Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

How to organize your home

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I love order more than everyone else in my family, but life is busy and messy. Even so, I’m always trying to implement habits and routines that help bring the chaos of five people living together under one roof to some kind of structure. 

Create Positive Morning Routines

Oh, this may be the hardest habit to create here. A couple of the extreme extroverts love the mornings. They sing and play and pester those of us who aren’t as chipper in the morning. My work-before-play is also in full force each morning. 

Even so, creating a positive morning routine for the whole family is definitely a must when you want to enjoy your time together and set yourselves up for the day ahead. We cross paths in the kitchen as we’re eating breakfast and packing lunches or snacks for the day. One kid doesn’t come out of her room until she’s ready to leave. The youngest has to be kept on task the most. 

But one thing that has been good for all of us is reading a devotion together once we’re in the minivan together on the way to school. We worked our way through “Roar Like a Lion” by Levi Lusko recently and it helped us individually and collectively so much as it prompted conversations about home and school life. (Here’s a review I wrote about “Roar Like a Lion.”)

Put events on a calendar

Using a noticeboard in the family home is definitely something that you should think about doing if you want to make sure that your whole family stays on track. It takes a little bit of the chaos and confusion out of the equation if you know when upcoming events and appointments are. Right now, my kindergartner likes to mark off the days on the wall calendar we have hanging in our kitchen. It helps give her some perspective on days. 

A shared Google Calendar has greatly improved the communication between Greg and me. I can see his work calendar and add things he needs to know about to our family calendar. He can choose whether to see my own personal appointments and commitments. It’s definitely been a good way to keep us on the same scheduling page. 

Make meal plans

I like to meal plan, and I like to ask my husband and kids for their ideas while I’m making that plan. Sometimes they have really good food inspiration! Planning meals makes our afternoons flow a little easier. Often, I plan a few different meals with the freedom to swamp which day I use them. If I know I’m going to have to leave for an evening meeting or prep dinner quickly after soccer practice, I may plan a Crock Pot meal. 

Clean out regularly

Clutter stresses me out. Often I have a pile of items to donate going. I’ll toss in clothes the kids have outgrown or items we no longer need. You can sell Barbies and other old toys that are no longer used by your older kids as you get rid of clothes that are now too small.

Give belongings homes

“Each thing has a home” and “Like items go together” are things I’m often telling my kids. Books go with books. Clothes with clothes. Toiletries in the bathroom. Shoes in the closet. Jackets on the coat rack. For a long time, we stored wintry accessories in a catch-all storage closet, but then I realized making them more accessible in the drawers in our foyer meant people would be quicker to put away their hats and gloves. 

The world is messy, so having a structured home is efficient and brings peace. Routines help bring about that order in ways that work for your family.

Let’s come before the throne

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We collectively are living in difficult times. I’m sure every generation has said that. But it doesn’t make the harsh world in which we are living any less true. We’ve weathered COVID-19 and the many ripples in our daily living, healthcare system, political climate, and soaring gas and grocery prices. 

Plus as individuals, we are all facing our own trials. I think the assumption is nobody will understand our difficulties as wives, moms, friends, sisters, and aunts. But that’s not actually true. We have a God who understands and wants us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help at the time of our need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

At the time of our need. Not after we’ve figured it out. Not after the difficult season has passed. Not when we’ve sought the advice of our best friends. (I’m preaching to myself here!) 

I’ve been disappointed with people, but I’m not the first person to navigate difficult relationships. Just think about Moses. God called him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The people grumbled. Moses needed Aaron to speak for him. But God didn’t give up on Moses and Moses met with God regularly. Moses may have never gotten to see the Promised Land, but he had a faithful relationship with his God and his people. 

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh, but he prayed even after his disobedience. Plenty of times in my life I didn’t want to do what I knew was right. I’m thankful we can approach God despite whatever circumstances and choices are keeping us from obedience. 

Those are just two examples of people who prayed in difficult times. “Before the Throne: Finding Strength Through Prayer in Difficult Times” is an eight-week Bible study I’m looking forward to working through this summer. Lord knows I have my own difficult times, but I still want to deepen my relationship with God in ways that come about through prayer. 

About the book

God’s people know they can turn to Him when times get tough. Instead of trying to fix things on our own, we can enter God’s throne room in prayer. The access granted to us by Jesus our High Priest is our comfort when the world is turned upside down. In “Before the Throne,” Crickett offers eight prayer warriors from Scripture who turned to God when times became difficult. You’ll learn to pray with:

  • Moses in times of disappointment
  • The Psalmists in times of need
  • Hezekiah in times of battle
  • Habakkuk in times of questioning
  • Jesus in a time of intercession
  • Paul in times of hardship
  • Revelation saints in times of worship

As you study these prayers, you’ll be strengthened as you see how these godly Bible characters poured out their hearts to God and how He responded to them. You’ll learn how to pray with the same power when you feel weak, helpless, stressed, or afraid. As you turn your focus toward God’s character through prayer, He will supply the strength you need to face whatever is before you.

“Before the Throne” is a 256-page paperback Bible study published by Moody Publishers (March 1, 2022). 

About the author

Crickett Keeth is the women’s ministry director at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where she writes and teaches women’s Bible studies. She is the author of several published Bible studies, including “On Bended Knee,” “The Gift of Rest” and “Sumatra with the Seven Churches” (co-authored with Sandra Glahn). Crickett was on staff with Cru for ten years and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. In addition to teaching regularly at her own church, she also speaks at women’s conferences and retreats. She offers free resources for discipleship and encourages others in their own walk with God through her website at www.crickettkeeth.com. Her life purpose is to encourage others to passionately pursue Jesus Christ.

Giveaway

And I’ve got a copy to share with one of y’all! The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen randomly Monday, May 2. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win!

ENTER HERE! –> Before the Throne giveaway

*****

I received a free copy of this Bible study from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I only recommend books I believe are worth your time. 

3 Ways to Enhance Kids’ Cognitive Skills

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Our kids don’t have a ton of screen time. Sure, they watch some TV and my older two have to use Google Chromebooks for school work sometimes. Cate has a Gabb phone and Ben has a Gabb watch. We want to create safe, healthy technology habits while enhancing their cognitive skills. 

Your child’s cognitive skills enable them to think critically and retain information as they grow older. The skills also boost their analytical abilities by helping them understand the process of cause and effect and the relationship between ideas. Cognitive development is essential for your child’s academic success, making it important to prioritize it. 

Here are three ways to help achieve that:

Motivate them to read more 

Various studies indicate reading is beneficial for children, regardless of age. It increases their attention span, vocabulary building, and emotional and social development. A 2013 study revealed that babies whose parents read to them scored higher in problem-solving and other cognitive activities. Other benefits of reading include a broader attention span, improved listening skills, and creativity. It’s important to invest in the right books to see the full benefits. For instance, educational resources such as summer bridge books can prove helpful.

I’m thankful to be raising readers. I have one child who loves fantasy and dystopian novels, another who loves non-fiction books with lots of facts, and the youngest child who is doing a good job learning to read. We have multiple bookshelves with more books than probably necessary, visit the library often, and keep books near in case we have unexpected waiting times. 

Even so, I have a confession for you: I don’t keep summer reading logs. Mostly I just don’t want to fool with it, especially on Summer Break. But I also know I have readers who have learned the value of books and don’t need prizes at this point. I’m not opposed to reading logs and understand they may be just the reading motivation some kids need. 

Let them dabble in arts and crafts 

Arts and crafts keep kids engaged and entertained. But did you know that they are also instrumental in developing their cognitive skills? Arts and crafts enable children to acquire and practice valuable things like patterning and critical thinking, according to the Michigan State University Extension Office. Likewise, they develop language, math, and fine motor skills. Crafts also create an avenue for your kids to explore their creativity and self-expression. If you haven’t already, you want to encourage them to participate in arts and crafts. 

My youngest girl loves to paint, color with markers or crayons, and use stickers. She wishes I’d hold onto every paper she creates or brings home from school. The sad reality is I end up trashing many things, although I keep plenty of her creations in her designated binder of memorabilia. She also loves when her older sister helps her make slime! (Yep, another confession: I don’t do that, but I don’t care if they do!)

Giving kids the space and freedom to create while offering some parental guidance is a great way for them to develop cognitive skills without even realizing it! Spending time in the museum helps introduce your kids to art and develop an appreciation of what others have created. 

Encourage them to play outside 

I love those afternoons when the kids come home from school and spend hours outside. I love the springtime when they have to wash off all the dirt and outdoor smell even if they just took a shower the night before. We have plenty of wide-open spaces for our kids to roam, ride, and explore. The trampoline has been one thing all three of my kids have enjoyed for years, and we actually just have had to replace the one we got more than five years ago. They also like wading in the creek, swimming in our pool, fishing at our pond, hiking through our pine forest, and playing games of hide-and-seek with their friends. 

Kids aged 8 to 12 spend approximately four to six hours on their smart devices, while teens spend nine hours, according to the AACAP. I’m thankful my kids aren’t the norm there! While screen time can be entertaining, it leads to issues like lower academic performance and less time for physical activity. The National Institute of Health says children who have more than two hours of screen time have lower thinking power. 

On the other hand, Harvard research indicates that outdoor play helps sharpen their troubleshooting, planning, multitasking, negotiation, and prioritization skills. Moreover, it also increases their attention span, stimulates their multiple senses, and improves wayfinding abilities. 

Of course, there are benefits to getting outside, keeping a book close, and creating artwork. I’m thankful for these experiences for my kids and encourage you to incorporate these activities into your life too.