Inspire, Summer 2006

22 Summer 2006 Chad ’01 and Erin Brauns Foerch ’01 are learning to find balance between career, marriage, parenting, and running a bed and breakfast in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Built in 1868, The Ambler House has one guest room and is also used for bridal showers, banquets, and other social functions. Erin does the scheduling, marketing, planning, and cooking, while Chad works as a mechanical engineer and in his spare time enjoys renovating and maintaining the 4,100-square-foot guest house. The Foerchs have a three-year-old son, Carter, and are expecting a daughter. The Ambler House was recently featured on HGTV. Inspire asked Erin about the bed and breakfast business and how the family finds balance. How did you come to buy The Ambler House and start a bed and breakfast? We bought the home after Chad’s job change moved us to Iowa. The house had been vacant for two years and had dropped in asking price from $225,000 to $135,000. We thought and prayed hard about it since it was a big house and therefore a big commitment. It had a lot of history, and so that was a selling point too, along with the fact that we would like a large family. So we decided to purchase this large, history-rich home. We were thrilled to come across a thesis that the previous owner had written complete with photos. After buying the house we decided to start a small business for financial reasons. I wanted to have a hobby that I could enjoy and make some extra money while staying at home. I love to host parties, so this business made a lot of sense. What is a typical hosting day like? About an hour before a party, I begin preparing the food. When the guests arrive, I greet them and give a tour of the front rooms. Then I serve the food. During this time, Carter plays and sometimes comes and helps me greet the guests. After the party I clean up the rooms, so it only takes about three hours total for the day. If we have a bed and breakfast guest, I make sure that the room is clean and presentable. Then we greet the guests, tour the rooms, and answer any questions, as well as get to know them a little bit. Usually guests have their own agenda, so we are on-call but not occupied. The next morning I serve breakfast and talk with the guests. When the guests leave, I clean the room. by Chad ’01 and Erin Brauns Foerch ’01 as shared with Cessna Catherine Winslow A Bed and Breakfast Balancing Act When I was pregnant with Isaac Immanuel, whose names mean “laughter” and “God is with us,” my prayer for him was that he would have the joy of the Lord, and God has so answered that prayer. Isaac is a delight, and his life’s theme song would have to be “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. He is a sweet and happy and loving boy, who wins the hearts of all teachers and professionals who have the privilege of working with him. We have learned to celebrate all that he can do — running and climbing and giving us kisses and seeing the vibrant colors of life with his eyes — and that he is learning to communicate more with words. In general, he has a happy heart. I often think of heaven and imagine what it might be like. Tears of hope and joy stream down my cheeks as I imagine worshiping Jesus one day in heaven, with Isaac at my side and completely free of autism, both of us with thankful hearts before our Lord and our God. The longing of my heart is to please God and minister to Him through caring for my family and my son. One day Isaac will understand all that we have invested in him, and I believe that he will say with true understanding, “Thank you, Mom.” My prayer is that one day Jesus will tell me that as I ministered to my entire family and to my son with autism, I pleased His heart and that the work He prepared for my life was accomplished just as He had hoped. Thinking on these things, sustained day by day by His great grace and love and strength, is how I find balance in the present. Jennifer and her husband, Jim, reside in Washington state, where they are the very proud parents of three children: Jacob, Isaac, and AnnaSophia. Jim is employed as a sales representative at an area Toyota auto dealership, and is working towards his bachelors degree at Washington State University. Jennifer stays home to care for their children and also works part-time during the school year as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor at a local community college. Jennifer would be delighted to hear from other Cedarville graduates and can be reached at jennifercbates@ alumni.cedarville.edu. Families of children with special needs are invited to join Jennifer at Homecoming for a special time of fellowship and encouragement. See the Homecoming brochure for details.