Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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13 Songs for 13 Years

August 3, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Like a baker’s dozen, Greg and I have been married 13 years. Something about THIRTEEN seems big and monumental. Of course, we’re the same couple that went on a big anniversary trip to Mexico for our 11th anniversary. Apparently we don’t mark milestones like everyone else.

But we’re in this life – the ordinary moments and the milestones – together.

And that’s what matters.

Marriage was hard in the beginning. I brought so much emotional baggage. I was naïve and controlling – except I couldn’t control Greg or our relationship, even though I tried. I resisted change and dug in my heels. I blamed him for things – so many things – that weren’t his fault. I fought internally with trying to forgive people and let go of things that happened long before I became Mrs. Taylor yet continued to seep into my marriage.

And then we tried to conceive a baby and couldn’t – and not because we didn’t try. In trying, my emotions splattered all over the place. Our marriage was tense again.

But then we let go of trying. In that moment, the peace that passes our understanding came. We ended up holding our daughter less than nine months later, thanks to adoption. And we ended up adopting again 30 months later. Now we’re in the midst of another adoption process.

Our family has grown in ways only God could orchestrate. And in that journey, my faith grew and my marriage found itself settling on a firmer foundation than before. I knew Jesus when I said “I do” on Aug. 3, 2002, but I still hadn’t let the savior of the world into some of the deepest places in my soul.

My faith is a work in progress, but God promises to finish this thing he’s started in me. Really, I feel the same about my marriage. What began as two stubborn, first-born people trying to merge their lives has become a testimony of the God who unifies.

Greg and I like adventures together – and I like to be in charge of the radio and playlists as we go. We laugh often and fight less these days. We’ve bungy jumped while tethered together. We’ve sat together in roller coasters, airplanes, minivans, and an Amtrak car. We’ve traveled around the country and even across the ocean. We’ve seen the blue seas and ancient ruins in Greece, experienced New Zealand, and served together in Guatemala. We have plans and dreams and plenty of inside jokes.

This is our life – the one that looks nothing like I expected but has surprised me in the best ways. That’s adventure for you. And marriage is certainly an adventure. I’m grateful for where we are, how we got here, and where we’re going – together.

________________

To celebrate, here are 13 songs that take me back through our years together.

1. “The Sign” by Ace of Base :: This one is all Greg. Perhaps one of the most surprising things I learned about him early on was his love of this song.

2. “Crash and Burn” by Savage Garden :: “When you feel all alone and the world has turned its back on you, give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart. Let me be the one you call. If you jump I’ll break your fall, lift you up and fly away with you into the night. If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart. If you need to crash then crash and burn, you’re not alone.”

3. “A Page is Turned” by Bebo Norman :: Our friends played this song in our wedding. I still love it. “Where the God of second chance will pick them up and he’ll let them dance through a world that is not kind. And all this time, they’re sharing with the one that holds them up when they come undone, beneath the storm, beneath the sun. And once again, here you stand.”

4. “When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Krauss :: We danced to this at our wedding. And I use the word “dance” lightly. I don’t really do much of that. Okay, none at all, really.

5. “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson :: This was in our road trip playlist for a while because Greg really likes it. Okay, so I do too. But it’s funnier he does.

6. “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by Paula Cole :: Um, “Dawson’s Creek.” Enough said. Oh, and for the record, I liked that Joey chose Pacey but Greg is still wishing she ended up with Dawson.

7. “Dancing in the Minefields” by Andrew Peterson :: “We went dancing in the minefields. We went sailing in the storm. And it was harder than we dreamed, but I believe that’s what the promise is for. ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words. The beginning of the end. But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin. ‘Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down. And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found.”

8. “Some Nights” by Fun. :: This song reminds us of the Cardinals winning the World Series in 2011. Watching sports is certainly something we like to do together.

9. “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland :: Greg doesn’t like when white women rap. Again, this is straight from the road trip playlist at some point.

10. “Multiplied” by NEEDTOBREATHE :: I liked NEEDTOBREATHE for a year before Greg decided to jump on board. But then we went to a concert together in Nashville in September 2014 and it was amazing. We particularly loved this song, although I could have picked from several. And then NEEDTOBREATHE released a new album THAT WAS A RECORDING OF THE CONCERT. Such a sweet gift to us. Then we saw the band again this summer in St. Louis.

11. “Sometimes By Step” by Rich Mullins :: This was the theme song of the weekend in 1996 when I accepted Christ in my life. And now Greg sometimes sings it to our kids at bedtime. Sweet memories.

12. “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton :: Greg’s dad passed away unexpectedly in April 2010 and this was on the songs at his funeral. That season was hard in many ways, but grieving also taught me about community. So many people came alongside us.

13. “Only Hope I’ve Got” by Ellie Holcomb :: Again, like with NEEDTOBREATHE, Greg became a fan well after I told him he’d like her. “I don’t want to tell some arrogant story or let myself believe I’m you. I don’t want to be a thief who’s stealing Your glory. Will You help remind me of what is true? The only hope I’ve got, it’s You …”

You can listen to the playlist on Spotify …


Do you mark your life with songs? I’d love to hear about some meaningful ones.
________________

Want to read other anniversary posts? Five years. Six years. Seven years. Nine years. Ten years. Eleven years. Twelve years.

I’m linking up at the weekly Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering. 

Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

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Sheepy Scotland

October 27, 2012 by Kristin Leave a Comment

When you think of Scotland, what do you think of first?

I think of sheep.

I’ve been to New Zealand, where there are almost 10 times as many sheep as people. {Source.} I know sheep aren’t limited to Scotland. But, still, I think about rolling pastures with some rocky cliffs. And sheep.

Then I think about plaid and castles and the fact my grandpa is half Scottish.

So when Cate’s school needed volunteers to create booths for its annual Reformation Day celebration, I decided to have a pasture scene in a photo booth where the kids, who were decked out in cute Scottish costumes, could have their pictures taken. And then I decided to dress my boy up like a sheep too. You know, for continuity sake.

Funny thing is, Cate wore the same costume, which is borrowed from a neighbor, when she was 2. We had been to New Zealand a couple months before and I supposed she still had sheep on her mind.

Back to Reformation Day. A quick explanation, which I needed myself a couple months ago: In late October, some protestant churches and groups celebrate Reformation Day. At New Covenant Christian Academy, specifically, each year the school has celebrated a different Reformation leader. This year was John Knox, who was a reformer in Scotland in the 1500s.

Hence the sheep.

The event was full of creative ways to help teach the kids about church history while they had a fun break from the classroom. I’m thankful for this school and its hands-on learning that is built on a biblical foundation. 

Now on the photo booth. I used fabric I found at Wal-mart as my grassy backdrop, which was attached to a wooden frame a friend built me. I converted a ride-on toy zebra into a sheep, borrowed some stuffed sheep from my girl’s stuffed animal collection, borrowed some rocks from a friend’s fire pit and bought a hay bale.It worked out well …

Now a few more snapshots of the event …

A bagpiper set the mood at the beginning of the day.

There were different shops the kids visited. This is the leather shop.

What sheep wields a sword? My boy, of course!

Baaa …

So in honor of my kids, who have been telling some really terrible jokes …

What did one sheep say to the other sheep?

“After ewe …”

Baaahaha!

What is a sheep’s favorite newspaper?

The Wool Street Journal.

Oh. I can’t help it. Baaahaha! 

________

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Faith like a child along the way

February 29, 2012 by Kristin Leave a Comment

The air up high in the sky was turbulent. The seatbelt sign remained on the entire flight.

We hit an especially rough patch between Nashville and Kansas City. And my kids just laughed. And said, “Tickle. Tickle. Tickle.” over and over between giggles.

No fear.

They think they’re flight experts because this isn’t their first time in the air. Cate flew across the world, literally, for the first time when she was 2 years and 3 months old. It took us 23 1/2 hours from first gate to our destination gate in New Zealand and we lost almost a whole day in time changes.

Her second time was a shorter trip, but most would be compared to flying to a country that is 17 hours ahead of us. She was 4 years and 4 months old this more recent time and had a 22-month-old brother along for the ride.

Would you believe this photo isn’t staged? Seriously. My kids are funny.

And now my boy Ben is 2 years and 3 months — the same age as Cate’s first flight — and he’s got two air trips under his belt … er … elastic diaper band. Granted, his first one was in the United States.

I took four airplane trips before I married Greg when I was 23 {and three months, to the day …}. Add six more in the past nine-plus years. I think my kids will have me beat.

And not just in airline miles.

They giggle because they have no fear. I’m not afraid of flying, but I certainly resist letting go and truly living in the moment. They consider the ride an adventure. Sure, they’re excited about the destination that includes an aunt and uncle and a trip to the zoo. But getting there is part of the fun.

They’re kids. And their faith is just like Jesus encourages ours to be. Simple. Pure. Without hesitation.

And they invite the people around them in to their joy. The guy behind us said, “They thought that turbulence was a roller coaster.” As she was exiting, a woman said, “They were so good.” And another guy near us kept glancing back and grinning.

Those people wanted what my kids have. I want what they have too. Pure, abundant joy with no worries weighing them down.

________

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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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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

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I was so happy not to have plans yesterday afterno I was so happy not to have plans yesterday afternoon. I knew I wanted to be on the couch. I'm not much of a napper, but I needed to at least rest my mind and body. I kept my eyes open and read this entire book! 

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One of the most popular questions I've gotten sinc One of the most popular questions I've gotten since my book "Created for Communion" was released last week is: How do you find time to write?

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