Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

Snapping a parenting moment

December 6, 2012 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I played substitute photographer for a friend of mine who had volunteered to take pictures at a local story time’s holiday pancake breakfast before her daughter got sick the same morning. This was the same friend-photographer who took our family pictures this year. I certainly didn’t mind helping her out.

Moms {and a few dads} lined up with their kids to pose in front the beautifully decorated alter at the church that hosts the weekly story time. I snapped some of the whole family, some of siblings, and some of little ones still unsteady on their feet standing in front of the Christmas tree. Several wore holiday attire and many wore red.

And then there was my boy, with his gold, navy and gray. With a motorcycle on his shirt. He was eager to pose for a pictures, so another friend took the camera from me and I went to sit with my boy. Only that’s not what he wanted.

“You not be in my picture. I be by myself.”

My 3-year-old son totally kicked me out of his picture and I wasn’t in the mood to argue about my presence. So I shrugged my shoulders, took the camera back, and snapped Ben’s picture. He grinned. And I went on taking other pictures.

The more I thought about it, the funnier the story became to me. I’ve told it several times since, and I keep thinking I should take something from it. You know, grow from here, become a better momma with this. Here’s the thing: Ben’s love languages these days are tickling or arguing. He has the best belly laugh and it comes out with the slightest tickle. I tickle him just so I can hear him laugh and rid the moment of any crankiness brewing.

Arguing is a different story. He’ll try to engage in “uh-huh” versus “na-huh” battles that I usually refuse. I’m trying to learn to pick my battles, yet be consistent {with a firm yet gentle approach … seriously complicated stuff this parenting business!}. I suppose that’s why I just walked away from the picture and let him sit by his own mischievous self in front of the beautiful Christmas tree.

________

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

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this 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, motherhood

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

  • Books of 2022 … so far
  • Helping adopted teens belong
  • Laundry talk
  • Brave Ben & his broken heel
  • Fifteen

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honest Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honestly, it’s hard to believe two-plus years later, and COVID is still interrupting all kinds of things. I know it’s a privilege to travel, but there’s still disappointment. Regardless, we can’t board a cruise ship in Canada on Monday to go to Alaska when my boy tested positive for COVID last night. (Yes, twice. 🤦🏻‍♀️)

But the real point of this post: we are regrouping and going to Wisconsin Dells next week. I’m excited to see somewhere new, even if it’s not what I’d been planning. Let’s be honest, the logistics to get to the cruise were already a lot, so maybe this closer-to-home trip is meant to be right now. 

Anyway, who has been to Wisconsin Dells area? We found a condo and have a list of things going, but I’m accepting all entertainment and restaurant recommendations.

#wisconsindells #reallife #covid_19 #covid #momlife #88daysofsummer #summervacation
I don’t really want to get into an abortion deba I don’t really want to get into an abortion debate here, but I will always champion the unborn, advocate for life, and support mothers and families. When I say “choose life,” I mean in and out of the womb. Choosing life begins with not having an abortion, but it continues to advocating for adoption, foster care, support for moms in lots of different situations. 

Western Kentucky is blessed with resources that do this, including @lifehousemurray in Murray and @_hopecenter in Mayfield. Those are great places to send your money and diapers, recommend to moms expecting or raising little ones, and keep in your prayers. 

If you know someone fostering, we have Partners In Care Foster Closet that offers clothes and supplies to western Kentucky foster families. No strings attached. 

I will forever be an open book about adoption, so I’ll be happy to talk about that with anyone who desires to know more. I even wrote a book about our adoption stories: bit.ly/PeaceInTheProcess #linkinbio 

My three kids have life because three women chose it for them. Those decisions changed my life for the better, and that’s only one piece of a much bigger story. 

#prolife #chooselife #adoptionislove #momlife #authorlife #livingfaithfully #PeaceInTheProcess #reallife #unplannedpregnancy #adoption #family #sisters #siblinglove #currentevents #roevwade #lifematters
Here we are halfway through the year, and so far I Here we are halfway through the year, and so far I've read 40 books. That pace is well beyond my usual number for the year. Last year I read 62 total. I don't join challenges, plan what I'm going to read next, or even have a goal. But I still love keeping track. 

Some things to know about my reading habits: I like actual books, but I've been reading often on my waterproof Kindle Paperwhite. I introduced audiobooks into my life this year and especially enjoyed some memoirs while I was driving around while the kids were in school. I will quit books if I can't get into them, and I've done that a few times this year. I almost always have a book (or books, hello, Kindle) with me, you know, just in case I happen upon some time to read. Here are some other tips for making time for books and reading more.

Today #ontheblog I'm sharing the list of the 40 books I've read so far this year. #linkinbio What else do I need to read this year?

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #librarybooks #bloggerlife #amreading #favoritethings #choosingJOY
The third installment in Abby Jimenez’s The Frie The third installment in Abby Jimenez’s The Friend Zone series may have been my favorite in this enjoyable rom-com series that also takes on some serious topics. (See two previous #KHTreads posts for the other two!)

I was reading it on my Kindle, but then I was early to pick up one of my kids … and realized I forgot my Kindle. I swung by the library and read a few chapters in print while I waited. I couldn’t waste reading time! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #momlife #romcombooks
We’ve taken Cate on two mission trips to Guatema We’ve taken Cate on two mission trips to Guatemala with our family, but sending her with our @hardinbaptistchurch family still felt like a big deal. I’m so thankful for the influence @cbright2, @j.essicalouis, @maggiehelms, and others get to have on my girl during these important high school years.

Cate and her friends got to help host a block party, serve at a local church, work in community gardens and at a foster home, and see some Chicago sites. Through it all, I’m thankful she could draw nearer to Jesus and experience ministry in a new way. 

#livingfaithfully #momlife #firstborn #churchlife #88daysofsummer #missiontrip
I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this se I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this second book in a series by Abby Jimenez. (See previous post about the first book, “The Friend Zone.”) 

I like this being another character’s story and not just a continuation of the first book. Yes, I have the third installment ready to go on my Kindle and I hope to start it today. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #booklover #kindlepaperwhite
First (official) day of summer well spent. ☀️ First (official) day of summer well spent. ☀️

#bettertogether #summerisbest #88daysofsummer #choosingJOY
We have some fierce guard cats! #catsofinstagram We have some fierce guard cats! 

#catsofinstagram #PorchStories #countryliving #catlady #choosingJOY
My own experience with Father’s Day has always b My own experience with Father’s Day has always been a little weird, but I’m forever grateful for the good parts my dad passed on to me, my husband who is a wonderful dad to our kids, and a Heavenly Father who makes friends into families. 

With that said, our gathering today with some others who love Bethel Ministries International and our missionary friends @chopenhannahmooney and @sauljchopen seemed to fall on exactly the right day. 

“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” — Ephesians 4:4-7

#livingfaithfully #fathersday #PorchStories #bettertogether #choosingJOY #reallife
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

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

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.