Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Happy birthday, Ben!

November 23, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I don’t know at what point kids’ ages stop sounding all grown up, but it’s not 14 years old. My boy Ben turns 14 today – yes on Thanksgiving! – and it sounds impossible and sudden to me. Even so, I love having big kids and am happy to celebrate him! 

November has been an incredibly hard month for my boy. It’s a story I’ll probably share publicly at some point. For now, I’m giving thanks for Ben’s life and our community of people who love him well. We started celebrating on Sunday with eight of his friends and our dear friends the Gachokas who are like family. We had a delicious meal at Texas Roadhouse and then spent a couple of hours at Top Golf. The ride to and from Nashville was loud — with singing, middle school humor, and spicy hot takes.

The bigger picture: it’s not just these friends who love our boy, and I’m grateful to know so many have encouraged and supported him through the years. We’ve seen this real-life community in this hard season he’s facing, and we are so thankful to be surrounded by so much goodness. I’m praying my boy continues to soak in that truth.

Meanwhile, he loves making music playlists, watching videos from Mark Rober and Dude Perfect and How Ridiculous, building and taking apart pretty much anything, eating double bacon cheeseburgers, drinking Glacier Freeze Gatorade, collecting key chains and crazy socks, and playing soccer. He likes to anticipate what’s next, is a good friend to people, and would rather not be at school. 

I’m proud of his bravery to work through hard things and look forward to seeing what God continues to do in his life. 

*****

Ben, 

You’re brave and bold. I’m thankful to call you my son and watch you be a friend to so many people. I pray you know you’re loved by God, your family, and your friends. Walking through this world can be hard and dark, but there’s so much goodness in the light.

Keep being you and following where God leads. I love being on this journey with you! Happy birthday, son! 

Love, Mom

*****

I share more of Ben’s story in my book “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family,” which is available for FREE through Nov. 26 on Amazon.

Look back on my boy’s life:  1 year old. 2 years old. 3 years old. 4 years old. 5 years old. 6 years old. 7 years old. 8 years old. 9 years old. 10 years old. 11 years old. 12 years old. 13 years old.

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Ben is 13!

November 28, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

We are now a house with two teenagers — and in many ways, I couldn’t love it more. Ben is the boy sandwiched between two girls, many days wishing he had a brother. In the past year, I’ve seen the lives of Cate and Ben overlap more with friends and basketball. Overlapping friends can be hard between siblings, but it can also be a sweet spot. 

Ben loves playing soccer and basketball and talking about those things with his friends. He prefers school assignments with concrete answers. He likes to doodle and read non-fiction books. He has had to work hard to quiet some anxieties, expectations, and realities — especially at school. But I can look at his life and see emotional and spiritual growth, and I’m so thankful to get a glimpse at what God is doing in him and through him. He’s braver than he realizes and funnier than I probably admit to him!

With a Thanksgiving week birthday, he’s adamant about waiting until after that holiday to move on to anything about Christmas. Playing Christmas music on the way home from our Thanksgiving trip was pushing it for him.

We celebrated Ben’s birthday with a trip to Memphis for a Grizzlies game, a hotel stay, and a Bass Pro Shop outing. (And with lunch and brownies at Gran-Gran’s house the weekend before, Texas Roadhouse on our way to Indiana for Thanksgiving, and more brownies with our Thanksgiving meal at my sister’s house!) We brought three of his friends along. I’m thankful for the friends God has given him, even when finding his place is sometimes a challenge. He’s quick to friend people and sees the needs around him. 

We also got in some good cousin time with a couple of fun days at my sister’s house. Ben loves being around her two boys. They got him an Indiana sweatshirt, which was a well-timed gift because we went to an IU basketball game on Friday. We were glad we got to experience a game at Assembly Hall!

*****

Ben,

This definitely seemed like the right year to do something different for your birthday. I’m thankful I came up with an idea you were excited about! What fun memories we made! You’ve often challenged me as a mom and person, but I’m thankful for all we’ve walked through together. The longer we’re at this mom-son thing, the more I see our similarities as people. I see you and love you and am blessed to be your mom. 

Here’s to the teenage years, bedtime conversations, and lots of Haribo Peach Gummies and Sour Patch Kids. 

Love, Mom

*****

I share more of Ben’s story in my book “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family,” which is on sale (!!!) right now on Amazon. Look back on my boy’s life:  1 year old. 2 years old. 3 years old. 4 years old. 5 years old. 6 years old. 7 years old. 8 years old. 9 years old. 10 years old. 11 years old. 12 years old.

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Brave Ben & his broken heel

May 26, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

When I saw my boy jump off the porch to save some helium balloons one Saturday evening in April, I thought he had his first broken bone. We went to the ER and nothing was noticeably broken on the X-rays, but the radiology told us to follow up with an orthopedic doctor. We did. He also couldn’t determine much from X-rays because the injury was near Ben’s growth plate. He ordered an MRI, which happened that Tuesday. 

We went back the following day to talk about the MRI and make a plan. It was a non-displaced fracture, so essentially the MRI showed an injured heel but no cracked bone. He has to stay off of it completely for four weeks and the doctor is hoping he can then gradually start walking and applying pressure. He hopes Ben is young enough for it to heel quickly and not have to stay off of it the normal eight to ten weeks. 

He was a champ figuring out how to maneuver school and home and life in general with crutches. His big sister helped him get into school and his friends were helpful getting his stuff from his locker and to classes once he’s in there.

Days seems longer for him right now. It’s exhausting to ask for help more than he’s used to doing, miss out on being active, walk on crutches, and try not to dwell on the pain in his foot. 

Honestly, my boy was sad when we left the orthopedic doctor’s office. Four weeks sounds like an eternity when it means no more PE this school year or soccer this season. Soccer camp was in five weeks and basketball camp was seven weeks away. 

Thankfully, swimming is fine, although it hasn’t been great swimming weather since the last day of school. He’d fished and kayaked. This isn’t how we wanted the spring leading into #88daysofsummer to be, but he’s adjusted and made the most of it. 

We went to the orthopedic yesterday for the four-week follow-up appointment and he hoped he’d be putting on the second tennis shoe he brought in the car. Unfortunately, he’s supposed to wear the boot for a few more weeks, but he can walk and run on it.

I had to cancel soccer camp, but basketball camp might happen. He can stop carting around the crutches, thankfully. 

Oh, and he caught the balloons for his little sister as he jumped off the porch that April evening. 

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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 high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

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DAY 8: ONE BIG DREAM FOR 2024 for Anchored Women's DAY 8: ONE BIG DREAM FOR 2024 for Anchored Women's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

My dream for 2024 is relief from the things that were challenges this year. I hope my family and I have learned in ways that lead us to seek after God more intimately and consistently. I don’t know what that looks like, but I trust God will continue this work He began.

#faith #faithblogger #faithful #faithlife #momlife #reallife #documentlife #newyear
DAY 7: ONE THING YOU’RE SAYING NO TO IN 2024 for DAY 7: ONE THING YOU’RE SAYING NO TO IN 2024 for @anchoredwomen's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

I told someone in the comments of yesterday’s post: The nos are easier when the yeses are clear. 

Several years ago, my counselor encouraged me to list every little and big thing I spend time doing and then let go of some things. I’m not at that same place in life right now, but what I learned from that experience has stuck with me. When my priorities are clear – and they are with family, church, and closest friends, in that order – then I’m able to let go when something isn’t a good fit right now. 

I don’t know what specific things will fall in the “no” category in the new year, but I’m confident God will lead me as He has done faithfully this year, which was full of plenty of interruptions, readjustments, and shifts. 

#realllife #newyear #reflectandrefresh #livingfaithfully #countryliving #faith #faithblogger #faithful #faithlife
I finished this @rebeccayarros book last night whi I finished this @rebeccayarros book last night while my family was watching "Home Alone 2" and I immediately downloaded the rest of the five-book Flight & Glory series, thanks to Kindle Unlimited. Yes, I liked it that much. I loved the characters, the real ways grief was portrayed, and the hockey and military storylines. 

P.S. I could have done with fewer sex scenes, but beggars can't be choosers. 

FULL MEASURES: amzn.to/47K1R2x

KINDLE UNLIMITED: amzn.to/3TxkFy3

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bookshelf #bookstack #books #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #KindleOasis #kindlebooks
DAY 6: ONE THING YOU’RE SAYING YES TO IN 2024 fo DAY 6: ONE THING YOU’RE SAYING YES TO IN 2024 for @anchoredwomen's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

As I think about transitioning into the new year, I am committing to saying yes to God, my family, my church, and my closest friends. Everything else is up for debate. Saying yes to the nearest and dearest is most important to me. When I say yes to my kids’ schedules and needs, that means saying no to other things, but I’ve learned these priorities are what keep me present in this season, right now, with a husband of more than two decades, a 16-year-old who drives herself places, a 14-year-old boy, and an 8-year-old girl. The seasons change quickly, so I want to say yes to this one, right here where God has me. 

#newyear #livingfaithfully #wifelife #momlife #reallife #seasons #motherhood
DAY 5: SOMETHING THAT WAS A CHALLENGE for @anchore DAY 5: SOMETHING THAT WAS A CHALLENGE for @anchoredwomen's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

(Yes, I know, I went quiet there for a few days. I'm back!) 

I love having older kids, but our family encountered a challenge this year for one child as adoption trauma, genetics, hormones, school stress, and medicine side effects collided for a perfect storm of mental health challenges. We’re still sorting through it all, waiting for an appointment that we hope brings direction for the next steps, and taking it one day at a time. 

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#bettertogether #friends #friendship #momlife #reallife #adoptionislove #adoption #teenagers #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #faithlife
We had the best time cheering for our varsity girl We had the best time cheering for our varsity girls at the KCAA Holiday Classic in Independence, KY, on Friday and Saturday. And our girls brought home the first place trophy after an exciting, intense 53-51 overtime win against Oak Ridge Christian Academy last night. 

Cate was named to the all-tournament team and had her most-ever 19 points (and two chipped teeth!) in the championship game. I’m so proud of her and her friends. And to think she hadn’t played organized basketball until four years ago. In fact, @ncca.lions girls played in its first game four years ago yesterday. Look how far they’ve come!

Here’s to such a fun 4-0 start to the Lions fifth season of girls basketball. Go Cate! And go Lions! 💛

#basketballseason #highschool #momlife #weekending #documentlife #thisis16
DAY 4: SOMETHING THAT WENT REALLY WELL for @anchor DAY 4: SOMETHING THAT WENT REALLY WELL for @anchoredwomen's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

Spring Break 2023 was the first time we vacationed with friends. We all boarded Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas for a week of sunshine and fun. It was such a great time – so much so we hope to do another cruise with the same friends sooner rather than later.

#reflectandrefresh2023 #newyear #reflections #bettertogether #favoritethings
DAY 3: ONE BOOK THAT IMPACTED YOUR YEAR for @ancho DAY 3: ONE BOOK THAT IMPACTED YOUR YEAR for @anchoredwomen's Reflect and Refresh Challenge

“The Power of Place: Choosing Stability in a Restless Age” by @mrdanielgrothe . I posted about this book before, but I read it on a whim after hearing someone reference its theme on a podcast. And I loved it so much. It echoed so much of what God has been teaching me in my small-town life. The tenth chapter — Stability in Friendship — is basically a summary of my book, “Created for Communion.”

I don’t read a ton of non-fiction, but when I do the messages tend to matter in my life, and this book is no exception. “The Power of Place” is one that will encourage me for many days to come. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bookshelf #bookstack #books #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookblogger #socialmediachallenge #CreatedForCommunion #holyfriendships #bettertogether
DAY 2: BEST NEW DISCOVERY as part of @anchoredwome DAY 2: BEST NEW DISCOVERY as part of @anchoredwomen's Reflect & Refresh Challenge

I love to haul around a sort of big bag (aka purse) so I can have all the things with me in the car, but I don’t want to haul that bag into stores or short errands. I had a Lululemon crossbody bag that was about the size of a fanny bag that I really loved, but it was pale pink and always looked dirty. This year I discovered an off-brand crossbody bag on Amazon that is even better than the Lululemon AND IT’S $20. And it’s so easy to just throw in my big bad when I don’t have it slung over my shoulder.

https://amzn.to/3sSWwHa

You’re welcome!

🎁 If you're looking for other gift ideas, I put together a list of some of my favorite things, including this handy bag! bit.ly/KHTgiftideas

#reflectandrefresh #socialmediachallenge #favoritethings #reflectandrefresh2023 #giftideas #bestbag #linkinbio
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