Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Reflections on Rachel & real life

December 22, 2016 by Kristin 3 Comments

I have a theory about third-born girls being feisty & funny. I can name several third-born girls – my sister, nieces, and daughters of friends quickly come to mind – who are so much fun to be around. They’re the kind of people have a confidence that keeps them from being wallflowers, a joy that lights up a room, and a sense of humor that makes even adults chuckle.

Honestly, I always wanted a third-born girl, even though, as many of you know, the short version of our long story is we weren’t sure we would get to adopt a third time. But we did … a third-born girl who is feisty and funny. She’s proven my theory true in the best ways.

She’s proving the whole idea that rules don’t apply to third-born kids true too … but perhaps that’s because Greg and I are a little more laid back in our parenting this time around. And speaking of birth order, here’s a fun fact: All three of my kids’ birth order is the same in our family as it would have been in their biological families. Only God.

When we found out we were indeed going to bring a third child – a girl! – into our family, I immediately anticipated her bringing joy to our family. She has, even more than I expected! And I’m pretty sure she even knows she’s funny. She makes the best faces. She has a squinty-eyed smile I adore and one our best friends taught her to howl like a wolf. Pure joy, this girl – just as the people who sit behind us in church and get samples of all her faces!

Rachel is 15 months old this week. She weighs 23 pounds and 15 ounces (85th percentile) and is 32 inches long (90th percentile). She is down to one nap, mostly wears 24-month clothes, loves milk & Welch’s fruit snacks, adores her siblings and anyone who will make faces back at her, and is enjoying all the festivities this Christmas season.

*****

And speaking of Christmas, how about some week-before-Christmas mom confessions?

Greg had two meetings Monday night, when the kids and I were deep into embrace-Christmas-break mode. So we watched “Frozen” while eating popcorn, apples, and cookies for dinner. And Rachel sat in the high chair the whole time, chowing down on popcorn and actually watching the movie.

Cate keeps telling people after Ben brought Rachel the stuffed Olaf she got as a gift last weekend, she looked at the screen, saw Olaf, and then kissed her stuffed version. I have no idea if that’s true. I mean, she did kiss it. But she kisses lots of things. I just have no idea if she really recognized the animated character on TV as the same as the stuffed version on her high chair tray.

Ben (7) and Rachel (15 months) had well checkups at the pediatrician this week. Ben’s appointment was on Monday and Rachel’s on Tuesday. By the time I realized Rachel needed an appointment, Monday didn’t have any well openings left and I didn’t want to move Ben’s appointment because he prefers to see a specific doctor. So two days in a row. But I purposefully planned them at 11 a.m. so while we were out and about in town for those we could also eat lunch.

Oh, and lunch! At Ben’s appointment the nurse was going through the list of questions: Does he eat well? Does he like fruits and vegetables? Does he eat fast food once a week or less?

Um, depends on the week.

And by Tuesday afternoon, I had already fed him and his siblings fast food twice. Here’s to this week, and all the real-life moments that highlight our need for the Savior who was born in a lowly manger. God is with us – regardless of how many fast food lunches or popcorn dinners we have.

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Filed Under: Rachel Tagged With: Ben, Cate, life, mom confessions, motherhood, movies

Comments

  1. Dede says

    December 22, 2016 at 7:35 am

    The Olaf story is cute. And I believe Rachel could have recognized that the character on the TV was the same as the stuffed animal she has. When my son was little (a long, long time ago!) I liked the TV show Alf, so my husband got me a stuffed Alf. One day when the TV show was on, my son stared at the screen for a long time. Then he went and grabbed my stuffed animal. After that, it became his. One of his most-loved toys ever. So, yes, I think it’s possible she knew!
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      December 22, 2016 at 10:19 am

      I remember Alf! 🙂 Thanks for sharing that story, Dede. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

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  1. 1, 2, 3 … Happy birthday, Rachel! says:
    September 19, 2018 at 4:16 pm

    […] months. Seven months. Eight months. Nine months. Ten months. Eleven months. One year. Fifteen months. Eighteen months. Two years. Of course, I share more of her story, which is part of my story, in my […]

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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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I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book sooner. I loved so much about it, but I did want some of her stories to be  less repetitive and offer more practical advice for living out “radical, ordinary hospitality.” Rosaria Butterfield defines hospitality like this as sharing what you have in real time, preparing to continually life this lifestyle, and bringing strangers in so they become neighbors who become family. 

I took notes throughout, but especially during the introduction. I came away with an appreciation that hospitality can involve lists, schedules, and habits. I felt encouraged, even if I thought the book could have been organized better to include practical tips and other people’s stories. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #audiobooks #livingfaithfully #bookreview #booklover
Something I don’t usually share (online) … I Something I don’t usually share (online) …

I am an opinionated person, but I don’t usually share political opinions on social media. People who know me in real life know I value being pro-life, having less government involvement in our everyday lives, defining marriage as God intended it, and being fiscally conservative. As a former newspaper reporter, I still get excited about elections. I admittedly pay a little less attention in the almost 15 years I haven’t been in a newsroom. But I still care and have plenty of opinions. 

I voted today in Kentucky’s Primary Election. I’m thankful for the freedom to share my opinion by darkening some blocks on a paper ballot. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #reallife #livingfaithfully
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
I’m majorly behind on laundry, dishes, emails, a I’m majorly behind on laundry, dishes, emails, and to-do lists. Birthdays, a field trip, end-of-school things, squeezing in some friend dates, and just general life with three kids have occupied much of my time. But my friend @whitneyrscott at @blushsalon did tend to their shaggy hairs. So check! 

#momlife #reallife #girlmom #boymom #maydays #siblinglove #livingfaithfully
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. 

I left that high school health class thankful for @ncca.lions and the opportunities my kids have had to learn about real things in the context of the gospel. I’m also grateful for this adoption bond Monica and I share with our kids who are the same ages. I’ve always said, adoption is relational to its core, far beyond just bringing a baby home. That circle widened a little today, and I’m glad to welcome others into pieces of our story. 

Also, how fun are these bracelets @katie_cunningham85 gave me last week for my birthday? Today seemed like the perfect time to wear them along with my Romans 8:28 reminder — “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

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. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #adoptionislove #adoption #PeaceInTheProcess #authorlife #bettertogether #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #firstborn #girlmom #boymom #reallife @scott_monica_bidwell
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