Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Short.
Kendall, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and raised in the East End of Richmond. I’m a mother of three sons and a grandmother of seven, and my faith has been the thread through every season of my life. My walk has been deeply shaped by the teaching I receive at The Word Church International.
For years I took notes on Sunday sermons and in Bible study, prayed over requests, and wrote down dreams and words I believed God was speaking. But it was all scattered across old church bulletins, notebooks/journals, the notes apps in my phone, and miscellaneous scraps of paper that would end up at the bottom of my pocketbook. I would hear a powerful message on Sunday and lose it by Wednesday. I wanted a way to see how God was connecting everything in my life, not just pieces of it.
That is how The Bracha House was born. “Bracha” means blessing, and our tagline is Rooted. Kingdom. Purposed. The Bracha House is a connected record of faith: you hear the Word on Sunday, study it, carry it into your daily devotional, pray over it, record what God reveals, and journal the journey. Every section flows into the next, so you can look back and see how He answered.
What started as a physical journal has grown into a web app at mybrachahouse.com, with a family section called Olive Shoots so children ages 5 and up can grow alongside their parents, and tools that let churches share each week’s sermon with their members. Testers have been using it for the past couple of months, and we are preparing for our official launch in January 2027. I’m building this one step at a time, and I’m grateful every day to see how God is using it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge has been building this on my own without a technical background. I am not a programmer or a designer, so I had to learn as I went, one step at a time. There were days I felt like I was learning a whole new language just to bring what God put on my heart to life.
The design itself went through many rounds. At one point I started the journal completely over because it had drifted away from the original vision. I also had to be very careful that every image and symbol honored the Lord and could not be mistaken for something it was not. Even small details, like choosing the King James Version so the Scripture could be shared freely, took time and prayer.
There were practical struggles too: delays getting my domain set up, learning how websites are hosted, and running into limits on the tools I could afford as a small business. Once people began testing the site, I felt a real responsibility to protect every prayer and note they had entered, so each update had to be handled with care.
Adding a section for children brought its own questions. I wanted to protect their privacy, so I made the decision to keep real photos of children off the site and I am working through a legal review of our children’s policy.
Through it all, I have learned patience and dependence on God. Every obstacle has made The Bracha House stronger and more rooted in its purpose.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Bracha House?
The Bracha House is a connected record of faith. “Bracha” means blessing, and our motto is Rooted. Kingdom. Purposed.
We help believers capture what God is speaking to them and see how it all fits together. The Bracha House is our company and our printed journal, and My Bracha House is our web app at mybrachahouse.com. Both bring six areas into one place: Worship and Bible Study notes, daily Devotionals, Prayer requests and answers, Revelation (dreams, prophecy, and visions), and personal Journaling. Most tools only handle one of these. What sets us apart is that everything connects. The Word you hear on Sunday flows into your study, your devotions, and your prayers, and you can look back and see exactly how God answered.
Before starting The Bracha House, I served as a probation officer until I retired. I spent years walking alongside people in some of the hardest seasons of their lives, and I saw how much people need hope, direction, and a way to see their own growth. That experience shaped everything I built.
We also offer Olive Shoots, a family section where children ages 5 and up can grow in their faith alongside their parents, with activities that follow the Sunday message. Churches can use The Bracha House to share each week’s sermon title and Scriptures directly with their members. We also offer free printable coloring pages that anyone can use, and personalized coloring pages through our Etsy shop.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that every detail was made with care and prayer, from our olive tree logo to the Scripture we chose. I want readers to know that The Bracha House was built to help people remember what God has done in their lives. We are preparing for our official launch in January 2027, and you can visit us at mybrachahouse.com.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people are surprised to learn that I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, even though I was raised right here in Richmond’s East End.
They are also surprised that I designed and built The Bracha House myself. I’m a retired probation officer and a grandmother of seven with no technical background, yet I designed the journal, the logo, and the web app by learning to use modern creative and AI tools step by step. I’ve also authored three books (pending publishing), written and created children’s coloring books and am working on a faith-based short film. I never imagined this season of my life would be so creative, but God had other plans.
Pricing:
- Free printable coloring pages at mybrachahouse.com/printables
- Free to join during our testing period
- Official pricing announced ahead of our January 2027 launch
- Church options available; contact us for details
- Custom coloring page from your photo: $7.00 (Etsy: TheBrachaHouse)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mybrachahouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybrachahouse/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrachaHouse
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBrachaHouse
