2024, what a year it has been.
As I reflect at the end of each year, I always have a hard time finding a way to string words together to adequately describe the emotions and experiences from the previous 365 days. How can I fit so many experiences into one blog post without losing people by paragraph three? There have been ups and downs, surprises and challenges, but also incredible growth, joy, and gratitude. While it’s impossible to recount every detail, what stands out the most is how much progress has been made, both personally and within my business.
It’s the second full year Planted has been in business but this year wasn’t just a continuation of what we’ve built so far—it was a year of firsts. And for Planted, these milestones felt nothing short of monumental. So, instead of trying to pack every moment into one post, I want to share a few first that felt monumental in 2024.
Planted’s First RootsTech
Perhaps one of my very favorite moments from Planted’s 2024. Literal blood sweat and tears were put into the preparation of this event but things truly couldn’t have gone better. We were able to sell our very first physical product with our conversation kits and were able to conduct some very fun interviews around the expo hall with attendees. We met SO many incredible people, many of which have been featured, and will continue to be featured in this very newsletter. The days leading up to the event were filled with countless hours of hard work, but the three days of the conference were a whirlwind of learning, connecting, growing, some serious exhaustion, and above all, so much fun.
Save the Date: We will be at RootsTech from March 6th-8th, 2025. To register for RootsTech and learn more about the conference, visit https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/. Come check out our booth, number 326. We would love to meet you there!
Planted’s First Intern
I couldn’t recap 2024 without giving a MASSIVE shoutout to Kylee, Planted’s first ever intern and my saving grace. I’ve heard a lot of people say it takes a village to raise a child and the same sentiment applies to raising a business. From social media posts to video editing to writing blog posts Kylee has done it all and then some! If you’ve booked a video with us over the past few months, chances are you’ve had the pleasure of working with her, and I’m sure you can agree—she’s a total rockstar. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue growing the team, and anyone who joins will have some big shoes to fill!
Planted’s First Death
I knew it was always going to be apart of the job. Unfortunately, the hard truth is that most people don’t fully realize how much they want to preserve their family’s history until later in a loved one’s life. This year I had three former clients pass away and each time the text/news came with the same bundle of emotions. Throughout the video process we grow quite close with these families and knowing the heartbreak they are feeling is devastating. Yet there is a sweet sense of comfort that comes in knowing their stories, smiles, voice, laugh, etc are preserved for the family to enjoy even past their time in mortality has come to a close. I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but let this be your reminder: Whether it’s writing down/typing their history, labeling photos, or doing a video let 2025 be the year you make a conscious effort to preserve your family history.
Planted’s First Legal Videos
It’s cliche but life really does have a funny way of taking you where you need to go, even if it wasn’t part of your original plan. If you would’ve told me even a year ago that Planted would be partnering with law firms across the valley, I think I would’ve thought you were crazy. But when opportunity knocks, you answer. One of my favorite things about Planted is the knowledge that the work we are do is so incredibly valuable to the families we do videos for. This year has been especially rewarding as we’ve watched that value expand. We’ve had the privilege of helping families preserve their life stories, but also of assisting them in sharing their stories of loss—knowing that, through our work, we’re contributing to their pursuit of justice. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact sharing stories can have.
As I wrap up this reflection on 2024, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There are so many people I could thank, countless moments I could highlight, and a million other "firsts" I could share. The journey has been nothing short of incredible, and while this post only scratches the surface, I know the best is yet to come. Every step forward, no matter how big or small, has been a reminder of how far we’ve come—and how much further we can go.
Heading into 2025, I’m filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. The team will grow, the stories will continue, and the impact of preserving family histories will only deepen. I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes us, and I’m so grateful to have you all along for the ride. Here’s to another year of growth, new opportunities, and, most importantly, sharing the stories that root us. Happy New Year!
Comments