Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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How to enjoy winter days at home

December 19, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

God has made each season beautiful and appropriate in its own time. - Kristin Hill Taylor, Bringing Home More Than Groceries #morethangroceries

Y’all know I’m a summer girl, but cozy, slow mornings or evenings at home are one of the perks of winter. Yes, days are short and temperatures colder than I’d prefer, but let’s look on the bright side of these colder times of the year. Even though I’m not sure about the single-digit weather coming our way later this week, I’ll have to take advantage of my warm house and some cozy activities!

Pajama mornings

I just told someone today I’m craving a slow morning in my pajamas. We have some plans during Christmas Break, but I purposefully didn’t make any early morning appointments. To wake up without an alarm and be able to stay in comfy clothes for a few hours will be a treat for us all in my house. My son will make hot chocolate, my oldest daughter will sleep in the longest, and my youngest will sneak into my bed to snuggle with me. I love making pancakes (especially this Cracker Barrel copycat recipe) or French toast on our griddle. 

Game nights

Game nights are our favorite winter social activities! Inviting people over in the summer comes more naturally with our pool and porch, but there are fun winter opportunities too. We have friends over to watch our favorite Murray State Racers basketball team or play board games. There are many new board games out there, and I even bought my kids some for Christmas! (Here are some of our other favorites!) 

Prepare meals

I like to cook more in the winter too. Warm casseroles and soups hit the spot and provide good meals. Sometimes it’s just as easy to cook for more people, so we will invite friends over to share Taco Soup with us. I have a couple of meat lovers in my house, so maybe I need to learn new ways to make the best tomahawk steak at Jerkyholic.com or embrace baking a little more! I do love baked goods, but I’d rather cook the main courses. 

Get outside 

Of course, I’m tempted not to leave my house in the winter, but getting outside – even in the cold – is always good for my soul. Thankfully, we live where we have lots of wide-open spaces to roam, so walking through our woods, down the logging road, or even down the street is always a welcome break from the indoors. My kids like when it snows – and then they’re most definitely interested in getting outside! Yes, and then Ben will make more hot chocolate to warm himself right up! 

How do you like to spend your winter days?

*****

Hospitality matters in every season, and I share some ways to connect with others even in winter in the free printable that goes with my book, “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People.”

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How to cook new recipes

November 29, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I’ve become a better cook in the past two decades as a wife and mom. I honestly just used not to know how. I’m still not a famous chef or anything like that, but I’m not afraid to cook anymore. Of course, trying a new recipe can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but I want to share some tips on how to get that new recipe to turn out well. 

Read the recipe

When cooking a new recipe for the first time, it’s essential to read it thoroughly before you begin. I say this from experience. Nobody needs surprises while they’ve got things mixing and heating. This way, you’ll know what ingredients and supplies you need, and you’ll be able to plan ahead so that everything is ready when it’s time to start cooking.

Cookbooks are your friends for both inspiration and instructions.

Prepare all the ingredients

Just yesterday I texted a friend who is coming over later this week: What soup sounds good? She gave me a couple of ideas, and then I was able to buy the ingredients I needed to make Tortellini Corn Chowder. Planning meals is a good way to make a grocery list and ensure you have food your family wants to eat and you want to cook. 

I usually get out all the ingredients before I get started so I can mix and assemble them as I go along. If you really wanted to be prepared, you could measure out all the specific ingredients and then prepare the dish. 

Do you have any foods incorporated into your holiday traditions, such as black-eyed peas for New Year’s Day? I don’t love black-eyed peas specifically, but I do love a good Crock Pot recipe and foods as traditions. 

Follow the recipe

Yes, getting creative in the kitchen is tempting, but I found I have the most success when I follow the recipe – at least the first time! Of course, after I’ve made a recipe once, I may start tweaking it to fit my preferences. I don’t love green peppers, but bring on all onions. Or maybe I will give my husband the mushrooms nobody else in our house wants. 

Taste test

A perk of cooking is definitely eating! Tasting the dish as you go is another way to ensure that your new recipe turns out perfectly. This will help you balance the flavors, adjust seasoning if necessary, and ensure everything comes together as planned.

Don’t be afraid to add more of a certain ingredient or spice if it needs it. Cooking is a science, but it’s an art too! One of our favorite easy summer meals is what my kids call “green pasta” – aka the Pioneer Woman’s Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce. One evening we were eating this on the porch and my son said, “This would be really good with bacon in it.” You better believe we eat it with bacon now! (I also use pesto from a jar, which makes this recipe even easier!)

Now, back to cleaning those dishes from the last meal we cooked! 

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Here are some related posts that may encourage you in the kitchen:

  • How to enjoy cooking
  • Help kids have healthy eating habits
  • Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People
  • Favorite cookbooks
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How to have fun as a family

November 28, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Trying to come up with ideas for things to do together as a family can be tough with the different ages, personalities, and preferences. Like all families, the people in this house share some favorite things but also have different interests. As a mom, I have my own preferences, but I really do love making memories together. When my family is enjoying time together, life is less stressful, communication flows more productively, and the household is peaceful. 

Enjoying life together doesn’t have to be extravagant. We’ve been into “Jeopardy” lately. Or maybe you want to watch the God’s Not Dead movies together. We love to travel, go to basketball games, and eat dinner together. 

Get outside

One of the best things about living in the country is the ability to open our doors and go out into some wide-open spaces. Something about the fresh air is always good for my soul – even in the wintertime! We hope to cut down our own Christmas tree soon. That annual tree hunt on our property has become a favorite tradition. 

Maybe even go camping

Alright, I’m suggesting this because so many of my friends enjoy it. Camping is one of the best ways to bond with nature and your loved ones at the same time. Y’all, honestly, I love everything about camping except sleeping outside. I don’t even love sleeping in the close quarters of an RV. Give me the campfire, s’mores, picnic meals, social time, hiking, and chances to take photos. But I’ll always choose my own bed – or at least the beds at my vacation rental at Kentucky Lake! 

Play tourist

I love exploring new places while on trips and setting aside the daily routines of home, but why can’t we do that right where we live? I’m guessing there are some events and destinations right near your home that you could explore. The local Murray State basketball games are our winter social life! Get tickets to whatever your family enjoys doing. Do the kinds of things you’d do if you were visiting a new place. Maybe invite some family friends to join you. Who knows what gems you may find in your hometown!

Board games

Y’all know we are a family who likes board games. Of course, some people like certain games better than others. But if you’re at our house long, we’ll pull you into some kind of game. Here are some of our favorites – some of which I’ve bought as gifts this year! 

How does your family like to spend time together?

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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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I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by P I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by Prince Harry. But I also keep hearing different opinions about it. So here’s mine!

I am intrigued by the royal family and I liked watching “Suits,” just so you know my very loose interest. I had also watched the @netflix documentary Harry and Meghan released. 

Short answer: I really enjoyed listening to this book. 

An heir, then a spare. Deep grief as a child when his mom dies that he doesn’t really confront until he’s older. An institution that governs every decision in his life yet doesn’t protect him when he felt like he needed it. That’s some heartbreaking makings of a good story. And I appreciate Prince Harry telling it — even though I’m sure parts were incredibly difficult. I also appreciate why he and Meghan did what they did and are trying to establish new, different roots. 

Ultimately, this book is about death and life and all the moments in between. I’d recommend listening to it because his voice is a good one. 

One minor, silly complaint: There are 232 chapters, although they’re numbered starting with one in each of the three sections. That makes the audiobook not flow quite as well as it would otherwise because most of them are just a few minutes long. 

I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I’d love to hear what you think because, you know, everybody is reading it! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #readersofinstagram #audiobooks #audible #princeharry
We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @ We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @murraystateuniv Spirit Night at the @memgrizz game. We had some pre-game fun with friends, watched the Grizzlies come back from 19 down to win, and witnessed Ja Morant’s triple double.

#memphisgrizzlies #basketballseason #NBA #TeamTaylor #bettertogether #weekending #favoritethings #RacerNation #MurrayState #WeAreRacers
Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most ever Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most everything in life — is more fun with friends! What an awesome atmosphere at the CFSB Center today with a Murray State win, Ja Morant in the arena, and more memories.

#RacerNation #MurrayState #collegebasketball #basketballseason #bettertogether #WeAreRacers
I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let heaven and nature sing” twice this week. I may not be singing Christmas carols anymore, but I still felt the depths of winter this week. The sweatshirt seemed right. 

The sun didn’t shine much this week, although seeing on Friday as we wrap up the work and school week was welcomed. It’s mostly been cold and gray. It’s felt like winter. 

A lingering tension needs resolution and understanding, but honestly the gap between seems so vast. I crave slow time at home and meals around our table. I miss some friends and was reminded of the heartache that can come with community, but I also felt the deep appreciation of friendship and remembered the beauty of sharing this life with others. I was excited for an invitation and easily accepted it. I started a new habit (hopefully) walking with a friend. 

While driving through my days, I remember how uncertainty is what makes me look up. I remember my Creator when I am slapped in the face with the reality I’m not actually in control. I remember (again) to surrender. 

Goodness happens in the gray of winter. Life may look and feel different, but new life is always preparing to break through the cracks of the ground. The gloom that tempts us to look down doesn’t last long when we believe the sun will break through the icy trees and the fog will lift. 

This is hope. Even in winter. Thank God for it all. Let’s let heaven and nature sing. 

#countryliving #latergram #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #reallife #weekending
I heard mixed reactions about this book from two d I heard mixed reactions about this book from two different friends, but I enjoyed it! 

I liked the backward timeline, although I was uncertain about how it would work until the end. Some of the twists and connections were so good! 

I also liked the bigger ideas Gillian McAllister tackles: We miss things when we are living our life at our normal pace. What if we could go back? What would be notice that would change our reality? And, of course, perhaps, there would be unintended consequences. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It did get a little slow in the middle, but the end and beginning are quite good! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindleoasis #readersofinstagram
This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in the middle rebounding and playing hard and little sister photobombing the moment! 

Honestly, parenting has been hard lately. Nothing major. But so constant and always adjusting. 

Even so, I love watching them on the court and in life. There is so much excitement and goodness among the repetition and exhaustion. 

This is real life. And those are our 10-0 Lady Lions out there. 🦁💛

@ncca.lions #momlife #reallife #basketballseason #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #girlmom #firstborn #thirdchild
I finished studying Colossians today with my Prece I finished studying Colossians today with my Precept group. Paul wrote this letter to an established church that was still growing and learning and maturing in the faith — like us all.  I really loved this study because it spoke right into my life with encouragement for knowing Christ, walking in wisdom and truth, praying continually, letting peace rule, and giving grace. Plus Paul deeply loved his people. 

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6-7

Too often I step out of God’s presence for two minutes while are loading up the van in the morning or I’m rushing kids to bed. Too often I don’t surrender my fleshy desires and feelings to the One who holds this whole wide world in His hands. Too often I think my plans are worth holding onto tightly. Too often I think I can bring peace to my household, minivan, or dinner table. 

But real peace passes all my understanding. It rests in God’s wisdom and knowledge alone. How amazing we have access to that, thanks to Jesus. How easily I forget where I’m rooted. 

I want to let peace rule — in my home, in my head, and in my heart. 

Today while I was driving, I noticed how lovely the road, land, and sky looked. But today was really windy, like feel-it-move-my-vehicle and knock-over-trash-cans windy. It almost felt deceptive with the beauty before me, but, really, that’s like life. 

Sometimes it seems I have it together. People know my gifts of organizing information and people. I show up on time and am responsible. But so many thoughts and feelings are swirling in my mind. I replay conversations and fight against the same insecurities from the previous day. 

I feel both lovely and like my swirling mind could knock me over at any moment. And that’s why I needed God, particularly through His words through Paul to the Colossians. 

#livingfaithfully #faithlife #churchlife #reallife #countryliving
This girl has been complaining of a sore throat th This girl has been complaining of a sore throat the last couple of days, but she hasn’t had a fever or any other symptoms so I kept telling her she was fine. Truth be told, she a bit of a hypochondriac and generally happy, so it’s hard to tell if she sick sometimes. 

The folks at Aligned Health took care of her this afternoon and are treating her for strep or whatever bacteria is making her throat look and feel rough. 

I’m thankful for access to medical care and an unexpected night at home.

#momlife #thirdchild #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #sickday
I really loved this book! “Life is the stuff th I really loved this book!

“Life is the stuff that happens in the cracks between your plans and expectations.” — from “One Night on the Island” by @josiesilverauthor 

The writing is excellent, the setting works well, and the story unfolds in some predictable but sweet ways. I also think it was the right book at the right time for me. 

#KHTreads #romcom #romcombooks #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #readersofinstagram
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