The story of Righteous River began in the summer of 1995, when my parents and young brother packed up and left Atlanta, our family home of 20 years, and relocated thousands of miles away to Haifa, Israel. Pregnant with my first child and newly married, I stayed in the Atlanta area to nurture my own growing family. However, two years later, my husband, son Jacob, and I managed to take a trip to the Holy Land that would end up being one of the most memorable and pivotal ventures of our lives. During our stay, my parents drove us to the eastern Israeli border to visit the Sea of Galilee and the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

To this day, I remember the awe that overtook us, leaving us pretty well speechless as we approached this meandering, almost humble body of water that has remained a powerful symbol to Christians around the globe for centuries. As we stood quietly over the river, we witnessed first hand the baptism of several Christian pilgrims, who were led, one by one, away from the river’s banks to be submerged beneath the shallow water in a ceremony as symbolic and meaningful as the river itself.

My husband and I dipped bottles into the river and filled them with water, thinking that many of our friends and relatives would be thankful to receive such a unique and meaningful gift. I couldn’t have anticipated the overwhelming response we received from loved ones after they opened their gifts! I couldn’t have hoped for more --- each bottle of water elicited such a powerful and positive surge of emotion from family and friends. It was as if the water brought them face to face with their personal faith in the Divine. The gift was truly the best I could have given --- one that not only expressed my love but God’s love for all of humanity.

It was this gift that inspired me to begin Righteous River and to create the River Jordan Remembrance pendant. I wanted to do more --- to bring hope and faith to people of all walks of life who might not ever visit the River first hand or be fortunate enough to receive a gift of River Jordan water, a powerful symbol of purification, cleanliness, regeneration, and renewal.

In fall 2007, I decided to take Righteous River to a new level by joining forces with a long-time friend, whose beautiful spirit, open heart, and sound mind for business have made her the perfect business partner. She and I now share in the commitment to creating and bringing you Righteous River jewelry, an endeavor that now fills both of our lives with joy.