Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

She’s a teenager!

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Happy THIRTEENTH birthday, Catherine Anna! How is that even possible? You made me a mom, and, in so many ways, we’ve grown up together.

I know you want to take some friends to an escape room and the mall to celebrate, but we obviously can’t do that right now in these social-distancing days. We’re going to make you grilled chicken, baked potatoes, squash and zucchini, and chocolate cake tonight. And we’ll keep on celebrating your precious life.

You finish seventh grade in two days. It’s been a great school year that got interrupted when we started non-traditional instruction days almost two months ago. But you’ve thrived anyway. You’ve learned alongside your school friends on Google Hangouts and Google Classroom. You’ve loved having some expanded access to technology at home and keep up with your friends that way.

You bravely started playing basketball this past winter. We pushed you a tiny bit to play on the school team when you expressed interest, but that’s all it took for you to go all in. You were part of your school’s first-ever middle school girls’ basketball team, which won some games and got beat by 30 in other games. I am incredibly proud of how you tried something new, got out on that court in front of a crowd, and had a great attitude regardless of the score. You improved with each practice and game, but, most importantly, I saw you belong on a team and find some common ground with your brother. I love watching you love something, and seeing that overflow into other parts of your life. You create art with basketballs on it. The dynamic in your small middle school class shifted as several of you and your friends bonded over your new sport love.

You’re an awesome big sister. You help mother Ben and Rachel — even when they don’t like it. I trust you to do what you say you’re going to do. You care about our family and how everyone fits together. You’re fun to play board games with, even if you regularly beat me in Splendor. With all this time at home lately, I’ve enjoyed watching musical reality shows with you. We’re making our way through The Voice, Songland, and The Masked Singer. Of course, I love watching and talking Survivor with you too.

Your faith is quiet but steady. You’re a reliable daughter, sister, and friend. You have lots of ideas — and most don’t revolve around keeping your room organized! But you are quick to help me make dinner or ask what you can do to help. I don’t understand your love of Crocs, scrunchies, or distressed jeans, but I’m obviously not as cool as you.

I love who you are, Cate. You’re easy to parent and a joy to be around. Just don’t be so hard on yourself.

Love, Mom

*****

Look back on Cate’s life through other letters and birthday posts: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Baptism. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

Redefining busyness

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Social Distancing Day #34 felt busy. Of course, the way we’re all defining “busy” is different these days. Before the coronavirus disrupted our lives, I had time commitments most every day – picking up kids, taxiing kids to where to needed to go, errands, meeting friends, volunteering. All of that is good stuff. But these days having a time-specific commitment is rare.

On Day #34, I had two: a birthday parade for a friend and a Zoom meeting with my Bible study, but I also decided I should grocery shop while I was out and drop off some mail. I also needed to help Ben with school, put dinner in the Crock Pot, and tend to other meals and chores around the house. Plus I wanted to finish a scrapbooking project.

I felt mentally spent by the afternoon, so I took two of my kids on a walk to a creek at the back of our country property. I sat on a tree stump, talked to my mother-in-law who I miss, and soaked in the fresh air and sunshine. In this slower season of uncertainty, I’m feeling changed. And I can’t imagine going back to “normal” when the economy and schools and parks open up again.

I want to protect this slower pace. I want friends to miss each other and reach out. I want family time together and so many meals at home to be valued. I want busyness to feel like a stranger.

When I was organizing photos and writing for that scrapbooking project I was motivated to finish, I was ready through my Reflect & Refresh posts from the end of 2019 that looked toward 2020. I realized I basically expressed my desire for more time at home and having the freedom to say no to some things. Obviously, I had no idea just how real that would become in 2020.

I know people are suffering and lives are far more disrupted than mine, but I am thankful for this season, even though we really don’t know how long it will last. It’s looking more and more like school at home is going to lead right into Summer Break, which usually involves more time at home for us. I’m ready for our pool to be open. I’m ready to see some friends.

But, most importantly, I’m ready to hold onto what I’ve learned in the slowness.

*****

I’ve been journaling every day, so here on some confessions I shared on social media recently:

I haven’t wanted to read. I’ve read three books in the last month, but my other hobbies (scrapbooking, working puzzles, board games, TV shows) have gotten my attention I also think I’ve had to be careful about how much information I take in, and that apparently includes stories!

Although a fabulous deal on Kindle Unlimited got me to dive into another book, which I finished over the weekend! Hello, TWO FREE MONTHS of Kindle books at my fingertips. Through April 30, you can sign up for Kindle Unlimited for two months for free, go to manage subscriptions and immediately cancel, and have access for two months and not have to worry about getting charged when you forget to cancel. (Learn more about Kindle Unlimited here!)

I haven’t been bored for a single moment. Seriously.

Our days go quickly, even when have very little planned. I haven’t even done that many organized activities or crafts. When I declare it’s bedtime, somebody still has something else they want to do, usually with Daddy, so I always remind them we get another day at home tomorrow!

I created a playlist for this season. The theme is basically: Be still, know God is God, and do not fear. (Listen here.)

We produce a lot of trash and dirty a lot of dishes when we don’t go anywhere. My kids have been outside so much (good thing!) that we have a lot of dirty shoes and clothes because we live in the country, and there’s a lot of dirt here.

*****

What have you learned in this coronavirus-prompted season of social distancing? Do you have any confessions to share?

A true story about the master who serves

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“Jesus and the Very Big Surprise: A True Story About Jesus, His Return, and How to Be Ready” by Randall Goodgame is such a fun children’s book that is full of biblical truth. Specifically, it shares in the gospel through surprises, such as Jesus’ birth as a baby in a stable, servanthood, and his resurrection. The illustrations by Catalina Echeverri are lovely too!

You may have heard about Randall Goodgame around here because we’re longtime fans of his family music called Slugs & Bugs. We’ve gotten to know him in a real life as we hosted some S&B concerts, and it’s easy to be a fan of his work. I ordered this book as soon as I heard about it – and I’m glad I did. He makes learning about and knowing God fun and easy.

The last page references the specific bible stories and where we can find them, including the parable of the master and his servants found in Luke 12:35-38. Randall previously wrote a song about this story called “Be Dressed” that is on Sing the Bible Vol. 1 and is one of my favorite Slugs & Bugs songs.

I asked Rachel which page was her favorite because I wanted to take a picture of an inside page and she immediately turned to a purple one, probably because she likes the color. But I really love the words from that page:

“No one knows the day or
hour when Jesus will return
(it could be any minute!).

And just like the
servants in his story,
we have plenty to
do while we wait!

There are hungry
people to serve,
lonely people to
care for,
friends to
share with,
and enemies to
forgive.

And it all beings
with loving Jesus,
the Great Master
who serves.”

About the book

“Jesus and the Very Big Surprise” is part of the Tales that Tell the Truth series from The Good Book Company. This 32-page hardback book is aimed at kids who are 4-8 years old, but here I am at 40 years old loving it. It officially published Feb. 1, 2020. It’s available from Amazon and the Slugs & Bugs’ website.

About the author

Randall Goodgame is a singer/songwriter, and the creative force behind Slugs & Bugs. He has released six solo recordings, and has written many songs for other artists, including seventeen songs for the award-winning band Caedmon’s Call. Randall has written several songs for Veggie Tales, and he spent four years as the worship pastor of Midtown Fellowship in downtown Nashville. Randall enjoys peanut butter and chocolate anything, and being home with his family of five in Nashville, Tenn.

About the illustrator

Catalina Echeverri is a Colombian freelance illustrator specializing in children’s books. She is based in London, and illustrated the bestselling “The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross.”

*****

Nobody asked me to write this review. I’m reviewing “Jesus and the Very Big Surprise,” which I bought with my own money, because I want everyone to know about it.