Hi, I'm Kim.

I'm so glad you're here!

If you've found your way to this little corner of the internet, welcome. Pull up a chair, stay awhile, and let me tell you a little about who I am and why I created this place.

I'm Kim—a wife, mom, grandmother, friend, creator, writer, photographer, soap maker, and encourager at heart.

But more than any title, I'm someone who believes that the little things matter.

A handwritten letter.

A beautiful sunset.

A garden in bloom.

A favorite book.

A recipe passed down or shared with a friend.

A bar of soap made carefully by hand.

A conversation that makes someone feel less alone.

A little unexpected kindness arriving in the mailbox.

I've always been drawn to those things that make ordinary life feel a little more meaningful.

A little more about me...

I've been married to the love of my life for 34 years, and together we've built a big, sometimes crazy, always meaningful family. I'm a mom of 8 and a grandmother of 6, and family has always been at the center of my life.

Our story hasn't always been picture-perfect, and we've walked through some incredibly hard seasons alongside some of the happiest ones. But those experiences have shaped who I am, what I believe, and the way I see the world.

These days, I find myself especially grateful for the simple things - family gathered around the table, conversations that last a little too long, watching the people I love grow, and making memories in the ordinary moments that somehow become the ones we remember most.

Being a wife, mom, and grandmother has taught me more about love, patience, resilience, and grace than anything else ever could.

A little of my story

Life has taught me some beautiful lessons, but it has also taken me through some incredibly difficult places.

On July 22, 2024, I lost my daughter, Brianna, to an overdose after many years of struggling with addiction. Loving someone through addiction changes you. It taught me about heartbreak, helplessness, resilience, forgiveness, and a kind of love that doesn't simply disappear when life becomes hard.

Losing Brianna changed me, but it didn't end my story.

If anything, it deepened my desire to use my own experiences to encourage other people who may be walking through difficult seasons of their own.

That desire is a big part of why I created The Hope Post.

I wanted to create something tangible in a world that has become so digital. Something that would arrive in someone's mailbox and remind them that they are thought of, that they matter, and that there is still beauty and hope to be found - even on the hard days.

Brianna is part of that story, but The Hope Post is about so much more than grief or addiction.

It's about hope.

Connection.

Encouragement.

Kindness.

And reminding one another that we don't have to walk through life alone.

I love creating things with my hands.

One of the places that passion shows up is through Raw & Lovely Apothecary, my small-batch handmade skincare business.

I love knowing exactly what goes into the things I create and being able to make something beautiful and useful with my own hands.

From tallow soaps and skincare to candles and other little creations, Raw & Lovely is rooted in my love for nature, simplicity, and thoughtful living.

And just like The Hope Post, it isn't really about the product.

It's about the feeling behind it.

It's about creating something with intention and sending a little piece of that intention out into the world.

And then there's the writing

I've always had stories inside me.

Some are about motherhood and family.

Some are about grief and the things life teaches us.

Some are about joy, marriage, friendship, growing older, finding yourself again, and figuring out how to make the most of the life you've been given.

I love sharing those stories because I've learned that our experiences don't have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Sometimes the very things we think we should hide are the things that help someone else feel less alone.

I find inspiration in ordinary life

I love being outside.

I love flowers and gardening, taking photographs, reading a good book, making things, cooking, being with my grandchildren, gathering people around a table, and noticing the little details that are easy to overlook when life gets busy.

I'm fascinated by the way beauty can show up in unexpected places.

And I'm always looking for the lesson, the story, or the little bit of hope tucked inside an ordinary day.

So what will you find here?

A little bit of all of that.

📬 The Hope Post — monthly letters, encouragement, inspiration, and little surprises delivered to your mailbox.

🌿 Raw & Lovely Apothecary — handmade soaps, skincare, candles, and other creations inspired by nature.

📖 My writing — stories, reflections, encouragement, and pieces of life that I hope will make you think, smile, or feel a little less alone.

📷 Photography & everyday beauty — because sometimes a picture really can say what words can't.

And as this little space grows, I'm sure there will be other things along the way.

Because I've learned that life doesn't always follow the plan we imagined.

Sometimes it takes us somewhere better.

Why I'm here

At the heart of everything I do is one simple desire:

I want people to feel encouraged and seen.

I want someone to open a letter and smile.

I want someone going through a hard season to feel a little less alone.

I want someone to discover a handmade product and know that thought and care went into creating it.

I want someone to read something I've written and think, "Me too."

And I want to remind people that there is still so much beauty in this life.

So, whether you've come here for The Hope Post, a bar of handmade soap, a story, a photograph, or simply a little encouragement...

I'm really glad you found me.

Come on in.

Stay awhile.

And I hope that when you leave, you take a little hope with you.

With love,

Kim