Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea, and a Whole Lotta Jesus

by Kathryn Whitaker

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (third place, first-time author).


Popular blogger Kathryn Whitaker is a Dr Pepper super fan, Aggie-loving, type A mom of six with a personality the size of her native Texas. The stressful premature birth of her fifth child threw her orderly world into chaos and ultimately led her to rethink her priorities. In Live Big, Love Bigger , Whitaker shares her journey and challenges readers to understand that they, too, can live a life of authenticity with joy-filled purpose, love, and faith. Along the way, she’ll help readers see that choosing to say no is the only way they’ll be able to say yes to what matters most—Jesus. It’s not every family who would plan a week-long Texas barbecue pilgrimage for a family of eight, much less expand the idea to a multi-month quest to experience the state, eat amazing food, and visit some awesome religious sites along the way. But Whitaker did it—when she decided imperfect family road trips trumped a vacation at a luxury resort. “Barbecue encouraged us to hit the road, while Jesus met us at every single stop along the way—proof that he loves brisket as much as we do, right?” Ditching the fancy vacation was one way Whitaker learned to give up control and say no to perfectionism and over-achievement in order to live a new, more intentional life and discover what God truly has in store for her family. Whitaker’s sassy authenticity will make readers laugh—and cry—while encouraging them to be honest about mistakes in every area of their life, embrace them, and find a way to let God redeem it all.

Genres: Catholic, Faith, Memoir, Inspirational, Nonfiction, Christian

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2019

About the author

Kathryn Whitaker is the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book about living an intentional, hell yes, kind of life. She's a sixth-generation Texan who was raised as an evangelical Protestant and then converted to Catholicism on the eve of her wedding. On social media and her blog, Kathryn shares her honest take on family life and living the Gospel, all while drinking Dr Pepper and cheering on the Texas Aggies.

She has appeared in USA Today, EWTN, radio and TV stations around the country and is a frequent guest/sometimes host on The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM.

Kathryn and her husband, Scott, live with their family in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Jamie Degler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author and speaker is a gift from God , walking in his grace every single day. She can make you laugh, cry, and let you know you are not alone. She lights up the room and if you ever have the pleasure of meeting her, it will be a gift!

[Kathleen Brunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author gave a presentation at my church. A funny thoughtful look at her Catholic life with her large family. Parts made me think which is always a bonus.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I so enjoyed this book. The story is Kathryn Whitaker, her family, and Jesus. There were sad times, happy times, stressful times and at all times Jesus was right there with them. My favorite part of the book was when she was thinking about her family and how busy they were, it seemed like everyone was cramming as much as possible into their life now, striving for perfection so she decided to have a six-month moratorium. There were mistakes along the way, but it was ok. As she said, find a way to let God redeem it all.
Live Big, Love Bigger is not just for Catholics, it is a book that most people would enjoy and get so much from. It is life with a breath of fresh air.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected - and that was a good thing! From the blurb, I thought it would be more of a travelogue of the Whitaker family's barbecue pilgrimage, and that's not at all the case. Since I've never been to Texas nor had barbecue, I didn't expect to relate to this book. Instead, I found that it's full of honest talk from a mom who had to learn the hard way a lesson we all need to learn: perfectionism doesn't get you anywhere. If you have a quiet place to read and a bottomless glass of sweet tea, you'll easily read your way through this book in an afternoon, but its lessons will stick with you much longer.

[David Uebbing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn covers a lot of sacred ground in this delightful and engaging read - you won't come away feeling like her marriage or motherhood are unapproachable or remote, but with the sense that she has been there, done that, and turned back to extend a hand to moms in the trenches a few steps behind her. A really honest, beautiful look at life through the lens of faith, contentment, and finding joy in unexpected and ordinary places.

- Jenny Uebbing, Mama Needs Coffee

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but I wanted more. The author would mention something, but just brush over instead of going deep into the struggle. I was a little frustrated. I think an editor should have pushed the author because she had some good things to say, but she missed the ability to connect on a deeper level with her readers.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Kathryn's online presence for a long time, and enjoyed her book!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this.

I’ve followed Kathryn online for a while and I like her style. The organization of this book wasn’t my favorite. It seemed each chapter was written in a silo as if it may have been the first chapter. Many many details were repeated throughout the text and for me this greatly distracted from the narrative.

Because the timeline was all over the place, an overall arc would have been helpful to tie it all together. It is better written than some other blogger memoirs that read like a series of blog posts. I imagine it’s hard for a prolific blogger to come up with new material, but there were quite a few things that occurred since I started following Mrs Whitaker that I didn’t know before reading this book. Good read.

[Iliana Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I felt deeply seen and known throughout this book. I think I read it at the perfect time in this season of my motherhood and I imagine I will go back to it in different seasons and gain new understandings and greater hope for where Jesus calls me. Thank you, Kathryn, for being real, raw, vulnerable, and inspiring.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the right book finds you at the exact moment your life needs it. That is the book for me right now. She is real, authentic, and has a beautiful story of life lessons to share! I can’t recommend this book highly enough, especially for all the moms who are in the trenches of life right now!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a family and think everyone’s life is better than yours; if you look around and think, “why me?” and wonder if God is ever going to take your burdens from you; if you know constant motion is not the way to a great life but can’t seem to stop – read this book. I say that as a woman in a very different season of life than Kathryn. I believe that we all have a story. Some of us share that story in a big way and some do it in a small way. All of us need to tell our story in some way because it helps others. We can learn from each other. I’m not taking about how to cook for 6 kids every night, I’m talking about how to let God into the messiness and reality of our lives so that he can help us, heal us, hold us. So he can be GOD! When Kathryn talks about how her life has unfolded and the difficulties in it, she is very honest. She reveals the deep parts of her soul in talking about her marriage, her children, her need for order. And then she shows you how getting to contentment and joy took time and it hurt but it was worth it.
I think this quote from the introduction to the book sums up what the book shows us, “God’s graced and mercy will simultaneously blindside you and fill you with gratitude. Because instead of chasing the life you think you deserve, you’ll be basking in the freedom of intentional living. You’ll stop trying to overdo life, and you’ll start living it with a genuine heart – with love, with passion, and with purpose. That’s what happens when you understand that being an imperfect disciple making imperfect choices with an imperfect heart for an all-loving and perfect God is living a hell yes kind of life.”
Go ahead a get a copy. You won’t regret it.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy of Live Big, Love Bigger by Kathryn Whitaker arrived just as our family prepared to hunker down for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian off Florida’s East Coast.
As the winds picked up and the rains moved in outside our home, I read about Kathryn’s journey, as she and her family have weathered the “storms” of life with “BBQ, Sweet Tea, and A Whole Lotta Jesus.”
With a combination of vulnerability, honesty, warmth and humor, Kathryn shares stories about her marriage and family-of-six struggles (including the premature birth and resulting medical needs of her fifth child), desire for control, negative self-image, her conversion to Catholicism, and her love of the Word of God.
She shows how, in the struggles,she learned to be intentional, and to fully embrace Jesus “smack dab in the crazy of family life.” She found that whether she was in the NICU or a cathedral, her own closet, or on a Texas barbecue pilgrimage--Jesus met her at every step. Even when she had questions, and doubts, and fears, and tears. She came to understand that “where there is suffering, there is also grace.” And love.
This book has many valuable take-aways for the reader. Even for this fifty-something empty-nester and “MeMe”. Jesus meets me where I am, even in my own storms. The “everyday holy is real”, if I take time to notice and live with more intention. And when I set aside fear and worry and control, I can learn to love bigger each day. To which I like to think Kathryn would say Amen! (or more likely, Hell, yes!)
Highly recommend...hunker down and enjoy!

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Kathryn’s blog for years and year (and years!) My enthusiasm couldn’t be contained when I heard she wrote a book. She’s one of those women you watch and wonder “How does she do it? How does she have it all together?” Her family is not immune to the hardships of life, especially in the medical area with her fifth child being born premature, having an extended NICU stay, and multiple surgeries. And yet, she lives her life with joy, peace, and gratitude. This book answered those questions. How does she do it? The answer is . . . Jesus. That’s great and all, but what does that actually look like in real life? Kathryn shares it all to help us see what living a life as a disciple of Christ means, and how it plays out in her family life. She shares authentically about her prayer life, her marriage struggles and joys, the times she has failed, and how she’s learned to begin again. There is a distinct level of vulnerability in the book which is both refreshing and challenging. While I devoured the book in one sitting, my highlighter had quite the workout. The little gems such as “part of finding your peace in life is being intentional” and “prudence never goes out of style” will provide me with material to mull over for quite a while. Several of my dear friends also read this book, and I know we will gather together and discuss, hopefully sharing our hearts as Kathryn does with us.

[Laura McAninch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have followed Kathryn's blog for over ten years of the roughly thirteen years that she's been blogging. By following her for this long you begin to feel like you know them. Any review comments I could share would seem too personal or coming from a too invested vantage point; however, I do want to state that Kathryn is a genuine, sincere soul who has always replied with her heart to my emails over the last decade. She's one of the few bloggers that exist who do not feed you a candid, generic response. It speaks of her character and soul, and it also bodes well for someone to pick this book up and know of this book's value.

My favorite chapter is Chapter 9 where she shares how to get real with your family priorities and the crazy schedules of a large and active family. We strive for exactly what Kathryn discusses - and I immensely appreciate her paragraph that surmised "nobody wants to be sitting on the bus alone; crazy craves company." Ahhh yes, the helpfulness of others to get your kids to places, though given with the best of intent, is still the road to crazy. Keep preaching it, Kathryn!

[Samantha Grimmell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed and loved Kathryn's blog for years, and her debut book did not disappoint. Her writing is deep yet entertaining, relatable yet wise. Throughout the book, she shares her missteps made and lessons learned while navigating a life of faith and raising her family. Above all else, Kathryn strives to live authentically. And after reading her book, I feel inspired to do the same.

I finished this book in one sitting -- despite the fact that I frequently stopped to re-read and dog-ear passages that really made me think...and there were a lot of those! I already look forward to re-reading the entire thing at least once a year because it's just that good (and I know I'll need the reminders). I found the book to be filled with thought-provoking revelations and a-ha moments. It's brimming with faith and wisdom, and it made me laugh and made me cry...sometimes in the span of the same paragraph. Kathryn's words spoke to my mama heart and my Jesus-loving heart and my human heart. It really is a book with the ability to touch just about everyone.

[Claire McGarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for Christmas, and oh, what a gift!

Reading Kathryn Whitaker’s Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea, and a Whole Lotta Jesus was like having coffee with a dear and wise friend. You come away feeling inspired by her spunky-yet-profound way of thinking, deeply honored to have journeyed with her, and personally challenged to step it up in your own faith life. In her down-to-earth style, she shares her story in such a way, you’re not even aware of how much you’re learning until after you finish, and her poignant messages continue to resonate for a long time to come.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who’s seeking a better way to live this one, crazy life, and yearns to grow closer to Jesus in the process. Witnessing how Whitaker took her own ups and downs, battles and victories to Him for redemption and celebration motivates me to do the same. I’m so grateful for her honesty, wit, wisdom, and example.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard that Kathryn was writing a book, my prayer was that she would somehow capture her encouraging, sassy self on the pages as she pointed people back to their relationship with Christ. Well, she managed to do just that. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and I have to tell you that my honest review included texting my best friend after I finished Chapter 1, telling her to preorder a copy for herself...and if she didn't, I would be ordering it for her. If you have ever struggled with trying to prioritize what the world expects of your family and what God expects of your family, Kathryn's book will provide you with the hard questions you need to ask to determine if you're on the right track. Sassy, sweet, and full of heart-stopping poignant moments, Live Big, Love Bigger is one of my favorite reads of 2019!

[Annamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down to Earth

I don’t know where to begin. This was a beautiful book written about a life intertwined with the love of God. And it is so easy to read - I read it in a day! I love Kathryn’s down to earth narrative and southern-isms that remind me of my parents. As a Catholic, I loved the connections to the Church and how Kathryn clarified what she meant if you haven’t the faintest idea what she’s talking about. This is a relatable story line, but it’s all true. As an avid Instagram fan, I love reading some of the stories that were told on Instastories but in more depth. And to see how God worked through the Whitaker household made me believe there is hope for my own family to make it through the challenges of life.
I challenge anyone to read this book and find inspiration - it’s definitely a winner.

[Eksimmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see Kathryn’s book filling a new need in the publishing world. For many years, the target for the Catholic mom were books that challenge you deeply and need to be hashed out in book studies or mom’s groups. There is an upswing in books now for the mom that just wants to know that she is not alone in the trenches, a read that shows a mom that daily suffering- big or small, is a part of our sanctity. Kathryn’s book is challenging in the little ways- are we too comfortable in our current circumstances? How can we promote vocations in our home? How can we take care of ourselves in a way that edifies our whole family? As some of the Saints have shown us, we often need to start with these small things before we can take on the big things God has in store for us. This book will have you thinking about tackling the small things in your life in order to grow in virtue.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine, but not really for me. As a Texas Aggie myself, I could relate to many of her stories about about her experiences on that front. And I got the best way to share advice and guidance is to tell your own story, but this book was really more of her memoir than much practical guidance. Kathryn has 6 kids and the 5th one was born prematurely and that's when she realized that she wasn't really in control of everything anymore. And I appreciate her honestly about how hard it is to pass up on good opportunities and all. But she did have a lot of "dear friends who were bishops or priests" that she referenced a lot. All fine and dandy but that's not what most of us have.

I can't quite put my finger on it, and I know there are some folks who will love this books, but I will be happy to send it on the way for someone else who needs it more than me right now.

[KC Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow Kathryn on Instagram and eagerly awaited her book release. She's a warm and funny in print as she is on Instagram. I hear her voice as I read the book. The book explores the way we live our lives with Jesus front and center. She helps you to look inside yourself to see that what you thought was a really Jesus filled life really was just skimming the surface. She challenges you to live fully with Christ and within it to LOVE. To really, really love. The hardships included.

This book was alternately made you laugh and cry. I read it in about 2 hours. I plan to re-read it in a couple of weeks. If you get a chance to catch her on her book tour, do so. She's wonderful to hear in person as well.

[Katie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! From the first paragraph in the forward by Fr Dwyer until the closing words in Chapter 10, Kathryn’s book kept me intrigued and captivated. I admire her raw honesty about the need for marriage counseling and the trauma of having a NICU baby. Her wisdom makes this book a must read - saying no vs HELL
YES, the types of friendships in our lives, and how to de clutter your home and heart - all of it made me really stop and reflect on how I’m living my life.

This book is a beautiful story about grace, redemption, and the value of putting God’s plan in front of your own.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is there not to love about this book? I read it all in one sitting, well not actually sitting, laughing, crying, a little bit of everything. This book is for anyone and everyone. As a single catholic looking forward to catholic motherhood when it is my time, this book, and everything Kathryn does, has helped me to not fear change and to embrace my upcoming life. That being said, anyone who has struggled in their life, questions life, fears life, this book will help you move forward, move past, and overall love life.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I eagerly anticipate this book as I love Kathryn's blog and well, her general approach to life and faith. In that sense, it didn't disappoint! The stories are great and definitely inspire you to love the people around you. Overall, I think it could have had more streamlined narrative, but it was still enjoyable. Reading this book is like having a savvy friend tell you about how she's experienced God's love in very real ways...the kind of conversations best had over some great food and drink.

[Stephanie Marcinkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read of challenging themes. Kathryn walks us through personal challenges and how she and her family overcome them with the help of one another and God.

Having ended a 12 day Pilgrimage where Kathryn was one of our speakers, I wasn't ready to let go of the experience as we departed France. So glad I had the wisdom to request an inscribed copy if this book and spend the rest of my week at home reacclimating to the "real world." It was lovely to meet Kathryn and her mother and hear some background of many moments mentioned in the book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it wasn't longer! Kathryn bravely shares how being a mom of 6 has taught her that being a perfect mom doesn't come from social media. She discusses how quickly a "perfect" world can come crashing down on you, and how God teaches each of us humility.
Kathryn, being a Texan, had to include BBQ, football (Gig 'em! WHOOP!), and beer. This book was a fairly quick (mostly because I couldn't put it down) and easy read that will have you laughing, crying, and (if you're a mom) nodding your head saying, "hell, yes".

[Bonnie Engstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of Live Big, Love Bigger and I loved it. Kathryn is a strong writer and an excellent story-teller and she shares about hard things (rough spots in marriage, sick kids, death, etc) in a way that is both vulnerable and respectful of the delicacy of the situations. She is relatable, funny, and warm and it was as if I was sitting at her kitchen table while she shared the wisdom her life experiences had brought her. We all have crosses that we have to carry, and Kathryn's book feels like a supportive hug, a way to know we're not alone in this.

[Missy Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book! Pull up a chair and visit with a good friend who doesn’t pull any punches! Isn’t that what good friends should do? Shoot straight with you? Authentic and vulnerable writing allows you to sink into to your favorite chair and feel like someone understands because they have been there too. She does pull for someone different in the SEC but we won’t hold that against her. LOL We are all passionate about football in the South. Highly recommend.

[Camie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read this book, you feel like you are chatting with Kathryn over BBQ and sweet tea. She feels like a long lost friend. The book made me laugh, and it made me cry. I was truly challenged in the best of ways from Kathryn's humble wisdom. Her vulnerability is touching and inspiring all at the same time, and everyone will be touched by her passionate and genuine heart. You will not regret this read.

[Heidi Huus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was OK. It would not have been a book I would’ve chosen to read on my own, but it was selected for me for Summer Book Discussion. It’s one of those books that, while it’s entertaining at the time, I can’t really tell you really what the book is about. Not a lot of great substance, especially after the last two gems for Book Club this summer. It wasn’t a long book, but it was also one that I was just “trying to get through.”