Revealing Reflections

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pigtails and a hat made me feel like…me. Reflect on your style. We all have our own. There was a time I had my “career hair”. Although the color changed at times, the style stayed the same. On weekends, I couldn’t wait to throw on hiking boots, put my hair in pigtails, wear flannel or a t-shirt, and just be…me.

A new color was revealed when my hair started falling out. My twin and B.I.L. took turns with the clippers to reveal the solid white. Since that early day in July there have been times I avoided a mirror. My reflection seemed strange to me.

“I don’t see me!” I exclaimed. “But I do,” Kristy replied.

“For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13: 12

Reflection on hair–it’s not the pigtails that makes me…me!

Speaking of pigtails many of you know I’m a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She happened to wear pigtails as a young girl, too. 😉 After being homebound for quite some time, my twin and a lifetime friend took me to Mansfield to visit Laura and Almanzo’s home. Click here for a post I wrote in 2020 to learn even more of their lives!

“These times are too progressive. Everything has changed too fast. Railroads and telegraphs and kerosene and coal stoves — they’re good to have but the trouble is, folks get to depend on ’em.”-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Rocky Ridge, their 40 acre farm bought for $400.00 in 1894, became their place of hard work, family, faith, and peace.

Glass cases protect the historical treasures in the fascinating museum. My reflections were unavoidable when taking pictures. Rather than be upset, I giggled. Reflecting on Laura and Almanzo’s lives, it amazed me at all they accomplished (and didn’t NEED). Their amazing home didn’t have one treadmill, microwave, or internet router.😊 I crave the simplicity and honor the priorities the couple had in life. Seeing my cracked reflection in the ancient mirrors made me smile. “Did Laura see herself as a young girl with pigtails at 89?” (* Laura died 3 days before her 90th birthday on February 10th, 1957*). Knowing how important her faith was, undoubtedly she, and others, saw Christ in her reflection!

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you SEE what God sees? Do you know how precious you are in HIS SIGHT?  

As the Holy Spirit continues to work in and through my life, it’s the reflection of Christ I pray others see. When the veil is lifted and you experience KNOWING HIM as HE KNOWS you, a reflection of HIM is all that YOU WILL SEE.

Have faith, my friends. Don’t lose hope. You are loved. 🤍💚

MORE REFLECTIONS …


***I’d like to give a shout-out to the ScootNGo company for their amazing new lightweight & foldable mobility scooter. I met a designer by phone who shared about how the creator of this, her name is Angela, has traveled to 30 states and is currently overseas sharing this! They are a small company that designed eBikes originally and decided to create scooters. I can’t lift much, so I was happy at this size. I’ll give up more cushion and baskets for smaller footprint. The two lithium batteries will provide 15 miles of scootering fun. It’s given me a huge part of my life back. Also, in reviewing ways to haul, I decided on a smaller carrier vs. a large cargo rack and ramp. This works for now! Finley loves Skeeter, the scooter, too!***

Have you heard of NET, yet? If you or a loved one is fighting NET cancer, I encourage you to visit the Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation. Don’t lose hope! 🤍🦓

©2020-2025 Flannel with Faith. All rights reserved.

Jampacked June

America the Beautiful Flannel with Faith

Join K.L. as she shares her blog post via her podcast. As we inch closer to celebrating America's 250th birthday, K.L. shares about the song, "America the Beautiful", and her thoughts about our country and the freedom we have. What makes America beautiful to you? Do you feel we are really ONE NATION…AND under God? Will divisions keep us divided? How do we KNOW the truth?  Whatever MIGHT divide us doesn't have to override our faith and belief in ONE NATION—despite opinions or differences.   Find faith, keep it. Have hope, friends. You are loved. 
  1. America the Beautiful
  2. A Daily Prayer
  3. Living Limitless
  4. Flannel with Faith-Christ & Coffee Fireside Chat

Keep the faith 💚

©2020-2025 Flannel with Faith. All rights reserved.

5-Star Support

Support in that way was unexpected.

“I’ll meet you at the nature center, Karla, and we can have our visit there.” Did she know I was unable to go the day before? As this amazing young soccer-playing, wisdom-giving, soon-to-be social worker and I trekked through the woods, our commonalities became clear. In the refuge, we conversed of cancer, Christ, and communion. We shared about family, faith, and finding hope. She didn’t HAVE to hike with me. “This will make your family feel better,” she stated. With peace, tears, and a tired body, I drove away with a satisfied soul.

Fire of Faith

Some of us met as strangers. Several of us sisters/friends. The fire of faith glowed between us. We talked of tough times. We all shared how vulnerable we feel; our past, present, and futures. Women in our second through sixth decades of life-kinship kindled around our fire of faith. We commit monthly to our safe space in nature– to share and grow our sisterhood.

My faith must be protected. How do you protect your heart, soul, mind, and peace? How do you linger with our Creator?

How can we wait in wonderment?

John Eldridge, in his new book, Experience Jesus. Really., shares, “For one thing, the Internet has discipled your soul to expect immediate answers. You inquire and you are answered–immediately. The saints of ages past would be aghast at that. Waiting was considered formation for the soul. They planted crops in the spring and harvested in the fall; there was no rushing things. If you wanted something from the market, you walked there and then you walk back, moving a pace of about three miles an hour. But now, when you turn to Jesus and you are not answered in the way the Internet answers, you feel he isn’t listening or that you can’t hear from him. You sadly believe the two of you are distant from one another, because your soul has been programmed for immediate responses. The notion of lingering before God doesn’t fit with the pace we’ve come to expect” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 2).

“Information feels like our salvation, but information is seductive and capricious, friends; it offers refuge, then takes it away the very next morning” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 4).

“The eradication of mystery would also be shocking to our spiritual forebears. Do you understand that to make Jesus and his Kingdom practical is to strip it of all wonder, mystery, and power? It’s like asking for the mechanics of falling in love, enjoying sunlight on the ocean, comforting a frightened child. It’s like refusing to trust laughter until someone explains the neuroscience. Honestly asking, “How do I love God?” is like asking, “How do I love my son, my daughter?” The heart knows how to love without being told the latest research, for heaven’s sake” (Eldridge, 2025, p. 6).

John Eldrige (2025) shares, “Weary Disciple of the Internet, your soul has also been conditioned to take in massive amount of content every day–far beyond the soul’s ability to absorb. You think it’s normal, but it is not” (p.11).

As the author explains, in quoting G.K. Chesterton, “the world of wonder and mystery children accept as real, and which Christians understand to be the beautiful unseen realm, the rest of the Kingdom of God. One foot on earth and one in the realm the scriptures call the “heavens”. As Apostle John shared with his disciples, the experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ” (Eldridge, 2025 pp 8-9).

Ah, daily encounters with Jesus

The ratings and research can’t change my real. My 5-Star Support is experienced through …transformation of the heart.

Pics of Creation by K.L. Hale. Pic of aurora borealis by my son, Jarrod, Fairbanks, AK.

Keep the faith, my friends 💚

Reference
Eldridge, J. (2025). Experience Jesus. Really. Nashville: Nelson Books.

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©2020-2025 Flannel with Faith. All rights reserved.

Faith by Fire

Her kindness kindled my heart. She didn’t know my morning had backfired. My Spirit was smoky from the morning brushfires. The flare-ups tried to extinguish me. Her special spark of warmheartedness spared me from an inferno of insecurity.

“Are you scheduled today, Karla?” I showed the amazing secretary the assignment on the app. “Oh, that was a last-minute request, yes, I see. A retired teacher is already in that room. It’s covered. Do what you need to do.” The look on her face was so…caring. Her eyes pierced my heart. “I’ll do whatever you need,” I replied. She shared there were a LOT of sick kids in that room. “I worry for your immune system, Karla.” Tears brimmed my eyes. “I’ll see you again soon, I hope,” I shared as we exchanged goodbyes. Her attitude was an arson I needed-inspiration was ignited. My faith fire was lit again. So here I am, sharing this spark from a fire that has been growing inside of me.

 There are trials by fire and times in the hot seat. Scans, scars, and keeping score can scorch.  My energy can be extinguished by the unexpected.

Long before the tragic wildfires, I spoke with a few fellow faithful writers about fireside conversations. Thoughts of interviews and “flaming” the fires of faith consumed me. Not to mention that sitting by fires have a special place in my soul. Fighting illness, the “unknowns”, and living in the “now” is difficult in a world with brush fires popping up every second. Even if you’re not caught in a crossfire, the enemy might enflame. What do you do?

Before I go to Google, I take it to God. “God, I trust you. No matter what. There’s so much I don’t understand. Keep my faith fire burning, Heavenly Papa. Don’t let me burn out. Keep my faith ablaze so I can illuminate your love.”

Pull up a chair and let’s talk about the good things of life. I see you; I hear you. I understand. Today seemed another trial by fire. Instead it fueled my fire of faith.

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