Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

On learning and following Jesus together

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As a 40-year-old woman, I really love reading devotions. I like hearing stories that help bring scriptures to life. I like themes that apply to my life.

But gathering my family for devotion time often seems stressful to me, especially after we’ve had full days and are spending time together after dinner.

We talk about Jesus often. We serve together. We are involved in church together. Yet my momma ears totally perked up when I heard about a new family devotional: “The Very Best, Hands-On Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget” by Tim Shoemaker.

After flipping through the book without my kids present, I get excited about the word “activities.” Doing something with my kids comes more naturally than sitting around the table trying to teach and lecture them.

I immediately noticed a few things about the table of contents: The activities are titled, but the themes are also noted immediately after. Some activities that may require extra supervision and precaution – like one involving a potato gun, chemistry experiment, or make-shift balance beam – are noted with one symbol while themes more appropriate for children 12 years and older are marked with another.

Like Shoemaker says in the introduction, parents are supposed to protect their children, provide for them, and prepare them for their futures. All of that is best built on a spiritual foundation and resources like this creative family devotional book are wonderful guides.

I appreciate how Shoemaker offers fourteen tips to making devotions work for your family. It’s good to be reminded these are object lessons, not drawn out lectures that bore the kids. He encourages parents to focus on doing weekly devotions and creating a habit that works best for their schedules.

Stay tuned because I’ll be back with more glimpses as my family moves into our backyard and living room to learn more about what following Jesus is about together.

About the book

The remedy to ho-hum, not-again, “Do we have to?” family devotions. Regular family devotions are important. Unfortunately, they’re often . . . boring. But what if devotions looked less like sitting still and listening to someone read and more like, say, electrocuting a pickle? Or converting a leaf blower into a toilet paper launcher? Or lighting toothpaste on fire?

“The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions” is a 304-page paperback book published by Revell (May 21, 2019).

About the author

Tim Shoemaker is the author of fourteen books. He has worked as a volunteer with youth at his local church for more than twenty-five years and speaks to thousands of students at public schools. He’s a popular workshop speaker at Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conferences, Moody Pastor’s Conference, Focus on the Family, and GREAT Homeschool Conventions. He lives in Illinois. Learn more about him and his books at his website.

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review as part of the Revell Reads program. These opinions are my own.

More truth from Slugs & Bugs

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When I heard Randall Goodgame, who created Slugs & Bugs family music, had two new children’s books, I knew I needed to have them. Randall’s creative work has influenced our family and, at this point, I want whatever he creates to be in my kids’ hands, minds, and hearts. (I’ve shared about Slugs & Bugs music in many other posts around here.)

“Who Will Play with Me?” is a story about fun and friendship and “Are We Still Friends?” is a story of forgiveness. Both incorporate biblical lessons, reference beloved Slugs & Bugs’ songs & characters, and use few words and many pictures to tell stories.

“Are We Still Friends?” is a story that brings to life Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” When Doug the Slug accidentally eats all of Sparky’s flavor-blasted pizza chips, Doug lies to cover it up, and the hilarious search for the chip thief begins! But when Doug admits the truth, he must apologize to Sparky. Come along as the friends learn that friendship is about forgiveness and trust, along with a good dose of shared laughter.

This book is particularly timely for our family as one of our kids’ has had some trouble with lying, which also happens in the story, and this is a good reminder that relationships can be broken but forgiveness is possible.

Philippians 2:3 says, “In humility, value others above yourselves.” That’s the message of “Who Will Play With Me?” That book also brings to mind Slugs & Bugs’ The Wagon song. In this book, Doug the Slug is thrilled to discover an awesome red wagon at the playground, but soon he is feeling pouty because he can’t find a friend to pull him while he rides. But when he decides to think about someone other than himself and pull Sparky the Lightning Bug instead, Doug learns that being a good friend is even more fun.

Now that I’ve given these books to my kids, I’m guessing my 9-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl will read them often in the days to come. Of course, my 12-year-old girl may even pick them up because Slugs & Bugs is certainly part of her childhood too.

About the books

Published by B&H Kids, they’re both 64-page hardback children’s books available on the Slugs & Bugs website, Amazon, and other places books are sold. Learn more about the books and music at slugsandbugs.com.

About the author

Randall Goodgame is a singer/songwriter and the creative force behind the family music brand, Slugs & Bugs. He has recorded eight solo albums and contributed to numerous others. He has written songs for Veggie Tales, Caedmon’s Call, Andrew Peterson, Jason Gray, Jill Phillips, Eric Peters, and other fine people. He lives with his wife and kids in Nashville.

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I bought these books with my own money, thanks to a friend of mine who was at a homeschool conference where they were available in late April. I do recommend them to you and your family, but nobody asked me to say that.

A dozen years old

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In a dozen years of motherhood, I’m always surprised the milestones that get me. The usual ones – like losing her first tooth or sending her to kindergarten – haven’t really been the ones that make me teary. Cate turns 12 today, and it’s making me all kinds of nostalgic.

On the heels of my own 40th birthday, I’m just feeling extra mushy about my oldest turning a dozen years as she finishes sixth grade in NINE MORE school days. I say NINE MORE with much rejoicing. It’s been a good year, but we’re ready for Summer Break. No surprise there, I know.

Cate is a typical first-born girl in so many ways. She thinks about all the details, makes plans, and worries about what could happen. I see myself in her – which is both beautiful and frightening. This girl made me a momma 12 years ago and her adoption story has been pivotal in my faith journey.

I’m grateful we got to spend two days with her classmates in Frankfort last month. That time with just her in the car and the hotel room were a gift to my momma soul. She’s such a good friend and sister, although I’m often praying for her and Ben to focus on their common ground and not their differences. She thinks her brother and dad are loud (which they are sometimes) and she is like a second mother to Rachel, who is eight years younger. She’s clever and caring.

Happy birthday, sweet Cate. Some days I want to freeze time and other days I can’t see what to see what God does in you and through you.

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In honor of Cate’s 12 birthday, I thought I’d share 12 things about her:

1. She likes to stay up late and sleep in.

2. I thought I would be the mom who reads all the books before her kids did. Nope. Cate reads faster than anyone I know and remembers all the details.

3. She plays the piano, likes to ride horses, and jumps on the trampoline often.

4. Her birthday dinner of choice tonight is happening in my kitchen: Little cheesy meatloaves, homemade mac & cheese, roasted broccoli, crescent rolls, and Heath cake.

5. We’re going to celebrate her more this weekend – with a Harry Potter birthday party.

6. She’s thrilled we’re also going to Universal Studios in October because that’s where Harry Potter World is.

7. “Survivor” and “The Voice” are shows we watch together and I know she likes that time without her siblings.

8. She’ll craft anything – make slime, paint, sew, draw, write stories, and this past weekend she learned to make friendship bracelets.

9. She’s had braces on for about a year and a half and it’s amazing to see how her teeth have moved.

10. This year she claims history and drama as her favorite school subjects.

11. She’s passed me in shoe size. (She wears a size 9 now.)

12. She likes the color purple, sparkly things, and accessories.