Hi, I'm Kristel, the founder of Heritage Heart Letter Co.

I grew up on a farm in small-town Iowa as the youngest of four girls. Life was rooted in hard work, faith, family, and simplicity. Traditions mattered, and the little things - handwritten notes, family gatherings, homemade desserts, and time spent together - were never really little things at all.

The values instilled in me growing up still shape the way I live and serve as the foundation and heart behind this company today.

Those ordinary moments taught me that the best things in life are rarely rushed and that the memories we treasure most are often the quiet ones - the ones that never make it into a photo album but stay with us forever. They taught me that hospitality is a form of love, that traditions are worth preserving, and that some of life's greatest gifts are found in the everyday rhythms of home.

Long before I became a wife, a mother, a teacher, or a principal, I was saving words.

I still have keepsakes from my childhood - drawings, postcards, birthday cards, notes, and mementos from people I loved. Those simple treasures taught me that the things we choose to keep often tell the story of who we are and where we've been. The time and intention someone pours into creating, writing, or making something by hand means more to me than they will ever know. To me, love is found in those actions, in the effort, the thoughtfulness, and the willingness to create something meant to last.

Over the years, I've also treasured the handwritten notes, letters, and drawings shared by students, families, and friends in my professional life. Reading about the impact someone believes you've made on their life is both humbling and inspiring - it makes you want to be better tomorrow than you were today. Those pieces of paper may seem ordinary, but I've always believed that words carry weight, meaning, and a kind of permanence that deserves to be preserved.

Today, my husband and I are raising four children in Iowa, and like so many parents, we're constantly searching for meaningful ways to slow down, celebrate the ordinary, and preserve the moments we know won't last forever. We save our children's artwork, treasure their funny little sayings, and hold tightly to the traditions that we hope one day become the stories our family tells for generations.

It is in the simple, fleeting moments that we've found life's greatest treasures.

Thank you for allowing our family to be a small part of preserving yours.

With gratitude,

Kristel