Podcast appearances and mentions of kate merrick

In the midst of her young daughters battle with cancer, Kate Merrick shut down her social media and hasn't looked back. She has written two books on her personal journey through grief and wrestling with God while embracing the good gift of life away from the distractions online. Kate has a raw and honest way of conveying truth and I just loved our conversation. We laugh hard and go deep. This last episode of the season is absolutely one to listen to and share! Connect with Kate! Website: www.kmerrick.com Connect with Lynnelle! Website: www.lynnellepeters.com Instagram: @lynnellepeters @knowingmotherhoodpodcast Facebook: @knowingmotherhood Contact: lynnelle@knowingmotherhood.com I'd love to hear from you!

We did it—500 episodes! Today, we're celebrating this incredible milestone by taking a look back at the conversations that have shaped us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From unforgettable guests who made us laugh, to powerful lessons that changed the way we think and lead—this episode is a tribute to the moments that mattered most. We're sharing the episodes we return to again and again… and the ones you keep talking about too. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just found us recently, this 500th episode is a celebration of the journey we've taken together. Come celebrate with us! LIST OF FAVORITE EPISODE John Mark Comer - The Secret to Enoying Your Life 5 Episodes That I Think of Often 388 How Boundaries Help Us Get What We Really Want for Christmas with Sasha Shillcut (people are upset when you establish new boundaries bc they benefitted from your lack of boundaries or are resentful they didn't maintain the same boundary) 444 Love, Pray, Listen, Parenting Young Adults with Mary DeMuth (emphasis on maintaining relationship) 266 Our Relationship With Alcohol with Jenn Kautsch (Her own story of determining alcohol was no longer serving her) 376 Midlife Is No Joke: The Big Questions in Midlife (The things that used to work no longer do) 332 This Cultural Moment: Facing Reality with Jen Oshman (On being an informed citizen with boundaries) Krista Inheritance Gone Right with Sean and Jill Maher Helping your young adult kids find their career path with Tyler Lafferty The Soul of Shame with Dr Curt Thompson Midlife is no joke - The big questions in midlife with Kelly Flanagan Resilient Faith with Jerry Sittser 5 Guests I Won't Forget  181 Kay Warren on Depression and Anxiety 377 Midlife Is No Joke: Marriage with Jimmy and Irene Rollins 310 Moving Through Grief and Loss at Christmas with Nancy Hicks David Thomas —> 274 Parenting Teens: Navigating Emotions & 165 Parenting in the New Year 261 Katherin Wolff on Suffering Krista Parenting Young Adult Children with Dr Jim Burns Seven Surprising Ways to Rest with Dr Saundra Dalton Candace Cameron Bure Jackie Green and Lauren McAfee - how to be a person of legacy What Healthy Relationships do and don't have with Gary Thomas 5 Episodes Where I've Implemented Something I Learned 446 Styling Fashion Over 40 with Julie Powell and Krista Olufson 437 Jumpstarting Your Midlife Health with Megan Dahlman 414 Beat the Frumpy - on fashion with Jammie Baker 312 The Healthy Way: Productivity and Habits with Tanya Dalton 430 The Art and Heart of Holiday Gathering with Anna Watson Carl Krista Ep 493 Experience God, Really with John Eldredge - quote + God being “right here” in you + pausing + day, week, month year plan for renewal Lead your mindset with Emily Love The Secret to Success with Jeff Henderson Mental Training for Your Athlete and Yourself with Trisha Kroll Healthy Relationships 101 with John Townsend 5 Episodes That Brought Me Joy (It was all about the guests) 455 & 456 Building a Lasting Legacy with Rick and Diane Thomas 445 Maximizing Your Look with Rebecca Reid, Color Analyst 326 The Brain Game: The Soul of Shame with Dr. Curt Thompson 305 The Family Legacy Series with Eric Peterson 95  Sally Clarkson Krista Cultivating a Marriage that Lasts with Dan Allender The Secret to being instantly understood with John Trent Lisa Bevere - b/c she's awesome Kate Merrick - b/c there's no one like Kate and it's a moving story of faith Edie Littlefield Sundby - Movement heals the body 5 Episodes Others Have Talked About  421 & 422: What I've Noticed About You: Our Keys to Longterm Friendship 373: A Busy Mom's Guide to Photo Organization with Casey Von Stein 469: Who Am I If? 378 Midlife is No Joke: Menopause with Dr. Carol Tanksley 472: Faith-Driven Voters: Questions We Ask as We Cast Our Ballots With Kaitlyn Schess Krista How to feel the feels with Aundi Kobler Fighting for Family with Julie and Chris Bennett DISC your way to better relationships How to incorporate meaningful rituals into milestone birthdays  Innovation and creativity - two secrets to living life well with Ken Wytsma She's Re-launching - most recent episode on going back to work SPOTIFY LINK TO THE PLAYLIST OF EPISODES WE MENTION A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books Sacred Marriage- Gary Thomas Sacred Parenting- Gary Thomas And She Still Laughs- Kate Merrick The Mission Walker- Edie Littlefield Sundby Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out - Jim Burns Try softer-Aundi kolber LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Cath was joined by psychotherapist and coach Kate Merrick this week. Cath and Kate talked about Kate's path to motherhood, her lineage, how her ancestors turned up to support her journey, personal power in the postpartum time, advocating for our children, medical herbalism and much more.Kate is a mother, an embodied gestalt psychotherapist, transformational coach and a home herbalist and she is dedicated to guiding women on their journey's of healing and transformation. Kate specialises in the holistic treatment of childhood developmental trauma, ancestral trauma and Post-Traumatic Growth, empowering womento reclaim their inner authority, their innate wisdom, their cyclical rhythm and to deepen into loving compassionate relationships with themselves.As well as working in one to one practice, Kate also runs women's circles that centre around psychological and spiritual growth work. In addition, she now runs Rushmead Farm, her “garden cauldron”, making organic therapeutic products from her Somerset herb garden; natural elixirs that support our minds, bodies and spirits.You can connect with Kate on Instagram:@the.embodiedwoman@rushmeadfarmWebsite: www.katemerrickpsychotherapy.co.ukIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving social media as a writer sounds amazing in theory. But how does it work in practice? Listen in for the final installment of Sandy's conversation with two-time traditionally published author, Kate Merrick where they ask and answer that question. In Part 3 of this 3-part conversation, Kate and Sandy speak directly to moms who write and run their businesses online but feel trapped by social media. As an author of two traditionally published books, Kate has a lot to share about how and why you should consider publishing your book without social media. She shares what factors contributed to her getting a book deal, as well as where she stood her ground and what concessions she chose to make. Be sure to listen to Part 1 and Part 2 before listening to this. Click here for show notes.  

What is the cost of being on social media? What are you giving away? What are you gaining? If FOMO is the issue, then shouldn't we consider what it is we're really missing out on? If every ‘yes' to one thing is a ‘no' to another, then what could you say ‘yes' to if you chose to say ‘no' to social media? This is Part 2 of a 3-part conversation that first aired on The Balanced MomCast in 2022.  Click here for show notes.  

Many of you have emailed us thanking us for blazing a trail for writers to leave social media. But we are only widening a trail that others had blazed for us. In today's episode, Sandy sits down with author Kate Merrick, who was one such trailblazer. Join us to hear why Kate decided to live off the grid and how it's impacted her life, her business, and her writing career. This is a special episode--a replay of an interview that first aired in 2022 on The Balanced MomCast. It is Part 1 of a 3-part conversation. Click here for show notes.   

Do you feel like you're constantly plugged into technology and are consumed by social media? Is this lifestyle making you anxious, sad and distracted?  Be inspired and empowered by Kate Merrick and Allie Marie Smith's conversation about pursuing a life of digital minimalism that brings contentment, peace, adventure and joy. Kate and Allie share their experiences of how pursuing a life of digital minimalism has changed their lives for the better and how it can change yours as well.    Kate and Allie Talk About:  Their own journeys towards a life of digital minimalism What's at stake if we continue to spend our lives on our phone Practical tips to decrease the amount of time you spend on your phone and social media How a lifestyle of digital minimalism leads to contentment, peace and joy   Kate Merrick is a wife, mom, and author of And Still She Laughs as well as Here, Now. She is the co-owner and designer of Mijas Del Mar (Daughters of the Sea), a collection of pre and post-surf styles inspired by vintage California and the golden lifestyle. She speaks, writes, creates, plays, and lives with her family in Carpinteria.    Get a free excerpt from “Wonderfully Made” by Allie Marie Smith ​​ Get your copy of  “Wonderfully Made:Discover the Identity, Love, and Worth You Were Created For” Get the show-notes.   Get 20% off your order at Mijas Del Mar. Us the code WM Girls https://www.mijasdelmar.com/   Love Her A'Latte! Make this podcast possible for the cost of a latte a month. https://wonderfullymade.org/Donate/ Wonderfully Made® is a national non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping teen girls and women know their God-given value, identity, and purpose and lead flourishing, wholehearted lives.  Learn more about our programs, resources and young women's events at  https://wonderfullymade.org/

Today I am sharing a podcast episode that could transform your holiday season…maybe even your whole life.  Seriously, that's a big claim, but have a listen and I think you'll agree — it's that powerful. I'm so happy to bring back this conversation I had with Kate Merrick in 2019.  If you aren't familiar with Kate yet, you'll fall in love with her quickly.  In this episode I get to tell the funny story of how Kate and I met, and all of the wild ways our lives now intersect.  Kate shares her story of embracing presence in the hardest season of her life and how much she does not regret that now. Friends, this episode is both convicting, and inspiring.  I hope you can dive in and listen! And then go have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season! www.monicaswanson.com/episode-185 Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Join us for a very special episode and an authentic conversation among friends. We are celebrating the upcoming release on October 5th of Allie's new book "Wonderfully Made: Discover the Identity, Love, and Worth You Were Created For." While Allie may have written it, this book is our anthem of hope and worth for women as a ministry and we can't wait for you to be encouraged by it. Christie and our dear friend and author Kate Merrick join Allie to talk all about the book. Allie shares a personal story from her life, the journey of writing it, the meaning behind the cover design and shares how our ministry started. We reflect on how God can bring beauty from brokenness and Allie shares encouragement for tending to your own goals and dreams. Pre-order a copy from your favorite book retailer including Amazon, Target or Christianbook.com and enter your info at alliemariesmith.com to get all kinds of free gifts including a chance to win a Parker Clay leather backpack and a life coaching guide. We invite you to shut distractions aside as you dive into this book and consider hosting a book club. Let "Wonderfully Made" build your faith whatever season of life you are in and help us share this message with a lost and hurting generation of young women. We're so glad you're a part of our community and can't wait for you to read it.  

Only episode 7 and we are already joined by one of our dream guest stars! Kate Merrick, wife of Channel Islands CEO Britt Merrick and ultimate cool girl/surf mama makes you feel like you're part of the crew during this week's conversation. We cover everything: boys, boards, business, becoming a mom...grab your notepads ladies, she's got some gems to share!  Don't miss the chance to join along in Kate's most recent project, Mijas Del Mar, a surf club & lifestyle brand for girls looking to jump in and enjoy the water. https://www.mijasdelmar.com and use code WELOVEPARTYWAVE for 10% off your entire order. 

This is our 5th and final episode on the Barrier of Busyness. Today we are talking about the importance of weekly rest: what Sabbath means and how to do it. If you are a mom, you DO actually get a day off. Let me show you how.    1. Sabbath means literally "Stop, rest." God introduced a rhythm of life when He worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th.  It is one of the 10 commandments (Ex 20 and Deut 5). It's a gift. We are FREE to rest.  2. Suggestions for how to do this as a mom Prepare. Pick a day that works for you. Stop working.  Rest your body. Rest your mind. Rest your soul. Replenish your soul.  Practice. LINKS Joby Martin from Church of Eleven22 teaches on Sabbath: How to Christmas -- Stop! The Rest of God; Restoring Your Soul by Restoring the Sabbath, by Mark Buchannan. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer   Here, Now, by Kate Merrick.   (All book links are affiliate links. I receive a small commission from Amazon if you purchase through this link at no additional cost to you.) John Mark Comer and Jefferson Bethke podcast: Fight Hustle, End Hurry. It's only 10 episodes long, you can listen in a one-day binge. If you missed any part of this series: Perfection and People-Pleasing EP70-EP73 Comparison and Busyness EP90-EP96 PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST! THANK YOU!!! Purchase Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me? On Amazon Work through this process of overcoming the Barriers to Balance in a Bible Study Workbook format: Purchase Finding Your Balance on Amazon Want to lead a group through either of these Bible studies? Don't forget to grab the Free Supplemental Leader Guide! To stay in the loop about everything, be sure to be on my email list.  Have a question or comment? email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com Follow me on Pinterest I am no longer on Social Media...more on that soon!

Kate Merrick and I wanted to share a chat about gifts in the holiday season.  Because, as Kate said, "There are a lot of gift guides out there, but not a lot of guidance on gifts."  So true.  So join us for a fun conversation where we share favorite holiday memories, expectations for the season ahead, and some guidance for choosing gifts that last this season.  Kate shares memories of being raised by divorced parents and has some encouraging words for single moms. We talk about the most important gifts we can give (hint, they aren’t the kind you get on Amazon.)  And then we get practical about actual gifts (yep, some of those are on Amazon,) that will not soon be forgotten (or put in the Goodwill bin ☺) This is the most fun and inspiring episode to kick off your Christmas season.  Find links to everything we chat about in show notes:    Find show notes:  www.monicaswanson.com/podcast Today’s episode: www.monicaswanson.com/episode-83  Support the amazing work of this podcast host, Christian Parenting by giving today at www.cpgive.org *Your gift will be doubled!!  

On this episode I talked to wife, mother and author Kate Merrick! Kate is the author of two books that have helped me tremendously, the 1st book And Still She Laughs released in 2017, and 2nd book Here, Now released in 2019. She is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches along with her husband, Britt. She recently started a business called Mijas Del Mar meaning: “Daughters of the sea.” You won't find Kate on Instagram, but you can check out her awesome pieces on the Mijas Del Mar Instagram! If I'm being honest I really wanted to cut a lot of this episode out. When editing it I felt like I talked and shared way too much. I got very self conscious, but ultimately I decided that this is why I started the podcast, to be real, raw and relatable. So I left it all in. Please be kind, I do giggle a lot, and at the end of the podcast my son woke up and I held him in my arms while finishing the episode. You will hear not only him, but some background noise. I apologize, but that is real life.  Don't forget you can find me on Instagram at blessedmamapodcast and you can email me at Blessedmamapodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments! I hope you're having a very blessed day Mamas!

Kate Merrick and I have a lively conversation about how to bring a lot of fun to your gatherings! Kate's house is somewhat of a hub and she tends to entertain a lot. I think you'll love her emphasis on simplicity and dancing. In my new book, Your Hospitality Personality, she shares how to make a marvelous Platter Party. This theme is so doable and enjoyable. Kate makes entertaining seem easier and you'll love her "one rule." I hope you are inspired to create a fabulous playlist for your next get together and realize that hosting can be FUN. For all of the show notes + links click below on the "episode webpage."

Needing a little lift or a little laugh? Wife, author, surfer, mom, church planter and sweet friend, Kate Merrick has got you covered. We chat about writing, how Jesus is indeed coming back for us, donuts, parenting, what to do when we're caught up in sin, harem pants and the best room in her house. You will love her infectious authenticity and rooted love for the Lord. Visit http://kmerrick.com to read her blog and buy her books.

Kate Merrick joins me for today's episode and she has a story and message you don't want to miss!  Kate learned to be present while fighting for her daughter's life in a battle with cancer.  Kate made some radical decisions in order to be more present then, and she's never regretted it. Now, Kate inspires the rest of us in this no-nonsense (hilarious) conversation about living with intention, getting over the FOMO and embracing gratitude.  Kate also shares some wisdom for both moms of young kids and mom's of teenagers.  You don't want to miss this episode!   Find Podcast Notes always at:  www.monicaswanson.com/podcast Today's show notes at:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-31  

When it comes to time together and celebrating, my encouragement is to practice presence. Presents have their place but presence is something we all crave and we need MORE of. I challenge you to read my friend's book, Here Now, by Kate Merrick. This book is an eye opener and will help you to look at how well you practice being present. For all of the show notes + links click below on the "episode webpage." 

I had no idea 10 years ago, when I bought my oldest daughter a cell phone and laptop, that technology and everything that comes with it would absolutely dominate our lives. Today we're talking all about parenting in the age of the internet, social media, and cell phones. If you have kids of any age still in your home this is a discussion you cannot avoid. Mistakes I've Made: Giving my kids technology too early and expecting them to handle it. Believing that filters would keep out inappropriate content. Not understanding everything a device can do before giving it to my child (giving my child a talk and text phone, not knowing it had an internet browser). What I Know for Sure: The Internet is here to stay. If we don't figure out how to navigate it with our children, it will simply run right over us and take our kids with it. Technology is advancing at warp speed, which renders most of our limits and restrictions obsolete in a very short time. We must keep up. Even if we decide on certain age limits and restrictions for our home, technology may override our decisions.   Kids socialize on the Internet with their real-life friends. Kids (and parents) who don't participate can feel isolated and left out.  Even if your at-home boundaries are working well, kids have friends with different boundaries. The best Internet filters won't catch everything. Even if your kids are engaging in appropriate internet activity, the bad things can still find them.  Satan hates your kids and wants to destroy your family. He will use the Internet to do that because it's a breeding ground for that type of thing. What I Do Not Like About Talk and Text Phones for Kids: Group texts are impossible. The Camera is crap.  It's impossible to monitor anything remotely.  They still have an internet browser, which can only be disabled by turning off the data.  No “find my friends” in case of an emergency.  No parental controls My Rules Today: No smartphone until age 16 (though this may change...see above for all the reasons I hate talk and text phones for kids) Only a filtered internet browser allowed when I decide the child is mature enough to handle internet on the phone.  Downloading apps only allowed with my prior approval. No social media until high school (this will not change and may actually change to age 16 for my youngest) Must sign a phone contract (with all the detailed rules explained) and listen to a LONG speech before receiving the device. (more on this in EP 24) Must charge phone in main area of house until age 18.   Links and Such: To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick  1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes) or Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!  2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast. I'll contact the winner via email on 10/18/19. (U.S. only) Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link) Parental Internet Filters and Remote Text Monitoring An article reviewing best Internet Filters KidBridge--what I use Covenant Eyes--what I use Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast! Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!) To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.

Nothing will mess with our balance quite like distraction. And few things distract moms in 2019 more consistently than social media. In Episode 21 I mentioned 10 problems that come as a direct result of using social media, and today I'm offering you 15 of my best tips for managing and reducing your screen time so you do not become a slave to it and instead live a more focused and less frazzled life.      Before you do anything, take a minute and figure out what you are trying to accomplish. Ask yourself the following questions: What role do I want social media to play in my life? Do I want to get off completely? Do I want to reduce the time I spend there? Do I want to still interact there, and just have it be a more positive experience? What kind of relationship do I want to have with my phone? What kind of person do I want to be? Tips and Strategies Discussed in this Episode: Take an extended hiatus from all social media (Discussed at length in EP 21) Do not look at your phone the first thing in the morning.   Turn off most or all your notifications.  Set specific times each day to check everything and set a timer. Edit your social media feeds.   Decide what role YOU will play on social media.  Ban, hide, delete rude and negative comments. Strip your phone down the bare essentials.  Maybe you don't want to strip your phone down all the time, but only sometimes.   Use your smart phone's built-in features to block or limit your time.   Put your phone in a time out.   If you work from home or are tempted to check work emails at home after hours, set specific “office hours” where you engage on your phone and not at any other time. Make everything on your phone inconvenient.  Don't read your news from your news feed on your phone.  Wear a watch.   Links and Such: To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick (the U.S. only--offer ends 10/17/19!),  1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes) or Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!  2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast. I'll contact the winner via email. (U.S. only, offer ends 10/17/19) Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link) For the study about phone touches, click here: Putting Our Finger on Our Phone Obsession. Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast! Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!) To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.

Today I'm starting a new series on technology and social media. How it affects us as women. How it affects us as moms. How it affects our kids. And how in the world are we supposed to balance all this? Because it's definitely not going away! Today I'm starting with a sneak peek behind my recent decision to take a year-long social media hiatus. 10 problems that come with technology and social media:   The direct link to anxiety and depression and anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsive disorder, problems with mental functioning, paranoia, and loneliness.  The time suck  The dangers of connecting with people in a private setting  The addictive quality of every app and website. The life-sucking quality of people's comments that people feel the freedom to leave when they are safely and anonymously hidden behind a computer screen. Sharing our kids' entire lives online before they even have an opportunity to refuse it. Isolation from real-life relationships and the complete loss of social skills. Comparison False and “easy” sense of connecting. Information overload  To be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Here Now, by Kate Merrick (the U.S. only--offer ends 10/17/19!),  1. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (formerly known as iTunes) or Share The Balanced Momcast (any episode) with a friend!  2. Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com to let me know you left a review or shared the podcast. I'll contact the winner via email. (U.S. only, offer ends 10/17/19) Buy your own copy of Here Now (affiliate link) Listen to the whole series on Overwhelm, Depression, and Anxiety, in Episodes 16-20 Listen to the message I preached at my church about Choosing Life in Episodes 12 and 13 Read my Hiatus Post on Facebook Email me at thescooponbalance@gmail.com Click Here to Join my Email list to keep up with me outside the podcast! Listen to my interview on the You are Well Podcast Read more balance stuff at thescooponbalance.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (NOTE: I am on a year-long hiatus from social media!) To help you find balance with social media and all other things, get Finding Your Balance, an 11-Lesson Bible Study.    

Join Jess and the lovely and hilarious Kate Merrick for this sweet conversation - they laugh, they cry, and they talk about the August book club read, Here, Now, and how living life accordingly is so incredibly beautiful. 

  HOW TO BE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW Podcast #325 In this week of The Confidence Podcast we are chatting about: How to Be Here, Now How to Be Confident Right Now The Secret to Feeling Confident About Where You Are Right Now Unplugging to Unearth Peace and Presence in An Overconnected World   FREE MASTERCLASSHOW TO HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE  This week's podcast is brought to you by my new free masterclass, How to Have More Confidence. Listen, if you think the podcast is good, you haven't been in class with me yet. I spent months curating the teaching I poured into this masterclass and I am so proud of how simple, clear and strategic the activation of confidence can be. In the class, you'll learn what the three biggest mistakes people make with confidence are and what the three most important things you should be doing for your confidence are ... what I call The Confidence Formula.  Learn what stage of confidence you are actually in, and then how to get to the next stage so that getting to where you want to be and to how you want to feel doesn't feel overwhelming. TRISHBLACKWELL.COM/FREECLASS                       REVIEW OF THE WEEK: "Truth, Love and Inspiration in a Podcast!" - Lindzy B Been listening to Trish for years, and this is my first review (had to help you with my goals girl!). I love that the content keeps getting better and deeper, her personal experiences with changing her thought patterns and living each day with positivity and mindfulness has been so helpful to me in every way, especially when my anxiety flares up or in times of change when it usually does. I find myself listening to her podcast to not only be inspiring, making me feel like i got this and I have the power to change how I deal with this, but I absolutely love that she integrates faith, love and grace for self into her teaching as well. Anyone who's looking for a light in tough times, looking for ways to start making some positive changes in yourself or someone looking to be inspired to become more self-confident - this is your podcast! Happy listening! Keep up the great work Trish - you a have a greater impact than you may ever know!       HOW TO BE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW The secret is found is being Here, NowI'm not the expert in this, I'm growing in this area, but I have to bring on the expert who is inspiring and challenging my soul, my new friend Kate Merrick. OK, INTRODUCING....KATE MERRICK!!! ABOUT HERE, NOW: UNEARTHING PEACE AND PRESENCE IN AN OVER-CONNECTED WORLD Do you ever feel like you just want to push the fast forward button on life? Do you feel like your current season is meaningless, or that it's tedious or too painful? Or maybe it's super sweet but you can't quite see the exquisite beauty because you're so distracted by all the things of life. In this book, I write about presence, contentment, and what it looks like to search for and practice those things. In my usual style, I use personal experience, scripture, stories, humor, and questions to lead the reader on a journey to discover of what that might look like in their own life. I dish about moving to Israel for three months, going off the grid, what I was doing the night before Daisy was diagnosed and more. Come explore presence with me, discover what it means to unearth it, practice it, and walk in courage in all seasons. I'm confident God has something for you here! AND STILL, SHE LAUGHS: DEFIANT JOY IN THE DEPTHS OF SUFFERING The official description: Kate Merrick examines the Bible’s gritty stories of resilient women as well as her own experience losing a child—a journey followed by more than a million on prayfordaisy.com—to reveal the reality of surprising joy and deep hope even in the midst of heartache. It keeps going, but you can read that description on the book retailer websites. Get the real scoop below... The unofficial description: I wrote this book for anyone who has been on this earth long enough to hit a roadblock,

Kate Merrick joins me to talk about the message of her newest book, HERE, NOW. She shares some practical ways you and I can live beyond the distractions of the world to live FOR and FOCUS ON the peace and presence of JESUS. If you’ve ever needed a digital detox, been distracted by doubts, or struggled to prioritize what really matters, then this episode with Kate Merrick is going to help move you toward the COURAGE and CALM that your soul’s longing for. Episode show notes:  www.gwensmith.net/graceologie/46 Graceologie on INSTA:  @graceologie Graceologie on FB: www.facebook.com/graceologie Graceologie Podcast website: www.gwensmith.net/graceologie Gwen Smith on INSTA:  @GwenSmithMusic Gwen Smith on FB:  www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic Graceologie on INSTA: @Graceologie Graceologie on FB: www.facebook.com/graceologie SPONSOR:  www.FabFitFun.com / use code GRACEOLOGIE for 20% off your first box!

On this episode of the Catalyst Podcast, Jason Haynes sits down with Kate Merrick to discuss how we can practice the art of presence in order to fully experience the moments and seasons God has for us.      You can keep up with Kate at kmerrick.com     Join us at Catalyst Atlanta 2019 for our 20th Anniversary by grabbing your ticket for a 10% discount here: https://catalystleader.ticketspice.com/catalystatlanta2019?registrants.directLink=PODCAST     Do you have a Catalyst moment that has impacted your life? Please share it with us for a chance to be featured on the show. You can email your story at podcast@catalystleader.com

Kate Merrick is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband, Britt. There are currently nine Reality churches spanning from London, England to Honolulu, HI - with Kate planning for more locations on the way. She is the author of two books, And Still She Laughs and most recently, Here, Now. She is the mother of three children and lives near Santa Barbara, California with her family. Please leave us a rating and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. For more inspirational content visit: https://www.pray.com/discover

In 2013 Kate Merrick said goodbye to her 8 year-old daughter Daisy Love when she left for heaven after suffering through cancer treatments for 3 1/2 years. After Daisy's passing, Kate was silent for three years in grief and contemplation. She now blogs at KMerrick.com with fresh perspective and newfound freedom to be sentimental or silly or anywhere in between.Kate is making her way back toward laughter and finding life to be filled with good things.

Kate Merrick is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband, Britt. There are currently nine Reality churches spanning from London, England to Honolulu, HI - with Kate planning for more locations on the way. She is the author of two books, And Still She Laughs and most recently, Here, Now. She is the mother of three children and lives near Santa Barbara, California with her family. “If I can convince my children, my family, that God has more than we can ever imagine for us. Then I’ve done my job. I’ve left my legacy.” Please leave us a rating and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. For more inspirational content visit: https://www.pray.com/discover

Kate Merrick is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband, Britt. There are currently nine Reality churches spanning from London, England to Honolulu, HI - with Kate planning for more locations on the way. She is the author of two books, And Still She Laughs and most recently, Here, Now. She is the mother of three children and lives near Santa Barbara, California with her family. “Leadership is authentic and honest. But the most important thing about leadership is that true leadership and true ministry flows from intimacy.” Please leave us a rating and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. For more inspirational content visit: https://www.pray.com/discover

Kate Merrick is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband, Britt. There are currently nine Reality churches spanning from London, England to Honolulu, HI - with Kate planning for more locations on the way. She is the author of two books, And Still She Laughs and most recently, Here, Now. She is the mother of three children and lives near Santa Barbara, California with her family. “We don’t have to be afraid of suffering anymore. I mean it’s awful, it’s hard, but it’s not uncommon to the human experience.” Please leave us a rating and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. For more inspirational content visit: https://www.pray.com/discover

Kate Merrick is the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband, Britt. There are currently nine Reality churches spanning from London, England to Honolulu, HI - with Kate planning for more locations on the way. She is the author of two books, And Still She Laughs and most recently, Here, Now. She is the mother of three children and lives near Santa Barbara, California with her family. Please leave us a rating and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. For more inspirational content visit: https://www.pray.com/discover

In an Open Door Sisterhood Podcast first, we are doing a joint episode with the Surviving Sarah podcast! That means you can listen to half of the conversation here on our podcast and head over to Episode 180 of the Surviving Sarah podcast to listen to the second half of our discussion about...you guessed it, Surviving Summer! We are choosing to do this shared episode with our great friend Sarah Bragg because we want you to get to know her. And bonus, we brought on two more of our shared friends, Kate Merrick and Morgan Tyree, as the experts in how to be intentional about being with our people and using time well in the summer months. In this episode we talk about being present. What does that mean? How are we distracted? And what are we distracted from? Over on Surviving Sarah we talk through the time management aspect of summer so that WE CAN be present with those we love best. This is also an Open Door Sisterhood Podcast first because we feature five, yes five! voices. Consider it your sisterhood round table on intentional approaches to making the most of your summer (especially if you're a mom!) From social media to busyness, we all need to see the forest from the trees and lay out what is most important to us in the summer months. Head over to Surviving Sarah Episode 180 to hear the other half of our conversation.

We have a special episode today because I teamed up with my good friends over at the Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, Alexandra Kuykendall & Krista Gilbert, to bring you a crossover episode about summer. And then, we decided to invite our friends Kate Merrick and Morgan Tyree to join us, too. All five of us join forces to talk about surviving summer. This is a two part episode so after you listen here be sure to find the other part to this conversation at The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.   On this part, we talk about our biggest challenges in regards to time and summer. Morgan Tyree is an organizational expert and has a book coming out this summer that is all about time called Take Back Your Time. So we put her in the hot seat and fire questions at her.    And what is so great about the women at this table is that we represent kids between the ages of preschool and college age. So no matter where you fall in the stages of kids, we’ve got you covered. We talk about chores, juggling schedules, how to create more time for fun, advice for work from home moms and how to help your kids learn to manage their time. Lots of good practical advice shared here.   Connect with Sarah: Website & Instagram Today's show notes which includes links to everything we talked about and ways to connect with each guest.

Listen in to our live recording with our friend Kate Merrick, author of the new book "Here Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World." Be encouraged to enter into deeper presence, rest and authentic community and savor the peace and fullness God offers us moment to moment. Kate invites you to drop the distractions and discover the good, true and beautiful things God offers when we choose to be present right here, right now.  Thanks for being a part of our community. To learn more about Wonderfully Made, please visit us at wonderfullymade.org. If you’re enjoying this podcast, it would mean so much to us if you’d rate or review this via iTunes as it helps other girls and women find encouragement through our conversations. We’d love to encourage you each day through Instagram and Facebook. We also invite you to become a monthly value-builder or financial supporter of our non-profit ministry and join us in helping young women know their true worth.

My guest for The Happy Hour # 243 is Kate Merrick. Kate is an author, speaker, mom of three, and the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband Britt. She also specializes in making up dances to The Greatest Showman soundtrack, riding a surfboard, horse, or roller skates, and adding more butter to pretty much everything. She lives in Carpinteria, California with her family, five chickens, two goats, and two miniature donkeys. I'm so happy to welcome Kate back to the show this week. If you missed her the first time she was on The Happy Hour, you definitely need to take a listen. On that show, Kate and I talked through what it was like losing her daughter Daisy in 2013. On today's show, we dive into what she learned about being fully present while in Israel for treatments for Daisy. Kate shares why she and her family are not on social media, and why they left their smart phones in America when they traveled to Israel. Kate brings up such good questions to consider when she encourages us to look at life as a collection of moments instead of focusing only on the "big" things. When we think of life as a collection of moments, then how should we spend our time? I loved talking with Kate about the importance of reflecting on how we spend our time and honestly asking ourselves if it drains us or lifts us up. I am such a big fan of Kate's and I know you will be encouraged by our conversation today.  Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube Sponsors  Nations Photo Lab - Get 10 Free 5x7 prints using the Nations Photo Lab App Molekule - Use code JAMIE for $75 off Away luggage  - Use code HAPPYHOUR for $20 off a suitcase GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

This episode is brought to you by Prep Dish. Go to PrepDish.com/heygirl for your first 2 weeks   Check out Kate's all-new book "Here, Now" available April 2, 2019 (Amazon) -- In this episode, Bethany interviews Kate Merrick. This is a conversation full of goodness! Kate Merrick is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mama of a teen and a toddler, surfer, part-time cowgirl, and self-proclaimed chicken whisperer. She has been married to Britt for 19 years and they live in Carpinteria, California, where they founded the Reality family of churches. Kate talks about living the “unplugged life” and the beauty that her family has found by not being glued to a screen. Kate shares about the season walking through cancer with her daughter Daisy and all that God spoke to her in that time. After Daisy went home to Jesus in 2013, Kate wrote her book “And Still She Laughs”, reflecting on how she was able to live in joy even in the midst of pain. She shares how she’s digging in to find the deeper questions in the struggles we face, the importance of true community when life is hard and the excitement of getting a Netflix DVD in the mail!   Trolls Soundtrack   Channel Island Surf Boards   Netflix DVD Subscription   Reality Church   Pray for Daisy   And Still She Laughs   Connect with hey girl podcast Instagram || Facebook || Twitter Connect with Bethany Website  || Instagram || Facebook   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: PREP DISH   Prep Dish is a healthy subscription-based meal planning service. When you sign up, you’ll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After only 1-3 hours of prepping on the weekend, you’ll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. You’ll save time and have amazingly delicious meals like Smoky Paprika Chicken Legs with a Trio of Roasted Vegetables or Turkey & Zucchini Lasagna. And, the founder, Allison is offering listeners a free 2- week trial to try it out. You can’t beat that. Check out PrepDish.com/heygirl for this amazing deal! Again, that's PrepDish.com/heygirl for your first 2 weeks, FREE. This is a no-brainer.

Frank Sontag invites Kate Merrick to share insights from her book, Here, Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you're missing out on your one actual life? Your body is coasting through the motions, but distraction and disappointment have crept in, leaving your soul overwhelmed... Today's guest at The Messy Table is shaking us conscious with an urgent wake-up call. Six years ago, Kate Merrick said goodbye for now to [...] The post EP. 52 | Kate Merrick [Show Up for Your Actual Life] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

"God has equipped you for this season. He has made you strong. Walk in it. Chin high, shoulders back. And fight for what’s important. Fight for connection, privacy, wisdom … these moments are full of wonder and wretchedness. God will use these days." Meet Kate Merrick. She’s an author, speaker, mom of three, and the cofounder of the Reality family of churches with her husband Britt. She also specializes in making up dances to The Greatest Showman soundtrack, riding a surfboard, horse, or roller skates, and adding more butter to pretty much everything. She lives in Carpinteria, California with her family, five chickens, two goats, and two miniature donkeys. Kate’s new book is Here Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overcoming World. She also has another book, And Still She Laughs: Defiant Joy in the Depths of Suffering, which tells the story of her losing her daughter to cancer. Kate is all joy and I’m glad for you to know her better.  SHOW NOTES Kate’s new book: Here Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overcoming World. Kate’s interview on DD Episode 21 Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Justin Earley on DD Episode 79 Join the Dear Daughters Book Launch Team KATE’S LETTER TO HER YOUNGER SELF Dear 34 year old Kate, “Yes, this is heinous, this awful cancer diagnosis.” And, “You are ultimately not in control, but God is.” I want to say, “Honey, sweet, sweet mama, you’ve got to trust God. Worrying only gives you ulcers and makes everyone around you anxious.” I want to say, “God has equipped you for this season. He has made you strong. Walk in it. Chin high, shoulders back. And fight for what’s important. Fight for connection, privacy, wisdom, for your son who is thrown in the middle of the crisis. These moments are full of wonder and wretchedness. God will use these days.” Want to write a letter to your younger self? Get the free GRACE GUIDE here … grateful, grateful for Davis sharing their music for the DD Podcast. :)  

I so hope you’ll enjoy this conversation we had with Kate Merrick! Friendship is so very important to us, and Kate knows much about the importance of having girlfriends in times of joy and sorrow. Kate is wife to Britt Merrick and mom to Isaiah Harley, Daisy Love, and Pheodora Sunshine. They have a church in California and she’s authored two books: And Still She Laughs and Here, Now (due April 2, 2019!) You can find Kate here on Facebook: Kate Merrick, Author. Enjoy the podcast—and be sure to order your own copy of Girls’ Club!

How can we find joy after deep loss? What about the loss of a child? Kate Merrick believes in the “in between moments that make up our lives” & the power of being truly present. This mama had to face "goodbye love" straight in the eye. Only 5 years ago she lost her daughter Daisy Love to cancer after a five year battle. Today we speak about finding the light through the darkness. She amazingly has gone on to write "And Still She Laughs: Defiant Joy in the Depths of Suffering" & "Here Now: Unearthing Presence & Peace in an Overcorrected World." Go to https://www.soulmammas.com to read more on her story, show notes, take-aways and more! And please and join the new Facebook Group and follow me on Instagram!     

At a glance Kate Merrick looks like she just stepped off the pages of a Free People or Anthropologie ad. But boho style and beautiful blonde hair with beach waves don't tell a complete story. This California girl and her pastor husband Britt lost their cherished 8-year old daughter to cancer in 2013. Kate has been through the ringer wrestling with grief, doubt, sorrow and truth. She's honest, funny, passionate and real. Her struggle to find hope in the midst of devastation is archived on prayfordaisy.com. She's the author of the book "And She Still Laughs" and is my incredible guest on episode #6 of the GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast. Don't miss this conversation. Show notes at gwensmith.net/graceologie/6 Graceologie on INSTA: @graceologie Graceologie on FB: www.facebook.com/graceologie Gwen Smith on INSTA: @gwensmithmusic Gwen Smith on FB: www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic

Kate Merrick shares her journey of pain through the loss of her daughter Daisy Love, and the amazing grace of God through loss, grief, and finding laughter again.  Kate and her husband Britt started the Reality Family of Churches out of Carpenteria, California, and now oversee a growing ministry across two countries, three states and two oceans. Listen in on our conversation about choosing a simple life and loving the people right in front of you.    Connect with Kate http://kmerrick.com/   Kate's Book And Still She Laughs: Defiant Joy in the Depths of Suffering   Mentioned in this Episode C.S. Lewis quote from The Weight of Glory (find book here) The Meaning of Marriage, by Tim Keller Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas Alongside: A Practical Guide for Loving Your Neighbor in their Time of Trial, by Sarah Beckman Episode 009 | Practical Tips for Helping Hurting Families

In this episode, Bethany interviews Kate Merrick. This is a conversation full of goodness! Kate Merrick is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mama of a teen and a toddler, surfer, part-time cowgirl, and self-proclaimed chicken whisperer. She has been married to Britt for 19 years and they live in Carpinteria, California, where they founded the Reality family of churches. Kate talks about living the “unplugged life” and the beauty that her family has found by not being glued to a screen. Kate shares about the season walking through cancer with her daughter Daisy and all that God spoke to her in that time. After Daisy went home to Jesus in 2013, Kate wrote her book “And Still She Laughs”, reflecting on how she was able to live in joy even in the midst of pain. She shares how she’s digging in to find the deeper questions in the struggles we face, the importance of true community when life is hard and the excitement of getting a Netflix DVD in the mail!   Trolls Soundtrack   Channel Island Surf Boards   Netflix DVD Subscription   Reality Church   Pray for Daisy   And Still She Laughs   Connect with hey girl podcast Instagram || Facebook || Twitter Connect with Bethany Website  || Instagram || Facebook || Twitter   Connect with Laurie Instagram  

Kate Merrick's life on a small ranch in California where she home schools and surfs sounds idyllic from the outside. And yet tucked in her story is heart wrenching grief of losing her daughter, Daisy, to cancer. Her journey has led her from bitterness to joy in the midst of her reality. In this conversation we hear about Kate's journey as a mother with a sick child, how she married into a surfing family, the church she is part of and it's global growth. A true sisterhood interview we cover the practical to the inspirational and back again. Kate is one you want to sit with (preferably on the beach) and cover all the topics. Her combination of intensity and abandon confirm the title of her new book, and Still She Laughs. This is one Open Door Sisterhood Podcast episode you won't want to miss. This surfer girl turned pastor's wife is genuine and resilient, curious and lovely, wild and free. We welcome her to the sisterhood and we welcome you as well.

It s ingrained in our culture to fix things, to try to make everyone happy and see smiles on the faces of everyone around us. But life just isn t that way all the time. In fact, life can often become very dark. Kate Merrick knows that fact all too well. At 8 ½ years old her daughter Daisy passed from this life after a prolonged fight with cancer. Cancer. In a child. Can you imagine? But Kate says she s come to the place where she laughs without fear of the future even though for a very long season during her darkest days of bitterness and grief, she couldn t laugh at all and had plenty of fear. It’s an amazing story and Kate is an inspiring woman. You ll be touched deeply by hearing her story. We are just practicing, we don t have to get it all right. One thing Kate knows from her experience of grief is that there isn t a right way to do it. It s as different as the person who is experiencing it. So when it comes to grief, we need to be careful that we allow ourselves to grieve and that we do it in a way that is honest to us. Kate says, We are just practicing, we don t have to get it all right. That applies to our times of grief as much as it applies to anything else. The honesty with which Kate shares in this episode is both startling and refreshing. She s comfortable with the darkness and struggle she had to go through to grieve over her dearly loved daughter, and she s comfortable with the fact that the sorrow over her loss will always be present. But she s come out unafraid. She s come out able to laugh again. The only way to be comfortable with someone s grief is to be uncomfortable along with them. Grief is one of those things that makes us all uncomfortable. We understand it. We know it has to happen and want others to be able to process it – but not around us. It s too uncomfortable. But it’s also uncomfortable for the one who’s experiencing it. Kate Merrick says that while she was loved very well as she traversed the darkest season of her life after her daughter died, she also grew weary of the discomfort others had about her grief. They didn t say it. But she could see it. And she felt it deep in her own soul, too. Kate has some powerful advice for friends of friends who are suffering through the pangs of grief. Please, listen to this episode to hear what she says. It will serve you and those you love well. Learning to walk through suffering through the gift of writing. Kate s family is the epitome of unplugged. They don t own a TV (never have) and only Kate has a smartphone. They simply don t want the constant barrage of communication and media in their lives, and they ve loved the disconnected pace of life that decision has made possible. But after her daughter, Daisy was diagnosed with cancer, being connected became very much a necessity for Kate. She simply didn t want to have to recount every doctor s visit, every diagnosis, every procedure, to every person who asked – so she started a blog. She didn t even know how it worked, she just typed – often while lying in bed, with one hand, on her phone. And she discovered that writing was a creative gift she d not discovered up until that point – and though it served others by keeping them updated on Daisy s progress, it also served Kate by helping her navigate her own thoughts and feelings. If you ll take the time to hear her story, you ll understand why her story is your story, only the characters are different. After the grief, she laughs without fear of the future. But she couldn t have apart from the grief. None of us want to experience the deep grief of losing a child, or spouse, or person close to us. But it s likely going to happen at least one time in our lives. The loss of her 8 ½ year old daughter was tragic, yet it brought a newfound radiance to Kate s world that was quite unexpected. She says after coming out of the darkness of bitterness and grief, the beauty of the world is brighter, the colors more vivid, the lines are sharper and more defined. And laughter is richer, more filled with joy than before. If all of that sounds strange to you, it s a sign you should hear Kate s entire story. What she s been through provides the context and contrast that makes sense of such unbelievable statements. This conversation is a treasure. Be sure to listen. Outline of this great episode [0:22] Why Kate is on the show: the issue of creativity in the midst of sorrow. [3:20] The story of Kate s daughter Daisy becoming sick and passing away. [8:11] The surprising way Kate learned about her writing talent. [14:10] What happened in Kate s darkest days and what came from it. [18:24] Why Kate chose to make her journey public when she didn t have to. [20:48] What it took for Kate to be honest about her grief (going through darkness to light). [23:15] Facing her own bitterness through rereading an ancient story. [28:55] Kate s description of her sorrow on the other side of the bitterness. [31:07] The fear tied to getting past the deepest sorrow. [36:09] What Kate advises to the friends of those who are grieving. Resources & Links mentioned in this episode Channel Island Surfboards Movie: Surf s Up (the Penguin movie) GUESTS RESOURCES Kate Merrick s website: http://kmerrick.com/ Kates book: And Still She Laughs Connect with the Converge team: Website: www.Fastermind.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followdane/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danesanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/danesanders Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK The post S.3 Ep. 005 – She Laughs Without Fear of the Future: Through Grief to Creativity with Kate Merrick appeared first on Fastermind.co.

James & Betty Robison w Britt & Kate Merrick

James & Betty Robison w Britt & Kate Merrick

Kate Merrick’s daughter Daisy Love was just eight years old when she died from cancer. Kate says, “When Jesus said, ‘I’m going to wipe every tear from your eye,’ I believe that."

Kate Merrick is a blogger/speaker that is most recognized for her writings that focused on her daughter’s diagnosis and battle with cancer. In recent years, Kate and her husband have wrestled with Daisy’s passing, out of that struggle came Kate’s book And Still She Laughs. Don’t miss Kate’s invaluable wisdom regarding grief, marriage, parenting and why she gave up social media.

On this episode of the Catalyst Podcast, Jason Haynes talks with Kate Merrick, about how her experience losing a child — a journey followed by more than a million on prayfordaisy.com – revealed the reality of surprising joy and deep hope even in the midst of incredible heartache.

My guest for The Happy Hour #133 is Kate Merrick. Kate is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mama of a teen and a toddler, surfer, part-time cowgirl, and self-proclaimed chicken whisperer. She has been married to Britt for 19 years, and they live in Carpinteria, California, where they founded the Reality family of churches.  In 2013, she endured the death of her daughter, Daisy Love, after suffering through cancer treatment for three and a half years. Kate is making her way back toward laughter, and finding life to be filled with good things. In today's show, Kate and I chat about her new book: And Still She Laughs. I have read through most of the book already and was so impressed and surprised by the approach she took to write it. Instead of it being primarily the story of her grief, she details the stories of several women in the Bible who have suffered and persevered. We also talk about her decision to get off social media preceding her daughter's death, and what led her to that decision. We chat about the tension between perspective and comparison - and how comparison robs us of our joy in living the life God has planned for us. And finally (because what happy hour would be complete without it?), we discuss shark attacks and my paralyzing (and very rational) fear of being devoured by a shark. {You can listen to the showHERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Kate's Book: And Still She Laughs Soul Surfer The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis + A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle What Kate is loving: Spring, making flower bouquets and her Magnolia Journal Music from Jason Poe Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsors: Noonday Collection Noonday Collection is a fair trade jewelry and accessories company that provides meaningful opportunities around the world. To create a marketplace for the Artisan Partners they work with, they invite women in the United States to launch their own businesses through the Ambassador Opportunity.  For the month of March only, Noonday is offering you exclusively some of my personal favorite products when you join.  Just click here to see exactly what those products are and how you can join the Ambassador Community today! PrepDish Prep Dish is a healthy subscription-based meal planning service. When you sign up, you'll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After a couple of hours on the weekend, you'll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. You'll save time and have some amazingly delicious meals like Smoky Paprika Chicken Legs with Roasted Carrots, Parsnips & Fennel or Turkey & Zucchini Lasagna. Allison is offering listeners one month for just $4! You can't beat it. Check out PrepDish for this amazing deal! Use code: happyhour

Kevin McCullough turns to Townhall's Guy Benson to discuss the challenge of repealing and replacing Obamacare and why the Republican bill, although not perfect, would fix a lot of the failings of the current law. Elijah Brown of the 21st Century joins the Don Kroah Show to underscore the need for the U.S. and other nations to help with the violence and refugee crisis in the Middle East. Mark Elfstrand interviews the Heritage Foundation's Jennifer Marshall about how the left and the right might work tother on gender issues. We also hear from a couple of voices from a recent Heritage panel on the issue of transgenderism. Larry Schweikart, author of “How Trump Won,” tells Bill Bunkley why he thought Donald Trump would win the presidency long before others got on the Trump train. Kate Merrick shares her thoughts about strong women in the Bible and their struggle with human loss as chronicled in her book, “And She Still Laughs” on the Frank Sontag Show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2013 Kate Merrick said goodbye to her 8 year-old daughter Daisy Love when she left for heaven. She wrote on grief, joy, and struggle on prayfordaisy.com. Kate is making her way back toward laughter and finding life to be filled with good things. Kate Merrick is a pastor's wife, writer, speaker, and mom to a teenager and toddler. She and her husband Britt cofounded the Reality family of churches in 2003, which began in Carpinteria, California, and has grown to include Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Stockton, San Francisco, Boston, London, and Honolulu. That's the official bio, but let's be honest ... she's a nouveaux-hippie at heart, Kate has a fondness for her mom’s blouses from the 70s, loves to cook food she grew and meat she raised, and she is one of those people who uses coconut oil for everything—like Windex. She willingly lends her chandelier earrings to her toddler, dances hard at weddings, opens the sunroof when she’s driving, and still checks to see if her dress twirls. Most of all, she enjoys the freedom of being wholly loved by God who has given not only his friendship to a total sinner, but every sweet thing in life.   Show notes at susiedavis.org

Defiant Joy In the Midst of Suffering || Allie interviews her dear friend Kate Merrick. Kate is a writer, speaker, mama of a teen and a toddler. She has been married to Britt for 19 years, and they live in Carpinteria, California. They founded the Reality family of churches, birthed in the heart of a tiny beach town in an old lemon packing factory. In our deep and... Read More