Here you find an idealist, a dreamer, a romantic, very sentimental with a heart drawn to the heroic. I am devoted to my family and feel my highest callings in life are wife, mother, grandmother.
My mottos are --
"Live with Faith, Piety and Heroic Spirit"
"As God will's, so is my aim."
"Draw forth the sword of success from out of the iron of circumstance"
My parents were the greatest example in every facet of my life. They sparked my imagination and inspired my dreams.
I am devoted to my faith. I love to study the scriptures and anything related and have wonderful, deep, gospel discussions. I spent the year of 2006-2007 teaching Seminary to high school students at my home each morning at 5:20 a.m. and I loved it!
I'd rather be home than anywhere, yet there is an adventurous part of me that has pried me away (taking family members with me) long enough to see lots of the country and parts of the world.
I am a musician, I play 8 instruments. I love music: classical, opera, musicals, bluegrass and more. My favorite composers are Gershwin, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninoff.
I love to read and always have a stack of books going.
I have so many things that interest me that I need several lifetimes to get to it all!
Left -- Me in Assisi, Italy.
I am the typical tourist with all the gear, including two large cameras hanging around my neck! It's just tucked under my daughter's borrowed coat!
I am a firm believer that dreams can come true! Even when you least expect it! Here is my proof!
Left -- My wonderful husband, Steven Cox and me!
Performing with my children on hammer dulcimers, mountain dulcimers, autoharp and guitar.
Aside from the desire to be a wife and mother, my childhood dream was to be an artist. My parents inspired and taught me much. I wanted to be the next Michelangelo. I spent my teens years in the 700's section of the public library reading about artists and art. I spent hours with a crow quill pen in my hand and India ink stains on my fingers as I learned by studying the masters.
Left -- A pencil drawing I made as a teenager looking at one of Michelangelo's drawings
Right -- A Christmas gift I made for Sadie a few years ago
Left -- A half-finished portrait painted in acrylics on canvas
Right -- Another Christmas gift, a pencil drawing of my mother for my father
Pen and ink drawings
I turned a bedroom into a flower fairyland for my granddaughters
Two 10-foot murals, backdrops I painted on canvas fabric for my daughter's wedding reception
(All artwork is copyrighted. (c) 2007 Karen Kindrick)
THE TRUE MASTERPIECE
The day my first baby was born, a hospital nurse happened to know that I was an artist. As she looked at my new little baby girl she said, "Here is your greatest masterpiece." Though it wasn't MY handiwork, it was the absolute truth. There is nothing greater or more magnificent than a child. There is little of greater worth to devote our time.
Left -- My first child, Bridey the masterpiece!
HOMESCHOOL
When I discovered homeschool it was a dream come true! I wanted to share the world with my children and I was thrilled with the opportunity! In early 1984 I pulled my first two children out of 2nd grade and kindergarten and the adventure began!
I am the mother of six birth children, five girls and one boy, plus 3 more daughters, 7 son-in-laws and at present I have 24 + 1 (on the way!) grandchildren. I claim and love them all with all my heart!
I taught my children at home for twenty years until my youngest graduated from homeschool in 2004. They each are passionate about learning, (they even have a sibling book club) and are now creating very exciting EPIC Adventures for their own children! Two are still in college, but so far among them they have earned 3 bachelor and 3 associates degrees, even with honors and high honors, and are now teaching the next generation.
Above -- Karen, Susan Kovalik and Cynthia
Early on a dear friend told me about Susan Kovalik and her work with teaching children, teachers and administrators. I sought her out and learned how to create brain compatible, year-long learning adventures. My sister Cynthia and I loved it from the start. Our encounter with Susan changed our homeschools (and our lives!) dramatically and brought magic and memories to our years.
Before long we were Associates with Susan Kovalik and Associates, presenting and helping to train public and private school teachers and administrators in the Integrated Thematic Instruction model during the summer week-long trainings and Advanced Curriculum Writing Workshops.
In time I developed the EPIC pattern and blueprint, and crowned our year-long learning adventures EPIC Adventures. We have also presented 1 & 2- hour, 1-day and 2- or 3-day workshops for homeschoolers through the years.
Above -- Cynthia and Karen presenting for Susan Kovalik, 2002
Karen and Jeanne with "Thomas Jefferson" at an opening day of one of our EPIC Adventures
I first met Jeanne Bradley briefly in 1990 at a workshop my sister Cynthia and I gave. The following year she returned to a two-day workshop in my home and shared all the wonderful things her family had experienced in their first EPIC Adventure, Colonial Escapade.
We discovered that we were true kindred spirits and immediately became closest friends. We began creating our EPIC Adventures together and getting our children together for special Adventure events. We share many other exciting adventures as well.
Soon Jeanne and I presented workshops and talks at homeschool conferences. Another dear friend, Deena Ortiz sometimes presented with us as well. As Jeanne continues to teach her children, her EPIC Adventures are phenomenal!
I have had a wonderful life yet at the same time have been through many very difficult trials. I have trusted and leaned on Heavenly Father through it all. I believe it doesn't matter so much what happens, but how we handle it. I believe that happiness is a choice and I choose happiness. I am forgiving and I look for the best in others and in situations. I am hard working and I care about and serve others.
"If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it, blame yourself. Tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches. For to the creator there is no poverty and no poor, indifferent place." Ranier Maria Rilke
Life is wonderful! Life is what we make it. I applaud you all, for if you are reading this you are among those dedicated souls who are most likely in the midst of raising your children, teaching them as a parent, a homeschooler, or teaching other children outside your home. I'm sure you have many exciting stories of your own to tell! What wonderful, precious years! I wish you the very best and success in all of your heroic endeavors!
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." Thoreau
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire!" Anonymous
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