Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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

The Wonder of Creation

November 22, 2021 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Our family has been busy, busier than I’d like, really, so I’ve been trying to make the most of our time together. That means sometimes we eat dinner at a fast food restaurant instead of our kitchen table or read a devotional on the way to school rather than sitting perfectly still first thing in the morning together. 

I’ve always found lessons in faith right in my everyday life and I want the same for my kids. We’ve been reading “Roar Like A Lion” by Levi Lusko on the way to school most mornings. When we are finished with that one, we’re moving on to “The Wonder of Creation” by Louie Giglio. My sixth-grader Ben and kindergartener Rachel will especially love all the facts and information about animals, planets, and the world around us, but I know my high school freshman Cate and I will benefit from hearing the truth too. 

I’m thankful for books like “The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions About God & Science” that have a solid scripture foundation, keep my kids’ interest, and prompt discussions about our actual lives. Louie Giglio does a good job creating a book that does that for us! 

About the book

In this captivating follow-up to the bestselling kids’ devotionals “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God,” discover more mind-blowing, faith-building scientific facts and biblical truths about the wonder of God’s creation from author, speaker, and founder of the Passion movement Louie Giglio. It’s fine if your family hasn’t read the other devotionals as this one stands on its own with 100 devotionals. 

Giglio wants kids to notice, enjoy, and marvel at God’s creation. In “The Wonder of Creation,” children will find new delight in God’s creativity with devotions that explore animals from honeyguide birds to flying snakes to white rhinos; space including black holes to volcanic moons to gamma-ray bursts; people from optical illusions to brain freezes to our immune systems; and Earth from rainbow rivers to blue lava to flowing glaciers                                                    

With engaging illustrations and striking photography, this fun and informative book is ideal for children ages 6 to 10. Each of the devotions features a scientific fact or an easy activity for exploring faith, a short Bible verse, and a closing prayer. This book is ideal for science-loving kids, Bible-loving kids, and any child ready to go deeper in faith; continues a well-loved devotional series that has impacted over a million children, parents, and teachers; includes informative content call-outs inviting kids to “Explore the Wonder”; and makes a great addition to a homeschool STEM curriculum or a bedtime reading routine.

This 208-page hardcover devotional is published by Thomas Nelson (Nov. 16, 2021).

About the authors

Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and original visionary of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Most recently, Passion hosted more than 700,000 people from more than 150 countries online at Passion 2021.

Louie is the national-bestselling author of more than a dozen books. An Atlanta native and graduate of Georgia State University, Louie has done post-graduate work at Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Louie and his wife Shelley make their home in Atlanta.  

Co-author Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling writer with more than forty titles to her credit. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for both children and teens, as well as adults, including the wildly successful Indescribable Kids series and Jesus Calling for Kids series. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog, who doubles as a footwarmer.

About the illustrator

Nicola Anderson has been an illustrator and graphic designer since she could hold a crayon in her hand but has been working professionally since 2001. After many years working in the design industry, she now crafts imaginary worlds from her home studio, AndoTwin Studio, in Manchester, UK. During this time, she has worked with an eclectic range of clients and has loved every minute!

Rachel really wanted a picture of the book with the cats – more evidence of God’s creation!

Giveaway 

And I’m able to share it with one you! Who wants a hardcopy of this book for the kids in your life? Tell me what in creation encourages your faith in God. Leave your answer as a comment on this blog post or the posts about it on Facebook and Instagram and you’re entered to win. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and a winner will be randomly chosen on Nov. 29, 2021. 

*****

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing this devotion in exchange for review. Opinions are 100 percent my own and I only recommend products I would use with my own family. I add this book to my list of family devotionals on Amazon, if you’re looking for other suggestions. 

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link 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)

Vooks improves screen time

April 22, 2021 by Kristin 2 Comments

My youngest child has a vivid imagination, loves books, and somehow already knows how to work all the technology! Vooks is is a collection of virtual books that incorporates so many things my girl already loves. 

Vooks is a streaming library of ad-free, kid-safe animated storybooks, trusted by teachers and enjoyed by millions of children around the world. The titles can be streamed or downloaded. Each virtual book has printable lesson plans, activities, discussion topics, and additional resources related to the story. As a mom, I was truly impressed with the amount of content and resources available beyond each animated storybook. The service is $4.99 per month. 

With Vooks, kids are reading, strengthening their vocabulary, and learning about lots of different subjects. This is a productive use of screen time and fosters independent learning. That’s a win-win for parents and their kids. New titles are added weekly. 

My 5-year-old Rachel is looking forward to kindergarten in August had a fun time scrolling through all the Vooks choices. Of course, her first choice was a story about a unicorn and a horse. She later learned more about earth and loved seeing different animals. I haven’t printed any coloring sheets yet, but she’s pumped about that being an option. 

Rachel used Vooks on both my laptop and Kindle. I wish there was an app for the Kindle because using the browser on that device wasn’t the most convenient. I did download an app for my iPhone that is easy to use. I’m looking forward to streaming the virtual books from my phone to the TV when I want to offer an alternative to watching television shows. 

As a mom, I love when technology incorporates readings and learning so I don’t feel guilty for using screens to give myself a little quiet and a chance to regroup from noisy life. Generally, we limit screens — the bigger television, smaller Kindles, and personal phones — but Vooks is a great addition to how we use devices in our home. 

You can try Vooks free for 30 days! Go to VOOKS to sign up! I’d love to hear what you think about this modern take on books. 

Giveaway

One of you will receive a year-long subscription to Vooks! Use the Rafflecopter widget below for entries. You’ll see that following @vooks on Instagram or Facebook is one of the required entries. Rafflecopter will randomly choose a winner on Wednesday, April 28. 

Enter giveaway here!

*****

Many thanks to Vooks for providing me with a free year-long subscription to review and being willing to provide another year-long subscription for me to give away to one of you. Opinions are 100 percent my own and not influenced by monetary compensation. #VooksMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #vooks #betterscreentime #vookspartner

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link 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)

Sharing lives & gifts

November 9, 2020 by Kristin 11 Comments

November is National Adoption Awareness so I wanted to combine my loves of adoption and hospitality in today’s post. Truly, adoption taught me much about hospitality as we navigated three similar but different open adoptions, accidentally built a community of other adoptive & foster moms, and continue to teach our kids about the value of sharing our lives.

This is a fun post! I’ve got an edited excerpt from “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories of Gathering & Nourishing People” to share with you. And then I have THREE GIVEAWAYS (!!!) of my books plus so many goodies from other mommas in my adoption community.

*****

Some of the friends I see the most in this parenting season are other parents from my big kids’ school. We chat at pickups, sit next to each other at games, carpool to field trips, and bring treats to the same classroom parties. We invest in our kids’ lives but come away with a deeper community too. So then we also make plans to see each other in the summer when our lives aren’t revolving around the school calendar, celebrating birthdays together and confiding in one another when we’re having hard days. Of course, all this looks different these days, thanks to COVID-19.

Investing in friendships with like-minded moms has helped me navigate motherhood. Sometimes this is a weary job! But raising kids is a worthwhile investment that takes time over the course of lots of seasons. Galatians 6:9 is a good reminder for me: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

I’ve heard this before, but it struck me in a new way when I was stretched among three parenting seasons. These words reminded me that with each conversation, boundary, ride home from school, and correction, I’m investing in my kids and the life we’re building together for God’s glory. Having friends in similar parenting seasons, as well as ones a few steps ahead of me, reminds me all the mental energy we’re investing is worth it.

More recently, parenting has involved conversations about cell phones, sleepovers, and vacations; discipline regarding grades and attitudes; and training and establishing habits. Yes, you can play basketball; no, you can’t have a cell phone. Yes, you can go over to her house after school, but you can’t spend the night.

I’ve talked with like-minded friends, many of whose kids are my kids’ classmates, and discussed with my husband, who thankfully lives on the same page with these things. Articles have affirmed why my kids won’t have cell phones anytime soon and why we don’t do sleepovers, but they’ve also reminded me living counter-culturally is hard but not beyond where God has called us, especially if we bring others with us.

My others have come as I befriended my kids’ friends’ parents, but also through engaging in shared activities with others. I have a group of fellow writer friends who first gathered online and then at my lake house for a retreat. We talk and text on Voxer almost every day. We came together initially to share each other’s writing and products, but we ended up praying together through lots of hard situations, discussing various parenting seasons, sifting through theological questions we didn’t always agree upon, and sharing details of our daily lives. We still root each other on in our craft, but we also consider each other dear friends.

I also have a group of Bible study girls. We sat down at the same table as part of a larger group, but as we studied scripture together, we shared pieces of our lives. We’ve had playdates at the park with our young kids and gathered at my pool when Bible study is on summer break. A few of those girls were among the first people with whom I shared my complicated grief when my dad died. Delana could be our mom and loves to cook for us. We sent gift cards to Leslie when she miscarried a baby and to Tara when she was sick. We prayed for kids and decisions and families. We recommend books to each other and check in on each other when we’ve gone too many days without touching base.

These groups of friends began on specific common ground and have continued to be a foundation in my life because we went beyond that initial reason for gathering. Maybe it’s not writing or studying the Bible. It could be any hobby or interest that brings you together with others you may not have otherwise known.

*****

Now for the THREE GIVEAWAYS! I asked in my Adoption Together group about possible gifts to share with y’all and so many people responded that we’re going to have two giveaways for people who live in the Murray, KY area and another for someone who lives elsewhere:

GIVEAWAY ONE!

  • Autographed paperback copies of both my books: “Bringing Home More Than Groceries” and “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family”
  • A gift certificate from Cupcakes by Launa for an 8-inch cake or two dozen cupcakes
  • A $20 gift certificate to Blush Salon
  • Roden + Fields Daily Cleansing Mask and other product samples courtesy Kim Crouch
  • Matilda Jane tote from Morgan Sivells
  • Two engraved cutting boards from Harvest Crate and Bidwell Family Farms

GIVEAWAY TWO!

  • Autographed paperback copies of both my books: “Bringing Home More Than Groceries” and “Peace in the Process”
  • A gift certificate from Cupcakes by Launa for an 8-inch cake or two dozen cupcakes
  • Monat Revive Shampoo and Reshape Root Lifter from Tammie Ross
  • Homemade cookies from Morgan’s Cookies & Cakes (similar to the ones pictured, but actual delicious sugar cookies to eat!)

GIVEAWAY THREE!

  • Autographed paperback copies of both my books: “Bringing Home More Than Groceries” and “Peace in the Process”
  • Simple Purposeful Meal Planner from Erin Port
  • Three Shakelogy samples from Kayla Slack
  • Beauty Counter Beyond Gloss Trio and Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm from Allie Paschall
  • Embroidered Christmas tote from Kacey Queen of Fit For A Queen (not pictured, but will be added)

Use the Rafflecopter widget below before Friday, Nov. 13 to enter to win one of these packs of goodies! The first two prize packages are for folks in the Murray, KY area and the third is for any U.S. resident.

Enter giveaway here!

*****

This is the second in a monthly series about why hospitality matters in every season. Be sure to download the free printable with ideas about how to welcome others into your home and your life regardless of the season.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link 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)
Next Page »

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 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.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • How & why to travel with kids
  • From snow to sand
  • Books of 2022
  • How to enjoy winter days at home
  • How to cook new recipes

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I know traveling is a privilege, but I will always I know traveling is a privilege, but I will always tell you: Take the trip. It may not be easy or convenient, but it’s always worth it. And always take lots of snacks along for the ride! 

HOW & WHY TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS is #ontheblog today. The post includes some of our travel experiences, tips for including the kids, and a tip to make it more affordable. Plus there are links to posts about some of our recent trips. 

#linkinbio #bloggerlife #momlife #travelwithkids #adventurers #getoutside #travel #travellife #travelers #choosingJOY #favoritethings
I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by P I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by Prince Harry. But I also keep hearing different opinions about it. So here’s mine!

I am intrigued by the royal family and I liked watching “Suits,” just so you know my very loose interest. I had also watched the @netflix documentary Harry and Meghan released. 

Short answer: I really enjoyed listening to this book. 

An heir, then a spare. Deep grief as a child when his mom dies that he doesn’t really confront until he’s older. An institution that governs every decision in his life yet doesn’t protect him when he felt like he needed it. That’s some heartbreaking makings of a good story. And I appreciate Prince Harry telling it — even though I’m sure parts were incredibly difficult. I also appreciate why he and Meghan did what they did and are trying to establish new, different roots. 

Ultimately, this book is about death and life and all the moments in between. I’d recommend listening to it because his voice is a good one. 

One minor, silly complaint: There are 232 chapters, although they’re numbered starting with one in each of the three sections. That makes the audiobook not flow quite as well as it would otherwise because most of them are just a few minutes long. 

I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I’d love to hear what you think because, you know, everybody is reading it! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #readersofinstagram #audiobooks #audible #princeharry
We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @ We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @murraystateuniv Spirit Night at the @memgrizz game. We had some pre-game fun with friends, watched the Grizzlies come back from 19 down to win, and witnessed Ja Morant’s triple double.

#memphisgrizzlies #basketballseason #NBA #TeamTaylor #bettertogether #weekending #favoritethings #RacerNation #MurrayState #WeAreRacers
Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most ever Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most everything in life — is more fun with friends! What an awesome atmosphere at the CFSB Center today with a Murray State win, Ja Morant in the arena, and more memories.

#RacerNation #MurrayState #collegebasketball #basketballseason #bettertogether #WeAreRacers
I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let heaven and nature sing” twice this week. I may not be singing Christmas carols anymore, but I still felt the depths of winter this week. The sweatshirt seemed right. 

The sun didn’t shine much this week, although seeing on Friday as we wrap up the work and school week was welcomed. It’s mostly been cold and gray. It’s felt like winter. 

A lingering tension needs resolution and understanding, but honestly the gap between seems so vast. I crave slow time at home and meals around our table. I miss some friends and was reminded of the heartache that can come with community, but I also felt the deep appreciation of friendship and remembered the beauty of sharing this life with others. I was excited for an invitation and easily accepted it. I started a new habit (hopefully) walking with a friend. 

While driving through my days, I remember how uncertainty is what makes me look up. I remember my Creator when I am slapped in the face with the reality I’m not actually in control. I remember (again) to surrender. 

Goodness happens in the gray of winter. Life may look and feel different, but new life is always preparing to break through the cracks of the ground. The gloom that tempts us to look down doesn’t last long when we believe the sun will break through the icy trees and the fog will lift. 

This is hope. Even in winter. Thank God for it all. Let’s let heaven and nature sing. 

#countryliving #latergram #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #reallife #weekending
I heard mixed reactions about this book from two d I heard mixed reactions about this book from two different friends, but I enjoyed it! 

I liked the backward timeline, although I was uncertain about how it would work until the end. Some of the twists and connections were so good! 

I also liked the bigger ideas Gillian McAllister tackles: We miss things when we are living our life at our normal pace. What if we could go back? What would be notice that would change our reality? And, of course, perhaps, there would be unintended consequences. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It did get a little slow in the middle, but the end and beginning are quite good! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindleoasis #readersofinstagram
This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in the middle rebounding and playing hard and little sister photobombing the moment! 

Honestly, parenting has been hard lately. Nothing major. But so constant and always adjusting. 

Even so, I love watching them on the court and in life. There is so much excitement and goodness among the repetition and exhaustion. 

This is real life. And those are our 10-0 Lady Lions out there. 🦁💛

@ncca.lions #momlife #reallife #basketballseason #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #girlmom #firstborn #thirdchild
I finished studying Colossians today with my Prece I finished studying Colossians today with my Precept group. Paul wrote this letter to an established church that was still growing and learning and maturing in the faith — like us all.  I really loved this study because it spoke right into my life with encouragement for knowing Christ, walking in wisdom and truth, praying continually, letting peace rule, and giving grace. Plus Paul deeply loved his people. 

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6-7

Too often I step out of God’s presence for two minutes while are loading up the van in the morning or I’m rushing kids to bed. Too often I don’t surrender my fleshy desires and feelings to the One who holds this whole wide world in His hands. Too often I think my plans are worth holding onto tightly. Too often I think I can bring peace to my household, minivan, or dinner table. 

But real peace passes all my understanding. It rests in God’s wisdom and knowledge alone. How amazing we have access to that, thanks to Jesus. How easily I forget where I’m rooted. 

I want to let peace rule — in my home, in my head, and in my heart. 

Today while I was driving, I noticed how lovely the road, land, and sky looked. But today was really windy, like feel-it-move-my-vehicle and knock-over-trash-cans windy. It almost felt deceptive with the beauty before me, but, really, that’s like life. 

Sometimes it seems I have it together. People know my gifts of organizing information and people. I show up on time and am responsible. But so many thoughts and feelings are swirling in my mind. I replay conversations and fight against the same insecurities from the previous day. 

I feel both lovely and like my swirling mind could knock me over at any moment. And that’s why I needed God, particularly through His words through Paul to the Colossians. 

#livingfaithfully #faithlife #churchlife #reallife #countryliving
This girl has been complaining of a sore throat th This girl has been complaining of a sore throat the last couple of days, but she hasn’t had a fever or any other symptoms so I kept telling her she was fine. Truth be told, she a bit of a hypochondriac and generally happy, so it’s hard to tell if she sick sometimes. 

The folks at Aligned Health took care of her this afternoon and are treating her for strep or whatever bacteria is making her throat look and feel rough. 

I’m thankful for access to medical care and an unexpected night at home.

#momlife #thirdchild #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #sickday
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM