Category: Katie Ganshert

As a woman, I’ve fallen into the trap we women (and men too) can so easily fall into.

Wishing my hair was thicker, my skin was tanner, my nose was straighter.

At every turn, we’re bombarded with the world’s definition of beauty.

Whether it’s the airbrushed models or actresses we see on the covers of magazines. The commercials and the ads and the billboards proclaiming quick fixes to acne or cellulite or dark circles or any other possible “flaw” a person should really hurry up and hide. Or Victoria’s Secret absolutely ridiculous “perfect body” campaign.

Seriously?

That is a flat-out impossible standard for probably 98% of women in this world. But I guess if Victoria says it, it must be true, right?

Somewhere in the midst of all that noise and all those lies, we lose our compass.

Instead of looking up to see what our Creator has to say about us, we look around and fall into the horrible, dreaded trap of comparison, which inevitably leads to the road marked “not good enough”.

We forget that He formed us in our mother’s womb. We forget that we are a reflection of Him.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ~Psalm 139:14

We so easily diss HIS creation. HIS masterpiece. You. Me. Us.

I really think we have this idea of beauty all wrong. Messed up. Out of whack.

Which is why I’m so excited about this FACEme tour today, organized by a couple of my author friends.

A day when we take off the makeup and we celebrate beauty. REAL beauty. Which ALL of us have.

In this day and age of selfies, where let’s be honest, we take twenty shots in search for the best angle and the most flattering light, I have a series of selfies that is by far, my favorite. I’m not wearing make up. I don’t have my contacts in. I’m still in my pajamas and I’m sure I hadn’t even brushed my teeth yet. They were taken over a month ago, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where my daughter lives.

I look at these pictures and I see beauty.

In her.

In me.

Because love is beautiful and SHE makes me a more beautiful person. That is real. That is something that can’t be airbrushed or filtered. That is something that will never fade.

That is something, God-willing, I will get to teach her some day.

Today, as you hop around to the various blog posts celebrating beauty, which are all listed at the bottom of this post, I hope God whispers words of love and affection and healing to your heart. I hope He shows you how beautiful you really are.

All of us participating in the #FACEme blog tour are posting selfies without makeup or filters or perfect lighting. The name of the game is celebrating the natural beauty God’s given each of us.

This is me. And God calls me beautiful.

He calls you the same.

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A #FACEme Giveaway!

In celebration of this inspiring #FACEme tour, I’m giving away a copy of my most recent novel, A Broken Kind of Beautiful, which is all about this tricky thing we call beauty. There are several ways to enter. Just click on the options below and enter as many ways as you’d like! I hope Ivy’s story ministers to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

To order A Broken Kind of Beautiful, scroll down to the buy links at the bottom of this page.

Bloggers who are joining the #FACEme tour today:

• Nick Kording: http://nickkording.com/thoughts/
• Lindsay Harrel: http://www.lindsayharrel.com
• Joseph Courtemanche: http://www.commotioninthepews.com
• Gabrielle Meyer: http://www.gabriellemeyer.com
• Jaime Wright: http://coffeecupsandcamisoles.blogspot.com
• Carrie Wisehart: http://www.carriewisehart.com
• Emilie Anne Hendryx: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com
• Andrea ‘Dia’ Nell: http://andrea-michelle-wood.blogspot.com/
• Sarah Baker: http://godbooksandchocolate.blogspot.com/?m=1
• Kristy Cambron: http://www.kristycambron.com
• Rachel Britz: http://www.rachelbritz.com
• Cara Putman: http://www.caraputman.com
• Stacy Monson: http://www.Landof10000words.wordpress.com
• Laurie Tomlinson: http://www.laurietomlinson.com
• Katherine Reay : http://www.katherinereay.com

A free short story I wrote a few years ago about a little girl who thinks she’s ugly: His Masterpiece

Tell me one thing that’s beautiful about YOU!

Over the past several years, I’ve has fun summarizing the previous year using one word and predicting what the next year’s word will be.

Here’s a brief recap….

2009’s One Word Summary: Growth

I started doing this in January of 2010, which means I didn’t have a prediction for 2009. Just a summary. And with all the growing I did as a Christian and as a writer, I’d say that fits the bill.

2010’s One Word Summary: Surrender

Jokingly, I predicted that 2010 would be my year for Victory. Ended up being a year of surrender. Gotta love the irony there.

2011’s One Word Summary: Trust

2011’s prediction was Anticipation, since I had just signed a two-book deal with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. Throughout the course of the year, I not only quit my day job, Ryan and I said yes to adoption, both of which required a lot of trust.

2012’s One Word Summary: Grateful

2012’s prediction was Change, since I became a work-at-home mom and assumed we’d be bringing our Congolese son or daughter home at some point that year (oh Katie, you were so naive). Even though that didn’t happen, it was a year of many blessings–both tangible and intangible.  

2013’s One Word Prediction: Surprises

Let’s see. Major highlights. 

In 2013, Ryan and I accepted a referral for a little girl. That was in February. We thought she’d be home by the summer. But then Congo adoptions turned upside down and we watched from afar as timelines were extended and government departments shut down. Our Congolese Cutie officially became a Ganshert in July, but as of right now, we have no idea when she will come home. 

In 2013, I traveled to Congo twice. Once in April for a humanitarian trip. Again in November to spend time with my daughter.

In 2013, I saw an outpouring of God’s provision like none I have ever seen before. Kelli Standish’s flash mob made my 2nd trip to the Congo possible and it had God’s fingerprints all over it. 

In 2013, my second book, Wishing on Willows, hit book stores.

In 2013, my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, was nominated for a Christy and won a Carol! 

In 2013, I signed another 2-book deal with Waterbrook Multnomah, and wrote a novella for Zondervan’s A Year of Weddings novella collection.

In 2013, my son’s life became increasingly miraculous. Yearning for a child has a way of making you appreciate the one you have in a profound way.

If I had to sum up the year in one word, it would be….

Surprises

Because the shoe fits…

If you would have told me last year that we’d somehow have the money for me to fly to Congo TWICE, I would have laughed.

If you would have told me last year that I  would be nominated for a Christy or win a Carol, I would have laughed.

If you would have told me last year that we still would not have our daughter home, I would have laughed.

The year was filled with surprises–some amazing, some not. But surprises nonetheless.

So what’s my one word prediction for 2014?

I have no idea.

In fact, I’m going to stop making predictions.

Here is what I do know…

I’ll spend these next two months in a writing cave, finishing my fourth novel.

My third novel, A Broken Kind of Beautiful, will release this April (I am so beyond excited to share this story).

My first novella, An October Bride, will release in….well, October. (I’m pretty excited about this one too.)

Our daughter could come home, or she might not.

There will be days when I can handle the wait and days when I can’t. 

Brogan will start kindergarten (what?!?!)

I will give my husband lots of kisses and my son lots of cuddles. We’ll probably do some bickering and I’ll probably lose my patience. I will do some writing, some playing, some laughing, some crying. And lots and lots of praying.

Happy 2014, from me to you!

Let’s Talk: How’s 2014 looking for you? Any big highlights to share from 2013?