“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. 🤍💚
Rocky Ridge FarmMary’s handmade blouse (when she was blind)!Another beautiful view of the farmPerfect denAdmiration! Peace-filled sitting areaOh, the memories!The girls’ schooldaysPa’s Fiddle! Stunning glasswareEach book had its own display!Mary’s braille slateA large teaching certificate!Laura’s .22 A bright and tiny kitchen!Treasured watch & glassesStunning painting of Rose Wilder LaneDining roomThe outside prairie & flowersRose Wilder Lane–an exceptional woman!
MORE REFLECTIONS …
Last month’s moon through my kitchen windowOne happy fan!
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air
***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! 🤍🦓
Welcome to Flannel with Faith, where I celebrate faith, flannel, and fresh air! This March I’m exploring everything that makes my Missouri special! If you’re visiting for the first time, I’m K.L. Hale (a.k.a. Karla) , a small-town Missouri gal and writer who is passionate about my roots. I recently traveled to Maryland and back, but my heart and soul belong to Missouri. That’s why I wrote a creative non-fiction children’s book about my home state to celebrate our bicentennial in 2021.
From the rolling hills to the bustling cities, there’s something for everyone in this great state. So, whether you’re a long-time resident or just passing through, I hope you’ll find something to love about Missouri!
As the mighty Mississippi and the Missouri rivers flow through my home state, memories drift through me. My deep roots began as a tiny seed sowed with faith, family, and friends in small-town Missouri.
Sometimes called the “fly-over state”, Missouri was born 149 years before me. It became the 24th state in the union on August 10th, 1821. Known for its friendly people, landmarks, rivers, lakes, and trails, it’s also called the “Show-Me” and “Cave State”. My Midwestern home has a remarkable history!
Missouri is more than a fly-over state to me. Rolling hills, farms, businesses, cows and other farm animals, church steeples, rivers, and dusty winding roads famously scatter the countryside, small towns, and big cities. Bass Pro made my “big” city famous. My tiny hometown, Clever, was born because of the railroad. It boomed in 1911 to 500 (and only about 100 more when I graduated). Clever has grown approximately 180% since 2000 with a population of over 3,000 now! A metropolis!
The Native Americans gave us our name. They settled near a river and found their fame! (The state and the Missouri River are named for the tribe, Missouria. They called themselves "People of the River Mouth")The Adventures of Faith and Finley
Mainly an agricultural state, the mighty Mississippi and Missouri rivers provided hubs for commerce and trade in the early 19th century. Do you know what the Gateway to the West (St. Louis Arch—does the Corps of Discovery expedition and Lewis and Clark jog a memory?), Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Harry S. Truman, Ginger Rogers, Sheryl Crow, and Walt Disney have in common? Each called Missouri home. Did you know Missouri has 93 state parks and 7 National Parks?
My home city, Springfield (also known as the “Queen City of the Ozarks”) sits on the Springfield Plateau which ranges from nearly level to rolling hills (Wikipedia, 2024). With a population close to 172,000, it’s the 3rd largest city in Missouri. The Ozark Mountains, which to many folks aren’t real mountains, is a physiographic region in MO, AR, OK, and the extreme SE corner of Kansas. (Wikipedia). Most of the region falls in Southern MO and Northern AR.
There are numerous rivers to love in my “neck of the woods”. The Buffalo River in AR was our country’s first National River. Roaring River State Park in Cassville, MO holds a special place in my heart. Early years on the Finley; and older ones on the Roaring River with my family made my love for the outdoors SURGE!
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll,…whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, …It is well, it is well with my soul.” (Horatio Spafford)
As March marches on and spring is about to spring, stay tuned for part II–My Missouri’s Music!
Have faith, my friends. 💚
Have you heard of NET, yet? ❣️🦓
Family and friends–thank you for your prayers, love, and continued support. You all impact my life in such positive ways. I love you all. ❣️If you’re new to FWF, allow me to introduce myself:
About Me:
Just call me rural. Born and raised in a small S.W. Missouri town, my roots run deep. Headstrong in completing every goal, I began teaching and motherhood (the best experience in the world) at a young age. The truths learned under steeples, our Creator’s Great Outdoors, traveling and meeting others, curiosity, and being tossed around the River of Life have grown my communion with Christ.Through teaching, learning, living, laughing, and adventures, my body has climbed out of valleys; and ascended and descended mountaintops (physically, spiritually, and emotionally). Having had a taste of the R.V. life for nearly 4 years (and many years of camping), I crave simplicity and long for the roads less traveled (if they lead back to what matters most…family).
I’ve fallen and landed flat on my faith.
In May of 2022, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Neuroendocrine. Also known as NET (Neuroendocrine Tumor), the primary mass originated in my pancreas and metastasized to my liver, lymph nodes, ribs, spine, skull, hip, and pelvis. In November of 2023, as a patient of the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, the bulk of my cancer was removed (along with several organs)from my abdomen.
Cancer will not define me. Friends, none of us are defined by what we do, a disease we may have, and our mistakes or successes. I bet my life on a promise from God. It’s the one truth to which I cling. My joy, despite the diagnosis, only comes from the grace and mercy provided by my Heavenly Father. It’s not about religion. To me, it’s about a relationship with my Creator. Do you know how loved you are?
It was a fast follow-up in Bethesda, Maryland last week. ONLY 16 vials of blood, one C.T., and an M.R.I. were needed on this trip. Have I shared about my amazing surgeon, oncologist, and nurses? Results revealed my left bile duct is dilated. If pain, jaundice, or itchiness occur, I’m to call ASAP. I have one naughty lymph node growing by my aorta and another one staying stable (as most of my bone tumors). Monthly treatments need to continue. With that, glucose levels must be monitored. My bones ache. Particularly my back and neck–but GOD is so good. I’m using the warmth of a heating pad, medicine, and miracles to keep on keeping on. While in Maryland, our Creator SURROUNDED me with the coolest people! A young gal, studying to be a teacher from New York, had only flown 2 times, and prayed for a “nice Christian woman” to sit next to her (Lily, you blessed ME), the taxi driver from Ethiopia shared about God and the miracles in his life the entire drive from Reagan airport to Bethesda, a couple from Utah shared about their 12 years experience at NIH/NCI, another couple from Boston were on their first trip after her diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, I met an amazing woman and artist from Denver, CO named Quana (pronounced like Keanu), who has overcome cancer and lives with debilitating disease, a 30-year-old from Cleveland has an autoimmune disease impacting her teeth and jaw, and young children were wrestling to stay put in strollers as their parents, exhaustingly, tried to console them. I’m a middle-aged woman. I can do this. Seeing children suffer breaks my heart.
Although I had 3 flight delays, one flight change, and a long layover coming home, I was STILL surrounded by God’s grace. Josh, from Springfield, shared his faith story as we waited at the Charlotte airport to fly home. This journey is surreal. From planning my funeral to the miracles from our Maker. I’ve bet my life on HIM. If you wonder where I get my joy, after years of unknown health mysteries, brokenness, and utter disbelief at some situations and desperation, I’d love to tell you more. My reserves are a bit low. But talking about Jesus puts a kick in my step. I’m living proof of miracles. Evidence is ALL AROUND if we choose to accept it.
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, and fresh air
K.L. Hale
I’m a Christ-following, flannel-wearing, blog-writing, nature-craving, dog-loving, coffee-sipping Mom, “Grammy K” old soul, history buff, and curious learner. I’m an Indie Author of a creative non-fiction children’s book (Faith and Finley Tour Missouri 2021). I’ll keep dreaming of open prairies, big mountains, rivers, and the historically stunning places of our amazing world–and stay grounded with faith, family, and friends. My name is Karla. I’m flannel with faith.
Obsession might be too strong of a word to describe my affection of the “Little House” series. As a little girl, I recall vividly listening to a teacher read from “Little House in the Big Woods”. Naturally my mind would transport me to the setting. And to my delight, the books inspired the T.V. show in the 70’s.
The chapter, Winter Days and Winter Nights, describes the harshness the family endured (but oh, the fun too!) And Christmas, although the Ingalls girls received very little, was my favorite part. I longed to make “sugar snow” and candy just she did. And then spring time came…and summer soon followed.
“She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura so eloquently, and simply, shared her rich memories of family, faith, and perseverance…they were pioneers. Could you imagine that life today? Yes, many have experienced failure and loss. Oh to embody the grit and strength of those before us~the ones that made “something out of nothing”. Wouldn’t we have a more sustainable and worthy existence? Her life evokes inspiration. The simplicity, coupled with the complexity of overcoming the extremities of daily living, is truly an oxymoron~one that I shared with many elementary-aged students while teaching. During my Westward Expansion units a transformation would take place. Together, the students and I, would embark on our mission to settle and make a “home”. The students were delighted to make homemade butter and pretend we were pioneers. And this narrative of a young girl captured the essence of the pioneering “spirit”. The “spirit” of the pioneer is what I wish to capture in my own life.
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born February 7, 1867 in the cabin she described in “Little House in the Big Woods” (located just outside of Pepin, Wisconsin). After a move to Kansas two years later, and experiencing a wheat crop loss, the family journeyed back to the Big Woods. Despite the constant mislays, the family forged ahead. Many of you might be familiar with the town, Walnut Grove (particularly girls of the 70’s 😊).
The Ingalls family settled in Minnesota and Laura described their first year in a dugout in On the Banks of Plum Creek. After two years, Pa sold the Plum Creek Farm he built and he “tried his hand” at hotel management in Burr Oak, Iowa. A year later, unsuccessful, they left Iowa and returned to Walnut Grove. Another two years found the family in the Dakota Territory. Pa filed a homestead claim near De Smet.
Laura began her teaching career in 1883~ and while boarding with a family, is driven by Almanzo Wilder on weekends. They marry in 1885 and a daughter, Rose, is born in 1886. Sadly, they lost a baby boy 3 years later. Laura and Almanzo leave South Dakota (Dakota Territory officially became two states in 1889) for Minnesota and then Florida to seek health benefits for “Manly” (a.k.a. Almanzo), who had a stroke after he and Laura had contracted diphtheria. In 1892 they returned to De Smet, South Dakota.
It was 1894 and the trio traveled to Mansfield, Missouri. Upon buying a 40 acre farm and naming their homestead, Rocky Ridge, The Wilder family, settled at their final home.
Laura became a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist in 1911. She began writing her Little House books in the 1930’s and 40’s and published her first book at 65 years old. At the age of 90, Laura died on February 10th, 1957 (Almanzo had passed away 8 years earlier at 92). Both are buried at the Mansfield Cemetery in Missouri.
Have you ever thought of completing a timeline of history for YOUR LIFE? Check out Laura’s:
1st working phonograph (thank you, Mr. Edison)
1st hand powered dishwasher
the invention of radio (thank you, Mr. Marconi)
Wright Brothers first flight
Einstein published his theory of relativity
WWI
19th Amendment
Discovery of penicillin
Great Depression
WWII, D-Day, and V-E Day
1st microwave oven
Korean War
Laura died 13 years before I was born. She truly understood how to “live in the moment of now”. How I wish I could have sat with her over a cup of coffee~to sip her memories and enjoy the taste of life she encouraged her readers to savor.
