Hi There!
Hello! I’m Kara, the face behind the lens here at Blythe Photo Co. I figured I’d kick this new blog off by introducing myself via thirteen fun facts that even my friends may not know about me!
To start - I’m a pretty private person. While I’ve had Facebook since the year it launched - yup, I was in college back then - and I used it like any other eighteen-year-old who used to post stupid cryptic, lyric-filled away messages on AIM [cringe,] I don’t post much these days. Unless it’s something nerdy or funny or talking about Jesus, I’m not likely to share it. I’m even terrible about posting photos of Son and Daughter of Mine so that distant family can see them regularly. Sorry y’all, I love you and will post an update of the last five months sometime soon! Hopefully… So even though helping other people have amazing photos of their brand to post online is kinda, like, my main job, I’m terrible at doing so myself. Do as I say not as I do.
I’m a Jesus follower - and out of all of these, I hope this is the one that isn’t surprising to anyone. I’m so thankful for His daily mercy and grace and that I can trust that even when I don’t see how things are going to work out, He has everything under control! I was blessed to grow up in church, and God led me to wonderful churches, wherever I lived, all over the country! Husband of Mine and I even had a chance to help start an amazing church when we lived in Florida. It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had! If you’re ever in St. Augustine for a visit, check out Reverb Church! And if you’re around Richmond, come visit us at Compass Christian Church!
I have a Biblical and Theological Studies degree from Regent University. But I got it in 2016, not 2008 as I had planned. I actually didn’t plan to earn that degree at all. I originally went to school for Biology and I wanted nothing to do with a Christian school. Been there, done that, got out, thanks very much. Not that I was against being a Christian, my relationship with God was growing throughout college, but I had a chip on my shoulder from attending a very tiny church school 4th-11th grade. I actually switched schools midway through Junior year and loved being back in public school. However my college years were spent working and helping out with family, and my studies took a back seat. I failed a couple of classes, changed majors way too many times, and then took quite the hiatus from 2008-2014 [more on that next] then I felt God lead me back to school and a degree I had never considered before. I absolutely loved my time at Regent and the courses that I got to take there - though I wish I’d had a chance to take some in person classes. I’d actually love to go back someday to get my Masters!
So what was I doing from 2008 - 2014? Well… I married my college sweetheart [funny thing is though, we never actually went to school together] We got married in Pensacola, Florida . on spring break … and then I followed him around the country as he moved with his career in the Navy. Again, it didn’t go as we planned, but it was such an amazing adventure and the perfect beginning to our life as husband and wife. In 2021 we celebrated thirteen years of marriage with a vowel renewal in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. It was freezing and windy and our original location plan was blocked by road closures due to bad weather, but it was a wonderful time with family and friends and we got to have it in the front yard of the pastor who performed our original wedding! This March was our fifteenth anniversary! And we can’t wait to see what the next fifteen years have in store.
Between 2007-2009 I moved six times, I lived in six different cities in four different states. Virginia [where I’m from,] > Maryland > back to Virginia > Pensacola, Florida > San Diego, California and then Jacksonville, Florida. After Son of Ours was born we decided to move back home to central Virginia.
I’m an INFJ. Which probably explains number one. We’re complicated and socially awkward, and super okay with just being alone at home with a book and a good cup of coffee. It took me a long time to figure out why I felt so different from other people. But I’ve come to better understand and embrace the weirdness that is myself!🤣
I love coffee! If I don’t have my coffee in the morning things just feel off. And it’s not just for the wake up call from the caffeine, it’s more the fact that it’s warm and cozy and delicious and one of my morning rituals. And sometimes afternoon rituals too, on those really long days, but that really is more of the caffeine kick! While my morning coffee is black with nothing added, if I have a second cup in the afternoon, I like to add a little something sweet. In the winter I like to make a spiced creamer that includes cloves and cardamom! And in the summer I usually drink it iced and am currently loving the honey lavender syrup I made with just a splash of milk. Soooo good!
I grew up with more animals than I could keep track of. My family lived in a tiny little house with a whole bunch of animals everywhere! Seriously, so many animals. I don’t know how my mom took care of them all, but it was so much fun as a kid. We even took in a couple of baby opossums for a few weeks when I was in grade school. But unlike the other strays, they had to go elsewhere after they got a bit older. The habit of taking in animals that need homes has now landed us with a rescue Australian shepherd/great Pyrenees mix, a rescue pit bull, a stray beagle mix, a stray cat and a chinchilla [one of the few animals I never had growing up.] Once we have some land, we’re hoping to add a horse and a cow and a goat and maybe a pig … you see where this is going.
I used to shovel poop for a living. Seriously I did. But it’s not quite as gross as it might sound. My first job was taking care of horses. This included feeding, turnout, and yup, cleaning stalls. At fifteen it was a pretty great gig. I actually loved it, and did it for quite a few years. It helped to pay for my horses' keep - which was why I got the job in the first place. Manual labor trumps time at the gym pretty much always in my book. My heart horse [the grey in the middle] passed away a little over seven years ago, so I don’t get the chance to ride much these days, but when I do it’s still one of my favorite things ever!
I love exploring new places. I know I said earlier that I love being at home [and that’s true,] but the other part of me loves going somewhere I’ve never been before. When we lived in San Diego for a year we had the opportunity to take a few road trips. Very unplanned and fly by the seat of our pants, because that’s how Husband of Mine rolls! [Much to my perpetual stress.] We got to see some amazing places. We didn’t get as much of a chance to travel when we lived in Florida, but it was still fun to get away for little day trips to new places. Now that we have kids it’s definitely more difficult, but we enjoy finding a new park, a new place to hike, or a new little town to explore whenever we do get the chance for a quick get away!
I love to read. My book preferences are really all over the place. But the classics are always some of my favorites. If I had to pick my all time favorite series it would be Anne of Green Gables, closely followed by the Chronicles of Narnia. But there are so many books that I’ve read over and over and so many on my to read list. I saw a sweatshirt the other day that I related to so much. It had a skeleton next to a stack of books and it said “bury me next to my to be read stack.” Seriously, it just grows and grows! I don’t have too much time to read these days with a toddler in the house, but I’m always looking for good book recommendations! Send them all my way please!
Along with photography I love to make things. I grew up with my mom teaching me how to draw, sew, put things together, paint, all sorts of crafts over the years. I got into jewelry making about ten years ago when I wanted a certain movie quote on a necklace but couldn’t afford to have it custom made. What started as learning to metal stamp turned into a full blown hobby of learning how to solder and set stones. Recently I’ve gotten more seriously into sewing and have made a few kids toys and clothes. I really want to make myself a dress this year. Last year I discovered embroidery, which is so much fun! And I love to play around with watercolors, making fun cards for family and little things for the kids. Craftiness runs in the family and it’s something that is so relaxing and fulfilling for me. I think we should bring back the custom of taking along handiwork when you visit with people. How cool would it be to sit and have an amazing conversation with a friend while you both create something beautiful!
Thirteen is my favorite number. It’s a crazy family thing. It seems more normal these days, but it was always fun to see people react way back when. Friday the thirteenth is always something I look forward to, and I have a 13 tattooed on my right arm. I actually got it on Friday the 13th, 2013, which was the year Son of Mine was born. The funny thing is that Daughter of Mine was born the year that Husband of Mine and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary.
So that’s it. Thirteen facts that you may or may not have known about me, that now you know. I’d love to get to know you more. Leave a comment, or follow me on social media!
