Kimberly: So, we moved here in 2014 from Georgia. My husband got a job in Laramie, and we were just ready to move—actually, I was. When we lived in Georgia, we had five children, and we were trying to decide, “Okay, we know we’re ready for a change. What do we want to do? Where do we want to go?”

We knew we wanted to come out West somewhere. So we sat our children down and said, “Okay, where do you guys want to go?” Our oldest was 14 at the time. And then our middle child, Lydia, said, “Why don’t we go to Wyoming?” And we were all like, “Okay… but why Wyoming?” She said, “I don’t know—it just sounds cool. It looks like it would be a neat place.”

So we said, “Alright, we’ll start looking.” My husband started looking for jobs in Wyoming, came out for an interview, got the job, and we moved.

Nancy: I love that you put the decision to your children. And I obviously love that Lydia said Wyoming! But I’d love to know more about the spirit of your family—that this is how you function, as a group.

Kimberly: Yes! That’s totally how we always were. We homeschooled our children before we moved here, and we were raised a little differently, so we wanted to make sure we functioned as a whole. We didn’t want to make decisions for our children—we wanted everyone to be included. Obviously, if there was a final decision that needed to be made, we’d make it. But if it was going to be an adventure for all of us, we wanted them to help choose it too.

When we moved here, we were renting a house in Rock River. I met one of the teachers here, and she invited me to come visit the school—maybe my kids would like to go. We came, and the kids loved it. They thought it was beautiful, and everyone was so kind and accepting.

At the time, I wasn’t working—I was a stay-at-home mom. But I absolutely loved the school, and I wanted to be involved. So I got involved with the PTO, and then the librarian ended up moving. It was the perfect opportunity. I applied for the job, got it, and now I also help out with sports. It was great—I got to be here while my kids were in school too.

Nancy: You mentioned earlier that you’ve made an effort to make the library a colorful place. Can you talk more about that?

Kimberly: Yes, ma’am. I wanted it to be a place where everyone felt accepted—no matter who you are, where you’re from, or what your beliefs are. I wanted a space where any kid, or even an adult, could walk in and feel welcome.

I thought—let’s bring in color, let’s liven it up and brighten it so everyone feels like they belong. That’s just really important. Kids need a safe space—and honestly, adults do too. It’s safe for anyone.And I don’t care if they talk or laugh or get a little loud—unless someone’s testing or we need quiet for a reason. It should feel like a home away from home.

Nancy: Last question. You mentioned that several of your kids have stayed close to Rock River. That’s a big change, coming from Atlanta all the way out here. What do you love about Rock River?

Kimberly: I truly think—when you drive through Rock River, it looks like nothing. Just an old town. But there are so many things people don’t see.

There’s history here. There are so many caring people. What I love most about the school and the town is—it’s one. One big family. If you need something, people show up.

We did a fundraiser the other night at the C-Spear in Medicine Bow—something we do every year for brain cancer awareness. We kind of threw it together last minute, but because it involved a town member, we raised $5,000. Yeah. But that’s how people here are. They may not have much, but they’ll help anyone who needs help. Even if they don’t know you—they’ll still help. You’re part of the town. That makes you family.

If there’s a snowstorm, people plow each other’s driveways. You’ll see posts on Facebook like, “I woke up and my driveway’s plowed—who can I thank for that?” And no one ever says who it was. That’s just the way it is.

People here are accepting like that. And I do love that.

Note: The transcript above has been condensed from its original audio recording to improve the flow and readability of the story.