Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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8 Things I Learned in January

January 30, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

January and I have a history of big moments, although this time our relationship was fairly normal. We didn’t even get any snow. After a sickly December, my kids have mostly been well. They did have a simultaneous bout of strep throat earlier this month.

Without further ado, here are eight things I learned in this month … 

1. I like essential oils. There. I said it. Admittedly, I’m just beginning so I have a lot to learn. But I’m surprised myself when I ordered a kit this month and have another ordered scheduled to arrive soon. (More on this coming soon in its own post!)

2. My marriage is stronger than my engagement ring, which broke. The thin, worn band has been resized more than once. I’ve worn it for 13 years and am thankful in that time Greg and I have grown, individually and together. My ring may be worse for wear but my marriage is going strong. (And the ring is getting an upgrade so I don’t hurt pinch my finger in it, again.)

3. Fiction is good for my soul. I tend to read more non-fiction than fiction. That’s all good for my brain. But I take everything so personally that all the applying philosophies and advice to life can be exhausting. I’ve read two fiction books this month and am looking forward to diving into others already on my Kindle.

(I read “Shoot the Moon” by Billie Letts and “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline. I accept any recommendations.)

4. I like to plan but spontaneous adventures are refreshing too. (Read the latest one here.)

5. People like a deal. I guess I already knew this, but I sold several copies of my ebook this month with a sales promotion because, despite its drearyness, January is worth celebrating.

(It’s still 99 cents through tomorrow, if you’re interested.)

6. God doesn’t care about my resume. Public speaking isn’t my strength and I don’t have a list of such experiences. Even so, I’ve been invited to speak at two events this year. Both involve telling our adoption story. So, if I’m going to speak in front of an audience, of any size, I’m glad it’s about my favorite story.

And I even ordered postcards designed by the talented Lisa Larson so I could promote my ebook at these events.

7. I’m going to Guatemala for a week in July with my husband and my daughter, who will be 8 then. We’re joining a local group led by some neighbors up the street, literally, who work with Bethel Ministries to build a house and distribute wheelchairs, clothing, and food. I’m sure you will hear plenty more about this.

8. I prefer TV shows to end their series when they’re still on top. Like “Parenthood.” I love it. There are so many real-life parallels. I feel like the characters are my friends. But ending on a high note, ratings wise, is better than dragging on. Like “Grey’s Anatomy” did.

So. How was your January? What did you learn?

___________

I’m linking up with Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. Read previous posts: {From 2013} June. July. August. September. October. November. {From 2014} January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December.

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, ebook, faith, marriage, road trips, Things I Learned

Comments

  1. Kailey says

    January 30, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Love your list!! I'm an essential oils user too, I started with that same kit you did and got hooked, can't wait to read your post about it! 🙂 I'm also the same way about fiction, I end up loving it but making myself start is the hard part, I like more applicable things. So glad I found your blog through the link up! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 30, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Hi, Kailey! I'm glad you're here. When I read fiction, I don't get much else done, but it's always so nice to retreat from normal life for awhile. 🙂 Happy Friday!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Jackson Linck says

    January 30, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Great List! I decided to do this each month this year. Something different and to make me think about what all I've learned 🙂

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 30, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Thanks, Jennifer! I'm glad you decided to join in. I like taking the time to think about the month. Plus looking back on these posts in the months to come is fun.

    Reply
  5. Cynthia Stuckey says

    January 31, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Girl. Me too, on the oils. I was so surprised by how fast I loved them. Also on the fiction being good for the soul– I cannot read back to back to back nonfiction with no story to draw me in in-between. And I'm so impressed you can come up with EIGHT things you learned in January, I struggle to think of three or four. 😉

    Reply
  6. Susan says

    January 31, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    Me too on several things. Oils, YES. Fiction, YES. Deal, YES; and maybe on National Adoption Day offer it for FREE for a 12-hour window! Resume, same; in 1997 I told the Lord I'm no speaker BUT if someone asks, I will go and Lord You must enable me. Love these lists!

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 1, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    What's your favorite way to use the oils? I'm curious – and still learning. 🙂 I keep a list throughout the month on my phone or in a post draft of what I want to include in my list. Otherwise I'd struggle too.

    Reply
  8. Misty Wagner says

    February 2, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    I hear you with the public speaking. I loathe it and every time I've been asked, I have a mini-melt down. Do not like it, at all…

    your trip sounds amazing! Love your January list! and yes!!! To Parenthood!

    Reply
  9. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 2, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Hey, Misty! Thanks for coming here and joining in this conversation. Hope your February is off to a good start!

    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. 

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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
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#amreading #bookstagram #booklover #recommendedreads #thechickensisters #weekending
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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.

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“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.

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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.

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