Kaitlyn E. Bouchillon's Blog, page 6

Chaos Doesn’t Get the Final Say

With a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, I read the final line in Scripture and sighed as the sermon concluded. It’s a bit of a running joke within my small group: for whatever reason, God has wanted me in the book of Revelation.

A year and a half ago, with the help of a study book, I began to slowly go through Revelation one chapter at a time. A handful of weeks after turning the last page, my Bible Study decided to dig deep into that very same letter. Most of the group, based on what they...

My Favorite Books of 2020

I’m sure the pandemic and sheltering-in-place had something to do with it, but I’ve read more books this year than ever before. This weekend, I finished book 80 for 2020.

Right now, I’m reading advanced copies of books that will release in 2021. My December reading tends to be solely ARCs (advanced reader copies) as I narrow down the list of books I’ll recommend for the next year. (The “Can’t-Miss Books list for January-April” is in the works! If you’re an email subscriber, it’ll be in your inbo...

Advent Books and Bible Studies

Advent is a celebration, a time of remembering and waiting, and ultimately―a season marked by hope. Beginning the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, it recognizes the expectant waiting of Christ’s first coming and reminds us to wait expectantly for His return.

I did not know about Advent until eight or nine years ago. Now I can’t imagine the Christmas season without Advent. I hope the following list of Advent books and Bible Studies is a helpful resource to you! I’ve broken it up into multiple ...

Where Were You, God?

I’ve been asking God where He is.

On Sunday, my church family sang these words: I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who You say I am. You are for me, not against me. I am who You say I am.

I hung my head and raised my hands and wondered if faith sometimes looks like singing through the sadness, like coming empty but showing up anyway.

Although there have been lessons worth learning along the way, this summer has felt much more like the wilderness than the Promised Land. I have more questions than an...

If You’re Somewhere in the Messy Middle

Several years ago, I followed an embroidery account on Instagram. The wild creativity and intricate detail drew me in, frequently resulting in wide-eyed wonder at the finished projects.

Over and over, I told myself, One day I’m going to try that and This will be the year. Over and over, my fingers scrolled social media, tapping “like” but never picking up a needle.

A few months ago, as the realization settled in that my new normal for the foreseeable future required a screen not only for work bu...

14 Can’t-Miss Books Coming in 2020: September-December

I should know by now that narrowing the list down each season is NOT going to get easier, but every time forget all over again. It feels like an actual accomplishment that I landed on these 14 because I started with, umm, 38 titles bookmarked on my computer.

I would say oops except that in the midst of All The Bad News of 2020, a whole lot of books releasing this fall is a pretty great thing.

And though I sure don’t know what 2021 will hold, according to the bookmarks on my computer, it’ll certa...

Seven Things I Learned This Summer

When I shared my Spring 2020 list, I wrote “Truthfully, I’m still figuring out what exactly I’m learning in the midst of *waves hands around* all of this. Putting words to, well, anything right now feels just about impossible. But I’m going to try anyway because one day, I just might be grateful to be able to look back and remember.”

Every word of that still rings true. I almost chose not to share this list today because it just doesn’t feel like much, like I’ve been looking and paying attention...

I Don’t Know What Tomorrow Will Bring, But . . .

My hands hover over the keyboard. I don’t want to write this post.

I don’t really want to write any post at all, actually, even though my mind is constantly writing sentences and storylines throughout the day.

Part of me wants to blame it on the pandemic, and while it’s true that I have much less creative energy now than I did back in “precedented times,” I hesitate to put words down today because I know you won’t see them for another few weeks . . . and I don’t know what the world will look lik...

What If It’s as ‘Simple’ as Everyday Faithfulness?

My grandfather passed away last month. A few hours after receiving the news, the memory of a long-forgotten college paper crossed my mind.

It was late. Both night and tears had fallen, but instead of going to bed I sat at my desk searching through documents.

There. There! The glow of the computer screen lit up the room as I opened the file.

After three months of reading, writing, studying, presenting and discussing, our final assignment in this particular class centered around the idea of being...

Seven Things I Learned This Spring

One of the ways I intentionally practice appreciating the beautiful but so-very-ordinary stuff of real life and regular days is by keeping track of what I’m learning.

Truthfully, I’m still figuring out what exactly I’m learning in the midst of *waves hands around* all of this.

I wrestled with making and sharing this list. I’ve only just begun to process the last few months, and as I re-read the Winter list posted in February, I couldn’t help but think oh girl, you don’t know what you don’t know....