A Season of Renewal: A Year of Family, Personal Healing, and Healthful Growth

I was thinking I should do a little back-to-school update on me! This has been a big year for me too. I can’t believe all three of my babies are in school. To be honest, I’m not quite ready to not have a little one at home with me, but my kids being in school will give us a good opportunity to focus on some dedicated areas of growth as a family.

We had a wonderful summer. I enjoyed playing hard with all of them, and they truly are my favorite human beings. I’m so grateful to be their momma. The long daylight hours and fun adventures were exhausting, yet so fulfilling.

Like last school year, I love volunteering at my children’s school and being a familiar face in their classrooms. I helped with the PTA, and I also read with Ro's and HH's classmates last year. I loved getting to squeeze Ro and HH, while also getting to know their teachers and peers. I’ll continue that this year with Ro, HH, and E's school and classrooms.

This past summer, I enjoyed Lagoon with my family and kids, a Snowbird condo trip, an ‘Ori Tahiti beginner dance class, doing horse lessons with the kids, and even with one of my friends.

BRE HEALTHY has been on the back burner this past year and a half because, honestly, I haven’t felt very healthy. Since March/April of 2024, I’ve struggled with major abdominal pain—specifically symptoms of interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome. I haven’t been officially diagnosed, because both are diagnoses of elimination, and as a nurse, I knew which things needed to be ruled out. I chose not to go through extra diagnostic tests that would have added more trauma and stress on my body.

Diagnostic tests did show gastritis and digestive inflammation, so I’ve been on a journey of intense healing this past year and a half. I’ve been deeply learning about the digestive system, gut function, nutrition, regulating the nervous system, supporting my neuromuscular system, and most importantly, focusing on the relationships that matter most—especially a healing relationship with God and the Master Healer and Physician, Jesus Christ.

Looking back on my life, I can now see when I had flares and how hidden issues built up until they all came to a head. This last flare wasn’t going to go into remission without a major life overhaul. Things I knew as a nurse about how to heal or feel better weren’t working anymore. Learning how my body responds to food and discovering which foods help me heal has been a big part of this journey. Books and guidance on mental and emotional health have been integral as well.

Pelvic floor physical therapy literally gave me my quality of life back. Truly miracle workers! My stomach and lower abdomen hurt so badly that even after doing everything I knew to feel better, I was still struggling to function as the well and present woman, wife, and mother I wanted to be. Hubby Karson has been such a supportive and listening ear—our relationship has deepened so much as we’ve navigated this trial. My kids have been so sweet and understanding when I wasn’t feeling great, and my parents, siblings, and some dear friends have been huge supports as well.

It’s been a process of healing. Even for someone who thought she was mindful of health and wellness, I had to reevaluate every area of my life to become the woman, wife, and mother I want to be. Even though I had boundaries with social media, I could tell it was still dysregulating my brain and nervous system—messing with my neurotransmitters. Actively working against the rush, stress, and sickening effects of today’s culture is difficult, yet essential for holistic health. I’ve had to change how I eat, how I handle stress, how I think, breathe, and move.

Although this trial has been incredibly hard—the lowest I’ve ever felt—and I am still methodically figuring things out, I am feeling so much better. I’m coming out of this stronger because of it. I still have more healing to do; however, I’m grateful to finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Now I know that when other trials come, I can slowly climb out of them and be edified and strengthened by my struggles.

When I prayed and asked Karson for priesthood blessings, I so badly wanted to be quickly relieved of my symptoms. But I came to understand that this healing process was something I needed to go through—to become a more empathetic human being and loved one, a more present and understanding mother, and a person who truly relies on Christ and God’s plan for my life. This experience has given me a much deeper understanding of mind-body-spirit healing than I ever gained elsewhere.

If you have similar struggles or are dealing with other health challenges, know that I can be a listening ear. If you’d like to learn from what I’ve learned, I’d be happy to share. Sometimes people want to give quick, “fix-it” solutions, but unless you take the time to hear someone’s whole story, what they often need most is simply a listening ear. Not a problem-solver, but someone who comes from a place of true sympathy and understanding. What really makes a difference is deep compassion and the willingness to sit with someone in their struggles. Looking back, what helped me the most—and what I benefited from most deeply—was just that: a listening ear and genuine understanding.

Outside of the physical healing work I need to do and learning to cook foods that support my health and make me feel good—I’m also excited to pour into farm and garden projects, improve my horsemanship skills, take on home projects, read lots and lots of books (self-help, historicals, and westerns—my favorites), do family history, sewing projects, and pursue physical fitness goals like dance, yoga, swimming, biking, walking, and music (singing, violin and piano). Hoping to work on BRE HEALTHY and continue running the Halverson household—coordinating all of its fun members, both humans and animals.

Here’s to being the fully present and deeply loving wife, mother, family member, and friend I want to be this school year.