Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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He Should Have Told The Bees

September 6, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

August was a slow reading month for me, but I give all the stars to “He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox. She’s a Christian writer who adds bits of faith and scripture to her well-developed characters with complex emotional stories. I like that it isn’t cheesy Christian fiction, but storytelling that gets right to the heart of matters while the plot unfolds with some secrecy. Her website says she writes “poignant stories of hope, healing, and home,” which is a perfect description of this book as well as her others. 

In this particular story, I also liked the beekeeping aspect. That creates an enjoyable set of circumstances and analogies.

About the book

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business—one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her in the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets—and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

“He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox is a 336-page paperback book and is available now in various formats from Revell. 

About the author

Amanda Cox is the author of “The Edge of Belonging” and “The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery,” both of which I recommend and were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

***** 

I received a free, advanced copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for a review, but these opinions are mine and I genuinely recommend this book. 

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Created for Communion

September 5, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I thought I’d start by sharing the first line: I was introduced to God through my friends.

Created for Communion: Discovering God’s Design for Biblical Friendship is about coming alongside each other and uses Biblical relationships to show us how to give and receive that side-by-side love—even in our human imperfections.

As believers, we have communion with each other because Jesus’ death and resurrection made a way for us to have fellowship with God. Even before God sent Jesus, he showed his love through His people—people who had friends and were friends.

Each chapter in Created for Communion explores a different Biblical relationship, showing how those friendships transformed each person. Study the remarkable

examples set by David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Jonah and his friends, Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and his disciples, the friends of the paralytic man, and Paul and Timothy (and others!)

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

Purchasing Notes

Here on launch morning, I am waiting for Amazon to sync the paperback and Kindle versions and move them from pre-order status. Hopefully, that happens at any moment. You can also buy from Barnes & Noble. I also have copies at my house, if you’d like to buy one from me directly. Those are $10 locally or $15 shipped — and, yes, they’re autographed. I accept PayPal, Venmo, and cash.

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How to enjoy life more

August 23, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Life isn’t always roses, but it’s nice to enjoy it as much as possible. 

If you aren’t enjoying life, your work, family, and friendships can suffer. Identifying the reasons life is particularly hard will help you escape the thorns. 

Pay attention to hormones

There are hormones produced by your body that send signals to your brain to make you feel good physically and mentally. The main ones are dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. You feel these when you do something pleasurable, like playing video games, eating chocolate, or winning at a sport. But these can be imbalanced naturally and can result in the need for treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress. 

Sleep, exercise, and healthy eating can help rebalance these, although supplements may also be needed. About a year ago, I had blood work done to show various hormone levels. My progesterone was particularly low, so I’ve been taking a hormone compound to treat that – and it has helped my anxiety and improved my sleep. (Of course, do this under the care of your medical professional.)

Limit screen time

Most people use their screens too much – I know I can fall into those bad habits. Too much screen time can cause sleep loss, eye strain, and social anxiety. It’s especially distracting right before bed, although that’s when lots of people (me included) want to escape and relax. 

Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself is important – and goes beyond rewarding yourself with a pedicure. Resting, enjoying hobbies, eating well, and investing in friendships help you feel better about life in every way. Moms or other caregivers also need to make sure they regularly schedule necessary appointments. 

Of course, self-care can be hard with work commitments, social obligations, and parenting responsibilities. To prevent burnout, take some time for yourself to do the things you really enjoy, even if it’s something simple like taking a walk in your neighborhood, listening to music while you drive, or watching your favorite sports team.

Reframe thoughts

Negative thoughts about yourself and the surrounding world can be damaging – especially when we’re believing lies. Your thoughts can form the wrong picture of yourself, and this can lead to depression and anxiety. To combat this, stay mindful of your thoughts with these exercises:

  • Remind yourself what is true and lasting. This is where my faith is helpful. 
  • Tell yourself that things will change, and you won’t always feel like this. Feelings are temporary.
  • Think about the future and how you can make positive changes in your life and for others.
  • Note the day’s events and the feelings that came with them to understand triggers.
  • List your positive attributes and what you like about them, and why you do.
  • List experiences and moments for which you’re grateful. 

If you aren’t careful, your thoughts can take over your life and build to the point where you don’t believe in yourself. These simple exercises help you understand the best qualities of yourself. For some guidance, a self-help book like The Lazy Genius Way can guide you in life.

Be grateful

Gratitude is the understanding that you have things in your life you shouldn’t take for granted. For instance, you can show appreciation for daily meals because there are people all over the world who don’t get enough to eat. Some people find the most effective way to practice this is to write down a couple of things each day and appreciate them. My family often does this together around the dinner table. The practicing of verbalizing the good parts of life helps us see how blessed we are – even on the hard days.

*****

If these practical how-to posts are helpful to you, download this pretty PDF with links to other similar posts to encourage you.

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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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  • How to take the trip
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  • A few of my favorite things
  • He Should Have Told The Bees
  • Created for Communion

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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.

🌸 FREE RESOURCES & SAMPLE CHAPTER: 
kristinhilltaylor.com/created-for-communion

🌸 GET THE BOOK:
bit.ly/createdforcommunion

#linkinbio #KHTreads #bookstagram #bookrelease #author #book #booklaunch #amazonbook #goodreads #marketrefinedpublishing #MRPbook #bookshelf #nonfiction #selfhelpfbooks #christianbooks #christianauthors #CreatedforCommunion #GodsDesign #BiblicalFriendship #KristinHillTaylor #communion #friendship #faithlife #community #bettertogether #friends #holyfriendships
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?

#linkinbio #ontheblog #roadtrip #vacation #documentlife #takethetrip #bloggerlife #adventurers #choosingJOY #traveltips
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!

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #weekending #latergram #suspensebooks #goodreads
Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life, but it’s a good life. 💛

#momlife #siblinglove #bettertogether #reallife #latergram #documentlife #soccermom #boymom #girlmom
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. 

🏠 bit.ly/PorchEmails

#linkinbio #PorchStories #bloggerlife #email #bettertogether #onlinefriends #authorlife #freebies #favoritethings
Well, don't they look lovely together! ✨ Find Well, don't they look lovely together! 

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

#linkinbio #CreatedForCommunion #MoreThanGroceries #PeaceInTheProcess #bettertogether #hospitalitymatters #friendship #GodsDesign #selfpublished #books #KHTreads #bookstagram #bookshelf #goodreads #authorlife #PorchStories
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! 

✨ kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/rachel-is-8.html

#linkinbio #ontheblog #birthdaygirl #momlife #thirdchild #bloggerlife #TeamTaylor #reallife #birthday #thisis8 #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #bestdad
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: 
kristinhilltaylor.com/created-for-communion

🌸 GET THE BOOK:
bit.ly/createdforcommunion

#linksinbio #KHTreads #bookstagram #bookrelease #author #book #booklaunch #amazonbook #goodreads #marketrefinedpublishing #MRPbook #bookshelf #nonfiction #selfhelpfbooks #christianbooks #christianauthors #CreatedforCommunion #GodsDesign #BiblicalFriendship #KristinHillTaylor #communion #friendship #faithlife #community #bettertogether #friends #holyfriendships
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