The Pretzel That Changed Everything

I didn’t like pretzels.

Let me say that again—I did not like pretzels.

But I couldn’t stop eating these pretzels.

Not because of the seasoning. Not because of the crunch.

But because of the story.

It was just another workday when a coworker set down a bag of Queen City Crunch in front of me. I glanced at it, uninterested. “I don’t like pretzels,” I told the ladies around me.

But something made me turn the bag over. It was Katie’s story—printed right on the back. A stay-at-home mom, stuck in the mess of COVID lockdowns, with a restless entrepreneurial spirit and her mom’s seasoned pretzel recipe. What started in her kitchen—craft bags, home ovens, and taped-on labels—has grown into a thriving, woman-powered snack company with over 300 retail locations.

She didn’t wait for the perfect moment. She didn’t have it all figured out. She just started.

That bag of pretzels became more than a snack. It was a reminder of what God can do with a willing heart, a small idea, and a supportive community.

Katie’s journey is the exact message we need in our homeschooling homes:

 • Start small.

 • Fail forward.

 • Build with others.

As Katie said in our conversation, “We all have different God-given talents. Somebody doesn’t have to do it all.”

⸻

Here’s what I want you to do this week:

 1. Apply: Encourage your kids (and yourself) to start something small. A mini business. A new skill. A community idea. Don’t wait for a polished plan—start with what you have and learn as you go. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” — Zechariah 4:10

 2. Subscribe: If you haven’t already, join the Level Up newsletter to get weekly stories that inspire your homeschool journey and deepen your family’s faith, vision, and grit. Listen to the entire interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eT7PnpyDlzfX8BQocvKqa

 3. Share & Connect: Send this story to another homeschooling mom, student, or co-op friend who needs a reminder that greatness often starts in the garage… or with a pretzel. Connect with Queen City Crunch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queencitycrunch?igsh=bDJhNTBxdHZpcWFq and on their website: https://www.queencitycrunch.com/

⸻

Homeschooling is better together.

Let’s Learn, Link, and Lead with faith—one step at a time.

There’s always another level.

—Lynn Pierre

President, Level Up Educational Academy