Hi! I'm Karen, a stay-at-home mother to my four children. Emma is 5, Julianna is 3, Ethan is 2, and little Joy was born in November.
My husband and I have been married for 6 years. He is a pastor, which gives me the title of "pastor's wife".
Homemaking is my niche. I love to cook and bake everything from scratch. I love to knit and sew. I absolutely love being home and taking care of my family. It's not an easy job, as any mother would tell you, but it is definitely the most satisfying and rewarding one out there.
When my youngest girl (Julianna) was only 1 1/2 we discovered that she is gluten and lactose intolerant. Not too long ago, my eldest (Emma) began eating gluten free. My husband's mother has celiac, and two of his sister's are gluten intolerant. My grandfather was gluten intolerant, and more recently my father, sister, brother, and myself have discovered that we too are gluten intolerant. So, my kids don't really stand a chance of having a 'normal' digestive system.
The discovery of this has led me down the path of a whole new way of life. Nearly all processed foods contain gluten. So we just don't eat them. I cook with fresh vegetables. I buy alternative flours to make breads and muffins and treats. We eat brown rice pasta. Coconut milk is my favorite dairy free substitute when cooking. There are plenty of gluten free convenience foods (cereals, crackers, and other specailty items), but I only buy them as an occasional treat or if absolutely necessary (if we are travelling) because they are SO expensive.
It was a difficult thing to learn. I loved baking fresh bread, making goodies, cooking with wheat flour, but all that had to change. I had to change. It was so frustrating, because I couldn't be who I wanted to be. I am so thankful for the internet, there is so much information out there, and I don't know what I would have done without it or my mother-in-law, who has been so helpful in sharing her knowledge of being gluten free.
Now, I am a confident gluten free baker and chef ;), but still always learning new things and trying new recipes. I love being able to provide healthy, allergy friendly meals that my whole family enjoys.
I don't intend for this to be a food blog, but there will be plenty of recipes, because that's who I am.
But mostly, this is my journey as a helpmeet and homemaker. My successes and failures. I hope you enjoy my stories, a peek into my life, as I strive to be a godly wife and momma.
