Kristin Hill Taylor

Don’t give up on doing good

February 6, 2019 by Kristin 22 Comments

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

I heard this familiar verse recently and it struck me in a new way. These words reminded me that with each conversation, boundary, ride home from school, and correction I’m investing in my kids and the life we’re building together for God’s glory. Parenting has required much mental energy lately as I navigate three different seasons and personalities.

But as I sat in the grocery store parking lot earlier this week finishing a podcast with newlywed guests, I remembered God’s faithfulness. I’m not a newlywed, but I needed this truth that transcends seasons. I needed to remember parenting intentionally is doing good and in God’s time I’ll get to see a harvest.

Parenting has involved conversations about cell phones, sleepovers, and vacations; discipline regarding grades and attitudes; and training and establishing habits. I’ve talked with like-minded friends and pow-wowed with my husband, who thankfully lives on the same page with these things. Articles have affirmed why my kids won’t have cell phones anytime soon and why we don’t do sleepovers, but they’ve also reminded me living counter-culturally is hard but not beyond where God has called us.

“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10 (The Message)

As I sat in the Kroger parking lot letting Rachel nap a little longer before we took the ever-growing list of food inside, I read Galatians 6:9 again. I remembered God’s faithfulness in my everyday life regardless of the season and recommitted myself to the good of this parenting adventure.

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RESOURCES!

READ: I put together a list of some books that have aided in this parenting journey. Included are some devotions my tween girl has used and sex talk books for both boys and girls. {SEE PARENTING PARTNER BOOKS HERE.}

LISTEN: I also put together a playlist of songs that remind me God’s faithfulness. {LISTEN HERE.}

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#PorchStories Party

Stories from the Porch in January

January 30, 2019 by Kristin 18 Comments

I’m not naturally a winter person, but there’s something refreshing about the fresh start of a new year. January can linger, but it also gives me the chance to regroup and reflect.

One day I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with regular life of parenting three kids in three different seasons, processing news from people we love and from national media I can only take in small doses, and navigating a hard conversation with someone. So I made a list of stressors and joys. Some of the stressors were causing me to react in ways I didn’t want and blind me to the joys. I spent some time thinking about what I could do about the stressors, what I needed to let go of, and what I just needed to accept as well out of my control. Really, it’s an exercise I probably need to walk myself through regularly because it really helped me regain some perspective and live (more) faithfully.

Highlights

We have a group of friends who like to travel to away Murray State basketball games together in a 14-passenger van we borrow from a Taylor family business. We went to SEMO in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this month. We stopped at Lambert’s on our way and then enjoyed a good basketball game from our third-row seats. It was a fun time with good people. We have our favorite restaurants in the cities we road trip to, so it’s fun to have these traditions and invite someone new to join us like we did in January.

(Unrelated to basketball, my day in Cape Girardeau also gave me the chance to spend a few minutes with blogging friend Sarah Geringer inside Target. Win-win-win!)

We also went to Martin, Tennessee for another game with our friends, but we ended up taking our own vehicles to that one. But it was still a fun night together cheering on our Racers (and eating at a local BBQ restaurant along the way).

Favorite things

Bacon-wrapped crackers – I know this sounds weird. But it’s a Pioneer Woman recipe, so just trust her and me. I made them (the brown sugar version) for New Year’s Eve and the bowl full were gone well before the new year began.

Steaks cooked in the oven – Not only could I stay warm inside and not fool with the grill, but this recipe was super easy and quick. I used ribeye steaks and made our favorite fried rice to accompany.

Free bagels – Panera gave me a free bagel every day this month. It was a surprise perk on my reward card that I took advantage of most days. My son who likes bagels for breakfast was especially pleased.

Board games with my big kids – On a snow day we had, my husband proposed each picking a board game to play. It was a simple but totally fun idea! I’ve always loved playing board games and am so glad we’re well passed the days of Candy Land. Here are some of our favorites.

The Couch with Mary Carver podcast – My friend launched a fun new podcast. I binged the first few episodes and was immediately ready for more. Mary does a wonderful job finding truth in unexpected places, including TV shows, books, movies, and ordinary life. (Learn more about it here.)

#HospitalityMatters series – A winter installment is coming to inboxes on Friday, so make sure you’re signed up to receive emails from me. You’ll get weekly-ish emails from me, a free guide about how to serve in your community with your family, and a couple #HospitalityMatters emails each season.

From the bookshelf

“Rock Needs Rivers: A Memoir About a Very Open Adoption” by Vanessa McGrady – I finished this first book of the new year in two days because I love adoption stories. I was especially happy this was one of Amazon’s First Reads for January.

“The Forgotten Hours” by Katrin Schumann – This book had some heavy storylines, but I liked the storytelling and really was invested in finding out what happened and where the characters would go from there. Happy new year because Prime members got to choose TWO BOOKS for January’s First Reads.

“Letters to the Church” by Francis Chan – This is one of those books I need to keep close even though I finished reading after several weeks because I’m going to consult it for many, many days to come. Francis Chan’s words took me into God’s word, affirmed things I already knew to be true, and challenged me to think about other aspects about church & community. Our small group is working through the accompanying video series and study guide.

“The Sacred Enneagram” by Christopher Heuertz – This book had been waiting on my Kindle for quite some time. I’m glad I finally read it at what turned out to be the perfect time. It was full of some things I needed to hear about myself and those around me. Like this quote: “… when type Ones disentangle themselves from their idealized drive for perfectionism, they realize that everything is already just as it should be; as Father Richard (a type One himself) says, “Everything belongs”—the good, the bad, and the ugly. In this case, perfectionism is no longer a cruel master but a gentle guide back to grounded presence, perfect peace, holy perfection.”

“The Secret Mother” by Shalini Boland – I spent my free moments a couple days this month reading this book that I thought I had figured out but still managed to surprise me. I’m happy this new-to-me author has several more books.

Speaking of books, I also shared how I make time to read. Of course, I have been saving my favorite reads on categorized lists for you.

On the screen

“Safe” on Netflix — I stayed up way past my bedtime the night we had only two episodes left because I had to see how it ended. I’m a longtime fan of Harlan Coben’s fiction books, so I am excited he’s branched out to writing suspense stories for television.

Shows back on the DVR — I’m especially excited to have “Manifest,” “Blue Bloods,” “New Amsterdam,” and “Madam Secretary” return.

How was your January?

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Inlinkz Link Party

Being a summertime girl in the winter

January 23, 2019 by Kristin 12 Comments

You probably know I’m a summer girl. I like the longer days, the sunshine, and freedom to let routine go. I love being on my porch and in my pool.

But the reality is summer is a season. It comes and goes and comes again. I’ve been reminding myself of this as the temperatures are cool, the daylight is short, and the skies gray. Plus we had a snow day on Sunday! (And I thank God for every random 65 degree and sunshiny day we’ve gotten this month!)

I turn 40 this year and I’ve spent a good portion of the year before this learning to appreciate seasons. I can long for summer while still enjoying winter. I can look back with fondness on summer while I take joyfully what spring and fall have to offer.

I’m no expert and am still learning the value and relief of seasons, but here are some ways I live faithfully in the winter as a summer person:

1. Read fiction books set on the beach or in lake towns. Often reading fiction is like a miniature vacation for me, so why not choose a setting I love?

2. Live with the mentality that the to-do list doesn’t have to be finished by noon Monday. Naturally, I am a work-before-play girl, but for some reason I’m easier going in the summer. I’m trying to bring that mentality into all the other seasons.

3. Have social plans that bring people in. The porch isn’t always suitable for these short, cold days, but we can still have friends over to play board games or watch basketball. We can meet friends for dinner and carpool to watch our alma mater’s basketball team. Even when it’s not the holidays, establish traditions that bring joy to a season that may not otherwise be your favorite.

4. Remember summer is coming. I can enjoy the present season, reminisce about past seasons, and look to the ones to come with a grateful heart. Likewise, I can remember God’s faithfulness through them all.

So here’s the winter, at least temporarily, because I don’t want to miss what God has for me in each season on the calendar and in life.

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I’ve got a new installment of Hospitality Matters coming out to my email friends next week. Be sure you’re signed up so you can be included with this seasonal series. Plus all subscribers get a FREE guide to serving your community with your family.

And while you’re clicking around, make sure you enter to win a copy of the beautiful, encouraging (in)courage Devotional Bible.

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#PorchStories Party

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