Getting to Know...
Tina Kachmar
Website
Favorite Author
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Favorite Movie
Dirty Dancing or Wizard of Oz.
Personal Questions
Tell us about yourself - your family, marital status, your background... the basics.
I’m a 46-year-old divorcee with three kids, aged 24, 23 and 9; and am “Mammy” to a 3y/o drama queen and a newborn grandson. I was raised by my grandmother and am one of nine kids (both parents being married three times).
My adolescence was abuse- and turmoil-filled, and I’ve spent most of my adult life recovering from those years. Presently, I’m the owner of a gourmet caramel apple business, which happens to be named after the one who gave me the idea and opened so many doors for growth, God. Divine Apples has been a true gift in my life, as it has given me amazing personal growth opportunities, as well as a way to provide income for my son and me.
Where is your favorite vacation spot? Why?
I’ve only been there once, but would love to return.
Grenada!!
Absolutely the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
What is your #1 bucket list dream?
I would love, and plan to in the near future, write a book about my life and have it be an encouragement for other women.
Tell the readers one thing you would like them to know about you and/or your writing.
When I write, I try to be as honest, authentic and vulnerable as I can be. I pray that when someone reads one of my posts, it would inspire them to be a better version of themselves. And I also hope that they read my heart and know that no matter what life has handed them, they can always be a better person than what they’ve been told or shown.
What would you want your 5-word epitaph to be?
“She really loved people well”
Faith Questions
Briefly, tell us about your faith journey.
I was raised Catholic and walked away from that when I turned 18. I’ve been in and out of different churches since then. In January of 2013, I was baptized and that began a 5-year journey of darkness, depression, solitude and loneliness. Which then led to the start of my business, softening of my heart and a true love for people like Jesus had.
What is your favorite story from the Bible, the one that inspires, moves you?
At this point in my life, it would have to be the story of Ruth and Naomi. I love this story because of the bond these two women have with each other. My hope is that I can create something similar in my own life. I feel like we (us women) compete with each other instead of encouraging one another. My hope is that someday we will all feel secure enough in our own flaws to accept the ones others have.
Do you have a life's bible verse? If so, what is it?
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. ~Mark 12:30-31 {NIV}
I love this verse because it simplifies life so much. When I think about all the things I’ve done to hurt people, it breaks my heart. But I know that I’m forgiven for those things and most importantly, still LOVED. I have no choice but to love others the same way. Without question. Without judgment. It doesn’t mean that I continue to do those hurtful things, but I still fall short sometimes. Though it doesn’t mean that I don’t wake up every day and try to live this out as well as I know how.
If you could have a long, leisurely dinner with a person from the Bible, who would it be and why? What would you talk about?
Well, of course it would be Jesus. Because it’s Jesus. We would talk about everything. And I’d especially ask him what he wrote in the sand. That still bugs me.
If you could pick one thing you deeply want the readers to know about God, what would it be?
He loves you. You just have to let him. When I was at rock bottom, he was the only one that was there. Not physically obviously, but leading me to things that would help me to know he was there with me. Songs on the radio, sermons I would come across, inspirational quotes, dimes, TV shows, rocks shaped like hearts, and so on. He just loves us so much. Let him. You won’t regret it. Promise.