Loving People Well, Even When Life Is Complicated

 

“The Lord looks at the heart.”

— 1 Samuel 16:7

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Why I’m sharing this now

As I’ve been writing more openly about faith, family, and this quieter season of life, I’ve found myself reflecting on chapters I don’t talk about very often. Not because I’m ashamed — but because they’re tender.

I’m sharing this now for two reasons.

First, because this season of returning to faith has invited reflection — not regret — just honesty.

And second, because the triplets I carried years ago turn 18 on January 2. That milestone has stirred memories, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for what that chapter meant in my life.

This feels like the right time to acknowledge it with grace.

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A gentle note before we begin

This post is not meant to debate, convince, or correct anyone.

It’s simply my lived experience, shared from the heart.

This space is meant to be kind, respectful, and safe.

If this topic is not for you, it’s okay to quietly pass by. 💗

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There are chapters of our lives that don’t fit neatly into a box.

They aren’t black and white.

They’re layered, emotional, and sometimes misunderstood.

Surrogacy is one of those chapters for me.

Originally, my curiosity was simple and honest — I genuinely wanted to know what it was like to be pregnant with twins. At the same time, I had the opportunity to help another family who longed for children of their own.

So I became a surrogate.

It wasn’t about making a statement or proving anything. It was about curiosity, compassion, and the belief that helping someone become a parent was an act of love.

I knew what it meant to love deeply.

I knew what it meant to carry hope.

And I knew I had the ability to help someone’s dream come true.

So I did.

I carried babies for families who longed to hold a child of their own. I walked through the physical, emotional, and mental weight of surrogacy with the intention of giving — not taking. At the time, I didn’t wrestle with it. I saw it as service. As sacrifice. As love in action.

Now, years later, as I find my way back to God in a deeper, more intentional way, I’ve spent time reflecting — not with shame, not with regret — but with honesty.

I’m learning that faith doesn’t always arrive with immediate clarity. Sometimes it looks like bringing your full story to God and saying, “Here I am. Every part of me.”

Do I regret helping families build theirs?

No.

Do I believe God understands the heart behind why I did it?

I do.

I don’t believe God is surprised by our pasts. I believe He meets us there. I believe He sees intention, love, and sacrifice — even when life is complicated and the path forward isn’t perfectly clear.

That chapter shaped me. It stretched me. It taught me compassion and selflessness. And now, watching those triplets step into adulthood, I feel gratitude — for the families created, for the lessons learned, and for the growth that continues in me.

If you’re carrying parts of your own story that feel complicated or hard to place, I hope this reminds you of something important:

God isn’t asking you to erase your past.

He’s inviting you to walk forward with Him — honestly, humbly, and held by grace.

And I believe that matters more than we sometimes realize.

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Closing Thought

Some chapters don’t need defending.

They just need truth — and grace.

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With love,

Kerri

EmptyNestGodShowedUp 🌸

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#MyStory #SurrogacyJourney #FaithAndGrace #LovingPeopleWell #GodSeesTheHeart #ImperfectButFaithful

Plot Twist: The Empty Nest Got Holy

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

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I thought starting a blog about being an empty nester would be fun.

I imagined funny stories, lighthearted posts, and laughing at myself while figuring out this new season of life. I thought I’d share the humor of a quiet house, sleeping in, and learning who I am now that the kids are grown.

That was the plan, anyway.

Turns out… my life didn’t get funnier.
It got quieter.

And in that quiet, I didn’t find punchlines. I found space.

Space I didn’t ask for.
Space I didn’t know what to do with.
Space that felt uncomfortable at first.

So I started writing.

At the beginning, this blog was just a place to get my thoughts out of my head. Somewhere to put the words instead of letting them swirl around endlessly. I thought the humor would come later.

But somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.

I found God here.

Not in a big, dramatic way.
Not with instant answers.
Just quietly present.

I didn’t start this blog looking for God. I started it because I needed an outlet. A place to breathe. A place to be honest. But in the stillness of this season—between empty rooms and quiet mornings—I realized I wasn’t alone after all.

Today is Sunday, and I haven’t found a church yet. And for a while, that bothered me. I felt like I was doing something wrong. Like I was missing something important.

But I’m learning that God isn’t limited to a building.

Sometimes He meets us right where we are—in the quiet, in the in-between, in the season we didn’t choose but somehow still need.

This blog may still have moments of humor. I hope it does. But it’s also becoming a place where I’m learning that joy doesn’t always come from laughter.

Sometimes it comes from stillness.
Sometimes it comes from reflection.
Sometimes it comes from realizing that even when life doesn’t look the way you expected, God is still there.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

This isn’t the blog I thought I was starting.

But maybe… it’s the one I needed.

From Joy to Freedom: Choosing My Word for 2026

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 

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Every year, I choose a word.

Not a resolution.
Not a long list I’ll abandon by February.
Just one word to come back to when life gets loud, confusing, or quietly heavy.

For 2025, my word was Joy.

Not the loud, bubbly, everything-is-awesome joy.
More like the “choose it even when the house is too quiet” joy.
The “find it in small moments” joy.
The “God, I trust You… even when I don’t love this season” kind of joy.

And honestly?
I didn’t realize how much I needed joy until I started practicing it on purpose.

Joy in ordinary days.
Joy in obedience.
Joy in trusting God when my role as mom shifted and my identity felt a little blurry.

And something unexpected happened.

Joy made room for Freedom.

So for 2026, my word is Freedom.

Because freedom doesn’t just show up one day like a surprise package on your porch.
It grows.

Joy loosens the grip of fear.
Joy quiets comparison.
Joy reminds you that you’re allowed to live fully now — not someday.

And freedom follows.

Freedom from needing to explain my season.
Freedom from guilt over chapters that are already closed.
Freedom from believing I’m behind just because my life doesn’t look like it used to.

This season — empty nesting, going back to college at 57, rebuilding my faith, rediscovering who I am outside of motherhood — has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect.

But it’s also been holy.

God hasn’t just been walking with me.
He’s been gently untying things.

Scripture puts it perfectly:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17

Not freedom as the world defines it.
But freedom to breathe.
Freedom to rest.
Freedom to trust God without controlling the outcome.

Joy taught me how to be present.
Freedom is teaching me how to move forward.

So as I step into 2026, I’m not chasing a feeling — I’m choosing a posture.

Open hands.
Open heart.
No fear of what’s next.

Because freedom doesn’t come from having it all figured out.
It comes from trusting the One who already does.

With love — Kerri

Empty nester • College junior at 57 • Mom of four • MN Goalie Mom
Learning to live the life God is writing in this season

#WordOfTheYear, #JoyToFreedom, #FreedomInChrist, #EmptyNestSeason, #FaithOverFear, #MidlifeFaith, #CollegeAt57, #TrustGod, #WhereTheSpiritIs, #GodShowedUp

Find Your Joy in Today

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him…”

— Romans 15:13 (NLT)

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Today I watched a reel where parents kept saying:

“I can’t wait until they’re older…”
“I can’t wait until this stage is over…”

And I swear I felt personally attacked. 😅
I mean — yes, I might have occasionally said “I can’t wait until someone can buckle their OWN car seat”… but overall, I knew those years would fly by faster than my kids avoiding my phone calls today.

Now, as an empty nester, I see it so clearly: every season held joy, even when I was too tired, too stressed, or surviving off a lukewarm Diet Coke fountain pop because that was basically my personality at the time.

But back then, I didn’t always see the treasure in the chaos.
I was just trying to keep everyone alive and somewhat clean.

If I could go back, I wouldn’t change the kids.
I’d change me.

I’d slow down more.
I’d stop worrying about having a “perfect” house (spoiler alert: it never existed).
I’d pause long enough to appreciate the moments I now stalk on Facebook memories at 2 a.m.

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✨ Don’t Postpone Joy

Somewhere along the way, we start postponing joy without even realizing it.
We tell ourselves:

“When life settles down…”
“When the kids are older…”
“When this crazy season is over…”

Well… here I am at 57, life is “settled,” and guess what?
I’m now googling, “Why don’t my adult children call me?” and wondering what to do with all this quiet.
(Pretty sure even my dogs avoid me some days.)

But joy doesn’t live in the “when.”
Joy lives in the now — even the imperfect, messy, unfiltered now.

Don’t postpone joy.
Don’t wait for the next phase.
Don’t assume joy will magically appear when your schedule clears, the laundry is caught up, or the house stops echoing.

Joy is already tucked inside the moments we’re living:
the small conversations, the tiny blessings, the moments that feel ordinary until they’re gone.

One day, these moments become the ones we’d give anything to relive.

So today — wherever you are in your motherhood journey — pause.
Look around.
Find one second of joy, even if it’s just a quiet car ride or the fact that no one spilled anything… yet.

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Now, in this season of rediscovery — college at 57, rebuilding faith, and remembering who I am outside of being “Mom!” shouted from across the house — God is gently reminding me:

Joy lives in today.
Joy lives where He placed me.
Joy lives in noticing the small things… even when the small things now are just dogs snoring and a dishwasher that isn’t full for once.

Whatever stage you’re in — newborn chaos, teenage drama, college transitions, or the quiet of an empty nest — you are living a moment you will someday miss.

Let it teach you.
Let it bless you.
Let it show you joy.

And if all else fails… laugh.
It helps.
A lot. 😄

Thank you for reading — may joy find you in every season.
— Kerri

#findyourjoy #motherhood #emptynestgodshowedup #momlife #joy #faithjourney #presentmoments #christianmom #romans1513 #seasonoflife #emptynest #lifereflection #faithblogger

💛 The People God Uses to Inspire Me

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” — Hebrews 10:24

When I think about influence, inspiration, and the people God uses to shape our hearts, my mind goes straight to the ones closest to me—my family. Each of them has played a different role in helping me grow, stay grounded, and keep pushing forward, especially as I step into this new season of empty nesting, rediscovering my faith, and returning to college.

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My Husband: A Quiet Example of Faithfulness

One of my biggest role models has always been my husband. Not because he looks for attention or wants recognition—if anything, he prefers the opposite. He inspires me because of the way he lives his life.

He works hard every single day to provide for Emma and me. He wakes up, shows up, and pours into our family with a steady commitment that often goes unnoticed by the world but is deeply felt here at home. His consistency reminds me that faithfulness isn't always loud. Sometimes it's simply doing the right thing, over and over again, with love.

Watching him has taught me to be more patient, more responsible, and more intentional with how I treat others. His example challenges me to keep my priorities aligned with what truly matters.

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Three Graduates, Three Stories, One Thread of Determination

I can’t talk about role models without mentioning our older three kids. They each made choices and sacrifices that shaped the adults they’ve become, and seeing their journeys inspires me more than they even know.

• James, who earned two degrees while serving in the Army—now approaching 16 years of service—has shown us the power of discipline and perseverance. Balancing military life and education is no small task, yet he proved it’s possible when you're committed to a goal.

• Kaitlind and Charlie, who both earned their Civil Engineering degrees, stepped confidently into careers that challenge them daily. Their determination showed me that even when a path is demanding, sticking with it pays off.

As their mom, watching each of them cross the finish line in their own way gave me the courage to start my own race again. They reminded me that God does not put an expiration date on dreams—and that includes my return to college.

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Emma: The Youngest, Yet One of My Greatest Teachers

And then there’s Emma, our youngest, now at GCU. She may be the baby of the family, but she has taught me some of the biggest lessons.

Emma balances Division I college soccer, academics, faith, and friendships all at once. She gives her best in everything she does—but what inspires me most is her heart. She shows up with resilience, humility, and a willingness to grow.

Seeing her chase her dreams reminds me that dedication has no age limit. She pushes me to give myself the same grace, determination, and belief that I encourage in her.

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A Family That Points Me Back to God

When I look at the people God has placed in my life, I see more than achievements. I see evidence of His hand—guiding, strengthening, shaping, and refining each one of us.

Their stories push me to keep becoming better. Their examples remind me that:

💛 hard work matters
💛 faith matters
💛 and the way we love each other matters even more

In this empty nest season, I’m learning something new: God often uses the people closest to us to guide our steps. My family has been that for me—nudging me toward growth, holding me steady when doubt creeps in, and showing me that it's never too late to chase the purpose God has woven into my heart.

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Running the Race Together

As I continue my journey at GCU—balancing school, business, faith, and life—I carry their examples with me. They remind me that with faith, effort, and a positive attitude, we can achieve meaningful things in every season of life.

“Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” — Hebrews 12:1

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🩷 Kerri’s Closing Thoughts

Thank you for reading my heart today.
If you’re in a season of rediscovering purpose, rebuilding faith, or starting something new—just know you’re not running alone. God will place the right people around you to encourage your journey, just like He has for mine.

— Kerri
Empty Nest, God Showed Up

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#EmptyNestGodShowedUp, #FaithJourney, #FamilyInspiration, #ChristianBlog, #WomenOfFaith, #GCUJourney, #EmptyNesterLife, #GodsTiming, #PurposeInEverySeason, #MomLifeReflections, #ChristianMomBlog, #WalkingByFaith

The Daughter Who Led Me Back to God

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Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

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I don’t think Emma knows this — at least not fully — but she is one of the biggest reasons my faith looks different today.

Not because she preached to me.
Not because she told me what to believe.
Not because she pushed me in any direction.

But simply because of the way she lives her life.

When she stepped onto GCU’s campus, something in her shifted. She grew — spiritually, emotionally, confidently — almost overnight. I watched her become steadier. More grounded. More sure of who she was and whose she was.

And while she was learning about God in her dorm, I was at home…
learning what quiet feels like all over again.

I didn’t grow up with a strong foundation of faith.
I didn’t have the stability she now has.
And for a long time, I didn’t think it mattered.

But watching her — truly watching her — I realized something that changed me:

My daughter had a relationship with God I had never experienced… but deeply wanted.

It wasn’t loud or dramatic.
It wasn’t perfect.
It wasn’t about rules.

It was simply real.

There is something powerful about seeing your child walk confidently in an area you feel unsure in.
It makes you curious.
It makes you humble.
It makes you hopeful.

Emma didn’t lead me back to God with words.
She led me back with her life.

Her perseverance through transfers.
Her strength through uncertainty.
Her joy — even in the hard seasons.
Her peace when things didn’t go as planned.

Those things weren’t accidents.
They were fingerprints.
God’s fingerprints.

And the more I watched, the more I felt that gentle tug on my own heart — the one I spent years ignoring, pushing aside, or telling myself wasn’t meant for me.

But God is patient.
Even when we aren’t.

Sometimes He uses sermons.
Sometimes He uses quiet moments.
And sometimes…
He uses our children to turn our hearts back toward Him.

Proverbs 22:6 suddenly made sense to me in a new way — not in the way I raised my child, but in the way my child raised my faith.

Today, my walk with God is different.
Not perfect.
Not polished.
But growing — slowly, honestly, beautifully.

And I owe part of that to a goalkeeper from Minnesota who listened to God long before I learned how.

Emma didn’t just chase her dreams.
She opened a door for mine.
She didn’t just go to GCU.
She helped lead me back to the One who had been waiting for me all along.

I don’t know if she’ll ever truly understand the impact she’s had on my faith journey…
but I do.

And I thank God for her — not just as my daughter,
but as one of the quiet ways He called me home.

💜 With love, faith, and a freshly quiet nest,

Kerri

When the Nest Emptied, God Showed Up
Sharing the journey God is writing in this new season.

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#EmptyNestLife #FaithJourney #NewBeginnings #PersonalGrowth #OnlineCollegeLife #GCUOnline #CollegeAtMyAge #LopesUp #ChristianMom #MNGoalieMom #PurposeAfterParenting #WhenTheNestEmptiedGodShowedUp

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The Day the House Got Quiet — and My Heart Woke Up

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Isaiah 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

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When the last of my kids left home, people told me I’d finally get time for myself. They said I’d love the quiet, the freedom, the clean house, the whole new season thing.

But when the house actually got quiet… my heart didn’t know what to do.

After raising my four kids, cheering for Emma across the country, being “MN Goalie Mom,” running businesses, and keeping life going — I suddenly found myself asking:

“Okay God… now what?”

The empty nest was harder than I expected. It wasn’t sadness exactly… it was a strange in-between place — a season of rediscovering myself, sorting old wounds, and realizing I had spent decades caring for everyone else while quietly setting my own heart aside.

But here’s what surprised me:
the silence didn’t stay silent.

Somewhere between the late-night thoughts, the stack of online college assignments, and my return to school as a Junior (still wild to say!), I started to hear a whisper I hadn’t heard in years:

“I’m doing something new in you.”

Looking back, I truly believe Emma going to GCU planted a seed in me long before I realized it. Watching her grow spiritually, emotionally, and academically didn’t just inspire me — it stirred something in me. A gentle nudge. A soft curiosity. A longing for a foundation I never had growing up.

I didn’t grow up with the faith she has now.
But God doesn’t care how late you arrive — only that you do.

This season feels like God taking my hand and saying:

“It’s your turn now.”

Your turn to learn.
Your turn to grow.
Your turn to heal.
Your turn to rediscover purpose beyond motherhood.
Your turn to dream again — even at this age.

This blog is where I’ll write all of that.
Not perfectly… but honestly.
Not polished… but real.
Just a mom learning who she is again — with God leading the way.

When the nest emptied, God didn’t leave me alone.
He showed up.
And now, He’s doing a new thing in me.

💜 With love, faith, and a freshly quiet nest,

Kerri

When the Nest Emptied, God Showed Up
Sharing the journey God is writing in this new season.

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#EmptyNestLife #FaithJourney #NewBeginnings #PersonalGrowth #OnlineCollegeLife #GCUOnline #CollegeAtMyAge #LopesUp

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