Kara Tippetts went Home to Jesus on March 22, 2015, after a long battle with breast cancer.
Born Kara Lynne Thewlies on July 14, 1976, she grew up in Noblesville, Indiana, and earned her BS in English Education at Indiana University. She met her husband Jason Tippetts at Eagle Lake Camp, a Christian camp located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were married on May 16, 1998.
A few days ago, Mickey wrote this in a message to a few of us gals as we wrote back and forth, struggling with the impossible task of saying goodbye to our Kara. I thought it would encourage your hearts, too, as we all process this awful but hope-filled goodbye.
Every once in a while, I get a text from Kara on a Sunday morning asking me to come sit with her if she is not feeling up to going to church and she wants Mickey to be able to go. I love those Sunday mornings with her, listening to her thoughts and dreams, hearing how God ministers to her heart in the darkest hours, discussing what we look forward to about Heaven.
Several weeks ago I received one of these texts, and when I arrived, the house was hustling and bustling with activity; a production company was in town from Hollywood working on a short documentary about Kara and her story.
Kara has written about the long goodbye, and as much as it is heart-wrenching it is also peaceful. As I write I am watching Kara wrestle to sleep. Her sleep is mixed with moving pillows for comfort, sitting up to relieve pain, taking medication, or trying to communicate with me. But sometimes her sleep is the quietest and most peaceful event of her day. My long goodbye is full of watching and reliving memories of our life together.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, Westside was brand new. My little family and I would get there super early on Sundays so my husband could get the music stuff set up and do the sound check before the congregants started arriving. Those were challenging mornings for me, and Kara started asking if I would like to come have coffee at her house after dropping Aaron and Von off at church. That was wonderful for my pregnant self! Lounging in her comfy living room, watching Story model her latest fashion ensemble, hearing Lake laugh as he played in the other room. I loved that time with Kara.
