Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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God’s forever on our side

January 18, 2019 by Kristin 4 Comments

“Oh I don’t know / What’s around the bend / Oh, all I know / Is that my love / It knows no end / All these pieces they fall in line / Because I’m forever on your side / Take my hand when you can’t see the light / Cause I’m forever on your side / I will carry / You every time / Because I’m forever on your side”

– Needtobreathe’s “Forever On Your Side”

My mind hasn’t wanted to turn off this week. I’ve been processing news in lives of people I care about, parenting three kids in different seasons, and navigating a hard conversation. So many perceptions and feelings can influence my mind, distracting me from all the good around me.

One evening this week my mind was dwelling on this and that and this again. I couldn’t shut it off long enough to fall asleep so I got out of bed and folded five loads of laundry while I watched “New Amsterdam” on the DVR. The show had a storyline that made me think of a friend of mine. But instead of letting my mind spiral into all the stuff again, God influenced my perception. He reminded me to be still and trust him as God.

I have hope & disappointment side by side in my hands. I know joy and grief at the same moment. I truly believe God uses it all when we love him and are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28). In a world of factions and sides, conflict and change, surprises and distractions, I’m grateful God is forever on my side. And I’m grateful for the ways he brings his truth into our lives through others who follow Christ. That’s the kind of influence we all need.

*****

I’m joining the Five Minute Friday writing crew with this post. The prompt this week was INFLUENCE.

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What everyday balance really looks like

December 7, 2018 by Kristin 6 Comments

Yesterday was one of those days I was out and about the whole time my kids were in school. I took care of a couple of things for myself, lunched with a friend whose story overlaps my own in many ways, walked with another friend who is honest and real, and addressed some Christmas cards in the grocery store parking lot because I had some extra time after I ran in for a few things.

It was a soul-filling day for my 63% extroverted self.

Today I met my best friend for a morning walk – reminiscent of what we used to d0 before our kids starting growing up and she went back to work full time. And I don’t have much else planned today until the same friend and her family come over for dinner and Settlers of Catan.

I also anticipate being at home, working at a slower pace through my to-do list, will be good for my soul.

I don’t believe balance truly can be achieved, but I believe we can recognize no two days are truly the same and find some balance in that. Balance can be defined as “an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.”

While I was driving around town yesterday, I listened to Banning Liebscher on Annie Downs’ That Sounds Fun podcast. I had to jot something down when I got to a red light because I want to let it sink in my soul: “We have to slow down a little bit and be okay without constantly amazing people with some new something that he showed me or did with me or I’m trying to blow you away with this revelation or this funny thing. Let God do something with your life.”

Let God do something with your real, unbalanced life – and then we’ll find the only balance that matters because God is actually bearing the weight to keep us upright and steady.

*****

I actually started mentally writing this post in my head last night, so it’s fitting the Five Minute Friday prompt is BALANCE. I’m linking up with the FMF crew. Join us as we set the timer for five minutes and just write.

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Let the seasons repeat

November 2, 2018 by Kristin 6 Comments

Traditions are one of my favorite parts of fall. College homecoming. Friendsgiving. Thanksgiving. School pictures. Preparing for Christmas. Basketball season beginning.

There are some dates on our fall calendar that remain every year. I like the repetition. We share tradition meals with people we love. And we root for our Racers – who happen to be playing some decent football this year leading into basketball season.

Since moving to the country 2 ½ years ago, I especially the colors of fall that surround me. The leaves were perfection this week. I’ve had a million things running through my mind, but then I look at the colorful leaves and God reminds no season on our calendars or in our lives is forever.

I’m 63% extroverted. I don’t like being the center of attention. I don’t like speaking to crowds. But I am filled up by vulnerable conversations around a table. Even when this activity is repeated, it’s never the same. The traditions I love are centered around the people they involve.

This week that looked like meeting with a couple who is ready to pursue adoption but wanted to ask questions of someone who has walked through that; being with my Bible study girls after too long of not seeing them; inviting myself over to visit with a friend who has be part of several seasons of my life; lunching with one friend; and catching up with a friend over nachos. My personality means I’m looking forward to an early Friendsgiving with my best friends this weekend because that is how my soul rests.

This world can be overwhelming with its headlines and conflicts and brokenness. But those situations won’t last forever because God promises this is not the end of the story. Until then, he gives me people with whom I love sharing a table and shows his glory in the leaves.

Let’s mark the traditions on the calendar, still be aware of spontaneous goodness, and repeat it all over with each season that comes.

*****

It’s been a long while, but I’m joining the Five Minute Friday writing crew with this free write on the prompt REPEAT.

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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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I needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurr Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurray for putting on the fabulous @beautiful.you.conference with @meggpam from @shelivespurposefully. My girl and her friends had a great time together and my momma heart is thankful this is how they chose to spend a Saturday morning. 

#momlife #girlmom #teenagers #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #latergram
Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with some of my favorite friends. Kids played inside and out, the TV was never on, and new memories were made with old friends. Plus we ended the night with our ninth year of Little Hands Trivia Night. It was our worst finish ever, but we still had such a fun time! 

#bettertogether #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, but we celebrated it (and the other middle and high school players) last night. What a joy, truly! She was surprise with the Lions Award for her overall approach to the game and her teammates. 

This context is basketball, but the bigger community and broader learning that happens are ultimately even more important. And, hey, middle school boys, you were also so much fun to watch! I’m so thankful Ben was part of that team. 

Shout out to the Schroeders for Tim being the coach of four teams and all the family time sacrificed as well as the other coaches and families who made it all possible. 

Give me a little break, and then I will be ready for more Lions and Lady Lions basketball to come! Scheduling for the fall and winter will start soon. 

I’m so proud to be part of New Covenant Christian Academy! 💛 @ncca.lions #momlife #girlmom #boymom #basketballseason #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. 

“Half Way to You” by @jennifergoldauthor was my #FirstReads choice from Amazon this month and I dived right in. I loved it! This is a multi-generational story full of love, heartbreak, friendships that span decades, and travel. The story is told as a reclusive author shares her real story with a young podcaster who has personal and professional interest. The way the lives is woven together is brutal and beautiful. 

#KHTreads #AmazonFirstReads #bookstagram #booklover #KindleOasis #kindlebooks #readersofinstagram
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