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Being the First 100 at Aldi

I have been an Aldi fan since January 2019. I know it’s odd to know the exact date you fell in love with a grocery store but I did a whole spiel on Instagram so it’s documented. I also have a blogpost I wrote three months into when I converted to Aldi. It’s actually a pretty good summary of what I love about Aldi and it’s all still true except the part where I went from spending $700 a month down to $500. COUGH! 2019 was another lifetime wasn’t it? I spend DOUBLE that now.

Last year I was beyond thrilled when I started hearing rumors that Aldi was coming to my town! Then it was confirmed and I actually said on a neighborhood group “If Aldi comes late June that will be the best birthday present ever” followed by a shopping cart and coin emoji (if ya know ya know).

Summer arrived and Aldi was almost complete and ready to open at the end of June as anticipated, but wait, it gets better. THE ALDI GRAND OPENING WAS ON MY BIRTHDAY! I was ecstatic.

So I found a couple of friends crazy enough to join me for this big event. We originally were planning to arrive at 6:30 am for the 8:30 am ribbon cutting but one of my friends arrived a little before 6 and saw that there were people lining up.

I was already ready so I immediately hopped in the car to head that way. It was important to be the first 100 people in line because you would be eligible for a golden ticket, some of which were $100 gift cards, and everyone got a goodie bag. Regardless of the prizes I wanted the satisfaction of knowing I was in the first 100!

I arrived to find a decent line but it didn’t look like 100 people so I figured we were good. With my coffee, a big bottle of water and chair in my arms I marched over to Aldi along with my two amigas and we parked ourselves in line with the other fanatics.

For my birthday they gave me the sweetest gifts including a chicken mug and a chicken keychain to put a quarter in for your shopping cart. How perfect is that!?

 

We also chowed down on donuts from Holtman’s (my fave) and a pastry from Servatiis (also my fave).

 

All complete with a candle and a balloon. I know people wondered how or why I would wait in line for a grocery store. To be clear, I was willing to do it by myself but with friends it made the time fly by. It wasn’t boring waiting in line for hours, it was fun!

At about 30 minutes before the ribbon cutting someone started handing out numbers to mark where we were at in line.

We were numbers 30, 31, and 32.  More and more people continued pouring in, but the police were having to redirect them because there just wasn’t anymore room! I saw how long the line was and I can imagine how it felt to be number 99 or 100 and just barely make it. I also imagine how it felt to be 101. Ouch.

There were also people from the city there celebrating the new business so received some freebies from the city of Milford while we were waiting.

When the time finally came to go in we each were handed an Aldi reusable bag full of Aldi products.

I was expecting free samples, but these were full size products. We were also each handed a golden ticket! Mine was worth $10 and so were my friends, but I think someone in front of us got a $100 gift card (I posted a screenshot of her collage above). We also received multiple $10 off coupons which for me was like cash money for me because I know I am going to use everyone of those coupons.

We shopped a little, but not much. This wasn’t about the shopping. It was about the experience. I loved it and would do a grand opening again.

Later that day on Facebook a conversation started on the neighborhood group where a lot of people were flabbergasted by who on earth would want to line up for a grocery store. They just didn’t get it.

One person went as far to say “Some people just have no life! My goodness people it’s a stupid grocery store.” One person replied asking him why not let people have their joy and he said “I celebrate Jesus, my family and health you know the stuff that should be important to people.” I know better than to engage with negativity online but I couldn’t help myself. I had to share my experience.

I got a lot more happy birthdays after I posted that. To be honest this was one of my favorite birthdays. I am thankful for another year of God’s faithfulness, health, family, and friends. And I’m not gonna lie, after driving 20+ minutes to an Aldi every week for the past 5 years I am thankful to now have one 4 miles away.

 

By |2024-08-05T13:11:51+00:00August 5, 2024|Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Roller Coasters with Cohlear Implants

It’s been a solid 11 years since SJ got her cochlear implants.  As an adrenaline junkie she has had her fair share of adventures. She’s been rock climbing, rappelling, cliff jumping, kayaking, and caving to name a few.

 

 

 

SJ has also had a little exposure to thrill rides at carnivals and theme parks. This year for Christmas she received a King’s Island Pass.

King’s Island is Cincinnati’s 364 acre amusement park. Of course she was the most excited about getting to ride all of the roller coasters, but there isn’t a lot of information out there about roller coasters and cochlear implants. I know cochlear implant users ride roller coasters, but the opinions about how cautious you should be varies.

One side claims you shouldn’t attempt riding a roller coaster at all if you have a cochlear implant. I called SJ’s CI manufacturer (Cochlear Americas) to get the official stance on the matter and they told me the audiologist recommends wearing a helmet for any high risk activity, which according to their list included carousels. CAROUSELS!? The fake horsies that calmly go around in a circle? That seems extreme.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are CI recipients who ride any and all roller coasters and keep their processors on with no modifications. For the record, I know someone in real life who had a CI processor fly off on a ride and it was lost forever. I will not be in the camp of zero precautions, but I also don’t want to limit her from having a reasonable level of fun.

When SJ went to King’s Island with her friends this summer she taped them on, took them off for various rides and brought extra tape to secure them again.

So that’s my Advice for anyone with cochlear implants wondering how to approach roller coasters or rides. If you are going to an amusement park tape your processors on and tether them to your shirt with a clip. Here is the tape we use.

and here is the clip we use. You can get both items on Amazon.

I would personally suggest taking your device off and storing it in a secure place like a pocket with a zipper while on the ride. Bring extra tape so that you aren’t using the same piece and it looses its stickiness. This isn’t official medical advice so talk to your audiologist or ENT for stipulations that are specific to you, but as someone who is always researching and hasn’t been able to find much online I wanted to share our experience. Most importantly just be encouraged that having hearing devices does not have to hold you back. You can still have fun!

Although I was nervous about her King’s Island visit SJ came home with both processors and had no issues at all. In fact she had the time of her life and talked endlessly about how much she enjoyed the rides.

My friend who brought her to the park sent pictures which were so fun to see. I went through them one by one with SJ and asked her how she handled her processors in each scenario. Here were her responses.

The Banshee is inverted so you hang from the roller coaster tracks instead of riding on it. SJ said she took her implants off for this one because she was told it was “super crazy”. She also took her Crocs off because people have lost shoes on this ride. She said she doesn’t like not hearing on the ride but also thought it was VERY fun!

The Rushing River Log Ride made me nervous because it’s water and her devices can get wet, but they aren’t water proof. SJ loved this ride and told me she kept her processors on the whole time. She did get wet but it wasn’t submersion and we have a drying box to put them in at home. We’ve used Zephyr by Dry & Store since day one of our hearing loss journey.

The Beast is a roller coaster that I remember from my childhood, not that I ever rode it because for the record I AM THE OPPOSITE of SJ. I am scared of heights and at her age I was terrified of roller coasters. SJ said “I took my implants off of this one because it was one of those ride that were very bumpy. It had a lot of sharp turns and stuff. So yeah, if I did keep my implants on then they were probably going to fall off.”

 

Here is what SJ told me about the Diamond Back “For this one I kept my implants on but at one part there was like some water but none of it hit me so my implants stayed dry and they stayed on the whole time. I thought it was fun but I wished it had more water.”

 

Mystics Timbers is one she had done many times before and she told me that she kept her processors on and it was fine.

When I asked SJ about each ride I had voice to text transcribe as she talked to me and here is exactly what the text says

“For the Orion my friends said I should take them off because they thought that they would fly off, same with my crocs, but I just keep them on because I didn’t want to not be able to hear anything while on the roller coaster. They stayed on pretty well. The magnets did come off but I just put them back on.”

Me:

“My implants stayed on just the magnet parts came off.”

She calls her devices her implants. What she was saying is that the hearing device stayed securely taped to her ears, but the magnet which is attached by a coil came off of her head and she just reattached it while riding. It turned out okay, but still freaks me out. For the record the Orion is the seventh-tallest and tenth-fastest roller coaster in the world. At one point it goes 91 mph. I want to puke just thinking about it.

One ride they did not get a photo on was the Flight of Fear which is an indoor roller coaster. I have ridden it before and so has SJ. There are signs posted that warn riders to remove earrings or hearing devices because of the over the shoulder restraints. So for that ride she does remove her processors.

SJ gives 5 stars to all the rides. She absolutely loves Kings Island.

 

By |2024-07-10T17:50:43+00:00July 10, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Inspiring Mom Leah Outten

Leah Outten is a wife, mom, homeschool teacher, speaker, writer, and advocate of adoption. With all that and more on her plate, I was honored that she sat down for a bit to chat with me about her story and passion.

I know so many people who have been impacted by adoption—whether through being adopted themselves or by adopting children—but I had never personally spoken with someone who had a biological child placed for adoption. Her testimony is powerful, and when you finish reading it, you need to check out her book because what I am sharing is just a little snippet of her story.

Leah’s motherhood journey began in 2004 when she was a junior in high school. To give context for those of us who are too old or too young to know what it was like for teenagers in 2004, it was a time when teens were burning their favorite songs onto CDs, customizing them with clever titles written in Sharpie. They were also just discovering a new platform called Myspace and chatting through shorthand text messages on their tiny cell phones. Leah fit right in with all the other typical teens until life took an unexpected turn when, shortly after her 16th birthday, she discovered she was pregnant. Overnight, everything changed.

The father was a boy she had dated, but they weren’t even together anymore. Leah describes their relationship, saying, “We had dated most of the year previously, but we were not in a good place when this happened. He was turning to things that I didn’t want to be a part of, so we had just decided we were not good together. And he really had NO interest in parenting. He pretty much said, ‘You need to have an abortion or give it up for adoption.'”

Leah, however, had been raised by a single mom, and that inspired her. If her mom could do it, she could too. Leah planned to raise the baby herself, as she couldn’t bear the thought of losing the child she already loved to a closed adoption, the only type she knew at the time. Her heart wrestled with the knowledge that there were loving homes capable of providing more than she could at that moment, but emotionally, it didn’t feel right to let go.

Leah shared that one of the best things her mom did for her was get her into counseling right away. Despite this support, navigating the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy, along with rejection from the baby’s father, led to tension and conflicts with her mom. Leah vividly recalls, “I was dealing with so much physically. I was also dealing with rejection from her birth father. My mom and I had a lot of fights and tension. So I was trying to figure out the chaos of all that along with all the hormones—feeling sick—and then just all the things as an 11th grader in high school!”

For the first trimester, Leah wasn’t showing and could still keep the pregnancy under wraps. Her close friend group were really the only ones who knew. She managed to blend in, but the hard part was that the birth father was also a junior at the same school. Every time she would see him, it triggered anxiety because while Leah was coping with morning sickness and the stress of navigating pregnancy, he was living his carefree teenage life completely detached from everything. Leah felt the weight of the world on her shoulders while everyone else, including her ex, was going on dates, attending parties, and being kids. Eventually, it was too much, and she asked to stay at her dad’s house in a different school district. After that semester, she moved to a new school.

Being at a new school solved some of Leah’s problems but opened up a whole set of new ones. It’s hard enough to be the new kid, but then add to that Leah was starting to be visibly pregnant. Not only did she look different, she felt like she had matured a decade in the course of six months. Leah didn’t relate to all the typical high school stuff anymore, and she didn’t fit in anywhere! Despite that, Leah now recognizes that this new school was exactly where she needed to be. The teachers and staff there were people that were already somewhat connected with her through her dad’s church. Even though she may not have had a lot of friends, she said she had mentors that had a major impact on her life. This was the village that helped support her through the pregnancy and the really hard decisions.

All this time, Leah was planning to raise her daughter as a single mom. The turning point came the day Leah formed a true relationship with the Lord. She was 7 months pregnant and prayed, “I cannot do this without You, God. I’m messing my life up, and I desperately want peace. I know that it’s You I need, and I choose to follow You.” It was when Leah surrendered her life to Jesus that she also chose adoption because she knew that is what He was calling her to do.

From that point on, Leah learned everything she could about adoption. She spoke with teen moms and adoptive parents. Every spare moment she had was dedicated to researching adoption and devouring any and all information she could find. She made many significant connections in those days. She was blown away by the discovery that there were adoptive parents who were connected with birth moms. Not only that, but some of these families had formed friendships and relationships because of these children that they loved! This idea that Leah could have a relationship like that is a big part of why she chose open adoption. They were the ones that made her say, “If I’m going to look at adoption, I want it to look like this,” and she found a family that believed in that vision as well. After meeting this family, Leah not only knew they were the right family to raise her child, but she also felt less alone. They made Leah feel seen, valued, and loved.

Now Leah’s firstborn daughter is 20 years old; she actually just had a birthday!

Besides mothering her other five children (which Leah states is her number one job), she also works as an adoption educator.

With as beautiful and healing as open adoption is, there is still trauma and it is a complex process. Sometimes open adoption isn’t healthy or possible. I don’t want to sum it all up into a nutshell but thankfully there are more resources than ever before and lots support for moms and adoptive parents. I really loved what Leah said for adoptive parents: “Loving the birth parent is loving your child.”

It’s really a full-circle moment that Leah went from being a 16-year-old frightened and uncertain about her pregnancy to now helping other teens and families considering adoption. She does public speaking, she writes articles, and has been featured on nationally known platforms including Focus On The Family, Her View From Home, and Motherly. Leah also has some books out that are so incredibly important.

I would encourage everyone to check out Leah’s book- The Sixteenth Year: An Open Adoption Memoir.

It’s not just for teen moms or adoptive families, this is a book about what God can do when you choose to give him everything. We could all take a note from Leah and learn more about adoption because even if you don’t feel called to adopt you can still make a difference in the life of someone who is.

By |2024-07-01T13:39:51+00:00July 1, 2024|Family, Inspiring Moms, Motherhood|0 Comments
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Life Right Now

I am so guilty of this quote except I always say “after this month” or “after this season” things will slow down a bit. Lately it’s been- when school lets out things will slow down a bit.

When school lets out I will get together with my friends, and I will blog more, and I will do that project I’ve been putting on the back burner… The truth is I know summer will go by in a blink!

The reason life has been so hectic lately has some to do with working full time now, for sure. But it’s also soccer season for two of the kiddos.

Some weeks that means we have soccer every single day.

Most weeks it’s only six days a week but that’s still overwhelming. Z has been busy doing exams some of which have college credit riding on them! He also applied for a job and did his first job interview, so there are a lot of big time adult things happening there.

Today the song “Don’t Throw Out My Legos” came on. It’s about growing up, and it made me tear up big time. He’s only a sophomore so I know I need to get a grip. Do they have grips on Amazon? Because I am not sure I can get anything without two day shipping these days.

Lastly we can’t forget the baby of the family. Elle made the cheer team.

Actually she didn’t have to try out or make the team, but it sounds nice. Cheer uniforms are pricey, like I’ve been told to save up for my kids college educations, or maybe my daughter’s weddings but I think they need a 529 for sports uniforms. As someone who is no stranger to buying things second hand (I would say 90% of our clothing and furniture is previously owned) I joined a Facebook group that is exclusively for buying and selling cheer gear for our team. We tried on four different uniforms without success. Eventually I bought the jacket from one person, the skirt from another, and the “shell” (which is like a vest or a shirt) from a  third seller. They often come as a set but that route wasn’t working for me.

All that to say the Busch family is keeping busy.

We have two weeks left of school and after that things will slow down about and then I’ll be able to blog more. Insert winking emoji here.

By |2024-05-28T22:00:10+00:00May 20, 2024|Family, Motherhood|0 Comments
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Exciting News!

For 15 years I was a stay-at-home mom with a couple of side hustles. That part of my life is a beautiful, invaluable sacrifice that is worth more than I could ever obtain by any earthly measure. While I am clearly still a full time mom,  I am also working outside of the home now. I have been a substitute teacher for two years and it has been an incredible experience. I love subbing!

My favorite part is getting to see my kids, my friends’ kids, and my kids’ friends!

Everyone always asks me how my kids feel about that and the answer is- they like it. They aren’t embarrassed or shy about me being at their schools, thank goodness. Ezie is the only one who has ever laid out ground rules. Before I was his substitute teacher the first time he told me I wasn’t allowed to show pictures of him or call him by his nick name (bubba bear). I agreed to this and stayed true to my word.

I was each of my  kids’ teachers at least once in the 22/23 and 23/24 school years.

One of my other favorite things about subbing is being all kinds of teachers. I have been a sub in pottery class, sign language class, behavioral management room, art, calculus, music, biomedical science, library, preschool, and so much more! What an adventure it has been. The only class I never tried subbing for was P.E. and that was by choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also get asked about my favorite school/age to teach. I’ve always answered that high school is my jam. First of all it’s the easiest because they are mostly self sufficient. Also I have been  youth leader in the past, I have a teenager, and I guess I just like it at the high school. Everyone is shocked by that, because high schoolers are intimidating, but my experience hast been positive. I was actually a substitute  way back in my early twenties before I had children and we lived in Texas. I remember subbing for kindergarten and swearing that I would never do it again!!! It was the worst. Kindergarten teachers are angels on earth and I am so in awe of all they do. It’s not easy job.

I kind of changed my tune a little tiny bit earlier this year though when I worked a long term subbing job where I was an aide part of the day in two different kindergarten classes. Now that was a position that I LOVED. Kindergarteners are a handful but they are soooo sweet. They give hugs, they say funny things, pick you flowers, and give you sweet notes and they are just so stinking cute. I have a ton stories I could share about the time I spent with the kindergartners. I got really attached and it was hard to say goodbye when that job ended. The cool thing is Ezie, who is in 5th grade, got assigned as a reading helper for some boys in Kindergarten. My heart melted when he told me their names and I knew that he was helping two of my little buddies learn to read!

I have had some emotional days as a sub where I helped students dealing with some really sad or tragic things. It breaks my heart, but I know God placed me in that place with those kids for a reason. I also had some hard days were kids pushed my buttons and made want to scream (I’m looking at you junior high). As a whole though being in the schools has been such a blessing and I am grateful for the past two years.

This season of subbing is now coming to a close and while it is bitter sweet I feel like God has led me to this next position. As of today I am working full time as an aide/paraprofessional at the high school! I was not looking for a full-time job but it just kind of fell in my lap and I am beyond excited to see where it goes. I will share more later about the job, but let me get this first week under my belt.

PS, one more thing about subbing that I love is hanging out with FACILITY DOGS! Oh the joy they bring. That’s all.

By |2024-04-08T00:12:09+00:00April 8, 2024|Education|0 Comments
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Campin’ Cookin’ Dutch Oven Blueberry French Toast

The last time we went camping my husband J had all kinds of fancy recipe ideas. He asked for my thoughts. I told him he didn’t want to know my thoughts. When probed for further explanation I told him I thought it was all too complicated. If I were doing the planning and cooking I would stick with simple camping classics. After discussing for a bit I told him he could do whatever he wanted but I wouldn’t be helping. I truly was not trying be manipulative! I wanted him to get to do whatever he wanted with the cooking but I knew I wouldn’t be very helpful given the direction he was going.

In the end he did all the cooking and if I’m being total honest it was the best outdoor food I’ve ever tasted. His meals were my favorite part of the trip. For real.

After posting the tasty goodness on Instagram I have had recipe requests so let me start by sharing the first thing he made on that trip which was the Dutch Oven Blueberry French Toast. This recipe and the first photo are from Fresh Off the Grid. We just made minor modifications.

 

Now first off you will need a 4 quart dutch oven. We inherited our cast iron dutch oven from a family member. This trip was our first time using it. We cook almost exclusively with cast iron at home and outdoors so this dutch oven has been a great addition to our cast iron collection.

 

Here are the ingredients you will need.

16 slices of sourdough bread

2 cup of milk

6 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons cinnamon

2 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

Jeremy measures out all the ingredients in advance and labels it for easy packing and easy cooking!

And here are the instructions

 

Start your fire and give it time to go down to coals. While waiting cut out a piece of parchment paper to serve as a liner inside a 10-inch Dutch oven.

Tear the bread (we used sourdough) into pieces chunks about 2 inches. Place in the bread pieces inside dutch oven on top of the parchment paper.

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the eggs, then stir in salt, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Once those ingredients are fully incorporated, stir in the milk.

Now slowly drizzle the mixture over the bread.

Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to lightly toss the bread until each piece is evenly coated. Sprinkle the blueberries on top and mix gently.

Cover the dutch oven and set it over the coals then add coals on top of the lid. You should have tools that came with your dutch oven to allow you to move both the hot coals and the dutch oven.

 Bake for about 30 minutes.

Scoop out the individual servings and top with butter and maple or whipped cream.


My photo may not be Pinterest worthy but trust me this breakfast dish is divine! Try it next time you camp. If you get creative and modify it for at home let me know how it worked out and send me your recipe!

By |2024-03-29T18:12:09+00:00March 28, 2024|Simple Living, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Inspiring Mom Darci Davidson

The first time I visited the Greenhouse Bus Mercantile it felt like I had found a secret treasure out in the small town of Blanchester Ohio.

The building is weathered with decades of character and when you walk in the shop is full of organic goodness.

There is kombucha on tap, organic teas, micro-greens, grains, meat, honey, and it just keeps going.

The natural light pours in as you go down steps and find books, jewelry, and boutique items.

Then turn to the apothecary room full of essential oils. It is a wonderland for your senses and that’s only the first floor!

Upstairs is the coffee bar and every nook and cranny is full of authentic old farmhouse charm.

The drinks are something you would expect to find at a trendy coffee shop in Chicago, not in Blanchester.

The Greenhouse Bus has a very Chip and Joanna Gaines vibe, but it’s its own place. I had to know— how did something this endearing end up tucked away seemingly sheltered from the chaos of urban life. Thankfully I got to meet co-owner Darci Davidson who filled me in a little and agreed to meet up for an interview.

What a treat! Not only would I have an excuse to return to my new favorite coffee shop, but I would also get an inside scoop about its origin story.

We met up at Greenhouse Bus and I sat on the comfy couch with Darci note pad in hand ready to record all the details. First I took a sip of my creamy sweet Matcha. At this point I had convinced myself that ordering multiple drinks is research for this article. I set the mug down and pushed record on the app on my phone. Darci began opening up about all that transpired to get to this place and the story begins in none other than the small town of Blanchester.

Her childhood was fairly conventional. She and her siblings enjoyed a typical country upbringing.

There was trauma though and when she hit the teen years her stable life suddenly became less secure. She encountered multiple hardships including her parents’ divorce. Not long after that the unimaginable happened, the day before Darci’s 16th birthday she witnessed the death of her brother who was killed in a dirt bike accident. He was a senior in high school. The pain of it all was so unbearable. Darci says “I didn’t know how to process things or who to process it with”. She began drinking and partying as a way to escape. She recounted the days that she would self sabotage not realizing what damage she was causing herself or why she was doing it.

After high school Darci met Dwayne Davidson (who is now her husband). They fell in love and began living together.

To many they were an all  American success story, but they were solely focused on themselves and their own careers.  Darci explained “We lived together 6 years building up my clientele as a hairstylist and he was building up his remodeling business. We spent our free time partying and traveling. In all of our brokenness we were just trying to make the relationship and businesses work.” 

All the while, without realizing it, Darci did anything and everything to distance herself from her hometown, Blanchester. The memories it evoked were agonizing. She numbed herself with the predictable “work-party-travel”  pattern. That was life.

Work. Party. Travel. Repeat.

There was no thought of marriage, or children, or a mission beyond their own personal success.

Their story dramatically changes though  in 2007 when they discovered Jesus, were born again, and committed their lives to Him! Dwayne was immediately convicted about their lifestyle and wanted to marry Darci and make her his wife.

Three short months later they eloped in Hawaii and shortly after that had 5 kids in 6 years! Dwayne also had a daughter when he was very young whom Darci adopted.  “I went from owning my own salon and doing my own thing, to all of the sudden being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom to all these kids and literally not even knowing how to cook” Darci chuckled.

Then in 2015 Dwayne and Darci felt called to start a house church.

“We were four years into doing house church before we even knew what house church was!” Darci said.  “So we were just obeying. We were opening up our home and having church. We would let a few people know and told them they could invite whoever they want.” 

At times Darci and Dwayne felt like they had no idea what they were doing, but they felt deep in their hearts that’s what they were supposed to do. It was obedience without having an explanation. They knew that they could trust the Lord’s leading.

As God was moving in their church and in their lives Darci began to respond to a specific prompting from the Lord. She felt that He was wanting to take them back—all the way back—and exposed hurts in them that they had never dealt with. She remembers it all well, “We went through two years of personal healing and those were some intense years. God healed lots of trauma. He revealed why we were running from this town [Blanchester]. Once we cracked that open things would just flow. I would have dreams or a memory that I can’t believe I forgot and the Lord was slowly, in his time, revealing each thing. He was just chiseling away.” Darci says “After that healing season I had realized that I had shoved that part of my life behind and it was time to fully confront it.” 

Prayer, praise, worship, and writing were some of the ways that the Lord continued to heal the broken places.

Then in 2021 Darci had a dream that she was working at a health food store in Blanchester. She opened up to Dwayne about the dream. She admitted that it was silly- “I would never ever open a store in Blanchester. That would be the very last place I would consider. I don’t know why it was in Blanchester in my dream!” Her husband who has a lot of experience as an entrepreneur agreed that it was definitely not where you would want to do business. It didn’t make any logical sense.

Then one night Darci was driving home through Blanchester and while at a stop sign she had a spiritual encounter and the Lord gave her a burden for the city. She was flooded with conviction and emotion. She began praying out loud. She prayed over the houses and the people of Blanchester as tears streamed down her face. He brought complete healing and freedom in that moment so that she could minister to the very city that she tried so hard to forget.

A few months later God would take it all a step further. They were simply wanting to buy some fresh tomatoes when they met Brad and Jessica Tucker who had JUST opened the Greenhouse Bus Mercantile in Blanchester. When they visited this farmers market style story it had only been open a week. They immediately connected with the Tuckers whose ministries aligned so perfectly with theirs. Both families knew this must be a divine appointment.

Brad and Jessica asked them to be vendors of the Greenhouse Bus Mercantile and so the Davidsons did that for one month and then it transpired to a full blown partnership. The Greenhouse Bus Mercantile has been open for two years.

The coffee shop upstairs came shortly after and now they are on the brink of opening a restaurant, Harvester Farm to Table, across the street. 

I was blown away by the whole story! I felt a sense of awe about what God had done in the Davidson’s life. It’s no wonder I felt like the Greenhouse Bus Mercantile was such a special place.  Darci smiled as she reflected on everything she had just shared. Then she spoke softly,

“That night that I drove the streets and prayed in 2021—this place is the answer to a prayer that I prayed. And I didn’t know that God would answer it like this. So sometimes it wrecks me. I’ll sit in the coffee shop and look out in the streets and I’ll cry. He turned that pain into a burden and that’s what this whole thing is about.”


By |2024-03-18T15:12:19+00:00March 18, 2024|Inspiring Moms, Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Darci Davidson Children’s Books and More

My next interview for the Inspiring Moms series is with Darci Davidson.

I can’t wait to share her testimony of how God brought her from pain and heartache to salvation and restoration! But first I want to highlight some of her creative endeavors because believe me, they are worth checking out!

Darci is the author of two children’s books. She wrote “But for Now, Stay Here (for little boys and their parents)” and “Don’t Give Up with Lee the Fox“.

Darci first began writing during an intense season of healing. At first it was just as her own form of therapy. Darci is an introvert by nature so sharing in a group doesn’t always come easily, but when she would write things down the words seemed to flow so easily and help everything to make sense. Then one day her writing went beyond just her personal journal entries.

It was one of those ordinary moments when her little boy Beau, climbed up onto her lap and said with his sweet little southern twang- “Momma I’m tired” and she snuggled with him a while. As she held him a whole poem flowed through her and she wrote the words which would later be published in her book “But for Now, Stay Here“. When she initially wrote the poem she never intended to take it beyond her usual journal entries  but after reading it out loud to her husband he said “That’s a children’s book!”. From there Darci took the steps to transform the words God gave her into something that could encourage other parents and “But for Now, Stay Here was born.

Her next book “Don’t Give Up with Lee the Fox” is my daughter Elle’s personal favorite!

It’s a story about a boy who is determined to tame a fox… and it doesn’t go quite the way he thought it would. It is a sweet TRUE story that teaches kids to turn to prayer and trust in God.

The illustrations are delightful. Both books make a wonderful addition to your children’s collections. They are both hard cover and available on Amazon. You can also find them in the brick in mortar store “The Green House Bus Mercantile“.

The Green House Bus Mercantile is an absolutely extraordinary health food store which Darci and her husband are co-owners.

While they do carry such a wide range of organic and local foods, it’s so much more than that. They have coffee, tea, kombucha, essential oils, and even some local art, jewelry, and books. They even host worship nights!

It’s an amazing place. I have not stopped blabbing about the Greenhouse Bus since my first visit there. Next week when I share Darci’s story I will have a lot more to say. This is a little teaser though. So if you live local or you are every anywhere near Cincinnati go to the Greenhouse Bus Mercantile and also definitely check out these two children’s books for your family or any little ones you know.

By |2024-03-15T14:14:20+00:00March 15, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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2023 Year In Review

2023 was an amazing year in the end. An ER visit, panic attacks, and prescription meds still loom as one of the big grey clouds that hung over a good part of the year so I want to be transparent about that. However, I am so thankful to report that I experienced healing and freedom from that. I still don’t even have a diagnosis, but I am thankful that whatever was causing shaking, anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations from April to August is gone now. Praise God!

When I look past that and really explore all that happened I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Let’s take a look shall we?

In January I started a Bible reading plan called The Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble.

I was able to finish the whole Bible on December 31st as planned. This is a first for me! I highly reccomend this podcast and Youversion plan if you are looking for a way to read the Bible in one year.

Also Z got braces and his drivers permit!

One of the biggest highlights of my year was taking SJ to Sedona Arizona for her 13th birthday.

 

 

In April I got the very first copy of my book Hope at the Threshold. It was a stressful dream come true. What I mean by that is this whole process has stretched me to the max and I’ve felt like throwing in the towel so many times. I would still do it over again though. It’s so worth it. I was also able to speak at a women’s night at my church and that was an incredible and meaningful experience that I will never forget.

The spring was busy, busy, busy,with soccer and ultimate frisbee and SJ graduating from elementary school.

Also, Elle got hearing aids again. I know it’s confusing, some people remember that she had them as a baby, but then she managed fine for a long long time until the school tested her and referred us to a specialist.

Her audiologist has been keeping track of her hearing loss and after it declined to a certain point we made the decision for her to wear hearing aids again. She only uses them at school and we are fine with that.

In June we went to Mackinac island to celebrate some of our close friends getting married. J was actually in the wedding.

It was our first time staying on the island. We had a blast!

In July we did a float trip with the youth group and went to Texas to visit with friends and family.

August was the launch of my LLC and my book Hope at the Threshold.

It was one of the greatest days of my life and I am so thankful for all the support of my friends and family, that is 100% what made the day so special. Yes it was a relief to see years of hard work come to fruition, but it would have been nothing if it weren’t for the people surrounding me and routing for me. I am a blessed woman.

Right after that we had a big ole sweet 16 birthday party for Z.

That was what he labeled the best day ever. I am so happy with how it all turned out.  Then Ezie had a party for his 11th and Elle got to celebrate her 8th birthday.

We all have birthdays one month apart in the summer and fall. SJ is the lone ranger in March.

Next up we had an epic record breaking (in days) camping trip in Hocking Hills in the fall.

Then of course all the numerous fall and Christmas festivities which were all great!

There were so many wonderful memories that I didn’t even mention like when Z and SJ were both on the same frisbee team in the fall or a special Thanksgiving and Christmas with my side of the family and a visit from family in Texas. Sometimes the challenging times want to stick out and get all the attention, but when I scroll through photos I see that 2023 was beyond incredible. What a great year!

By |2024-12-29T02:12:09+00:00February 11, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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The Lego Table

I am a sentimental person. I can’t help but get a little teary eyed when my children outgrow things that they cherished or we had really sweet memories attached to.

Maybe you are the same way. I came across a kids John Deere hard hat that I know doesn’t get played with anymore, but my father-in-law who passed away was a big John Deere tractor guy and I just wasn’t ready to donate it. Other than a few really special keepsakes I will let things go when the time is right.

I am not emotional about every little thing. I can toss or donate items enthusiastically when I know it’s a cheap plastic thing that no one ever cared about, but when it’s homemade it really gets me in the feels.

For example J made a wooden “horse” to hold my aunt’s old saddle for Ezie’s 3 little pigs birthday party and it is full of memories.

 

 

It took up quite a bit of space and the kids had outgrown it, but I still couldn’t let it go. You can see it in the background of this photo, right next to the restroom in our basement. Perfect place for it, ha ha.

Then I got a message from SJ’s deaf school wanting to borrow it for their farm theme. They had done this in the past and I would just get it back afterwards. This time I asked if they had room to store it and would like to keep the saddle and they said yes! That meant the world to me. If they have thrown it out since then it’s fine. I know items don’t last forever, but to know that it was going to make more deaf kids smile and be used as a tool to teach speech–well it doesn’t get much better than that.

The latest conundrum was the lego table.

I’ve blogged about this lego table that Jeremy designed and made himself. The kids have spent COUNTLESS hours playing at this table. All four of them.

I have so many precious memories involving legos. Then last year Z got an electric drum set and we knew the only spot for it was the place where the lego table currently sat.

No one really played with legos much anymore and either the table was getting smaller or the kids were getting bigger, but I wasn’t ready to face reality. This was another toughie. It was time to move on. We needed to say goodbye to the lego table.

Then I thought of some of our close friends with two little kids that are like family to us. I asked if we could give them all 50 pounds of legos and the table, but only if they wanted it and if it was the right fit for their family. It was Christmas time and they thought it would be perfect for their little ones! That settled it. The lego table had been scribbled on and was definitely showing years of love, so J sanded it down and restored it to its original glory. Then SJ inscribed the kids names and we added a scripture verse on the side.

On Christmas day we got photos and a text message about how much joy the Lego table brought. Our friends continue to give us updates about how much everyone loves the Lego table.

I have replied with all sincerity that really it was a gift to us that they took that Lego table.

Z was the biggest Lego fan of all.

The boy whose Christmas wish list used to be full of Lego sets and his rainy days were spent creating with bricks now has a Christmas wish list full of instruments and his rainy days are spent composing music.

Goodness, he’s signing up for dual credit college courses this week and in a month he’ll get his license and then apply for his first job!

The term bitter sweet may be cliche, but everyone knows exactly what you mean when you say it. I am rejoicing, but I’m also grieving. Mostly rejoicing though because I never wanted them to stay little forever.

Those memories are comforting and sweet, that’s all. Sappy as it may be, seeing my kids’ old clothes on other kids that we passed them along to, or knowing a favorite item is getting more use really warms my heart and makes parting with this season a whole lot easier. Like I said, it’s a gift.

By |2024-02-01T02:34:58+00:00January 31, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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