Kathi Lipp's Blog, page 107
June 11, 2014
Praying God’s Word for Your Life- MAJOR SALE!
Hi friends!
I wanted you to know about the great sale on Praying God’s Word for Your Life that is happening right now for a limited time. Get the eBook for just $5.99 (or less at Amazon) at all major retailers for your eReader. The sale ends on June 13, 2014 so .
Description of Praying God’s Word for Your Life:
Many of us find it easy to pray for the concerns and well-being of others. But when it comes to praying for ourselves, we may wonder, Should I pray for my own needs? Are any prayers too big or too small? Are my prayers selfish? Does praying really make a difference?
Praying God’s Word for Your Life gives women the direction and Scripture we need to bring purpose and power to our prayers. In her warm, approachable style, Kathi Lipp shares more than one hundred specific prayers for our lives, relationships, worries, mistakes, faith, and more. The simple strategies Kathi reveals will help each of us create a habit of praying with renewed boldness, consistency, and expectation.
June 9, 2014
Episode #102: Say Goodbye to Survival Mode with Crystal Paine
In this episode of So Here’s the Thing we sit down with blogger and author extraordinaire, Crystal Paine, and talk about how to move beyond surviving day to day and move into being excited about your life once again.
Crystal shares great secrets from her New York Times best-selling book Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life, and gives specific encouragement for all of us women who have stopped living and moved into survival mode.
Just some of the wisdom that Crystal shares:
· Avoiding the trap of trying to “Just getting more organized”
· Going into the “No Zone”
· How to sort out your true friends from the users when you are trying to get out of survival mode
· How do you get to the other side of survival mode
· How to say no so you can say yes to what really matters
· Finding and fixing your mom “Achilles Heel”
Join Kathi and Crystal for the most info-packed, freeing, 20 minutes you will experience all week.
Episode #102: Say Goodbye to Survival Mode with Crystal Paine
June 8, 2014
What Our Kids Want More Than a Pinterest Perfect Birthday Cake
I’m forbidden to decorate birthday cakes.
The sad story of the lifetime ban my family enacted twenty years ago started with my ambitious plans to make the perfect cake for Annemarie’s party. It ended with the birthday girl trying to console me as I sobbed on the kitchen floor.
(And this was pre-Pinterest; I shudder to think of what I would have been like with that kind of self-imposed pressure!)
Now that my children are young adults, here’s what they actually remember from their childhoods:
1) Reading together every night as a family. To this day, they will rhapsodize about the books we read, the funny voices we used, and the way we tried to snuggle together on the couch even after they’d grown way too big.
2) Taking early morning walks together in the summer. We all carried bags to pick up trash, and we drilled each other on the multiplication tables (through twenty) and periodic table of elements.
3) Playing family games together. We got sillier and sillier until Dad ended up rolling on the floor gasping, “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!”
My kids don’t remember A. Single. Birthday. Party. (And it’ll probably take years of therapy before they do!)
As I wondered why they remember the three things they do, I realized that these three have several things in common:
We were relaxed.
We had no agenda, no schedule.
We spent a lot of the time smiling and laughing.
The main goal was simply being together.
The activities that cost me the least time, energy, and stress are the ones they remember the best.
Now please know that I’m neither protesting nor promoting Pinterest. My point is simply this:
Our kids could care less about Pinterest.
What they really want is
a relaxed mom.
a laughing mom.
a present mom.
I don’t see anything wrong with trying to pull off the perfect party.
If you can do both — present and perfect — my hat is off to you. Decorate that cake, and I’ll cheer from the sidelines.
But in those times when you can’t be both, remember the real gift your child hopes you’ll choose:
Present over perfect.
On their birthday and every day.
Prayer: Lord, when I only have the time and/or energy to be present or to do things perfect, help me to choose present. Thank you for loving me with a love that is ever-present and always perfect.
Today’s Challenge:
Do you know what your child’s favorite activities are with you and why? If not, ask them: you might be in for a surprise!
When do you suspect that your child would rather have you present than “perfect”? What would it take for you to choose present over perfect?
My bad mom friend and author of today’s challenge is Cheri Gregory. Cheri has been married to her college sweetheart for over a quarter-of-a-century and has two college-aged kids; she blogs about expectations, “baditude,” and hope at www.CheriGregory.com.
What Our Kids Want More Than a Pinterest Perfect Birthday Cake
June 6, 2014
Fatherhood is Not for the Faint of Heart
Father’s day is approaching and I am happy to have Rob Teigen as a guest blogger today. You can find him at Stronger Dads.
I love Father’s Day! I don’t care if it’s just another greeting-card induced holiday. I always like an excuse to fire up the grill and enjoy a day with my family. My wife Joanna and our kids always spoil me with creative gifts and key lime pie. This year holds an extra-special Father’s Day for us because our foster son is just weeks away from becoming “our boy” through adoption. One son in pull-ups and the other in college—got to love this crazy life!
Between our two boys we have three beautiful daughters.
Our oldest girl, Emma, is working hard to prepare for her driver’s test later this summer. In honor of Father’s Day (and the fact that we’re both still alive to tell about it), I’d like to share some parenting lessons I’ve learned through teaching Emma to drive.
It’s Scary
Just like getting in the car with an inexperienced teenager behind the wheel, fatherhood is not for the faint of heart. Unlike driving, however, we’re not handed an instruction manual with all of the rules of the road. There’s no “father’s ed” to give us some practice before sending us out on our own. The road of fatherhood gets bumpy sometimes. The GPS stops working and we feel lost in how to lead our families. Thankfully we have a perfect Father in heaven that stays by our side every moment. When we’re lost, he promises to show us which way to go. When we’re exhausted and broken down, too tired to travel one more mile, he gives us strength to keep on going. When we break the rules or fail and face painful consequences, he gives grace and forgiveness every time. When we feel like life is moving too fast and we’re out of control, he is our peace.
It’s exciting
My daughter is eager for the excitement and independence that a driver’s license will bring. It will be a new chapter in life with my daughter—allowing her new freedom and responsibility. It’s already a thrill to see her confidence growing as she masters lane changes on the freeway and parking neatly in the center of a parking spot. Fatherhood is exciting too. We get to witness so many “firsts”—their first word, first steps, first job, first dance—and their wonder at falling in love, finding their gifts and talents, and beginning families of their own. Even with all the stressful, sleepless nights that parenting brings, children are a blessing from the Lord. Nothing will stretch our faith or bring us to our knees like fatherhood. It’s a wild and exciting ride.
Be a coach, not a critic
Every time my daughter and I buckle up to practice her driving, I have to decide if I’m there to coach or criticize. Do I resolve to stay calm and express confidence in her? Will I become angry and overreact when she makes mistakes or backs into the trash cans? I can choose to gently correct and guide her through her weaknesses, or tear her down through worrying and complaining that she’s never going to get it right. In fathering it’s the same—it’s easy for me to become anxious and criticize my kids’ every move. However, I want to strive to be for them what God is for me. He’s slow to anger, abounding in love, full of patience, and forever encouraging us no matter how many times we fail.
Be consistent
One of the lessons I’ve been teaching my daughter is to be as consistent as possible in her driving. She should wear her seat belt every time. Her phone should never leave her purse when she’s on the road. She should check her mirrors and look over her shoulder every time she changes lanes. She should always check that the wipers and lights are shut off before she take the keys out of the ignition. Consistent habits will help her to know the road and the car so well that she can get to her destination safely. Parenting requires consistency too. Our kids need to know that our love, our values, and our commitment to them will never change. When we keep our promises and follow through with discipline, it gives our children security and the assurance that we’re here for them no matter what. It’s a way to demonstrate the faithfulness of God himself—he says that even when we fail him, he will never leave or forsake us. He never changes and he never turns away when we reach out for him.
Let them go
This is the hardest one of all in both teaching kids to drive and parenting. It’s hard to feel out of control, and it’s brutal to give it up to a child with so much less experience and wisdom than her dad. To hand over the car keys to my girl and say, “Here. I trust you with our safety and one of the most expensive items I own” is not easy. My son remembers driver’s training and still teases me about the invisible brake I was always stomping on the passenger side. Pushing that imaginary brake pedal was a foolish attempt to feel like I had some effect on how fast we were going. Over time I learned to relax and trust that he could handle things just fine. The greatest way to free ourselves from fear and worry as parents is to release our kids to God. The vehicle (no pun intended) by which we hand our kids over to him is prayer. Placing our children fully in the loving hands of God will free us from worry and frustration. It allows us to trust God’s perfect plans for our kids’ lives, even when “they don’t go according to plan” as Kathi would say. Our goal is not to raise perfect children, but to allow God to bring them to a point where they place their trust in him. God can use every situation for their good and we can trust them to his control.
Enjoy the ride
It can be difficult to not take driving and life with our kids too seriously. When I think she didn’t just turn in front of that 18-wheeler, did she?! Or, she didn’t just talk back to me like that, did she! fatherhood just seems stressful and hard. But when I look over at my lovely daughter in that driver’s seat and see what a fantastic young lady she’s becoming I just think about how we got here. How just yesterday I was teaching her to ride a bike in the church parking lot. How she used to hold my hand in the grocery store and now she’s driving me there. How she needed me to tuck her in and now she stays out long after I’m asleep. Our days with our children go by so fast, and we can spend way too much time stressing over the small stuff. We miss out on breathing in the beauty of the special moments each day. Enjoy the ride—celebrate your family and your kids’ dad this Father’s Day. Let him know what a great job he’s doing this week. I have a hunch he’d love to hear that from you.
Rob is giving away FIVE bundles of two of his books 88 Daddy Daughter Dates & A Dad’s Prayer for His Daughter AND 88 Great Conversation Starters for Dads & Daughters card set. To enter for a chance to win a bundle tell me in the comments below what is the best way the fathers in your life live to be celebrated. You have until June 9, 2014 to enter.
If you want to get the books today you can do so over at Amazon. A Dad’s Prayers for His Daughter. 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates
Rob is the author of Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids, Laugh-Out-Loud Animal Jokes for Kids, and Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids (under the pseudonym Rob Elliott).
He’s has been a publishing professional for more than Twenty years. Rob lives in West Michigan, where in his spare time he enjoys laughing out loud with his wife and five children. You can find out more at www.strongerdads.com
Rob is the author of Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids, Laugh-Out-Loud Animal Jokes for Kids, and Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids (under the pseudonym Rob Elliott).
He’s has been a publishing professional for more than Twenty years. Rob lives in West Michigan, where in his spare time he enjoys laughing out loud with his wife and five children. You can find out more at www.strongerdads.com
June 4, 2014
I Need Some Help Here! Launch Giveaway Week 2
We have a winner! Congratulations to Christin who won our Week 1 Launch Party giveaway, a $100 Target Gift Card! Have fun with that Christin!
Let’s keep the party going with another amazing giveaway! For week 2 of our I Need Some Help Here! launch party, we are giving away a Kindle Fire (say what!?!)!
Enter to win and share with your friends!
Things We Need Some Help With (if you are willing! We would be so thrilled if you would share some hope with a friend!):
1. Order a copy of I Need Some Help Here!
When you order, be sure to download your FREE Surviving Summer eBook . This eBook that will save you in the summer is only available for a limited time so download and share with your friends while there is still time.
2. Share it with family, friends, coworkers and followers on social media. Choose the platform of your choice:
Option #1: Post on Facebook:
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Facebook. Click here to share this post on Facebook.
Option #2: Post on Pinterest.
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Pinterest. Click here to repin any of the Pins on my I Need Some Help Here! board.
Option #3: Post on Twitter.
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Twitter. Click here to retweet this tweet on Twitter.
Option #4: Post About the Book on Your Blog
When you post about I Need Some Help Here! just send us an email at bronwyn@kathilipp.com with the link to your blog. You’ll then be entered to win one of the weekly prizes!
3. THEN JUST FILL IN THE FORM BELOW TO BE ENTERED FOR THIS WEEK’S PRIZE! You don’t need to do any of the above but we know you’re kind of amazing and will want to give another mom some hope!)
If the form doesn’t show up, you can use the this version.
Thanks for your willingness to bring hope to a world of women who desperately need it. Check back for a new AMAZING mom-approved give away each week!
June 3, 2014
So Here’s the Thing Episode #101 Let’s Talk About Sex (Baby) with Sheila Wray Gregoire
This first podcast is for earbuds only – no listening in the minivan with the kiddos in back (unless they are plugged into their own listening device…)
A conversation with Sheila Wray Gregoire, the author of The Good Girls Guide to Great Sex (And You Thought Bad Girls Have All the Fun) and blogger extraordinaire over at To Love Honor and Vacuum.
Kathi and Sheila have a fun, but frank conversation about sex in marriage. Here are some of the areas where they just go there:
• Women love talking about sex, but when you ask them about their sex lives, there is always a groan. What’s the deal?
• What is the difference between sex and making love?
• What can I do during the day to make me ready for sex at night?
• Sheila’s best piece of advice when your sex life is stalled out.
• What do you do if you are one of the 30% women who have a higher sex drive than her husband?
• Sheila’s word to women whose husbands are addicted to porn.
Fun informative, and hopefully for your husband, a little motivating.
Let’s Talk About Sex (Baby…)
So Here’s the Thing Episode #101 Let’s Talk About Sex (Baby) with Sheila Wray Gregoire
June 2, 2014
I Need Some Help Here! Launch Day Sweepstakes
It’s the official launch day of my new book I Need Some Help Here! Hope for When Your Kids Don’t Go According to Plan.
This book is for every mom out there who has ever doubted herself, wondered why her child didn’t “turn out” the way she thought he would, or is feeling alone in her mothering journey. Whether your kids are little or young adults, motherhood can be so difficult (but eventually rewarding, I promise).
To celebrate the launch with my fabulous readers, fans and community, I want to give a book away every hour from 6a-8p PST on June 3, 2014. I would love your help in spreading the word of hope to your friends and family as well. So feel free to pick a tweet, Pin or picture to share with your peeps on your favorite social media site. We’ll pick a new winner every hour. If you just want to enter to win, you can do that too by filling out the entry form below.
Pins (post to Facebook or Pinterest)
Tweets to share on Twitter
But frustratingly, the next step isn’t do. Sometimes the next step is to be still & know that He is God. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
One of the most powerful sentences in the English language is “Me too” http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
You move from sympathy to empathy when you hear that someone is in the same battle you are. ” http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
You need to be reminded in the hardest times that God loves you and God loves your child. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
We move from control to influence in our child’s life, and those changes can feel like little deaths. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
I was not a perfect mom, but I was the mom God chose for them, therefore I was the perfect mom for them. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
When you are brokenhearted you are broken open for other people to see into you and see what they need. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
I can love my child with boundaries prayer & grace. It is my actions not my feelings that qualify me as a loving mom http://bit.ly/T8QJXf
So the one thing I did right was the hardest thing I know how to do: nothing. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
We parents run a real danger of misplaced hope. We put our hope for our kids in our kids. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
No matter how much your kid is struggling and how out of control you feel, God is always in control. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
Kids need to see a model of what it’s like to have emotions without allowing them to be the basis for bad behavior http://bit.ly/T8QJXf
The best thing I can do is put my kids in the safest place they could be: the feet of Jesus. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf @kathilipp
Instead of worrying about what you did or didn’t do put your hope in the one who loves your kids more than you do. http://bit.ly/T8QJXf
or Enter to Win
June 1, 2014
Bad Mom Monday: The Day I Turned the Happiest Place on Earth into a Nightmare
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 145:8
A few years ago, my husband and I decided to take our kids, ages 5 and 2, to Walt Disney World in Florida. We had just received our tax return and figured that it might be the last time we could go without worrying about taking kids out of school.
I knew practically nothing about Disney World, so I read up on the subject. I asked my Disney-loving friends for advice, checked out guide books from the library and read the latest posts on Disney blogs. I decided that this was going to be the trip of all trips…that one special time that we would all remember about for the rest of our lives.
One of my friends had bragged that her family had eaten a character meal every single day of their Disney trip, so I made it my mission to do the same. I called the dining reservation hotline every day for weeks until I finally got a meal time for us at Cinderella’s Castle. It meant we had to eat breakfast at 11:15, but at least we were in.
I wanted my kids to meet all their favorite characters (never mind that they hadn’t seen many Disney shows or movies) and I wanted us to ride on all the most fabulous rides, eat in the most popular restaurants and see the most exciting parades and shows.
Basically, I had every minute of our 9-day trip scheduled.
After 5 days of Disney “fun,” i.e. walking all day in the hot sun, no time for naps, battling crowds, standing in long lines, getting up early every morning to be the first in the park, and endless photos with characters, my kids were beat. They didn’t want to wait in any more lines, they didn’t want to sit around waiting for a dining reservation, and they certainly didn’t want to smile for another camera.
The tipping point came as we watched our daughter turn into a princess at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. After paying $60 for hair, nails and make-up on our 5 year-old, we were instructed to walk to the next building to have her picture taken.
At the photo studio, we waited in line for 30 more minutes until it was our turn for pictures. As the photographer called us to come over, my daughter abruptly decided that she didn’t want her picture taken. No amount of sweet talk, promises or flat-out bribery would make her sit for a picture.
I don’t know what happened next…I just sort of snapped. I remember walking out of the studio before I started into my rant about our expensive vacation and how she was ruining it. Then I stood in the middle of the Happiest Place on Earth and shamed my precious little hungry, tired and worn-out girl for not getting her picture taken. In front of hundreds of people.
My sweet husband, whom I love more than life itself, couldn’t even hold me back. I continued ranting and raving all the way back to the stroller rental, where I proceeded to vent to the cashier about how awful my girl was acting, especially after we spent so much money and time on “her dream vacation.”
Hours later, I felt just terrible…I had acted worse than the Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Ursula all rolled in one. My unrealistic dream of a perfect Disney vacation had been more important to me than the tender heart of my baby girl. How could I have been so mean?
My dream of a perfect Disney vacation had been more important to me than the tender heart of my...
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Luckily, she cheerfully accepted my apology and thought no more about it, and we actually had fun on the last 2 days of our trip.
I asked my daughter, who is now 8, if she remembered that terrible day at Disney World. She doesn’t (and neither does my husband), but I will always have it tucked back in my mind as a lesson of how not to be a mother.
Dear Heavenly Father, you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Thank you for using these “Bad Mom” moments to teach us mothers to be more like you. Help us also to become gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love for our children.
Erin Myers is a stay-at-home mom of 2 beautiful kiddos and has been married to her hero for 13 years. She blogs at mymommyworld.com, where she hopes to inspire moms in their everyday lives with recipes, homemaking tips, and more.
Join the Bad Mom Moment Monday Link-Up!
If you’re a blogger and have written about one (or more) of your own “Bad Mom Moments” — or any post(s) that offer authentic encouragement to moms — we’d love to have you link on up! It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
grab the button above
include it in your post, hyperlinked back here: http://wp.me/p4zUEg-1Nf
click on “ Click here to enter ” below and follow the instructions!
(And if you can spare one more minute, stop by and say “Hi!” to the blogger who linked up just before you.)
Bad Mom Monday: The Day I Turned the Happiest Place on Earth into a Nightmare
May 28, 2014
So Here’s the Thing – My New Podcast Series!
June 2014 is such an exciting month for me personally. My 10th book, I Need Some Help Here! Hope for When Your Kids Don’t Go According to Plan, will officially drop (you know… like when Beyonce drops an album, only cooler…) (but is already available).
And I’m just as thrilled about my newest endeavor! On June 3 my podcast, So Here’s the Thing with Kathi Lipp and MOPS, will begin! I teamed up with the fabulous people at MOPS International to talk about all things women love to talk about- kids, husbands, friendships, sex- EVERYTHING! We’ll have fabulous guest speakers and one thing is for sure— we will have FUN!
I want to personally invite you to become a So Here’s the Thing Insider. Those in the Insider’s Club will get exclusives including:
Podcast at least one day before it’s available to the public
Freebies from our guests that only Insiders will get
Opportunities to suggest topics and guests for future podcast episodes
Exclusive discounts and offers
Exciting Insider look at the conversation between me and my guests during the “after show“!
To become an insider, simply sign up here!
Be sure to listen in on our very first podcast this coming Tuesday, June 3, 2014! You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or get a reminder in your email to be sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
I Need Some Help Here! Launch Giveaway Week 1
Thank you to all of you Hope Heroes out there who are supporting the I NEED SOME HELP HERE! launch with all of your love, prayers and social media savvyness.
This week we are giving away a $100 TARGET GIFT CARD!!!
How do you get your hands on those bull’s-eye bucks?
Things We Need Some Help With (if you are willing! We would be so grateful if you can share some hope with a friend!):
1. Order a copy of I Need Some Help Here!
When you order, be sure to download your FREE Surviving Summer eBook . This eBook that will save you in the summer is only available for a limited time so download and share with your friends while there is still time.
2. Share it with family, friends, coworkers and followers on social media. Choose the platform of your choice:
Option #1: Post on Facebook:
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Facebook. Click here to share this post on Facebook.
Option #2: Post on Pinterest.
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Pinterest. Click here to repin this pin on Pinterest.
Option #3: Post on Twitter.
Post about I Need Some Help Here! on Twitter. Click here to retweet this tweet on Twitter.
Option #4: Post About the Book on Your Blog
When you post about I Need Some Help Here! just send us an email at bronwyn@kathilipp.com with the link to your blog. You’ll then be entered to win one of the weekly prizes!
3. THEN JUST FILL IN THE FORM BELOW TO BE ENTERED FOR THIS WEEK’S PRIZE! You don’t need to do any of the above but we know you’re kind of amazing and will want to give another mom some hope!)
If the form doesn’t show up, you can use the online version.
Thanks for your willingness to bring hope to a world of women who desperately need it. Check back for a new AMAZING mom-approved give away each week!
