Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

Hello Mornings, Hello Exercise

August 23, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Goodbye summer snuggles. Hello early mornings … 

Hello, 6 o’clock hour. Honestly, I’m not really that into you, but you’ve actually been good to me and for me this week.

It’s true. I’ve been getting up before I have to get up. And it’s been good. It’s been an emotional week, but waking up 30-45 earlier than necessary to get kids ready for school has been good for my soul. I’m doing a Bible study on Ephesians with a small group that “meets” on Facebook each morning as we each begin our days.

So, yes, this is me saying I’m glad I signed up for The HelloMornings Challenge. Having a more regular time of study and prayer is one of my goals for this school year. The other is exercise.

First week in: I got up early all five days to read about Paul and his letter to the Ephesians. And I exercised three of the four days I had planned to either go to a class at a gym I’m considering joining or walk/run with a friend. And the only reason I cancelled my exercise plan on Monday was my son’s emergency room visit on Sunday created some extra things for me to do to start my week.

I’d say that’s a good start. 

And I’m glad I’m not doing it alone. For exercise accountability, I’m thankful for my friend’s guest passes that have allowed me to try out this class and for my other friend’s offer to meet at the park to walk and run. Admittedly, we both needed to talk Thursday about some things going on in our lives so we walked a few miles instead of picking up the pace to a run, but, still … I’m developing a routine, which is what I needed.

For the Bible study, I’m making new friends online and joining two others {Kristen and Mel} I met through our God-sized Dream Team. I’m certain this Bible study will spill over into my everyday real life too.

Especially when I read words like this …

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as your truth in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

{Ephesians 3:14-19} 

What powerful words. And even more powerful is knowing God can transform us like that. For me, right now, it’s helping me to set the alarm a little earlier and schedule exercise of some kind in my day. What happens during those times affects the rest of my day, my conversations and my relationships. Some mornings will be hard. I’ll get distracted or feel defeated. But the next morning will come, and God’s new mercies will be there.

________


This post is linked up with other women who are sharing what they’ve learned this week in The HelloMornings Challenge. Want more stories? Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram. Follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’. Subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

  • 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: community, faith, life, quotes

Comments

  1. Beth says

    August 24, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    "And even more powerful is knowing God can transform us like that. " Yes…this still blows my mind and how wonderful it is to experience how He is transforming many as we wake together to spend more time with Him. It's a beautiful thing! I'm loving this challenge and while 430 am is early it's quiet time that blessed me so much this past week. {Hugs}

    Reply
  2. Katie Orr says

    August 24, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    I'd say that is a GREAT start to your first week!

    So excited to take this fall challenge with you! Thanks for linking up.

    Reply
  3. KristinHillTaylor says

    August 26, 2013 at 1:31 am

    Thanks, Katie – for leading the challenge and stopping by here.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    August 26, 2013 at 1:32 am

    It's neat to see all the different people participating in this study! Thanks for your comment, Beth! Enjoy your early mornings this week!

    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

  • 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

While the big kids went bow hunting yesterday, Gra While the big kids went bow hunting yesterday, Gran-Gran, Grandmom, and I took Rachel to @countrybumpkinfarm. It was perfect for her. She fed animals, played by herself, made friends, and played some more — for 3 1/2 hours. I found an Adirondack chair and finished my third book of the trip. 

#wisdells #wisconsindells #thirdchild #momlife #choosingJOY #favoritethings #88daysofsummer #summerisbest #wisconsin
These three went bow fishing today. Cate wasn’t These three went bow fishing today. Cate wasn’t even sure she wanted to go and the shot one right in the mouth — something the guide said he’d never seen in his 20 years of bow fishing! 

#momlife #wisconsindells #wisconsin #88daysofsummer #firstborn #boymom #girlmom #bowfishing #wisdells
We are having fun — and some forced sibling love We are having fun — and some forced sibling love — at @wildernessresort in Wisconsin Dells. We’ve played at four water parks here since we arrived yesterday afternoon. 💦

#WildernessWI #WildernessResort #roadtrip #88daysofsummer #TeamTaylor #reallife #wisconsin #wisconsindells #wisdells
Nothing like starting a road trip by finishing an Nothing like starting a road trip by finishing an @elinhilderbrand book. I’d held off reading “Winter in Paradise” because the premise that a father’s death exposes his secret life hits way too close to home. But, really, fiction books can be therapeutic. 

I appreciated the raw emotions of a wife, two brothers, and others learning of tragedy and processing the ripples of that moment. Of course, who doesn’t love a story set in the U.S. Virgin Islands? AND it’s this the first in a three-book series, and I’ve got the next two ready to go on my Kindle. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #roadtrip
My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And ki My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And kids today don’t know how to sign yearbooks. Cate, my rising sophomore, says it’s because they have phones to take photos and text each other. She’s probably right. 

But the whole conversation and experience took me down memory lane. So much so, I got these yearbooks from my high school days off my bookshelf and read notes. Admittedly, I can’t remember a few people who proclaimed what a great friend I was and I never called some people who wanted to KIT — that’s Keep In Touch, kids — and left their phone numbers (and pager number in one instance!)! 🤣 

I also proceeded to text the three friends (well, really, five, because two girls married two guy friends of mine) with whom I do actually KIT. I have their numbers saved in my iPhone, thankfully. We have made grown-up memories together. We message and try to see each other. My husband knows their maiden names. 

Truly, how has it been 25 years since I graduated from Oldham County High School? I’m sitting on the porch now, rememebering how faithful God has been and thinking about how high school seems like a lifetime ago but also like yesterday. 💙

HAGS, everybody! 

#memorylane #highschool #livingfaithfully #yearbooks #choosingJOY #reallife
Cat nap! 💕 #catsofinstagram #thirdchild #napt Cat nap! 💕 

#catsofinstagram #thirdchild #naptimeshenanigans #PorchStories #reallife #88daysofsummer #summerisbest
A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domesti A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domestic thriller. I’ve always seen @diane.chamberlain.author’s books, but this was the first one I read. I’ve already downloaded others to my Kindle. 

Living with a secret is all Eve Elliot knows. Her life unravels when she confesses to what she knows and there are ripple effects for her husband and two daughters. I thought I had it all figured out and then there was another surprise right at the end! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #booklover #weekending
Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️ Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️

#poolpeople #thirdchild #88daysofsummer #choosingJOY #PorchStories #weekending #momlife
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
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

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