We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Kleinhuizen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.
Amy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The journey to creating Grace Essentials began out of personal need and passion. As someone whose immune system is severely compromised due to Lyme Disease, I have to be incredibly careful with what I choose to consume or put on my body. For me, this isn’t just a lifestyle choice like it was before I became sick, but a matter of true well-being. This health journey I am on has only made me fall more in love with natural remedies and all the benefits they provide.
We started using tallow a few years ago when my daughter was struggling with severe eczema. As any parent would, we tried every natural skincare solution out there – lotions, creams, serums. Nothing worked. Then we found tallow. It wasn’t just another skincare product – it was as if her skin recognized the fat and began finally healing. We couldn’t believe the difference it made! Wanting the best for my daughter, we started crafting our own tallow and creating whipped blends she looked forward to putting on because it looked and felt like fluffy light icing, but was still just as nourishing.
Grass-fed and finished beef suet tallow isn’t new. It’s been used for centuries to moisturize and heal the skin. From our personal experience, it’s truly one of the best things you can choose because it’s so much like our body’s own structure. Tallow is rich in nutrients that benefit all skin types. It doesn’t just sit on the surface like many skincare products, but gets absorbed deeply without any greasy residue. It can be used from the top of your head to the bottoms of your toes, for endless reasons.
And so, Grace Essentials was born from a deep passion to create honest products that are natural, handcrafted, non-toxic and most importantly things I use for my own family. Every single item we create is handmade with love in small batches by our family. These aren’t just products. They’re personal. They’re the result of our journey, our experiences, and our commitment to quality and real healing.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born and raised in Minnesota, and have been married to my husband for 18 years. I fiercely love Jesus and my little family. We live on a small lake in the suburbs with our children, who we are grateful to homeschool. Our dream is to one day have a plot of land, a hobby farm filled with herbs and sunshine year round!
My world drastically changed in 2016 when I lost my health. I’ve been housebound for the last several years, but continue to see steady glimpses of healing. The miracle of grace poured out over my life through this season is what has sustained me. I don’t say that lightly. God’s grace truly is sufficient and continues to be my source of strength as I fight to live and not just exist. For so long in this valley, I stayed quiet about what the LORD was doing in my life and my body. I realized that if my life was to be a testimony for God’s sustaining grace, I needed to show that God has breathed life into my own dry and weary bones. Our Savior’s scars proclaim grace to a broken world. Ours can too. Everything we do in life testifies. The heart behind Grace In This Valley is to bring encouragement, hope and the promises of God. Reminders that no matter what you are facing, you are not alone.
I’m very much into holistic, organic, and natural. This started long before I was noticeably sick and has only grown stronger each year. Treating my body this way continues to bring me farther than any conventional treatment could. I don’t use my energy to focus on what is broken in this body of mine, but instead on how to gently fix and care for it. This passion has led me to help others find healing and wholeness with their own health struggles. Grace Essentials was born from a deep belief that the tools needed to heal and restore are often intricately woven into nature by the Creator of this world. Our tallow bodycare stands as a testament to this belief, offering whole nutrients that heal, soothe, and hydrate even the most sensitive skin. Beyond tallow, we also offer essential oil roller blends and bath salts – simple, pure, and effective. We have endless ideas and a passion for what’s next with Grace Essentials. We’re just getting started! The heart behind what I do is to simply help restore hope while pointing people to natural healing and the One who created it.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
When I began sharing my journey on Grace In This Valley, I wasn’t ever aiming to start a small business. I simply needed an outlet, a place to connect with others who understood the valleys and challenges I was navigating. It was my safe haven. But through the midst of my pain and loss, God carved out a purpose for me. This transformed my simple sharing into a mission, driven by a genuine connections and heart-to-heart engagements. By sharing my personal journey and the challenges I’ve faced and continue to face, I’ve connected deeply with individuals seeking hope along with natural and holistic healing methods. This has fostered a bond that goes beyond just a business transaction. Many of our loyal customers have become our strongest advocates and prayer warriors, not just because they believe in what Grace In This Valley represents, but also due to the tangible results and benefits they experience from our handmade products. This love for our creations often leads them to share Grace Essentials with friends and family, give them as thoughtful gifts, or passionately recommend them to others. Heartfelt word of mouth has been invaluable. This organic growth has been a testament to the quality of our products as well as the deep resonance of our story.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The most defining moment of my journey began when I unexpectedly lost my health. Days turned into years of deep suffering and the valley seemed endless as life around us just kept going. The reality of that is hard as I gradually became irrelevant and disappeared not just from society but also my own life. Yet, in this desolate space, I found a faith that has grown some very deep roots, reminding me that even in the most challenging times, I wasn’t alone. Grace In This Valley was born out of this realization. It became a space for sharing, for healing, and for proclaiming the hope and promises of God.
While the valley I tread is undeniably tough, it’s also where I’ve seen the immense power of God’s hand and His creations. My passion for holistic and natural remedies transformed into a purpose-driven venture. Each Grace Essentials product we create is a testament to nature’s inherent ability to heal and soothe, reflecting my own journey of seeking comfort, hope and wholeness in God’s designs.
Being resilient is not just about enduring but about finding purpose amidst all the pain and loss. Even now, as I navigate this valley, my heart remains steadfast, knowing that through all of this, God is going to use my story for His glory and my ultimate good. He is already bringing beauty from the ashes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.graceinthisvalley.com
- Instagram: @GraceEssentialsByAmy
- Facebook: Grace Essentials by A M Y
Image Credits
None – we took these photos