Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Unpacking the value of family

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People often tell me how much my kids look like me and I never know how to respond. I want to tell them every detail of how God built our family through three separate adoption processes. I want to tell them about my kids’ birth moms and all the things I hope they got from them. I want to tell them how adoption changed my life far beyond making me a mom.

But, usually, I smile and say, “Thank you.”

God made us a family through adoption and taught me how we become like those with whom we share our space and our hearts. That’s family, and I’m thankful for all the ripple effects of adoption.

One those was our trip to Washington, D.C., in September. We made new friends there. You’ve met Michaela Stanton, who has shared here about her family. We also got to know folks from Jockey Being Family, which is the underwear company’s foundation that provides support to adoptive families.

Jockey values us and so many other families who were created in unique ways.

We’ve remained in contact with Will, Stefanie, and Sammie from Jockey Being Family since D.C., and have even gotten to share a meal around a table. During that time they told us more about their upcoming annual gala, during which we’re going to be one of five families honored. Another family is our new friends the Stantons. Isn’t God good to give us these sweet surprises and friendships?

I’ve loved learning more about how Jockey Being Family supports adoptive families. One of those ways is through the backpacks they send kids who have been adopted.

My kids had the best time unpacking their personalized backpacks this week. They each included three books, a notebook, headphones, toothbrush and toothpaste, a Jockey stuffed animal bear, an ice pack, a blanket, and markers (or crayons, as in the case of my youngest). Us parents also got a tote with additional resources to use as we continue talking to our kids about adoption, a blanket, and pens.

Here are some of the specific resources included in the backpacks my kids (who are 11, 9, and 3) received:

  • “All About Marvelous Me! A Draw and Write Journal” by Becky J. Radtke – Kids can have fun reflecting on their past, present, and future! Loaded with fun things to do, such as fill-in-the-blanks, checklists, drawing, and journaling, this 64-page book will inspire children to write and illustrate details of their daily lives and inner thoughts. Activities include taking personality quizzes, designing the ultimate hangout, imagining the perfect job, and many other interesting personal challenges.
  • “All About Me: A Keepsake Journal for Kids” by Linda Kranz – This book offers “thought starters” to get kids’ creativity flowing to document life through writings and drawings.
  • “Angel and Her Wonderful Wheels” by Leanne Lauricella – Discover the story of Angel, a baby goat who is different from the others. Angel, who can’t walk like other goats, is rescued by Leanne Lauricella, founder of the Goats of Anarchy animal sanctuary. With Leanne’s help, Angel gets a new set of wheels—a pink cart that helps her learn to walk, run, and play. Children and adults will love this endearing story about overcoming adversity that reminds us that we are all uniquely beautiful, including what makes us different from others. Follow along with Angel as she makes new friends on the farm and finds a loving family to be her forever home.
  • “The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving” by Ellen Sabin – This is an activity book, a journal, and a keepsake that inspires and records a child’s journey into a lifelong tradition of giving and charity.
  • “My Book About Me” by Dr. Seuss and Roy McKie – So, fun fact, I filled out this same book when I was a kid and I still have it! This classic hardcover activity book written by Dr. Seuss and illustrated by Roy McKie encourages children to write and draw their own biographies. It’s a mix of serious (and seriously silly!) “Yes” and “No” questions; fill-in-the-blanks; images to complete, and simple writing activities.
  • “Reagandoodle & Little Buddy” by Sandi Swiridoff with Wendy Dunham – Told with warmth and a touch of humor by Reagan himself, readers will hear the true story of how one adopted dog and an 11-month-old foster child develop an unforgettable friendship. This is an uplifting tale of friendship, foster care, adoption, and hope.
  • “Riley the Brave” by Jessica Sinarski – This is a children’s story of a little bear with big feelings. You and your children can join this super-cool cape wearing cub as he embarks on a journey to face his fears and is joined by all of his animal friends who care for him. Throughout Riley’s adventures in this educational book, parents and children can learn how to understand and overcome feelings such as shame, fear, and sadness.

Here are some of the parent resources we received:

  • “Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens” by Debbie Riley with John Meeks – This book from The Center for Adoption Support & Education helps parent discover the six most common adoption stuck-spots, the complexities of adoption, the adopted teen’s quest for identity, and how therapy may help the adoptive families learn and grow together. Therapists and clinicians will discover a broad knowledge base on adoption, a step-by-step assessment process, clinical intervention strategies, a wealth of case histories, treatment resources and therapy tools, and writing and art therapy samples.
  • “52 Ways to Talk About Adoption” from The Center for Adoption Support & Education – This card game encourages family discussions about adoption.
  • “W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook” – Empower your child with the resource. Praised by parents around the world, this simple, effective book helps adopted children learn that their story is unique, personal and theirs to share (or not). The W.I.S.E. Up! Owl delivers easy-to-follow choices to help adopted children decide when and how to share information and respond to others’ questions/comments. This is also from The Center for Adoption Support &  Education.

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Learn more about Jockey Being Family, including its backpack program, at its website. You can also follow its inspiring stories on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And stay tuned here because I will have more to share after we road trip to be with our Jockey Being Family friends at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in May.

God Made the Animals

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My youngest child likes to play with stuffed animals more than I thought possible. I have one kid who used to collect stuffed animals. Another kid still likes to sleep with a bed full. But Rachel truly plays with them. She is always wanting us to come “play animals” with her, which means she wants the stuffed animals to talk to each other and go on adventures together.

So I knew she’d like this new book called “God Made the Animals.” Plus, if I can find another book involving animals for her to love, that’s one less time I have to recite “Brown Bear” with her.

My 9-year-old Ben actually read the book to Rachel first and she’s basically been carrying it around since. Obviously, it’s a winner here!

Gigantic animals, teeny-tiny animals, soft furry animals, shiny animals that crawl – God made them all. In “God Made the Animals,” brothers Clive and Ian visit the zoo and discover that God created each amazing animal perfectly unique!

As a parent, I’m always happy to have favorite books teach about faith and creation. These are the kinds of resources that help us parents lay the faith foundation we want to build on for the years to come. Conversations about who made the world and why animals are unique are possible even with toddlers and preschoolers. In the back of the book, there are suggestions on how to further connect to help kids know the love of God, grow in God’s love, and show God’s love to others.

About the book

This sweet book features characters Clive and Ian from the bestselling video series “Buck Denver Asks …What’s in the Bible?” “God Made the Animals” is one in a new series of fun, easy-to-read board books designed for preschoolers. Written by bestselling children’s book author, Hannah Hall, the series features charming illustrations and helps parents teach their children about God’s creation and His love for them.

The other books in the series are “God Made the World,” “God Made Me,” and “God Made Night and Day.”

This 24-page board book is published by Jelly Tell Press (Jan. 8, 2019).

About the author

Hannah C. Hall is wife to a worship pastor and stay-at-home mom to three delightful kids. She is the bestselling author of fourteen children’s books lives with her family in a small town in Arkansas.

About Jelly Telly

Jelly Telly works with the top creators in Christian family entertainment to provide new and classic shows the whole family will love. Parents can feel good about the shows and movies that lead their kids into a life of faith where they walk with God every day, at home or on the go! Learn more about Jelly Telly’s subscription programming and app at its website.

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I received a copy of “God Made the Animals” to review and share with my 3-year-old girl from Hachette Book Group. These opinions are my own.

The productivity of rest

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My fish found her way back to the pool this week. Rachel’s swim teacher wanted her to float on her back, stretch out her legs, and kick slowly. At first, Rachel wanted to kick quickly and squirm. But the more still she became, the better and faster she floated.

On the surface, being still doesn’t make sense if you want to move forward. But when her body was stretched out and relaxed, it moved more freely on the surface of the water with some gentle kicks.

I sat poolside and watched her, thinking about how I’m the exact same way. I want to solve the problems, improve the situation, and do the things that need to be done. But I’m better off to be still before God first. When my actions come from that stillness, they’re more meaningful and on point to whatever the mission.

I read “The Sacred Enneagram” by Christopher Heuertz and really needed to hear his thoughts on stillness as related to the different types. I’m a 1w2, for those of you into the Enneagram.

“Rest meets the deepest needs of the Idealists, who are continually agitated, never satisfied, and often upset with themselves for failing to live into their impossible standards of excellence (One), originality (Four), or flexibility (Seven). Rest gives Ones, Fours, and Sevens a break from their constant frustration. When Ones rest in stillness, they find their breath and let themselves off the hook for not always getting everything perfect. It’s okay for Ones to stop fixing everything, themselves included, and relax.”

– Christopher Heuertz in “The Sacred Enneagram”

There is freedom in that encouragement to rest.

I want to lay my head back in the water, letting all the noises in the world be muffled as my ears dip below the surface. I want to let my eyes look up, not worrying about all the things going on around me at the moment. I want to give gentle kicks to get where I need to go while still resting in God’s ways.

Maybe that means I need to continue being selective about who I let speak truth into my life. Maybe I need to move slower throughout my days, leaving margin for stillness. Perhaps I should talk less and listen more.

I want to remember rest often
leads to productive action.

{Tweet that.}

By the end of Rachel’s lesson the other day, she was floating like a champ. She was slower and calmer in her movements and ended up going farther across the pool. I watched her jump in and maneuver onto her back, to a place of rest.

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As I was writing this, I realized I wrote about floating and faith last year too. Obviously, this is an analogy God uses to speak truth into my life. In 2019, I want to focus on living faithfully and I certainly needed this reminder of the power in stillness and rest.

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