Katie Ganshert, Author at Katie Ganshert

Affection

Posted on December 2, 2011November 25, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

I’m an affectionate mom. My son has grown up with a mother who gives him too many hugs and too many kisses and too many cuddles and too many pinches. I can’t help it.

Have you seen little-boy underwear? I think it might be the cutest thing in the world. So when he’s walking up the steps in front of me with Mater on his tiny hiney, I really have no control over my pinches.

Not to worry. He laughs and giggles and races up the stairs.

And I promise I won’t continue when the little boy underwear turns into boxer briefs. I’m determined to give my child as few complexes as possible.

Anyway, I’m digressing.

This post is about affection.

It’s about how I grew up in a very affectionate home, where hugs and kisses were never lacking. It’s about how much I love to lavish that same affection on my wild-child of a son. And how precious our cuddle times are before bedtime, when he whispers, “I love you, Mommy” into my ear. And how sad I get when I think that someday, he won’t want to cuddle anymore. And how this last thought makes me want to treasure every single cuddle he gives me between now and then.

Let’s Talk: Did you grow up in an affectionate home? Are you an affectionate person? If your kids are older, at what point did they stop wanting to cuddle?

Accomplishing the Impossible

Posted on November 30, 2011December 15, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit stressed.

And what’s scary is that this is only a taste of what’s to come.

Once we’re in the throes of our adoption, and once my book hits shelves, life is only going to get crazier. And to add to the craziness, we recently learned that my hubs is a kidney match for his younger brother. There’s a very real possibility that in four or five months, Ryan will undergo major surgery so he can give one of his kidneys away.

There was a two day span where I felt like my brain was in constant fast-forward. Juggling a million thoughts. And my mind kept nursing the impossibility of it all.

Everything that’s about to happen in our lives felt impossible.

The adoption is going to cost significant money.

If Ryan goes through with this surgery (he’s not the only match), he’ll be out of work for six weeks.

Not to mention the surgery would take place right when my book releases, which is going to be an insanely busy (albeit fun) time.

So yeah. My mind was whirling. And whirling. And whirling. Trying to figure out how it’s all going to work. And the more my brain whirled, the more I realized how absolutely prone I am to anxiety. The more I realized how much Satan relishes in our convoluted, circle-spinning worries.

Because the minute we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the what-ifs, is the minute we turn into Peter. Walking on water one second. Sinking like a rock the next. So focused on the impossible waves that we lose sight of the One who can calm them with a snap of His finger. So focused on the impossible waves that we freak out and get back in the boat.

But then what?

What glory is there to be had for God when I curl up in the boat?

How will I experience the nonsensical, paranormal, mind-blowing POWER of Jesus Christ when I tackle only what can be done through my own feeble strength?

So there we were. Ryan and I. Rocking back and forth, back and forth about all that’s going down. The adoption. Kidney transplant. Finances. The adoption. Kidney transplant. Finances. Going absolutely nowhere. Trying to figure it all out in our tiny, finite minds. Until Ryan said, “What do you think God would say to us right now?”

Even now, several days later, I can still feel Him peeling our fingers away from the control we grasp so tightly in our white-knuckled fists. I can still hear Him whisper.

Trust me. I’ve got this.

And He does. He’s got it.

So I will take a deep breath. I will keep my eye on Jesus. And I will trust that the crazier the waves, the more glory He will get should He enable us to walk on them.

Let’s Talk: What waves has God enabled you to walk on in your life? How do you keep your focus on Him instead of the worries?

photo by KIJones

My Changing Opinion on Tag Lines

Posted on November 28, 2011November 26, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

I wasn’t a fan of tag lines.

I had nothing against them. I just didn’t think they were necessary. Or helpful. Our name becomes our brand more than any cute or catchy tag line ever could.

But recently, my opinion has evolved.

I’ve become a fan. Not because I think a tag line will translate into a ready-made brand. But because having a tag line is a great place to start when creating a website.

When my web designer started designing various headers, I gravitated toward the ones that had a place for my name and a tag line. The ones with just my name felt a bit sparse. Like something was missing. I wanted something to go with my name. Something that might give visitors a quick idea of what to expect. So when my lovely in-house marketer suggested Writing faith and romance, I pounced.

It’s straightforward. It’s simple. And it fits.

So I went with it.

And I soon discovered that starting with a tag line went a long way in the content department.

All of a sudden, I had a theme.

62% of the 89 people who took my online survey said they go to author websites to learn more about the author. And many of those people commented that they enjoy learning something more than a simple author bio. So when it came time to think about what information to include on my website, I capitalized on my tag line. I shared about my Writing Journey, my Faith Journey, and my Real-Life Romance. When it came time to organize my blog posts, I could categorize them according to my tag line. Now, if a reader is interested in reading posts about faith, they can find them all in one convenient spot.

So yeah. I’ve become a fan of tag lines.

I think they are a great tool when it comes to building a cohesive, thematic website. One that will appeal to our readers.

Let’s Talk: Are you a fan of tag lines? Why or why not? Do you have a tagline? If so, have you used it to build your website?

In other news, if you signed up for a welcome packet, I’m still waiting on a couple items before I can send them out. You should get them before Christmas. Thanks for signing up!