Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Joy the World (Vol. 1)

January 16, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

My kids are sick. Again. I thought we quit sickness, but apparently it didn’t quit us, despite the essential oils I’ve been slathering on my kids right after they take vitamins. Just another reminder that I’m not actually in control. Of course … 

Greg and I stayed up late last night watching an episode of “Blue Bloods” after we’d been out at a Murray State basketball game while my kids were sleeping in their beds and our college friend Amber watched Netflix and read a textbook on our course. I told her it would be the easiest babysitting job, ever.

I should have known when I stayed up later than usual that I’d also be up more than usual throughout the night. My kids are sleepers. Really, they always have been. Perhaps I’m spoiled, but we all like our sleep around here.

About 12 minutes after I’d fallen asleep, Ben was suddenly standing beside my bed. “My head hurts. It hurts to swallow my germs.” Even in my grogginess, I could interpret his 5-year-old boy speak: His fever was back up and his throat hurt.

So I gave him another dose of ibuprofen and wrote down the time, temperature, and medicine. I have to do that when I have one sick because I can’t always remember what time I did what. But this time I have two pieces of paper on the kitchen counter. Alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen with two sick kids is a momma’s version of math.

Anyway, all of this to say, I was laying in bed last night after I got up the first time (Yes, there were other times …) and I had an idea. I know, sometimes middle-of-the-night ideas aren’t good ones. But it still seemed like a good idea this morning, so I’m going with it. We shall see how it goes.


As I’m choosing joy in everyday life, I thought it would be fun to share (perhaps weekly? monthly? randomly?) things I’ve read or heard or watched that bring me joy. Now, I realize joy comes from the Maker of all things in this earth when we decide to let go and realize moments matter. But I also know choosing joy can be helped along by a blog post, song, movie, or conversation with a friend.

So I want to share. And I hope you will too.

1. The Packers of Catan :: You may know we’re obsessed with the Settlers of Catan board game. We have an ongoing scoreboard with our best friends that’s we’ve been tallying wins on since May 2007. We have other friends who play too, so we’re glad there’s an expansion version. Apparently the Green Bay Packers agree with us. This article just made my husband and I smile.


2. “Sugar” by Maroon 5 :: This video has been circulating on social media. And I’ve watched it more than once. I like it that much. If you haven’t seen it, go watch now. And you can thank me later.

3. Kristin Strong’s words about blogging trends :: I realize some of you don’t care about blogging trends. Actually, I don’t either. In the new year, there have been many articles and posts and tweets about the best practices of blogging. Honestly? They annoy me. Sure, I want people to read my blog, but I also like what’s happening here at my little corner of the big ‘ole internet. So Kristen’s words were refreshing for me. She has a way of doing that.

4. I’m keeping a list of #choosingJOY moments on my phone, like people count gifts, so I thought I could share a few of those too …

#22 French toast for dinner // #23 Ben building with LEGOs // #24 Reading fiction because it’s like a vacation right in the middle of everyday life (It was “Shoot the Moon” by Billie Letts this week.) // #25 Greg coming home for lunch and cooking me a fried egg for a sandwich because I wanted something warm

Your turn. Anything to share from your own #choosingJOY this week?

___________

I’m linking this post with Jen Ferguson for the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering. 

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, games, JOY, life, motherhood, music, Soli Deo Gloria

Comments

  1. Alli says

    January 17, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    Hi Kristin! I saw "152 Insights into My Soul" and had to click! Thank you for sharing the "Sugar" video. Made me smile 🙂 Glad to have found you!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 17, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    Hi, Alli! Isn't that video fun? So glad you clicked on over. 🙂 Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  3. melody hester says

    January 19, 2015 at 1:49 am

    "Mama's Math" – hilarious. But for real, I need to write it down because I swear I think I've accidentally overdosed my alternating doses of tylenol and motrin before. So glad you addressed the blogging trends thing – sometimes I have felt like I'm too far out of the game to be effective in blogging. Want to stay current but stay "me" as well. Like your outlook on it. As far as joy…..I haven found it this week in partnering with like minded friends in praying for our children. Mom's In Prayer gives me much joy.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 19, 2015 at 4:05 am

    Thanks for this comment, Melody. I'm enjoying getting to know you more. Let's just be us in the big 'ole blogging world! 🙂 Moms In Prayer sounds like a fabulous group!

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    January 19, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    I hope Cate and Ben are on the mend and that you will (if not already) be done with sickness!!! And yes. . . keep sharing these things that bring you joy. It encourages me to keep finding joy in the mundane. I tried doing a blessings journal last year but didn't keep up with it. I'm thinking I need to start this up again. I like the idea of doing on my phone. Do you use an app?
    Love you friend.
    xoxo

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 20, 2015 at 2:04 am

    Thanks, Beth! The kids are feeling good and we've had a couple normal days this weekend. Praying they last! I just keep a list on my phone in the notes section. Nothing elaborate, but I like having my #choosingJOY list nearby when I want to document something. Love you, Beth! xoxo

    Reply
  7. Glenda Childers says

    January 21, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    I love this post and this idea. So good to remember things that bring us joy.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 21, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    I know I've told you before, but I'm so excited to read your book. I know it's going to be such an encouragement in what is teaching me now about joy. And, hey, you should do this … I'd be glad to see what you'd list. I'm glad you like the video. 🙂 Keep dancing, friend!

    Reply
  9. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 21, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Thanks, Glenda!

    Reply
  10. LisaSmith93 says

    January 21, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    Your version of mama math made me chuckle! I'm hoping joy can be blowing off my daughter's $500 fundraising goal for the high school soccer team that she just now told me was due tomorrow. Yep, all $500… Along with all the missing paperwork. LOL

    Reply
  11. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 22, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Oh. My. Hope you found joy anyway, Lisa!

    Reply

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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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So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictu So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictures of their daughters yesterday for the completely made-up National Daughters Day. Regardless, today I'm all in my feelings about my daughters. 

They're 16 and 8 right now. Both of their classes have been studying ancient Egypt and had a joint feast today. Sweet, huh? 

BUT THEN TIMEHOP GOT ME! Apparently, NINE years ago today, when Cate was a second-grader, her class had an Egyptian feast. I think about a particular picture of Cate and her friend Kilee from that day AND THEN IT CAME UP IN MY TIMEHOP TODAY. Facebook also told me that same day nine years ago, Monica and I became Facebook friends. We probably were at the Egyptian feast and decided we'd be friends because our girls were friends. Y'all, God has been so good to me through my friendship with Monica. Our families click in a special way with our three sets of same-aged kids, most of whom have been adopted. 

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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

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