When you meet Karen in person, the first thing you notice is the contrast: a big, radiant burst of personality wrapped up in a tiny body. Her joy is immediate and contagious, the kind that fills a room without trying. Being with her feels like sitting down with a friend you’ve known your entire life—comfortable, safe, and grounding. She’s the kind of person you feel better around simply because she’s there, and it doesn’t take long to realize that this warmth is not accidental. It’s the very heart of her work.
Karen is the founder of This Is The Day, a ministry she began in October of 2008, rooted in helping women and youth understand the power of their thoughts and deepen their trust in Jesus. Nearly eighteen years later, her purpose remains unchanged—even as the scenery, the communities, and the journey itself have shifted. Her work wins aren’t measured in numbers or milestones, but in moments: when a child’s thinking changes, when a woman recognizes a lie she’s believed for years, when trust in God deepens just a little more. Those moments usually lead her to tears—tears of gratitude, humility, and renewed fire to keep going.
The calling behind This Is The Day arrived in a way Karen describes as both mysterious and unmistakable. In January of 2008, while sitting through a workshop she didn’t want to attend, she found herself frustrated, emotionally exhausted, and questioning nearly every aspect of her life. The speaker began talking about limiting beliefs—the lies we unknowingly accept as truth—and as she looked around the room at women crying, Karen felt something shift. Instead of joining them, she grew angry. She asked God why no one had taught this to us as kids. How much pain could have been avoided? How many cycles could have been broken?
For months, she prayed for guidance, asking if and when God would show her how to use her gifts differently. Then, on October 6, 2008, driving down Highway 71 in Kansas City, she asked the question one more time: Is today the day? To her complete shock, it was. She pulled over, grabbed a pen, and wrote her first presentation—Building a Better You. Within two weeks, she was standing in front of 150 third and fourth graders, teaching them they had power over their thoughts. The acronym for the program? BABY. Nine months from frustration to birth. God, she says, can be obvious and even entertaining like that.
Since then, Karen’s ministry has moved with her—from Kansas City to Canton, Georgia, and eventually to Kingston in September of 2020. Each move meant starting over, rebuilding community from the ground up. In Georgia, connection came through an unexpected door: CrossFit. What began as a shared love for movement turned into co-owning a gym and building a deeply rooted community that supported her ministry for a decade. When she arrived in Kingston, she leaned into what she knew—movement and people—coaching Spin and MUV classes at The Yard, forming relationships one conversation at a time. After just over a year, This Is The Day began offering coaching sessions, retreats, and monthly gatherings once again.
Karen offers workshops for youth, team-building sessions, faith-and-fitness experiences, hiking series, retreats, and signature gatherings—and she loves all of it. What she loves most, though, is watching women begin to believe how deeply they are loved by God. She witnesses strongholds break, hope return, and vulnerability take root in spaces that feel sacred and safe. After almost every event, she sits and cries—not from exhaustion, but from gratitude and awe at how faithfully God shows up.
Owning a ministry hasn’t been without challenges. Marketing and website management make her groan, and learning not to do everything herself has been one of her hardest lessons. Over time, she’s come to understand that she is one part of the body—not all the parts—and that having a team isn’t a weakness, but a gift. Protecting her mornings for time with the Lord and focused work has become a non-negotiable boundary, allowing her to stay grounded and present.
As she looks ahead, Karen dreams of updated online resources, a dedicated gathering space on her property, and weekend retreats centered on Faith & Fitness. She’s also close to publishing a journal called Finding the GOOOOOD—a reflection of her lifelong work helping others shift their perspective toward truth and hope.
Karen’s proudest accomplishment isn’t longevity, growth, or control—though she admits she enjoys that part too—it’s simply not giving up. God’s purpose for this ministry has never changed, even when the view has. And if you spend even a few minutes in her presence, it’s clear: This is the day isn’t just the name of her work. It’s the way she lives it.
When Karen talks about treating herself, it isn’t about big splurges or grand gestures—it’s about small, intentional indulgences that help her stay present and grounded. Her mornings begin with a good, hot, dark cup of coffee, the kind you linger over. Afternoons are simple and practical—just water—while evenings invite a slower pace, often with a deep, smooth red wine or a bourbon touched with St. Germain’s elderflower. Around town, her favorite moments are beautifully uncomplicated. She loves taking her dog down to the ferry beach, walking along the boat slips, and sitting at the end to listen to the birds and the waves—quiet reminders to breathe.
When food is involved, she knows exactly where to go: tater tots from the Filling Station, french fries from Grub Hut, and when the craving hits just right, a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie from the Borrowed Kitchen. Karen’s reading life mirrors her approach to everything else—honest and grace-filled. She gravitates toward books she can actually finish, often starting with audiobooks, especially ones that help her see life through scripture. Brené Brown’s work holds a special place on her shelf, the kind she’ll buy in print just to underline and return to. In her downtime, you’ll likely find her hiking, knitting, or learning pottery—always curious, always creating, always finding joy in the process rather than the perfection.
Getting to know Karen is a wonderful feeling because the moment you meet her you feel captivated to know more. Make sure to reach out or go up and say hi to her when you see her in the community. In times when things feel a little harder and serious she has a natural gift to make you feel connected and calm.
For more information and to see her blog please check out this link! this is the day
