The Need for Peace

Hello friends! It’s been so long… I’m not even sure where to start or what to say. It feels like a first date, all over again;) Being off the grid for the last year has felt nourishing to me. Dialing back on speaking engagements has given me space to just be. Not pouring my heart out to a room full of strangers on a regular basis, or publishing my every thought has given me space to do some deeper healing, to sort those thoughts just between me and Jesus. It’s been life-giving, nourishing, and restful.

I woke up early this morning with my brain full of thoughts realizing how sometimes, I understand things a little better if I write them down. I knew I had some friends who might sit and listen to me ramble, so this is me processing with you. Thanks for being here:)

It’s been over a year since I posted anything, and y’all, what a year. We have all watched our world turn inside out, upside down, and I know each of us has or is experiencing anxiety and sadness on new and different levels than any of us thought possible. There has been loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, loss of friends over political views, loss of security, loss of peace, loss of normalcy. I’m not here to polarize anyone further with my personal views, I’m not here to persuade anyone to think one way or another about the state of our world.

What I am here to do, is help us to find a little peace.

God often speaks to me in the early hours before the sun rises. How do I know it’s His voice? It’s one of calming when my thoughts swirl. It’s one of love when all I can think of is hurt. It’s one of steadfastness when all I feel is out of control. So before I share what He’s saying to me in the murky predawn this morning, I want you to open your heart to the God of the universe who is absolutely crazy for you. I want you to let Him help you stop the continuous loop in your brain, trying to solve all your problems, and fix your thoughts on Him.

You know He’s with you? Right here, right now. Waiting for you to hand over a little of your burden, my burden. You know you can speak to Him any time, anywhere, and in any way? Paul tells us in Romans that the Holy Spirit prays for us in groanings too deep for words. Have you ever just groaned out a prayer? I know I have.

But recently, I’m experiencing how God communicates in pictures, how all throughout scripture God gives visions, dreams, pictures that have deep layers of meaning. He is still in the business of talking to His people this way, and if you belong to Him, you are privy to this style of love letter from God.

So, I’m in my bed this morning, thoughts all over the place. The things that are bugging me, the difficult situations, the hard conversations, the worries, the fears, the tears. I’m working them over and over in my mind, trying to unravel the knots, thinking that if I worry hard enough, replay that conversation enough times, think of enough different scenarios of all the things on my plate, that I can find resolution.

But a wise counselor who studies Jesus and neuroscience recently told me this: all that does is cement that narrative in my brain. And that becomes the place I live from, a place of unrest, of striving, of chaos.

Well, that about blew my mind. How often do we think of things on a continuous loop, replaying that scenario, looking for resolution but finding that it’s making it worse? Are we even aware that’s the effect our worrying has?

Recently I did a teaching on rhetoric—persuasive speech—both false and true, and it’s place in our relationship with God and in our well-being (or lack thereof). Perhaps I’ll write a short series, a synopsis of that concept for you, my friends. I know I woke up today needing to hear it again, so my motives aren’t entirely altruistic.

In the meantime, I’ll leave a few crumbs for you to follow. Most importantly, today, is our need for peace.

I’m asking y’all to join me in my quest to hear God’s voice, what he’s saying to me for my good, to you for your good. So as you quiet yourself, ask God to speak to you in Scripture, in pictures, in song, in nature, in dreams, or through a friend. And as you allow God to take your thoughts from what you’re trying to resolve through worrying or obsessing, allow him to give your thoughts new direction.

The Message translation of Philippians 4:8 says this, “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

So, for peace and harmony today, I ask you: what is true? What is lovely? What is the best, not the worst? What is beautiful, not ugly? Think about these things, dwell on them. Let them soak through you and cover you in His light.

He is with you, friends. He is with me.

Peace and love,

kate

A Little Help Here?

Hey all! Happy Fall!

I hope you are rolling around in bright orange leaves, raiding Trader Joe’s for all the pumpkin things, lighting all the spicy candles, or like me, your sunburned face is peeling off from surfing these little fall swells:) But, if you happen to have offspring, the one thing we are all doing a little more of these days is parenting.

Listen, I’m really careful about what I share, as this blog is a platform for me to encourage through writing, but this one deserves our time and attention as I believe it falls in the category of encouragement. My dear friend Monica (author of Boy Mom, a legit manual for raising rad boys, and podcaster The Boy Mom Podcast) has put together this course to help moms raise their kids up with godly character with confidence.

I’m so serious when I say that Monica is raising some of my favorite boys on the planet next to my own son. I have the honor of hosting them on occasion, one being an up and coming competitive surfer Britt shapes for, and two others students at Westmont in my neck of the woods.

Y’all, raising kids is no joke. The stakes are high, we have to take it seriously. And we need support, we need wisdom, we need backup, WE NEED IT ALL. I’m on the tail end of my son’s teen years, and while I still can use the help, I’m enjoying the fruit of a deep relationship with my son. And my Fifi is just 6 years old, with the years in my home stretching out like the long road parenthood is. Mamas, raising kids is a gift, and investing in the job is totally worth it.

The course includes lessons, videos, guest interviews, downloads, basically all the things to help equip us to raise these crazy kids with character. It’s so relevant, so helpful. I believe in and appreciate Monica’s teaching as well as all of her awesome guests. I’m so in.

And if you decide not to do the course, I highly recommend subscribing to her blog. I look forward to her weekly emails even though we chat all the time!

The course signup is live right now and ends October 2 at 5pm CST. Click here for more deets.

Ok, chin up and all that sort of thing! Big love from me to you.

xo

kate

Whelp...

So, this happened. Puppies. In May, a sweet little black dog showed up at the ranch and refused to leave. So naturally, as one does when a pretty little puppy shows up on her doorstep, we built her a doghouse and decided to add her to the family. A couple weeks into her new life we discovered Poochie was losing her waistline… and it wasn’t just “the covid-19." (haha) We fell in love with a pregnant dog! And so, 7 weeks later we welcomed 8 new puppies into our barn.

Sometimes things appear one way, then bam! They change. One minute you’re dog-free and proud, and the next you have 9 perky puppies rolling around in the grass and pooping faster than you can scoop it. It’s insanity. But if there’s one thing we’ve all learned from life in the time of coronavirus, things are not what we had expected. Not our plans, not our careers, not our health. What’s here today could be gone tomorrow, and anyway, who has any idea what tomorrow will look like?

It’s a lot.

These past months I feel like I went into hiding—all my speaking events were cancelled, I”m not working on a writing project, and just flying way under the radar. And while that’s something I truly love, I started to do two things: question my purpose and feel irritated by all the interruptions. For some reason, we humans love to have a roadmap and then fly straight on that thing ‘til we get to the goal. We like neat and tidy, predictable, we like accomplishment and accolades and “smooth travels.” And I think that until the worldwide pandemic hit, those of us who were experiencing bumps in the road of any sort felt like we were the odd ones out. Now, the whole stinking world is there, all together, confused.

So I know you’re with me, feeling like you need to recalibrate your purpose, how you spend the time God gave you (which, for the record, is the same 24 hours in a day as the rest of humanity). And with a million voices coming at us competing in volume, we desperately need clarity.

Then I remembered something I’ve always known, that distractions are real life. This is it. This is our life. Not our plans, not our wishes. This is it, however it looks. So whether we are working extra or not at all, whether we are homeschooling for the 10th year or for the first time, whether we feel stranded or scared or exasperated, this is it.

It sounds depressing, but it’s not, I think. In fact, it’s pretty sweet. So what’s the bottom line? Honestly, I think what it boils down to is this: love God and love others.

That’s it.

Love God, love your people. Sometimes that looks like a lot of dishes. Sometimes it looks like working through anxiety with a child. Sometimes that looks like making bean burritos for teenagers or a long talk with someone younger than you about life and faith. Sometimes that looks like working extra hours to keep a roof over their heads. Sometimes that looks like a gentle word to an angry stranger, it could look like reassuring a toddler. It looks like open hands and patience and food and mindfulness of other people. It looks like laying down our own agenda in order to consider someone else more important than ourselves. And it doesn’t look shiny or publicly acclaimed or fancy, but Jesus wasn’t shiny or fancy and eventually got the ancient version of “cancelled.”

Love God. Love people.

And you know what else? Discipleship. Jesus said to go and make disciples. He didn’t say to make sure everything stayed the same, he didn’t say to wait for times to get better, he didn’t say to hang your heart on government or media or money or health or all the things that are unstable. None of that changes the beauty of bringing another person into our lives—that’s discipleship. Teaching someone how to make a bed, that’s discipleship. Talking through what you know about how to seek God and hear truth, that’s discipleship. Solving conflict between siblings, teaching someone how to cook on the cheap, sharing something true with your people, stopping your life to meet a need, that’s discipleship. It looks real, it looks simple.

Simple, but not always easy. Because sometimes stray dogs come with puppies and the cost is much more than you agreed to. But so is the prize. So today, be encouraged! You don’t need to fix the world’s problems, you only need to love God and love people. It will look different for each one of us, but if we can stay in the love lane, we are crushing it. And something beautiful will be born in it you might even be able to hold in your hands. Maybe relational health. Maybe spreading peace. Maybe receiving peace. Maybe renewed strength and purpose and courage.

You can do this.

love,

kate

P.S. When dogs give birth, it’s called “whelping.” See what I did there? ;)

Fancy a Book Club While Quarantined?

Hey friends! This is my dear friend and adventure buddy Allie Marie Smith, founder of Wonderfully Made, a super cool non-profit that exists to help young women to know their worth. Allie asked if I’d like to do a book club with her and her community this month, and I replied with a breathless and overly energetic “yes!” and now I’m inviting YOU, my community! Because you’re cute.

Together we will be going through Here, Now, which is strangely appropriate for the quarantine life;) I mean, come on! We have all found ourselves coming to a screeching halt and wondering what on earth to do about it. Honestly, my heart is for each of us to be able to face our lives head-on no matter the circumstances, which takes courage and the practice of presence, and has big, huge benefits. Please join us as we take some time out to read together, think together, to shift and move into the powerful places God has set before us. I want that for you, I want it for me. Now’s the time!

So, whether you’ve already read it but want to log on and chat about it, or whether you’re like, “wait, you wrote a book?” you are welcome here. If you’re sick to death of people telling you what to do with your quarantine, you’re welcome here. If you read the book and hated it, you’re welcome here (sort of). If you just want more details on the nude beach scene in the book, you’re welcome here. And, if you need a little courage in this weird life, you’re welcome here.

Here’s the 411 in case you’re interested:

It starts April 22nd and goes 4 weeks. The first week kicks off with Allie interviewing me via Zoom, the second and third weeks you will get emails of encouragement that include journaling questions from both me and Allie. And it ends with a fun Virtual Book Club gathering via Zoom, which is super fun for me, since that means I’ll get to see the faces of the people I write for and chat a bit!! I do hope you’ll join us. Come on, just do it!

To sign up (it’s free, BTW) click here, and you’ll get more details from Allie.

As always, please know I appreciate and love you.

xo

kate

The King of All Things Heartbreaking and Hopeful

Today is Palm Sunday. Today is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), displaying his humble kingship. Jesus, the God-man, a man who has the power to calm wind and waves, a man who heals at a word, a man who seeks out those who are low in class and reputation and means, a man who respects and encourages and frees women. A man, essentially homeless, without status or pomp or money or any of the things we look for in a leader. No fanfare, no glitter, no designer robes.

As he rides, palm branches sway and humanity swells around the action as the volume rises with hope-filled voices. Men and women clothed in frustration of Roman government, frustration of work and family and survival. Each having a depth of need, a desire to worship yet also to be seen. A desire for justice yet a desire to go with the crowd. 

“Praise God! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people shout as he rides a donkey into town. They don’t realize they are the same ones to shout “crucify him!” in a few short days. Their hope is contingent on popular opinion. Let that not be our way, it changes by the hour.

Today is Palm Sunday. It is the day to see the ways Jesus has come so that we can understand God’s crazy love. To see how he has reached out to each of us, right where we are. The worrier. The winner. The addict. The image-conscious. The harlot. The broken. The depressed, the fearful, the prideful. The leaders, the followers, the opportunists. The confident and the crushed. The self-righteous and the self-seeking.

We who put our hope in wellness. We who put our hope in plenty. We who put our hope in masks and gloves and distancing. We who put our hope in income or influence or relationships or gain or power or government or our own strength. Let us be there, waving palm branches at the one who is the source of hope. The source of healing. The source of justice and provision and peace and joy. Welcome him into your day, friends. Welcome him. 

I’ve been watercoloring this week, practicing mixing colors, trying the wet on wet technique and spending time in prayer. Watching how the paint and water bleed into itself and make something more beautiful than I could do by trying to put the paint where I want it to go. Today, spend time with Jesus doing something that reminds you that he is more beautiful than you can imagine or create. That he is King, one that knows the struggles of humanity yet one who willingly experienced them to be with us. Plant a seed, write a poem, play some chords on a ukulele, hold a child. All this beauty is a gift from a king, one who sees you today in all your fears, all your hurts, all your needs. He sees you, he has got you. 

Love,

Kate

So Many Questions, and Cut it Off

Every year at Christmastime, this legendary picture gets some quality air time. Feast your eyes on this baby. No, this is not an Awkward Family Photo, this is me (and Britt), around the same age my son is now. Which means that this photo is officially a throwback. I have mixed feelings about the whole affair, so please, allow me to be vulnerable with you and ask some honest and raw questions.

Where are my eyebrows?

Why the neck beard?

How did crushed velvet come back in style so quickly? And why am I re-buying the trends I already lived through? (Doc Marten, I’m looking at you.)

Why are Britt’s pants voluminous enough to make a sail (or large shelter) if he crashed on a deserted island?

What ever happened to wood paneling?

How did Britt’s parents allow him to date a girl in such a short skirt?

Why would I go out with a guy who wore that sweater? Or had that mustache?

How did I end up marrying that guy?

But the worst (best?) part is, and what my kind and loving mother in law has made sure to eradicate the evidence of, is that I had on a short overall-skirt thing that my clueless 19 year-old self didn’t realize was totally showing the camera my skivvies. So, like a wise and innovative pre-photoshop wiz, she busted out the scissors and cut it off.

That’s what people who love you do for you, they cut things off in your life that you aren’t aware of, just for the sake of love. And now, what would have overshadowed the whole photo with even more shame, made way for a sweet memory and a good laugh. Just a little editing, just a little purposeful trim, can change the big picture.

I’m older now. I’ve seen some life. And I can tell you with confidence that God is a giver, not a taker. That sometimes a little cutting off of things in our lives makes way for the better things. If God is doing this in you, be sure of this: He loves you. He is creating a truer, more beautiful picture of your life and sometimes it takes the sharp sting of scissors.

What in you needs cutting off right now? Not just for the sake of embarrassment, but for the sake of peace? Of love? Of joy? What in your life can you toss out so that the beautiful things can shine through? Is it a habit? An app? Is it mental clutter or actual clutter that crowds out the good? Is it noise you’ve allowed into your heart or home that’s so loud you can’t hear the angels sing? Maybe it’s perspective or messages you’re getting from culture. Cut some things, my friends, so the good can be seen more clearly. Hand those scissors to a God who pursues you.

Friends, we are on the home stretch in Advent. This is our chance! To give to someone in need, to hug your grandma. This is our chance to sing in the streets, to turn our eyes to the stars. This is our chance to dwell on the Incarnation, the radical-ness of a God who chose to become human to show us what love looks like. And to love him in return.

And when love looks a lot like dirt, like sweat, like outcasts and humility and joy. Like stars and gold and kingly gifts. Like making room, like chasing after the ones who are running. Like food and candles and music and fire, I’m here for it.

It’s Christmastime, my loves! Let the scissors fly so the light can shine in!

Love,

kate

Hey Girls!

I am the luckiest! This Saturday in San Diego I get to combine two of my absolute favorite things: rad girls and speaking life! I get to tell a room full of 1,000 girls something really, really good, and I can’t wait. My heart beats for girls growing up and navigating life. Maybe it’s because Daisy would be 15 now, or maybe it’s because I still feel young. Maybe it’s because I want to see every single girl walking in confidence and courage, or maybe it’s because I understand the love of Jesus a little more every day, but I LOVE this age group.

The Anchored in Love conference is for young women ages 12+ and is a super fun day of crazy encouragement, amazing worship, new friends, a marketplace, and best of all, some serious truth and freedom. If you or someone you know is in the area, please come!!! There are still tickets available. Click this link to register and get more information. If you come, please find me so I can give you a big ol’ squeeze! I’m speaking first in the lineup, so don’t be late. You’ll also hear spoken word, encouragement from Bethany Hamilton ( legendary status!), and just general awesomeness:)

I know I’m being bossy, but you seriously have no excuse not to come if you live anywhere in Southern California! The tickets are inexpensive and there is scholarship available if you can’t swing it. Or if you’re feeling spendy you can buy a ticket to the after party (it benefits Wonderfully Made and Friends of Bethany) and get some fun swag and meet Bethany!

It’s a joy to be speaking along with all these rad, powerful women above, so please join me and get your favorite girl to the conference

Just Practicing

Fifi caught this fish. We were camping in the Sierras near Mammoth Lakes. I heard the squeal coming from around the corner, the crowing of a little girl who had stepped out in courage and got a shocking and delightful return on her investment. As her dad lifted the trout for her to hold in her pudgy and uncertain hands, it sprang out and onto the dirt, trying to escape its destiny for the frying pan. Gasping for water, the satiny, spotted fish flopped around splattering mud all about. The deciding moment between tears or triumph. And yet, as dad picked it up with deft hands, as Fifi presented it to the camera, all was well. The courage of a little girl, trying something new—intoxicating with possibility.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that rarely do we get stuff right the first time we give it a try. I’ve been thinking lately about all the facets of my current life, all the things I want to do and do well: mothering, writing, wifing, walking with God, and friendships. I keep mulling over the fact that for many years I expected myself to just know how to do it. To just do it right every time and berate myself if I dropped the ball. I should know how to guide my kids, I should know how to care for my own and others’ souls and bodies. I should know how to communicate what God is teaching me, I should know how to forgive. I should know how to speak life, how to give grace, how to walk in freedom. I should know how to behave, how to show respect, how to experience emotional health. I should know these things.

But this week, as I grow one year older, I feel brand new at so much of it. I see how I’m just practicing. We all are.

All the loveliest things in life, all the most imperative and indispensable things are not something we just know, but are things needing to be learned. To be learned then to be practiced, to be done over and over until mastered. I have yet to master grace. Forgiveness. Right thinking. Presence. Courage. Kindness. Contentment. I must practice.

And while we would rather be effortless in everything we do, and while it sounds exhausting and insurmountable to have mud splattering about while the thing we are practicing wildly flops, I’ve found it’s actually the opposite. Refreshing. Restoring. The most life-giving thing about it all is found in the practice. In the doing over and over—the I’m sorry’s. The kind words. The uninhibited prayers. Repeating a worthy thing until the edges have worn smooth, until it’s ingrained in our being and becomes second nature. We practice, even while hitting the wrong note. We do, even while wobbly. We speak, even while stuttering.

It seems to be a two-way street. Because even while Fifi catches one of her first trout, her daddy holds the slippery, shimmying fish still in his practiced hands. We must not do life alone. What can we hold firm in our hands for those we love? Is it time? Words of love? Is it courage? Is it bringing peace? What can you hold for another, who can you get your hands dirty for while they stand with you in partnership? We are all practicing.

And of all the things I practice, professionally, personally, relationally, I am finding that I want to practice one thing most. The Apostle Paul (in 1 Corinthians chapter 13) tells us that love is like this:

Patient and kind.

Not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

Not irritable.

Keeps no record of being wronged.

Doesn’t rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Never gives up, never loses faith.

Always hopeful.

Endures through every circumstance.

And so I practice. We practice. And while sometimes the trout slips out of our hands and we get some dirt under our nails, with each try we become more loving. More courageous. More kind. More true.

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, don’t be afraid to get it wrong. Let there be a shocking and delightful return on our investment.

Love,

kate

#goals

Summer is all about goals. Not the ones that make us feel anxious because we know they’re unattainable (New Year’s, I’m talking to you!) but the revised kind, the kind that bring joy, which happens to be the kind we don’t usually advertise or say much about. Last night I realized I had totally hit one of my three summer goals, when while washing dishes my husband actually gasped when he saw the backs of my legs. I am shockingly tan right now, so much so that he said he’s never seen me this tan, at which I fist pumped punctuating the achievement of goal #1, which was going to the beach as much as humanly possible. And if you’re worried about skin cancer and wrinkles, well, I’ve decided that since 100% of us die and none of us make it out of here alive, I’m going down with a tan.

My summer goals are good, y’all, and I’m not ashamed of it.

Listen, in order to survive this crazy world, we positively must schedule in the good stuff. Even loosey-goosey, blasé, laid-back, hippie types like me can join in the goal game! This past year was crammed full of traveling and speaking, writing, promoting, mothering, wifing, and everything in between. Sometimes I felt like I was on the hamster wheel I’m always preaching against. So when my summer schedule died down significantly, I realized I was in danger of wasting these delicious months and finding myself at the end of it wondering where the time went and why I’m so cranky.

So I spoke some goals. Out loud, to no one in particular but I heard them. Good goals that would bring peace, fun, rest and rejuvenation, a chance to expand my brain and take a break from teaching and writing. (The others are to read as many books as possible and purge and organize my house). We have to catch the wind of whatever ocean we are sailing, and go where it takes us, the good and beautiful and wild places we find when we embrace the present. Whether we are in summer school, sweating out our last month of pregnancy, working hard or hardly working, there is a time for everything and I believe that God makes everything beautiful for its time.

But before we run like mad after our goals, we would do well to revisit what we really want out of life, not what we think we want. Maybe some of us want success, a certain number on the scale, or 2.5 kids. Maybe some of us are running after more—more money, more status, more influence. Maybe others of us are running after achievement, recognition, and the affirmation that comes with it. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, and nearly all are things I have run after at some point in my life. And yet. What’s behind it all? What really matters? Break it down and it might look a little different. And after a bit of thinking and a bit of praying, call me crazy, but this is what I want: Love. Peace. Presence. Wisdom. Vibrancy. Depth. Beauty. Fun. Fun. Fun. Wellness. Purpose. Vision.

Sometimes I think the goals we are running after can misalign with the ones we actually want deep down. So I’m asking you, as a friend, sister, one who is created in the image of God, what are your goals in this season? The one today, right now, whether boring or messy or beautiful or tedious? Are your goals on hold for when you finally get that promotion or boyfriend or baby or house? What is holding you back from experiencing peace and loving your people, right now? What is keeping you from diving into the growing pains of today?

Don’t wait until tomorrow for when things finally get good.

As we stare down the last month of summer, think about what brings you life. Because tomorrow will come, then autumn, winter, spring, and so on. Our careers will fluctuate, friendships will ebb and flow, our babies will grow and addresses change. Speak good goals into today, my friend. Schedule in the good stuff so you can be strong in whatever life brings your way.

Love,

kate

Free Stuff and Two Fun Podcasts

Yes, that’s me, the orange-hued person looking off in the distance like I have an inside joke with myself. Somehow, that picture looks normal until it’s in a lineup of normal people! I’m on this cute little graphic with a few friends of mine who I adore, and who also happen to be podcasters. Recently we got together and came up with something super fun—a couple of episodes where we talk about being intentional in summertime with your time, family, your life. We don’t want these glorious months to slip by without enjoying every second, whether we are dreading the lack of structure, figuring out what to do with our kids, or how we are going to not just survive, but slay summer like bosses.

Even more fun, is the fact that we are giving away $600 to Target and some fave items that we love for summer! Since you’re my people, and since nobody hates free stuff, I wanted to give you a chance to win. Click here to enter.

Give the first episode a listen here and get inspired. I hope you win the giveaway since I’m partial to you!

xo

kate

Come Say Hi!

So, let me be frank. I chose this picture and tell this story for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a great excuse to use a picture of myself with professional makeup and photography. No, no shame at all. Second, it’s a hilarious example of how moms choose photos they look great in, even though the kids look like they just got sucked up in the vacuum cleaner and spit out again. And lastly, it’s a fun example of how usually, life looks fancier than it is (Instagram, I’m talking to you), but sometimes life is fancier than it looks. Let me explain.

Typically, a Wednesday morning looks like sweats, dishes, reading stacks of picture books. It looks like dust bunnies, loose chickens, maybe an overflowing toilet. It might look like a morning spent baking or laundry piled up or maybe any of these things forsaken for a beach day, but this morning it looked like dancing to inappropriately loud pop music in my bedroom while packing my suitcase. Fifi came in to join me, drawn by the beat, and in true precocious 5-year-old fashion, demanded that I shan’t dance and that she shall be the only one to do the dancing.

“Mommy, don’t dance!” she shouts over the thumping bass.

“I have to!” I shout back, shimmying over to the full length mirror to get a proper view of my sweet moves while clad in saggy sweat pants and tee shirt I just wore overnight and then worked out in.

“No, Mommy, don’t!”

“But I have to dance, I’m going to New York!” I shouted my final reply. Yes, I was packing my pink suitcase with a dirty bun and saggy sweats, proving that life is sometimes fancier than it looks! I’m leaving the preciously patina’d (did I just make that up?) yet sometimes grubby reality of daily life to be swept off to the glamour of NYC for a night and day of super-fancy author duties such as, but not limited to, signing books at the Book Expo of America!

That’s right, you heard me. All day I’m getting ready and I have absolutely no chill. I am a huge book nerd and am so proud and grateful to be invited to this event. When I received the invitation, I responded back in all caps and have been planning my outfits for weeks—which is why I have to dance away all my excitement so I don’t knock anyone over at the Expo and festivities. Pray for me.

So, please! Come say hi to me and the peeps at Harper Collins at the Book Expo of America. It’s booth #2046. If any of you reading this are going to be that way, I’ll be signing books in the booth on Friday from 1:45-2:45, and I’d love to meet you!

Also, I’ll be flying straight to Seattle to teach at the Daughters Conference on Saturday, so if you’re on that side of the country you can register here.

The moral of the story is, sometimes life is a bit… lifey. You know, work, school, dishes, repeat. Those days are important, the building blocks of doing great things. And sometimes, well, you get to go do something that once was only a dream, and you just have to dance in your bedroom about it.

If you have something to dance about, do it! Whatever it is! Let’s not let Fifi be the boss of who dances and who doesn’t, because while a trip to NYC is a magical unicorn in my otherwise plain but beautiful life, there’s almost always something to dance about. Shall we?

love,

kate

I Have Discovered the Secret

I have discovered the secret. No, not to contentment like Paul the Apostle (although we’ll talk about that toward the end of the post). I have discovered the secret of why Dolly the goat keeps escaping her pen. All week long, Dolly repeatedly meanders up to the house wanting to party. She taps on the French doors with her dainty hoof, pretending like she didn’t just spray poop pellets all over the patio. It’s been an unsolvable and unfortunately messy mystery.

When I scooped her up to bring her back to the barn, I decided to investigate the situation. I took inventory: Flower the goat, check. Daphne and Jane the donkeys, check. Hmmm… Something’s fishy and I can’t put my finger (which now smells like goats) on it., so I head back in to finish my work. The mystery grows day by day, as some days she stays in with all the “girls” and others she goes out on a solo mission (apparently to soil my patio, since poop flies out of her like BB’s from Ralphie’s Red Ryder).

Until the day I caught her.

Doing yoga.

The donkey, that is. Before my very eyes, Dolly leaps onto Jane’s back (goat yoga at its most feral), goes for a ride while she walks over near the fence, then takes a flying leap to freedom. The audacity! Your secret is out, Dolly, I caught you in the ACT!

So, yes, I have discovered the secret of the animals in jailbreak cahoots. But seriously, I have discovered a little bit of the secret of contentment and it starts with laying down one thing to pick up something better. As you all probably know, I’ve been writing about presence and contentment. I believe one thing leads to the other, and it starts with ditching distraction.

When Daisy was sick, I had the opportunity to go off the grid for 3 months in Israel. No iPhones the entire time. And while I’ve worked to keep distraction in its place ever since we came home all those years ago, it creeps up on me and crowds out peace. I’m finding myself in a place where I need to detox a bit, and I’m hoping you’ll join me this Holy Week. I’ve been working with Faith Gateway to create the Here, Now Digital Detox. Basically, it’s 7 days of putting your digital life into submission—whatever is stealing your joy, whether it’s social media, entertainment, online shopping, games, really anything that might have gotten excessive and is ripping you off from your actual beautiful life.

If you want to take the plunge, click here (it’s totally free) and you’ll get 7 days of prayers, devotions, and journaling prompts (written by me!) to print out and use for the week! You decide what you want to unplug from, turn your focus and attention to Jesus, your people, creation, community, the beauty of Holy Week—pretty much all the lovely things God gives us that we squander when we are overly attached to our tech—and each day will have a specific focus and prayer to make the most of your time.

Listen, I’m not the presence guru, I don’t have all the answers. But I do know a great place to start. I want to do this, and I want us to do it together. You’re my people and I’m grateful to give you something solid to stand on to begin your practice of presence. I’m so excited for you!

Are you in?

Love,

kate

P.s. After Holy Week is over, the detox will be made available all the time, so if you’re seeing this after the fact, it’s still there! Get on it!

It's in the Adventure

Today is the day Here, Now is officially born! Just for funsies, I’ve decided to include an excerpt in today’s post. This is the beginning to chapter 7, which is about practicing presence in adventure and creation, which happens to be my all-time fave. I’m not going to spoil it for you, but there’s a funny story following this chapter intro… (which happens to be called Sweat, Speedos, and Sparkly Surprises)

 So, this is me encouraging each of you to get after it, however that looks for you: picking flowers, stand-up paddling, hiking, picnic in the arboretum. Get the sun on your face, get fresh air in your lungs. Spend some time thinking about the One who made it all with someone who calls you sister or neighbor or mom or wife or friend or daughter. Big love to you today!

I’m somewhat of a hippie. Kind of granola, but not totally. If I were a bumper sticker, I’d land somewhere between “Kale yeah!” and “I love animals, they’re delicious.” I spent six years of my childhood on a mountain in Idaho without electricity or paved roads, and all the other years were spent on the beach in Southern California. So, while I love man-made things—especially my pink velvet couch with sequined cushions—I have a special affinity for creation, for experiencing God’s presence in what he spoke into existence. I don’t want to cram my earthy ways down your throat, as I understand not everyone enjoys the same things, but there is nothing quite as real and centering as delighting in nature.

And if nature is the doorway of God’s wild beauty, then adventure is crossing the threshold with intention. It’s not enough just to know it’s there or to merely bring pieces of it into my house; it must be entered into. This call of adventure is an invitation to experience sights, sounds, scents, and textures that draw us out of ourselves and into what’s happening beyond the sterile and controlled environments we have built around us.

I believe the pleasure of God is in the adventure—in the sound of fishing poles clacking while hiking down the trail, the picnic on the river, the casting and mending of the fly rod’s thick white line under a wide blue sky; in the waxing of the board, the salt crystals forming on hair and eyelashes after surfing—yet we don’t often recognize it. When we do, it’s like opening an elegantly wrapped gift in the presence of the giver: there is mutual anticipation, mutual delight. He saw what he had made and called it good, and he wants us to revel in the good he made.

But, too often, we merely spend our days checking off the to-do list. He gave us senses he wants to fill, yet we’ve allowed them to be dulled by screens, by busyness, by duty. Sometimes the last thing on our minds is enjoying creation, looking for adventure. Maybe it’s because work is relentless; the hamster wheel spins too fast to step down without face planting. Maybe it’s because going off the beaten path takes a bit of effort, more than we think we can afford. Maybe it’s because encountering nature can be an unpredictable thing, a bit frightening, because we might find ourselves in a situation we can’t control. But I’m pretty sure that’s where God meets us: in the space where we set aside our agenda and learn to be openhanded with his will for the days of our lives. He meets us in the wild and savage beauty because, as they say in Narnia, “He is not a tame lion.”

So much keeps us from natural spaces—but isn’t that where we met God for the first time, so long ago? In a garden. Face-to-face. Where it’s his desire to care for us by filling our souls with fresh air, with exquisite beauty. It’s his concept, that in creation we are drawn into his very presence. And in that presence, we are drawn closer to him and closer to each other. Being outside gives us the chance to stop to notice him, to hear him say, Look what I made for you, my dear. Look how much I love you, how capable I am of creating beautiful things. Come away with me, darling. Be with me awhile. It’s hard to ignore when we step away from our usual distractions. Love is loud and clear in the great outdoors.

Entering into the adventure space is always a risk. Sometimes it ends up magical—the setting, the company, the weather, the discovery. And yet sometimes . . . not so much. You can’t put a bridle on adventure; it’s going to go the way it wants. Either way, though, it’s living. It’s diving into the experience. It’s sharing in our surroundings and finding out more about ourselves, more about each other. And it’s always beautiful, even if it looks a little different than we hoped.

Let's hang out! Save the date.

Hey, what are you doing on April 2? Feel like hanging out? I want to invite you to Reality Carpinteria at 7:00 for a message, some sweet worship, lots of yellow and white books, and some cupcakes (because sugar). It’s the day Here, Now is born into the world, so while I’ll have lots of serious and important things to say, I thought we could make it fun! You can throw stuff at me while I’m onstage, you can play Chubby Bunny with the cupcakes, or you could be completely civil and just show up. I’ll be available to hug necks and sign books, but honestly what’s most important to me is sharing some wisdom with you while we talk about what it means to practice presence.

Listen, you are why I wrote this book. Because while I’d absolutely love to sit down over a Chai latte with each and every one of you, that’s impossible. So I write. Think of my book like this: we laugh a little, cringe a little, confess a little, and cheer each other on in our one, beautiful, sometimes terrifying or boring or crazy life. I’m grateful for you, for the way you’ve encouraged and prayed for me, and I’d like to encourage you back!

Bring your surf buddies, your mom friends, your Pilates pals. Bring your grandma, your bestie, your neighbor, your teens. Bring an open heart and open hands ready to receive what God might have for you. Come fancy or come in your jammies. Just come!

Love,

kate

Legit

There’s been a bit of growing up around here. One of my chicks went through puberty, and well, let’s just say he surprised us—he won’t be laying any eggs. I heard a crow yesterday morning coming from my unexpected rooster, and now he’s all tough-guy in the barnyard. He’s going to taste delicious dredged in almond meal and fried in butter.

Another boy I know has also surprised me. My son Isaiah. This boy has been throwing himself into the art of filmmaking and has turned it into a business. He’s so legit! His work is really beautiful; so beautiful in fact, that my publisher hired him to make my book trailer! He filmed and edited clips from our life that tell a compelling story in 60 seconds. The imagery is stunning, the editing is masterful, and I’m beyond proud to have worked with him. Needless to say, I’m not going to be dredging him in almond meal and frying him in butter. I’ll let him stay around since he’s so useful:)

Mamas, there’s nothing like working with your creative son to make something with purpose. Not only did I get to create with him and spend that precious time, but I got to know him more deeply as I took his direction, worked toward a common goal, and supported him in his work. My deepest hope for Here, Now is that we will be inspired to be with our people, to be with God, that we will make and do beautiful things. That we will pour ourselves into our real lives, the one that’s ours and only ours, not the ones on our screens or the ones that make us feel FOMO. I want each of us to own it, to build our lives, one moment at a time. I hope my book inspires you to do that.

You can watch the trailer on the book website, as well as claim some cool freebies when you preorder—nobody hates free stuff! You’ll get a discussion guide (using it at a book club with delicious food would be super fun!), the first 3 chapters on PDF, and the first 2 chapters of the audiobook. There are also shareable quote images if you feel like spreading the message and inspiring others. (My publishing team chose the quotes; my personal fave is “Maybe, just maybe, God is calling you to stop and smell the shawarma”). So, check it out, watch the trailer and cheer my son on in his one, God-given, beautiful life, and get inspired to lean into yours.

What makes your heart beat fast? What beautiful things that you can make or do or say would you like to throw yourself into? Do it now, while there’s still time! As my book launch creeps up and all the things on my to do list make me dizzy, I want to remember why I’m doing all of this in the first place. I wrote this for you, friends. It’s my chance to sit down with you and laugh and tell stories while cheering you on in your one genuine life. You’ve got this!

Love,

kate

Chicken Butts and Loose Donkeys

Hi friends, both old and new! A big welcome to my new subscribers, if I could reach through the screen and hug your neck I would. My posts are about all sorts of things, but I hope you enjoy the philosophical and deep words I’m sharing with you today. Life isn’t always just sunshine and rainbows, sometimes you wrestle with the hard questions, search intensely for meaning… or maybe just a rogue donkey. Anyway, I hope you find some meaning here (or maybe a giggle, sometimes it’s the same thing). Proceed.

Never say never. Isn’t that what they always say? And if you’ve been a parent longer than a minute, you say it pretty much daily. And since I am a parent, and Fifi’s basically an only child and needs responsibility and companionship, I did what I never thought I’d do: filled the barn with animals you can’t ride. Or eat. And since never say never generally has a domino effect, two things happened this week that I never imagined would ever be a thing. First of all, I washed a chicken’s butt. You heard that right. Her name is Big Mama. I washed Big Mama’s butt—right clean, too. Chickens apparently get something called “dirty butt” (so creatively named) and my poor hen was walking around with her tail feathers matted in poop for weeks… Don’t judge me, it took me a while to adequately consider my options: 1. Wash the butt. 2. Allow the butt to stay nasty. or, 3. Pop a cap. (I know a guy…) As you can see, each of these options requires courage. Each has lasting implications. And each was a moral dilemma. And since I’m a girl who generally likes to do the right thing, I took one for the team and opted for door #1.

How exactly does one wash a chicken’s butt, you ask? Fill a bucket with warm water, catch the dirty chicken, put her in the chicken jacuzzi for 20 minutes and speak loving (and cleansing) words over her. That’s right, I spent 20 minutes of my life holding that chicken down in the purple bucket singing love songs. Fifi came and helped “soothe” Big Mama (poking her in the eye, kissing her on the beak, squishing her comb) and I, with gloved hand, proceeded to swish the poopy water around while trying to dissolve the ancient, matted poop from her ample backside—until Big Mama decided enough was enough. She flapped her pepper-sprinkled wings and got the heck out of that Chicken-cuzzi, spraying poop water all over me: from heat to toe, including in my hair and on my upper lip. I’m still disturbed. I still can’t stop exfoliating.

But the crazy doesn’t stop there. Only a few days later, while I was doing some work at nap time and chatting with my 18 year old son in the kitchen, I looked out the window and noticed a giant poop pile on my lawn. Donkey poop. Leaping up, I looked out to the barn and realized the donkeys were… missing. Now, last month we decided it would be a great idea to acquire some miniature donkeys to be besties with our baby Pygmy goats (I decided only miniature and female animals are allowed). We have an old one and a fat one, and both are the friendliest, shaggiest, sweetest, beasts. Anyway, donkeys are smart, and they figured out how to escape into the wild and open spaces of my neighborhood. So, while Isaiah tipped his handsome blond head back and blithely drank chocolate milk straight from the carton, I proceeded to beg him to go with me on a donkey hunt.

This is what that sounds like:

Me: Oh my gosh the donkeys got out! Will you help me catch them?

Isaiah: No way, dude.

Me: Come on, please? What if I can’t catch them?

Isaiah: Real smart getting donkeys in the first place. Not my problem, bro.

Me: Okay, fine. But don’t think you get to eat food here ever again. (Leaves in huff).

Needless to say, the donkeys were caught and again safe in their pasture. The chicken butt is fluffy, and the teenager is still inhaling carbohydrates at light speed. (They also say “never make empty threats to your children you won’t follow through on”).

All’s well that ends well:)

I hope you love your crazy today!

Love,

kate

How to be More Present and Kick Butt in 2019

Hello, friends!

Here we are, plowing through the remains of 2018 like it’s a sleeve of Oreos. You know how that goes, one second it was in your hand, the promise of enjoying each and every bite to the fullest, and the next… the entire sleeve has gone missing and you’re blaming the dog, but you know by the cream filling on your lip it was all you. You can’t deny it’s true.

Right this minute I’m snuggled up under a heavy blanket in our house, crisp from the morning chill, watching God paint the sky pink while the sun arrives for a new day. Christmas tree still lit up, silence playing in the background. Today I think, as a new day unwraps itself like the gift it is, I want everything it has for me. I want to be present for all of it, not just left spinning with chocolate cookie dust on my hands and wondering what happened. I want to drink down all the best moments, I want to be brave in the most daunting callings. I want to sit right here at the end of 2019 and know I was present and kicked butt, every day of the year. I want it so much I wrote a whole book about it.

This week I got together with some super cool girls at my publisher’s, and we came up with something fun for you! Since I’m really quite professional, and always appropriate, we’ve called it How to be More Present and Kick Butt in 2019. It’s a fun (free!) download that will give you 8 of my most sincere (off the cuff) tips for presence and butt-kicking in the new year. And while I’m not usually the girl to boss you around, it was fun to come up with 8 bossy things to say on the matter:)

But the best part of the download is… you’ll get Chapter 1 of my new book!!! Confession: sharing something I’ve worked on so long makes my armpits sweat. So, enjoy the thought of my sweaty discomfort, click the link, and let my publisher send you my bossy tips and Chapter 1 of Here, Now!

Feel free to share the link with a friend who needs a good laugh or some sweet New Year’s advice:)

In case you’re wondering, no, making a hat for a baby chicken out of a flower is not one of my 8 tips. But even so, feast your eyes on the cutest thing you’ll see all day:)

Love,

kate

Diving In!

So, I was going to post this pic and write something cheeky about going for it, diving in to life. All in, both feet. Then I got distracted. Distracted by inspiration. I'm in Hawaii this week while Britt is working with RHNL, and I'm inspired by the scent of plumeria blossoms in the air, by the way the ocean wraps itself up in my skin, drawing out my mermaid scales, inspired by the way I come alive with the tradewinds, the adrenaline rush from jumping off the rock at Waimea bay, swimming through the tunnels, the flamboyant colors of creation on display. The morning walks, rain or shine. The tumble in the shore break. The kale salads and papaya bowls. The evenings with dear friends on the balcony, kids running wild and laughter ringing like bells. The tropical fish that move with the swells in complete fluidity with each other and the timing of the turquoise sea. I got distracted by the baby gecko Fifi caught and kissed on the lips, by the baby chicks crowding their mama hens on the bike path. I got distracted by the scent of pineapple on Fifi's cheeks, by Isaiah's blue eyes strikingly contrasted with his epic tan, by my man's shoulders as he paddles for a wave. Summertime in Hawaii. It's too good here. 

Then right before I started writing this post, I clicked on Amazon to buy a vegan cookbook (because I'm super crunchy, but let's be honest, l'll add meat to most of the recipes) and saw Here, Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World by Kate Merrick. Wait, what??!?!?!? I know, right? I was surprised too! All the little hints I planned to drop, all the subtle silliness and clever ideas just got usurped. So, here it is! I wrote a whole book about jumping in to real life, about being brave, present, and fruitful right where you are. It will make you laugh, hopefully won't make you cry (if you feel like crying, just reread Chapters 1 and 2 of my first book), and will encourage you to build a beautiful, meaningful life, moment by moment. It will challenge you to practice presence as if your life depends on it. (It kind of does). Anyway, it's available for pre-order! Which is super fun because you'll get the best deal plus you'll get it on your front porch or in your mailbox or yurt or igloo or shack or villa or ranch or chateau or mansion or hut or commune or kibbutz or shanty or teepee or cabin or casita. Click the link if you want to see the cover!

So, friends. Have the best day. Set down your work. Face the sun and feel your freckles appear. Listen to your favorite song. Eat acai bowls. Give your people some legit face time. Cook something delicious. Jump in the pool fully clothed, take a sunset picnic, dance on your kitchen island, put an umbrella in your smoothie, bake a cake for your grandma, invite your besties over for charcuterie, rock your tan, have a water balloon fight with your man, get sucked into a great book, sleep under the stars. Summer isn't just for kids!

Love,

kate

Calling all Writers!

Hi friends and fellow writers! Just a quick note to tell you about something super fun for both of us. My fabulous editor (I'm so fancy) is working in accordance with a very cool writer's group called Compel. It's an online resource for writers who want to improve their craft, connect with other writers, and gain writing and publishing insight. Guess what... they have selected my book for their Spring '18 book club! Here is more info, straight from Compel:

The first COMPEL Book Club was a huge success, and we are excited to kick off another one this month! 

The COMPEL Spring Book Club will begin April 30, 2018 and run through May 25, 2018. This will be a four-week study of the book titled And She Still Laughs: Defiant Joy in the Depths of Suffering. In this book, Kate shares her personal story about the death of her daughter and the role her faith played. So many people go through a personal tragedy and then feel called to write a book about it. Kate’s book is a great example of how to take your personal experience and create a non-fiction trade book that weaves memoir into the book.

In this study, author Kate Merrick and editor Jessica Wong from Thomas Nelson Publishing will lead us through the unique writing techniques and strategies Kate used in her writing. Some of the weekly discussion prompts will include things like how to find your writing voice, how to invite readers into your heart, and how to use imagery and metaphors to make your words and stories more powerful. They’ll also be teaching about how to write more about the lesson or moral of a story, rather than just the problem or experience itself and how to find balance when doing so, as well as how word choices and the appropriate sharing of details can completely change the impact of our writing.

You’ll enjoy some live Facebook events with the author and publisher, a weekly writing challenge to help you put into practice the techniques you are learning, and some fun giveaways along the way! All members will be able to download the study outline ahead of time, which will include weekly reading assignments, discussion questions and writing challenges to help you be more prepared for discussion and engagement.

Ready to get involved?! CLICK HERE to request to join the COMPEL Book Club private Facebook group!

CLICK HERE to get your copy of And Still She Laughs! 

We trust you are excited about the Spring Book Club choice and hope you’ll join in for fun and learning as we continue to enhance our writing skills for the glory of God.

Sincerely,

Your COMPEL Leadership Team

Fun, right? 

I didn't include the link to Facebook, since you need to sign up with Compel first. Here's the link to that, make sure you sign up for information toward the bottom as registration begins April 25, which is also the day we are doing a webinar. It will be me, Jessica, and Tracie from Compel all chatting about writing your story. You should be able to find out about the webinar by giving Compel your email.

If any of you love to write, feel a story coming out of you but would like a little direction and encouragement, or have a dream of writing a whole entire book, Compel exists to help you do just that.

That's it! Maybe see you there?

Love,

kate

Workin'

I did it, friends! No, I didn't kiss the fish, and yes, I did actually catch it, but that's not what I'm talking about. I WROTE ANOTHER BOOK! A whole 'nother book. I chipped away at it over the last 6 months, one word at a time. I did it between laundry loads and skinned knees. Between correcting essays and making meatloaf, between fire evacuations and flood evacuations. I did it with dust bunnies collecting around my toes and dishes piling up in the sink. But I did it. And even though I have months of editing and it won't release until April 2019, I wanted to celebrate! And since you're my book people, I'm celebrating with you. I want to celebrate all of us together. Because listen, girls--we're all workin'. Most of us are working pretty hard. Writing a book is hard, yes, but so is teaching school and catering and bookkeeping. So is studying and homeschooling and home keeping and nursing and retail and designing and all the things. 

I'm also celebrating my dearest friend Chelsey Wang, and her gorgeous brand that she built from the ground up. When she found out that skincare companies aren't required to disclose thousands of nasty harmful ingredients, she up and started her own safe, organic, beautiful products. I mean, talk about working hard! She saw a need, met the need. And did with with panache.

We're all workin'. Each moment we are sowing into our futures, relationally, educationally, spiritually, professionally. I'm here to celebrate all of us. Let's use our gifts, use our passions. Let's use our time and strengths and current situations. Let's do and be and love, right where we are. Being who we were made to be, with the people we are with. Let's celebrate our accomplishments, whether it's turning in a manuscript, raising children who say please and thank you, or discovering a cure for cancer. Let's celebrate our accomplishments, whether it's a clean house, recording an album, or launching a beautiful product. Let's celebrate where we are today, not where we wish we were. Let's jump in with both feet to right here, right now.

What are you celebrating today? 

Love,

kate