Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Five Things I Learned in February

February 27, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

1. A couple random TV/movies facts ::

Amber in “Parenthood” was Bernice in “Hope Floats” years earlier. Her real name is Mae Whitman. Before he was Cary Agos in “The Good Wife,” Matt Czuchry played a college boy in “Gilmore Girls.”

2. Christina Baker Kline is an author I love.

I read the popular “Orphan Train” in January and then “Desire Lines” and “Sweet Water” in February. I enjoyed them all. This month I also read “Bird in Hand,” which I didn’t enjoy but finished reading anyway. Kline is a great story teller who spans her suspenseful plots over two time periods, which isn’t easy to do well.

3. Making homemade BBQ can be easy.

I tried one of those Crock Pot sauces that is made to just be poured on the meat. We didn’t love the flavor. So I went to a recipe my longtime dear friend Katie shared. She shared it because of my love of Dr Pepper.

And now I’m sharing it with you. Because it was delicious.

  • 2-3 lbs pork tenderloin
  • BBQ rub of your choice (We used Stubb’s BBQ rub.)
  • 12 oz Dr Pepper (I used Diet DP because that’s what I had.)
  • BBQ sauce of your choice (Again, we used Stubb’s Sticky Sweet BBQ sauce.)


DIRECTIONS :: Put rub on meat. Put meat in Crock Pot and the. Pour can of Dr Pepper over it. Cook on low for 10 hours. Shred and drain meat and then put back in Crock Pot with some BBQ sauce. I probably added about a 1/4 of the bottle and then turned Crock Pot to warm and then added more sauce closer to serving time. Most people added some more sauce on their sandwich.

Easy, peasy. And delicious.

4. Counting joys really is freeing. 

I have a list on my phone of moments, conversations, happenings that brought me joy. It’s just a running numbered list I add to when I think about them, so I’ve probably neglected a few things. Here at the end of February, I’m at #108. Talk about perspective.

5. Sometimes a book begs for discussion.

I started reading “You’re Loved No Matter What” by Holley Gerth. By the end of chapter two, I wanted to talk to friends about what I was reading. So I started a Facebook group so we can have an online book discussion. We’re going to start discussing chapter one on March 16. You’re welcome to join us! {More details here.}

How’s your month been?

________________

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. {From 2015} January.

Want more insights? “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, JOY, movies, recipes, Things I Learned

Comments

  1. KristenStrong says

    February 27, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    You have some great book recommends that I will be adding to my list. Thank you! Also, can I ask how you keep track of your joys on your phone? Do you have an app or just use the notes feature? Inquiring minds wanna know. 🙂 Much love to you on this Friday, dear Kristin!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 27, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    Hi, Kristen! I just use the Notes section and keep a running numbered list. I do separate by months, but keep the numbers going. So much love back to you!

    Reply
  3. Kailey says

    February 27, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    I love the Joy list idea!! I might try that! And I'm definitely looking up those books! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Chelsea says

    February 27, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    I just learned about Mae Whitman! She's in The Duff with Robbie Amell. Love this list and the books you've been reading. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Breanne @ This Vintage Moment says

    February 27, 2015 at 11:45 pm

    I do love finding an author I love who has written several books. I'll be looking those books up. And thanks for the reminder to start a joy list, it makes a difference!

    Reply
  6. Helen Gaskins Washington says

    February 28, 2015 at 6:54 am

    So fun to visit your blog. I love the idea of your joy list on your phone. I need crockpot recipes as I am
    returning to work next week. This looks like a winner. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    February 28, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    I'm making my way through Gilmore Girls for the first time. I always figured I'd like it, but never watched it. I'm glad Netflix added it. 🙂 Parenthood was so good – the story lines were so real. I'll miss the show, but I'm glad it went out on a high note. I get annoyed when once-good shows linger too long and aren't good anymore (um, Grey's Anatomy!).

    Reply
  8. Mindy Whipple says

    February 28, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    So it's not just me with Grey's! It has been a favorite for years but I have been really disappointed so far this year (and much of last too).

    Reply
  9. Michelle Anderson says

    March 1, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    That BBQ sounds delish. Could you make it for me? I so hate to cook. 😉

    Reply
  10. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 2, 2015 at 1:53 am

    I haven't watched regularly in a few seasons, so, yeah, it's not just you. 🙂

    Reply
  11. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 2, 2015 at 1:53 am

    Sure thing! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Becca says

    March 2, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    Oh my goodness, that was Bernice! WOW! I read Orphan Train last year and liked it. I seemed to be on an Orphan/Foster Care theme (we did just adopt, so it is not shocking), but I absolutely loved the Language of Flowers and Dear Mr. Knightly, which is a lighter read 🙂

    Reply
  13. KristinHillTaylor says

    March 3, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    I'll have to check out those book suggestions. I'd love to hear more about your adoption story – our two kids are adopted too! Thanks for stopping by, Becca!

    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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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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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
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#TeamTaylor #weekending #reallife #livingfaithfully #bettertogether #choosingJOY
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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. 

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