This may seem like it’s coming out of left field but in all honesty, it’s sortof been a long time coming.
We have confessed our desire before to be involved somehow in the nearby town of Monroe. You knew that. We didn’t know how or when or even what we would be doing there…but for some reason, there was what I call ‘a stirring’ in our hearts. Some of you may understand that…some of you may not.
We originally thought that maybe what we would be doing there is buying a fixer-upper (which still may happen down the line but we have made very little headway yet in that department). We actually still own our first home and are officially landlords with a couple years experience now and so far, we see it as a good thing. Some of the families that we have encountered that are renting are just victims of others taking advantage of them….health issues…or a string of bad luck. And they still want to be homeowners. We believe in being fair to them (even when it’s hard to shake the dollar signs out of our eyes) and hoping and praying that one day they will succeed at their goals. We never dream that we will be landlords for our primary income (Jeremy still plans on working at his full time job and me at this little blog for our expenses…so we are just folks that found ourselves in a situation where we inadvertently now own additional property and have learned that it’s kinda cool).
And I think it’s very clear that we are fans of property in general. Obviously we like making houses our own and we like to think that we are effective at bringing a little beauty to them (we aren’t house flippers but only because we fall in love too easily)….and we are fans of sharing time with friends and families and creating community. That has always been a central theme in our lives and marriage….everything from hosting a couples video game tournament to having a preschooler’s music class in our basement to being involved in and supporting our communities. Are we perfect? No. But we try…and when it comes to serving others and trying to be someone that makes a small difference…trying is what counts, right?!
So when we first were introduced to Monroe, it seemed like this quintessential little town. Some diamond in the rough. But over the course of the past couple years we have learned that it’s very different than that. A diamond would be independently beautiful….just needing to have the ‘roughness’ removed. And that’s not Monroe.
Monroe is sort of like an infant. Even though it’s an old town, it holds this tremendous amount of potential but unlike a diamond, it’s not there yet…it has it’s fair share of struggles, brokenness, and issues. Part of me thinks…it just needs Jesus. And that is true. But I also believe that sometimes we are led to BE Jesus in our communities. I’m not saying that I think Jeremy should strap himself to a cross naked in front of the town hall….although, I’d be front row to witness that 🙂 I’m saying that opportunities sometimes form (and they are scary) and we need to take a leap of faith (and that is scary) and we could completely fail and people would laugh, mock or think we are stupid (again…scary). But investing in other people…that is what Jesus did. all.the.time. And we believe that is what we are called to do.
And that is what Jeremy and I pray for. We prayed for a long time that we would be given the opportunity to invest in others in Monroe. We prayed that we would have peace about investments. We prayed that one day people would do the same for our children and help them learn how to serve others. So now that I am done preaching about what was going on in our hearts, let me just give you an update about what has been going on with us in Monroe. (below is an image of one of the renovated retail spaces in downtown…it’s just beautiful)
1. We’ve been looking at houses. One day I would love to host photography workshops or DIY weekends….a retreat of women coming together to pick up power tools and build, demo or create all in one weekend. It would be (hopefully) empowering and encouraging to everyone that YES a sawzall is also a girl’s tool, YES rewiring a lamp is easy, and YES we can be real with people we just met. And a house that we could retreat to in Monroe would be amazing. So far…that’s not moved forward. But we have tried and will continue trying. So maybe one day, you’ll hear about this ‘DIY weekend’ thing…and I hope you come see me. While that has been on the back burner, I’ve been documenting some pretty amazing transformations in other homes in Monroe…because I still need a house fix 🙂
In the near future, I hope that I get to share with you our friends Brian & Sadie’s home….
It was a hundred year old house that desperately needed renovating and they have done a fantastic job with it.
So one of these days, I will take you on a whirlwind tour of how they made it SO much more functional for their family of six and improved it to be a really great investment.
2. We’ve been exploring this idea of ‘creating community’ by investing in land. Monroe is one of those towns that is really confusing. It has a very cute little downtown area, gorgeous event facilities, and has buses here every weekend because it is a really beautiful spot to get married. But it lacks some things….like a place to get a good sandwich, or a spot to drink a cup of coffee outside, or even community spaces for having their summer weekend farmer’s markets (which btw…best goat cheese EVER sold at those things…I eat it with a spoon like ice cream). So we’ve been talking to folks and seeing how and what we can do to get involved and it’s exciting to get on board with other things already in the works…like our friends who are looking at building this space into a place to get a little bit of everything (fine meats and a good bottle of wine and eat up on a rooftop deck)….
And they have amazing taste….just check out this shot of their stairway that they did on a budget in a house they completely transformed…
Yum….love that wood wall 🙂
So with that in mind, we have officially put some money down with others on an 1.5 acre piece of property. We were approached by friends that recently bought land and are trying to get it worked out so that in the end they can start the transformation to make Monroe more of a work/play/live community (google that…it’s interesting) and this additional acreage within city limits would be a small part of that change. So we share in the ownership of that….and hopefully that means that one day, that land can have historic looking cottages built on it and that more folks will have the ability to own those homes…investing back into the community…and it would keep the land that could eventually hold cheap housing, that in turn does nothing for the city at large.
3. Last but not least, there is another business that we are officially in now.
Let me give you a little back story….we are fans of sports and exercise and in general a healthy active lifestyle. We hope that one day our kids will see that and understand that it’s important to be a ‘whole’ person…spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. But here it is really hard to find a place to workout…so we ended up doing it in the basement and saving our ‘gym membership and childcare’ money.
Well…Jeremy started really dreaming about what he wants to do. And his passion has been opening a gym. Once he heard about Crossfit, he knew that he wanted to help bring that to Monroe. Crossfit is a workout regime that also incorporates a sense of community because you are working out with a trainer and the same group of folks who help motivate and encourage you. Think Biggest Loser.
Enter the talking phase…he talked to a number of folks at our church that are into fitness and have been members of every gym in a twenty mile radius. He started this little fire and low and behold, that same fire was burning in the hearts of others. Enter the doing phase…after many meetings together with a few other individuals who are equally committed to creating a business in Monroe…more specifically a health related business….and discussions of how it could happen, how much it would cost, etc….they found a spot in the old Monroe Mill that would be perfect for building out into a Crossfit box (box=gym).
So now the renovation phase has begun and they are trying to make this into a usable and great looking space. An area that people like coming to and feel like they are getting the best workout, with the best amenities and best sense of community. It is called CrossFit at Monroe Mill and if you are ever in this little town and want to check it out…well, be prepared to throw up and want to come back 🙂
It’s definitely some big-boy decisions…where to put some of the money that we have saved up….what to invest in and when, where, how…but in the end, we know that even though we live outside of Monroe limits, this is home. This is our county seat and this place is where our children will be raised. This is the example that we want to set for our kids…to put your money where your mouth is…and to follow your dreams, as crazy as they may seem.
I love reading your posts on Monroe. I come from a small town and my husband comes from a big city. Right now we live in a small town near the big city of Atlanta. But, my dream is to one day own a home in the country with a large front porch where our son can learn to hunt and fish and our dogs will have a hayday running in open fields. Finding just the perfect little place to call home where I will have the country and he will have the city is on my to do list. Lord willing, we will one day be led to this place over the rainbow. Love reading all of your posts and the fact that you are open about Jesus!!
How fantastic! I’m a Crossfitter and I’m glad to hear of yet another one popping up! I wish you guys the best. Can’t wait to see what you do with your box!
That space looks like it was made to be a Crossfit gym! You both are going to be great owners – especially considering Crossfit is such a community based organization. Wishing you both all the best on this new adventure! If I’m ever in the Monroe area, I’d love to stop by and do a WOD. I’m sure Crossfit at Monroe Mill will be the most beautifully designed and decorated gym in the area. You’ll have to find some ceramic animals doing some overhead squats. 🙂
So happy for you guys!! I love to see people doing new things and taking big jumps in their lives. I always say GO BIG OR GO HOME!! Get out there and do it!
I wish you the best in your investments and re-building of Monroe!
Just FYI – I clicked over to the Crossfit link and out of curiosity, looked at the embedded Google map because I have no idea where Monroe is and it has Melbourne, Australia pinned. I know you said y’all don’t live in Monroe, but I figured you weren’t investing in a town on the other side of the world 🙂
Congratulations – how exciting. I haven’t been bitten by the Crossfit bug – yet – but I keep looking at it and longing to belong. That space looks like the perfect BOX… 🙂
I love this. I love that you follow your dreams. I do still hope you are able to host some sort of women’s event, photography classes, etc. I think you are extremely talented and would love to learn a few things from you.
Question though, how far do you live from Monroe? Is it hard to keep up with these business ventures with you not living in the town?
This is so awesome. I love how you are investing in your community and becoming so involved. And I SUPER love that Jeremy is following his dreams and opening a box! I go to CrossfitRVA in Richmond, VA (you should really get John and Sherry in on this ;)) and I LOVE IT. It’s so great and the sense of community coupled with the sense of accomplishment is like no other gym I’ve ever been to. Kudos to the Bowers!
Good for you Bower family! So proud of you. You should be so proud of yourselves, too! 🙂
I really hope you guys get good insurance. Crossfit is notorious for causing injuries. Crossfit caused me to get rotator, labrum and clavical surgery. I didn’t sue, but I know many that have, and won! The argument was that a level 1 cert does not qualify you for that kind of instruction and apparently the judge agreed. Knowing the names of the muscles/ groups of muscles isn’t quite like knowing their insertion(s) or innervation(s) (which are usually the causes of pain)
I hope it all works out and I don’t want to scare you guys, but it has happened and continues to happen
What a beautiful community, Katie! I can’t wait to see where your dreams take you with this one. Amazing things can come from a unified community ready to bring good into this world!
that’s awesome! Congrats to you and Jeremy on the new adventure!!
🙂
awesomely inspiring, bowers!!! i don’t think i could be more excited to hear more about this special place that clearly has captured your heart. best of luck with all of it…seriously, you guys are amazing. and you can bet your country bumpkin i’ll be signing up for one of those DIY weekends once you’ve got that set up! =)
I love this. I’m so excited for you and your family! I am in the midst of feeling “a stirring” myself and have been praying for open doors. Funny when you think you’re alone in feeling this way, and then it turns out that you’re not at all.
That’s so awesome, Katie! I love seeing you and Jeremy pray and pursue passions and dreams of yours. 🙂
Jesus did CrossFit. True story. 🙂
Not impressed with the naked husband on the cross joke. Otherwise looking forward to hearing more!
Great job! I’d love to invest in my little town but sadly, not yet. My dream of opening a bakery keep getting pushed back but maybe some day! I keep thinking that when I retire from teaching (in like 25 years), then maybe so. It’s never too late, right?! Plus, that gives me time to build up recipes, clients, and so on. Good luck with everything!
Love love love this! Many prayers for you, your family, and your friends! How exciting! I hope you take us along for the ride with updates and more pictures.
My head is exploding with the greatness of all this. Crossfit is absolutely amazing! (my best friends own Crossfit Pacific Coast in Santa Barbara) and another BFF is a coach at Crossfit East Decatur in Atlanta and my hubby Crossfits) I always thought your hubby looked Crossfit fit.
Really exciting news!
AWESOME!! The way you follow your heart is inspirational!! You jump in even though it’s scary!
what are the schools like there, katie?? it looks charming!
oh, and ps—CONGRATULATIONS on all that!! lots to be excited about!!
I think your blog is lovely, and congratulations on this new business venture!
But that’s what it is – a business venture. Unless this is going to be a *free* crossfit gym, it’s not an act of charity. It’s a business venture that you will, hopefully, make money on, which will better your own financial situation. To compare this to the work of Jesus seems a bit self-congratulatory and distasteful.
So excited to see this chapter! What an awesome opportunity. My husband and I have been talking about listening to what God wants from us more and to take these types of leaps… I hope I answer as boldly as you.
Wow! I’m excited for you and glad you considered this all prayerfully because He will definitely direct your ways. All the best on this latest journey! Really love this direction.
You and Jeremy are such incredible people. I know you get this all the time, but I really hope to meet you someday. I love your willingness to be open and honest about what Christ is calling you to do in your own lives as well as the lives of those around you. You are such great parents to those sweet little boys. It’s just refreshing to see such Christ followers who aren’t afraid to share what they know and what they have by being Jesus to those around them. Maybe someday we can be real life friends!
Congrats! Walton county is adorable, I’m just up the road in Athens!
Very cool! I love seeing how you guys follow “to whom much has been given, much is expected.” Thank you for letting us in on your journey. 🙂
So exciting! I love how you two go with your dreams and I am super tempted to investigate Monroe when I am in ATL Christmas.
Good for you and your family! I hope everything works out for you!
So cool!! Can’t wait to hear more about both of them!! Congrats to you and your family … lots to be thankful for. 😉
Congratulations to you and Jeremy! Good for you for continuing to look for creative opportunities to immerse yourself in the town that already feels like home. Best of luck with alll of your future endeavors there!
congrats to you!!! so exciting to see big changes coming to monroe. my parents live in loganville and my husband is a frequent patron of monroe….although i think he cares only about the landscape of the golf course there 😉
SO. COOL. All of it! WTG Bowers! Can’t wait to hear more.
Monroe is your place. I totally get it! My place is Wakefield, MA, and as soon as I can find a job back up in Boston, I will be there again, and hope to invest as well.
Good Luck!
Oh I see how that could be taken the wrong way! It is definitely a business and hopefully it will be successful…(personally I would love to just make that money back!) so we are definitely not saying that taking on any new business ventures are being like Jesus! We are simply stating that sometimes we feel called to invest in others when financially it isn’t the biggest return. Sorry to confuse!
xo kb
I usually enjoy your blog, I really do. It’s one of the first things I read every morning with my bagel and latte. But, ugh, did you really have to go all Jesusy on us?
Never too late!
xo kb
It’s settled! We’re moving to Monroe! 😉
What an awesome testimony of following where God is leading you! Thanks for that!!
I know I don’t usually get all sermony usually but this time I knew folks would be confused on WHY…especially if you look up any info on Monroe 🙂
xo kb
Wow! Exciting stuff.
It is so important to give back to the community you live in. Best of luck. You will SHINE, Katie!!
Can’t wait to hear if you will have MY 3 SONS…….or finally a Pink Princess!!!
B.
Oh, and the JESUS stuff didn’t bother me…..
I know you’re all about keeping it real, and one of your posts that has always stuck out for me is your refi post, when you mentioned that you guys weren’t contributing to emergency savings or college for the kiddos. Since that time Jer was laid off and I know you mentioned being worried about money. I know a year or so has passed and Jeremy has a new job that you mentioned gave him a small raise, but I’m curious to hear how you all are managing your finances now and able to come up with the additional income to participate all these investments. Sorry if this is too personal, you’ve mentioned your budget before so I’m just curious.
We live about seven miles away…still in the same county but we won’t be running the day to day operations whatsoever. Right now there are five main families involved (one is the full time trainer, one operations, one building the box, one owns the building and does the legal & business stuff, and us – right now our job is the online, marketing, & ad stuff) so everyone has a role and ours is one that doesn’t require constant attendance.
xo kb
Katie – this all sounds amazing and so wonderful! I started Insanity, so I recognize those moves of Jeremy’s in those photos! 🙂 Congrats on the new ventures and I can complete relate to your sense of community and feeling invested to help it improve and grow. Our little town has completely turned around because of great thoughts like that. You Rock, Little Mama.
Haha! I’m still twisting some arms for animal heads! And come join us any time…have them call me so I can come by and say hello 🙂
xo kb
This is so inspiring. What an awesome example for Will, Weston, & #3 to see that you CAN follow your hearts journey.
Woop woop KB! Get it girlfriend!
PS My muscles are sore just THINKING about a crossfit session.
First time commenting, but I have to say your post gave me chills (the good kind). This is such an admirable attitude to have and step to take! Sometimes I feel pretty down about humanity but there’s nothing better than having faith restored! I’m sure you’ll be able to take Jesus wherever you invest time.
I know that spot well in Monroe, I love Cherry Hill Antiques! There are so many old houses there that are beautiful but like you said there are so many places there that just need some love as well.
Jeremy did get a raise, is able to work from home some days and we were able to refinance this house and the other house (our first home) all which helped tremendously in getting things back in order. Jer also took over the ad stuff on the blog and now that is something that turns a profit vs having money come out of our pockets each month. I didn’t even realize how much we were paying each fiscal year to run this site and did not account for things as well as I should (bc I was running two sites and two businesses). We also started back with a cash system which allows for us to save more, oh and we sold our old truck – all little ways that improved our financial situation. Also, we had no idea how much this house would cost in general maintenance so when we budgeted for things those first two years, we over estimated to be on the safe side. Now that we have lived here two full years, it is helpful bc that original budget has been reassessed and that money can be put in the savings account. Basically…everything we do is cash now and that was huge.
xo kb
Haha! Let me know when you move in 🙂
xo kb
Way to go! Way to make your heart’s reality reality, and way to listen to the “stirrings.” Way to believe and work together!
We’re kind of in a similar spot… ish. Due to a massive bike-meets-car accident, my hub was able to leave his 9-5 reality. It opened the door for him to write full time and make his living as a writer.
With both of us working from home (I left school-building teaching for teaching in other formats), we’re able to be with our little girl. We recently moved closer to be with his parents who are living with Parkinson’s.
It makes me cry knowing that listening to our hearts us allowed us to move to within a mile of the ocean on the Washington coast. To have a piece of land that we are returning to a more natural state of existence. To get out of the suburbs and NOVA/DC madness. To let go of all that wasn’t “us” and to embrace all that we are.
Congrats again!
How exciting…my Hubby use to crossfit but once baby #3 came the commute to the gym became too much. Wishing you all the best!!!! Can’t wait to watch all the amazing things this next year holds for your family.
I for one really appreciate your expressions of your faith. May the Lord bless you and Jeremy as you work to “expand your territory.”
Cool post! I know exactly where that space is (you can do some antiquing after working out)! 😉 I’m really loving the work/play/live developments. I’m anxious for the housing industry to pick back up so more of those places can be created. We are in Jefferson and it is my dream to live in an old house (or old looking house) and be able to walk places! I’ll be following your adventure!
Some people have to just pick. Rock on Katie – your heart is in the right place.
Congrats! Crossfit has done amazing things in my town. Good luck!
Katie: This is incredibly inspiring and so, so courageous of you guys. I don’t mean for this to be intended as a political argument whatsoever – but in an age where a lot of us (myself included at times ) sit around and wait for the wealthy or government to find a solution to problems – this was a wonderful reminder that if we all take a little ownership of the situation (literally and figuratively…ha) – we can hopefully make a difference. Rooting for you guys.
I agree, I was very shocked at that reference as well. Then saying she’d be in the first row to witness it with a smilie face. That is very disrepectful to Jesus who gave his life for us.
How exciting! And scary, like you said… but, life begins at the end of your comfort zone, right (someone much smarter than I said that originally)?
What an amazing opportunity and blessing that you’re able to follow this calling and be a part of making Monroe special and help it achieve its potential. Looking forward to hearing about the journey!
Love the idea. Hooray for you guys!
Sad about the naked husband/cross joke. Not so great. Gotta be honest.
This is seriously awesome. We’re currently contemplating where to buy our first home, and alternative ways to make/supplement a living… so your ideas and investments are inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, Katie, because buying a plot of land in an appreciating community for future financial gain is the EXACT same thing as being nailed to a cross and dying for the sins of others.
Yay! I too have fallen in love with Monroe. So excited for your adventures. I love all the antique stores and their owners. I grew up in a small town in South Georgia and after attending UGA never left Athens. It was so nice to see a small town like the one I grew up in so close to me. Maybe our paths will cross one day in that quaint little town. Oh and I am all up for a DIY weekend and could desperately use some photography classes.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Have you done a post or can you do a post on going cash only? We’re seriously considering it but keep thinking “this is going to be crazy hard!!!” and “but we’ll never be able to buy anything again?!?!?!”. I’d love to know how you made the switch. Thanks!
How cool! My husbands family is all around atlanta and his great aunt lives in monroe. We go visit every christmas and sometimes other times during the year. They live in a beautifully restored farmhouse so I think it is great that you are investing where you live!
PS: Love how you “keep it real” and act when you feel called to act. THAT is what being a Christian is all about!
I am SO happy for you guys!!!! Doesn’t it feel like things are finally coming together for you? I am hoping and praying that all your hard work pays off in all the ways you want it to. Congratulations and best of luck! You have tons of people pulling for you and praying for you! 🙂
I found this post really inspiring. Congratulations on your new ventures. It warms my heart how much you guys are 100% invested with Monroe. I hope to find a place one day that has my heart like that. I can’t wait to see that couple’s renovation, the bones of the house look great and they look super cute!
Thank you for sharing your heart and your desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus! I know a lot of people are probably only here for the DIY/Lifestyle/witty Katie Bower humor reading – which I do love – but I am SO thankful for your boldness to share your heart on this platform. Go Bower fam!
I love you guys in the least creepy way possible. I love that you talk Jesus even when you know people will groan. You are just a fun lady. If you ever do a photog workshop and need help I’m so in. I’d love to help! Keeping working it!
Wow – each of those sounds really neat. From a Crossfitter in Northern Virginia – exciting to hear about a new community getting a box. I love my gym, and I’m sure Monroe will as well!
Christina,
It’s her blog and she is pretty clear about her faith. Why would you say that???
Actually, CrossFit is NOT notorious for causing injury. People cause injury to themselves. What you need to invest in (and I’m sure you have) is a good trainer who will help people scale workouts to their individual needs. CrossFit is all about knowing YOUR OWN limits. Your coach is there to guide you, direct you, inspire you, and to teach you functional movements. If you’re some dumbass who throws too much weight on your bar or wants to impress your friends with a new PR, well then you’re just asking for injury. And you’ll get it, for sure. You pick your own weight. You know your own limits. Blaming your CrossFit coach for injury is like blaming your Weight Watchers leader for you getting fat.
Wow, this is such an inspiring post. (I’m a longtime reader, first time commentor) As a young family (no kids yet) my husband and I pray about investments and the future a lot. We probably think about it more than we pray about it, which is humbling and something that needs to change. So, thank you, thank you, for sharing this post and for speaking your heart about investing in something more than money. You are truly investing in your community, which is so honorable and amazing. Best wishes and blessings to you both. And yes, I would love to come to a DIY weekend with you!
I’m sorry. In amongst all your excitement, I can’t help but take real offence at your comment
“I’m not saying that I think Jeremy should strap himself to a cross naked in front of the town hall….although, I’d be front row to witness that :)”
(Complete with smiley face? Really ???)
When I see you saying things like that, I feel that you really must have no filter between your brain and your mouth. I feel that as a mouth piece for Jesus, you have effectively cheapened in an incredibly crass way, His greatest demonstration of His love for us, all for a cheap and smutty laugh for the sake of a few page clicks.
There’s not many places you won’t go for a cheap laugh, in not just this post, but almost all of your posts, that much now seems obvious. If you want to be Jesus to a town, maybe you could start by living out some of these verses.
Luke 17:1-3
17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.”
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Psalm 19:14
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 22:11
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
I could go on, but I hope you get my point. If you want to claim Jesus as your Lord and be open in your claims as a Christian on this Blog, then you should agree with these verses and be more careful with your smuttyness. Sadly, I feel like you will find a way to disagree. If that is the case, I would respectfully ask that you don’t try and represent yourself as a follower of Jesus on your blog, because out on the wider internet, you have a bad name as a christian for the way you talk and the smutty, sexual jokes you make.
Happy to take the flak on this. People who don’t follow Jesus are totally within their rights to disagree. Clearly my point is that if you claim to follow Jesus, you should be living as a follower of Jesus would be expected to.
Thank you for sharing this! Your heart to serve is the best thing for your kids to see. Your words gave me a kick in the tookus to push forward and put our dreams to work. Thanks Katie 🙂
Great news all around. Crossfit is a great thing! My cousin owns/coaches at his gym, CrossFitAddict, in Richmond, Va. Best wishes!!
This honest-to-goodness community building is really interesting… please keep writing about it! And best of luck!
I feel the very same way about a little town called Stirling in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia!
Wow. You are right…I don’t have much of a filter & those verses (like all of the bible) are tremendously powerful!
xo kb
Yes, unfortunately, I too have heard of some bad stories about people getting injured doing crossfit….i think the word starts with an “R”, when the muscles break down something like that….my brother was going to start it until he heard the injuries are 4x’s more than football injuries, which are considered very high risk. 🙁
Witty? Really?
Maybe you could teach the great people of Monroe the cash system seeing as the average household makes $27,500 year and could probably not afford your $100/month Crossfit gym.
God bless your heart, Katie.
YAY! CrossFit has totally changed my life and HOW awesome that you’re bringing it to an adorable town! Go Bowers!
WOD WOD WOD burpee box jump snatch clean and jerk!
ahem. Sorry. I got carried away there for a second.
Okay – not meaning to be a nag, but I’m a bit offended you somewhat-inferred you were doing Jesus-level work by opening a CrossFit in an appreciating town. That seems like capitalism to me (which I’m not against), but I guess I’m missing the Christian link there. Do explain.
This is awesome. I think it’s great you want to invest in the community by starting local businesses. We live in a small town, and I keep it local as much as possible! Love those little main streets 🙂
I can’t help but wonder how you’re doing all of this? This is not meant to be snarky in any way, just one mom to another…how do you financially do all of this? Hold two mortgages, support 2 (soon to be 3) kids, and consistently acquire expensive material goods? Are you guys saving for retirement? College? Emergencies? I know it’s none of my business, but it seems that your finances have done a complete 180. We’re just an average family, and the face that you can do all this suddenly is fascinating to me. Again, no judgement, just plain curiosity!
Is it weird that I feel proud of you guys? I love that you are living your dreams. And I think some people need to just push the unfollow button instead of getting their panties in a bunch!
A friend in CA forwarded your link to me, and I was so excited to read of your love for Our Town! My husband is native to Monroe and, after college, we returned here to raise our little family. We enjoy being quite active in the community and are always eager to welcome the energy and committment of newcomers. There is actually a faith-based redesign opportunity in progress THIS week that I would live to share with you! 🙂 Welcome to Cane Country!
The lake, the gingerbread factory….wakefield’s such a sweet town. Good choice and Goodluck with the job hunt.
Also, investing in a business within a community you want to serve is a great way to get to know people. It’s a great way to develop relationships with the people which is ultimately how you reach out to people…relationships, especially when it comes to witnessing. Praying for your adventure and I have no doubt that God can use this business venture for his glory and that you all have an amazing opportunity to be vessels pouring into the lives of others in a positive, encouraging and uplifting way! We need more people opening businesses with this kind of love and attitude of service behind the master plan. Thanks for being true to who you are and putting others before yourself!
We definitely have changed a lot of our financial situation.the rental house is covered by rent and we do make an income on the blog…so we are able to do savings and all that. One big thing that helps us is switching to a cash system.
xo kb
Congratulations Katie! This is going to be an awesome journey! Wishing you guys all the best in your new endeavor!
If you ever take Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey, a devout Christian himself, you’d probably be discouraged to invest money when you have two mortgages already. Obviously, he is always about the cash system, and he has tons of real estate himself, but he certainly doesn’t condone debt. It’s none of my business, but just pray long and hard about these decisions. His debt snowball and total money makeover has given many people financial freedom, so they can live “like no one else. ” And have term life insurance for security. I know I’m not your mother, I just care about you from afar in blogland.
Look forward to reading more about your adventures in Monroe! Have you heard about Steve’s Club – Crossfit for At-Risk Youth?http://www.stevesclub.org/local_clubs/start_a_club/
I don’t wanna put a damper on this post, but just another word of warning about potential risks of Crossfit.
Rhabdomyolysis is becoming increasingly common in the Crossfit world, and affected a friend of mine. Please read this article so that you can protect your business, your clients, and Jeremy:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-robertson/crossfit-rhabdomyolysis_b_3977598.html
I’m definitely not saying that opening a business is ‘Jesus-level work’…definitely definitely not. I am saying that these three areas of investment are not the biggest bang for our investment buck. But we personally feel like investing with these people (with the land purchase and opening the CrossFit) is something we feel led to do on a spiritual level. This was our ‘why’. We also understand that building community is important to all religions. We know it doesn’t make sense to everyone (the finiancial stuff and the spiritual stuff) but for us, it does.
xo – kb
I second Ali’s comments on questions about doing a cash only budget. I also loved your refinancing post, as well as all of your keeping it real posts–it makes me feel better that our lives are not the only crazy ones and that we are not the only ones with tight budgets. I so admire what you and Jeremy are doing with reinvesting in your communities both as a way to support the community and as a side income. My husband and I have considered becoming landlords down the line. Maybe when the budget allows, but for the meantime we are saving our pennies for a downpayment. I also wanted to report, after re-reading your finance posts, my husband and I are reading Dave Ramsey per your recommendation. Thanks, as always, for sharing!
Wow. I’ve been taught that judgement is not ours to give. If you felt it was your place to say something, please find a kinder way to do it. I don’t know Katie, but here is my advice….”Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.” I love your blog, and support your freedom to say what’s on your mind!
Oh yes, we absolutely struggled with that decision of whether to keep or pay off the mortgages. It was a battle and we ended up deciding that we would pay off our current home as fast as we can (putting that extra moolah towards the principal each month) and then try to sell the first home when the market turns. And we do carry term life (always have…always will) but thank you for putting that out there as a reminder. I think we all need reminders like that to stay motivated toward financial freedom!
xo – kb
I haven’t! I just looked at it for a quick sec and it sounds like something that would be totally into doing down the line. Can’t wait to check it out more! Thanks for the link!
xo – kb
Not ranked high but I personally know about seven or so teachers in the Monroe area schools and all of them are fantastic individuals.
xo – kb
DEAL!
xo – kb
Thanks for the info! I will definitely look into fixing that 🙂
xo – kb
Go Dave Ramsey! It can really change your life!
xo – kb
Good luck to you! I think it is great that you found a place to which you feel so connected. I hope one day your other dreams regarding the area are also realized (because I would LOOOVE to experience a Katie Bower photography or DIY weekend!). 🙂
On a side note, it irritates me that so many people feel they have to choose between having religion AND a sense of humor. Don’t they know that sacred cows make the best hamburgers? ;D I appreciate your colorful sense of humor; even if that color (or maybe *because* that color) is often black. 😀 (Dark humor is my jam!) Listen to any comic talk about black comedy / pushing the line of socially acceptable humor and they will all say the same thing. To make it work with mainstream audiences, you have to be likable. Otherwise, you’re just an a–hole. For me, you are exactly the type of person who CAN make dark humor work because *I think* you do it WITHOUT malice and I find you likable.
It baffles me that you STILL get these types of snarky comments from the ‘religion police’ or the ‘humor police’ or the ‘PC police.’ Baffles. Me. (And I consider myself a pretty PC kinda girl!) But like I said: no malice. Hello??! If you don’t find Katie likable (as if!), go read another blog already, you TROLLS! (And I realize that not all of them are rude about how they tell you, but still, they are JUDGY and I’m *pretty sure* THAT’S not considered good Christian behavior…)
Woosah! (pulls deeeeep cleansing breath) Ok,! Now, I shall go back to ignoring them and admiring how graciously you respond to them.
You do you, Katie, you do you. <3
Hi Katie,
I’m new here…coming over from YHL. I was touched by this post for many reasons but decided to write here after reading some of the comments. I admire your humble attitude (though inside you must hurt and want to lash out!). I know less sensitive commenters are all a part of this blog business, but it still hurts and you handled it well. Props to you.
😉
Good grief, girl! Relax! Katie, I love your blog because its real and makes me laugh 🙂 I love your love for your husband. Your love for Jesus and your community shines through this blog. Keep on keeping on 🙂
I agree with Mallory. There’s no need to rebuke Katie so strongly here. Katie, I’ve been reading your blog long enough to know that you didn’t mean that the way it came out. I admit, I didn’t love the comparison or the image, but in my opinion you get a pass because you are so open and vulnerable on this blog and those who read it regularly love you for that.
I for one would love a DIY weekend with you and I also think fitness centers build community – I’m a fitness instructor myself.
I am a Catholic and one reason I read your blog devotedly is because of how you share your faith along with your daily trials. Please don’t feel intimidated to talk about it because others want to twist your words. No Christian is perfect, we just follow the Perfect One!
Excellent point.
Holey Moley! (Emphasis on the holy. . .) What’s that about seeing the flank in your own eye before judging someone on theirs? I’ll have to brush up on my scripture, but I’m sure that “what the what” already has that verse memorized, ready to throw it at someone in a hurry.
People, this is a personal blog. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I, personally, love it Katie. I love your wit and your cheesy jokes. I love the humor and the “smuttiness” though I really would rather call it a realistic edge! Please don’t stop. And sometimes it’s those unexpected visuals (like your naked husband on a cross, for example!) that fleet through my mind, catch me off-guard, and make me laugh. If this was written like every other blog, I would have dropped it like I have so many others.
Finally, I really have a problem with people calling themselves “good Christians” and naming others as “bad” ones. Seriously! Only God knows what’s in our hearts. That’s the rudest thing I know. Who are you anyway? Someone who doesn’t even give her/his own name….
Take it from someone who had investment properties, a renovators dream and an unexpected but much wanted 3rd child while running a business – you are the one who will be crucified when you realise what you have taken on and the actuality of running a business. Invest in the best possible baby carrier money can buy as your baby will spend a lot of time parked in it while you chase other children in a desperate attempt to try and run a business and realise there are in fact lots to human endurance
I applaud your vision but I can tell you from experience that craps about to get real for you
I LOVE reading about people so invested in our sweet town of Monroe. I completely agree that it is a diamond in the rough and excited to hear about families putting money where their hearts are! I would like to encourage you to check out Team Up Mentoring– a wonderfully radical, community-loving, Christian organization that works with over 40 children ages 3-18 and their families all year round. A tiny organization with a huge impact. I think you might be interested in some of the work they are doing. Check it out: http://www.teamupmentoring.org
Girl, go and get your Cross Fit Kids cert. Seems like it would be a good addition and unique way to work your box. Just thinking ahead, of course.
What tha what?!
Perhaps we all should keep Ephesians 4:29 in mind when commenting – especially for building each other up.
There are no levels or degrees of Christians – we are no better than each other for we all for short. I feel that if we want to bring people to the faith, we can’t make it seem like an exclusive club – that you have to be able to cite Scripture readily and use it as a weapon against others to be more “Christ-like.”
I am only commenting because I don’t want other readers to think that you have to have your whole life together and be mistake-free to come to know Jesus. Rather, know Jesus and the rest will fall into place.
Hope you would agree, What tha what. I’m praying for you.
And Katie- congratulations. I am so excited for your new adventure!
Best of luck but wish it was something other than crossfit. My niece and nephew wrecked their bodies by this cult, yes, I said cult. When done properly by instructors who care I am sure it could be a great way to work out, however when done with teenage athletes who will push themselves to injury along with many others, I am sure you have heard of rhabdomyolysis, proceed with caution and instructors who are educated not just gym rats trying to make a quick buck.
You guys are like Super-Couple! I don’t know how you find time for all of this while parenting 2(.5) children!
Good luck, it sounds like you’re already starting in a great community that is hungry for businesses just like this one to foster community!
Congratulations Bower family!! What exciting developments. Through this blog you already serve others by inspiring so many of us and making us laugh. I’m sure you will do incredible things in Monroe! I wish you so much success in these new endeavours!! Keep following these desires of your hearts. God put them there, and He will equip you with everything necessary to accomplish them because of your open hearts and willing hands.
…It’s a blog. A place where Katie can express who she is and what’s important to her. If you don’t like parts, skim over it or don’t read. There are plenty of blogs out there that I don’t like the content of—and I don’t visit. I don’t think its fair to tell the writers what they should/shouldn’t write. It’s their space…
Yay!! Love all of this but especially the Crossfit part!! My husband is a Level 1 and has been coaching for several years but has been dreaming of opening his own box, and we just did in June!! Crazy thing is the space that was perfect was actually on the backside of our Church building (we’re kind of in a business park). It’s super cool because we run open gym on Sunday morning before Church then walk just a few doors down to go to Church then usually do a WOD with friends later in the day. It’s awesome!! I know what you mean about some big-boy decisions though. We bought a new house about a year ago that has needed a ton of work, I spent a month in Africa in May and we opened the gym in June. It seemed like a lot of big decisions happening at the same time, but God is so good! He has never left us through this entire process! We’ve had AWESOME growth with membership and still continuing to grow!
If you guys ever find yourselves in Carmel, Indiana come check us out…would LOVE to have you! http://crossfitclayunited.com/
I think it is so exciting to move on to new ventures, and being brave enough to take the leap.
But it’s a little disappointing to see you write about passion and desire, but then go into a venture simply for the business prospect, not for something you are actually passionate about. I’ve just gotten into Crossfit, and I’m not a die hard like many other Crossfitters are. And this is precisely why….anyone can open a gym as long as they pay to affiliate, and anyone can coach. The mechanics are very technical, and it takes years to get the form down. Since anyone can own, members are entrusting the owners and coaches to teach them properly.
It’s a little scary to me that future members will be joining a gym owned by people that don’t have the experience. I like that my box is owned by coaches with several levels of certs and training and came from being a member elsewhere for years. They were passionate about it, so they created their own.
This is great to read – it is hard sometimes to take that leap, but so important. I will pray for your family and those involved with you. I love reading stuff like this-it’s inspiring. xo
Congratulations! What a wonderful opportunity! Good luck & I can’t wait to hear more details down the road.
Nicole B.
Katie, good luck on your new adventures. I truly admire how you can take those leaps of faith and follow what you feel in your heart. So many times I am held back by fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of failing.
I love your blog, Katie and I am so excited that y’all are helping grow the CrossFit community!
Hi Katie,
I almost never comment, but I just wanted to encourage you and Jeremy in your efforts to ‘put your money where your mouth is’ by praying for guidance and then being brave enough to step out. Your community will benefit and you are creating something that the Lord will use to bless others. It’s a win-win.
I was really surprised to read the snarky comments, but I appreciate how you responded to them. Sometimes I think that people hold the opinion that God does not work in business situations and that it is not ok to be successful. Not true! Plus, it sounds like whining and sour grapes, wrapped up in ‘self-righteousness’. Or maybe they were just having a bad day. Who knows? God knows our hearts and our intentions, contrary to what others might think and you have demonstrated your willingness to be guided by Him.
Congratulations Katie and Jeremy. May the Lord go before you as you seek His wisdom and guidance in all areas of your lives. I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing the progress. Exciting times for sure!
Sincerely,
Sandy in Fort Worth
P.S. I found your blog ages ago (when Will was a newborn), through Young House Love. Love them too!!
I love the spirit of all of this! How wonderful and exciting.
I know right?!? Why would you want front row seats to your husbands execution? Because he is naked? I didn’t understand either.
You are right…I am not as passionate about CrossFit (yet)…but Jeremy and the four other men who are involved in this venture are. I do know that with those five guys, several of them played college sports, have been personal trainers, coaches, etc. and have been participants in CrossFits for years…plus they are wise enough to understand that it takes a variety of skills to run a successful CrossFit…not just passion or money or experience. They also have been mature enough to realize they don’t know everything yet and have been ‘taken under the wing’ of a couple of other CrossFit owners closer to Atlanta. I understand that some folks are gonna feel competitive about their box and owners/coaches being the best…but we also hope that everyone can extend that brothership that we know runs through all of CrossFit!
xo – kb
DEAL!
xo – kb
Oh that is sad to hear…I am so sorry that the coaches weren’t being responsible and that your niece and nephew were injured! I know that some people brag about their worst Crossfit injury…but I know as owners, this is the last thing that any of us want for the members…it would stop membership and then it would fail miserably! Our big thing right now is making sure that EVERYONE in ownership has continued education!
xo – kb
If it bothers you then stop reading. It’s ridiculous that so close to the holidays people can still be so rude. Maybe you’re the one with a misunderstanding of what Christ being nailed to a cross was truly about.
Completely Mad – You sound super busy and certainly seem to have a lot on your plate. I am a mom of a teen and a baby (talk about starting over) and the hubs and I own a business (complete with staff) so I’m with you and totally empathize with you.
But KB “being crucified” by her career moves? I apologize if I’m reading into this but it sorta sounds like you’re saying her kids will pay the price for her being a working mom. Katie can handle it, and she’s a good mom and will do what’s best for her kids.
Your dose of reality seems harsh. We as moms and savvy busy ladies need to build each other up with love and encouragement.
Way to go KB!
Please, please, please will you blog about getting the business started, start-up costs, managing a small business…this would be so informative and exciting, and allows us to cheer you on in your new journey. Yippee for you guys!! I’d like to do something similar in my area and open an art gallery that would also host art classes. I imagine many, many readers have similar dreams about opening businesses in their own communities.
I love the idea of “Be the Jesus in your community”! I interpreted it as “Do good works and be of service”. Use your opportunities to create opportunities for others. Awesome. And deeply inspiring.
Thanks for sharing this exciting news with us.
I wish I knew enough to feel confident to talk about that. I could tell you from our experience that it really was a group effort. Out of the five guys that are ‘starting’ this, we knew the most about marketing, online presence, advertising, website design, etc….so that is what we were kinda put in charge of. I also knew how to build a proforma…so when we estimated the costs of insurance, rent, coach fees, equipment, etc…I was able to build a worksheet that explained how many members we would need for us to be successful. Overall…it was something I would definitely talk about with someone in your area…because every state is different!
xo – kb
Katie,
This is all really cool! Since I started college and began going to a church that is actually doing the stuff that I knew a church should do but hadn’t seen done before, I’ve been learning so much about what it looks like to live in community and fellowship with others. It’s really cool when I get to see examples of what that looks like post-college too. I love that God puts weird little different desires into everyone’s hearts, and then those desires turn out to make a whole actual, tangible thing called community. Thanks for sharing!
Love your ideas to help out the city you love. Sorry though to hear that you’ve chosen CrossFit.
I LOVE this!! I am in love with quaint towns….my hometown is one of them. One of my dreams is to be able to give back somehow and your ideas are very inspirational. I’ll have to keep them tucked away for future reference when the time comes for me to invest in something. I actually know a lot of people who do crossfit and some friends opened a crossfit gym in our town a couple months ago. It has been a huge hit! Congrats to you guys!
I can’t believe how much grief you get on this blog sometimes, Katie. I don’t know why you out up with it. I very rarely comment but sometimes I feel like I just can’t keep my mouth shut. I wanted to let you know that you have some readers that love your wit and ‘smuttiness’ and an atheist I still enjoy reading your posts and do not mind any mention of your faith. To me the whole problem with religion is that people feel it makes them better than others and if Christians can’t agree amongst themselves how do they ever expect to convince other people that there views are correct? I have no problem with reading anything you write about your faith and I don’t think other people should either. Someone will always be offended by something.
On a second note I can’t believe how rude some people are in asking you questions like how you can afford to do all of these things and how you can juggle your kids with your business. It clearly says that the gym is Jerremys passion and that you’re entering most of these opportunities with support from other people so I don’t think it is anyone’s business but your own on how you manage these things. I just wish we had lovely inspiring towns like Monroe here in the UK even remotely close to where I live. I currently rent and our landlady is amazing but I know this really isn’t the case for many people as I would consider myself lucky to ever be renting a house from you and I know you care and aren’t just in it for the money.
Anyway sorry rant over now. I look forward to reading about all these ventures. I LOVE your blog!
Thanks doll.
xo – kb
Good luck! I have heard great things about CrossFit but have not tried it because I have a bad back (do yoga instead). But I have friends and family all over the country that love it and have had great results. My cousin (a female) is always posting pics of herself at CrossFit events doing seemingly impossible things with weights. Again – good luck to the team!
Hi Katie B! I had a flight through Atlanta yesterday and I was thinking about you as I flew over! I’ve been inspired by your “big girl” decisions lately and I’m so excited to see where this all takes you! Your humor and grace keeps me coming back, so keep on doing what you’re doing.
Congratulations! What an inspiration.
I personally applaud Katie for her tenacity in her attraction for her HUSBAND. How many television shows smear immoral “intimacy” all over each episode and many of the people passing judgement engage in watching these on a regular basis. I myself think that this is perfectly wonderful that Katie expresses these comments about her HUSBAND here in the open. Not her boyfriend, not a casual partner, her husband. The fact that there is a stigma in existence that once you get married then that part changes really saddens me. It implies that being attracted to your lover doesn’t happen for married people when the truth is exactly the opposite. More married people need to be vocal! That is all.
Is Jeremy planning on taking the level 1 cert. course to become and cerified coach or just as part owner?
Jeremy does want to get certified eventually to coach but right now he wants more experience with all the moves (which he can do as long as the certified coaches are present). I totally understand that because I think it would be really hard to solo coach a muscle-up if you can’t even do one yourself 🙂
xo – kb