I was born in Grand Rapids and have lived my life within 7 miles of this beautiful property, excluding the years of attending Hope College and teaching early elementary grades in Holland and Elmhurst, IL. And yet, it wasn’t until November of 2019 that I stepped foot on this beautiful farm. Before this date, I admired it from afar driving past it as a child, through my young adult life right up until now. I loved the beautiful green pastures. I loved seeing the horses within the white fences. I loved the green space. I loved the pink and blue balloons tied to the fence at the entrance announcing the birth of each new foal. And as time moved on, and the surrounding areas developed with condominiums and medical and office buildings, I loved the green space even more. There is a sense of peace and joy that this property brings to all who see it, whether it is from the windows of the medical buildings across the street or the office buildings and the condominiums adjacent to the property or through the car windows as people drive past on East Paris.

Miraculously, this property became available to me in 2020 and on June 16, 2021, a dream began to materialize. My love and deep appreciation of the beauty of horses has allowed this property to stay a green space, an oasis amongst the busy-ness of our lives, a place of rest and rejuvenation. I am merging my love of children and teaching with my love of horses. It is my privilege to be able to share this property and these beautiful Icelandic horses in ways that I am confident will bring peace, healing, inspiration, and growth to those who come to Hestóvin Stables, this oasis of horses.