Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Rachel @ 4 months {and some #ThreeWordWednesday reflections}

January 20, 2016 by Kristin 1 Comment

I know, it’s #ThreeWordWednesday, and you’re expecting some insightful reflections on what God is teaching. But, honestly, I just don’t have them right now. I’ve been overwhelmed – in a good way, the kind of way that only comes from God – with what God has done.

We’re blessed beyond my wildest dreams – we’re a family of five knit together in God’s perfect way, my husband’s business is successful, we have a community of people who love us and share their lives with us.

With those blessings, comes great responsibility. Some days I know exactly what that looks like for us, and other days I feel like I’m floundering.

“… For everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

{Luke 12:48}

A God-sized Dream friend sent me “Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World” by Kristen Welch as a delayed secret Santa gift. I say delayed, it was really right on time. Read the subtitle: How one family learned that saying no can lead to life’s biggest yes.

The book may rock my world. I feel like God is preparing us for … something. I just started reading it yesterday and was nodding in agreement that parenting can be hard because I believe God has called us to a different standard than the one our society teaches.

Beyond that, I just don’t have much. (Yet.) Well, actually, I have a million thoughts but many of them aren’t connected (yet …), so I’m going with the simple documentation of life today because my baby girl is 4 months now.

(I know, I don’t know how it’s possible either. But it’s true, as of yesterday.)

She’s still happy, smiley, and a good sleeper. And every day is evidence she is perfect for our family.

And by good sleeper I mean she’s been sleeping nine-hour stretches at night, usually from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The last couple nights, she’s gone to bed around 8 p.m. and then I’ve fed her a couple hours after that. It’s what we like to call a dream feed because she doesn’t really even wake up, so that’s really more like an 11-hour stretch … good girl!

And by happy and smiley, I mean she is content as long as you have her bottles ready when she’s hungry. She’s been eating 6-7 ounces every 3-4 hours – which the nurse said was a lot. Hence the growth, I suppose: She weighs 14 pounds 7 ounces (that’s double her birth weight!) and is 24 3/4 inches long.  She likes to babble, chew on anything, observe everyone and everything, and hang out on her play mat. She drools and spits up regularly.

She prefers being in the same room with people, which is why I think she prefers napping in her swing. She sleeps in her crib at night but had been rejecting the attempts to sleep in there during daytime hours, BUT the last couple days have included MULTIPLE NAPS IN HER BED.

She scoots some on her back and can roll from her belly to her back, but otherwise she’s still stationary. (I realize that could change in any moment.) I’m over carrying the car seat carrier thing, which is fine because she likes the wrap and the stroller.

That’s a glimpse into one of the greatest blessings of our lives. She’s little, but her life is mighty. She’s already changed me and I have the feeling God will use her for even more.

Look back on Rachel’s growth :: One month. Two months. Three months.

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152 Insights to My Soul

An InLinkz Link-up

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AND #ThreeWordWednesday friends, I had a Facebook party the other night and the giveaways are still open. Of course, come on over to my Facebook page, where the conversations are always open. Anyway, the giveaways will be open through today {Wednesday}, so be sure to enter to win! 

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: Rachel, Three Word Wednesday

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  1. Happy birthday to the happy girl! says:
    September 19, 2016 at 7:39 am

    […] back on Rachel’s year :: One month. Two months. Three months. Four months. Five months. Six months. Seven months. Eight months. Nine months. Ten months. Eleven […]

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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 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. 

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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.

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! 

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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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