Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

Stories from the Porch in February

February 27, 2019 by Kristin 22 Comments

Well, February, I know you have fewer days than the other months, but, even so, you were so full. And wet. Oh the rain. My friends who live farther north have had snow while we’ve had many, many inches of rain that have come with flood warnings. Meanwhile, time continues to fly around here, even though I keep trying to slow it down!

Highlights

It’s the month of love – both for Hallmark and here for Team Taylor! Greg and I met 21 years ago on Feb. 7, 1998, and then went on our first date a week later. Yep, that would have made it Valentine’s Day. Before kids we called it First-Date Day, now it’s still that plus some more traditional Valentine’s Day sprinkled in because kids certainly make it more fun. {Read more of our story here.}

One of my favorite Valentine’s Day traditions with the kids is to hang up hearts on their bedroom doors that list things I love about them. I even do it on Rachel’s door because one day she’ll be able to read and until then she’s got people who love to read to her.

This month the love continued when we took a few road trips:

I gave the big kids tickets to see TobyMac (along with opening acts Aaron Cole, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Jordan Feliz, and Jeremy Camp) as their Christmas present. We finally cashed in that delayed gift with the concert earlier this month. Initially, I was in it for the kids – and the delicious steak dinner we had beforehand. But the concert was so good!

On actual Valentine’s Day, we met some friends for dinner at one of my very favorite restaurants and then watched our beloved Murray State Racers win a close game at Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The after school the next day, we went to Louisville to hang out with my mom, some new friends, friends who used to babysit our kids, and my brother and his family. On that Saturday night, Greg and I detoured for a date with my oldest best friend and her husband before our own date to see Kentucky beat then-No. 1 Tennessee, which drew the third largest crowd ever at Rupp Arena. It was a weekend that filled my soul.

Favorite things

Chrysler Pacifica – After our fun couple weeks of travel to the concert, basketball games, and Louisville, our 2011 Dodge Caravan started making noises. A trip to the dealership service department revealed a transmission issue we weren’t sure we wanted to pay to fix. That decision was confirmed by a mechanic specializing in transmission issues. So we traded that van in toward an upgraded (majorly!) to a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. Obviously, that’s a big purchase, so we’ll have to factor that into the monthly budget template we’re using. The Pacifica is great and I’m super thankful for the protection and provision God has shown to us during this unexpected situation.

The Couch with Mary Carver – I’ve actually shared about this here before, but I got to be a guest on her podcast, which was so fun! Mary and I talked about our favorite TV marriages, so I’d love to hear about who you would add to our list. {More on the episode here!}

Refined series at Lyli Dunbar’s blog – I got to share a piece of our story about Ben being burned and how community helped us heal as part of Lyli’s blog series. She has an encouraging space on this big ‘ole internet and I was happy to be there.

Crock Pot – I told Greg and I needed a new Crock Pot, so he bought me one for Christmas … and it’s the best! The six-quart appliance has brown/saute, slow cook, bake, and keep warm functions. That means when I made taco soup recently, I could brown the beef and onion first, add the other ingredients, and switch to the slow cook function. One pot. Yes, please. Plus the one pot is stainless steel and way easier to handle and clean than the ceramic pots I’ve always had before.

From the bookshelf

“Since You’ve Been Gone” by Christa Allen – I borrowed this one for free from Amazon on my Kindle and really enjoyed it. It was a quick fiction read about a woman who was uncovering some truths while navigating grief. The characters were relatable and the plot line had enough mystery to keep me intrigued. This author has several other books I added to my list.

“The Secret Orphan” by Glynis Peters – This story is set while World War 2 is raging. I really liked the main character and her story. It was different than other books set in this time period that I’ve read because it focused more on a commoner and how the war infiltrated her life.

“Good As Gone” by Amy Gentry – I read this book in three sittings, but I’m not sure what I thought about it. The story was intriguing, but it also seemed far-fetched. That said, I was surprised more than once and was eager to finish it.

On the screen

We’re glad “Survivor” is back on! I’m a longtime fan of this show, but I’m even more of a fan of watching it with my oldest girl. Meanwhile, I’m sad “Manifest” is over for the season. What cliffhangers!

What are you loving, reading, and watching?

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - Porch Stories

#PorchStories Party

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Porch Stories Tagged With: Ben, books, family, Greg, life, music, podcasts, travel, TV

Comments

  1. Michele Morin says

    February 27, 2019 at 6:08 am

    I always enjoy the mix of newsy-ness in your month-end posts!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:26 am

      Thanks, Michele, because I enjoy writing them and recapping & documenting life this way. xo

      Reply
  2. Laurie says

    February 27, 2019 at 6:13 am

    Your February sure was filled with fun, family, and friends! Hubby and I recently binge-watched “The Marvelous Mr. Maisel” with my sister and BIL when we visited them in Florida and loved it (the show and the visit)! Unfortunately, it’s on Amazon Prime, which we don’t subscribe to, and the next season isn’t on until November. Hope your March is just a good as your February!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:25 am

      Yes, we really enjoyed The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel too! And I always love time in Florida too. 🙂 Hope your March gets off to a good start too!

      Reply
  3. Barbara Harper says

    February 27, 2019 at 6:52 am

    What a fun month! We enjoy Manifest, too. We recently got an Instant Pot that has many of those same features – I especially love being able to saute something and then run the slow cooker or Instant Pot feature without having to use different pans for each function.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:24 am

      Oooh, I didn’t realize Instant Pots actually had multiple features – how great! We’ll have to wait a while for Manifest to return … boo! 🙂 Glad you’re here, Barbara!

      Reply
  4. Boma says

    February 27, 2019 at 6:57 am

    Your February sounds very full and blessed, Kristin! Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:23 am

      Thanks for being here, Boma!

      Reply
  5. Jo Davis says

    February 27, 2019 at 8:23 am

    It sounds like you’ve had a full and fun month! As I think back over the last few weeks, I’ve done a lot of things, too…a mini trip to the coast, visiting with old friends, started blogging again, movies with grandkids and more! I even get to leave February behind with a bang by flying to visit my son for a few days (tomorrow!!) God is so good! It’s easy to get hung up on the challenges we face, but when we take time to remember and be thankful for the good things in life – our blessings – our difficulties seem smaller, don’t they? Thanks for sharing and for this great link up!

    Blessings, Jo

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:23 am

      Sounds like a super fun few weeks for you too! I’m glad you’re here and sharing in God’s goodness with me.

      Reply
  6. Melody says

    February 27, 2019 at 8:53 am

    I love seeing what you’re reading! Sounds like a good month for you guys. Our family went to see Toby Mac in concert and it was awesome! So glad ya’ll got to go – great idea as a Christmas gift.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 9:22 am

      I get the feeling if we lived closer our families would really enjoy each other. xo

      Reply
  7. Lesley says

    February 27, 2019 at 10:50 am

    I always enjoy these monthly round-ups. Sounds like you’ve had a good February and the concert sounds like fun!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 11:07 am

      Thanks, Lesley! I hope you had a good month too.

      Reply
  8. Angela Johnson says

    February 27, 2019 at 11:29 am

    Yay!! Go Cats! I am a little jealous that you got to go to the Tennessee game, lol. We had an academic meet and watched it on DVR. I know what you mean about the rain. I am so glad to see the sun here in Pikeville. It is definitely a welcomed visit. Nice to hear from another CATS fan!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 3:58 pm

      Hello from the other side of Kentucky! But I’m always happy to meet another Cats fan. 🙂 Thanks for being here.

      Reply
  9. Lauren Sparks says

    February 27, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    Loving all your updates! laurensparks.net

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 27, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks, Lauren! I hope you’ve had a good month too.

      Reply
  10. Susan Shipe says

    February 28, 2019 at 8:35 am

    I’ve enjoyed Manifest too. I haven’t watched the last show of season yet though.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 28, 2019 at 2:03 pm

      Always glad to see you here, my friend. xo

      Reply
  11. Tara says

    February 28, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Busy but fun month for you it sounds like! I need to listen to the Couch podcast. I have heard such great things about it.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 28, 2019 at 2:02 pm

      It’s a fun podcast! Mary does a good job with it and she’s had good guests too. Glad you’re here, Tara!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

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.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • Fifteen
  • Help kids have healthy eating habits
  • How to organize your home
  • Let’s come before the throne
  • 3 Ways to Enhance Kids’ Cognitive Skills

#PorchStories button

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

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
Another new book from a popular author that was ex Another new book from a popular author that was excellent! @harlancoben is a great suspense writer, and this is among his best in my opinion. It picked up with an old character and references another character from another book. But this story is well done even without those details. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite
I’ve read many @lisascottoline books, and this o I’ve read many @lisascottoline books, and this one is definitely at the top of my list. I didn’t know much about it going in, but I especially loved the WITSEC portion of the storyline and the suspense that unfolded about what happened to the Bennetts. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlepaperwhite #booklover
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2022 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.