A Little Behind the Scene Scoop on Oprah’s Show Today!
Today on Oprah, you get to see the amazing show for Kari and Dave Hale that we’ve been waiting for! I’m just dying to see for it to start!! I talked with them this weekend, and they said that Nate Berkus did an AMAZING job remodeling their house–Dave said it is unreal!!! Their little family has definitely been on a crazy whirlwind this month!
I had to share a little fun back story with you because I still can’t get over it! And, I’m secretly hoping Kari reads today’s blog and comments on “her” version of how all this went down! 
Meet Kari!
Kari nominated herself for the Running on Empty Award last fall. This award is something Brian and I do where we give a free pass to a mom running on empty. She gets to come to our Workshop for Women-free of charge, and she also receives a free night’s stay in the Villa B&B. It’s all about getting away from the daily grind and taking a minute to breathe and not feel so empty. This is the nomination that Kari posted to our blog for the contest. This is her beautiful story.
The last year has taught us more about love and more about tragedy than ever before. Time and time again I have had to stand in the gap as the waves of mental illness crashed up against me and my family, threatening to tear us apart. Standing firm this year has been an exercise in prayer, community, love, and perseverance. We have gone through the excruciating one-step-forward-two-step-back legal system and we have had to undo all of our original plans and dreams as we readjusted to caring for and nursing back to health three additional children.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
As you’ll see today, Kari and her family won their Dream Home Makeover! Can you believe it!! I still can’t believe this all happened to her and Dave!
So without Kari knowing, the Oprah producers contacted us for prints of the family. I had done a photoshoot with them when Ty was only six months old. But Gina Sook, our wonderful Associate Portrait photographer,
had done a session with them after they got the girls. Nate Berkus and his team wanted to display lots of prints, but the coolest part is they made a 4 ft by 5 ft canvas print of a specific shot Gina took!
We were so excited but given strict instructions to keep it a secret the last few weeks! I felt horrible b/c I couldn’t return Kari’s call for fear that I may let the secret out. She was probably wondering what a nut I was and why I wouldn’t call her back!
A little more back story on all this, Kari, Dave and I all went to graduate school together. We were in the same teaching program together. Kari and I were each other’s Peer Coaches when we had to do our student teaching in the local junior high and high schools (yes, it was brutal :)). This was years ago, and she and Dave have remained dear friends–always supporting us through their prayers and encouragement.
When we heard what she and Dave were going to do by adopting her nieces, I was speechless. Can you imagine anything more giving?
This all makes me excited for our 2008 Running On Empty Contests–yes, we’re bringing the contest back for the upcoming workshops! We’ll be choosing one winner for the workshop in San Diego and one winner for the workshop in Sonoma! Be thinking of moms you can nominate who need a break because they’re running on empty! In March we’ll announce the contest start date for you to post your submission and all the guidelines! For more info on past contests, click here!
Kari, you and Dave deserve all the goodness the world has to give! We are so excited you were picked by Oprah and Nate! Brian and I love you both!
To all our readers, if you have a minute post a comment to congratulate Kari and Dave!!!
Don’t miss the show! Click here to find your local show time of today’s Oprah!
Tune in tomorrow, we have a special request that we want to bounce off all of you!
Congrats Kari & Dave!
I am so thrilled to see people who deserve it be blessed my GOD! (and Oprah & Nate!
)
How wonderful! I’ll be back to see if you are able to put up the episode.
Kari again, I am just thrilled for you and cannot wait to see you and your family on Oprah today. I have e-mailed everyone I know to tell them Oprah is not to be missed.
The show airs during my three year old’s ballet class. Normally, I love that time chatting with the other moms, but today I’ll be dying to get home and watch. I’m so thankful for our DVR! Ha!
It is so faith affirming when wonderful things happen to people who graciously open their hearts!
Kari - Congratulations again! I cannot wait to see you on Oprah today. I have it set to record even. It is a blessing!
really really awesome! how fun for EVERYONE!!!!
Hi Everybody! Ok, Me Ra, you are so great. Thanks for posting this entry on your blog (OH, and you KNOW I check your blog 80-90 times a day!).
Whirlwind doesn’t even begin to describe the last month: Meeting Nate — who is THE nicest person in the world — moving out, having our house redone, and flying to Chicago on only an hour’s notice ( yes, we got a family of 7 — grandma came too — out the door for a 4 day trip in 60 minutes. That deserves its own episode of Oprah, lemme tell ya).
We are starting to settle in and getting used to the fact that “this” is our house. The pictures on TV don’t do it justice and it is truly a miracle in our lives. 2008 is gonna be our year, I think!
When we saw the picture, Me Ra and Gina, we knew the producers had been in contact with you and their senior producer was really impressed with you, Me Ra. Really. Plus, we talked you up like crazy! It would be more than icing on the cake if our dream-come-true got you on the Oprah show. OMG! Plus, there are pics all over the set. So everybody watch and see Gina’s pic on TV today!
I hope you all like the show. If you do let them know on the oprah.com message boards. Thanks for all your well-wishes and blessings. xxoo
Kari
What a wonderful story! Good for you and your family Kari! May God continue to bless your family on this journey we call life. Can’t wait to watch the show!
Congratulations, Kari! I was so happy for you, reading through the article on oprah.com. So wonderful, and I’m so thrilled that your lives will be made just a little more wonderful by this amazing project!
Well done Mera and co! I’m waiting for the “we’re on Oprah” post, I know it is coming!
Kari, Your story is beautiful! It is so heart warming to know that thier are good loving people like you out in this crazy world, and that they get rewarded for it! Congratulations you are truely blessed as are the girls for having you!
I can not wait to watch the program.
Kari,
Even though I don’t know you, I am touched by your strength and courage. I love the Joseph Campbell quote you stated and it made me think of another one: “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” I think the privilege also is ours for having the possibility of learning from the example you and your husband have set in being selfless souls. What a wonderful way to show, not only your own child, but all those who hear your story, what it means to love and be loved.
Just watched Oprah! We here in Chicago get to watch it at 9 a.m. Let me just say it was darling,darling, darling! What you guys are doing is such a wonderfully selfless act. You deserve it! Wonderful make-over…darling children. and let me just say that the picture is amazing! Loved everything about it! What a wonderful yard as well..maybe Mera needs to hold a workshop there…
ooooooooooooooookay - now it all makes sense…. man, I was confused! I was all “I think there’s supposed to be a preview about mera’s workshops on here…” it’s about one of your students - lol! now I gotta go back and watch the nate preview knowing it’s a “mera chick” on there!
ok… that. was. awesome. what a sweet family! And after reading her story (above)just now and the rest of the post - it seems like they’ve made a huge impact on a ton of people in their lives. - congratulations, Kari and Dave!
My guilty pleasure every week is sitting Sunday night and watching a family’s life change as their home, their hope, their opportunities change before our eyes. When I read Me Ra’s post the other day I began to cry. It’s one thing to see or hear a miracle happen on TV, it’s another to say you saws it happen for someone you met.
God Bless you family and the happy memories you’ll make in your new home! Know one deserves it more!
Marianne…from October workshop
PS: Sorry for my typos.
PPS: Congrats to Gina as well!
oops….correction to my earlier post…
What a wonderful way to show, not only your CHILDREN :-), but all those who hear your story, what it means to love and be loved.
You ladies would be very proud of me today!
We don’t have our tv hooked up to any thing, so I just finished jerry rigging it with an attenae to get Channel 4 to come in. 
Brian would be very proud right now!
Kari, we are so ready to see you guys on the show today!!! And Brian and I can’t wait to get the tour of the home!!! If not before Thailand, for sure after!
BTW, I know it’s online, but I’m resisting b/c I just have to see it on the big TV.
We’ll see if I can resist to 4pm!
No resisting for me!
Me Ra, you have WILL POWER! Congratulations again to Kari and Dave!! Your new home is just STUNNING!!
Kari, what an inspiration you (and your husband) are for all of us! I can not wait to see your story on Oprah today!
Me Ra… you may need to adjust your attanea somewhat because it is channel 5 that you need!
Awesome! I can’t wait till 4 for Oprah to come on!!! What a story!!!
Kari- I have one question… is Nate as cute in person as he is on TV? Golly! He’s so cute!!!
Congratulations, Kari. What an incredible experience for you and your family — I can’t wait to watch the show!
Today I tuned into Oprah late but just in time to see the girls seeing their rooms for the first time. I was so taken by the family and the beautiful faces of the girls that I googled the show to get the story.I am in tears at the love and generosity of spirit that Kari and Dave display.What a wonderful story and my hopes and prayers are with you.Namaste, Isabella
Im so happy for you! This is so amazing for you and your family!!!! I hope 2008 does continue to be that lucky year for you and your family.
Mera– very proud of the jerry rigging… cracking up that you adjusted it to the wrong chanel! =P
Just watched the show. Incredible and to Kari and Dave - I can’t think of anyone more deserving. Enjoy God’s blessing of your new beautiful home and the love that is so evident in your beautiful family.
Favorite moment - Izzy’s priceless expressions of surprise and joy.
Congratulations, Kari and Dave! From what I have read here, you are more than deserving of the blessing you have received!!
And I must say, I am JEALOUS! You got to meet Oprah AND Nate!!! Is he as good looking in person as he is on TV???
LOL!
I am anxiously awaiting the show (55 more minutes!!!!).
Wow what a beautiful story….Oprah just ended here in Colorado & I’m crying too! What a wonderful family you have Kari…bless you! And bless MeRa for introducing us to your story & family!
Today, was a hard day… with Valentines coming up…I was missing my late husband, who died last year after trying to recover from 3 strokes… and I am awaiting surgery, I have a lot on my plate it seems…. I don’t like to turn on tv, there is so much to do… but, I turned on my favorite show…As always OPRAH’s show made me cry tears of joy!!! What a beautiful family, what love showed by Oprah, Nate,and all those volunteers from Lowes, etc.!!! Those sweet girls/nieces (and their boy), just made my day; such incredible love and sweetness. It gave me new strenth, as I am writing my game plan for the rest of my life, calling old clients to start working again, and taking care of details I have been putting off.
You have opened my heart to start living with joy again. Bless you!!! I am sending prayers… unfortunately living far from Seattle, cannot help personally, but felt like sending this to thank you… I hope it gets to you. xxx
I’m freaking out! WOW!!! Gotta go before the commercial break is over!!!! How cool!!!!!
I cried, cried, cried and laughed!!
The show and remodel was WAY beyond what I ever though! OMG, you guys were right!! There is no way to explain how amazing the house is over the phone! I’m speechless Kari!!! You were stinking on the couch next to Oprah, and your house–your house is out of this world!!! I can’t wait to see you guys and freak out and scream with you!!!
And thank you so much blog readers for telling me it was Channel 5! That was a close one!
So I’m stuck in Medford and missed the early viewing and will miss tonight’s too. I’ve been sitting here on my computer (DSL…slow) watching every video clip and checking out all the pics. I love it and am so excited for you Kari. I was at the October workshop with you and who knew that I have a six degrees of separation from meeting Oprah ;). Congrats to all you do for your family. It’s people like you and your husband you make the world go round!
MeRa…could you post the photos you put on the show…since I missed it, I didn’t get to see them. THANKS!
GOD DOES BLESS!
Jen
I was CRYING during the whole show! Congrats Kari - your family is as beautiful as your new home!
XOXO, Sarah Q
Kari and Dave - WHAT AN AMAZING story! The expressions on the girls was truly priceless and it was obvious that they love LOVE their new home and especially their rooms. BUT, what is even more priceless, is the gift you have given them and the future they will now be able to have. All the best to you. Great work Me Ra, Gina and Roxy!
simply amazing! i was so happy to come home from work to see the oprah show! it was so incredible to see something wonderful happen to a family who deserve it…
congratulations!
and how fun me ra and brian to be involved!
Me Ra–thank you for sharing this story. You can always manage to bring tears to my eyes with your stories. It really opens your heart.
Kari–Congratulations. You are an amazing person. God will continue to bless you for what you have done.
Congratulations!
Oh my goodness what a story! Such an inspiring family that clearly has so much love and those kids - so precious and joy filled as they discovered their new home. Congratulations to you and Kari on Oprah - blessings!
What a sweet story! Most importantly a sweet family who deserved the sweetness given to them! Sweetness all around! Way to go Kari!
Absolutely Beautiful! Congratulations Kari and Dave- you are truelly deserving of the blessings that have come your way. It is so thrilling to see a family with such love and hope for the future. Nothing can compare to the gift of hope and new life you have given to your nieces. All three of them are precious…and Oh Little Nate, what a doll(WOW, napping durring OPERA!) I wish I could have met you, but I was a month to soon and attended Mera’s September Workshop. It has been wonderful to follow your story. Perhaps when Mera comes over to scream, cry and jump for joy with you through your new house, she will think to hit you up for hosting a workshop at your place some time? Praising God for His goodness to you and yours!
This is so funny–my little brother (he’s 13 and goes to Cedar Park Christian) called me today to tell me that one of his friends was on he Oprah show today b/c they had their home remodeled. What a small world. We are so happy for you Kari!
greatness. just greatness! I try to instill in my kids - what comes around goes around - and this is what has happened to Kari and her family.
You know how there are certain years in your life in which you feel that you are really LIVING your life? A year that you will hold in your heart for always and the memories won’t fade. A certain smell, something someone says, the way the clouds are forming on a certain day; something will bring that year into your mind and you will feel the joy you felt long ago. That is how I hope Kari and her family will feel when they look back on this year in their lives.
Hugs to everyone involved.
Kudo’s to Kari and Dave for taking in the nieces.
But shame on the Oprah show for milking the ratings and not doing their due diligence.
Dave has a masters degree and probably makes nearly six figures a year in the real estate industry.
Kari and Dave either still do or have own at least two investment properties.
Kari and Dave chose to purchase there “modest” home which was probably valued before the makeover over $350,000 in Kirkland where they could have chosen much a much more sensibly priced area or their home.
Once again, kudos to Kari and Dave for taking in the children, but there were probably much more needy families.
such a great show and story! i LOVED the looks on the girls’ faces–just priceless!
Kirkland Neighbor,
“shame on oprah for milking the ratings” Oprah’s job is to get ratings which she has plenty of and doesnt need to “milk” anything! I find it very surprising that you choose to add a comment like that especially on a site like this, full of women that try to support and embrace eachother. Perhaps you are a little jealous and are lacking in compasion. Nate choose Kari becuase of her story and becuase of the love she unselfishly gives to those girls. Regardless of income or degree’s the point of the segment is about the “story of the people” which Nate makes clear many times throughout the episode. What was the point of your ugly comment?
Kari, Your new house is absolutely beautiful as are you and your family, congratulations!
Me ra & Gina, I was soooo excited to see your images and names in the credits! How cool is that? =)
Congrats to Kari and Dave - what a great story. How awesome to see you profiled on Oprah!
Dear “Kirkland Neighbor”,
As a Kirkland Neighbor of Kari and Dave I am surprised and ashamed of your comment. The “Oprah Show” has done more due diligence than you obviously have! They picked the most deserving couple that I know or have ever had the privilage of knowing and if you’d take time to do your “due diliegence”, you’d find the same thing. Don’t down-play what they have done by taking in these girls by saying there are more deserving families. They are my heros!
My brother needs a bedroom makeover. We recently lost our father. My brother was born with slight brain damage. His name is Steve.We lost our mother 30 years ago so he has always lived with my dad. I am his sister and live with him. He spends 3/4 of his time in his room. He never complains and is the nicest person. He is an avid reader. Most of his life was spent in IN. My dad retired and moved back to his hometown. We live in a trailor on top of 5 acres. The view is amazing. Our father died suddenly and was buried on the same day our mother 30 yrs apart. please consider
steve for a room makeover. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. Terri Robinson (Steve’s sister)
Ephedrine….
Ephedrine….
[...] yourself if you know you need a serious break. Who knows, you may have your house remodeled by Oprah! We’ll collect all the nominees, have a committee of wonderful moms vote, and then announce [...]