Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Wide-open spaces

October 19, 2016 by Kristin 14 Comments

wide-open-spaces-10-19-16
Today’s post is vintage ThreeWordWednesday in that these three words – WIDE-OPEN SPACES – were twirling around my mind for days, so I just wrote on them. It’s like God gave me a writing prompt and I took it. More importantly, this is what he’s teaching me in my life, so here’s a snippet of what and how I’m learning. I’m grateful for this community that gathers here each Wednesday.

*****

I feel my mind is running wild with ideas. I’ve got inspiration for my ebook update. I have multiple parties in the planning stages. Greg and I talk about what we want for our land and home. Parenting has been hard in some regards, but I see the light in the cracks.

I’m (still) learning my ideas thrive best in wide-open spaces, when there is white space on my calendar and in my soul.

Honestly, this wide-open space is easier to find in the country. The literally space around me quiets my soul. When I’m home, I’m home and not thinking about running to the grocery for one thing. I group my errands so they’re in stretches and not scattered throughout the day.

Wide-open space in my day quiets and calms and inspires.

{Tweet that.}

Of course, there are days that are crowded and rushed, but I’m striving to not make that the norm. I’m saying “no” and “not right now” so I can say “yes” to what matter most.

This reminds me of the unforced rhythms of graces Jesus wants us to learn.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” {Matthew 11:28-30 The Message}

On Monday, the “yes” was to soccer in one of the actual wide-open spaces at our house. We had so much fun, laughing and playing. I walked back into the kitchen sweating but with a full heart — and, you know, that was some real rest for my soul. That playtime with my favorites was what we all needed. We didn’t need another afternoon of rushing through homework to get to chores before dinner. I made dinner earlier and then freed up a time to play.

Playing wasn’t on my to-do list but it’s what I needed to do – and thanks to some wide-open spaces it happened.

*****

britt-nicole-giveaway-10-18-16

Thanks to Capitol CMG, I’ve got another just because giveaway! And this one comes with a little confession: We love pop music around here. And when I say “we,” I mean all five of us. So who needs some truth-telling pop music in their life? Enter to win a copy of Britt Nicole’s newest CD through Oct. 24.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - 3 Word Wednesday
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Filed Under: Three Word Wednesday Tagged With: family, giveaway, life, Rachel

Comments

  1. Joanne Viola says

    October 19, 2016 at 6:29 am

    Kristin, I LOVE that photo! I loved it the day you posted it on FB. It is one of those photos which just says it all and without a single word 🙂 Rachel is teaching us all so many lessons and breathing a fresh word into some old lessons too! Blessings!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 19, 2016 at 7:21 am

      I’m telling you, God knows I need repetition in my life . 🙂 He’s been teaching me about rest and space … and then he gave me the opportunity to see my girl walking into her own wide-open spaces and capture the moment. Thanks for being here with your faithful encouragement. xoxo

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    October 19, 2016 at 7:37 am

    I do find that I breathe easier on days when I MAKE TIME for my walk. That picture is so amazingly sweet. Thanks for this call to the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 19, 2016 at 8:10 am

      Yes, walking is one of my favorite ways to clear my head. Thank YOU for being here. xoxo

      Reply
  3. Lisa Appelo says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:03 am

    I love that wide margin on my calendar as well. Sometimes it makes me giddy to know we have nowhere to go all day or nothing huge on the calendar all week. You’re inspiring me to maybe even go out and *play* with my kiddos. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 19, 2016 at 8:11 am

      Oh, I know. I hold onto those days during the busy times and am grateful they always come again. Glad you’re here, Lisa!

      Reply
  4. Simply Beth says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:34 am

    I love you and your family!!! I know I don’t get by as often but I think of you often, friend. And I want to move to Kentucky or Tennessee in a space that is wide open… oh how I want that for us. One day. I keep telling Scott we don’t need to wait but he isn’t fully sold yet. Hugs to you. xoxo

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 19, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      You’ve been on my mind, friend! I loved seeing your pictures of your visit out west recently. Um, yes, please, move to Kentucky or Tennessee. That would make me so happy, selfishly. 🙂 Love you dearly.

      Reply
  5. Susan Shipe says

    October 19, 2016 at 11:11 am

    You are living “wide-open”, writing “wide-open”, parenting “wide-open” – it shows everywhere and I like it a lot!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 19, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      This comment made my day. Seriously, thank you.

      Reply
  6. Tara says

    October 19, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Wide open spaces are a gift. We all need to find time for those places in our lives.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:01 am

      Yes, indeed!

      Reply
  7. Jeanne Takenaka says

    October 21, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Kristin, freeing up the white space has ben such a challenge for me since this school year began. Your words hold such truth, one God hs had to remind me of many times–sometimes I need to say no to the good soI can say yes to the best.

    Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 23, 2016 at 11:03 am

      It’s a challenge for me too, Jeanne. But I’m always glad when I do free up some space. Hoping you find some white space on your calendar and in your soul this week! Thanks for being here!

      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 ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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Old friends and live music are two of my favorite Old friends and live music are two of my favorite things, so having them together is the best. My friend Aaron and I went to multiple Dave Matthews Band shows together during our college years, so now two decades later it’s fun to do it again as grown ups with our spouses for a band that speaks truth into our lives. 

@needtobreathe put on the loudest acoustic tour I’ve ever seen, but it sure was good! And its encore of completely unplugged songs was especially sweet. 

#NTBlive #needtobreathe #bettertogether #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully #weekending
Happiness is … … a slow morning that gave me Happiness is …

… a slow morning that gave me a chance to finish reading a good book right after I fixed my favorite cinnamon toast. 

… some shade to invite me to pick some more weeds around the house. But why doesn’t my Apple Watch count this as exercise? It felt like exercise to me! 

… an appointment with my oldest girl for us both to get our nails done this morning. 

… my youngest girl’s last soccer game of the season, even though the heat made her a little grumpy. 

… pool time, another good book to read, my mom visiting for the second weekend in a row, a little more weeding, and a night at home with no specific plans. 

Happiness is everyday, normal life with my people, especially when it comes with a slower pace after a hectic week. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #soccermom #KHTreads #momlife #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #poolpeople #PorchStories
I regretted having to go to sleep last night befor I regretted having to go to sleep last night before I finished this book, so I picked it up at breakfast and didn’t do anything else until I finished it. 

I loved the Alaskan cruise setting, the quick love and understanding between Greta and Ben, and the realistic ways grief changes people. Well done, @jenniferesmith! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #booklover #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #weekending #recommendedreads #poolpeople #amreading
Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of s Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of school next week and then it’s #88daysofsummer! Obviously, we’re ready. ☀️ 

Here’s to a refreshing weekend with much anticipation of what’s to come! #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #thirdchild #momlife #summerisbest #poolpeople #PorchStories #maydays
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve already bou ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve already bought three copies of “Glad You’re Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences” by @walkerhayes and @craigallencooper to gift to specific friends. I’ve referenced this story in conversations this week and will likely recommended it for years to come. 

This story is about two seemingly different guys befriending each other because their kids were on the same baseball team and their wives became friends. They kept showing for each other, encouraged each other, and changed each other for the better. In fact, their friendship was the catalyst for Walker deciding to follow Christ. 

Give me Applebee’s on a date night, a real-life story of how we are eternally better together, and an audiobook that makes me want to drive and I’m a happy girl. I’m fancy like that. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bettertogether #livingfaithfully #hospitalitymatters #audiobooks #booklover #favoritethings
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What I’m wearing … I don’t wear in jewelry, What I’m wearing …

I don’t wear in jewelry, but I love having bracelets that mean things to me. 

Today my friend Monica and I talked to our oldest daughters’ high school health class about adoption. My other friend @megandelaneythomas invited us because she recently taught about the reproductive system and wanted the class to hear about adoption as an option. We talked about adoption as a process, redemption to broken circumstances, and picture of God grafting us into his family. We shared resources and advice on counseling for abortion, befriending people who have made different relationships choices, and parenting regardless of how God builds a family. 

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Things working together for the good in Christ doesn’t mean easy or convenient. But it does mean all the details and relationships matter. I’m forever grateful for how God built my faith and my family through adoption. Wearing these sweet reminders is good for my soul. 

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