2024 Recap
Wow! 2024 was a strong start. We are connecting, and growing and learning as we go. It’s been exhausting, exciting, and we’re only getting started! I want to share a recap for last year, and get you hyped for what is coming in the future! If you are interested in anything you see here, reach out and let’s talk about how we can partner!
January 2024
The year started with a bang! We noticed that there wasn’t a lot of opportunities for families to celebrate the New Year, so we made it happen! The kids got to celebrate mini-midnight a few hours early, complete with a countdown, confetti poppers, and lots of cheerful screams!
The older kids and adults celebrated with origami ships, where we wrote what we are leaving in the previous year. We then ‘burned the ships’ to symbolize our commitment to not turn back, before our own midnight countdown with a toast to the New Year and sparklers!
We wound down with a riveting game of Betrayal at House on the Hill and wrapped up several hours after midnight! Big thanks to everyone who showed up and started the year with connection, humor, and love!
February 2024
February had many personal ups and downs. I discovered one of my handmade bags for sale at a local resale shop for $90. This brought back my passion for creating, which had been buried under my persistence to earn my degree. I lost my granddad and joined a sorority, despite being in my final semester of college.
March 2024
Beautiful spring weather always brings on an insatiable desire to hike. Spending time in nature energized me just enough to push through my last month before graduation!
April 2024
Finally!! I earned my BA in psychology! I am so grateful for all my people who showed up for me and helped me celebrate. I also took my kids to see the Giant sculptures in Kentucky, where we met up with friends from out of state. I love how wide our circle is! After earning my degree, I shifted my focus to building Onn the Rock Alliance. This dream has been a long time in the making and I am thrilled to start seeing the fruits of my labor.
May 2024
Summer is just beginning though, and summers are for family time for us! I began balancing my priorities and setting healthy boundaries around my family time. I got a great opportunity to honor my mom and many of her colleagues for Nurses’ appreciation day. Thank you to all the wonderful nurses who help keep us healthy.
I also joined First Ascent, a program that supports recent Marshall and WVU grads seeking remote work, offering personal and professional development and networking/social opportunities. This has been an amazing program that motivates me to stay healthy, connected, and growing in WV!
June 2024
Still soaking in the summer wit hiking, nature, and family time! Those who know me also know I love feathers. One day, while exploring Summersville, I found an incredible shiny blue-black feather that reach from my hip to my knee!! It was amazing!!
I also attended the Dress for Success re-use fashion show, which was very cool and led to my current day job, eventually.
July 2024
I ramped up the nature time this month with a spontaneous trip to the beach (ok, several beaches) with one of my best friends. It was a wonderful last hurrah before shifting my focus back to work. (Yes, I worked throughout the summer, but I focus on fun outreach and maintaining partnerships vs. planning events and programs, doing research, and the other deep/intensive work).
August 2024
Another month of highs and lows. One of my two favorite coworkers got a fantastic opportunity at another organization. This pushed me to find a better fit for myself as well. While my oldest kiddo started high school, I started putting together my website, planning my coaching program, and making jewelry for craft fairs. I also learned about the Dress for Success Success Starter Program, which was a total life changer!
September 2024
September was a month of acceptance for me. I let my bosses know that I had started looking for a new job and working on my own program. It was the beginning of a difficult, but necessary transition out of my previous role as a victim advocate and prevention specialist (although, I still consider myself a prevention specialist).
October 2024
FINALLY!! If you’re still reading (or skimming), this is the moment we’ve all waited for! In October, On the Rock Alliance gained my full attention, and started gaining traction with others.
I was honored to present an origami program to the Mason County Family Support Center. During the program, I worked with 45 teens to discuss emotional regulation skills to decrease violent and aggressive reactions. Many teens said this had a positive impact and that they would love to have an origami club at school to destress and discuss healthy emotions.
I also started the Community Vision Canvas project. You can see and purchase merch with the final products of each Canvas in our shop!
I also met Emily Calendrelli at the Huntington Children’s Museum, volunteered carving pumpkins and cleaning The Pumpkin House w/ First Ascent, and presented my final (local) pitch for the Success Starter Program, earning a trip to Richmond to learn and pitch with 11 other finalists!
November 2024
November was a month of growth and success. I started printing the Community Vision Canvases on merch and stepped into several leadership opportunities. I helped a friend host a Bingo night for his nonprofit, Lincoln County Community Outreach Program and saw my favorite book-to-musical-to-movie, Wicked!
I outlined several coaching programs that will be available on demand by the end of 2025!
My favorite thing about November, though, was overcoming my fear of being seen. I did this through posting videos, sharing my gratitude for people who have made an impact on me, big or small, in the past several years. This not only helped me get comfortable on video and socials, but shifted my mindset into gratitude, positivity, and openness. I would highly suggest this practice for anyone who struggles with negative thinking and social anxiety.
December 2024
December is another family-focused month for me, so I made a gingerbread house with my kids. (They aren’t to eat, y’all… gross!) I also got the impulse to cut myself some bangs... a new look that I must admit I love.
It wasn’t all fun and games though. I got styled at Dress for Success for the final pitch competition, traveled to Richmond, (lesson learned: don’t book a tight schedule if you’re traveling by train), joined The Network Incubator, and two other learning sessions, then did the final pitch!
The comradery and support with these women was unmatched! After the final competition, we spent an evening at the hotel bar, singing We Are Family and Happy Birthday at karaoke! Although I didn’t get the ultimate prize of $5000, we were each awarded $1000 but the support, empowerment, and inspiration of these women would have been prize enough!
COMING UP!!
With all that said, I cannot wait to see what 2025 holds for us!
We will continue to offer the Community Vision Canvas, community workshops, including several hosted by our local Dress for Success. We are partnering with a local group for single moms to share tips on gentle parenting and hope to have several on demand programs added to the website by the end of the year!
See something you like? Let’s Partner!! Contact us to schedule a workshop or to Community Vision Canvas at your event!