Skip to content
Kristin Hill Taylor: Seeking God as the Author of Every Story
  • home
  • about
  • booksExpand
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
    • Created for Communion
  • resources
  • contact

  • Escape to Chattanooga

    ByKristin September 17, 2024September 17, 2024 marriage, road trips, writing
    2 Comments

    “So that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:7

    I’m grateful for the encouragement & inspiration I brought home with me after two days at the Refined Conference so beautifully hosted by Mandy Roberson and her fabulous Market Refined Media & Publishing team.

    I hugged people who walked alongside me in the self-publishing process but had only been names on the screen, reconnected with an old friend, signed books and shared conversations with new friends, and heard compelling stories from creatives I now follow on Instagram. It’s not lost on me we opened and closed the conference with worship & prayer. That’s where all our work, skills, and stories belong — surrendered to Jesus.

    While I was at the Refined Conference on Friday and Saturday, Greg played golf at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay and Moccasin Bend. I had lunch both days from Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagy and became a little obsessed with the Spicy Mami sandwich. 

    Then I sat down the laptop down for a couple more days and finished my much-needed getaway with my husband in Chattanooga.

    We had dinner at 1885 Grill on Friday. My Shrimp and Crawfish Étouffée was delicious — and we put away many hush puppies with honey butter. Then we went to see Ruby Falls, which was fun! 

    After the conference on Saturday, we had dinner at Scottie’s on the River, which had good food and a good view. Then we decided to go to a minor league baseball game because it was a nice night. The Looksouts versus Trash Pandas was entertaining and we walked up and bought tickets in the third row near home plate. 

    On Sunday, we went to the Chattanooga Market had lunch at Naked River Brewing Co. My brisket tacos were good but the service wasn’t great. We rode the incline railway up Lookout Mountain and hiked to Glen Falls, which we knew was dried up from the drought. 

    We met my cousin/friend Mary and her husband, Kyle, at Tony’s Pasta Shop. I like pasta fine, but this may have been the best pasta I’ve ever had. I had beef ravioli with broccoli, Italian sausage, and spicy Alfredo sauce. Then Greg and I did a quick Trader Joe’s trip to get some fun groceries to bring home. 

    Before we left town this morning, we had a late breakfast at Big Bad Breakfast. I wanted everything on the menu, but my French toast was delicious. Greg’s biscuit crumble was yummy too. 

    I’m thankful for a chance to getaway from normal life, think about what God is calling me to write next, sleep in, eat good food I didn’t have to plan, do fun things with Greg, and just have some time together about a month after celebrating our 22nd anniversary. 

    *****

    Traveling is one of my favorite things to share about, and here are some of my favorite (travel) things and tips on how to take the trip (any trip).

    And here are some family-favorite trips:

    • South Florida
    • St. Pete Beach, Florida
    • Hoover Dam / Grand Canyon / Sedona
    • Tetons / Yellowstone / Glacier
    • Wisconsin Dells
    • Colorado
    • European Reformation Tour
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • More
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print

  • On organizing the dreams God gives

    ByKristin March 17, 2016 God-sized dreams, life, motherhood, writing

    I’m a Type A person who finds great pleasure in getting things done. I like a clean house. I like to start and finish projects. I like to mark items off a to-do list and make plans because, really, if it’s on my calendar it’s going to get accomplished.

    I used to think I wasn’t a dreamer, considering myself too practical for that. Then God used Holley Gerth and many of the ladies who write for this website to show me He’s the Dream Giver. He’s given me gifts and personality traits to use for his glory – and when all that merges it truly is a dream come true.

    God-sized dreaming is about far more than the end result, though. {Tweet that.} It’s really about the process of making choices about how we will spend our time, surrendering the details and timeline to God, and connecting with people. Too often I’ve tried to do it my way, but God is working on me.

    My dreams are about mothering and writing. I share our family’s adoption story because it’s my faith journey. I share about our everyday life so other moms know they aren’t alone. I believe stories have power – so I tell them and write them.

    But real life doesn’t always allow me to write whenever I’m inspired. Sometimes I have to email myself an idea so I don’t forget it while I’m feeding the baby or doing laundry or grocery shopping. Other days the baby takes a longer-than-expected nap so I get extra time to work on whatever project is in front of me. God surprised me with a lake house management job a few years ago that I love because it combines my love for details, planning and hospitality.

    Regardless of what the day looks like, I’m thankful for my iPhone that allows me to carry much information and many ideas while connecting to people anywhere.

    {Read more at God-sized Dreams, where I’m sharing specific ways I organize information and connect with people.}

    _____________________

    Subscribe to get new posts in your inbox and a monthly newsletter with content not available on the blog. When you subscribe, I’ll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable. 

     “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, or follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’.

    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • More
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print

  • On sharing stories

    ByKristin March 11, 2016 Five Minute Friday, writing

    I’m joining Kate Motaung and many other writers for Five Minute Friday. Each week, there’s a prompt and then we write for five minutes. Like a flash mob of writers. 

    This week’s prompt: SHARE. 

    Ready, set, go … 


    Later today I’m going to share with some homeschool students what it’s like to be a writer. My friend who organized the career fair invited me as an author/writer.

    As I was jotting down notes yesterday about what I would share, I remembered how being a writer is a broad term. I’m going to share all the many ways one could be a writer – non-fiction author, fiction author, blogger, newspaper reporter, poet, screenwriter, songwriter, technical writer, speech writer.

    And I’m going to share why when I was editor of my high school newspaper, I decided I really did want to be a writer. I spent four years in college working toward my print journalism degree. I had jobs where I was paid to write.

    It all comes down to this: I believe in sharing stories. {Tweet that.}

    Maybe that’s simplifying it all. Being a writer runs deep because it’s part of who God created me to be. Being a writer looks different with each season. But being a writer is a calling.

    So that’s what I’m going to share with these students who are learning about subject-verb agreement and how to write persuasive essays. I’m going to share with them that words matter because stories are the essence of life.

    And stop.

    _____________________

    Five Minute Friday is open to anyone. Come join us at Kate Motaung’s place. 

    Subscribe to get new posts and/or a monthly newsletter with content not available on the blog in your inbox. When you subscribe, I’ll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable. 

    “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, or follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’.

    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • More
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print

Page navigation

1 2 3 … 17 Next PageNext

Let's Connect

About Me

Kristin Hill Taylor Headshot

Telling stories is my therapy, and I love sharing them with friends on my porch. God authors the stories on our porches and wherever we go.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our college girl, our high school boy, and our fourth-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Join me for #PorchStories

First Name
Last Name
Email Address

Recent Posts

  • A great Bible for teens
  • Made New
  • Happy birthday, Rachel!
  • A Gorge-ous Weekend
  • How to make the most of family walks

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

kristinhtaylor

Seeking God as the author of every story — on our porches, in our journeys, and wherever we are! 💛
The first part of Fall Break with the #thirdchild The first part of Fall Break with the #thirdchild (mostly) like an only child has been fun. Tonight we watched “Forgotten Island,” which is entertaining yet odd and leaves with a good message about holding onto the memories that make you. Here’s to slowing down and making memories. Hooray for Fall Break! 🍂☀️
I love a faith resource created with teens in mind I love a faith resource created with teens in mind. None of us are finished learning and growing, teens included! The new CSB Teen Study Bible is a great resource for any of them. I’m truly grateful to have solid resources around to help with parenting. Each season brings its own challenges, and this Bible can help answer many of the teenagers’ questions about identity, discernment, wisdom, and purpose rooted in Christ. 📚 REVIEW: kristinhilltaylor.com/2026/10/teenbible.html 📚 OTHER RESOURCES: bit.ly/KHTbibleresources #TeenStudyBibleMIN #biblereview
Remember when I wasn’t a pet person? One dog and t Remember when I wasn’t a pet person? One dog and three cats not pictured. #PorchStories #countryliving
“You do not have to be grateful for the Bad Thing, “You do not have to be grateful for the Bad Thing, but can you see the ways it has been redeemed and resurrected into the Very Good Things? All those lost pieces of your life reshape and grow you, a mysterious exchange of grief for glory.” ✨ @laurawifler in This Side of the Sky Hello, October. Sometime about now seems like a fresh start, a beginning of a new season. And I feel ready to notice God’s glory. 💛
Productivity can become an idol for me really quic Productivity can become an idol for me really quickly. I’m a doer, so sometimes I get so absorbed in my to-do list that I lose sight of what really matters. But we were created in the image of the Creator to be human beings. Not human doings. I have to remind myself of that regularly. By the end of yesterday, I felt unaccomplished and frustrated. Yet I had spent most of the day working on my computer, switching loads of laundry, and checking things off my to-do list. Somehow, despite all that doing, I still felt like I hadn’t done enough. I ended the night reading from “This Side of the Sky: 101 Poems and Scriptures for the Hungry, Hopeful, and Homesick” by @laurawifler. Yes, I’m reading a poetry book. But, y’all, it’s so relatable, encouraging, and rooted in Scripture. It was exactly what I needed. “We are all trying to be better at living. We are all asking God to make it easier, make it better, make it all work out. Medicine and therapy and counselors and hotlines and online comfort creators—“God, just use one of them, any of them.” Maybe He will. But maybe what He will use is each other. Maybe what we need is, How are you? / How did it go? / And then what happened? / Tell me more. / I’m sorry. / I love you.” — From the poem “These Days” As tempted as I was to dive right back into my list first thing this morning, I didn’t. Instead, I hung out with my husband, walked with a friend, ran some errands on this beautiful day, and had lunch with my husband. AND THEN I opened my MacBook. Turns out, the reset I needed this Tuesday wasn’t getting more done. Rather, I slowed my mind and noticed God’s goodness and faithfulness all around. #PorchStories
When @catetaylor07 and @jsiress05 went from kinder When @catetaylor07 and @jsiress05 went from kindergarten through 12th grade together in the same small class at @ncca.lions, I had no idea all the things God would do. But he’s faithful and knew the story he was writing then & now. Celebrating these two was so easy & fun last night. We are grateful to grow our family in this way! 💛
When I first meet someone, I am usually pretty qui When I first meet someone, I am usually pretty quick to ask what she does. Not because I think work defines us, but because it’s an easy in to what someone likes to do and how she spends her time. My answer is always a little complicated, but at the heart of any answer is this: I believe in stories. And I am a writer. Long before one video of my daughter’s baptism somehow found its way onto more than two million screens, I was writing stories about faith in ordinary life. I’ve written three books. They’re about adoption, hospitality, and friendship — different books that all come back to seeking God as the author of our stories in every season. God is faithfully present, always — in the waiting, among the changes, in parenting challenges and celebrations, wherever we didn’t expect to be, and on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. And yes, sometimes in a baptism pool with your daughter. I write because sharing our stories helps us notice what God has been doing all along. These are the three books I’ve had the privilege of putting into the world. And to answer another popular get-to-know-you question: Yes, I’m working on another one. This next one is about valleys, the places where so much of real life is actually lived. Mountaintop moments, like a baptism, are beautiful, but God is with us through the valleys too. Regardless of your story, I’m glad you’re here. Faith, places, and stories — that’s pretty much what you’ll find here. 💛 And I’m curious: What kind of stories do you love?
Well, hello to new people & old friends! 👋 I cert Well, hello to new people & old friends! 👋 I certainly didn’t expect a video of our daughter’s baptism to reach as far as it has, but what a sweet reason for so many new faces to find their way here. I’m so glad you’re here. An introduction seems appropriate. I’m Kristin. I’m wife to Greg, mom to three kids, writer and author, school athletics director, rental property host, traveler, photographer of at least 46,000 family moments 😉, and someone who tends to have several projects going at once. In my spare time, I like working puzzles, reading books, tending to my indoor plants, and being with my favorite people on my porch. Mostly, though, I’m a collector of stories — the ones God is writing in our families, our faith, the places we go, and the ordinary days that make up our lives. I’ve written three books and have another one in the works. I write about faith and real life, especially the ways God meets us in unexpected places and seasons. The girl so many of you watched get baptized is our youngest, and she turned 11 this past weekend. We also have a college girl who is a sophomore at Murray State and a high school junior. Thanks to adoption, we brought each of them home as newborns. If that video is what brought you here, welcome. I hope you’ll stick around. This little corner of the internet has always been about noticing God’s goodness in the middle of real life — not because every season is easy, but because He is faithful in every season. 💛 Your turn! Tell me something about you! Where are you from, and how did you end up here?
Afterward, she was giving us hugs and getting read Afterward, she was giving us hugs and getting ready to change into dry clothes, and I said, “Do you feel refreshed?” Immediately, she responded, “I feel made new.” Indeed! This isn’t just refreshment for the moment but life-giving nourishment for the rest of our days. 💛
Being able to say Rachel has heard the gospel her Being able to say Rachel has heard the gospel her whole life is a blessing, but that doesn’t change her personal need for a lord and savior. Jesus is the only way — to heaven, through hard days & seasons, and to peace that passes all our understanding. She may be young, but during a hard season in our home she ran toward Jesus instead of away from Him. Through many conversations with Greg and me, her teachers at school and church, and other trusted adults, Rachel realized she doesn’t want to be apart from God. One night in July when she should have been sleeping, right after our Alaska trip and before VBS and Crossings, she put her put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him. She’s still asking questions, starting conversations, and digging deep, but she believes & trusts in Him who made her and wants to become more like Christ. She took a huge step forward this morning when she made this faith public through believer’s baptism. I could list so many people who helped us raise this girl in the ways of the Lord, but I’ll just leave it with we are so grateful to be surrounded by such an awesome community, especially at @hardinbaptistchurch and @ncca.lions. Walking up to the baptistery, through the high school room, to her Sunday school class, and then back into service was so fun because so many people wanted to celebrate her — who she is in Christ and what He’s doing in her life. These our snapshots of some of our people. Together is truly the only way we know to know God and make Him known. 💛
BLAST OFF to age 11! 🚀✨ We had a great time celeb BLAST OFF to age 11! 🚀✨ We had a great time celebrating Rachel’s birthday with 10 of her friends. They jumped at Vertical Jump and then we ate at Mellow Mushroom. Of course, @morganscakesandcookies came through with delicious & cute cookies once again! 🪐✨ #birthdaygirl #thirdchild
This girl has grown up this year. I realize that This girl has grown up this year. I realize that’s cliché and literally what happens from birthday to birthday, but I can see it. You know, sometimes you’re so close to a situation to see the changes? Yeah, I’ve seen this girl grow in height, maturity, and faith — and she’s as physically close to me as anyone ever wants to be. She’d sleep in my bed with her lanky limbs wrapped around me, if I’d let her. I don’t let her, just for the record. Rachel is 11 today! 🎉 kristinhilltaylor.com/2026/09/rachel11.html 📷 Shawna Munger/Bailey & B Photography
“It’s been a really full week,” I said tonight whi “It’s been a really full week,” I said tonight while sitting at the fourth middle school volleyball game in two days. I also was thinking about all these other things I’d been working on as a mom, athletic director, and property manager. Friends, today is Tuesday. We aren’t even to the midpoint of the week. The calendar is calling me tomorrow and Thursday and Friday. Then we have a big weekend. Yes, it’s been a full part of a week. Yes, it’s a full life. But I’m so grateful for all the blessing that fill it — today and all the other days. 💛
I like being a volleyball mom. 🏐🦁 @ncca.lions #vo I like being a volleyball mom. 🏐🦁 @ncca.lions #volleyball
Full, fun weekend. 💛 Full, fun weekend. 💛
Thankful for my boy and this sweet opportunity wit Thankful for my boy and this sweet opportunity with church friends. Having a photographer daughter is a perk too! 💙 📷 @backroads.and.blooms
These dog days of summer were best spent at Kentuc These dog days of summer were best spent at Kentucky Lake with extended family. This tradition is full of laughter, reconnections, good food, and lots of games! 💦☀️🌳💛
Puzzle time! 🧩✨ @completingthepuzzleofficial is a Puzzle time! 🧩✨ @completingthepuzzleofficial is a great way to get some fun mail, have a screen-free hobby, and borrow various puzzles. SAVE when you use my link & KRISTINHTAYLOR in checkout. Let me know if you want me to send you the direct link! Happy puzzling, friends! 🧩✨ #bloggerlife #puzzles #hobbies
“All ground is holy ground, every day is precious. “All ground is holy ground, every day is precious. Even to our old age and to gray hairs he will carry us. The light of the Spirit shines brighter as the wisdom of age grows within us. Because bodies decline and people develop, we who have repented of eating the fruit of self-determination and instead bear the fruit of the Spirit will indeed shine like stars in a crooked generation.” ✨ @jenwilkin in “Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World” First book club with some of my best girls is in the books. 📚 So thankful to share meaningful discussion today. #PorchStories #bookclub #KHTreads
Hello, Friday! I’m so glad you’re here. Here’s a p Hello, Friday! I’m so glad you’re here. Here’s a peek into life lately. 🏐📷: @shawnamunger
Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2026 Kristin Hill Taylor | Site by MRM | Privacy

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Resources
  • Contact