How long have you lived in Orange City?
14 years for Joshua and 23 years for Lauren!
Where did you move from?
We both have lived the majority of our lives in Orange City – from elementary school all the way through college at Northwestern. After getting married, we moved down to Waukee, Iowa for a few years but we are excited to be back in the OC area!
Why did you move to Orange City?
We had a great opportunity to grow in our work while down in the Des Moines area. Lauren painted several murals and produced several graphic designs, some of which are sold in Target and HomeGoods. And together we started Nova Patisserie, our crepe truck.
A little bit out of the blue, the owner of Brad’s Bakery Bistro, Brad Gabel, contacted Joshua with a proposal to return to the bakery in Orange City as his protege. We had always hoped to move back to Orange City down the road, but this opportunity to move back was sooner than we had expected. However, it was the perfect timing. We were so excited to have Joshua return to Brad’s Bakery Bistro – he had loved working there prior to our move to Waukee, and he had more knowledge to bring back to the bakery. Our son had also just turned a year old at the time, and we were eager to move him (and ourselves) closer to family and to the sweet, kind, loving small-town community we grew up in. We want our kids to grow up in a safe community that knows and cares for them because that’s what we loved about growing up in Orange City. It was all in God’s perfect timing to move back to our hometown!
How would you describe your lifestyle in Orange City (work, school, activities)?
With living close to downtown Orange City, Joshua has a short commute to work and Lauren is able to enjoy being in such close proximity to Windmill Park, grocery stores, and other downtown businesses as a stay-at-home mom. It is a joy to be in community with the town in these ways during the week and at our church on Sundays.
What has surprised you the most about living in Orange City?
Though we left behind the amenities of city living, we came back to a town filled with authentic people who share everyday life together – whether it’s meeting at the local coffee shop with a friend or an impromptu conversation with a neighbor. We’ve come to have a new appreciation for small town living where building community and relationships are such a strong pillar.
What do you most enjoy about the community?
The community is the best part of Orange City! It’s such a special feeling to be known where you live – where you’re unable to walk down the street without running into someone you know, or go into your favorite coffee shop without the barista knowing your name (and your order), or hang out in your yard without your neighbor stopping by to say hi. The relationships you build in a small town are so sweet, genuine, and intentional. It’s what makes small-town living so special. And what makes it even sweeter is seeing those same people come together to build community in the town you live in – by attending and assisting with local events or coming together during a time of need.
What makes Orange City unique from other places you’ve lived?
We love how clean Orange City is. The community takes pride in clean parks and streets, and it shows! We also find Orange City’s celebration of their heritage incredibly unique. Tulip Festival is such a joy to be a part of – it is incredible to see a community come together to create such an exciting experience around the town’s Dutch heritage for townspeople and visitors alike. It’s such a unique part of the town’s history, so we’re so glad that it’s celebrated during the festival every year as well as seen throughout downtown’s Dutch fronts to enjoy all year long!
What should others outside of Orange City or those considering a move to Orange City know?
Orange City is a great place to live and raise a family. There’s no better place to raise young kids than this small town of sweet, genuine people. We can confidently say that it was the best move to make for our family as we continue to add children to our home. What a joy it is to see your kids form connections with community members who love on them so well and wholeheartedly. These people are such a blessing to our family in so many ways!
