Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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8 Things I Learned in May

May 31, 2016 by Kristin Leave a Comment

May is my favorite. Honestly, even for as much as I love summer, I’m a little sad my favorite month has gone by so quickly. There were birthday parties and soccer games and days at the lake. The temperatures changed from cool to humid. And hooray for my big kids finishing up kindergarten and third grade!

Here comes days at the pool – when we aren’t packing up our belongings! But, first, I’m going to share 8 Things I Learned in May …

1. Bacon tastes really good when it’s cooked on the griddle.

We got a big griddle to cook pancakes for Cate’s Pancakes & Pippi Party. After making four batches of pancakes, Greg threw bacon on the griddle. And it was delicious.

Admittedly, clean up isn’t as easy as baking the bacon on a foil-lined cookie sheet.

2. I may have been looking forward to Summer Break as much as the kids.

Summer is still busy but in a different way. There’s lake house management. And we are still trying to sell our house. Plus I’ve been purging and packing and organizing.

Admittedly, I tried to stay on top of things as much as possible the first week we were out of school because the pool wasn’t open yet.

And, yes, “we” are out of school. It’s a family affair!

3. Trying to sell a house is no joke.

We posted some pictures and info on Facebook at the beginning of April. Then a few days later we put a sign in our yard. We showed it many times and got several phone calls about it.

And then we didn’t for a week or two so we ran an ad in the local newspaper. We got a few more calls and showed it some more.

I will say this: My kids are champs at getting their rooms cleaned and beds made in preparation for a showing.

We listed it with a realtor last week. And the house was shown some more. Hopefully we will get an offer and the perfect buyer soon.

4. I love the color of my new kitchen. It’s called refresh.

Refresh may be the theme of our new house, actually. Pictures coming soon-ish.

5. Mango salsa is back at Qdoba for the summer. Y’all. It’s the best.

(I love it so much I wrote a post about it a couple years ago!)

6. Netflix and I are email friends. 

Just the other day I got an email to inform me the second season of “Bloodlines” is now on Netflix. I also recently got one that say the third season of “Graceland” was on Netflix. Sorry, but I already watched it on Amazon Prime. I couldn’t wait.

Speaking of TV, we are finishing season 10 (!) of “Bones” on Netflix and catching up with “The Blacklist” on our DVD. We recently also caught up on “Madam Secretary” and “Blue Bloods.”

(And, speaking of email friends, I like email friends. Want to be mine?)

7. People like the freedom to say no. I’ve had such good response to The Summer Not-To-Do List printable. Hope you enjoy it!

(Download it here, if you haven’t already!)

8. In the summer, I’m better at letting go – especially of what time dinner should be on the table, bedtimes, and the frequency of my kids’ showers. My most recent Mom Confessions {The Memorial Day Weekend Edition} reminded me of that.

How’s your May been?

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I’m linking up with Emily Freeman like I do at the end of each month. 

Subscribe to get new posts and/or a monthly newsletter with content not available on the blog in your inbox. When you subscribe, I’ll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable.

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Place of Transformation {and a recipe}

March 16, 2016 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I don’t bake much, but one favorite recipe around here that does happen is Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. The recipe comes courtesy my high school boyfriend’s mom.

It always amazes me I can take mushy, seemingly-no-good bananas and turn them into deliciousness.

Don’t believe me? Try it yourself.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
From Jane Garcia

1 cup margarine softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 ripe bananas that I puree in a food processor
Chocolate chips

Cream margarine, sugar and eggs till light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time. Add dry ingredients and blend well. Then pour in the pureed bananas and mix until well blended. Stir in however many chocolate chips you want and pour into two greased and floured loaf pans and bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

I’ve also discovered the bread freezes well.

I’m reminded how The Middle is a place of transformation. {Tweet that.} It’s in the middle where one thing becomes another, something is changed from the inside out with effort and time, and sometimes it takes some heat to do the job.

I’m talking about banana bread, but I’m also talking about my own heart. Food and faith are intertwined in celebration and the ordinary moments that make life sweet.

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152 Insights to My Soul

I’m excited to join Britta Lafont for her Meet Me in the Middle Project during Lent, when I’m going to slow down and notice the pieces of life I bypass in a rush. Find all the details about the Meet Me in the Middle Project here or reference Britta’s introductory post.

#ThreeWordWednesday friends, I’d love for you join in Meet Me in the Middle by linking up there and here, but the weekly #ThreeWordWednesday link up is open as usual even if you’re not participating in this Lenten project. I’m always so glad y’all are here.

An InLinkz Link-up


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Subscribe to get new posts and/or a monthly newsletter with content not available on the blog in your inbox. When you subscribe, I’ll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable. 

“Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, or follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’.

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Mom Confessions from The Week of RSV

February 25, 2016 by Kristin Leave a Comment

The week my baby girl has had RSV and the big kids are getting over colds, so it seems like a good time for some mom confessions. I mean nothing like some sickness to bring real life to the forefront.

“Letting another mom peek in your imperfect life can be some of the best encouragement you can offer.” {Jill Savage in “Better Together“}

So with that in mind, I’ve gotcha covered …

1. I bought snacks for a Trades of Hope fundraising party I hosted at our church an hour before it started. It’s no secret I don’t really bake, but I usually am a little more prepared. (I mean, I had a plan that involved me going to the grocery that morning, several hours before said event, but hello, RSV and two sick girls!)

(And, hey, if you’re interested in purchasing some lovely fair-trade accessories and decor and having each purchase benefit our church’s adoption fund that provides grants to area families, then you’re more than welcome to do so! The party link will be open through tonight.)

2. I made a new-to-us fried rice recipe that was a success and then waited until the next morning to clean up the stove, kitchen floor, and table because day-old rice hardens and is easier to clean up.

Of course, while making the rice, I realized I didn’t have an onion. I called my husband, texted my best friend, and my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law saved the day and brought me an onion. I may have been teary – and not because I was cutting an onion.

3. After picking up the kids from the bus stop Tuesday, I took them to get ice cream. After picking up the kids from the bus stop Wednesday, I took them to get drinks at Sonic. Momma needed a milkshake and Diet Dr Pepper after all this time in the house with sick ones. But, hey, I got cool mom points too.

4. My family rejoices when I make spaghetti. And when I say make, I mean I boil noodles I bought at the store, brown some beef, and heat some sauce from a jar. The husband walked in last night and said, “It smells good in here!” And the kids cleared their plates without a complaint.

And somehow all of those confessions had to do with food and drink. I didn’t even plan that. But I do think I’ll go eat a Reese’s Egg the aforementioned best friend brought me the other night when everything in life seemed overwhelming.

Your turn. Confess away, friends.

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Speaking of “Better Together,” I wanted to let you know if you pre-order Jill Savage’s new book before it releases on March 1, you can get a bundle of fabulous, free resources, including seven audio workshops from authors & speakers, a bonus video teaching from Jill, a few backgrounds for your phone or computer, and a printable. Learn more at the book’s website and pre-order it wherever books are sold, including Amazon. 

“Better Together: Because You Aren’t Meant to Mom Alone” by Jill Savage with her daughter Anne McClane offers practical, encouraging insights to why having a tribe of moms to share life with is healthy and helpful. It officially releases March 1, and it’s the kind of book every new mom should have and one that helps those of us who have been here awhile too. There are ideas for co-ops, encouragement if you’re facing hard times in friendship, an informative Mothering Personality Inventory that may explain some of why you mother the way you do, and Biblical truths of what friendship matters in our everyday life and our faith journeys.

Also, these confessions are inspired by my blogging friend Anna Rendell, who embraces the real-life of motherhood. She posts about this on Facebook and blogs about it too. 

Want more insights? Subscribe to get new posts in your inbox and a monthly newsletter with content not available on the blog. When you subscribe, I’ll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable. 

 “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, or follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’.

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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 eighth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear fifth-grade boy, and our joy-filled preschool 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 recently read this suspense novel by @sandiejone I recently read this suspense novel by @sandiejones_author and really enjoyed it. I saw where some of the story was going, but there were surprises, of course! 

I’m always glad when a new-to-me author has more books for my never-ending to-read list. Which authors have you discovered lately? 

#KHTreads #recommendedreads #bookstagram #booklover #fiction #suspensebooks
Spring breathes new life right into my soul. I’m Spring breathes new life right into my soul. I’m always thankful when this season comes around, and not solely for the sunshine! In my book “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People,” I open the spring section with this quote from author @shannanwrites.

In honor of this new season, I wanted to share another excerpt from my book. Join me on my porch that overlooks trees turning green, grass that needs to be mowed again, and the pool that’s waiting for someone to jump in. 

To read an excerpt about how spring helps me open my heart, home, and life and learn more about free hospitality resources, use the #linkinbio to visit my blog. #ontheblog #hospitalitymatters #morethangroceries #bloggerlife #authorlife #selfpublished #livingfaithfully #countryliving #bookexcerpt #PorchStories
I asked Greg what he wanted to do for his birthday I asked Greg what he wanted to do for his birthday (which is next week) and he said have friends over to play. So that’s what we did yesterday.

The birthday boy turning 43 soon, a few other husbands, and a bunch of kids played kickball and basketball. Us moms mostly talked and enjoyed the fact most of our people were engaged in community and activity. Of course, we ate well too.

It’s had been a long time since we had a party where multiple families mingled together on our porch, in our kitchen, and all around our property. We missed this, so good call on letting us your birthday as an excuse, husband.

#weekending #birthdayboy #choosingJOY #countryliving #bettertogether #morethangroceries #PorchStories
First game of the season in the books. I love this First game of the season in the books. I love this time of the year. ⚽️☀️ #soccermom #girlmom #thirdchild #momlife #choosingJOY
Our Precept group went to @bidwellfamilyfarms this Our Precept group went to @bidwellfamilyfarms this morning. While us mommas discussed Acts 16-17, Scott took the kids on a tour of the farm. Truly, this group of women is a blessing for me and the effects ripple through my whole entire family. I’m so thankful for the way God knits people together.

#precept #preceptministries #biblestudy #bettertogether #momlife #countryliving #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
I finished this book on Easter Sunday while laying I finished this book on Easter Sunday while laying in my hammock soaking in the sunshine. I liked the story enough, but sometimes young adult books baffle me with all the adult drama. These characters navigate young love, racial tension, and pains of growing up — of which some storylines were better than others. 

Maybe most importantly, this book got me back into reading on my Kindle. I like physical books, but I love the convenience, deals, and library of the Kindle. I always feel like I have to choose books or Kindle, but truth is I can have both.

Do you prefer Kindle or physical books? #KHTreads #booklover #kindlebooks #latergram #bookstagram #kindle #youngadultbooks
We took a (spring) break in St. Pete Beach, Florid We took a (spring) break in St. Pete Beach, Florida last week, and now I'm old-school blogging about it. So pull up a porch swing, and come read about what we did and ate on our five-night getaway. 

#linkinbio #ontheblog #bloggerlife #springbreak #beachvacation #PorchStories #choosingJOY #vacationlife #seafood #beachlife #momlife #TeamTaylor #adventurers
Until last spring, I always assumed the yellow fie Until last spring, I always assumed the yellow fields were goldenrod. I learned it’s canola plant — not our state’s flower that’s actually a weed that grows in the late summer and early fall. The seeds from these plants can be crushed to make canola oil and meal. 

Whatever it is, I think it’s beautiful. After the dreary colors of winter, it’s a lovely welcome to spring and a reminder of how new life sprouts right where we already are. 

#seasons #kentucky #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #countryliving #spring
Spring Break was good to us. I’m having my usual Spring Break was good to us. I’m having my usual Sunday night mixed emotions - thankful for our time & adventures together as a family, eager to be productive in my quiet house, and sad everyone will head their separate ways tomorrow morning.

#reallife #sundayvibes #springbreak #beachtrip #momlife #momconfessions #TeamTaylor #adventurers #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully
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