10 Feb 2025 Couple of the Month: Kimberly and Luke Porter
HIS STORY:
I am someone who doesn’t mind being alone but at the same time loves getting to know people and hearing their stories. People who know me best would say I’m often opinionated and particular. I admire success but not at the expense of family and integrity.
NATIVE OF: I was born in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) but lived in Paris (Logan County) until college.
EDUCATION: I earned a Bachelor of Science from UCA in 1998.
EMPLOYMENT: Luke Porter, Inc. I still feel very honored when someone chooses our company to build or remodel their home. All the projects we work on are special to me because of the people.
SPECIAL INTERESTS: Anything with family, riding bikes, running, lifting weights and reading a good book.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE? For Kimberly and me, it started with surrender and grace, surrendering our lives to Jesus after coming to the end of ourselves early on in our marriage. We learned to have grace toward each other and that has allowed us to let the other have a bad day or mood or need to be alone without taking it personally. Grace is not going halfway, it’s going all the way toward the other even when one of us doesn’t deserve it at the time.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: We are members at Summit Church in Conway and I also serve on the board of Life Choices.
HER STORY:
I am an introvert who values relationships. I try to find the positive in all things. I trust that God has a plan for our lives and that He has orchestrated both accomplishments and struggles to draw me closer to Him and His purpose for me.
NATIVE OF: I was born in Booneville, but grew up in Paris, Ark., which are both in Logan County.
CHILDREN: We have two married children and three grandsons. Tyler and Maddie have James. Alyx and Tim have Knox and Miles.
EDUCATION: I have my BSE in kinesiology and English from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), class of 1998.
EMPLOYMENT: I am a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Conway Regional Fitness Center.
SPECIAL INTERESTS: I love spending time with my husband, kids and grandkids. I love being active, whether working out, riding bikes or going on walks with Luke and the grandkids. But I also enjoy relaxing and taking in every moment because it really is going by too fast.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I am very proud of completing college while being married and raising Tyler and Alyx. I can say with 100 percent certainty that it is by God’s grace and strength that Luke and I are where we are today.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: We are members of Summit Church in Conway.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT the 501? Central Arkansas (Conway) is a hidden gem! It’s a place you want to tell everyone about but also hate to say too much because I really like the small-town feel that is still here after living here for 32 years.
THEIR STORY:
We first met in seventh and eighth grade when we were taking a hunter’s education course. I (Luke) was so smitten with her that I actually failed the course (being that deer and fish were the last things on my mind at the time). Thankfully, I was able to retake the test and pass it. We actually started dating after my ninth-grade and her 10th-grade years, which would have been the summer of 1990. I’m not sure she was quite as in love as I was at first, but thankfully she came around. Almost three years later, I proposed to Kimberly on top of Mount Magazine, and we were married on May 29, 1993. I’ve always said she is the best thing I have going, and I would add she’s still the love of my life after almost 32 years.
