About Me
Hi, I’m Krista.
Strategic communicator and storyteller.
I am the wife of a very talented musician who takes me around the world in pursuit of excellence. Mama to Jakob, Audrey and Ella, who just happens to have Down Syndrome.
And an aspiring disciple of Jesus, defender of the oppressed, writer, graphic designer and photographer.I write and speak on navigating through the fog of life…you know, when things don’t go exactly as planned and am fuelled by a passion to amplify the voices of those on the margins…
oh, and coffee…lots of coffee.Sign up for my Newsletter
About Me
![It might seem an odd choice of quote but did you know that T.S. Eliot wrote the poem, Wasteland, from which this quote comes from, in the aftermath of the last global pandemic, the Spanish Flu?
Between 1918 and 1920 as many as 100 million people across the globe died from Spanish flu. Eliot’s poem reflects what it might be like to be in a hurt and wounded land incapable of growth or renewal. At this point, Eliot himself, may have still been recovering from sickness - if not of the body, of the soul.
Typically, April is when one thinks of spring and falling in love, but in the wasteland, in the shadow of death, sickness and isolation, hope hurts. There is nothing crueler than hope because it only leads to disappointment.
But perhaps, this is why Easter comes early this year - because we need hope more ever and the living water given to us on the cross, can replenish the lands and souls that were beyond hope.
[image of a heron with the quote: “April is the cruelest month, breeding
lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
memory and desire, stirring
dull roots with spring rain.”]
#quoteoftheday #april #tseliot #wasteland](https://i1.wp.com/www.kristaewert.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/166457898_560277881601808_1499331240346885208_nfull.jpg?ssl=1)
![Ends, beginnings, and big changes on the blog. Link in profile.
This photo was taken two and a half years ago. It’s amazing how much the kids have grown. Might be time for some new pics.
[image of a family: mom, dad, older brother and two younger sisters posing in a forest]
📸 @paul_upward_photography
#buckinghamshire #familyphotography #portraits #transitions](https://i1.wp.com/www.kristaewert.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/165231742_1644687409073045_3675192203185418948_nfull.jpg?ssl=1)
![It’s hard to imagine that someone could form such a strong attachment to a piece of land - not a house or playground but a piece of earth just waiting to be cultivated. Today, I said good-bye to my allotment. I disassembled my brassica cages, cleared out the rubbish, and packed into my car, all the little bits and bobs I had left there for convenience.
And as I walked away for the last time from Love’s Delight (the name of the allotments), I cried.
You see, my allotment was more than a vegetable patch. In the darkest hours of the past two years, (and there were a number of them), the allotment was my sanctuary. It was the place I met God and cultivated peace after turbulent news, an unsettling encounter, or a rough day at work. It’s where I could be alone with my thoughts, get my hands dirty and do the hard work of processing life. It’s where I prayed.
I also met God through the people I would meet while at the allotment. Over the past two years I have been able to cultivate relationships with my allotment neighbours and the people who would regularly walk by. I think of one particular woman with whom I grew quite close. She has three allotments, which means that she is there a lot: every day for hours. To put this into perspective, I have half an allotment. Jane is a kindred spirit and I am going to miss our chats. She would always be more than willing to give me tips on gardening, but we also talked about God, Church, and our heart for this little village.
More on the blog at kristaewert.com or follow the link in my profile.
[image of a woman forcing a smile with a plot of earth in the background with the word “cultivate”]
#allotmentlife #allotmentlife🌱 #cultivate #2021writingchallenge](https://i0.wp.com/www.kristaewert.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/165704260_1384753218543439_4254105708758078114_nfull.jpg?ssl=1)
![Today, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. It is a day when we raise awareness about Down syndrome because knowledge is power. Down syndrome, otherwise known as Trisomy 21 is not something to be afraid of or ashamed of, but rather, it is a beautiful genetic variation that can result in gorgeous almond shaped eyes, a button nose and brushfield spots. It can also cause other health issues such as congenital heart disease, early onset Alzheimer’s and low muscle tone but many of the health risks that people with Down syndrome historically have lived with can now be mitigated by medical technology and early intervention.
Today, we also celebrate people who have Down syndrome, like Ella, not only because she is made in the image of God but because she has to overcome many disabling factors in society everyday just to have access to the same things that other children have access to. Things like a fair and appropriate education, the opportunity to be on soccer teams and in dance classes. The opportunity to go to birthday parties and be a part of a church community. She also has physical barriers that mean she needs to work harder than most to learn how to read, write, and tie her shoes…but she can – she just needs a little extra time and a bit more practice.
Often people assume they know about Down syndrome and so they don’t want to hire people with Down syndrome or give them access to life saving medicine, vaccines or technology. But they don’t know, because if they did, they would see a life with Down syndrome is just as worth living as any other. They would see that Ella leads a full and happy life. They would also see that she contributes to her community in meaningful ways and above all, they would see that she is full of love and compassion - two things the world could use a little more of. So today, on World Down Syndrome Day, please, take time to learn, to open your eyes to possibility and to give thanks for Ella and all those with a third copy of the 21st chromosome.
03.21
Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
💛💙
[image of a happy girl with Down syndrome]
#wdsd21 #wdsd #theluckyfew #downsyndrome #downsyndromeawarness #trisomy21 #ellafreda](https://i0.wp.com/www.kristaewert.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/162415791_232531511888430_8041361085662680336_nfull.jpg?ssl=1)