We've all made plans only to find life had its own ideas. Those of us who live in Western North Carolina and others in Helene’s path have experienced and continue to experience disruptions that shatter our routines and lay waste to our plans. During the past month, the Karis Parenting team and First Baptist Church of Asheville have been trying to find the balance of taking care of ourselves and taking care of our community. We are grateful to be safe, with minimal damage to our homes and property. We have experienced the major and minor inconveniences of life after such a devastating storm: temporary displacement, debris cleanup, and loss of power, water, cell service, and internet. First Baptist Church of Asheville has hosted a free market of food, water, toiletries, clothing, and other emergency supplies. Our parking lot has housed a shower and laundry trailer and a Mercy Chefs mobile kitchen.
In the midst of the chaos, the Director of Karis Parenting, Sam Rogers, and his wife Katie welcomed their second child to their family! We rejoice at the arrival of baby Eloise Clare and know that this time will be an experience that the Rogers family will never forget!
Back to those plans: Karis Parenting’s plans to release our first product by the end of 2024 have been pushed back, but we are still working on the development of the Exploring Nature Card Deck. We hope to release this Nature Deck in early 2025, and we will begin the design of our next product, a Values Toolkit for families. We still have many great ideas for the future of Karis Parenting, and we look forward to the coming year. We appreciate your prayers for Western North Carolina and all of those in the path of Helene. Our plans may have been interrupted, but our spirit is strong.
Laura Bratton, Assistant Director of Karis Parenting
Helping Children after a Disaster
Many of you have experienced disruption in your lives and routines recently. We hope you have felt supported by your family, friends, and faith communities. Check out the links below for some tips to help you talk to your children after a natural disaster or other traumatic event.
Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers after Disasters
Helping Children and Youth Cope after a Disaster or Traumatic Event