Half of me can’t believe it’s been a year since this random idea that came to me in the midst of pregnancy insomnia at 2am came to life…half of me feels like it's been a part of me, of life, forever. Both halves are feeling super grateful and humbled today as we celebrate our one year anniversary of Keeping Up In Carmel.
If you’ve been around for the past 365 or 5 days, you probably have a good idea what this platform is trying to do. In reflecting over the past 12 months, I’ve realized a few things that I couldn’t see clearly as they were unfolding, but are now clear-as-day looking in the rear view.
KUIC launched 3.5 weeks before we welcomed our 3rd baby into our family. My labor, delivery, and postpartum with our 2nd child was less than ideal, and the thought of having a repeat experience with #3 was terrifying. Looking back, I feel that God spoke KUIC into existence to provide an outlet to pour into and serve others so that my mind (at times my greatest enemy) wouldn’t be so fixated on the “what ifs” of bringing this new baby into the world. Labor, deliver, and postpartum with Gigi was the smoothest of all of our kids, and she will turn one later this month.
We started adjusting to being a family of 5 and KUIC continued growing and evolving. We were checking out all the local activities, learning to navigate them with a baby in tow, and something my mom instilled in me really came alive for the first time. Getting out into the community and making memories with our kids is so important, BUT we, as parents, are the keepers of the magic of their childhood. The event doesn’t hold the magic. The activity doesn’t hold the magic. WE do. If our kids see us confident, excited, and filled with joy to be with them—I’m convinced we could make even a trip to the dentist feel like a magical adventure.
KUIC also has me thinking farther into the future for our kids. I don’t particularly like thinking about my kids even getting a year older, but for this purpose it feels right. My husband and I want to show them that the place they grew up in was a special place filled with beautiful memories and something they will look back on as adults and say “I loved growing up there.” Ultimately we know that our kids' adult feelings aren’t in our control, but it’s become important to us to give it our best shot, because they deserve it.
I write all this to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing KUIC into your life and supporting it the way you have over the past year. If it wasn’t for the supportive comments, subscribers, random DMs from people I don’t know saying “keep it up, this is making a difference” on a day I didn’t really know if it was worth it, KUIC may not have made it to its first birthday. The KUIC community is truly something special.
I also want to acknowledge that the local businesses, city governments, parks and recs departments, etc. are also a critical part of this community. Their willingness to listen to the mission of this platform and take a chance on partnering are what make it so impactful. This platform would not be helpful in a place that didn’t care about making sure their residents felt happy and engaged with their community.
Special shoutout to my husband and close friends for being the backbone of KUIC. For every finished reel, graphic, partnership, etc. there are countless conversations behind it with me asking “what do you think of this” 100x over until we get it right.
I can feel God at work in this platform. There is no other way to explain the KUIC story without Him being at the helm. And as we round out a year by hitting some exciting milestones, I feel like He is saying He’s got more to do here…I’m just along for the ride. I'm very grateful to be a part of Keeping Up In Carmel, and I pray that it serves you for years to come.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Chelsea