Meet Kathryn Lang – Hopesmith

Hello and welcome – be prepared for lots of hair, lots of laughs, and more than a few snarky rainbows.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of purpose, focus, and simplicity. The words I share on this website and at all the events I attend are designed to lift up, cheer up, and stir up (I’ll let you guess which one is my favorite).

I am Kathryn Lang – and this is my blog, my ministry, and my purpose.

My hope is to encourage, entertain, or engage (or to lift up, cheer up, and stir up) – preferably all three.

What you need to know

First, I’m not ordinary and expected.

I actively seek ways to enjoy the journey – whether I’m packing up the belongings for the fifth move in four years or I’m waiting in the parking lot for someone’s activity to end. If you aren’t enjoying the journey, it’s time to change rides.

Second, I LOVE words.

I love writing and have a dozen published books plus a secret library of additional books available only to members (okay, now it’s not so secret). I write books, online articles, print articles, and notes or cards all the time. I’ve even written over a million words in one year.

I love reading and am to read 52 books each year (on top of reading through the Bible two times). Genre isn’t important as long as it’s clean enough to share with my children and engaging enough to make me not want to skip pages.

I love speaking. My dad would tell you that I didn’t start talking until I was two . . . and I haven’t shut up since. I will tell you that engaging, entertaining, and encouraging others with words fires up my soul!

Third, I believe in simple.

Or, as my friend, Laura Morlando – the Stress Comando – says, “STUPID simple.” Complicated takes up too much time and energy. Strip back whatever it is until its so stupid simple you can explain it to anyone (and if that means doing it in little bits, so be it).

Fourth, I believe that it is all about relationships.

If what you are doing, investing in, or building isn’t rooted in relationships, then it’s not worth it. We are designed to be in relationships. Everything else is a distraction from that purpose.

Fifth, I KNOW that YOU are unique in all the world.

There is nobody else out there exactly like you – nobody has walked your walk, experienced your moments, or encountered your storms. Because you are unique in all the world, only you can determine the walk you need to take. You can learn from others (and you should always be learning), but you have to define your path, take your steps, and grow up your best life.

I believe in Your Uniqueness

Calling:

To lift up and encourage, cheer up and entertain, and to stir up and engage the children of God.

Mission:

To be a spark of fun and hope – rooted in Scriptural Truth – lifting up, cheering up, and stirring up faith-forward women who feel stuck, so they can take one intentional, joy-fueled step toward their YOUnique God design.

Vision:

We are sparking global wave of joy-fueled purpose stepping, aligned in God – lighting up 1,000,000 faith-forward hearts through laughter, YOUnique design, and bold, intentional action . . . always grounded in the Word of God.

Intro:

I help faith-forward women laugh out loud, lean into their YOUnique God design, and break free from stuck with one step that launches them into their purpose-filled lives.

Motto:

Have fun, make friends, and find ways to be relentlessly helpful.

Core Values:

• God First – A real, personal relationship with God, built through daily investment in Scripture and prayer, is the only foundation that lasts. Without that Rock, I’m just spinning my wheels—or worse, running uphill in the sand wearing flip-flops. Busy with much doing but missing the better things. (Matthew 10:41)
• Enjoy the Journey – Have fun. Laugh more. Dance (even if someone is watching). Laughter lightens the heart, and joy fuels the soul. If I’m not enjoying the journey, it’s time to change rides. (Psalm 118:24)
• Be Relentlessly Helpful – Everything that truly matters is rooted in relationships. Help, encourage, and walk alongside others—because we are stronger, better, and braver together. We were never meant to do this alone. (Philippians 4:8-9)

At my heart, it’s simple: Love God. Love others. Focus on the good, the positive, the encouraging, and the uplifting. And always, always look for the seed of hope—because even the smallest seed, when nurtured and cared for, will grow into something extraordinary.

Oh, and expect bad misquoted song lyrics and snarky rainbows along the way. I dare you to stand out—and refuse to let anyone put you in the corner.

My Beliefs:

• #GrowingHOPE because hope makes everything possible.
• daring you to make your own way fueled by Faith and purpose focus.
• instilling courage to step with bold intention.
• feeding the belief that you are unique in all the world – because you are.
• investing daily in the learning and living of the Word.

Life will try to drag you through the mud, but joy lifts, grace carries, and determination keeps you soaring.

AS SEEN ON:

Want to learn more about Kathryn Lang?

Dig in deeper to the story behind the Snarky Rainbows, rainbow tornado, the butterfly, and Growing Hope – oh, and a few thoughts on my family (as long as you promise not to tell my kids).

About Snarky Rainbows
About Growing HOPE
About the Woman and her family
About the Writer
About the Speaker
About the Hospitality
About the Promise

About Snarky Rainbows

Encouragement comes naturally to me. I like to say that when I was born I ran across the hospital room and slapped the doctor on the rear to tell him he had done a good job. Snark and sarcasm are also part of my natural demeanor. Nothing makes me smile faster than a quick whit, some wordplay, or a little good-natured snark. I have even been dubbed “the Queen of Snark” by the Twitterverse.

I did not realize that not everyone found snark to be something that could go along with hope and encouragement. During a recent introduction, this subject came up. “I just can’t seem to mesh those two elements.” Someone was explaining to me. He went on to say, “It seems weird, like trying to envision snarky rainbows.”

I lit up. “Snarky Rainbows!” I repeated with a grin.

I immediately registered the domain and started plotting the new logo. Snarky Rainbows: sums me up in two simple words. Humor has to be a part of it, but it will always be tied up with the promise of hope that was revealed in the rainbow. The rainbow tornado holds different meanings for different folks, and that’s a good thing. To me, it sums up the image of twisting the joy of snark and the encouragement of seeking the silver lining. The butterfly makes an appearance here because it is my symbol of the life I am called to live. It rides the tornado because when we make the choice to live out our unique design then we are positioned to ride out even the storms of life.

Snarky rainbows are those little quips of sarcasm in a hug.

About Growing HOPE

“Hope makes everything possible.” That one concept kept bubbling up and became the driving force for the radio broadcast and podcast.

• H – hearts
• O – open
• P – to pursue
• E – extraordinary

You are extraordinary, and with a dash of hope scattered into your heart, you begin to be open to see and to pursue all of your extraordinary.

The logo of the butterfly was around even earlier. My love of butterflies goes back to a childhood of chasing them through the yard. It expanded when I met Yellow and Stripe in “Hope for the Flowers.” It intensified even more when I learned that the butterfly represented Happening – one of my most powerful encounters with God I ever experienced.

The daisy also holds a special place in my heart. It has long been my favorite flower because of its simplistic beauty and strength to stand. It lasts in cut displays and also manages to find a way to stand strong in the gardens. When the daisy dies down, the seeds catch the wind and spread the beauty of that daisy.

Hope gives us all the wings to fly. Hope gives us the strength to stand. Hope spreads and grows.

Growing HOPE – taking a few moments to plant seeds of hope that grow up possibilities.

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About the Woman and the Family: Kathryn C. Lang

I grew up in a small, Alabama town – you know the one, right? Everyone knew everyone, and the local paper reported everything about everyone. My grandfather was one of only a few doctors in the community, which meant he delivered half of the community and even more people knew my business. My mother was the first female council person in our small town. I was well known – not because of me but because of my family.

Always find a way to laugh. Laughter sparks hope and once hope finds a way in then it all becomes possible.”

College offered the opportunity to get away from all of that. I chose a school that was as far from home as I could get (without leaving the state and paying out-of-state tuition – I was that practical) and that happened to be 30 minutes from the beach and 2 hours from New Orleans.

The University of South Alabama offered the perfect mix of a diverse student body and locale. I graduated in four years with a degree in Leisure Services and a focus in tourism and commercial recreation – the perfect degree for a small, rural community (insert #SnarkyRainbow here).

My courses offered me a lot of experience in a wide range of situations. I put that experience to work first as a coach for the local swim team, then running a medical billing office, and rolling into building a full-time freelance writing career while balancing the challenges of homeschooling three boys, caring for aging relatives, and building a two-acre flower garden on our little homestead in the woods.

Like life for many, 2020 changed everything. Not only did we deal with the crises the world faced, but we had an EF01 tornado land in our front yard and run over our house. Unfortunately, when it landed, it took out all of the old growth, hardwood trees that made our little cabin by the creek so unique. . Working online gave me the freedom to work on the goal while juggling the hectic schedule of our homeschool family.

Fortunately, those trees kept the tornado from sweeping us away when it passed over.

We trusted our location, nestled up against the base of the mountain, to protect us from just such an event.

Then we trusted the insurance company to do what it had promised (in writing no less).

Then we trusted a group of complete strangers to do what was best for us.

We learned through it all that it’s not up to the world to make our way. We have to make intentional choices, each and ever day. We have to invest in the little bits that move us closer to our BIG DREAMS. We have to choose and to follow through – to be about the Father’s Business.

I still struggle. Finding the right balance seems impossible most days when everything keeps shifting. I know that if I could find a way to keep it all in order, then I would be able to get there. NOTHING follows my orders, and the more I get in order, the more other things stir up. I get up every morning determined that balance will be unlocked, and that determination makes juggling a much simpler task. It’s a huge reason we have developed the ABUNDANT LIFE PROGRAM AND WORKBOOK and I have created the FOCUSED FLEXBILITY PLANNER.

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About the Writer: Kathryn C. Lang

My first written story was completed in the third grade. “The Pineapple that Cried Banana.” It included illustrations of the pineapple and banana that looked a lot like Snoopy. I had spent months perfecting my Snoopy and all of my drawings looked a lot like him for a time.

I continued to write with gusto, but most of it stayed confined to private notebooks. I protected my words out of concern of what others might do to them. Smokey Hamilton, a good friend in high school, pulled one of my notebooks away from me one day. He read for a while and shook his head. “These words need to be shared. They will not become all they are designed to be hidden away in your notebook.”

My first submissions were to the school magazine, and I was thrilled when some of my work was accepted. I branched out and submitted to a national teen magazine. They rejected me, and I decided that maybe I was not ready to release my words to the world. I tucked them back into their hiding place where they would be safe.

It took almost two full decades before I let my words see the light of day. This time it started with a community column in the regional paper. I received just 750 words a month, but I could write anything I wanted – and I got paid. I continued to pursue opportunities to share my words and realized that when I got a rejection, it was not my words or even me that was being rejected, but that the fit was not quite right. That was okay. We all have our place and sometimes it takes longer to find it for some than for others.

The best news ever is that the door on your unique design NEVER closes as long as you are breathing.

The better news is that RIGHT NOW is the perfect time for you to step into your unique design.

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About the Speaker: Kathryn C. Lang

I was blessed to have an opportunity to begin speaking to organizations in 2010. I found that sharing words in person provided a new level of inspiration in my own journey.

This new love led me to radio and podcasting – which have become the Growing HOPE. Live streaming tends to bring out the snark in me, and I have turned that “gift” into a short production titled “Snarky Rainbows Moments.”

Speaking has opened up other doors for me to grow my relationship with words and through those words with you. I have spoken at WordCamps, writing conferences, women’s retreats, and community organizations to promote relationships, hope, encouragement, and unique purpose.

Invite Kathryn to speak at your next event

I love having opportunities to share with others a little snarky rainbow encouragement and to help them unlock their purpose and path.

We need to be invested in helping others. Being relentlessly helpful makes the journey more enjoyable. Besides, the more people around you laughing and having fun the more fun you will have!

I will work with you to create a unique presentation for your event that speaks directly from my heart to the hearts of those who are in attendance.

About the Hospitality

We are designed to journey together, and finding fun, purposeful, and unique ways to bring people together has always been a challenge that I could embrace. I want to help you make your event special.

My love for coordinating events began as a child where I would corral the neighborhood kids into a group event, activity, or game. College allowed me to expand into social programming for the dorm residents. Working as a Programming Advisor for the University of South Alabama pushed me to make a tiny budget do big things. Creative partnering with local restaurants and businesses helped me provide more to the 900+ students in my area.

I continued to expand my skills while interning at the MWR Department of NAS Cecil Field in Orange Park, Florida. Working within the budgetary regulations of a government agency took my monetary appreciation to a whole new level.

The last two decades have pushed my programming and event coordinating skills in new directions. Homeschooling three boys, working with local organizations, and always trying to find ways to do more for/with less has challenged me to develop a habit of “thinking outside the box.”

Special Events Coordinator:

MLFAA Kick Off the Summer 2021
Communications Director and Events Coordinator
Helped put together the first MLFAA/MLF Foundation Pro/Am tournament, Casino night, and concert to raise funds for the MLF Foundation and for Lake First Initiative Guntersville.

WordCamp Birmingham 2019
Special Events Wrangler
Secured sponsorship to allow for the expansion of benefits for conference attendees; located and negotiated unique venues for the speaker dinner and after-party.

Mountain Valley Writers Re-Conference 2017
Lead Organizer and Conference Chairman
Negotiated venue for activities; secured sponsorship to bolster the budget – allowing for lower attendee expense; located and secured presenters; developed programming for the full conference.

Events Leadership

Special Events Coordinator, MLF Foundation February 2021 – Present

Communications Director, WordCamp Birmingham 2017
Responsible for creating content for website and social media platforms to promote the WordCamp Birmingham event.

Executive Director of the SouthEastern Literary Tourism Initiative
2013 – present
Working with communities, organizations, and authors to cross-promote tourism and literature. Working to create interactive literary experiences to highlight tourism features.

About the Promise: Kathryn C. Lang

Words have power – I have experienced the power of words for the positive in my life and also for the negative. My promise to you is that the words that I share here will always be leaning on the side of hope and encouragement.

I believe in the positive, the possibility, and the hope. My friend, Bo Williams said that I make it feel like I’ve thrown up rainbows.” That’s okay. I like being a rainbow connection. It led me to declare that I would be your “rainbows and lollipops host.”

When my husband heard about the new “snarky rainbows” title, he declared, “Does that now make you the snarky rainbows and twisted lollipops host?” I think I’m okay with that as well.

I do believe in the potential. I do believe in the power of hope. I do believe that there is always a silver lining. I also recognize that there are storms, and there are people, and there are negatives in this world. The key is to find a way to see the first without being overwhelmed by the second.

It is my hope and my prayer to share words that will counter out those forces around you that are trying to drag you down. I desire to help you grow your wings so that you can fly.

Sign up for the Growing HOPE newsletter to keep up with the tips, writings, and events that will add to the encouragement and motivation for your growing HOPE journey. Sign up for “Encouragement Boost” today.

Connect with Kathryn

Twitter: Kathrynclang
Facebook: theKathrynCLang
Blog: SnarkyRainbows.com
Email: KathrynLang@KathrynLang.com