Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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The Wonder of Creation

November 22, 2021 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Our family has been busy, busier than I’d like, really, so I’ve been trying to make the most of our time together. That means sometimes we eat dinner at a fast food restaurant instead of our kitchen table or read a devotional on the way to school rather than sitting perfectly still first thing in the morning together. 

I’ve always found lessons in faith right in my everyday life and I want the same for my kids. We’ve been reading “Roar Like A Lion” by Levi Lusko on the way to school most mornings. When we are finished with that one, we’re moving on to “The Wonder of Creation” by Louie Giglio. My sixth-grader Ben and kindergartener Rachel will especially love all the facts and information about animals, planets, and the world around us, but I know my high school freshman Cate and I will benefit from hearing the truth too. 

I’m thankful for books like “The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions About God & Science” that have a solid scripture foundation, keep my kids’ interest, and prompt discussions about our actual lives. Louie Giglio does a good job creating a book that does that for us! 

About the book

In this captivating follow-up to the bestselling kids’ devotionals “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God,” discover more mind-blowing, faith-building scientific facts and biblical truths about the wonder of God’s creation from author, speaker, and founder of the Passion movement Louie Giglio. It’s fine if your family hasn’t read the other devotionals as this one stands on its own with 100 devotionals. 

Giglio wants kids to notice, enjoy, and marvel at God’s creation. In “The Wonder of Creation,” children will find new delight in God’s creativity with devotions that explore animals from honeyguide birds to flying snakes to white rhinos; space including black holes to volcanic moons to gamma-ray bursts; people from optical illusions to brain freezes to our immune systems; and Earth from rainbow rivers to blue lava to flowing glaciers                                                    

With engaging illustrations and striking photography, this fun and informative book is ideal for children ages 6 to 10. Each of the devotions features a scientific fact or an easy activity for exploring faith, a short Bible verse, and a closing prayer. This book is ideal for science-loving kids, Bible-loving kids, and any child ready to go deeper in faith; continues a well-loved devotional series that has impacted over a million children, parents, and teachers; includes informative content call-outs inviting kids to “Explore the Wonder”; and makes a great addition to a homeschool STEM curriculum or a bedtime reading routine.

This 208-page hardcover devotional is published by Thomas Nelson (Nov. 16, 2021).

About the authors

Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and original visionary of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Most recently, Passion hosted more than 700,000 people from more than 150 countries online at Passion 2021.

Louie is the national-bestselling author of more than a dozen books. An Atlanta native and graduate of Georgia State University, Louie has done post-graduate work at Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Louie and his wife Shelley make their home in Atlanta.  

Co-author Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling writer with more than forty titles to her credit. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for both children and teens, as well as adults, including the wildly successful Indescribable Kids series and Jesus Calling for Kids series. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog, who doubles as a footwarmer.

About the illustrator

Nicola Anderson has been an illustrator and graphic designer since she could hold a crayon in her hand but has been working professionally since 2001. After many years working in the design industry, she now crafts imaginary worlds from her home studio, AndoTwin Studio, in Manchester, UK. During this time, she has worked with an eclectic range of clients and has loved every minute!

Rachel really wanted a picture of the book with the cats – more evidence of God’s creation!

Giveaway 

And I’m able to share it with one you! Who wants a hardcopy of this book for the kids in your life? Tell me what in creation encourages your faith in God. Leave your answer as a comment on this blog post or the posts about it on Facebook and Instagram and you’re entered to win. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and a winner will be randomly chosen on Nov. 29, 2021. 

*****

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing this devotion in exchange for review. Opinions are 100 percent my own and I only recommend products I would use with my own family. I add this book to my list of family devotionals on Amazon, if you’re looking for other suggestions. 

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Rachel is 6!

September 19, 2021 by Kristin Leave a Comment

We’ve spent the weekend celebrating our girl who loves a party! 

Rachel is joy personified. I say that often, but it’s always been true. I default to serious mode way too often, but she keeps me smiling and laughing. She’s funny, smart, and loves people. 

She likes to sneak into my bed in the middle of the night so we can snuggle. I’ll take all the love — after sunrise! She swims like a fish, dreams of being a rockstar, and remembers all the words to songs. She likes adventures, having anyone we know over to our house, and prefers not to be alone. 

She doesn’t like to slow down to eat a meal and would prefer to graze all day. She always wants to go back to where we’ve gone before because road trips & adventures are among her love languages. I won’t be sad when she can tell time and remembers the order of the days of the week. She’s going to learn so much in kindergarten, which she loves but does find tiring. She often falls asleep on the way home or on our porch swing before she makes it into the house. She’s always been the kid to resist naps but then lay down on the concrete, put her head down on the table, or contort herself in the booster seat in the minivan … and sleep anyway.

As girly as she can be, Rachel loves all things pink, princessy, and sparkly. She plays soccer — and then sometimes does a cartwheel after she scores. She hugs her opponents, adults, our cats, and often people we barely know. She sometimes says she doesn’t know her letters, but then she aces spelling tests in kindergarten and knows the first letter of so many people’s names.

Now, if I could just get her to stop sticking out her tongue or raising a peace sign (like Mario apparently does when you beat a level on Super Mario Bros.) every time I’m trying to take a picture. Speaking of pictures, just follow my #thirdchild posts on Instagram; she’s a popular subject in my shared squares.

Rachel, 

I hope you always love big and bring others in. You, my girl, are a light, so keep shining brightly. I’m truly thankful you were born and I get to be your mom. You keep me laughing, wondering where you went, and feeling loved well.

Happy 6th birthday, sweet girl! 

Love, Momma

*****

My favorite story of how God made the five of us a family is told in my first book, “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family,” which is available on Amazon or directly from me. 

Look back on Rachel’s past birthdays:  One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

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How to support your child’s education

September 9, 2021 by Kristin Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about my kids’ school is the philosophy teachers and staff are coming alongside us parents as we raise our kids. The flip side of that is true: As parents, we want to support what the teachers are doing for our kids in the classroom. 

I’m not done raising kids, but I have some school experience now that I have a high school freshman, a sixth-grader, and a kindergartner. 

Preschool

All three of my kids attended preschool, although they were enrolled in different private preschools throughout the years. All three preschool programs were great starts to their educations, helping them ease into full-time school. 

Children certainly soak in the world around them. At preschool, your child might not be sitting in a classroom listening to their teacher give a lecture, but they are learning all day. They will learn all sorts of things, including how to make friends, develop fine motor skills, and how to identify different letters.

At home, parents can support preschoolers’ education by understanding age-appropriate learning and development goals. Recognize this is only the beginning. It’s a good time to establish routines at home, talk about what your child is learning as you go about your day with them, and encourage independent play. 

Kindergarten

Starting kindergarten is a big change for a child. We’re in our fourth week of school, and Rachel is still coming home tired. She’s going every weekday for seven hours, learning new routines and expectations, taking spelling tests, practicing writing, making new friends, and learning to read. Thankfully playtime is incorporated too. 

Parents may benefit from reading The Stages Of Spelling Development: A Guide For Parents to understand where a child is in terms of learning important academic skills. It can also be a smart time to understand more about your child’s learning style.

Elementary School

In elementary school, children’s education becomes more academically focused. While they are still developing things like social skills, they also start to explore a range of academic subjects. Thankfully, our school is good at allowing parents to connect directly with teachers. Although COVID has changed some things last year and this school year, parent-teacher conferences, holiday parties, special programs, and field trips are great ways to stay involved. 

This is also when homework comes into the picture. I appreciate that our kids’ school doesn’t require tons of homework, but, as a mom, I do like to see what they’re studying. 

Middle School

Middle school is a transitional period in more than one way for your child. More independence comes in these years. At my kids’ school, sixth-graders move to the Upper School building, have lockers for the first time, change classes and have multiple teachers, and get more freedom for lunch. It’s a lot to navigate, especially when most of my boy’s class had to be quarantined after our first day this year. 

As a middle schooler, other responsibilities Ben has now are communicating more directly with teachers through email and Google Classroom, keeping up with assignments in the different classes, and bringing the right books and supplies to the right classes. He also started wearing a watch so he knew how many minutes he had between classes. 

I like chatting with my kids about school on the drive home. Some days they tell me more than others, but I want them to know they can always discuss academics, extracurriculars, friendships, and concerns. I try not to pressure them to tell me details about their days, but I do try to keep up with what’s happening. 

High School

In high school, there can be a lot of pressure for teenagers to start thinking about what happens after school. While they might have four years to think about it, it can still be tough to have to consider their adult life. But there are many ways you can support your teen while still allowing them their independence.

Here we are with our oldest, Cate. I’m thankful for my kids’ small school, where families are connected to each other and all the students preschool through high school are on the same campus. Even so, some more freedoms and responsibilities come with these years. 

Cate definitely has more assignments to keep up with and manages them on her Chromebook. The teachers communicate less directly with parents, which is part of kids learning to handle their school life. Of course, I still try to help her when she needs it. 

We’re barely in this season, but I do know conversations about what’s next will be happening more often. My husband and I do try to do this by sharing our experiences. Sometimes it’s hard to believe we’re already here! 

Just before Cate’s freshman year began, she got her piece of college mail and then got a “legacy” care package from Murray State, where Greg and I met as college students and where our kids have grown up going to basketball and football games. Soon this season will become more about college preparation and exploring career options.

This season isn’t just about academics. Parents offering mental support is also essential. High school can be a challenging time socially, emotionally, and academically. Some teenagers may feel pressure to fit in and succeed academically. They may also experience new emotions and challenges while figuring out insecurities like getting their overbite fixed. Parents can help their children by listening to them, giving encouragement, and helping them set realistic expectations. I’ve found myself sharing some stories from my own childhood with my teenager to remind her she’s not alone.

Beyond High School

Once a child has graduated from high school, their education is much more their own responsibility. Parents might be involved in some ways, such as helping to choose colleges or even helping to pay for college, but it’s ultimately up to the young adults what they want to do and whether they want to continue their education. Parents can still support them by listening to them talk about their classes or attending important events, even if they’re not helping with nightly homework or speaking to their teachers. 

Parenting is about supporting and loving them through all the seasons — even the ones where the children become adults. You can support your child’s education at any age, from before they start school and into adulthood.

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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 ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten 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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School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #mo School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #momlife #siblinglove #summerisbest #maydays
I’m proud of myself for … … surviving and t I’m proud of myself for …

… surviving and thriving this school year. I resist change almost all of the time, and the past nine months have been full of so many transitions for our whole family. I know, that’s life, but these changes seem like the kind that will mark us forever. 

My kids navigated new beginnings in kindergarten, middle school, and high school. As a mom, sometimes I’m too close to see the growth, but this year it happened in each of them right before my eyes. They navigated friendship hurdles, embraced new friends, and settled a little more into who God created them to be. Middle school isn’t for the faint of heart, but I feel like I’ve come out of this year closer to my son, so I will take it. 

I’m proud of myself for leaning into where God has me. I’ve grown deeper friendships, invested in my kids’ school as a board member and business manager, and seen God work in our ordinary days. 

Y’all know I’m a summer girl, so I’m proud of myself through getting through the winter and coming into summer stronger and braver. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #summerisbest #bettertogether
I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book sooner. I loved so much about it, but I did want some of her stories to be  less repetitive and offer more practical advice for living out “radical, ordinary hospitality.” Rosaria Butterfield defines hospitality like this as sharing what you have in real time, preparing to continually life this lifestyle, and bringing strangers in so they become neighbors who become family. 

I took notes throughout, but especially during the introduction. I came away with an appreciation that hospitality can involve lists, schedules, and habits. I felt encouraged, even if I thought the book could have been organized better to include practical tips and other people’s stories. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #audiobooks #livingfaithfully #bookreview #booklover
Something I don’t usually share (online) … I Something I don’t usually share (online) …

I am an opinionated person, but I don’t usually share political opinions on social media. People who know me in real life know I value being pro-life, having less government involvement in our everyday lives, defining marriage as God intended it, and being fiscally conservative. As a former newspaper reporter, I still get excited about elections. I admittedly pay a little less attention in the almost 15 years I haven’t been in a newsroom. But I still care and have plenty of opinions. 

I voted today in Kentucky’s Primary Election. I’m thankful for the freedom to share my opinion by darkening some blocks on a paper ballot. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #reallife #livingfaithfully
Old friends and live music are two of my favorite Old friends and live music are two of my favorite things, so having them together is the best. My friend Aaron and I went to multiple Dave Matthews Band shows together during our college years, so now two decades later it’s fun to do it again as grown ups with our spouses for a band that speaks truth into our lives. 

@needtobreathe put on the loudest acoustic tour I’ve ever seen, but it sure was good! And its encore of completely unplugged songs was especially sweet. 

#NTBlive #needtobreathe #bettertogether #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully #weekending
Happiness is … … a slow morning that gave me Happiness is …

… a slow morning that gave me a chance to finish reading a good book right after I fixed my favorite cinnamon toast. 

… some shade to invite me to pick some more weeds around the house. But why doesn’t my Apple Watch count this as exercise? It felt like exercise to me! 

… an appointment with my oldest girl for us both to get our nails done this morning. 

… my youngest girl’s last soccer game of the season, even though the heat made her a little grumpy. 

… pool time, another good book to read, my mom visiting for the second weekend in a row, a little more weeding, and a night at home with no specific plans. 

Happiness is everyday, normal life with my people, especially when it comes with a slower pace after a hectic week. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #soccermom #KHTreads #momlife #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #poolpeople #PorchStories
I regretted having to go to sleep last night befor I regretted having to go to sleep last night before I finished this book, so I picked it up at breakfast and didn’t do anything else until I finished it. 

I loved the Alaskan cruise setting, the quick love and understanding between Greta and Ben, and the realistic ways grief changes people. Well done, @jenniferesmith! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #booklover #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #weekending #recommendedreads #poolpeople #amreading
Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of s Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of school next week and then it’s #88daysofsummer! Obviously, we’re ready. ☀️ 

Here’s to a refreshing weekend with much anticipation of what’s to come! #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #thirdchild #momlife #summerisbest #poolpeople #PorchStories #maydays
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve already bou ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve already bought three copies of “Glad You’re Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences” by @walkerhayes and @craigallencooper to gift to specific friends. I’ve referenced this story in conversations this week and will likely recommended it for years to come. 

This story is about two seemingly different guys befriending each other because their kids were on the same baseball team and their wives became friends. They kept showing for each other, encouraged each other, and changed each other for the better. In fact, their friendship was the catalyst for Walker deciding to follow Christ. 

Give me Applebee’s on a date night, a real-life story of how we are eternally better together, and an audiobook that makes me want to drive and I’m a happy girl. I’m fancy like that. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bettertogether #livingfaithfully #hospitalitymatters #audiobooks #booklover #favoritethings
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