I’m Karla, and I didn’t create Magnolia and Fire because I had answers. I created it because I was lost in the questions — the kind that keep you up at night.

For a long time, I was stuck in my own head, caught in loops of negative thoughts that felt like quicksand. This was the hardest part—learning to recognize the stories I was telling myself, the patterns of thinking that kept me stuck in fear, shame, and doubt.

But the mind and spirit aren’t separate. As I began to see these patterns, I also had to wrestle with my faith; the deeper questions about who I am, what I believe, and how God fits into all of this mess. That wrestling wasn’t neat or easy. It meant sitting with discomfort, asking hard questions, and sometimes feeling like I was losing the ground beneath me.

Through that, I started to find a new way of thinking—one rooted not in fear or false expectations, but in truth and grace. It was slow and sometimes painful, but it was real. The mind untangling was also spirit deepening.

And when it came to my body, I chased ideals and misinformation about what real fitness looked like — what I was supposed to be doing, how I was supposed to look, how I should feel. But healing showed me that true health isn’t about perfection or following someone else’s rules. It’s about listening to my own story and honoring what my body really needs.

That part of the journey is still unfolding, and it’s teaching me how to be gentle with myself, even on the hard days.

I write about these experiences—and the lessons I’m learning along the way—on my blog, Things I’ve Learned. It’s another space where I process the journey and share with others who might be walking similar paths.

Magnolia and Fire is my way of holding space for that messy, beautiful process of becoming whole. It’s for anyone who feels like they’re unraveling but still wants to find strength in the flames.

If you’re here because you’re tired of pretending, tired of quick fixes, and ready to face the hard stuff, then you’re in the right place. I’m walking this path too. Let’s go together.