Kendra
Aside from being a writer, Kendra is a Birth Trauma Doula at KarysMa Birth, where she helps moms find their joy after birth trauma. A former middle school English and theatre teacher, she has an insatiable love for learning and a flair for the dramatic. Among the best moments of her life, she counts marrying her husband Steve during a dream rainbow wedding, planning a princess picnic on the beach with her eight year old daughter Karys, giving birth to her one year old daughter Saryn in the middle of a blizzard, and sitting on stage with Glennon Doyle. A Navy brat for the first 13 years of her life, Kendra settled in Virginia for eighteen years before she was finally ready to move again, relocating to Portland in 2014. You can find her work on Portland Moms Blog, The La Leche League Blog, and The Not Your Average Mom Project, as well as the hard drive of her computer.
I Missed My Baby’s Birth: Learning to Accept My Emergency C-Section
I don’t celebrate my birth story the way I’m supposed to. In fact, I don’t even remember it. I grew up knowing the power of birth to change a woman. I listened eagerly to...
But Mommy Doesn’t Want to Play!
I have a confession: I don’t really like to play with my daughter, Karys. Just saying that makes me feel like a bad mom. Playing is supposed to be one of the things I...
The Most Romantic Words My Husband Ever Said
It’s not “I love you,” "I do," or “You’re the most wonderful woman in the world,” although it’s definitely nice to hear that. The most romantic words my husband ever said came when we...
I’m Not Waiting for Spring Cleaning
Spring seems like a natural time to clean. The sun comes out of hiding, the trees are green again, and the flowers start pushing their way out of the dirt. Sounds nice, right? But...
5 Things NOT To Do When You’re SAD
The holidays have gone, and they took with them the twinkly lights, cheerful dispositions, and happy hearts that they once inspired. Since our return from holiday travels, I’ve had trouble jumping back into the...
Why We Haven’t Yet Sent Santa on His Merry Way
I remember having a discussion with my husband before the first Christmas that our daughter was old enough to grasp the concept of Santa. It went something like this:
Me: I think we should do...
Kendra’s Veggie Harvest Lasagna
I created this recipe when I was trying to come up with a vegetarian entree for a recent Thanksgiving potluck. It’s a twist on traditional lasagna that features seasonal vegetable and bit of pumpkin. ...
Thirty Days Thankful
Sometimes the holidays can feel like an onslaught of activities, obligations, and stress. There’s too much to do and too little time in which to do it. I’ve found that my family's overall enjoyment of...
My Husband Says ‘I Love You’ with Every Bite
My husband is a wonderful man: kind, compassionate, giving, and a devoted husband and father. That being said, he doesn’t always “get” the idea of romance. He doesn’t often think to commemorate special days...
Today, It Was Roseburg
At 11 a.m. this morning I was driving around doing errands when I heard a news report that brought tears to my eyes. “A mass shooting has been reported at Umpqua Community College in...