I’m feeling called to start back at the beginning of our story and continue inviting you along the way — because we were once teen parents learning life the hard way, turning setbacks into stepping stones, and slowly flipping hardship inside out into something meaningful. Proof that where you start doesn’t have to define where you land.

And truly — your likes, comments, and shares are heart-melting to me. They remind me that these words are landing somewhere they’re meant to, and that alone makes showing up and sharing worth it. So if this resonates, please do… it means more than you know 🤍

I also just realized I didn’t make my normal blog post yesterday… so here it is — coming to you a little late and straight from the heart.

Lately, I’ve been living in a full-circle, life-altering kind of clarity.

Week two of recovery and I’ve learned this truth:
I’m still productive — just in a different way.

Being slowed down has a way of bringing old memories to the surface. Long before this recent injury, I was in a life-threatening car wreck as a teenager. I suffered a broken pelvis and internal injuries — the kind that change your body and your perspective forever. Johnny brought me my homework for extra credit while I was recovering, and somewhere between healing, determination, and The Wonder Years, we became more than friends. That wreck didn’t just affect my body — it shaped how I see life, resilience, and gratitude.

Life moved fast after that. First baby our senior year of high school. Married a month after graduation. Then welcoming our next baby just 14 months later. Because of my injuries, I went on to have three C-sections and high-risk pregnancies — more scars, more strength, more proof that the body can endure incredible things when love and purpose lead the way.

While others our age were still figuring things out, we were learning how to work, provide, and build — together.

I went to cosmetology school inspired by growing up in my aunt’s salon and worked with the SBA to open my first salon in our hometown, pouring my heart into it for five and a half years. During that same season, John was working his way up in the business world — earning income for our family while obtaining professional credentials and sharpening his leadership skills.

Six years after me, Johnny graduated from cosmetology school. I always knew he’d do well in a salon — he’s handsome, well dressed, confident, and grew up with five sisters, so communication and connection came naturally. When we worked with the SBA together again, we relocated our family to Salina, and Thiessen-Elise Salon opened in 2009. Thiessen is Johnny’s middle name — his mother’s maiden name, shared by all his sisters — and Elise is mine. The name represents both of us, our families, and the life we’ve built side by side. It’s always been more than a business… it’s a legacy.

Our kids have grown up watching all of this. Two are now in the hair industry, one works alongside us on our real estate team, and our youngest son often says he models his own career growth after what he’s seen in how we run our business — strong consultations, clear communication, and doing things the right way. Watching them choose meaningful work with confidence and heart has been one of our greatest rewards.

The Klassen Group-SalinaHomes represents years of growth, grit, and doing business with care and integrity. We approach real estate the same way we approach life — with intention, preparation, and genuine care for the people we serve. John became a realtor five years ago, bringing with him decades of business experience and leadership. This past year, our oldest son and I became licensed as well, stepping fully into the work alongside him. We continue to invest heavily in continuing education, including training as Elite Agents through the Realtors of South Central Kansas (RSCK), with a strong focus on negotiation, market knowledge, and systems — because we believe excellence is built, not assumed. Building The Klassen Group together as a family has been one of the most rewarding chapters yet.

Real estate became another chapter of our story — built the same way as everything else: relationships first, service always. Along the way, I earned Airbnb Superhost status in my very first quarter and have held it for three years straight. We now have two Airbnbs, layered into a life that’s always been part family, part business, part home-improvement chaos.

Our kids were raised with sheetrock dust in their Cheerios..as my mom says☺️, tools on the counters, and renovation projects always in motion — building homes and building character at the same time. We bought our first home before graduating high school, not realizing then how each move would build something bigger. With every home we lived in and renovated, we grew equity and learned the long game. In the last four years, we’ve quickly grown to a million dollars in assets — not through shortcuts, but through consistency and grit. That milestone is why we named our most recent Airbnb The Milli House. Now, we’re focused on intentionally building a retirement and the freedom that comes with it.

Travel has always been part of how their dad and I chose to experience life — even when the budget was tight. When our kids were little and resources were limited, Kansas City and even Salina were the adventure. We explored museums, parks, and hotels just for fun, making memories close to home because that’s what we could afford — and it mattered just as much. Those early trips taught us that it was never about distance or luxury, but about being together and intentionally making memories.

Exploring has been woven into our life in every season. When our kids were ten and under, we took all four of them to see the ocean — Padre Island and Corpus Christi. Later, when Keith was in his first year of college and the rest were still living at home, we finally made a spring break trip happen together. Johnny and I have also carved out time to experience the world side by side — Jamaica (for our honeymoon we paid for ourselves) Vegas, New York, France, Canada. I’ve learned I love the journey just as much as the destination. Honestly, I’m a tourist every single day. It’s become a way of life. I truly can’t wait to do more international traveling!

As our kids grew, travel grew with them. We made it a priority to take each of them on a one-on-one senior trip with just their dad and I. Keith’s senior trip took us to Wyoming and Yellowstone, with a stop in Colorado. Landon’s took us to Nashville and Florida. Ike’s brought us back to Jamaica — this time with him as our honorary graduate, with special care thoughtfully arranged by our travel agent. Aleah’s senior trip was to Rapid City, South Dakota where she was born, followed later by a meaningful mother-daughter trip to Tulum. Each trip marked a transition, a season of growth, and time together we’ll always treasure.

I think road trips have always been built into us, too. Johnny grew up traveling internationally — his family immigrated as German Mennonites — and I was always so intrigued by that part of his story. That curiosity shaped how we’ve experienced the world together. One place still on our list is where his family is from — a German Mennonite community near Cuauhtémoc in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. I have yet to convince him to take me there, but it’s coming. He’s even kept up his first language, Low German, which still amazes me. It feels like another reminder that travel, culture, and roots have always been woven into our story — even before I realized how much they would shape mine. However, we have visited his family in Canada🇨🇦

That curiosity has carried into new dreams too. This past year, I attended business-planning classes at K-State Salina, nurturing a long-held vision for hospitality and an event venue. I don’t know exactly what it will look like yet — but I know it’s there. This slower season has only made that pull stronger. Sometimes a pause isn’t a stop… it’s an invitation.

Johnny and I snapped a photo together today — the second time he’s loaded up the wheelchair, even though we never ended up using it. I was a little too zapped to go into stores. Still, we made the most of it: Starbucks drive-through, a car wash, and I stayed cozy in the Bronco while he made a product run for the salon. I did manage to hobble into The Milli House to see it freshly cleaned, with the Christmas décor Johnny and Aleah recently took down. She’s looking beautiful and inviting — ready for our next arriving guests, and that filled my cup more than I expected 🤍

Tonight, this is a late-night reflection — full of emotion, gratitude, and perspective… and also a whole lot of excitement for tomorrow with my lil sis 🤍

Johnny is keeping us moving forward financially, and I’m deeply grateful we’ve built more than one stream of income. I’ll keep doing all I can too — even with my current limitations — supporting our businesses, staying connected, and showing up however I’m able.

Different pace. Same heart. Same purpose.
Counting my blessings and choosing to experience life fully — even here 💫

Stay Rosy, Amber🤍🤟