Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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‘Tis the season … for deals

October 30, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

This picture came to mind while writing this post. That’s 7-month-old Cate as she appeared on our card in 2007.

Honestly, I like Christmas shopping well before it’s Christmas time. It helps me enjoy the season more when I don’t have a shopping list hanging over my head. Plus it means I buy gifts as I find them and often use great deals that show up in my inbox.

So, in the spirit of Christmas being less than two months away, I thought I’d share some deals. And you’ll notice I think photos make lovely gifts.

Shutterfly Photo Books
These are my favorite brand of photo books and they’re 50% off through Monday, Nov. 3 when you use the code PUMPKIN.

zulily
Just in general, yes. I’ve bought University of Kentucky, My Little Pony and Lego goodies for fall birthday and Christmas presents. The sales are quick and some items aren’t available long, but I’m sure if you browse long enough you’ll find a good deal on that perfect gift for someone.

DaySpring
Encouragement can come in cards, home decor, books, journals and coffee mugs. There are often deals here. Right now, there are some new fall gifts. You can also save 40% on one item through Saturday, Nov. 1 with the code EARLY GIFT. {Yes, I took advantage of this and bought a gift. And, yes, now I want what I bought for my own kitchen table.} Free shipping comes with an order more than $30 when you use SHIPPING30.

Photo Cards
Last year, I ordered lots of smaller sets of different Christmas cards as I found deals. I used Ink Garden, York Photo, Shutterfly and Tiny Prints. I recommend them all, so be watching those photo printing companies if you want to stock up on free and discounted cards.

Right now, York has 10 FREE 5×7 ornate stationary cards that can be personalized through Saturday, Nov. 23 with the code CARD GIFT. You have to be a new customer and pay a few dollars for shipping.

And Ink Garden also has 10 FREE cards and 40% off the rest of your card order for new customers! For the cards, use the code WinterCards. And for 40% off use Cards40. These offers can be combined through Dec. 17.

Amazon
I prefer Amazon over Walmart any day. I live in a small town remember. After much debating, we finally became Prime members again. This time we had to pay for it, but I’m glad we’re back. {Find about a free Prime trial. There is free two-day shipping, lots of movies and TV shows to stream for free, and Kindle books to borrow for free. For free.} Starting Friday, Amazon is going to have various deals each week through Nov. 30 while counting down to Black Friday. You can also purchase holiday gift cards and get a free gift box and free one-day shipping. And, yes, books always make good gifts.

Have you started Christmas shopping? Seen any good deals lately?

________

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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 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.

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“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. 

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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. 📚

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I read my 6-year-old daughter "The Prodigal Son" s I read my 6-year-old daughter "The Prodigal Son" story from "The Jesus Storybook Bible" before bed recently, and God reminded me of some things. 

“Jesus told people this story to show them what God is like. And to show people what they are like. So they could know, however far they ran, however well they hid, however lost they were – it wouldn’t matter,” author Sally Lloyd-Jones writes. “Because God’s children could never run too far, or be too lost, for God to find them.”

I was teary when I finished. While this Bible story was retold for children, the words brought to mind when I decided to follow Christ on Jan. 20, 1996, after hearing someone speak about The Prodigal Son during a Chrysalis weekend. 

I nailed some sins to a wooden cross in the sanctuary, representing surrender. I remember thinking of the beauty of the father welcoming his lost son home, understanding how the younger son thought he could hold together his own life, and relating to the older son who stayed and did what he was supposed to and found himself not quite willing to celebrate his brother’s homecoming. 

I told Rachel an abbreviated version of that story of being a 16-year-old girl hearing that story and making a decision that truly changed my life. 

Here more than 26 years later, I’m thankful God welcomes me home over and over again. I’ve surrendered and squandered and sulked, and God keeps opening his arms, which led me to salvation initially and continually prompts surrender. 

Read GOD ALWAYS FINDS THEM #ontheblog at kristinhilltaylor.com. #linkinbio #bloggerlife #livingfaithfully #thirdchild #momlife #faithlife #choosingJOY #bedtimeshenanigans
We had a great visit with these cousins. In a summ We had a great visit with these cousins. In a summer that’s been full of interruptions and bumps, the kids and I were happy to share Venture River — one of our happy places this year — with my sister, her kids, my mom, and my nephew @jaxsonhll. They also swam immediately after breakfast this morning before the cousins headed home. Here’s to soaking in some more summer and looking forward to the next time we’ll be together! ☀️

#88daysofsummer #choosingJOY #cousins #siblinglove #summerisbest #reallife #latergram
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