Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Six Things I Learned in April

April 30, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment


I sat with a friend celebrating my birthday a few days early at the same restaurant we met for lunch in late January for her birthday. I couldn’t believe it had been three months. Where are you going, 2014? Slow down. Pretty please? Although, yes, I’m glad May is coming. It’s my favorite.

1. Sometimes it’s OK to let a book sit. 

I’ve had “Restless” by Jennie Allen sitting here for awhile. And then she said something on an (in)courage video last week that prompted me to pick up her book. Oh, I’m so glad I did. And I’m glad I’m reading it now and not two months ago when it first arrived in the mail.

There are many good books out there, but we can’t read them all right when we discover them. And that’s OK. On the heels of “Love Idol” by Jennifer Dukes Lee and “Chasing God” by Angie Smith, my heart is ready for “Restless.” I don’t know why I continue to be surprised God is in the details.

2. Mothers react to their children in ways nobody does.

My son had a hacking cough that turned out to be bronchitis. The day before the diagnosis, we were eating out at a restaurant with my mom when Ben threw up everything he’d eaten. First he puked in his basket with leftover corn dog and corn on the cob. Not wanting to disgust the people around us, I started walking him toward the bathroom. Of course, we didn’t make it. He puked again.

And I caught it.

Seriously. 

Nobody told me about this part of motherhood. I’m almost seven years in, and I decided it would be a good idea to catch my son’s puke. So I carried him and the puke to the bathroom, where he puked more in the toilet and I washed my hands. Twice.

Yes, this needs to be noted as his first puking episode ever. At least there is a story to go along with it.

3. Strep has the strangest symptoms.

In another strange diagnosis stories about two weeks after the bronchitis episode, I took Ben back to the pediatrician because he had spent the week peeing excessively. I realize that borders on too much information being shared, but, hey, that’s sometimes what you get a momma’s blog. Anyway, I was convinced he had an urinary tract infection. Or perhaps I was just hoping for an explanation for why he peed 16 times in 12 hours on a Tuesday.

Well, by Thursday, I learned excessive peeing is a symptom of strep. Really. I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. Turns out, Ben didn’t have a urinary tract infection, but he did have strep throat with no other symptoms beyond lots of pee.

And, thing is, I’ve had plenty of prior experiences with strep, even with strange symptoms. Impetigo. Two cases with just one fever. A sore throat and an unobservant mom. Lessons from a high fever. Impetigo, again. Still, this is a new one. Add excessive peeing to the list.

Of course, I was watching my friend’s kid that day and toted her to the doctor’s office with us. Hopefully Ben didn’t share his strep germs. Always an adventure, I tell you.

4. The pollen count is high around here. 

I have no scientific measurement. Just the aforementioned bronchitis and strep stories as well as Cate’s sinus infection and pneumonia. All this month. Come on May …

5. Jesus is still risen even if we don’t do everything we plan.

We read {almost} nightly from “The Jesus Storybook Bible” the week leading up to Easter. We had multiple conversations about why Easter mattered. Cate her a guest speaker portraying a disciple at school and Ben made resurrection rolls with his class.

We still haven’t talked through the Easter story using resurrection eggs or their meaningful Easter basket of candy that tells the story in chocolate money, rock candy, jelly beans and a chocolate cross. It’s all still sitting on the counter. Easter still matters.

6. Needtobreathe’s new album is really good. 

I especially love “The Heart” and “Multiplied.” Here’s a video of their performance on David Letterman. No, I didn’t stay up late enough to watch it. Isn’t that the beauty of the Internet?

How’s your April been? What did you learn?

________

I love these month-end posts prompted by Emily at Chatting at the Sky. Here are previous month’s recaps from 2013: June. July. August. September. October. November. And from 2014: January. February. March. Affiliate links included.

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Filed Under: Ben, books, Cate, motherhood, spring

Comments

  1. Cynthia Stuckey says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    Hi Kristin! Hopping over from the "things I learned in April" link up! Happy to meet you and read your words! (By the way, I love your blog title– it makes me think of You've Got Mail- I still LOVE that movie.)

    It seems like we've had a similar April with LOTS of sickness among the kids! we definitely have over here too– except it was recurring stomach bugs and then unexplained vomit for days in a row which turned out to be pollen! Weird, huh?

    Annnd, I have also recently discovered Need to Breathe's new album and am trying to finish Restless! Both so good!

    Lovely to meet you and your blog is beautiful!

    Reply
  2. Beth says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    I loved Jennie Allen's book Anything so Restless is on the top of my list. I loved hearing her on the (in)RL videos. Love her! Poor Ben. Sounds like quite the month for him, and for you. You are a trooper that's for sure. I pray he feels better quickly and that you never need to catch puke again. 🙂 I'm pretty sure I'm going to join you on Friday for this linkup. I can still join in on Friday right? I'm inspired and have been making notes on what I've learned. FOUR MORE DAYS!! ~~happy dance~~

    Reply
  3. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Thanks, Cynthia! I see you live in Georgia; I'm in Kentucky. This spring has been nuts! Hope everybody stays well at your house! I'm glad I got a chance to meet you and your blog today. Looking forward to learning and reading more from you!

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    This link up is one of my favorites – so much so I work on my posts throughout the month as I think of things I learned or random things that don't fit in any other blog post I have going. Love Idol wrecked my life in a good way, but, geez, Restless is doing some more wrecking of my perspective and attitude. What a journey I feel like God has me on. So thankful it includes friends like you. And so grateful I get to hug you in real life this weekend! Whoo-hoo!

    Reply
  5. TJ says

    May 2, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    My daughter had a rash once and no other symptoms. It turned out to be strep. Just to add to your list of symptoms.

    Reply
  6. Karrilee Aggett says

    May 4, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    This is my fav monthly link up – I love reading everyones' lists! I am so with you on the 'timing' thing with books! I have a Book 'problem' – or so I've been told… but many of them sit in a lovely pile until the timing is right! I have been reading Restless slowly – and going through the workbook/study DVDs as well. SO GOOD! Sorry about all the sickness… and thanks for the tip on NeedtoBreathe!

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    May 6, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Such a strange diagnosis that strep! Thanks for stopping by!

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    May 6, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    I finished Restless this weekend. I probably need to read it again, but I made so many notes! Such a thought-provoking book! Hope you enjoy the new Needtobreathe. 🙂 Thanks to commenting, Karrilee!

    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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