Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Six years here.

September 14, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

From the newsroom to the front porch.

Six years ago, I filed a story about a MSU Board of Regents meeting and then walked out of the Murray Ledger & Times newsroom for the last time. Months of thinking and praying and talking and dreaming and figuring were put into a decision that turned out to be one of the best of my life.

I always saw myself as a working mom. I liked seeing my byline and feeling the rush of adrenaline as election results were tallied or news stories broke before my eyes.

But I know myself, and I’m an all-or-nothing gal. Being a newspaper reporter and a momma was going to pull me in too many different directions. And I knew God was giving me a choice.

{I’d like to say here, everybody’s life is different. Responsibilities and circumstances vary. This was just my life in 2007 with a newborn adopted daughter in my arms and an entrepreneur husband who supported me then and continues to now in every way imaginable.}

I chose to give up a job I loved for a new season I knew nothing about.

And here I am. Six years later. So thankful I did the hard, right thing. I’m better for it. My girl is better for it. God surprised me with a couple friends who came directly because of my decision to quit working and several others who came into my life more indirectly. God surprised me with new dreams and desires. There’s still adrenaline and I still want to be all in.

Today isn’t the first time I’ve written about this decision to leave that newsroom. It was a big deal for me, people. So, here, take a look at some past posts …

What’s in a name? {Sept. 14, 2007} :: “I’m going to replace my pen and notebook with toys that rattle and squeak, bottles, naptime and smiles that melt my heart. She’s only 4 months old, but she’s changed me. I’m fully embracing my new identity as “Cate’s mom,” starting officially after I finish writing about the Board of Regents later today. There is much in a name. But there is more to be said about purpose.”

One year at home {Sept. 14, 2008} :: “So, here’s the truth, 365 days later: There has not been one day I wished I still worked at the Murray Ledger & Times. Seriously, not once have I wondered if I made the right decision.”

Becoming momma {Sept. 14, 2011} :: “Motherhood is hard. This is harder than any of the 88 city council meetings or two murder trials I covered. This is more challenging than asking U.S. senators and university presidents questions about controversies. But motherhood is rewarding. It’s more thrilling to listen to my son learn to tell stories in broken, incomplete stories than it was to write a breaking news story. It’s more precious to hear my daughter talk about Jesus than to hear about our public hospital’s budget. And my job here is far from over. My kids are little. They have a lot of growing up to do. And I’ll get to have a front row seat that doesn’t require any media credential.”

Five years down this road … {Sept. 14, 2012} :: “I came home feeling like a burden had been lifted because I wasn’t being stretched between what I assumed my life would be and what my life had become. … Quitting my job was certainly a new leg of the journey, and I couldn’t really see too far in front of me. But looking in my rear-view mirror, I’d go around that curve again, especially knowing my life is absolutely nothing like I planned and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And, you know, for being a stay-at-home mom, I don’t even stay home that much.”

________

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Eight Things I Learned in July

July 31, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Cousins walking through the Louisville Zoo on Sunday.

I’m sad July is over. It’s not my favorite month, but it means the end of summer is approaching. My kids go back to school two weeks from today. I’m feeling a mixture of denial and mourning. I’ve always considered summer my favorite, and this one seemed to go by especially quickly. Didn’t I just write Nine Things I Learned in June?!

Summer is like no other season. And it’s filled with so many of my favorite things. Days that don’t begin with an alarm. Swimming. The lake. Lunching at the park with friends. Grilled kabobs. Berries. Road trips. Did I mention swimming?

Now that I have a school-aged child who is getting ready to begin her second year of “real” school, summer has a different meaning. It’s like a break from the routine. And, y’all, I really took a break from all things school. I didn’t even participate in the summer reading program Cate’s school organizes. I seriously hope she’s not the only one who didn’t earn points. She read. Really. Every night out loud to herself. Greg and I read “Beezus and Ramona” with her. She’s read to Ben. She’s read to me. She’s read to Greg. She’s read in the car. And she’s stood over my shoulder and read whatever I was working on.

But I didn’t write down a single book from the suggested reading list. Y’all, I don’t even know what was on the suggested reading list.

So, with that. Eight things I learned in July, in no particular order …

1. It’s OK to say no and not participate in everything. Like your school’s summer reading program, apparently. Oh, and, the one at the local library too. We had a few camps/Bible school weeks we wanted to do. They made it on the calendar. No other regular commitments did.

2. Dinner doesn’t always have to be served at 5:30 p.m. One of my favorite summer afternoons/evenings went like this: Kids and I left the house to swim at the city pool at 3:30 p.m. I emailed my husband as I was walking out the door: We’re going to embrace summer and swim. I have no idea what we’re having for dinner. 

He responded: How about I come up there when I leave work? No hesitation from me: Yes! I’ll leave your clean swim trunks out. {Because, you see, I may have slacked meal planning and preparing and executing, but, hey, I did laundry so my husband’s swim trunks no longer had lake water on them. It’s the little things, people.}

So we swam. Until 6 p.m. For kids that go to bed around 7:30 p.m., that’s creeping into late-night dinner territory. But we came home, put on dry clothes, and loaded back up for Cracker Barrel because that’s like a home-cooked meal, right?! AND THEN I really kept on with the “Let’s embrace summer!” mentality and suggested Dairy Queen on the way home. We brought cones home and sat on the front porch eating them. {Well, OK, so mine wasn’t actually cone. Mini Reese’s Cup Blizzard for the win.}

AND THEN, more embracing summer. The kids rode bikes and scooters in the front yard and then I engaged my son in a game of chase in the front yard. It was past bedtime, which is admittedly looser in the summer, and everyone was so happy and content. I really had no idea what time it was.

3. I taught my husband Scrabble strategy too well. Really. I used to beat him. Years ago, I was on quite a streak when we sat down at the table and played the actual board game. Now, he wins. Of course, now we also sit next to each other on our iPhones, verbally nudging each other to take their next Words with Friends turn. Since the beginning of June, he’s on a 22-3 streak.

{Do you wonder how I know the win streak? Oh, at the beginning of June I started a list on the phone. So, yes, if you’ve played Words with Friends with me since June 1, I’ve got our games tallied too. Oh, and, hey, if you want to play, my user name is KHT. I’m never one to turn down a game.}

4. My favorite passage of scripture contains encouragement for one of my constant struggles. OK, so, maybe, I didn’t technically learn this this month, but it was brought to my attention in a new way, thanks to God-sized dreamer friend Mandy. I quote pieces of Philippians 4 regularly to friends having a hard day or myself throughout any given day. Yet, I realize I skip one crucial line about gentleness, which Mandy mentioned in our Voxer conversation.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {Phil. 4:4-7}

{More on this later. I typed a bunch, but it was weighing down this post.}

5. God knows I learn by repetition. “Pray about Everything” is one of the songs from the “Kingdom Rocks” VBS my kids went to this summer at a friend’s church. And we often have the CD playing in the minivan. This song taken from the New Living Translation of Phil. 4:6-7 is my favorite track. Of course, God.

{Hey, Mandy, the gentleness part there is a reminder to be considerate in all you do.}

6. Adding freelance writing work just as the busy lake house season was beginning may not have been the most logical strategy, but it worked for me. I’m a doer. In school, I wanted to write a paper, not prepare for a test. Anticipation for a presentation or an upcoming change was always harder on me than the actual event. I like to see results and progress. Had I spent too much time thinking about the timing of beginning freelance writing right as I would be managing two busy vacation rentals, I probably would have gotten overwhelmed and stressed before I even got started. But when it all sort of just happened, I was able to dive right in. Finding a balance between work and play was the hardest, but even that was alright, thanks to my kids making sure I figured out when we would swim.

7. The creators of The Bachelorette knew what they were doing by scheduling when most shows are taking a break. I tell myself I’m done, but I always get pulled back in. Really, though, is there a better show to have on while folding mounds of laundry? Not really. Yet if “Parenthood” or “The Good Wife” were on with new episodes this time of the year, I may have an easier time saying goodbye to “The Bachelorette.”

So, yes, I’m watching this season. I was a Zak fan. Now I’m a Chris fan. I wasn’t surprised Brooks broke her heard. {Am I the only one who saw that coming? Clearly Des didn’t!}

8. I can make low-sugar, delicious strawberry lemonade at home. Jaclyn shared this recipe with me and you’ll be thanking me that I’m sharing it with you.

2 cups Sprite Zero
1 package lemonade mix for a 16-ounce water bottle {I used Crystal Light}
8 frozen strawberries
2 packages of sweetener {I used Splenda. Packages are likes the ones at restaurants.}
6-10 ice cubes or 1 1/3 cup crushed ice
2/3 cup water

Put in blender and blend. I’ve been making two blenders full at a time because that fits in my plastic pitcher. And, trust me, you’ll want more. 

I could probably go on, but I think I’ll stop there. Goodbye, July. You were fun, but couldn’t you have stayed around longer? Friends, what have you learned this month?

________

I’m linking my list up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky. Come join us! And, yes, you may have noticed the permalink is “seven things …” I totally came back and added one. 

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{God-sized Dreams} A Reflection

May 28, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

It’s been a whirlwind first half of 2013 for me. Most of it has been ordinary days of striving for balance between mothering and writing, working and playing, going and staying. It’s been in this process, God has done big things in my heart. I can’t even seem it all, much less describe it all, but I know He’s continuing a work he began long ago.

Sometimes this balancing is exhausting. And when I get there, it’s usually because I’ve been holding on too tightly. Letting go really is good for my soul. And so is regrouping and stepping away from it all, which is what I did this weekend. I looked out at that lake. I enjoyed my parents and siblings and their families. I read a whole book. I stayed up too late and got up too early. But I didn’t work or write or really even plan.

And now this morning, my body is tired but my mind and heart are rested. I’m looking out again, this time at the past six months and how God has moved. It’s as vast at that lake.

Author Holley Gerth has led a group of us women these past six months as we pursue our God-sized dreams. I had no idea what would come out of this group, but it’s been nothing like I expected and more than I thought possible through online friendships. This is the last official link-up post, but I get the feeling it’s only the beginning to real-life dreaming.

As part of this God-sized Dream Team, I formulated a mission: I believe God has created and called me to communicate stories from my own life and others’ lives for families to know God as the author and creator of every detail through writing, promoting and serving.

And then I listed out three dreams and now I’m including updates:

  1. Pursue publishing a non-fiction motherhood book I’ve been writing. I’ve been working on the book sporadically. Some friends have read it. A stranger-now-friend read it. I’ve added to it and put it in the hands of a couple other friends I’m still hoping will read it. It’s certainly a work in progress, but it’s still there and will be for awhile because I’m convinced it’s a project that will be best spanned over time. It’s one of those then-and-now stories that deserves time.
  2. Continue praying God would lead us to a birthmom for our third adoption. We’re still praying and hoping and waiting. Our home study for an independent adoption has expired, but I have the paperwork to gather the information, again. 
  3. Build an on-the-side freelance business. This is the one that hasn’t progressed like I expected, but it’s certainly progressed. Along with managing our own vacation rental lake house for the second summer, I now also manage the details for another property owner’s house. It’s a niche I didn’t realize I’d like, but it’s a good work-from-home job for me. I’m also officially a freelance writer, having taken several writing assignments for a local parenting/family magazine. 
Photo taken by my brother-in-law Zac, who happened to have my camera and noticed the view.

These dreams aren’t the only ways God has moved. In thinking about publishing a book and building a freelance business, I’ve worked on improving and expanding this blog space. I’ve written posts that publish about six days a week. I’ve connected with readers. I’ve had guests write here and I’ve written other places. {You can read my posts at Circles of Faith, (in)courage, The Riches of His Love, and Gindi’s.} In dreaming and writing here, God has meshed the dreams I laid out at the beginning and created new desires in my heart.

But the asterisk, which, really, is the foundation and not a footnote is that being a wife and mom come first. These are the most important roles in my life, just after seeking God, of course. Everything else comes after. In these six months I’ve gradually transitioned to a work-from-home mom, but it’s the parenting questions and strategies that still weigh most heavily on my heart. My work-related appointments and commitments fit around my family on my calendar.

Yes, it’s a balancing act, but the view is nice here. Yes, the horizon is vast, but it’s a place I believe I’m meant to be.

________

Tuesdays are for God-sized Dreams here as I link up with Holley Gerth and many other dreamers. You’ll find encouragement and community at her blog. If this topic is new to you, Holley has wonderful resources available as you discover where God is leading you: “The Do What You Can Plan” is an ebook that is worth every bit of the $1.99. “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream” {$8.99 for Kindle; $11.71 for paperback} is packed full of encouragement.

I’m also linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today, where she throws a weekly Soli Deo Gloria party and offers much transparency and truth. 

Want more? Subscribe to get “Insights” in your inbox. Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Or follow me on and Instagram. 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 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’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.l I’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.lions, a small but growing classical, Christian school. I knew there were both advantages and sacrifices of keeping her in a small class for middle school and agonized over possibly moving her to a bigger school. I only considered moving her because I wasn’t sure what her classmates, some of who are freshman this year, were going to do for high school. But they stayed, and we stayed. Now she’s an eighth grader in a class of nine. 

A couple years ago, I prayed for more girls. God gave her class two. Sometimes people move on, and sometimes people move in. But this sweet class of eighth and ninth graders has been faithful — to each other, to our school, to an unknown future. They’re paving a way for the students behind them, including my other two kids. 

God has been kind to my momma heart and given me some assurances she is where she’s supposed to be. One of these provisions is a basketball team that has become competitive with the other teams we’ve gotten to play. It’s more than just some games, though. I’ve watched my 13-year-old daughter become more confident on the court and in life. I’m grateful for her friends and their shared love of this game. I’m thankful for where God has us. 

#momlife #classicaleducation #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #girlmom #momconfessions #bettertogether #middleschool #middleschoolbasketball
At a basketball game Thursday night, Ben told me h At a basketball game Thursday night, Ben told me he had a loose tooth and was going to go to the bathroom to maybe pull it. He pulled it. That’s #14, and he’s dealt with every single one, just as his older sister did with all 20 of hers.

Meanwhile, little sister has a loose tooth that she won’t wiggle, avoids using to eat, and won’t let her siblings pull. We’ve bribed, threatened, and failed to persuade.

#momlife #boymom #thirdchild #girlmom #reallife #momconfessions
I was overdue for some TLC to my hair, so I got it I was overdue for some TLC to my hair, so I got it trimmed and colored this week. You know it’s time when the stylist takes before and after pictures. My friend @whitneyrscott at @blushsalon always does a good job. 

In addition to the much-needed TLC, I also got bangs. After a few days, I can say I love them. The resident teenager at my home doesn’t like this — and she tells me daily. I tell her I don’t care whether she likes them because I do and it’s my hair. She also didn’t like the tennis shoes I bought a few weeks ago. Again, I do, so who cares. 

Anyway, it’s Friday! So let’s do some #fridayintroductions around here. Tell me three things you’re loving these days. I’ve already mostly told you mine: 

1️⃣ My bangs. I’ve included a picture of the fun waves that Whitney gave me at the salon and the more likely normal styling — by that I mean blow drying and some minor straightening to train the bangs. 
2️⃣ New tennis shoes, which are gray & purple Brooks Launch 7, if you’re curious. My nail color accidentally matches them. 
3️⃣ The teenager in my house. I’ve been giving her grief about her dislike of my fashion choices, but I really love being around her. Honestly, she’s the easiest kid in my house right now. 

✨ Bonus current love: Who can tell me what TV character inspired my hairdo? If you know, then that’s also the TV show I recently binged and am eagerly awaiting new episodes. 

So, what are you loving — even if nobody else in your life does? #momconfessions #reallife #reallifeconfessions #momlife #choosingJOY
It’s been a night of basketball! First, my girl’s middle school game. Now, our favorite college team. Turns out they’re both navy & gold so that’s good for wardrobe choices. 💛 #girlmom #momlife #RacerNation #WeAreRacers #MurrayState
“The Chicken Sisters” by @kjda was a fun, quic “The Chicken Sisters” by @kjda was a fun, quick read this weekend. I added it to my to-read list recently and then saw it as a @bookofthemonth add-on.

I enjoyed the feuding sisters story unfolding while filming a realty show about their family’s feuding chicken restaurants in a small Kansas town. Of course, not everything is quite as it seems, so the reality show helps uncover some reality both sisters were missing.

#amreading #bookstagram #booklover #recommendedreads #thechickensisters #weekending
We needed to get out of the house today — even t We needed to get out of the house today — even though the sun barely peeked through the clouds into the cold air. #countryliving #weekending #choosingJOY #boymom #thirdchild
A week into Peggy’s recovery at our house, and t A week into Peggy’s recovery at our house, and these two have spent a lot of time together. Rachel encourages her and stays close. Peggy plays games and watches movies with Rachel.

Honestly, this #thirdchild of mine was probably my biggest concern with having Peggy recover from open heart surgery here: I didn’t want Rachel to hug too hard. I didn’t know if she’d understand that her Gran-Gran looks fine on the inside but hurts on the inside. She’s been booted from her room, but she’s been sleeping well on her mattress in the back living room. She’s actually probably not going to know what to do when Peggy moves back home.

For now, we’ll let them make memories together. That’s part of caretaking I hadn’t considered. #bettertogether #weekending #choosingJOY
I’ve been in a reading slump. I returned one lib I’ve been in a reading slump. I returned one library book I couldn’t get into and then couldn’t decide what to read next. So I went with this library book — and I’m glad I did.

“The Unhoneymooners” by @christinalauren is a funny romance novel that helped distract my mind from heavy thoughts. It also made me want to go to Maui. The dialogue is delightful, the story of quirky from the get-go, and I definitely found myself rooting for Ethan and Olive.

I also discovered by reading the acknowledgements (possibly my favorite thing about books!) that @christinalauren is the pen name for a writing duo. What fun to write novels with a friend! 

As always, I’m happy to accept your recommendations on what to read next. I may also be pondering what friend with whom to write my next book. 📚 #amreading #fiction #authorlife #bookstagram #bettertogether #romcombooks
My friend Delana called before she brought us dinn My friend Delana called before she brought us dinner yesterday and asked if we liked chocolate pie. Um, yes. Turns out both Peggy and I love chocolate pie. Delana gave us chocolate chips cookies too, you know, just in case we didn’t like pie.

My friends are loving on us so well this week with dinner & dessert, obviously. Yes, the food is good, but the way they saw a need and met it is even more gracious. (I wrote a book about gathering & nourishing your people!) Having someone provide dinner has freed up some mental space I’m able to use for taking care of Peggy and parenting my kids, some of whom have needed a little extra love and guidance this week. 

Peggy is nine days removed from open heart surgery with quadruple bypass and is doing well. She had a good check up with her primary care provider this morning. We’re thankful for our community of people who continue to pray for us, feed us, and provide help, like today’s impromptu preschool pickup when an appointment ran long. (Thanks, @katie_cunningham85 & @tstanger25!)

#bettertogether #momlife #reallife #morethangroceries #choosingJOY
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