I Had to Travel Farther to Get Closer to Myself

by Kara Turner | Travel

I was walking along the edge of the sea making my way through the afternoon crowds of Monterroso al Mare, the empty beach chairs and glittering water to my right, the crowded cafés and shops to my left. As my eyes swept over the scene attempting to take it all in, I...

The Little Old Lady Who Sat Next to Me

by Kara Turner | Travel

She looked like a nice little old lady. I squeezed into the seat between her and a young girl reading a Japanese bible and looked back to make sure Bryan and Charlie had boarded from the rear. After our mini LA family vacation I was looking forward to a quiet flight,...

Mandy’s Story

by Kara Turner | St Johns

I met with Mandy at Saint John’s and was immediately overwhelmed by the feeling that everything would be OK. Mandy’s quiet strength and honest gaze just made me feel safe. What’s remarkable is how far she’s come in just a short amount of time. It was a little over two...

Parenting is Harder Now So I’m Parenting Harder

by Kara Turner | Her View From Home

Being irrelevant to my teenager daughter sounds amusing and inconsequential. Becoming irrelevant is different. It’s heartbreaking. The agonizing process of losing my daughter’s affection and attention, although somewhat expected, has been less shocking than the state...

Dear Teenager, I’ll Be Standing Right Outside Your Closed Door Waiting For You

by Kara Turner | Her View From Home

Behind your closed door, I stand. Mostly about to burst in with freshly folded laundry or to catch a word of the muted laughter floating through the wall. But I’m here. Behind your closed door. I am not sure exactly what I thought would happen when you started high...