Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Foulk.
Hi Danielle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was raised on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio in the country, I am a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati, former kindergarten teacher, wife to my jr. high sweetheart, Aaron, and mom of three. After shortly after leaving the classroom and having our third child, I found myself unexpectedly met with a growing feeling that it was time to leave our new build home in suburbia and move. At first, I didn’t understand the sudden urge to move from where we were perfectly content, but through casual conversations with my husband about the dreams we had, I realized it was time to put an end to living the prescribed life and start following the roads to our dreams.
Within six months of feeling led to stop talking about our dreams and to start living them, we moved into a 185- year-old historic farmhouse on nine acres in the middle of nowhere in southwest Ohio with the intent to restore and preserve an early piece of American history. Little did we know when we moved, we were about to be met with some of the most difficult times our family had faced that would shape us and restore us into who we were meant to be today.
Five years later, the word middle has been like a piece of thread weaving together the moments, days, months, and years. In both the quietest and chaotic moments, I have become more aware of the tapestry being created but wait in wonder of what lies ahead. Without knowing what is around the next bend, I have found we gain the gift of wonder that leads us on journeys through life that result in an array of experiences. When we become more cognizant of those two things, we find that in the “middle” is where we find the greatest gift, living.
Finding myself a bit more grounded each day out here in the middle, I have found an appreciation for the antiquity of storytelling which led to the creation of my podcast, Grounded in the Middle. It is my hope through the podcast that I can share some of our stories of life in the country, inspire others to reflect on their own life experiences, and encourage listeners to step out of their comfort zones and into their dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. The Grounded in the Middle podcast was formed because of the number of trials and experiences we have faced along the way. Looking back, making the choice to pack up our house with five-year-old twins and a baby and move in the dead of Ohio’s winter was the easiest part so far. Little did we know we were willingly choosing to step into some rough waters that would shape us and give us the roots where we stand today.
One of the most pivotal times occurred within the first year of moving to the country. While we had been working tirelessly on our home, all projects came to a halt in the fall of 2018. My husband, Aaron, had never had troubles with his back before, but late in the summer developed debilitating back issues that led to surgery. Upon waking from surgery, he was unable to walk. It was our hope when we moved to the country, we would find a slower pace that would allow us to get back to the basics, but it took a hard stop to change our trajectory. It wasn’t something we were going to be able to accomplish on our own without a little guidance (from above). Setting a new pace wasn’t the only adjustment that needed shaping in this new adventure of ours. I needed to shed expectations and beliefs about myself that had been tagging along for years.
My biggest obstacle in creating the podcast was myself. Choosing to be vulnerable and sharing personal experiences is something I continue to wrestle with. I fear judgment as well as being misunderstood but have chosen that if stepping out of my comfort zone could help inspire someone to living a more meaningful life, it is worth any amount of humility that may come along with it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In addition to being the host of Grounded in the Middle, I am a writer and content creator who enjoys collaborating with others who share in the goal of uplifting others. I curate content for the Farmhouse Storyteller social media accounts and website, www.farmhosuestoryteller.com. The website is a host to not only our adventures in the country but also the stories of other old house stewards and their home’s unique history.
Collaborating with others is something I enjoy doing most and look forward to doing more this year. I currently collaborate with a faith-based promotional media company, a creative digital marketing agency, and manage content for websites in our local area. In our community, I present at local historical societies as well as museums on the local research I have compiled over the past five years of living in our historic home.
Contact Info:
- Email: thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
- Website: www.farmhousestoryteller.com
- Instagram: @farmhousestoryteller
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/farmhousestoryteller
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielleBFoulk
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded-in-the-middle/id1582880060
Image Credits
Danielle Foulk
