Interview with Karen Ehman

Karen, please tell me a little about yourself.

I have been married for 21 years to my college sweetheart, Todd. We have three sometimes argumentative, but mostly charming children, Mackenzie 16, Mitchell 12, and Spencer 9. We are in our 12th year homeschooling. I love to speak and write and watch my kids play sports. I love having others into our home and am horribly craft challenged with pitiful, partially finished scrapbooks.

I am a speaker for Proverbs 31 ministries and have a weekly radio spot on the WCIC family of radio stations in Illinois.

A trivia point would be that I have lost and kept off 106 pounds.

How do you balance being a mom, a homeschooling teacher, a writer, AND speaker?

I write my books in the summer between 5:30 and 10:00 am. I write my articles bits at a time when the computer is free. I record my radio spots 3-4 months worth at a time.

As for school, I am not afraid to delegate a subject that is stressful for me. My son Mitchell is taking Saxon 8/7 math from one of my daughter’s high school friends who wants to be a teacher some day. Her mom is counting it for her as cadet teaching and I pay her a very nominal fee. It works out wonderfully for all of us and she is gaining great experience. Mackenzie is a junior and also attends the local community college for two classes now that she is 16.

As for the mom part, I freezer cook months of main dishes at a time with a friend so I don’t need to take time to prepare that a few days a week–usually Tues. through Thurs. I hardly ever watch tv or talk on the phone, except when needed and I really don’t have any hobbies at this time in my life. I also have asked the Lord to bless my family in a special way as I say ‘yes’ to His call on my life to write and speak. They have gotten to go to some cool places and gain back stage passes to meet some of their favorite singers. (The latest being Toby Mac) They see themselves as part of my ministry. They help pack my products, work my book table, count change and Kenzie wrote part of my new book – The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized. She wrote some sides bars on organization from a teen’s perspective. It released January 1st.

What insight can you offer to moms who think they have to “wait until the kids get older or I get my life organized” to do something great for God?

God has a plan for your ministry that INCLUDES your family. You don’t need to wait until they are out of the way to minister. God is waiting for you to make them part of your ministry. Of course, I did much less when I had babies and toddlers and there were years that I only wrote and didn’t speak when I was first a mom. But don’t waste those hidden years. Write, write, write. You’ll find stories, examples and analogies from your own life that you will use in the future. I just used a story from 1987 in an article last month. As for getting organized while being a mom, that is the topic of my newest book. I try to encourage women to come up with a plan to take cake of the “have tos” of life– the cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc… in an efficient manner so they can actually get around to the “want tos” of life– spending time with God, family and friends and making memories for their children.

Finish this sentence, “I know it’s been a good day when ….”

“…. I made time to read out loud to my youngest child or write a handwritten note to a weary soul.”

What is the biggest challenge you face? How do you overcome it?

Over-eating. I overcome it by God’s strength— one Weight Watcher point at a time!!

In what ways does God strengthen you on your journey?

He sends some incredible women my way who encourage me, mainly my best friend from college Kelly and my prayer team of about 10 women who pray for my writing and speaking events. He refreshes me through His word committed to memory and by prayer times with my husband. I never grow tired of serving God.

Great interview Karen…thanks for sharing! For more information about Karen and her ministry visit her website!

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