About the book: 
Just Show Up (David C Cook, October 2015)

Kara Tippetts's story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara's story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing "God with us" through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

"Just Show Up" is written beautifully with a profound and practical approach to what it means to be a friend during difficult times.  As we flip to the first page, we read "Hi. My name is Kara Tippetts, and I may not not be alive when you read this book." This genuine honesty of Kara hits you. That is what you need to expect from her and Jill.  In truth, Kara is now with our Lord Jesus since March of 2015, and she left us a gift - a gift in "Just Show Up".  I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This is not only for those suffering or know someone suffering at this very moment. It is timeless, because at some point in time, we all will encounter adversities.  How we react, how we accept or how we treat others makes a difference in theirs and your life, no matter how minute or inconsequential it is appears to be. 

Jill's personality reminds me of me, but she had a great friend to share this "dance" with. Even in the midst of difficulties, Kara's selfless act of accepting help made this "dance" continued on.  A few years ago, an accident with a temporary lapse in memory and severe headaches as side effects caused me to shut down and closed myself up. I didn't want help and didn't care to explain myself.  And in turn relationships were broken or rather, it never progressed.  Looking back, I've always regretted my decisions.  I wasn't a good friend. I was selfish because even if I was suffering, I made it all about me.  Years later now, I see that I didn't even give others a chance.  Reading Jill's authentic voice and thoughts through this time brings to mind why God gave us friends.  I am not Kara, but I admire her - in her ways to find humor in life's difficult moments to ease the pain and self-contempt her friends feel or will feel in her absence. Her selflessness coupled with Jill's forthright acknowledgement of their "dance" blessed us (readers) with practical ways to be there, for others, for ourselves and to know how to accept it. It's ok to not know what to say or what to do or matter if you're doing it right. "This book isn't about doing it perfectly. It's about doing it better together."

Kara said in the beginning of this book, "There is so much power in showing up, humble power in saying, 'I'm here. I may not have the answers, but I'm here.'" (p10).  Let God be your guidance. Let Him show you the meaning behind the humility of to just show up.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, David C Cook Books through Litfuse Publicity Group for an honest review. 

About the authors: 

The late Kara Tippetts was the author of "The Hardest Peace" and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara's story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Read Kara's blog.

Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of "Falling for Texas," an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.


Connect with Jill: website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Celebrate the gift of friendship with a Tried & True Friendship giveaway—a prize for you and for a friend!