Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Laundry talk

June 1, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Let’s talk laundry! And, yes, that’s a live look into my laundry room.

I’m thankful to have a laundry room separated from the rest of my house. I can even close the door when I want to ignore the chore! The room is mostly dedicated to actual laundry, although the same room also houses a utility sink, our extra fridge of mostly drinks, and shelves with cleaning supplies. It’s right by the door people use, so it’s a convenient, functional space that works for our life. 

Certain things make a laundry room most effective: storage spaces, the right appliances, and a safe space for manuals (so you know where to look when your washing machine won’t spin correctly!). 

Quality machines

I replaced my washer and dryer a few years ago, and I got a deep washer that allows me to do large loads of laundry. I got the matching dryer that also accommodates the large loads. The side-by-side option works great in my space, but considering stacking appliances is also a good way to go for a smaller space.  

Counter space

I had a counter installed in my laundry room a couple of years ago, and it truly makes folding laundry much better! On a good day, I can fold as the loads finish in the dryer. Or I can pile the load for when I have time to deal with it. This counter space keeps me from piling the clothes elsewhere in the house while they await my attention! I even use the counter/bench space to organize socks – especially when the loose socks bin is too full for my liking!

Great storage

My counter is the right height for my laundry baskets to fit underneath it. I also have shelves above my washer and dryer for the detergent, stain sprays, sock bins, beach towels when it’s not pool season, and other household supplies. 

Baskets

Each person has a laundry basket for dirty laundry in their bedroom and then brings their dirty clothes to a laundry basket in the laundry room. Plus there’s a basket in the laundry room for towels. I wash laundry by person, so the sorting is done on the front end. Then when the clothes are washed, dried, and folded, my kids can put theirs away! 

Hanging space

Near the counter is also a space for hang-up clothes. I find it I hang shirts, dresses, and Greg’s work pants as they come out of the dryer, everybody’s wardrobe looks better. I don’t like to iron, so this is an important step for me! 

What about your space helps you tackle this chore?

I won’t go as far as to say the laundry room is my favorite room in the house, but it’s definitely practical and I’m grateful for the space to serve my family this way. And if you’ve been here, you’ve probably grabbed a cold drink from the extra fridge. 

Now, it’s time to go move around some loads and tidy that counter space!

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How to organize your home

April 28, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I love order more than everyone else in my family, but life is busy and messy. Even so, I’m always trying to implement habits and routines that help bring the chaos of five people living together under one roof to some kind of structure. 

Create Positive Morning Routines

Oh, this may be the hardest habit to create here. A couple of the extreme extroverts love the mornings. They sing and play and pester those of us who aren’t as chipper in the morning. My work-before-play is also in full force each morning. 

Even so, creating a positive morning routine for the whole family is definitely a must when you want to enjoy your time together and set yourselves up for the day ahead. We cross paths in the kitchen as we’re eating breakfast and packing lunches or snacks for the day. One kid doesn’t come out of her room until she’s ready to leave. The youngest has to be kept on task the most. 

But one thing that has been good for all of us is reading a devotion together once we’re in the minivan together on the way to school. We worked our way through “Roar Like a Lion” by Levi Lusko recently and it helped us individually and collectively so much as it prompted conversations about home and school life. (Here’s a review I wrote about “Roar Like a Lion.”)

Put events on a calendar

Using a noticeboard in the family home is definitely something that you should think about doing if you want to make sure that your whole family stays on track. It takes a little bit of the chaos and confusion out of the equation if you know when upcoming events and appointments are. Right now, my kindergartner likes to mark off the days on the wall calendar we have hanging in our kitchen. It helps give her some perspective on days. 

A shared Google Calendar has greatly improved the communication between Greg and me. I can see his work calendar and add things he needs to know about to our family calendar. He can choose whether to see my own personal appointments and commitments. It’s definitely been a good way to keep us on the same scheduling page. 

Make meal plans

I like to meal plan, and I like to ask my husband and kids for their ideas while I’m making that plan. Sometimes they have really good food inspiration! Planning meals makes our afternoons flow a little easier. Often, I plan a few different meals with the freedom to swamp which day I use them. If I know I’m going to have to leave for an evening meeting or prep dinner quickly after soccer practice, I may plan a Crock Pot meal. 

Clean out regularly

Clutter stresses me out. Often I have a pile of items to donate going. I’ll toss in clothes the kids have outgrown or items we no longer need. You can sell Barbies and other old toys that are no longer used by your older kids as you get rid of clothes that are now too small.

Give belongings homes

“Each thing has a home” and “Like items go together” are things I’m often telling my kids. Books go with books. Clothes with clothes. Toiletries in the bathroom. Shoes in the closet. Jackets on the coat rack. For a long time, we stored wintry accessories in a catch-all storage closet, but then I realized making them more accessible in the drawers in our foyer meant people would be quicker to put away their hats and gloves. 

The world is messy, so having a structured home is efficient and brings peace. Routines help bring about that order in ways that work for your family.

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How to have family time on busy days

March 21, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

In this house, we have five people with five different schedules. Sometimes those schedules overlap and sometimes they don’t. We’ve got three extroverts, one lingering right between extrovert and introvert, and one introvert. So many preferences and personalities happen when five people live together. Add in appointments and activities, and finding family time can be difficult. Plus for the past five weeks, my mother-in-law has been staying with us while she works through some health troubles. 

We believe making time for each other, especially during busy times, is important. Here are four ways to bring your loved ones closer during hectic days. 

Have regular family dinners

This is one of our favorite ways to spend time together. I’d prefer every night to be a home-cooked meal that my oldest daughter or husband helps prepare. But that just isn’t our reality right now. Our dinner together might be chicken nuggets in the air fryer, a Red Baron pizza heated in the oven, or a drive-thru meal during soccer practice. We had an omelet bar last night for dinner, which meant everybody got what they wanted in their eggs and us parents got to cook together. Perhaps I’ll try this crispy baked pulled pork recipe soon. 

I’ve had to reshape my views of family dinner, but it remains one of my favorite ways to connect with my people. In fact, I wrote a whole book about how gathering and nourishing loved ones change lives. I’m thankful that happens here in our home – or on the go together – most every night. 

Play family games together

Games are a great way to have fun and bond with your loved ones. Truly, there are so many good games out there – card games, board games, and video games. We like to take turns picking which game we’ll play because everybody has different favorites. We don’t do many video games, but we do like the original Wii for Wii Sports and Wheel of Fortune! Game Nights foster opportunities for inside jokes, healthy competition, and connections that go beyond the score. (Here are some of our favorites!)

Stay involved in your kids’ activities

One way to spend time with your kids and show them that you care is by getting involved in their activities. Our kids’ soccer and basketball games are family events. It takes special circumstances for one of my kids to miss their siblings’ event. It’s just not an option because we value doing things together as a family. Of course, now that our kids are getting older, they have some of their own commitments that sometimes cause scheduling conflicts. 

Getting involved in your child’s hobbies and interests is a great way to connect with them and support them at the same time. The times are one way we spend family time together, but they also help foster community outside the home with other families who enjoy some of the same activities.  

Make time for yourself

Being able to work part-time from home allows me to have some time for myself to regroup and be ready for our busy evenings. I’m thankful for that kind of balance in my life. I know if I’m constantly running around trying to take care of everyone else, I will get burnt out eventually. I make sure to schedule regular preventative medical appointments, see a counselor when I need to process the chaos of life, and treat myself to massages. I also enjoy lunches and walks with friends. And y’all know I like to read. 

Yes, we live a busy life. Yes, I sometimes wish it would slow down. But I also want to make the most of the season we’re in – right here, right now with my people. 

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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 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.

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My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And ki My kids had a yearbook signing party today. And kids today don’t know how to sign yearbooks. Cate, my rising sophomore, says it’s because they have phones to take photos and text each other. She’s probably right. 

But the whole conversation and experience took me down memory lane. So much so, I got these yearbooks from my high school days off my bookshelf and read notes. Admittedly, I can’t remember a few people who proclaimed what a great friend I was and I never called some people who wanted to KIT — that’s Keep In Touch, kids — and left their phone numbers (and pager number in one instance!)! 🤣 

I also proceeded to text the three friends (well, really, five, because two girls married two guy friends of mine) with whom I do actually KIT. I have their numbers saved in my iPhone, thankfully. We have made grown-up memories together. We message and try to see each other. My husband knows their maiden names. 

Truly, how has it been 25 years since I graduated from Oldham County High School? I’m sitting on the porch now, rememebering how faithful God has been and thinking about how high school seems like a lifetime ago but also like yesterday. 💙

HAGS, everybody! 

#memorylane #highschool #livingfaithfully #yearbooks #choosingJOY #reallife
Cat nap! 💕 #catsofinstagram #thirdchild #napt Cat nap! 💕 

#catsofinstagram #thirdchild #naptimeshenanigans #PorchStories #reallife #88daysofsummer #summerisbest
A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domesti A weekend mostly at home meant I read this domestic thriller. I’ve always seen @diane.chamberlain.author’s books, but this was the first one I read. I’ve already downloaded others to my Kindle. 

Living with a secret is all Eve Elliot knows. Her life unravels when she confesses to what she knows and there are ripple effects for her husband and two daughters. I thought I had it all figured out and then there was another surprise right at the end! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #booklover #weekending
Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️ Little fish 🐠 big pool 💦 happy place ☀️

#poolpeople #thirdchild #88daysofsummer #choosingJOY #PorchStories #weekending #momlife
Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honest Well, COVID has changed our vacation plans. Honestly, it’s hard to believe two-plus years later, and COVID is still interrupting all kinds of things. I know it’s a privilege to travel, but there’s still disappointment. Regardless, we can’t board a cruise ship in Canada on Monday to go to Alaska when my boy tested positive for COVID last night. (Yes, twice. 🤦🏻‍♀️)

But the real point of this post: we are regrouping and going to Wisconsin Dells next week. I’m excited to see somewhere new, even if it’s not what I’d been planning. Let’s be honest, the logistics to get to the cruise were already a lot, so maybe this closer-to-home trip is meant to be right now. 

Anyway, who has been to Wisconsin Dells area? We found a condo and have a list of things going, but I’m accepting all entertainment and restaurant recommendations.

#wisconsindells #reallife #covid_19 #covid #momlife #88daysofsummer #summervacation
I don’t really want to get into an abortion deba I don’t really want to get into an abortion debate here, but I will always champion the unborn, advocate for life, and support mothers and families. When I say “choose life,” I mean in and out of the womb. Choosing life begins with not having an abortion, but it continues to advocating for adoption, foster care, support for moms in lots of different situations. 

Western Kentucky is blessed with resources that do this, including @lifehousemurray in Murray and @_hopecenter in Mayfield. Those are great places to send your money and diapers, recommend to moms expecting or raising little ones, and keep in your prayers. 

If you know someone fostering, we have Partners In Care Foster Closet that offers clothes and supplies to western Kentucky foster families. No strings attached. 

I will forever be an open book about adoption, so I’ll be happy to talk about that with anyone who desires to know more. I even wrote a book about our adoption stories: bit.ly/PeaceInTheProcess #linkinbio 

My three kids have life because three women chose it for them. Those decisions changed my life for the better, and that’s only one piece of a much bigger story. 

#prolife #chooselife #adoptionislove #momlife #authorlife #livingfaithfully #PeaceInTheProcess #reallife #unplannedpregnancy #adoption #family #sisters #siblinglove #currentevents #roevwade #lifematters
Here we are halfway through the year, and so far I Here we are halfway through the year, and so far I've read 40 books. That pace is well beyond my usual number for the year. Last year I read 62 total. I don't join challenges, plan what I'm going to read next, or even have a goal. But I still love keeping track. 

Some things to know about my reading habits: I like actual books, but I've been reading often on my waterproof Kindle Paperwhite. I introduced audiobooks into my life this year and especially enjoyed some memoirs while I was driving around while the kids were in school. I will quit books if I can't get into them, and I've done that a few times this year. I almost always have a book (or books, hello, Kindle) with me, you know, just in case I happen upon some time to read. Here are some other tips for making time for books and reading more.

Today #ontheblog I'm sharing the list of the 40 books I've read so far this year. #linkinbio What else do I need to read this year?

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #librarybooks #bloggerlife #amreading #favoritethings #choosingJOY
The third installment in Abby Jimenez’s The Frie The third installment in Abby Jimenez’s The Friend Zone series may have been my favorite in this enjoyable rom-com series that also takes on some serious topics. (See two previous #KHTreads posts for the other two!)

I was reading it on my Kindle, but then I was early to pick up one of my kids … and realized I forgot my Kindle. I swung by the library and read a few chapters in print while I waited. I couldn’t waste reading time! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #kindlebooks #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #momlife #romcombooks
We’ve taken Cate on two mission trips to Guatema We’ve taken Cate on two mission trips to Guatemala with our family, but sending her with our @hardinbaptistchurch family still felt like a big deal. I’m so thankful for the influence @cbright2, @j.essicalouis, @maggiehelms, and others get to have on my girl during these important high school years.

Cate and her friends got to help host a block party, serve at a local church, work in community gardens and at a foster home, and see some Chicago sites. Through it all, I’m thankful she could draw nearer to Jesus and experience ministry in a new way. 

#livingfaithfully #momlife #firstborn #churchlife #88daysofsummer #missiontrip
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