About Me

Hi, I’m Kari — welcome to Unpacking Freedom.

This space is where I share my family’s journey of letting go of clutter, debt, and old wounds. We are making room for life’s real treasures: love, memories, growth, and freedom.

Why “Unpacking Freedom”?

For years, my life felt overstuffed — with things, responsibilities, and even hidden burdens I didn’t know I was carrying. When I discovered my husband and I had a seriously needed discussion, it shook me. Add in the grief of losing my sister, the whirlwind of raising teens, military life, and an unknown future — and I realized something had to change.

Unpacking Freedom was born out of that moment. A commitment to simplify, heal, and live with intention so that we can step into a future filled with memories instead of regrets.

Who We Are

We’re a military family learning how to live lighter and freer together. My husband is working toward retirement. I’m focused on making sure we can follow our dreams of traveling and growing our small business, Magnetic Twist. Life with teens is full of humor, challenges, and fleeting moments I want to hold onto forever. At home, we’re building a little homestead that keeps us grounded and teaches us patience.

What You’ll Find Here

This blog isn’t about perfect checklists or Pinterest-worthy minimalism. It’s about real life:

Minimalism & Simplicity → how we’re learning to live with less.
Debt Freedom → our journey to dig out and build a future where travel and memories matter more than things.
Healing & Growth → reflections on betrayal, grief, and rediscovering myself after years of pouring into everyone else.
Family Life → raising teens, creating traditions, and learning from the messy, beautiful middle of it all.
Homestead Lessons → planting roots (literally and figuratively) as we create a simpler, more grounded home.
Travel & Memories → including reflections from our month-long family road trip, and why living fully now matters.

Let’s Do This Together

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by clutter, debt, or old hurts… if you’ve ever longed for a simpler, freer life where memories matter more than things… you’re not alone.

I’m not writing as someone who has it all figured out. I’m writing as someone in the middle of it — unpacking one box, one dollar, one old wound at a time.

I’d love for you to follow along, share your own stories, and maybe find encouragement for your journey too. Together, we can create lives filled with more of what really matters.

Welcome to Unpacking Freedom — I’m so glad you’re here.