About Me

This will most likely be the most difficult post I write. It's much easier to write about just about anything else. But, I feel like it's a great place to start because if you're here, you want to learn more about me or (more likely) my books. Either way, I feel like I'm welcoming you into my home. And not just into the formal living room. More in a grand tour, stay for dinner, use the guest-room for as long as you'd like, kind of way! Stay. Chat a while. Tell me about you and I'll tell you a little about me and then...THEN we can talk about Natalie and Chris! Or Natalie and Jordan! And Julia! Or, if you want to skip the first and delve right into the books, I'm totally game for that, too! I now know the only thing better than watching the swimmings in my head take the shape of an adventure on paper is hearing about YOUR journey through the books. Yes, PLEASE. I want to hear it all!

Now that you're sitting on my proverbial sofa, let me tell you a little about myself. I grew up in Utah. In high school, my life was all about dance and one certain boy. The thrill of performing in front of a crowd dwindled when I left high school and realized pretty quickly college dancing was an entirely different ballgame. There has to be a better analogy for that! But, the boy? Well, that certainly didn't fade. I married that boy and we now have four children, a mortgage, a few extra pounds and a love that can't be compared to that high school love we shared. I remember standing next to him outside the temple (want to know more about that? Check out MY FAITH on the sidebar) while the photographer snapped pictures and I gazed up at him and wondered what life had in store for us. I knew it would be bumpy but like most new brides, I had no idea.

That sweet boy and I longed for a family and began that journey six months into our marriage. Infertility was an unwelcome, uninvited guest who took up residence in our lives for the next two years. We kicked him to the curb and welcomed our first son two years and 7 3/4 months later. Our little guy's life journey was a short one. He passed away soon after he was born. That will be a post for another day. But, that moment...that moment when I welcomed him and said goodbye changed me forever. He became my before and after moment.

And then that pesky infertility settled back in with a vengeance. Fertility treatments took a toll on my body, my mind, and our pocketbook. An easy decision was made. We would adopt. Three and a half years later we added another sweet little baby boy to our family through the miracle of a selfless woman who will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Four years after that we added a baby girl to our family and three and a half years after that another beautiful baby girl. Let's not forget two more amazing birthmothers as well.

Before I knew it, those tiny little babies grew and grew. Now the oldest is almost sixteen, the youngest is eight. Haha Kyleigh--I didn't really forget you. She is almost twelve. Only a fellow middle child can joke about that.

Life has been crazy busy and crazy beautiful. And sometimes, downright crazy hard. That's another post for another day as well but the funny thing about hard is there is always something amazing to discover through the hard. Writing has definitely been one of those amazing things. Writing is something I've always loved to do. I didn't set out to write a book. Well, maybe I did but I absolutely wasn't sure I could! I was pretty amazed at myself when I wrote ten pages! Can you imagine how I felt when I wrote almost 200? Beyond amazing!

You see, I have a confession. I'm pretty darn ordinary. I've struggled with feelings of inadequacy my entire life. I've let opportunities slip by because of that feeling (remember dance in college? I probably could have totally rocked that. But we will never know because I didn't try). Natalie was born out of that insecurity. She triumphs over her feelings of being just an ordinary Ordinary. And the fact that you're reading this? Well, that means I'm working on overcoming mine. Did you see all that throughout Natalie's journey? Did you FEEL that? I mean, I know this is a fun read. I wanted it to be a fun read. I wasn't really going for deep and profound. But when my daughters read it I want them to want to be like Natalie. I want them to find themselves and be ok with who they are and not worry about who they aren't. And I want that for you, too.

And yes, I want to hear all about that as well!

Sincerely,
        Karen