# ## Posts - [Grace Over Grave: Discipling Children Through Halloween](https://kristinacgaddy.com/discipling-children-through-halloween/): If you’re driving around town this time of year, you’ve probably noticed it — skeletons hanging from porches, ghosts floating in trees, and graveyards popping up on front lawns. It is officially “Spooky Season.” Maybe you feel a twinge of fear or discomfort, or maybe you just want to turn your head and avoid it all. For my family, where we live, it’s pretty much unavoidable. There are silly “skellies” everywhere — ghosts, ghouls, and things meant to bring fright and fear… or just fun for some. My son will often point things out and say, “That’s spooky!” or “I […] - [Prayer & Mental Health | Guest Post for Mended Therapy Group](https://kristinacgaddy.com/honored-to-write-for-mended-therapy-group-how-prayer-shapes-mental-health/): I’m excited (and honestly still a little in awe) to share that I was invited to contribute to the blog at Mended Therapy Group, a counseling practice rooted in Christian values and mental health care. If you’ve followed my journey, you know how passionate I am about exploring the intersection of faith, scripture, and real life. This opportunity to write for Mended felt like a natural extension of that — bringing together my background in biblical counseling and my heart for honest conversations around spiritual growth. In my article, “Communing with God: How Does Prayer Affect Mental Health?”, I explore […] - [Pulling Weeds, Growing Fruit: A Lesson in Discernment and Discipleship](https://kristinacgaddy.com/pulling-up-weeds-a-lesson-in-discernment/): As a kid, I thought weeding was the worst—a chore meant for “old people.” But somewhere along the way, I started to love it. There’s just something satisfying about yanking those stubborn invaders out of the ground, roots and all, especially after a good rain. I probably look a little unhinged to my neighbors, crouched down in the yard, zoning in on stray weeds. But for me, it’s a mental reset—a small, quiet act of restoration. Little did I know, this simple act of clearing the garden would mirror a much larger lesson about life. So, what is a weed?In […] - [Meeting God in the Mess](https://kristinacgaddy.com/meeting-god-in-the-mess/): Meeting God was never meant to be picture-perfect.It’s not always coffee in hand, Bible open, journal ready, highlighter poised, a serene view, and a tidy table. Sometimes, it’s meditating on scripture while folding laundry.It’s sending an encouraging message to a friend.It’s whispering a prayer over a stranger.It’s writing a thank-you card to God and your neighbor.It’s wiping your child’s runny nose or sipping from your now-suspiciously toddler-infused water. It’s the mess on the counter that says, “This home is open to create, play, learn, and simply be.”It’s meeting God by embracing the creativity He’s woven into you for this moment. […] - [Where in the World have I been?](https://kristinacgaddy.com/where-in-the-world-have-i-been/): Okay, let’s just start with the big question: where have I been? This past year has been a whirlwind of chasing toddlers full-time, navigating a few unexpected life changes, rediscovering my creative spark, and learning some tough lessons in balancing life as a wife, mom, and friend—all while clinging to the hope that joy comes in the morning. Honestly, it’s not been easy. Even in the thick of it, I knew the joy would come, but man, it was hard to live in that truth. I started writing during a time when I had some down-time—newborn in my arms and […] - [Our Rinky-Dink Resurrection Garden: Teaching Easter to My Toddler](https://kristinacgaddy.com/resurrection-garden/): This week, my three-year-old and I embarked on a delightful adventure: creating a “resurrection garden.” If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, it’s a simple yet profound way to impart the Easter story to children. All it requires is a small empty pot, soil, grass seed or small plants, rocks, and a few twigs and twine to craft three crosses. We scoured the backyard for materials, adding an element of exploration and discovery to our project. My friend does such a great job explaining resurrection gardens and provides so many intentional gospel-centered conversation starters with kids on her blog. I adapted […] - [Finding True Beauty Through the Eyes of My Toddler](https://kristinacgaddy.com/finding-true-beauty-through-the-eyes-of-my-toddler/): The weather is warming up and beach season is upon us! Many of us are confronted with a mix of emotions: dread, insecurity, comparison, and shallow thoughts about appearances. As a parent, I have the privilege of speaking truth in love to my kids. As a person, I also have the challenge of speaking truth in love to myself. Surprisingly, I’ve found that my three-year-old daughter is gently correcting my thoughts without even realizing it herself. In other words, God is allowing my relationship with my daughter to draw me closer to Him, to see myself as He sees me. […] - [Jesus’ Humanity, Our Comfort](https://kristinacgaddy.com/god-knows-our-grief-jesus-humanity-as-our-comfort/): If you were to ask me, “Kristina, what is one area of care that you wish everyone were more familiar with?” I would say: Grief. For two main reasons. 1)Being emotionally aware of the five stages associated with grief are helpful for providing care to others, and 2) Jesus experienced grief so much to the degree he is known as “man of sorrows.” I’m not an expert; I’m just someone who is interested in learning ways to encourage and support others. In most of my interactions, I can’t help but notice the ways in which so many of us grieve. […] - [Legacy of Love: Celebrating the Life and Lessons of Grandmama](https://kristinacgaddy.com/legacy-of-love-celebrating-the-life-and-lessons-of-grandmama/): I didn’t intend to write a series on grief. This isn’t what I had planned to share next. But life rarely goes according to plan, and death certainly doesn’t. This past week my Grandma passed away on her 90th birthday. I had the privilege to speak at her memorial service where I got to share a little bit about my time with her. I’ve decided to share it with you today. Here goes… Hey! I’m Kristina Gaddy, grandma’s second-born grandkid. This week has been extraordinarily difficult. There is not a room in my house that doesn’t have a piece of […] - [Communion, Forgiveness, and My Favorite Failure](https://kristinacgaddy.com/communion-forgiveness-and-my-favorite-failure/): This is a story that I have told so many times over the years, but I’ve never actually written it down. It’s not easy to share on such a public platform because this story is bathed in grief. If I am new-to-you, you’ll need to know this: I had a younger sister that died of cancer back in 2015. Her name was Kendra, she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer the summer she graduated high school. She battled it for three years, gave her life to Jesus in the process, and had a huge impact in the lives of […] - [Identity Crisis: What Will You Allow to Define You?](https://kristinacgaddy.com/identity-crisis-what-will-you-allow-to-define-you/): Any Park & Rec. fans out there? There’s an episode where the ambassador of a foreign country is explaining strict rules and the immediate consequences of them. It’s total satire about doing anything against what the law says and facing the immediate consequence of “Jail… Go to jail!” This hilarious scene reminds me of something that The Lord convicted me of earlier this year and I want to share some steps I’ve personally taken to trust God more deeply concerning my Identity. Why does this Matter? The people, places, and things that we are immersed in will affect our view […] - [YOU'RE HERE! Welcome to my blog!](https://kristinacgaddy.com/youre-here-welcome-to-my-blog/): Writing a blog is something that I’ve said I would do for years now, and I honestly cannot believe I’m doing this because I am not a writer – at least I’m not a writer yet. Here are a few things about me that are going to heavily influence this blog. I Love Jesus. And I’m going to talk about Him a lot here. Whether you know Jesus, know me, or don’t know either of us I hope that you will feel welcomed and encouraged as you get to know me and hopefully you will get to know Jesus too! […] ## Pages - [Contact](https://kristinacgaddy.com/contact/): Hi! I’d love to connect with you! Please fill out the form below, and I will get back with you as soon as I can. - [Silhouette Paper Art (Scherenschnitte)](https://kristinacgaddy.com/custom-silhouette-paper-art/): Custom Silhouette Paper Art | Hand-Cut by Kristina Bring timeless tradition and quiet beauty into your home with custom silhouette paper art by Kristina C. Gaddy. She creates each intricate design by hand using Scherenschnitte, a delicate paper cutting technique passed down from her grandmother. With over 20 years of experience, Kristina hand-cuts every piece with an X-Acto knife, making sure no two designs are exactly alike. Even repeated patterns carry slight differences, turning each finished artwork into a true original. This meaningful process reflects Kristina’s faith, patience, and intentional care — resulting in heirloom-quality art that celebrates tradition, storytelling, […] - [Custom Watercolor Portrait](https://kristinacgaddy.com/custom-watercolor-portrait/): Custom Watercolor Portrait | Painted by Kristina C. Gaddy A great portrait captures more than just appearance — it reflects the heart of a person, their story, and their spirit. That’s what I aim to create with every Watercolor Portrait. With over 20 years of experience in fine art and 7+ years focused on watercolor, I paint each portrait by hand using a minimalist, expressive style. My goal isn’t strict photo-realism — it’s to capture the feeling behind the face, using color and brushwork to tell your story. Every color I use is intentional — chosen to reflect personality, emotion, […] - [Custom Watercolor House Portrait](https://kristinacgaddy.com/custom-watercolor-house-portrait/): Custom Watercolor House Portrait | Painted by Kristina C. Gaddy Your home holds more than walls and windows — it holds memories, milestones, and meaning. Celebrate those spaces with a Watercolor House Portrait, thoughtfully painted by Kristina C. Gaddy. With over 20 years of fine art experience, I create custom, hand-painted portraits of homes that capture more than architecture. Each piece reflects the heart of the place — the warmth, story, and character that make it uniquely yours. My style leans soft and expressive, using color and shape to evoke memory and emotion. Details are simplified, focusing on the feeling […] - [Blog](https://kristinacgaddy.com/blog/): Welcome to my blog! Once the front row church kid – now a theologian, wife, mom of two, and lifelong follower of Jesus. This space is where faith meets the everyday messiness of life. After 25+ years of walking with Christ and earning a Master of Divinity in Biblical Counseling, I’ve discovered that Christian living isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about asking honest questions, seeking God daily, and growing through both joy and struggle. Let’s explore how faith shapes real life, together. - [About](https://kristinacgaddy.com/about/): Hi, I’m Kristina — wife, mom, artist, and a quiet soul with a lot of questions. My story started like many — small-town girl in the back row, wondering how faith fits into real life. Over time, those questions led me to unexpected places: serving in ministry, earning a Master of Divinity in Biblical Counseling, and building a life rooted in faith, family, and creativity. Here, I share pieces of that journey — reflections on scripture, honest conversations about Christian living, and hand-crafted artwork that invites you to slow down, notice beauty, and celebrate the stories God is writing. Why […] - [Studio](https://kristinacgaddy.com/studio/): What I Offer More from the studio - [Home](https://kristinacgaddy.com/): Latest Reflections See the studio Beyond words, I also tell stories through paint and paper. In the studio, I create original watercolor portraits, hand-cut scherenschnitte paper art, and limited-edition pieces that reflect faith, home, and the beauty of the everyday. Every piece is made with care—slowly, intentionally, and prayerfully. Let’s Stay Connected! Have a question, want to collaborate, or just want to say hi? I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re here for the blog, the art, or both — thank you for visiting my corner of the internet. [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)