Howdy-do?
My name is Edie Mondazze Benthimer.
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Maybe we’ve already met—at the grocery store, a local event, Into the Brew Coffee House, or the Sweet Home Gift Stop. Maybe our kids have played together at the park. Or maybe our paths haven’t crossed yet.
Either way, I’m glad you’re here.
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Let me introduce you to Shop Sweet Home Oregon: Sweet Home’s local directory for everything, well, Sweet Home! From friendly neighbors sharing their favorite hiking trails or hosting community sales, to bloggers telling their stories, to entrepreneurs offering their products and services—this is your first-hand glimpse into “the Gateway to the Santiam Playground.” A place full of creativity, talent, and heart.
My Story
About Us
Our story begins far from Sweet Home, Oregon. In our early years together, my husband Christopher was serving in Special Forces, stationed on the northern border of South Korea. Within a single week he returned home, we packed up, and started our first chapter as a young military family at Joint Base Lewis–McChord in Washington. Those years were filled with learning—adjusting to marriage, parenthood, and life far from home.
When Christopher’s service brought us back to Oregon, we settled in Sweet Home. The commute, the unpredictability, and eventually his medical retirement in 2018 were not easy years, but they shaped us. Through every trial, we leaned on faith, family, and perseverance. Even when resources were slim, we learned to laugh, to adapt, and to trust that God would provide. And He did.
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By the time our family grew to five children, we had become jacks-of-all-trades—renovating our home together, raising animals, homeschooling, and always finding a way forward. Those years taught us grit, creativity, and the value of time: time with our kids, our church, our family, and our community.
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Out of that time grew new opportunities. Together with my parents, we opened Into the Brew Coffee House—Sweet Home’s first local coffee house. What began as a family dream quickly became a place for connection, where locals and visitors could gather, share stories, and support one another.
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Soon after came The Sweet Home Gift Stop, born from meeting so many talented artisans in town. What started as a small empty storefront turned into a thriving marketplace for over 60 local vendors, including young entrepreneurs. It became more than shelves of handmade goods—it became a community of creators who collaborate, support, and inspire one another.
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And now, with Shop Sweet Home Oregon, we are expanding that vision. This site is a place to highlight the makers, the doers, and the dreamers in our town—a way to keep dollars local, promote one another’s work, and create opportunities for families like ours. We believe that in a world where everything feels bigger, faster, and more disconnected, local living matters more than ever.
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Our journey has been unpredictable, challenging, and filled with blessings. Through it all, one thing remains clear: Sweet Home is more than just where we live—it’s our community, our mission, and our home.
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Our family motto? "Live Local. Dream Far."
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
123-456-7890