Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Four years of contagious joy

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Dear Rachel,

Our lives have been more joy-filled since you were born. You love life and everyone we meet. You give strangers hugs and adore your brother and sister. You laugh easily and, really, are the funniest kid I know.

You’ve asked almost every day since we got off the Disney cruise ship last October — almost a year ago! — to go back on the “big, big Mickey boat.” We don’t have another cruise planned (yet!), but we are going to Disney World in a few weeks. You’re going to love it! You love all things Disney, characters in costume, and whatever adventure comes your way.

You’ve given me some scares with your fearless independence. You don’t like to go to sleep at night because you’re afraid you’ll miss something, so there’s been a lot of ushering you back to bed lately.

You’re going to “school” three days a week at Mother’s Day Out and love it. Somehow you comply with naptime there, but not without talking to your friends first. You’re eager to learn and love being around your friends. Right now, you like to find Rs all around you because you know that’s how your name begins.

You’ve talked about your birthday for a long time, and we’re excited to celebrate you today and again at your rainbow unicorn party on Sunday. Truly, we like to celebrate you all the days. Plus you’ve made me appreciate rainbows and unicorns in a whole new way. (Also, you call them “un-i-corns,” which is so funny because it’s not like you can read quite yet!)

Rachel Elizabeth, your joy is contagious. I pray you continue to love life and all God has for you. I know you’re going to embrace all the adventures in front of you and probably create others along the way.

I’m forever grateful for your birth mom who chose life for you and picked me to be your momma. God knew we needed you! Happy (fourth) birthday, sweet girl!

Love, Momma

*****


In honor of my girl’s 4th birthday, I’m going to give away FOUR COPIES (!!!!) of my book, “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & Family.” This book released in September 2017, when Rachel turned two, so it includes some of her birth and adoption story. {ENTER TO WIN HERE or below.} I’ll randomly choose four winners on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

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Seasons of belonging

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Even in my favorite season, I’ve hit some bumps. I’m enough of an extrovert that I’ve always created the community I crave. But, honestly, I haven’t had the energy to invest in relationships, so this summer has been filled with my few closest friends and whoever invited me into their life.

Kristen Strong’s encouragement and guidance in “Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People” helped me find my place in my own season of letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things, processing how sorrow and hope can co-exist, and finding renewed perspective in belonging right where I am. She’s spurred me on to seek God’s beauty and adventure right in front of me. While doing so, God filled my soul when I feel empty and reminded me of his promises for me and my place with Him.

One of the gifts this summer was a Bible study my friend Megan hosted. Honestly, I shy away from regular commitments in the summer, but I knew when she asked me about it in the spring that I wanted to go. I didn’t anticipate backing off from some of my usual invitations to others. I didn’t realize sorrow could lead to feelings of not belonging. I didn’t know at the time I would need for someone to welcome me in. (Plus I’ve learned a lot from studying Hebrews.)

This summer has definitely been a season of growing down, letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things about myself and my family. My tendency is to make plans and invite people over and fill the wide-open spaces. But this summer I drew the circle a little smaller and found fresh perspective in belonging right where I am.

“The specifics of how we relax in this growing down season aren’t important. Using the time and not wasting it is. This is not the time to fret about growing up or out to be seen in our belonging place. This is the season to be known by growing down, to build a stronger sense of belonging that is rooted in Christ, in whom our closeness overshadows our place here on earth.”

– Kristen Strong in “Back Roads to Belonging”

Kristen’s words in that paragraph and her whole book came when I needed them most. I preordered “Back Roads to Belonging” long before this season and then I received a copy for being on the launch team. It’s one of those books that literally feels good to hold and figuratively feels good for your soul.

I actually gave my early copy away to my friend Becky who moved at the end of July because she’s been important to my belonging — to this season, to this community, and to Christ. (I also gave her a copy of the mix I made for myself because I needed to hear truths of about how sorrow & hope could mingle together. Here’s that playlist, if you’re interested.)

My friendship with Becky surprised me in the sweetest ways this summer because I didn’t see all our conversations and time around tables coming. But God knew. He knew I needed her wisdom and authenticity. He knew she needed to belong in a different way too. He knew things we haven’t even learned yet because that’s how he provides and sustains us in our eternal belonging.

I’m grateful for my own back roads, Kristen’s words, and the belonging that happens here. As my kids head back to school and we fall into a different routine, I’ve still got belonging on my mind. So here’s to saying yes to others, welcoming others in even when it looks different than expected, and believing hospitality matters because it helps heal.

So, in Kristen’s words: “When you believe you’re in a season of wandering around a barren belonging landscape, may you know you don’t wander purposelessly. God is aware of every bump and bend, and Jesus walks with you through every setback and delay. May you never stop participating in your own life, even through the mystery — because God is moving for you in your life. May you remember Jesus was brought outside so you could be brought inside forever.”

About the author & book

Kristen Strong, author of “Girl Meets Change,” writes as a friend offering meaningful encouragement for each season of life so you can see it with more hope and less worry. She and her U.S. Air Force veteran husband, David, have three children. Together this military family zigzagged across the country (and one ocean) several times before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can find her at her website, DaySpring’s (in)courage, and on Instagram.

“Back Roads to Belonging” is a 208-page paperback published by Revell (Aug. 6, 2019).

Giveaway

And I’m sharing a copy of this book with one of you. Thanks for being here and sharing pieces of your story. Use the Rafflecopter below for various entries. I’ll randomly choose a winner Tuesday, Aug. 13.

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Love stories are all around

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“It’s a Love Story” by Lincee Ray had me laughing, thanking God for all the little things I love in my life, and remembering where I feel at home.

“When we say ‘I love Dr Pepper,’ that really and truly is part of our love story as human beings who were made in the image of God. Because those feelings of love — for people or places or things — all reflect the very essence of who He is. The squishy feeling is for Him. I believe we were created with this specific longing ingrained in our souls that can be fulfilled only by the One who loves us most. I wrote this book to encourage anyone reading to recognize that feeling. Although we’ll never be wholly fulfilled this side of heaven, love lives in our hearts and souls to remind us that day is coming. And it will be glorious.” – Lincee Ray in “It’s a Love Story”

I especially loved the chapters on serving others and how we don’t have enough romantic comedies these days. And I’ll never hear Black Eyes Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” the same. That’s what Lincee does. She takes a pop culture reference and makes it relevant to a bigger picture and more entertaining than it would be otherwise. Plus, like me, she’d choose Pacey Witter over Dawson Leery any day.

But she does conclude with the greatest love story there is. We were separated from God long ago when Adam and Eve wandered and sinned in the garden. But God loved us so much he sent his Son as our sacrifice so we could know God, who is love. It’s a Love Story where there’s no surprise ending even though it’s still being written.

“Until we reunite with our Maker face-to-face, we’ll settle for substitutes to satiate our longing. Romantic movies and poetic storylines will fill us with faith. Gorgeous lyrics will fill out ears with hope. And intentional relationships with our families and friends will fill out hearts with love.” – Lincee Ray in “It’s a Love Story”

Reading acknowledgments is one of my favorite parts of books. Weird, I know, but, y’all, Lincee has the very best acknowledgments. For this book, she dedicates love songs to her people, so it reads like a playlist. Well done.

About the book

Human beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children, we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers, we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime – sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Clearly, we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.

With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you’ll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story.

“It’s a Love Story” is a 208-page paperback published by Revell (April 30, 2019).

But preorder it now and get some fun freebies, including behind-the-scenes footage with Lincee Ray, a romantic comedy movie guide, a “It’s a Love Story” mixtape full of your favorite love songs, a tutorial on how to fold a paper heart, and a free electronic copy of Lincee’s first book, “Why I Hate Green Beans.” Learn more about the book and the preorder bonuses at Lincee’s website.

About the author

Lincee Ray is the author of Why I Hate Green Beans and an accidental blogging superstar who now writes for Entertainment Weekly online and the Associated Press. An active speaker and pop culture podcaster, she can be found at her popular website www.ihategreenbeans.com, where she makes it clear that she believes it’s important to tell your story – even if it makes you seem a little crazy. She lives in Texas.

Giveaway

I’ve got two copies to share! Who wants them? Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win between now and Monday, April 29. I’ll choose two winners on April 30.

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*****

I got an early copy of “It’s a Love Story” for free for being on the book’s launch team, but I also preordered an actual copy of the book to share with y’all. These opinions on love are my own.