Hi Karen! Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I have been married to Paul for almost 27 years. We both went to two different colleges and our time overlapped one year at Bethel. Most of our courtship for the next several years was long distance, with him showing up two days before we were married. Yes, we had lots of adjustments to make our first year. We are far from perfect people, and while our end goal is usually the same, we generally have different approaches to get there. It does make life interesting! Our daughters have come through birth and adoption...Erica - 25, Jillian - 21, and Adriana - 15. Yes, I was at home for 15 years with young children and can relate to MOPS moms.
Do you currently work?
While I don't receive a pay check, the closest thing I have to a "real job" is caring for my mom after my father's death several years ago. He took care of their finances and wanted me to look after her investments as he didn't like paying a financial advisor. While I grew up hearing terms and general ideas, this is a new area for me and I spend about 7-10 hours a week reading, thinking, and choosing investments. I am far from an expert, but feel more confident as I go along.
What books are you currently reading?
I love words, stories, learning, and libraries, so I usually have several I'm working through. I also have found audio books to be wonderful as my hands and eyes are free to do other things. This last month I have read/listened to "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, and "A Visual History of the English Bible" by Donald Brake. Currently I'm working my way through 40 years of Ellery Queen mystery magazines, "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, and "Within My Heart" by Tamera Alexander. One added bonus of using headphones is that my daughters assume I can't hear them and talk freely. I have learned some interesting things this way.
What is a hobby you have that some of the moms may not know about?
I love seeing things grow and have come to see this in the things I enjoy...gardening, sewing, children, knitting, embroidery, photography, puzzles, travel, friends, cooking, and baking. Well, perhaps the "growing" results of baking are ones that I would rather not deal with. I delight in seeing children and adults understand things that are new to them and gain confidence in their skills. Another quieter area of interest is being a friend to those who are easily overlooked or overwhelmed. I have been involved in training and ongoing work for Stephen Ministry at Woodcrest for several years.
What was the most challenging part of being a young mom?
There seemed to be so many! One big area for me was learning how to work in partnership with my husband rather than working as two individuals. Another was learning how each of my girls were different and how to work with them rather than being rigid in how I wanted things done. Being far away from my family and friends was also difficult as it was hard to find a spot to fit in here in Minnesota where so many had grown up together and remained good friends. I also felt isolated dealing with secondary infertility while other moms continued to have children.
What is one piece of advice about motherhood that you would like to pass on?
As for advice, I'd probably suggest not trying to do/be perfect, and get to know God and trust Him. When God is first in your life it doesn't mean that things are easy, but that He is there with you. Also, each stage of life has advantages and disadvantages. It helps to find something to like and concentrate on being thankful for that rather than grumbling about the difficult parts.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse you would like to share?
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 16:8 (NASB) "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." I find it easy to get "stuck" reading the psalms and return to them regularly.
How has your experience been with being a MOPS mentor mom?
As for being a mentor mom, I feel like I am just beginning and have much to learn. While I wish I could greet everyone by name, my brain will mix everyone up...feel free to wear nametags and help me out. I like hearing your joys and concerns. I would love to be a part of encouraging you as women, wives, and moms.
