The Beginning of Redemption Trails: Our Family’s Comeback Story

Hi, we’re Jim and Kelly—and this is the beginning of our comeback.

We’ve been married since 2005, building a blended family full of love, laughter, heartache, and growth. Between us, we’ve raised kids from hers, mine, and ours—each one a blessing and a challenge in the best of ways. Over the years, like many families, we’ve walked through storms and sunshine. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that change doesn’t happen in a moment—it happens with momentum.

For as long as we can remember, we’ve struggled with our weight. Before we met and even more after life got busy, the scale was a constant opponent. We tried everything—fads, gimmicks, pills, injections. We gave Monjourno and semaglutide a go. We dove into intermittent fasting. And like so many others, we rode the roller coaster of motivation, results, discouragement, and relapse.

But something shifted as we approached 50. We looked at each other and said: We want to live, not just survive. We want to hike the mountains. Kayak the rivers. Dance at our grandkids' weddings. Not from the sidelines, but fully alive. This was no longer about weight—it was about redemption.

Jim’s parents passed away in their early 40s. That truth has always been a quiet echo in the back of his mind. Kelly’s father was taken too soon in a motorcycle accident just before we were married. Loss like that shapes a person. And now, we’ve decided to let it fuel us rather than break us.

So we started Redemption Trails—not just a name, but a mission. A place to document our journey. To share what works, what doesn’t, what motivates us, and what holds us back. We’ll talk about cravings, exercise, mental health, victories, plateaus, and real-life struggles. Because we’re human. We’re passionate. We care deeply. And we’re still figuring it out.

We believe stories have power. And maybe ours will spark something in someone else—someone who feels stuck or invisible or like their best days are behind them. Trust us, they’re not.

This is our trail. It’s muddy in places and breathtaking in others. But it’s ours—and it’s just getting started.

So walk with us. Laugh with us. Cry with us. Cheer us on. And maybe, just maybe, start your own comeback story too.

Welcome to Redemption Trails.