Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Six Things I Learned in January

January 31, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Here we are. First month of the new year done.

I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.

But it’s true. And, yes, unbelievable. So, before it totally escapes, I’m going to recap these past 31 days with some things I’ve learned {or perhaps realized and remembered}.

1. It doesn’t snow just because the temperatures are in the single digits. OK, so, I didn’t learn this. But, really, if it’s going to be 8 degrees, there might as well be inches of snow on the ground so I can’t leave my house. Instead, here in western Kentucky, we had a bunch of really cold days. {All of this comes from the girl who loves summer.}

2. With the right number of doctor’s appointments, it’s possibly to make a good dent in that new deductible in just the first month of the year. I’ve visited the gynecologist, endocrinologist and orthopedic for various unrelated reasons. My son has been to the allergist and pediatrician. Then there’s an ENT visit for him and another check up for me next week to start February. Plus there are my diabetes prescriptions that have been filled plus Ben’s new EpiPen that accompanies us to twice-weekly allergy shots.

3. Certain kids music can be good even when the kids aren’t still in the car. I’m almost entirely referring to Slugs & Bugs’ “Sing the Bible.” If we hadn’t had the “Frozen” soundtrack on so frequently and the temperatures hadn’t been so cold, I may have left that one on too … at least for a few minutes. “Let it go …” is kind of a theme for me. {I recently wrote about such here and here.}

4. People respond to real life. I posted a couple pictures online showing my real life laundry piles and dirty dishes and discussed dinner. People liked them and talked about their own houses. And at least two people even took their own pictures {here and here}.

5. I like binge watching TV shows more than watching movies. I guess this isn’t something learned as much as it’s something affirmed. We finished watch “Dexter” this month, thanks to Netflix. And this week we started “Covert Affairs,” courtesy Amazon Instant Video. {Speaking of which, do you use Amazon Prime? Y’all. I’m addicted. The free two-day shipping has replaced some of my trips to the store. And now I found a show to watch for no extra charge beyond the $79/annual subscription fee.}

6. I do much reminiscing in January, a month that holds some landmark moments for me. I became a Christian in 1996. Greg proposed in 2002. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. We met Cate’s birth mom for the first time in 2007. Ben’s adoption was finalized in 2010. This month hasn’t had life-changing moments like those, but it’s been busy and full of real life with a house, a husband, two kids, a vacation rental house, a job managing another vacation home, school commitments, friends who are like family, and family who are friends too.

What’s your month been like?

________

Author Emily Freeman got me started documenting life this way. {See previous posts from 2013: June. July. August. September. October. November.} Emily’s January post is worth your time as is sponsoring a child through Compassion International, as her post suggests. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

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Filed Under: Ben, Compassion, life, music, Things I Learned, weather, winter

Comments

  1. Cooking Up Faith says

    January 31, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    I'm with you on t.v. Shows instead of movies! And yes – I've noticed people respond to daily life posts/pictures too. It's like people need a little door to be opened that shows we are all more alike than we thought!
    Cooking Up Faith
    http://www.cookingupfaith.org

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 1, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    Yes, it's been good to discuss real lives rather than just what we deem worthy of being on the Internet. Thanks for commenting. Hope you're having a good weekend!

    Reply

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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 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.

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I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let heaven and nature sing” twice this week. I may not be singing Christmas carols anymore, but I still felt the depths of winter this week. The sweatshirt seemed right. 

The sun didn’t shine much this week, although seeing on Friday as we wrap up the work and school week was welcomed. It’s mostly been cold and gray. It’s felt like winter. 

A lingering tension needs resolution and understanding, but honestly the gap between seems so vast. I crave slow time at home and meals around our table. I miss some friends and was reminded of the heartache that can come with community, but I also felt the deep appreciation of friendship and remembered the beauty of sharing this life with others. I was excited for an invitation and easily accepted it. I started a new habit (hopefully) walking with a friend. 

While driving through my days, I remember how uncertainty is what makes me look up. I remember my Creator when I am slapped in the face with the reality I’m not actually in control. I remember (again) to surrender. 

Goodness happens in the gray of winter. Life may look and feel different, but new life is always preparing to break through the cracks of the ground. The gloom that tempts us to look down doesn’t last long when we believe the sun will break through the icy trees and the fog will lift. 

This is hope. Even in winter. Thank God for it all. Let’s let heaven and nature sing. 

#countryliving #latergram #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #reallife #weekending
I heard mixed reactions about this book from two d I heard mixed reactions about this book from two different friends, but I enjoyed it! 

I liked the backward timeline, although I was uncertain about how it would work until the end. Some of the twists and connections were so good! 

I also liked the bigger ideas Gillian McAllister tackles: We miss things when we are living our life at our normal pace. What if we could go back? What would be notice that would change our reality? And, of course, perhaps, there would be unintended consequences. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It did get a little slow in the middle, but the end and beginning are quite good! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindleoasis #readersofinstagram
This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in the middle rebounding and playing hard and little sister photobombing the moment! 

Honestly, parenting has been hard lately. Nothing major. But so constant and always adjusting. 

Even so, I love watching them on the court and in life. There is so much excitement and goodness among the repetition and exhaustion. 

This is real life. And those are our 10-0 Lady Lions out there. 🦁💛

@ncca.lions #momlife #reallife #basketballseason #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #girlmom #firstborn #thirdchild
I finished studying Colossians today with my Prece I finished studying Colossians today with my Precept group. Paul wrote this letter to an established church that was still growing and learning and maturing in the faith — like us all.  I really loved this study because it spoke right into my life with encouragement for knowing Christ, walking in wisdom and truth, praying continually, letting peace rule, and giving grace. Plus Paul deeply loved his people. 

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6-7

Too often I step out of God’s presence for two minutes while are loading up the van in the morning or I’m rushing kids to bed. Too often I don’t surrender my fleshy desires and feelings to the One who holds this whole wide world in His hands. Too often I think my plans are worth holding onto tightly. Too often I think I can bring peace to my household, minivan, or dinner table. 

But real peace passes all my understanding. It rests in God’s wisdom and knowledge alone. How amazing we have access to that, thanks to Jesus. How easily I forget where I’m rooted. 

I want to let peace rule — in my home, in my head, and in my heart. 

Today while I was driving, I noticed how lovely the road, land, and sky looked. But today was really windy, like feel-it-move-my-vehicle and knock-over-trash-cans windy. It almost felt deceptive with the beauty before me, but, really, that’s like life. 

Sometimes it seems I have it together. People know my gifts of organizing information and people. I show up on time and am responsible. But so many thoughts and feelings are swirling in my mind. I replay conversations and fight against the same insecurities from the previous day. 

I feel both lovely and like my swirling mind could knock me over at any moment. And that’s why I needed God, particularly through His words through Paul to the Colossians. 

#livingfaithfully #faithlife #churchlife #reallife #countryliving
This girl has been complaining of a sore throat th This girl has been complaining of a sore throat the last couple of days, but she hasn’t had a fever or any other symptoms so I kept telling her she was fine. Truth be told, she a bit of a hypochondriac and generally happy, so it’s hard to tell if she sick sometimes. 

The folks at Aligned Health took care of her this afternoon and are treating her for strep or whatever bacteria is making her throat look and feel rough. 

I’m thankful for access to medical care and an unexpected night at home.

#momlife #thirdchild #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #sickday
I really loved this book! “Life is the stuff th I really loved this book!

“Life is the stuff that happens in the cracks between your plans and expectations.” — from “One Night on the Island” by @josiesilverauthor 

The writing is excellent, the setting works well, and the story unfolds in some predictable but sweet ways. I also think it was the right book at the right time for me. 

#KHTreads #romcom #romcombooks #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #readersofinstagram
What a fun night at the Racers’ game! Welcome to What a fun night at the Racers’ game! Welcome to the rafters, @campayne! 💛 

#racernation #basketballseason #momlife #boymom #girlmom #weekending #choosingJOY #MurrayState
We are four years into basketball at New Covenant We are four years into basketball at New Covenant Christian Academy and I’m not sure when games and wins and teamwork are going to stop making me emotional. I’m just so proud of these girls. They’re building something together — yes, it’s a basketball program, but it’s the bigger picture of a school and a community. 

These girls are going first — in the classroom and on the court — so other kids can come behind them and build on what they’re building. In 2012, when I enrolled my oldest child at a school that was just a couple of years old, I had no idea these were the blessings we’d get to experience. 

And having these Lady Lions sitting at 8-0 is just icing on the cake. 

#momlife #basketballseason #girlmom #firstborn #livingfaithfully #classicalschool #privateschool #choosingJOY #teamwork @ncca.lions
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first book of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

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My story is so different than Daniel’s, but this is what I took away: Stories are counting memories in the parlor of our minds. I’m thankful he counted his memoirs aloud for me. 

#KHTreads #audiobook #booklover #bookstagram #Audible #memoirs #bookreview
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