Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Gifting Christmas

December 8, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I’m one of those gift givers who doesn’t consult the registry or ask for Christmas wish lists. I like to find gifts for specific people. I know this annoying for some people, especially when people ask what my kids want and I won’t hand over a list of specific things.

Honestly, talking about what we want stresses me out because we don’t need anything. I don’t want Christmas to be a time for wishing more. Rather, I want to celebrate Jesus and love on people.

And, yes, sometimes loving people means picking out a gift especially for them. I also like to give gifts that matter. So I want to share some ideas, most of which come from Amazon or DaySpring because those are my two favorite places to shop.

Gifts for Kids
“God Made Light” by Matthew Paul Turner :: Multiple kids in my life are getting this book for Christmas. It has a good reading rhythm and a message you’ll want your kids to know. {It’s available at both Amazon and DaySpring.}

“The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones :: I know I’ve mentioned this Bible here before. But I love it. Yes, it’s a children’s Bible, but I read it sometimes when my kids aren’t around.

Slugs & Bugs’ Sing the Bible :: This is if I was going to recommend just one Slugs & Bugs CD. Really, your kids and your friends’ kids and your neighbors should have them all. Browse the S&B Store for bundles and deals and other goodness.

“For Such a Time As This” by Angie Smith :: This is a beautiful book about the women in the Bible that I’m gifting to multiple girls this Christmas. {It’s available at both Amazon and DaySpring.}

Gifts for Moms
“Sparkly Green Earrings” by Melanie Shankle :: This book made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. It’s real. She also has one marriage called “The Antelope in the Living Room,” which is also worth reading and gifting.

“Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” by Kristin Hill Taylor (me!) :: Yeah, I know, self-promotion. But, seriously, did you know you can gift Kindle books and people can read them on any mobile device or computer? What I learned through our infertility season, two adoption processes, and the days since applies to more than trying to become a mom. And it’s just $3.99.

“Small Talk” by Amy Julia Becker :: Another memoir of motherhood, but it’s possibly my favorite. I wrote a review not too long ago, but it’s basically like advice and entertainment all in one. It helped me pause amist the chaos and remember what matters.

Gifts for Women
DaySpring’s Everlasting Light collection :: I love these products. I want so many more of them in my house. Nothing like pretty home decor that speaks truth.

“Loop” by Jennifer Camp :: This devotional is fresh and beautiful. The way Jennifer hears from God is inspiring and I’m grateful she bound up the truth-filled messages for us. {She was hearing sharing about light and truth with some “Loop” excerpts recently.}

“Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table” by Shauna Niequist :: This book is fabulous. It’s about community and real life. And there are recipes. So, go read and it and then make Annette’s Enchiladas. You won’t regret either one. {This is available at Amazon and DaySpring.}

Trades of Hope products :: I especially love the bracelets and Christmas ornaments, but there are so many lovely choices. And your purchase helps empower and educate women in third-world countries. My local friend Becky is an ambassador for Trades of Hope and I’m so glad she introduced me to this company.

Homemade Gifts
Cookies in a Jar :: Jennifer Jackson Linck shared this idea and I’m going to make a few. Sounds like I can’t go wrong.

Budget-friendly Gift Ideas :: Kayse Pratt shared all kinds of fabulous (and affordable!) gift ideas that I wanted to pass along to you.

The Easiest Christmas Ornaments :: I don’t do elaborate crafts, so these are perfect for me. The kids made them for grandmas and aunts last year and their school has made them for a fund-raiser the past two years.

Crafting Christmas Coasters :: This was another simple craft Cate and I made a couple of years ago as gifts for grandmas. Plus, it involves Mod Podge, so you know it’ll be fun!

What would you add? Feel free to share in the comments.

___________



If you wanted to load up on some gifts from DaySpring, you can save 30% with 30FRIDAY14 through Jan. 1. Most of these links are affiliate links meaning I will get a small portion of the sales through them, but the price remains the same for you. Thanks for supporting this blog. 

Want more stories? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. 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.”

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Filed Under: books, holiday

Comments

  1. Victoria @ Creative Home Keepe says

    December 9, 2014 at 2:19 am

    I ordered God Made Light for my daughter and after flipping through the pages while wrapping it this weekend, I can't wait to read it together. I think it will be a cherished family book for years to come.

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    December 9, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    I ordered it for my kids too and ended up ordering more to gift! 🙂 Good to see you here, Victoria!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Camp says

    December 9, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    Thank you so much for the reminder about the God Made Light books and puzzle and Angie Smith's latest beautiful book. I need to give these to my nieces. Also, thank you so very much in your support of me, my friend. xoxo

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    December 9, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    I'm gifting those two children's book to multiple kids in my life. And I just ordered yours for a friend. I'm thrilled to share your lovely book! Hope the book launch is going well. xoxo

    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 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.

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I’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.l I’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.lions, a small but growing classical, Christian school. I knew there were both advantages and sacrifices of keeping her in a small class for middle school and agonized over possibly moving her to a bigger school. I only considered moving her because I wasn’t sure what her classmates, some of who are freshman this year, were going to do for high school. But they stayed, and we stayed. Now she’s an eighth grader in a class of nine. 

A couple years ago, I prayed for more girls. God gave her class two. Sometimes people move on, and sometimes people move in. But this sweet class of eighth and ninth graders has been faithful — to each other, to our school, to an unknown future. They’re paving a way for the students behind them, including my other two kids. 

God has been kind to my momma heart and given me some assurances she is where she’s supposed to be. One of these provisions is a basketball team that has become competitive with the other teams we’ve gotten to play. It’s more than just some games, though. I’ve watched my 13-year-old daughter become more confident on the court and in life. I’m grateful for her friends and their shared love of this game. I’m thankful for where God has us. 

#momlife #classicaleducation #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #girlmom #momconfessions #bettertogether #middleschool #middleschoolbasketball
At a basketball game Thursday night, Ben told me h At a basketball game Thursday night, Ben told me he had a loose tooth and was going to go to the bathroom to maybe pull it. He pulled it. That’s #14, and he’s dealt with every single one, just as his older sister did with all 20 of hers.

Meanwhile, little sister has a loose tooth that she won’t wiggle, avoids using to eat, and won’t let her siblings pull. We’ve bribed, threatened, and failed to persuade.

#momlife #boymom #thirdchild #girlmom #reallife #momconfessions
I was overdue for some TLC to my hair, so I got it I was overdue for some TLC to my hair, so I got it trimmed and colored this week. You know it’s time when the stylist takes before and after pictures. My friend @whitneyrscott at @blushsalon always does a good job. 

In addition to the much-needed TLC, I also got bangs. After a few days, I can say I love them. The resident teenager at my home doesn’t like this — and she tells me daily. I tell her I don’t care whether she likes them because I do and it’s my hair. She also didn’t like the tennis shoes I bought a few weeks ago. Again, I do, so who cares. 

Anyway, it’s Friday! So let’s do some #fridayintroductions around here. Tell me three things you’re loving these days. I’ve already mostly told you mine: 

1️⃣ My bangs. I’ve included a picture of the fun waves that Whitney gave me at the salon and the more likely normal styling — by that I mean blow drying and some minor straightening to train the bangs. 
2️⃣ New tennis shoes, which are gray & purple Brooks Launch 7, if you’re curious. My nail color accidentally matches them. 
3️⃣ The teenager in my house. I’ve been giving her grief about her dislike of my fashion choices, but I really love being around her. Honestly, she’s the easiest kid in my house right now. 

✨ Bonus current love: Who can tell me what TV character inspired my hairdo? If you know, then that’s also the TV show I recently binged and am eagerly awaiting new episodes. 

So, what are you loving — even if nobody else in your life does? #momconfessions #reallife #reallifeconfessions #momlife #choosingJOY
It’s been a night of basketball! First, my girl’s middle school game. Now, our favorite college team. Turns out they’re both navy & gold so that’s good for wardrobe choices. 💛 #girlmom #momlife #RacerNation #WeAreRacers #MurrayState
“The Chicken Sisters” by @kjda was a fun, quic “The Chicken Sisters” by @kjda was a fun, quick read this weekend. I added it to my to-read list recently and then saw it as a @bookofthemonth add-on.

I enjoyed the feuding sisters story unfolding while filming a realty show about their family’s feuding chicken restaurants in a small Kansas town. Of course, not everything is quite as it seems, so the reality show helps uncover some reality both sisters were missing.

#amreading #bookstagram #booklover #recommendedreads #thechickensisters #weekending
We needed to get out of the house today — even t We needed to get out of the house today — even though the sun barely peeked through the clouds into the cold air. #countryliving #weekending #choosingJOY #boymom #thirdchild
A week into Peggy’s recovery at our house, and t A week into Peggy’s recovery at our house, and these two have spent a lot of time together. Rachel encourages her and stays close. Peggy plays games and watches movies with Rachel.

Honestly, this #thirdchild of mine was probably my biggest concern with having Peggy recover from open heart surgery here: I didn’t want Rachel to hug too hard. I didn’t know if she’d understand that her Gran-Gran looks fine on the inside but hurts on the inside. She’s been booted from her room, but she’s been sleeping well on her mattress in the back living room. She’s actually probably not going to know what to do when Peggy moves back home.

For now, we’ll let them make memories together. That’s part of caretaking I hadn’t considered. #bettertogether #weekending #choosingJOY
I’ve been in a reading slump. I returned one lib I’ve been in a reading slump. I returned one library book I couldn’t get into and then couldn’t decide what to read next. So I went with this library book — and I’m glad I did.

“The Unhoneymooners” by @christinalauren is a funny romance novel that helped distract my mind from heavy thoughts. It also made me want to go to Maui. The dialogue is delightful, the story of quirky from the get-go, and I definitely found myself rooting for Ethan and Olive.

I also discovered by reading the acknowledgements (possibly my favorite thing about books!) that @christinalauren is the pen name for a writing duo. What fun to write novels with a friend! 

As always, I’m happy to accept your recommendations on what to read next. I may also be pondering what friend with whom to write my next book. 📚 #amreading #fiction #authorlife #bookstagram #bettertogether #romcombooks
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
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