Our Story
Welcome to River Bend Boutique!
I am so incredibly glad you are here. If you had told me a year ago that I would be launching an online boutique, I might have laughed. But God has a beautiful way of weaving our past experiences, our current passions, and our future dreams into something unexpected.
I wear many titles that I absolutely cherish: I am a Christian, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, and a lifelong educator. By day, I have the profound privilege of serving as the Director of Special Education in my Kentucky hometown. Education has been my mission field for 20 years now, and it is a calling I hold dear. But as much as I love the deep, hard, and rewarding work of my day job, I found myself craving a creative outlet - a space to bring joy and restore my soul in the evenings and weekends.
A Spark, a Sermon, and a Leap of Faith
The spark for River Bend Boutique actually started over two decades ago. While attending seminary in Raleigh, NC, I worked at a local boutique. I absolutely fell in love with it and secretly dreamed of owning my own one day. However, life had other plans. Financially I couldn't make a boutique manager's salary work in the big city, so I moved back home to Kentucky.
Soon after, God led me to Ghana, West Africa, where I spent a semester teaching 4th grade at an International Christian School. It was there that He pressed on my heart that the school system was where He needed me. For 20 years, I followed that path. But a dream delayed, is not a dream denied.
This past Mother's Day, my family and I were sitting in church listening to our pastor preach on the Proverbs 31 woman. As he spoke about her entrepreneurship and business savvy, I turned to my husband and jokingly whispered, "Well I guess that's my cue to start my own business!" Instead of laughing, he looked at me and said, "It's about time." After a lot of talking and prayer that night, we decided it was time to take a leap of faith.
What's in the Name?
When it came to naming this new adventure, I didn't have to look far. My husband, our son, and I live at a beautiful spot called River Bend, tucked away in the HART of Kentucky. River Bend is my safe place. It is my retreat, my haven, and my breath of fresh air. That is exactly what I want this boutique to be for you - a welcoming, joyful space where you can find things that make you feel beautiful and inspired. It's my creative haven now, and one day when I retire from education, I hope to turn this dream into a physical storefront.
Sharing the Dream: Meet My Co-Creator!
This boutique isn't just a solo venture; it's a family affair. One of my greatest joys as a mom is instilling in my son the courage to chase his own dreams.
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
A year or so ago, he started his own little business printing 3D 'floppy dudes' and selling them to his classmates at school. Recently, he told me he was ready for the next step in his business journey, and I couldn't be a more proud mama to share this digital storefront with him! Please take a moment to visit his dedicated section of the site to support a young entrepreneur. He has put so much heart into his work, and he is so excited to share his creations with you!
And My Co-Pilot
Every great endeavor needs a great support system - and for me, that's my husband. He might not have an official title, but he wears about a dozen different hats around here! He's my Chief Encouragement Officer (the one who said, 'Go for it!'), my resident brainstorming partner, and my go-to troubleshooter when things get tricky. Plus, he handles the actual heavy lifting - quite literally. He's the muscle and the motivation to our team.
Thank You for Being Here
Whether you are here to browse, shop for yourself, find a gift, or support my sweet boy's business, please know that you are answered prayer. Thank you for supporting our family, our faith, and this beautiful new chapter at the River Bend.
With love and blessings,
Kristin Froedge
Founder, River Bend Boutique