Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

7 Things I Learned in August

September 1, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Yes, it’s September already. Hello, the month that begins fall. But I want to reflect on August before I forget the whole month, which is entirely possible because I’ve been forgetful lately. 

1. NEEDTOBREATHE has some great new live music.
You can thank me later when you stop listening long enough to do something else. Listen here.

2. All my Kindle highlights are in one place online.
{Get to yours right here. Notice the “Your Highlights” link at the top of the page.} My blogging friend Ashley told me about this awhile ago, but I hadn’t really used it until recently. Silly me; it’s fabulous.

3. Lisa Harris writes good fiction books.
I had her two Southern Crimes series books on my Kindle and read them both in less than a week. I can’t remember the last time I read an entire book in one day, but “Fatal Exchange” was the book for me this past Saturday. I do recommend reading “Dangerous Passage” first. They’re both packed with action and good messages. She has a new one coming out at the end of the year and, yes, “Hidden Agenda” is already on my Amazon Wish List.

4. Launching an ebook is going to be fun. 
I poured my heart and much time into writing my ebook. Writing those 24,000 words was a therapeutic, inspiring process, but I am really excited about the launch I have planned. {In case you missed it, I’m forming a launch team. Read more here, if you’re interested in joining us.}

5. Seasons are good. 
I’m never ready for school to begin again, but once it does, the routine is good. Seasons are meant to change. And, with that, I’m admitting I’m ready for the humid days to be over for awhile. I’m a summer girl, but I’m ready for some fall days. I want to wear sweatshirts, eat candy corn, watch some Murray State football, watch my kids play soccer, go camping, use our new deck, and eat soup.

6. There is a Bible verse that sums up one of the reasons I write.
“Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.” Psalm 96:3 (NLT) Isn’t that lovely and true? {The other reason I write is for my personal therapy!}

7. I miss being in a women’s Bible study. 
So I’m starting one. Our first meeting is this week, in fact. We’re going to do Beth Moore’s “Breaking Free,” which I picked out from my own personal need knowing I probably wasn’t alone.

How was your August?

________

I’m linking up this monthly post with Emily Freeman 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. April. May. June. July.


Want more stories? Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or 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 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: books, faith, life, music, seasons, Things I Learned, writing

Comments

  1. Beth says

    September 2, 2014 at 2:04 am

    If I lived near by I would so join your Bible study. I'm considering joining a Bible Fellowship Study group. I have two different options and I just can't decide right now. I'm hoping God speaks to me while in Hawaii so I can come back with a decision made. 🙂 I really love these end of month posts but if I don't write down what I learned along the way I can't remember. hehe. Much love. xoxo

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    September 2, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Some months I do a good job having a draft post I just add to as I think of things. Other months, not so much. 🙂 It's still a fun way to remember. I'd love for you to live close enough to be part of the Bible study. Love you, sweet friend.

    Reply
  3. Mindy Whipple says

    September 2, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    I had no idea about the Kindle highlights – thanks for that information! It's hard to believe summer is coming to an end. What a great way to start Fall with starting your own Bible study, a perfect way to bring order to our lives. Have a great week Kristin!

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    September 2, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    Those Kindle highlights are so handy! And they're all in one place! It's good to see you here, Mindy. Hope you're doing well.

    Reply
  5. Cynthia Stuckey says

    September 4, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    Hey Kristin–
    I love that you are starting a Bible Study because you miss being in one. Community is so hard, so important and sometimes as easy as opening the door and inviting them in, right?

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    September 4, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    Yes and amen! Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.

    Reply
  7. Ashley Wells says

    September 9, 2014 at 1:45 am

    I still cannot believe it took me so long to learn that Kindle secret! It has since saved me SO MUCH TIME!!!

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    September 9, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    And I'm so glad you shared!

    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 eighth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear fifth-grade boy, and our joy-filled preschool 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

  • Love Your Home Once Again
  • Creating Family Unity
  • Books of 2020
  • How to make time for books
  • The Advent of Hope

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

My friend Delana called before she brought us dinn My friend Delana called before she brought us dinner yesterday and asked if we liked chocolate pie. Um, yes. Turns out both Peggy and I love chocolate pie. Delana gave us chocolate chips cookies too, you know, just in case we didn’t like pie.

My friends are loving on us so well this week with dinner & dessert, obviously. Yes, the food is good, but the way they saw a need and met it is even more gracious. (I wrote a book about gathering & nourishing your people!) Having someone provide dinner has freed up some mental space I’m able to use for taking care of Peggy and parenting my kids, some of whom have needed a little extra love and guidance this week. 

Peggy is nine days removed from open heart surgery with quadruple bypass and is doing well. She had a good check up with her primary care provider this morning. We’re thankful for our community of people who continue to pray for us, feed us, and provide help, like today’s impromptu preschool pickup when an appointment ran long. (Thanks, @katie_cunningham85 & @tstanger25!)

#bettertogether #momlife #reallife #morethangroceries #choosingJOY
We are all happy to feel some sunshine today! ☀️#thirdchild #catsofinstagram #winter #choosingJOY
Sweet @ashleelyoung brought us delicious dinner to Sweet @ashleelyoung brought us delicious dinner tonight and the dessert became a craft. I’m so thankful for the way our people love us. 💛 #bettertogether #reallife #choosingJOY
Today is National Milk Day, so Saputo, which has a Today is National Milk Day, so Saputo, which has a dairy plant here in Murray, donated chocolate milk for all the kids at @ncca.lions. This girl has never turned down chocolate milk and basically celebrates milk every day. #momlife #reallife #thirdchild #nationalmilkday #preschool
Honestly, I’ve been in a reading funk. I’ve qu Honestly, I’ve been in a reading funk. I’ve quit one book and started another today, so we’ll see how that goes. 

I did finish this one by @booksbyheather last week and enjoyed it. I loved the Southern setting, charm, and magic. And I loved how the characters untangled assumptions and expectations from their pasts to find where they belong.

What are you reading these days? #amreading #bookstagram #fiction #recommendedreads
I’ve said “I don’t know” more times the pa I’ve said “I don’t know” more times the past few days and months than ever before. I’m a planner, and I’m apparently raising kids who want to know the plan for the day and what’s coming next. Perhaps, really, that’s human nature. 

But I don’t know. 

I don’t know how Covid will affect school, basketball, and summer vacation plans. 

I don’t know how long Gran-Gran’s surgery recovery will take or what she will need from us. 

I don’t know if it will snow. 

I don’t know ... 

There are at least one million things I don’t know. But I do know this was a good weekend to hunker down inside, meet our new cousin/nephew/grandson, eat warm food, and praise God for the way my mother-in-law is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.

#TeamTaylor #weekending #reallife #livingfaithfully #bettertogether #choosingJOY
I’m happy to report my mother-in-law Peggy is ho I’m happy to report my mother-in-law Peggy is home ... well, at our home, which is her recovery home for the next several weeks. We are grateful for all the prayers, so keep them coming as she recovers from quadruple bypass heart surgery. 

We are also grateful for all the offers to help. Today I accepted them from the @puperson27 (and @carolinemaetompkins & @norah.grace.t), @megandelaneythomas, and Julie because I needed a whole village to get my kids to and from various places and various times. 

And these flowers are lovely, courtesy Friendship Church of Christ and @serenityhcarr. Thanks, y’all!

#TeamTaylor #reallife #weekending #bettertogether
I bought a recliner that doesn’t match and only I bought a recliner that doesn’t match and only awkwardly fits in our living room. When two guys delivered it today, I looked at it up against the couch we bought last year from the same store. 

When we bought the couch at the beginning of 2020, we had no idea how much it we would use it. This house has become a refuge for us. We’ve sat in those gray cushions while having church at home, binging countless seasons of Survivor, watching some basketball games and Christmas movies more recently. Rachel has taken naps. Cate has claimed her favorite cushion. Ben will always have blanket near. 

Now we have this random recliner we never expected because Greg’s mom, Peggy, who is dear to me, had quadruple bypass heart surgery this week and needs a safe place to land when she’s discharged in the coming days. She’s going to recover here, and I was worried she would sink in the couch cushions without using her arms to push herself out. 

The recliner won’t live here forever, and Peggy probably won’t either! But the whole furniture setup is a reminder we don’t know what the future holds. This past year taught us about interrupted plans and smaller social circles. I’m thankful I had a soft place to land with my people and I want the same thing for my mother-in-law, who didn’t even know she had heart problems until recently. 

So here’s to finding refuge in the places that make sense for whatever season we find ourselves. #choosingJOY #socialdistancing #livingfaithfully #reallife #thirdchild
I’m sharing #ontheblog today about creating fami I’m sharing #ontheblog today about creating family unity. Of course, this is always a work in progress around here, but commitment, compassion, communication, compromise, traditions, and Christ all help get us there. While #socialdistancing has required all kinds of adjustments, the time together has allowed for more family game nights, home church on our couches, and deeper bonds within our home.

#linkinbio #bloggerlife #reallife #momlife #thirdchild #TeamTaylor #choosingJOY
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorite Places & Projects

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 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.