Women Who Inspire – Cara DuVall
Cara DuVall has taken what many of us may take for granted and turned it into her family’s foundation. Fundamental values such as Christianity, self-worth, being a godly mother and wife, strong work ethic, and determination have seen Kara through many bumps along her journey. She humbly shares with us her story of perseverance. Read her words and be blessed!
Cyndi Kay Green: Will you please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a little background information?
Cara DuVall: I’m Kara DuVall. I’ve lived in Tahlequah, OK for about 9.5 years now. Before that I had lived in quite a few places. Tahlequah definitely feels like home to me now and I don’t see that changing. I’m mom to 4 amazing kids (Nikki is 21, Jason is 16, Matthew is 13, and Hannah is almost 3.) I’m married to Jared. I am an avid reader, I love to sing or listen to music. I enjoy movies and quite a few TV shows. Hanging out with my family is one of my favorite things to do.
CKG: Can you give us a summary of your journey with Christ — from the time you accepted Christ, to how you started in ministry.
CD: I guess my journey started at the very beginning of my life. My dad was a pastor. I was saved at the age of 7. While there have been times in my life I wasn’t living for God, I have always believed and known Him. I don’t really know that what I do would be considered an actual ministry. I love my church, I love people, I love helping wherever I can, and I long to be an example of Christ.
CKG: How much has your life changed due to Covid?
CD: This is a tough one. Honestly, on the day to day it didn’t change a ton. I do very much miss “people”. I miss leisurely shopping or eating out or visiting with friends. I worry about my husband and family working everyday with other people who may not take the dangers seriously. I hate the effect this has had on everyone. I miss traveling. But. I’m healthy, my husband and kids are healthy. We are cared for and provided for. So, there is that.
CKG: Tell us about Katie’s Kreations.
CD: It started very small. Just a way to use my creative talents. As a mom, I was always looking for cute clothing items (hats, etc.) that were adorable and affordable. I learned to make a lot of them myself for that reason. I love to create the perfect item for my customers, be it cake/ cupcake toppers, clothing/ accessories, home decor, or even masks; I want to make sure that every item is completed with that extra attention.
CKG: Can you remember your first product that you sold that helped you realize that Katie’s Kreations was becoming a reality?
CD: In the early days, mostly I just sold embroidered/ appliqued shirts. I didn’t get really serious about selling as a full time thing until this past summer. Custom masks really took off and allowed me to grow my business!
CKG: When did you know it was time to leave the corporate world and focus on your home business?
CD: Honestly, I left my management position when I was dealing with a very rough pregnancy. I knew I wanted to stay home with my baby once she arrived, so I prayed about it and knew it was really best. We trusted God’s provision and He has definitely seen to that.
CKG: What are some of the biggest challenges facing women today — and women’s ministries?
CD: I think this may be an unpopular opinion, but I honestly feel like being a Godly wife and mother has become more and more difficult. Being the wife we are called to be in a secular world where honoring your husband is looked down upon and can be very hard. I want to be an example to my sons and daughters of what a wife should be. That, of course, did not mean being a doormat. Anyone who knows me would be pretty quick to say that I’m stubborn and opinionated haha! But I still believe that as a woman I can be strong and opinionated, while still honoring my husband.
CKG: What inspires you?
CD: Anyone who has faced adversity and kept going.
CKG: What is your advice for opening an Etsy shop? What was the most challenging part of the process?
CD: The set up is definitely the most challenging part! Taking the time to properly photograph each item and create listings takes a lot of patience! But it is worth it!
My advice is to value yourself and your products. Do not underpay yourself. Stick with it if it is a slow start! Be sure to fill your orders on time and communicate with your customers. And always always always get tracking when you ship.
CKG: I believe that God is a very interesting and creative God! Tell me about a time when you were uncertain or unaware of a provision from God but later realized that it was all a part of His plan.
CD: Oh man. Fertility struggles. I suffered many miscarriages, struggled to get pregnant, and had really tough pregnancies when they did stick. But God has perfect timing. And while it was super hard to be patient, and I failed miserably, He knew the right time for each of my precious kids. And I feel like these struggles have made me more available to help other women in dealing with their own tough journey.
CKG: During this tumultuous time, where do you find your peace of mind?
KD: Music! This year has been very hard. Beyond the pandemic and ever changing climate of the world, I lost my mom a little over a year ago and my husband was diagnosed with renal cancer this year. (Praise God he is cancer free now! ) A few songs have just really spoken to me and kept me looking to Jesus. “Oh My Soul”, “Jesus Friend of Sinners” and “Just Be Held” (all by Casting Crowns) have really been my anthems through it all.
CKG: Where can our readers see your products?
CD: My Facebook page is usually where most of my products get shown off first! But I’m on Instagram (@katieskreations16) and Etsy (Katie’s Kreations 2016) as well!
CKG: It is quite obvious to see that Cara’s relationship with Jesus Christ, in spite of life’s circumstances, has weathered her storms. Her cheerful attitude and contagious spirit leaves no doubt that she is a force to be reckoned with. Be sure and check out her beautiful products at Katie’s Kreations in the link provided above.
