September with the Taylors
If September has felt like anything, it’s been the beginning of something new. Not a polished beginning, but the raw, stretching kind... where you’re only a couple weeks in and already learning so much.
Two weeks ago we jumped into homeschooling with all four kids. Keira has taken it head-on, and we chose The Good and the Beautiful curriculum. It’s early, but already we’ve seen growth... reading and math are clicking in fresh ways, and we’re realizing that homeschooling isn’t just about books, it’s about the rhythm of our home. Some days Wednesday calls for a beach break, and that’s okay. We make it up on Friday or Saturday and come back better for it. The freedom has been refreshing, and even though it’s a lot, it feels like the right step for our family.
And then there’s soccer. Practices Monday through Wednesday, games on Saturdays. Parenting isn’t efficient, but it’s full of watching our kids chase the ball down the field, learning teamwork, and just plain having fun. Even if our calendar looks chaotic, our hearts are full watching them play.
At the same time, we’ve been full-speed helping out with Antioch, a brand-new church plant here in Kona. From leading worship to setting up sound gear and helping with the little practical details, it’s been a joy to serve. But more than the tasks, there’s something sacred happening here. The whole story of how this church came to be is marked by God’s faithfulness. Everyone involved knows this is the Lord’s doing—He is building His church, and we simply get to be part of it. That truth has carried so much peace for us as we step in.
I’ve also been stepping deeper into Global Initiatives on the YWAM campus. Part of our team is in Cambodia right now meeting with national leaders, while we’ve also been sitting down for lunches with leaders from Guinea-Bissau. The groundwork is slow... lots of listening, praying, and planning—but we believe once these initiatives launch, the transformation will be rapid. Our dream is to see whole nations discipled and operating out of a biblical worldview, across every sphere of society. It’s big work, but it feels like the kind of vision worth giving ourselves to.
Creatively, this has been a milestone month. Our marriage book is now released into the world... a surreal moment after so many drafts, prayers, and edits. We’ve even tossed around the idea of recording an audiobook. What do you think? Would you listen, or do you prefer reading?
On top of that, music has continued to pour out. Tomorrow we release Send Me, Lord, a song born out of Isaiah 6, where the presence of God brings Isaiah to humility, repentance, forgiveness, and then commissioning. That’s the heartbeat of the song and the cry of our lives: “Here am I, send me.” Next month, we’ll be releasing I Come Into Agreement, a song about rejecting the enemy’s lies and choosing to believe what the Father says about us.
The moment that marked us most deeply this month, though, was the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We didn’t know him personally, but the grief hit as if we had lost family. Watching the global church mourn together, we sensed it was more than tragedy... it was a spiritual moment. Out of the ashes, we believe the church will rise with a new boldness to proclaim Jesus.
Not long after, our family found ourselves at the beach on one of those rare, magical days. We hiked, swam, grilled dinner, and let the kids play until the sun went down. It was simple, but it felt holy. Almost as if God was reminding us, in the middle of grief and uncertainty, that His joy is still here, still available, still ours to enter into.
So September has been a month of beginnings, stretching, grief, and joy. We’re only at the start of the homeschool journey. We’re stepping into new ministry opportunities. We’re writing, singing, and declaring what God is stirring in us. And through it all, the Lord keeps reminding us: He is the one building, and we simply get to walk with Him.
Looking ahead: October holds new music, continued ministry, and the day-in, day-out joys (and challenges) of raising these kids. Would you pray with us—for grace as we homeschool, wisdom as we serve, and courage to speak boldly the things the Lord puts on our hearts?
