Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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On showing up for others

October 2, 2017 by Kristin 4 Comments

My kids are off school ALL WEEK for Fall Break. And, honestly, this vacation from our routine couldn’t have been timed better in my life. Last week was crazy. The days were full of goodness, but logistically they were a bit crazy.

My grandpa, better known as Poppy, passed away Sept. 20. His visitation and funeral were last Tuesday and Wednesday in Louisville, which is about three hours away from our house. We had a good time visiting with family and remembering Poppy.

Then we came home for two days before we headed to Nashville (about two hours away) for my cousin’s wedding. It was also a fun weekend with family – the same side we had gathered with earlier in the week.

My kids went to school last Monday, Thursday, and Friday and managed to squeeze in studying for a chemistry test, practicing spelling words, and choosing poems to recite later this month in the annual Speech Meet.

Obviously, we haven’t even been in our usual routine, but this planned Fall Break is welcomed here. Cate is going to do a couple days of horseriding camp. I’m hoping to catch up around the house and make a Sam’s run. Who knows, depending on the weather, the kids may even jump in the pool.

*****

I did want to share more about Poppy here before I was too far removed from his funeral services. My mom asked me to give the eulogy during his funeral Mass, so I did. I basically reworked a Facebook tribute I had shared when he passed away. I’m definitely more comfortable writing words than speaking words, but I was so grateful to be able to share with my Poppy’s family and friends – and now you – this way.

Nanny and Poppy were a steadfast presence in my childhood. They babysat my siblings and I, hosted holidays, and welcomed me to do my laundry at their house when I lived nearby after I graduated from college.

Nanny passed away in October 2001, before I was married and long before I became a mom. She would have loved my family.

But I’m glad Poppy got a chance to love my family. Most of the time, his love came across in sarcastic banter and laughter. On the day of my husband Greg’s law school graduation, Poppy started telling him lawyer jokes and continued with a new one most every time we saw him.

He also got to know my two oldest kids, which is good because that means they got to know one of the best influences on my life. I’m glad I got to see him with my youngest child too, although she won’t have first-hand memories of him.

A half-Irish, half-Scottish immigrant, Poppy grew up as an American and even served in World War 2 in the US Navy. He always had stories to tell.

During a hard season in my life, he shared with me who was on his prayer list and reminded me “this too shall pass.” He wasn’t always this sentimental, but his presence was constant even the past 15 years when is travel back to Louisville to visit my family and friends. The last meal my husband, kids and I shared with him was on Father’s Day. And I’m glad I have a picture both on my phone and in my mind to remember that.

His life reminds me how loving others
is about showing up & being on their side.

{Tweet that.}

Poppy had some health problems in recent years, but he still managed to entertain people anywhere he went with his sarcastic banter. I loved hearing people stories about that and so many other things last night at the visitation.

When we found out we were adopting a boy about eight years ago, I knew I wanted him to have part of Poppy’s name. Benjamin Lucas is named after John Lucas. I hope my son is a steadfast influence in people’s lives too.

My family appreciates your thoughts and prayers as we adjust to Poppy’s physical absence, but we are grateful for his legacy.

So, what are you looking forward to this week? How can you show up for others?

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Filed Under: family Tagged With: life

Comments

  1. Mary Geisen says

    October 7, 2017 at 9:07 am

    Thank you for sharing about your Poppy. The reminder of how loving others is about showing up and being on their side is one I hope to carry with me daily. Prayers as you journey through this new normal without your grandpa.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 8, 2017 at 9:43 am

      Thank you, Mary!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Seven Things I Learned in September says:
    October 5, 2017 at 6:01 am

    […] grandpa passed away on Sept. 20, 2017, at 92 years old. I shared in a post earlier this week that I gave the eulogy. Being with my family for his visitation and funeral was good. Despite our […]

    Reply
  2. Braving Sorrow Together says:
    October 18, 2017 at 6:00 am

    […] ago, when I walked with my best friend through a hard season in her marriage, and most recently when my grandpa died is that we are better together and the joy does come. Ashleigh captures these mixed emotions and […]

    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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Before I settle into a school time routine, I want Before I settle into a school time routine, I want to recap summer — my favorite season of the year that, honestly, just didn’t look like I expected & hoped in many ways. Even so, goodness was all around us. 

This was the summer of …
 
Crunch-dipped ice cream Drumsticks 🌼 4/5 of us having strep throat at different times, and Ben having it 3 times 🌼 Six Flags and Kentucky Kingdom 🌼 Venture River season passes 🌼 Plans changing and changing again 🌼 Plan B vacation because Covid is still interrupting plans 🌼 Friends sharing big news — someone’s son was injured, friends moving toward divorce after two decades of marriage, a friend being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and a friend’s house flooding in a negligent way. 🌼 Holding onto the good news 🌼 Counting gratefulness 🌼 Celebrating 20 years of marriage 🌼 Reading mostly romance novels because that’s what sounded good 🌼 Traditional summer weekends with some out-of-town friends 🌼 Quiddler, although I can’t seem to win this word game. 🌼 Conversations in our bedroom with our oldest who likes to stay up later than us 🌼 Binge-watching “Yellowstone” 🌼 The easiest, clearest water we’ve had in six summers with a pool despite the leaking liner 🌼 Feelings that reminded me of Social Distancing 2020 🌼 Noticeable growth in my kids, the weeds around my house, and within my own heart.

Most years, I mourn the end of Summer Break, but this year routine & rhythms are returning at the right time. I spent some time this summer grieving some changes in friendships and disappointments with details that were far out of my control. But I also enjoyed life, sunshine, and right where God has me. That reality is helping me be ready for whatever comes next. 

📷: Cate, 15

#livingfaithfully #88daysofsummer #backtoschool #choosingJOY #PorchStories #reallife #momlife #faithlife #summerisbest
At Back to School Night yesterday, I had been work At Back to School Night yesterday, I had been working as the school finance person when I decided to get Rachel from the gym to go meet her teacher. Turns out she had already gone with me to meet her teacher, the only teacher in the whole school I don’t know! I went to her classroom and there she was chatting with Mrs. Mason and playing with some friends. That girl radiates confidence. 

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Strep throat bookended his summer. Literally. He t Strep throat bookended his summer. Literally. He tested positive for strep the first Saturday of Summer Break and the last day of Summer Break. He also had it in June and COVID-19 in July. 

Here’s to being grateful he’s quick to recover, antibiotics work, our pediatrician is our friend, and he won’t miss the first day of school. 

#88daysofsummer #boymom #reallife #summerbreak #backtoschool #choosingJOY
What a perfect day for a back-to-school party for What a perfect day for a back-to-school party for some @ncca.lions 7th grade boys and their siblings! A new student wanted to meet some classmates, so we hosted some friends & made new friends. 

#backtoschool #momlife #middleschoolers #boymom #poolpeople #morethangroceries #bettertogether #siblinglove #88daysofsummer #countryliving
Introducing Backroads and Blooms Photography by Ca Introducing Backroads and Blooms Photography by Cate Taylor 🎉 

Cate has five different prints available as 5x7s or 8x10s and then matted and framed. She has in stock two of each print in each size, but she will order more. 

🖼 5x7s matted in 8x10 frame = $12
🖼 8x10s matted in 11x14 frame = $20

🌵 Cactus
🌸 Pink flower
💦 Daisy with water drops
🌼 Yellow & orange flower
✨ Starburst flower 

Let Cate know in the comments what you’d like to order or message me. Local pickup/dropoff only right now. 

You can send PayPal friends & family to kristinhilltaylor@gmail.com, send Venmo to @KristinHillTaylor, or pay cash at pickup.

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I took a break from my work & chores to read yeste I took a break from my work & chores to read yesterday and I’m so glad I did. I had to stay up late to finish it last night. 

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#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #88daysofsummer
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#mondaymotivation #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #countryliving #momlife #reallife #88daysofsummer
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I’m incredibly thankful @hardinbaptistchurch comes alongside us with the same message. The middle and high school @hardinstudents spent the summer looking at different aspects of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Youth minister @cbright2 spent the last Sunday of the series looking at nine practical ways that students – yes, even middle and high schoolers – could participate in and pray about going for God. 

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#linkinbio #ontheblog #bloggerlife #momlife #churchlife #faithlife #livingfaithfully #missions #missionminded #youth #teenagers #parenting #parenthood
“Writing is what makes me happy. Writing, even, “Writing is what makes me happy. Writing, even, is how I feel I contribute to the world. Reminding people of what’s important. Letting them escape the harsh parts of life, even if it’s just for a few hours. Helping them feel happiness through watching happily-ever-afters unfold. Remembering truths. Recalling their self-worth. Loving others. Living well. Learning. I want to do that.” 

And, let’s be honest, love stories about writers make me happy too. “Meet Me in the Margins” was cute, predictable, and a good way to escape for a little while. 

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