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Year in Review 2024

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that an entire year has passed since I last wrote on this blog. As I sit down to reflect on 2024, I’m struck by how much life can change in just 12 months. This year has been a journey of joy, heartbreak, resilience, and gratitude—a year that has reminded me of what truly matters.

This year was filled with incredible highlights that brought laughter, adventure, and celebration into my life. I had the joy of celebrating my brother-in-law Jamie’s 50th birthday, a milestone that we marked surrounded by friends and family. We opened two trail centers at work, milestones that I’m incredibly proud of, and spent time exploring the Southwest Virginia region, whether it was riding an ATV or enjoying serene moments at Mountain Lake. Concerts provided their own kind of magic—seeing Tyler Childers, Mac McAnally, Morgan Wallen live were experiences I’ll never forget.

ATL Weekend Watching the Braves

Seeing Mac McAnally in Concert was such sweet closure for this Jimmy Buffett loving gal.

My friendship with Dana blessed me so much this year!

Truly a best best friend!

Of course, there were quieter joys too. Dinner parties with friends, surprising flowers from those who know my heart, and traditions like the Apple Festival with family made the year feel grounded and rich with love. I found peace and relaxation on beach days, enjoyed a weekend escape in Atlanta, and relished small-town fun with several Big Stone Gap nights. And while Hurricane Helene brought challenges, it also revealed the power of our region and resilience.

Saying goodbye to my mother-in-law.

Not every moment was easy. Losing my mother-in-law was one of the hardest experiences of my life, and navigating my mom health struggles weighed heavily on my heart. But through it all I ended the year much stronger than I stared. Here are a few lessons I learned.

Lessons from 2024

God’s Timing: God places people in your life at just the right time.
Starting the Day Right: Beginning the day in the Word of God changes everything.
Marriage: After 28 years, marriage is still one of God’s sweetest gifts.
True Friendship: Friends who have your back even when you’re not in the room are rare treasures.
Goodbyes: Saying goodbye to loved ones entering heaven is both heart-wrenching and beautiful.
Trust Your Gut: Always listen to how you feel after a conversation—it says a lot.
Healing and Reconciliation: Life is too short to hold onto pain; seek peace and mend relationships.
Inner Strength: You’re stronger than you think, even in tough moments.
Encouragement: A small act of encouragement can change someone’s day.
Peace Within: Finding peace within yourself makes everything else fall into place.

Books I Loved

The Women - Hands down favorite book of 2024!
The Winter Street Series (4 books) by Elin Hilderbrand
Summers at the Saint
Funny Story
Summer Pack
Wedding People
All In
Dinner for Vampires
Rich Routines
Slow Productivity
Holiday Hideaway

Bible Studies That Shaped Me - Thank you She Reads Truth

Galatians and Ephesians
Philippians and Colossians
1 & 2 Corinthians
Numbers
Matthew
Advent 2024: The Dawn of Redeeming Grace
Making Room
Presence of God
Living by Faith

So thankful for holidays with my parents and Matt.

My work colleagues who have become dear friends!

Buying our Christmas Tree at a TREE LOT!

Hopefully we will back to the Christmas Tree Farm next year!

The incredible team I get to serve alongside in this amazing career.

Love these faces!

Morgan Wallen at Neyland!

Fall Festivals with the FAM!

As I reflect on 2024, I’m grateful for every moment—the joyful, the challenging, and the mundane. They’ve all played a part in shaping me into someone stronger, more compassionate, and more rooted in faith. Here’s to 2025, a new chapter waiting to be written.

Year in Review 2023

Thursday, December 28, 2023 Leave a Comment

Ah, the magical stretch between Christmas and New Year's – my absolute favorite time on the calendar! It's that week where I find myself blissfully oblivious to what day it is, just soaking in having time to relax and just be.

Reflecting on 2023, it's been a year of notable professional achievements. With a lot of hard work and determination, our team has accomplished commendable milestones this year. Personally, I've prioritized my well-being, incorporating regular exercise, more sleep, and hydration into my routine. This year also allowed me to complete several meaningful Bible studies, which were all fantastic!

A significant portion of my time was dedicated to supporting my parents and mother-in-law through various health challenges. As the year draws to a close, there's a sense of stabilization in their conditions, which is a relief.

To review the past 12 months, I invite you to peruse my comprehensive Year in Review!

1. In God's Word

At the beginning of the year, I embarked on a journey through the Bible with the Daily Grace Co. However, come June, the rapid pace of reading left me feeling fatigued. It became a mere checkbox exercise rather than a meaningful exploration. Recognizing this, I returned to She Reads Truth, a platform with which I've had a longstanding connection. Since July, my immersion in various Bible studies has been both fulfilling and enriching. Here are a few things I've studied this year:

Study of the Book of Judges
Study of the Book of Ezra
Psalms for Prayer Study
Study of the Book of Romans
Study of the Book of Genesis
Study of the Book of Job
Study of the Book of Exodus
Study of the Book of Joshua

Alongside these studies, I completed another year of utilizing Val Marie's Paper: Prayer Journal – a practice I've faithfully upheld for the past five years. The ritual of capturing daily gratitude and ongoing prayer requests has become an integral part of my spiritual routine.

A post from earlier this year when life seemed overwhelming!

2. Adventures with Matt

This year, Matt and I ventured to new places. His presence at a special event in Washington D.C. brought added excitement, and our October escape to Key West proved to be an absolute delight. Exploring the Florida Keys for the first time, we created lasting memories and are already planning our return.

Returning to one of our most memorable places in Florida!

LOL! #IYKYK

Key West was amazing! One of my favorite vacations hands down.

We ended the year with attending Miracle on 34th Street at Barter!

The play was so good.

3. Adventures with the Little Ones

The past year was a tapestry of cherished memories, from upholding holiday traditions to celebrating birthdays and every moment in between. Our family time was filled with joy and shared experiences.

Celebrated Easter!

Watching Little Bit Davis in her first Dance Recital!

Celebrated Little Nugget's 3rd Birthday!

Had lots of summer fun together!

Annual Christmas Tree Pic!

The best Christmas photo we could get!

4. Appalachian Regional Commission's Appalachian Leadership Institute

The culmination of my participation in the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI) this summer marked a pivotal moment in my career. The experience was transformative, introducing me to remarkable individuals. Being chosen by my peers to represent the class at graduation, with the honor of delivering a speech in the United States Capitol, stands out as a highlight of the year.

Our ALI Class at Graduation!

So fortunate to have this group as my Cornbread Kinfolk team!

My travel partner in crime! So thankful for this ALI!

5. Loving my job!

This year I fell in love with my job! I get to work with the best people, and the work we get to do is inspiring and fun. Additionally, the demands of my job led me to various destinations this year, including Birmingham, AL; Youngstown, OH; Cumberland, MD; Washington, D.C.; Jamestown, NY; Ashburn, KY; Blowing Rock, NC; Hampton Roads, VA; and multiple trips to Richmond, VA. The dynamic experiences enhanced my professional growth, making this year a remarkable chapter in my career. As 2024 nears, I eagerly anticipate the new opportunities it holds.

This was one of my favorite photos from this year! I adore every face in this picture, and I am so thankful for each one of them!

So thankful for the support and friendship from this gal!

So many great projects! Loved this groundbreaking in Spring 2023!

How did I get so lucky to work with such incredible people!

6. My Health

The kickoff to this year brought less-than-ideal health news my way. Recognizing the need for change to steer clear of potential health challenges down the road, I embarked on a gradual but determined journey. Slowly but surely, I revamped my diet, incorporated regular exercise, made sleep a priority, and upped my water intake. The result? Shedding several pounds and setting the stage for an even more ambitious health journey in 2024. Here's to continued progress!

This is proof I hiked in the woods. LOL!!

7. Celebrating the Royal Coronation

My best royal friends came to town in time to watch King Charles Coronation in May. We had a ball watching all the festivities, and we even decorated like we were in the UK and fixed English treats! Oh I love these memories with Laney!

Watching the Royal Coronation of King Charles!

As I wrap up this reflection on the past year, I'm filled with gratitude for the diverse experiences that 2023 unfolded. From the depths of insightful Bible studies and memorable adventures with loved ones to the transformative journey with the Appalachian Leadership Institute, each chapter has contributed to a year of growth and enrichment. Balancing personal well-being, family joy, and professional accomplishments, I look forward to carrying these lessons into the promising horizon of 2024. Here's to another year of flourishing health, exciting adventures, and continued personal and professional growth.

Wishing you all a joyous New Year filled with abundant blessings and fulfillment!

Cheers to the adventures that await!

Kim

Annual Year in Review - 2022

Saturday, December 31, 2022 Leave a Comment

Greetings Friends! Its that time of year again that I log onto this blog and share memories from the past 12 months. This is something I always look forward to, but more importantly, I love looking back at all the precious moments of life. 2022 was overall a good year, and the top two highlights were definitely graduating with my MBA and celebrating by 15th Wedding Anniversary with Matt.

Here is a little look into the past year:

We kicked off 2022 with a snow storm. It was nice to slow down the start of the year a little, and enjoy the stillness of the snow.

We celebrated my Sis-In-Law's Birthday with a family dinner. I sure love this family of mine.

After a quick work trip to Richmond, and I came home with COVID. And, it kicked my butt! I was down for about 2-weeks, and I'm don't think I have ever been that sick!

In February, I started feeling much better and headed out on one of many trips across Southwest Virginia. Loved this stop in Big Stone Gap with this awesome group.

My sweet friend Tammy and I headed to a show in Knoxville. Loved spending time with her!

In the Spring, our leadership team headed on a retreat! It was an awesome time to spend time together, plan for the year ahead, and set goals for the next 18 months.

Matt & I headed to Rosemary Beach in May for a quick beach getaway.

We enjoyed our time to 30A!

We celebrated Matt's birthday with a family dinner.

We also celebrated two of my Aunts birthdays - 70 and 80 years old. Love this cousin of mine. She has always been by my side.

We kicked off the summer with a great concert in our Amphitheater w/ a Symphony 4th of July Show.

Our team headed out on field study day in the region. We had an awesome time.

This summer, Little Bit Davis decided she loved "Sandwich Hugs" which Uncle Matt and Aunt Kim love!!

The day after I graduated with my MBA, I had a medical episode on stage in front of 200 people (no one knew I was in any pain), and when I finished speaking I walked off stage and went straight to the hospital. No one in the audience knew I left. LOL! All was okay, but it scared me to death. Knew my lifestyle had to change.