Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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7 Things I Learned in December

December 31, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I know December is really about all things Christmas, but I’m sharing some things {seven things, to be exact …} I learned this month THAT ARE NOT CHRISTMAS RELATED. Of course, if you want to read about our Christmas, I wrote about that.

Here. {A Jesus Birthday Party Tradition}

And here. {Christmas Around Here}

And here. {Merry & Bright}

So, closing out 2015, here are seven things I learned in December …

1. Rachel loves this Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat.

I don’t feel compelled to buy contraptions for my babies with the exception of the papasan swing all three have loved. But when I saw a picture of a friend’s baby in it, I knew she’s love it.

Of course, now with Christmas, she has some new contraptions I’m sure she’ll soon also love because already loves standing in our laps, trying to be bigger than she seems.

2. Goodbyes are hard regardless of your age.

One of my best friends and her family recently moved from Murray. They’re still in Kentucky – but they’re about four hours away and settling into a new normal that’s far away. This has been sad for Ben too because Sarah’s oldest child, Davey, is his age and they haven’t known their first six years without each other.

For years, we’ve lunched together nearly every Sunday after church. Sarah and I would get together during the week and text an ever-continuing conversation throughout the days. Thankfully, the texting remains!

And then THE SAME WEEKEND this month, our college friend who has been one of the few people outside our immediate circle to babysit our kids moved. I mean, congratulations, Amber, you graduated. But, um, we miss you already.

3. Cate and I have revived our back-and-forth journal writing and it’s good for my soul – both as a writer and a momma.

4. Tornado watches and thunderstorms are possible on Christmas Eve Eve. 

And then it kept raining FOR DAYS, literally. Now nearby Kentucky Lake is rising above normal summer pool IN THE WINTER. (There’s a whole long explanation about the dam and the river that I barely understand.)

5. Cate now wears adult women’s shoes. 

She’s 8 1/2 years old. Geez. How did THAT happen?! The day after purchasing some size 6 purple Nikes, she borrowed my socks.

6. “The West Wing” is good. 

I know, I’m a whole decade behind. But it’s our latest TV binge.

7. Speaking of television shows, Cate’s into “Full House,” which makes me happy and nostalgic.

Tell me about your December. How was your Christmas? Did you learn anything worth remembering?

_____________________

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

{2013} June. July. August. September. October. November. 
{2014} January. February. March. April. May. June. 
July. August. September. October. November. December. 
{2015} January. February. March. April. May. June. 
July. August. September. October. November.

Want more insights? “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, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

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Merry & Bright

December 23, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

This past weekend we’ve had Christmas with Greg’s two brothers and their families, watched the two oldest kids in a Christmas program at church, went to a potluck lunch with a couple of the Guatemala missionaries we served with this summer, and caroled at two local assisted living homes.

It was a fun, Christmasy weekend.

Rachel was wearing a cute “merry & bright” outfit at Gran-Gran’s house. I’m glad we snapped some family pictures before Greg’s brothers and their families arrived because Rachel promptly pooped on the white onesie.

The kids had fun with their cousins – including my three, there are 11 total. The oldest turns 12 in a couple weeks, and the others are 10, 8, 6, 6, 5, 4, 2, 17 months, 5 months, and 3 months. We managed a couple pictures of all the cousins, my favorite of which is above.

By the time Monday came, we were all glad to have a slow morning – well, you know, except Greg, who had to go on to work. The kids and I lounged around, ate a good breakfast, and caught up around the house on our first day of Christmas Break.

Kids aren’t the only ones who rejoice when Christmas Break comes around, y’all. This momma is welcoming the break in our routine.

But we did have to venture out on the rainy first day of break to the grocery. We needed bread, eggs, milk, cheese, and butter. For real, talk about being out of the basics. And we aren’t even expecting snow. (If you don’t live in the South, you may not know what I’m talking about.)

In fact, apparently it could be 70 degrees for Christmas. And rainy. Again, in the South you never know what you’ll get.

Anyway, back to the grocery store, one kid didn’t feel good, another was coughing, and the third was asking a million questions. But we made it – mostly smiling. I filled their bellies at Qdoba before we ventured into the grocery store, so maybe that move paid off. And then we got back to the van in the parking lot and I realized I left one door wide open – like I was inviting someone in, where I had $65 in cash sitting on the passenger front seat. Thankfully, nobody accepted my absent-minded invitation.

We have some plans with friends tonight and tomorrow night. We’re doing Christmas Day here – partially at our house and partially with extended family at Greg’s grandma’s house, which is conveniently next door to us. And then we’re headed to Louisville to hang out with my family.

Sometimes outfits get poop on them. Other times momma forgets to do the most ordinary tasks. Groceries still have to be bought and little bellies fed. Kids are loud, have lots of questions, and share germs.

But it’s still Christmas. So may your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white. (Or rainy. Whatever. Because merry & bright certainly doesn’t mean perfect.)

How are you celebrating Christmas?

_____________________

152 Insights to My Soul

It’s the #Christmas edition of #ThreeWordWednesday at @kristinhtaylor’s place. Come gather with us! http://bit.ly/1PjKppU {Tweet that.}

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Want more insights? “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, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

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Seven Things I Learned in March

March 31, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment


I love this time of the year! March was full of basketball and transition from winter to spring, mostly. Dirt has been tracked in the house because the kids have been spending more time outside. That also means more showers are required! The days are longer, which I love for the evenings. Although we’ve all struggled to get up in the dark mornings since the time change at the beginning of the month.

Without further ado, here are some snapshots of my month, at least the parts that didn’t involve watching basketball … 

1. NEEDTOBREATHE is releasing a live album from the show I was at in September 2014! It was such a fun night and I’m so excited to have it to listen to over and over again. You’ll want it too!

2. Third Day worship music is my favorite. I love the new stuff.

3. I’m not a fan of mopey, rebellious Rory Gilmore. Like the one at the beginning of season six. Thankfully, I’m past that now.

4. In the middle of wintry temps, just before a snow storm, a 65-degree day is possible. Like a reminder that spring is coming. We involved ice cream. In Murray, we have an old-fashioned, walk-up Dairy Queen that really does make ice cream taste better.

Then later in the month, I had the air conditioning on one day and the heat on the next. We’ve worn flip flops and down vests in one week. Ah, Kentucky weather … 

5. Pizza quesadillas are delicious. “Dashing Dish” inspired me. You’ll just need tortillas, pizza sauce, cheese, and any other toppings. So far we’ve used bacon and pepperoni, but the possibilities are endless.

6. We (almost) sold our lake house. I don’t like that circumstances beyond our control dictated that we needed to, but I’m glad we have the sale under contract and we can move on. Maybe to another place on the lake one day. I still manage another vacation rental property at Kentucky Lake that someone else owns.

7. Choosing joy is always good for my soul. Yeah, not new, I know. But here we are, three months into the new year, and God is still using my counting joys for the good.

167. Ben working on learning to ride his bike. 168. America Adopts Daniel party and celebrating with friends. 169. Jaclyn’s birthday lunch & trivia night in the same day – more celebrations! 170. Long lunch at Tumbleweed between church & business meeting while UK wins 34th game. … 173. Being able to help Sarah with kids while Susannah was born. … 175. Getting hair colored, highlighted, and cut. 176. Walking outside, finally. … 181. Purging/organizing kids’ clothes. 182. Cate and Ben playing with neighbor kids. 183. Ben meeting Murray State’s Cam Payne.

How was your March? Learn anything fun or interesting?
________________

I’m linking up with Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. Read previous Things I Learned posts: {From 2013} June. July. August. September. October. November. {From 2014} January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. {From 2015} January. February.

Want more insights? “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, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.

Amazon affiliate links included. 

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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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To live in communion with one another, means to sh To live in communion with one another, means to share meals, space, advice, and prayers. It also means sharing hope, disappointment, dreams, and forgiveness. 

We explore what this looks like in “Created for Communion,” along with other biblical foundations for friendships and community.

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So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictu So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictures of their daughters yesterday for the completely made-up National Daughters Day. Regardless, today I'm all in my feelings about my daughters. 

They're 16 and 8 right now. Both of their classes have been studying ancient Egypt and had a joint feast today. Sweet, huh? 

BUT THEN TIMEHOP GOT ME! Apparently, NINE years ago today, when Cate was a second-grader, her class had an Egyptian feast. I think about a particular picture of Cate and her friend Kilee from that day AND THEN IT CAME UP IN MY TIMEHOP TODAY. Facebook also told me that same day nine years ago, Monica and I became Facebook friends. We probably were at the Egyptian feast and decided we'd be friends because our girls were friends. Y'all, God has been so good to me through my friendship with Monica. Our families click in a special way with our three sets of same-aged kids, most of whom have been adopted. 

Anyway, my daughters. They're lovely, funny, and smart. I love that Cate helped Rachel with her Egyptian eye makeup this morning and made her a Nutella and banana sandwich. I love that they got to have a party today at school together. I love that even though they're eight years apart, they're sisters. 

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. 💛

#momlife #timehop #documentlife #bettertogether #sisters #siblinglove #nationaldaughtersday #daughters #reallife #schoollife #adoption #adoptionislove #PeaceInTheProcess #CreatedForCommunion #choosingJOY @ncca.lions
I’m pretty much always thinking about my next tr I’m pretty much always thinking about my next trip! Be it a weekend getaway or a family vacation, I’ve always got ideas of where I want to go next. The rest of my family always has suggestions too. Yes, take the (next) trip!

In the blog post HOW TO TAKE THE TRIP, I share lots of links and suggestions on where to go, who can help you, and what to take with you. 

✨ https://kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/how-to-take-the-trip.html

Where do you want to go? What do you always take with you?

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I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on Saturday afternoon — and a chance to finish this suspense book. 

“Between Two Strangers” by @katewhite_author had such an intriguing plot that pulled me right in. I was close to figuring out how it was all intertwined, but I didn’t quite get there through all the twists. Good, quick read!

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Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life, but it’s a good life. 💛

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When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you ge When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you get some free goodies! Plus, it's a fun way to chat about life, books, and faith. 

I just updated the free gifts to include a lovely PDF that has links to 27 (!!!) how-to posts about life, home, and parenthood. I'm going to give away more goodies when I meet some subscriber goals, so, if you haven't already, please join me on my virtual porch. 

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Well, don't they look lovely together! ✨ Find Well, don't they look lovely together! 

✨ Find them all here: https://amzn.to/3sRUHd7

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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

... You ask a million questions, know the words to thousands of songs, have so many ideas, and still try to sneak into my bed at night. You say I’m the best snuggler in this family. I’ll take it – and your hugs and love, although the middle of the night will never be my favorite time. 

Happy birthday to the girl who loves loudly! 

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In this book about biblical friendships, we’ll l In this book about biblical friendships, we’ll learn how God has created us for communion, allowing His people—then and now—to befriend one another in holy ways.

🌸 FREE RESOURCES & SAMPLE CHAPTER: 
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