this
is my
story
WE ONLY GET ONE LIFE
I grew up overseas with my mom, Cece, and dad Kenny. We lived in Thailand for about nine years, Venezuela for two and then moved back to the States. A year after graduating from college, I lost my Dad to cancer at the age of 53.
As an only child, he was my rock, my cheerleader, my truth giver, my inspiration, part of my identity, and my best friend. He had a way to make life better even in the crappiest of times.
My Dad had been battling lung cancer (found out at stage 3) since August of 2009. A few months before his death, we found out the cancer had spread to his bones, and a month later to his brain. Fear driven into using chemo trials and radiation as his primary treatment, his tired body gave in to the cancer battle at the young age of 53 on March 19th, 2013. We had learned about juicing, essential oils, the difference between commercial and organic foods, and the Gerson clinic shortly before this time, but it was too late. My husband and a few close friends were my life support after losing Dad, but the practices that helped me get through this hard time of life are shared on this site with the hopes of our experience being able to help someone else through theirs. My Dad was an amazing, adventurous, charismatic, loving, and funny man who stole the hearts of many, and would give the shirt off his back to help anyone who needed it. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am at today if it wasn’t for having gone through that experience with him and my family.
That season of life opened our eyes to the common practices of the food, health, and medical industry. We discovered and learned a lot about what was right, wrong, and the many natural sources and methods of healing. His death left a hole in our hearts, but it also left me with a drive to help people in ways I was never able to fully help him.
I decided very early on there were two ways I could handle my Dad’s death:
1. become someone pissed at the world and the opposite of who I was, or
2. take all the life lessons, experiences, and time with him and turn it into something positive. Otherwise, his life here, and all he shared with me, would have been for nothing.
So I opened a juice bar!
The year after my Dad passed away, my husband and my dear friend Shannon helped me to launch a Kickstarter campaign to open the first all organic juice bar, Beet Street Juicery, in our city with the mission to change the way communities eat and drink.
Two months after opening Beet Street Juicery, we learned we were pregnant with our first child! We were ecstatic—but I’d be lying if I didn’t have an “oh shit” moment (ok, more like 200) of how I was going to run and business and take care of a baby at the same time. My husband worked full-time, and while I had the support of my mom, mother-in-law, and friends, everything ultimately still fell on my shoulders.
Honestly, I was totally deluded. I had this idea my munchkin would be on my time (go ahead, chuckle); grandmas would watch him, I’d manage the juice bar, be able to make homemade food and treats, keep up the house, time for hubby, time for myself, yada yada fantasy land! I thought I could do it all.
Boy, was I wrong. Being a mom was amazing; being a business owner was challenging and rewarding, but I ended up reaching my limit. I don’t like to half-ass things, and trying to be the captain of six ships, tiredness turned into pissiness, and I knew something had to give for the sake of my family and my sanity.
After two years of being open, we decided to close up the juice bar, scale back and strictly sell at The Barr Street Farmers Market. But then we found out we were expecting our 2nd baby! That’s when I decided to finally let it all go and “just be a mom” (ha-ha). Truthfully, I found I loved being a Mom more than I ever thought I would. We only get this time them once and I wanted to cherish it. Now we have three boys, homeschool, and are busier than ever but I absolutely love where we are right now.
Aaaand, I know the saying goes, “Happy wife, happy life,” but that’s partial bs because at this point, it was “Happy husband, happy life!” My hubby is the most supportive person in the world, but just like we can reach our max, so can men. And that’s ok. We had both been through a lot right after getting married and it was definitely time to slow down.
Knowledge is power.
Nelson Mandela’s quote has always resonated with me: “Education is the most powerful weapon with which we can change the world.”
I’m so excited to be on this path and can’t wait to see where we all go!
Blessings, love, and light.