• Boom! Pow! Braver now!

    ByKristin books, Rachel, review

    My kids and husband love outdoor videos. Bonus points when the videos are family-friendly and entertaining, like Kentucky Ballistics. Yes, these videos involve shooting guns, sometimes at watermelons. 

    But out of those videos have come some valuable life lessons, including one of his own author Scott DeShields, aka Kentucky Ballistics, used as the basis of his fabulous children’s book. Boom! Pow! I’m Braver Now! follows Jax Desparks as his great invention explodes in a big BOOM! He faces his fear head-on and learns that true bravery means being scared but trying anyway.

    Boom! Pow! I’m Braver Now is designed to meet children exactly where they are. For the younger crowd, the vibrant rhythm and relatable characters make it one of the most accessible books to start navigating big emotions. Meanwhile, the empowering message of resilience and courage ensures it holds a top spot among books for older boys who are ready to tackle new challenges with confidence. No matter where they fall in the elementary age range, this story provides the spark they need to feel brave.

    I’ll say, my 10-year-old girl who reads slightly below fifth-grade level really loves this book and reads it often. She’s a big fan of Kentucky Ballistics and enjoys the science elements of the book. Facing scary circumstances head-on is a good lesson for her as she looks toward her last year of elementary school. She was also able to notice fun details in the illustrations. 

    About the book

    In a family of brilliant inventors, Jax DeSparks is determined to prove he belongs. He’s spent all summer perfecting his rocket-powered invention, until one spectacular BOOM! POW! sends it (and his confidence) up in smoke.

    Shaken and scared to try again, Jax begins to doubt whether he has what it takes to join his family on the Wall of Wonder. But with the help of his loyal stuffed dino, Rex, and his encouraging parents, Jax discovers that failure isn’t the end, it’s just part of the process.

    As the Invention Fair approaches, Jax must face his fear head-on and learn that true bravery means being scared … but trying anyway. 

    You can order it from Brave Books or Amazon. Boom! Pow! I’m Braver Now was published by Brave Books in April 2026. 

    About the author

    Scott DeShields Jr. is committed to responsibility, perseverance, and strong Christian values. His work focuses on encouraging curiosity, confidence, and resilience when facing challenges. He is also widely known for the Kentucky Ballistics YouTube channel, which has more than five million subscribers and emphasizes precision, safety, and accountability. Boom! Pow! I’m Braver Now! is inspired by Scott’s own real-life experience of overcoming a serious setback that challenged his confidence and required perseverance, faith, and courage to move forward. Based in Kentucky and guided by faith and strong values, Scott hopes this story encourages young readers to face fear with confidence, learn from mistakes, and bravely try again when things don’t go as planned.

    *****

    This book review is just me sharing a resource my family has enjoyed. Nobody is compensating me, and I bought the book and accompanying stuffed dinosaur with my own money.

  • Gateway to Girl Time

    ByKristin Rachel, road trips, spring

    My husband and teenage son planned a golfing trip for the last part of Spring Break, so a girls’ weekend with my 10-year-old daughter seemed like a good plan. I ended up taking her to St. Louis because we’ve been there several times when our oldest two were around her age, and I knew there were things she’d enjoy. Circling back around to been-there-done-that activities are part of parenting an age gap like our kids’.

    Day 1

    Hello, girls’ weekend with my youngest while the boys are golfing in Arkansas and the college girl is working on her assignments and already had Spring Break. I’m not used to this splitting up the family for vacation, but it is what worked this time. 

    We drove to St. Louis in the morning and met up with our friends who were also in town at the zoo. Such a beautiful, fun day! The St. Louis Zoo is free, but, of course, there are plenty of opportunities to pay for extras, like the carousel, stingray exhibit, train, and face painting. Let’s just say, my girl talked me into three of those four examples. 

    After some downtime at the hotel, Rachel and I walked next door to Mac’s Local Eats, where I may have had the best burger of my life. Gooey Garlic. Yum. The fries were good too. And we shared a lemon blackberry milkshake that was amazing! 

    We ended the evening with a trip to Trader Joe’s and Target that shared a parking lot not too far away. We got a few treats for this weekend and home! 

    Hotel booking tips

    I like to earn cash back when I travel, so I either book on Expedia (where I earn points and get cash back with Rakuten) or through my Capital One Venture card. Regardless, I pay with my Capital One Venture card because I love the rewards that let me erase travel purchases. This time, we stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Forest Park. It was an idea location for our itinerary, and I felt safe there traveling alone with my daughter. 

    Day 2

    We slept in before heading down the street to the science center. We spent a few hours there exploring all the exhibits and watching a Serengeti OmniIMAX movie. Rachel’s favorite sections in the science center were about outer space and gaming. 

    We lunched at Fitz’s, where we shared fish and chips and a dirty soda called “At the Beach,” which was pineapple soda, coconut cream, and mango syrup. We also bought some fruity sodas and took a picture of the dirty soda menu so we can create the deliciousness. 

    We spent the afternoon and evening with our friends, who stayed just west of us in Chesterfield. The kids swam, and then we all went to Top Golf for entertainment and dinner. 

    Day 3

    We slept in again, and then headed downtown. 

    Our first stop was Soulard Market, where we bought some baked goods, an aloe plant, popcorn, and a few other random things. Rachel didn’t want to go, and then didn’t want to leave. That’s been a recurring lesson this weekend: Mom’s ideas aren’t so bad! 

    Then we headed to the Gateway Arch National Park, where we attempted selfies and marveled at the size. We explored the museum and got some snacks for lunch, including toasted ravioli. 

    We came back to the hotel for some rest and swim time. I’m really into the book I treated myself to the other night when we were at Target: “The Night We Met” by Abby Jimenez. Dinner was back at Mac’s Local Eats next door, and we ordered the exact same deliciousness as the first night. 

    Our night ended with a Third Day reunion concert. Zach Williams opened, and the whole night was really wonderful. You know how after you make a reservation or talk about a trip, Facebook starts showing ads about that place? Well, for once, I’m thankful for that because not long after I booked our hotel for St. Louis, I saw an ad that Third Day was bringing its reunion tour to Chaifetz Arena on St. Louis University’s campus. I bumped our reservations a day, so Rachel and I could go. 

    And I’m so glad we did! Third Day was a soundtrack to the early days of me following Christ. The songs propelled me to know God and His word better as a new believer. 

    Last night I realized I became a Christian the same year (1996) they started Third Day. So at the band’s tour celebrating 30 years of music, I reflected on 30 years of faith. I’ve come so far, by God’s grace alone. I’ve learned so much but ultimately know Emmanuel, God is truly with us.  

    So many words came back to the forefront of my mind as I sang along. And so many memories reminded me that this life of faith is truly a journey. Praising the Guide for all the days, and this trip! The one-on-one time both Greg and I had with two kids this week was a gift I didn’t know we all needed.

    *****

    I love to share about our travels, so be sure to check out this list of some of my favorite travel accessories. And check out all my pictures from this trip on Facebook.

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • The beauty of open adoption

    ByKristin adoption, Ben, Cate, family, Rachel

    Throughout the years, we’ve always talked about their infant adoptions with our kids. Even so, I think their stories come with a fair amount of fantasizing about what their biological families look like, physically and in every other way. Generally, open adoption seems messy, but I’ve also been blessed to see the beauty.

    Cate met her birth mom when she was 6. Circumstances with the mutual loved ones who were our initial connection put us all in the same place, so it was a natural progression. It was wonderful for Cate to put a face with a name. Over the next few years, she saw her birthmom a few more times and could reach out to her today, if need be. Her biological maternal grandparents send birthday cards and gifts each year. 

    Ben, 15, hasn’t met his birth mom, but, throughout the years, he has met some biological people: a half-brother, a half-sister, and a maternal grandpa. I think even just knowing they exist and how they fit into his story has been beneficial for him as he processes his story of becoming a Taylor. 

    Rachel, who is 10, asked ot meet her birth mom for years because I felt like the time was right. I reached out to her birth mom as Rachel’s 10th birthday approached and asked what she thought about us taking her to dinner. She was all for it. We found a good time in September and met at Rachel’s favorite restaurant. Her sweet birth mom brought her a birthday present, and the two of them asked and answered lots of get-to-know-you questions about favorites, movies, shows, family, and experiences. It was a sweet time that I felt privileged to witness.

    November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I recognized adoption is complicated and beautiful. The goodness that comes from building families this way starts with grief every single time. I’m thankful for my kids’ stories, the faithfulness of their biological families in loving them from afar, and the opportunities we’ve had to build relationships through open adoptions. 

    I also realize every adoption story is different. I can quickly draw some parallels in my kids’ individual stories, but there are plenty of differences too. Adoption is relational in every sense, and that means each birth mom is her own person. Likewise, each child processes adoption differently as they grow up. 

    My kids, who were raised in the same house over the past 18 years, each have been affected differently by adoption. The circumstances that brought them to us were also unique. Their brain development in the womb, God-given personalities, and childhood experiences give them a perspective that is unlike anyone else’s – and that’s both beautiful and challenging. I don’t know parenting apart from these three kids who came to us through the gift from other women. 

    Adoption Resources

    Other resources, including lists of books, grants, and past blog posts, are available on my website. I also previously wrote about my firstborn daughter meeting her birth mom in 2013.

    *****

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.