Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

Adventure. Here. Now.

December 5, 2011 by Kristin 2 Comments

Everything in life is more of an adventure with kids.

After our pre-lit tree failed to light all but one of its strands of lights, I decided it was time to move on. I started thinking about how we had live trees growing up in the Hill household. When I was first out of college, I bought a small artificial tree because it seemed like a good plan while living alone in an apartment. Each year, I just put it up and then upgraded to a larger, pre-lit fake tree. It seemed convenient.

But what’s the holiday season without a little adventure?

So Greg and I decided to go cut down our own life tree from his mom’s property. Cate called it a “tree hunt” on our way across the Kentucky-Tennessee line Saturday afternoon. We weren’t alone in our hunt, either. Uncle Charles and Aunt Angela; cousins Elijah, Ethne and Evelyn; and friends Nathan, Sarah, Davey and Atticus were with us. Gran-Gran and baby cousin Kieran were inside.

“We’re going on a {tree} hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We’re not scared.”

Cate approved.

Greg was proud.

The guys loaded both our tree and the Goodriches’ tree into Greg’s pick-up truck bed. Good to go, back toward Murray. Until we realized we lost our friends’ tree somewhere between a curve and a stop sign on State Line Road. So we retraced our tracks …

And after I took a picture, I helped Greg load the tree back in the truck. He did stop one other time to readjust it and weigh it down. Finally, it was more secure.

Onward …

Then we saw a deer. Greg slowed down, but he still clipped the deer with the passenger-side front bumper of his truck.

It’s only 14.4 miles between our house and my mother-in-law’s house. It took longer than usual last night, but we laughed often and talked about how we felt so blessed. It had been a good day; it is a good life.

And for the first time in a decade, I have a live Christmas tree. It’s fat and unshaped … and I love it. And I believe a new tradition is born.

_______

There also was the father-daughter conversation earlier today during the MSU vs. Dayton basketball game that had me laughing …

While watching Isaiah Canaan drive to the basket surrounded by defenders during a fast break, Greg yelled, “Give it up, son.”

Then 4-year-old Cate piped in, “Daddy, who is your son out there?”

“Well, I call anyone who I’m coaching ‘son,’ even though I’m not really coaching anyone out there.” Then Greg turned to me: “She thinks she has a lot of brothers out there.”

_______

Ben loves his bath, but tonight he and I both were in for a surprise …

While playing in the water, 2-year-old Ben started yelling, “Rock! Rock! Rock!”

And then I noticed the brown “rocks” floating around the tub weren’t actually rocks …

________

What stories do you have from your weekend? I hope your days were filled with adventure, surprises and laughter.
________

Want more? Subscribe to get “Insights” in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Ben, Cate, Greg, holiday, life, motherhood

Comments

  1. Peggy Taylor says

    December 5, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    I love this story, especially the "Rocks". Been there-done that. What great memories you are making. Loved the whole weekend. Let's make the parade, then "Tree Hunting" then helping with my tree a tradition and of course dinner. I love having lots of people around the house.

    Reply
  2. Life as I know it says

    December 5, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    There are a lot of things about this post that I like a lot. First of all, the picture of Greg with the chain saw is awesome. That's definitely his proud face! And I loved the exchange between him and Cate. Priceless!
    My memory from the weekend was making my dining room table with my little brother. And hitting myself in the face with a hammer.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

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 ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • Nine Ways to Go for God
  • 20 years of marriage!
  • God always finds them
  • 5 skills to raise kids well
  • Cheesy, breezy Wisconsin Dells

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

Today I’m thankful for a productive stretch of t Today I’m thankful for a productive stretch of time making my way through a to-do list, this view from my kitchen window, a little more Summer Break with my kids, a book that has me distracted from other things I “should” be doing, and lots of wide-open space in our day. 

#mondaymotivation #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #countryliving #momlife #reallife #88daysofsummer
We’ve taken our older kids on short-term mission We’ve taken our older kids on short-term mission trips and hope to go on more. They’ve served locally. We support missionaries. We want our kids to be open to wherever God calls them and incorporating missions into our small-town life is one way we, as parents, have hoped to teach that. 

I’m incredibly thankful @hardinbaptistchurch comes alongside us with the same message. The middle and high school @hardinstudents spent the summer looking at different aspects of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Youth minister @cbright2 spent the last Sunday of the series looking at nine practical ways that students – yes, even middle and high schoolers – could participate in and pray about going for God. 

Chase shared these 9 Ways to Go with students' parents, and I asked him for permission to share them with you because even as an adult I want to remember to live on mission – even right where I am. 

9 WAYS TO GO FOR GOD: https://bit.ly/9WaysToGo

#linkinbio #ontheblog #bloggerlife #momlife #churchlife #faithlife #livingfaithfully #missions #missionminded #youth #teenagers #parenting #parenthood
“Writing is what makes me happy. Writing, even, “Writing is what makes me happy. Writing, even, is how I feel I contribute to the world. Reminding people of what’s important. Letting them escape the harsh parts of life, even if it’s just for a few hours. Helping them feel happiness through watching happily-ever-afters unfold. Remembering truths. Recalling their self-worth. Loving others. Living well. Learning. I want to do that.” 

And, let’s be honest, love stories about writers make me happy too. “Meet Me in the Margins” was cute, predictable, and a good way to escape for a little while. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #authorlife #librarybooks #poolpeople #weekending
This is the only picture I took tonight. You can’t tell, but there was a porch full of people talking, more kids playing basketball, and another group around the kitchen table. We covered a lot of ground in our conversations. Nobody cared that I didn’t have hot dog buns or tomatoes for the burgers. I ran out of paper plates and am happy to hear the dishwasher cleaning all the “real” plates. I’m grateful for come-as-you-are community, where we share real life. 

#88daysofsummer #PorchStories #livingfaithfully #morethangroceries #choosingJOY #bettertogether #reallife #hospitalitymatters #poolpeople
While Ben had a great week at @memgrizzyouth camp While Ben had a great week at @memgrizzyouth camp with some school friends, the girls and I soaked up some more of summer with our friends. 

#88daysofsummer #boymom #bettertogether #girlmom #momlife #reallife #choosingJOY
I’m getting ready to get in my van again to pick I’m getting ready to get in my van again to pick up a kid from basketball camp. It’s the third time today I will have driven from my house to somewhere else and back again. And this is still Summer Break, when things are supposedly a little slower. 

My friend @marycarver gets me. She knows us moms spend a million hours a week taxiing people to school and sports and church and friends’ houses and errands and appointments. And maybe we linger longer before coming in the house with arms full of groceries and bags and papers and books … because we just need a minute. Or maybe we answer some texts before we pull away from the store and catch up on phone calls while we drive or show up early to pickup to read a book that has captured our attention. 

We spend a lot of time and accomplish much in our cars. Mary knows this and is giving us the encouragement we need in her new book, “Prayers from the Parking Lot.” It’s a perfect size to keep in your car or purse. Each of the 50 reflections are practical and inspiring and meet moms on the go right where we are. 

Preorder this gem now so you have it the next time you have a few extra minutes in a parking lot, school pickup line, or waiting room. It officially releases next week and is available from @revellbooks on Amazon and wherever else you buy books. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #momlife #reallife #livingfaithfully
20 years married. 💛 I’ve learned a million t 20 years married. 💛

I’ve learned a million things in these adult years, but I keep thinking about this one this today: Celebrate the good things. 

This world is so noisy, decisions and situations clutter our brains, and there’s so much heartache. But there’s also goodness. And our married life falls into that category and is a testimony to God’s faithfulness. It hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been sanctifying and life-giving. 

(And it deserves a second post today.)

We celebrated today with a lunch date, some love notes, the two bouquets he surprised me with a day early, some chocolates I left in the car too long but rescued and restored them from their melted state, and dinner out as a family. I’ll take it. I will take every ounce of goodness on an ordinary day that marks what feels like a big-deal accomplishment. 

#marriage #TeamTaylor #anniversary #bettertogether #reallife #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #wifelife #momlife
In the past year, I learned Greg doesn’t like pa In the past year, I learned Greg doesn’t like packaged taco seasoning and bought my engagement ring on sale at a pawn shop. This after I’ve been wearing the ring for two decades and made taco meat more times than I could even begin to count.

With that, happy 20th anniversary, husband. I’m glad we can still learn things about each other after knowing each other for more than 24 years and being married for two decades. 

Being in our 40s celebrating 20 years of marriage together seems like such a grown-up accomplishment. But it also seems like exactly where we are supposed to be. Let’s keep adventuring and learning together. Let’s go celebrate, maybe with tacos! 

https://kristinhilltaylor.com/2022/08/20-years.html

#linkinbio #bloggerlife #marriage #TeamTaylor #reallife #wifelife #anniversary
I need to work, but I want to read. 📚 #KHTread I need to work, but I want to read. 📚

#KHTreads #booklover #readerproblems #bookproblems #bookstagram #librarybooks #reallife
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2022 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM