3 days ago2 min read

Reflections for 2024

Happy New Year! 2025 is an exciting and fresh year. I have some big things to expect for personal and business life. However, before sharing those plans with you next week, I want to reflect on some highlights from 2024.

At the beginning of the new year for 2024, I shared with you that Pavel and I had chosen the word “excellence” to be our theme for the year. In essence, less is more. It was our goal to focus on doing certain specific things in our life with greater excellence–greater order, intentionality, preparation, etc. All of my business and personal goals were filtered through this vision of excellence.

Personally, 2024 was a year of many new responsibilities, two specific ones! This theme of excellence helped us to grow through those new things. First, our second child Aaron was born in February. Motherhood was sometimes all consuming, yes in hard and tiring ways, but also beautiful precious moments. There was practical learning on how to train our kids through each stage of development…and I have definitely learned more about holistic nutrition for kiddos as we navigate seasonal colds and viruses! And also the richer blessing of family as we cultivate a culture of security, peace, and joy in our home. Secondly, in April, we were ordained as associate pastors at the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship of Alfred. This meant more opportunities to teach and preach, but also grow in counseling and mentoring others.

For my business, I focused my attention on niche clients wanting support with fertility, prenatal and postpartum health. This was so very rewarding as I coached them to adapt new foods and habits to suit their specific health requirements.

I wrote and taught two new classes. First, my Postpartum Nutrition Class which I was able to present at Gently Borne Midwifery in Ithaca to expecting mama’s eager to take care of their health postpartum. Topics included keys for postpartum recovery, breastfeeding and maternal nutrition, as well as tips for infant health.

I also spoke at a Stress and Trauma symposium at Houghton College. This symposium was an event for teachers, human service professionals, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, mental health counselors, and social workers. My class, Healing and Balance Found in Nutrition, was a dynamic time of equipping them with essential steps to understanding their physical and mental health through the lens of nutrition.

The excellence I focused on was definitely not perfection. And with all the new in 2024, it definitely wasn’t perfect. But I am so thankful I was able to grow in specific areas of life which I value so highly.

Stay tuned for next week as I share updates for this 2025 New Year!