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Herzog’s are a full-time juggling act
Published Saturday, January 12, 2008
Photo by Susan Larson
Amy and Patrick Herzog have learned how to balance their busy lives. They will share their strategies with those attending a motivational dinner next Tuesday sponsored by the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce.
No task — no matter how big — is insurmountable if you know how to balance.
Patrick and Amy Herzog of Fergus Falls know this first-hand. They wear many hats in their daily lives and have learned to successfully juggle them all. They are parents of seven children — Samuel, 14; Peter, 13; Benjamin, 11; Natalie, 9; Patrick, 5; Simeon, 3; and Grace, 13 months. Patrick is pastor of Life Church. Amy homeschools their children and does the bookkeeping for their rental units. As a family, they own and operate Herzog Berries.
Incredible as it may seem, they still manage to have some free time.
Their secret to balancing it all will be shared when they present, “The Balancing Act” at a motivational dinner Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Jazzy Fox sponsored by the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce (registration deadline was Jan. 11 and tickets will not be available at the door).
It’s not as difficult as it might sound, the Herzogs said. The secret lies in prioritizing and re-energizing one another.
“If you can come home and be energized,” Amy said, “you have what you need to maintain your career and your family.”
Energizing, Patrick said, includes mutual respect; verbal affirmation; and looking out for what makes each other’s lives easier.
“We have learned these things from our commitment to Christ,” Patrick said, “but they will work for anybody at any time for any season of life.”
Doing things in keeping with the season you are in is key. On a day off, for example, you might want to indulge in a hobby, but it is wiser to spend it with family.
“Creating happy, well-adjusted children will energize you,” Patrick said.
“It’s not always ‘can’t’” spend time on your hobbies, Amy said. “You just do less.”
“It takes blending,” Patrick said.
As the seasons of life change, priorities must shift with them. These lessons have been learned, they said, as they follow the path their lives have taken.
“I was never going to have a large family or home school,” Amy said. “But as the kids got older, we knew the values we wanted to instill in them, so it seemed like the right thing to do.”
It is also another way to achieve more family time.
Teaching their children about hard work, business and serving others is important. That’s where the five-acre berry farm comes in. For five years they have operated the farm located on County Road 1 near Weetown, living there from May to September. People can pick their own strawberries and raspberries, or purchase pre-picked. The entire family is involved in the care and operation on the farm, including working at the berry stands in town.
Becoming landlords wasn’t on their life agenda either. But they found a home they loved that came with three apartments and ready-made tenants.
“We weren’t excited about it, but we found out it wasn’t so bad,” Amy said. They gradually acquired more and now own 11 apartment buildings — more than 100 units.
It’s not always easy, but it’s totally doable.
“We work every day at keeping priorities straight and saying yes to the right things,” Amy said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 12, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe...
Posted by tomsmom (anonymous) on January 13, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interestingly enough, if you are a tenant of one of their rental units if you have a concern do not expect a speedy reply. If you are lucky enough to get a reply at all, that is. I guess managing their rental units doesn't fall under the "priority" umbrella.
Posted by vike (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's an interesting comment from tomsmom. I have known several people that have lived in their units and have heard the same comment several times. Maybe it's to take in the money but not spending it on the rentals that is a priority.
Posted by ginger_ale (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the buildings we used to live in was recently purchased by the Herzog's and another partner. I can assure you that the quality of care given to the building immediately declined. Our hallways, which were once pristine, became dirty and a haven for cobwebs, the windows entering the building became filthy, and the quality of care given to the lawn was incomparable to the service provided by the previous owner. When we moved out, it was obvious that their rental agreement ensured that the rent deposit would not be returned to the tenant - however, we were lucky that we signed our agreement with the previous owner, and we did receive all of our deposit.
It's amazing that one can speak the Word of God and treat people, at least tenants, like commodities. Shouldn't compassion translate into every aspect of someone's life, even through one's business ventures?
Posted by byteme (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What amazes me is that one can own 11 apartment buildings (100 units), so we are not talking small apartments, and do it while your wife does not work outside the home. Even more amazing is when you realize that this person I am talking about is a Pastor. A position that one would not expect to be raking in that kind of dough. My question to Mr. Herzog is are you really living according to the word of God when you most likely have a net worth in the multi-million dollar range, meanwhile many of your church members are giving money to the church and giving up health insurance, food, and other basic necessities in the process, all so you can live the HIGH LIFE in the name of God. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). Somehow I don’t think there is an exception for pastors!
Posted by vike (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. Somehow it appears Mr. Herzog is well known in the real estate world and as a pastor. But, being well known like he is I would not consider a compliment.
Posted by Henrik_Bjorndahl (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a former Fergus Falls resident who lived in one of the Herzog apartment buildings for almost three years. I was very satisfied with the apartment, and I really liked living there. The couple of maintenance requests that I had were handled very promptly.
I also happen to know the Herzogs personally and, in my humble opinion, Patrick Herzog is a man of great integrity whom I greatly respect. From my perspective, he truly lives out his faith.
I do read the Journal Online from time-to-time to stay abreast of what's going on in Fergus. I have stumbled across this forum a few times and find it amusing that the people with the most to say (almost exclusively negative) never seem to sign their name. By the way, feel free to post positive comments every once in a while. Fergus Falls is a great community with a lot of positive things going on. Let's not forget about that.
Sincerely,
Henrik Bjorndahl, Eagan, MN
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh Hell shmell - It is one thing to be their tennant, and it is another to be their tennant AND go to their church! You see what I am saying? IMO Henrik would be have a different opinion of the situation if he had not attended the Herzog church.
Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too have known Herzog for a long time. I do not attend his church and will not attend it. I just can't bring myself to the beliefs that are held by him and his followers. (Do you hear a bit of "cult" in my words?) And, I sincerely question his true belief. It seems that the dollar has a much higher priority than the Lord for him. Everything he does revolves around the dollar. That even includes his "berry farm". I hope Herzog reads the post by the person that gave the eye of a needle bible quote, maybe a bit of belief in that would change his attitude towards the dollar and his Lord.
Posted by byteme (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone else notice the billboard advertising LIFE Church? One would think they should be able to find a better way to spend God’s money with so many people in this world starving and without health insurance. I also have an issue with the message on the billboard. They are basically trying to bribe people into attending LIFE Church by offering them free designer drugs (Starbucks Coffee). Whatever it takes to get the addicts in the door I guess.
Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too have noticed those billboards. Who can miss them? But, those billboards do serve a purpose for the church. Just think about it. The more people that attend LIFE Church means the more people that can be pressed to give up 20% of their income to the church. This of course brings me back to my previous comment about the importance of the almighty dollar and the comparable lesser importance of the almighty Lord.
Posted by tomsmom (anonymous) on January 16, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Henrik, I lived in the EXACT SAME BUILDING as YOU! As a matter of fact, I moved into your apartment after you left. Perhaps your experience was preferential. The building manager and maintenance staff were very attentive, but if it had to go farther than that, forget it. The Herzog's did not reply to numerous messages that I left. Also, state law requires that proprety tax forms are distributed to the renters by January 31st. I often did not recieve mine until March. But like I said, not everyone has the same experience....
Posted by ginger_ale (anonymous) on January 16, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Henrik:
I have to think that your upstanding reputation as a person and a professional, combined with the fact that you attended CBC, could very well have given you preferential treatment or the comfort of knowing that any of your concerns would reach the attention of the Herzog's. Some of our experiences are different. The question I am asking is simple, does the faith and compassion of Patrick Herzog the minister translate through to Patrick Herzog the person/businessman? I do not know Mr. Herzog, I only have experience with him as a tenant. I admire you for standing up for a friend. And also, from the little I know about you as a person, anyone that you would speak highly of would deserve a better chance than I have given him in my preceding posts.
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