Though we shared our differences from time to time, as families do, my in-laws were truly a tremendous blessing to me over the past 15 years. Through good times and bad, they honored me as a lifelong member of their family, and I, them. We shared a caring relationship—we spoke often and kept one another in our daily prayers. The world was a better place for all whose lives were touched by Charlie and Anne, and I am fortunate enough to be one of them. May they rest, together, in peace.

To do this, I take an inventory of all of the things in this world for which I am grateful, and suddenly my handful of troubles pale in comparison. At the top of my list are my deep and unfaltering love for my family; my faith—especially my two home churches, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields in Columbia and St. Stephen’s Episcopal in North Myrtle Beach; my friends; my mental and physical health; and my career, coworkers and clients. Each day, I have food, shelter, water, and a bed to sleep in at night. I have people I can rely on and people who rely on me. I have my local haunts where the menu is great and the company’s better, and I live in a town that is flourishing and has so much to offer. I truly am one blessed individual and am thankful to God for all that he has given me. There are things that happened (or didn’t happen) in my life that I didn’t understand at the time. But quite like the Garth Brooks song “Unanswered Prayers” (which is rattling around in my head at this very moment!), as time goes by, I continue to look back and realize that each challenge served a purpose.

And so, as we enter the weekend, I rejoice—I am a blessed man! I hope you’ll be inspired to take a moment to practice gratitude over the coming days and come to see that you are too!

Though LLR is a necessary agency that, overall, greatly benefits the people of South Carolina, far too often professionals become the subject of investigations by the agency—and their licenses placed on the line—when disgruntled clients or patients raise unfounded complaints of wrongdoing. Mike Kelly Law Group defends individuals and small businesses whose licenses are subject to restriction or revocation in LLR proceedings, and we also handle wage issues that come under the agency’s jurisdiction.

If you or someone you know is concerned about the state of their professional licensure, Mike Kelly Law Group will review the case at no charge. Just give us a call at (803) 726-0123 to set up an appointment. We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

For Columbia residents looking for a little excitement, you need not look any further than Main Street. If it’s live music you’re after, The Joint and 1626 on Main have you covered. Or, for a perfect date night, grab some dinner at one of the many restaurants in the District—offering everything from a juicy steak to the best vegan cuisine in town—and catch a movie at The Nickelodeon theatre. And the Main Street experience is not limited to nightlife; you could easily spend a day at the recently renovated Columbia Museum of Art, visiting the District’s numerous shops, or riding around town on a Blue Bike. On Saturdays, you can start the morning off right with an hour of rooftop yoga at Hendrix and a trip to Soda City Market for local goods. What’s more, getting to and from the Main Street District is easier than ever with free transportation on the Soda Cap Connector!

With all that our town offers and all that’s yet to come, it’s safe to say that there has never been a better time to live, work and play in Columbia, South Carolina! I’ll see you on Main Street!

Though born and raised in Union Beach, New Jersey, Taylor moved to the Palmetto State in 2016 and is now a proud South Carolinian. Like any true Carolina Girl, Taylor loves country music—particularly live performances—and you may have even bumped into her at the Carolina Country Music festival in downtown Myrtle Beach (just a block away from our office!) earlier this month.

Training under Linda Willis—our lead paralegal in Myrtle Beach wielding 20+ years of experience—with support from the outstanding team of paralegals in our Columbia office, Taylor has hit the ground running in her legal assistant position. She is proving to be a natural at her job and a natural fit among her firm family—all in all, our future with Taylor looks bright! Needless to say, we are thrilled to have Taylor on board and look forward to walking alongside her as her bountiful promise blooms into a successful legal career.

Welcome to the family, Taylor!

During a recent stay at Kingston Plantation, Beverly and I took a Saturday afternoon stroll on the beach. As we walked, I thought about my dad and the many trips we made to the coast during my childhood. I recalled him taking long walks while I played in the sand with my sister, and for a moment, it felt as though I was retracing his steps as I continued down my own path along the shores of the Grand Strand.

Although my dad only had an eighth-grade education, he was smarter than I’ll ever be. To this very day, I get choked up when I think about the tremendous impact Dad had on my life. He taught me life’s most important lessons, like how to be the head of a family and a provider to many, just as he was. And while there have been many times over the years when I wished I’d taken better notes, I’m confident that I retained my dad’s wisdom where it mattered most. After all, just as sure as I made my fair share of mistakes as a parent, it only takes one look at Patrick and Mac to know I did plenty right!

 

The confidence that the people of Horry County—and folks throughout South Carolina—place in Mike Kelly Law Group is humbling and is not something which we treat lightly. A referral is an extension of one’s own reputation, and we at MKLG believe it is incumbent upon us to honor the trust of those who recommend our firm to friends, family, and colleagues by delivering exemplary legal services. If meeting that standard means more travel to Myrtle Beach, then I embrace the opportunity! Whether it’s for work or leisure, I enjoy spending time there. The salt air and coastal lifestyle are good for the soul, and there is never a dearth of exciting things to do after-hours and on the weekends—I can hear the Carolina Country Music Festival going on now! Most of all, I enjoy being part of the beach community, and I am filled with gratitude for its members and their role in making our Myrtle Beach practice a success!

We are more than delighted to welcome Lou Ann to the Mike Kelly Law Group family! If you’re in or around Winnsboro and have not had the pleasure of meeting Lou Ann, stop in and visit! Our office is located at 106 East Washington Street in downtown Winnsboro, and we’re open from 9am to 4pm Monday through Thursday. We love being part of the Winnsboro and Fairfield County communities, and as always, we’re here for the people of South Carolina!

And as if that isn’t enough, I am blessed to have had the opportunity to represent thousands of people over the years who still think highly of the firm, so much so that they refer friends and family members to us.  It is though this network that Mike Kelly Law Group stays busy despite the intense and ever-growing presence of competition in all three of our markets.

For all of the reasons above, plus the blessing of good health, I consider myself to be one very lucky man.  Thank you for another wonderful year of life on earth!