like I said. So I decided I was just going to walk more. I love walking with Jaclyn, but I’m capable of lacing up my tennis shoes, loading the kids in the stroller and walking.

That’s what I’ve done this week. Well, that’s what I’ve done on the two days the weather has been on my side. I’ve walked to Rite-Aid (twice …), the pediatrician’s office, the library and Quizno’s. I figure if I can develop the habit now, then maybe, just maybe, when it’s 90 degrees and humid, I won’t think too much of the sweat pouring down my back.

And, no worries, I still plan to walk [and talk!] with Jaclyn. But I’ve realized this week that our house is strategically located in walking proximity of many, many places.

Now, if I could just do something about the rain …

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Filed Under: diabetes, food, friends, motherhood, walking, weather

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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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🎶 Everybody got a small town anthem / Everybody 🎶 Everybody got a small town anthem / Everybody got a story to tell / Everybody got a hallelujah … 🎶 @thomasrhett

Here’s a story for you: When Cate turned 15 in May 2022, I bought her tickets to see Thomas Rhett. But then the concert date conflicted with a church retreat, so I went to two friends to the concert instead of my taking my daughter. 

Earlier this year, I saw TR was playing Nashville at the end of his Home Team 2023 Tour. So I bought Cate tickets again. 

She was sick Thursday night and into Friday, but her fever broke and she mustered the energy to cash in her on 15th birthday present now that she’s 16 1/3 years old. 

We had a great time and I’m thankful for the experience with my oldest girl, who is great company … until she slept the entire two hours home. 

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This book was hard to hear, but also a good story This book was hard to hear, but also a good story based on real life. 

"Cilka's Journey" follows "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" when a character from that story is moved to a Siberian work camp. I've never thought about the women in those camps and how their bodies were affected by the abuse, what would happen if they did get pregnant, and how nurses were certainly needed. Of course, it's so bittersweet to know despite the hard circumstances friendships still bloomed. 

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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. 

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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? 

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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. 

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