In 2011, Atlanta local Joe Dawn - son of Joe and Camille Dawn - brought his wife, Krystl, home from her hometown of Waskom, Texas.
In Joe's opinion, she was special then and is special now, and so are their children, 10-year-old Gunner and 9-year-old Halley.
That's to be expected, but that's not all.
This year, Krystl Dawn was named Woman of the Year by the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce. The banquet was the last large gathering in town before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
"I am in a town with some of the most talented, hard-working and dedicated women I know, so to even be considered for this made me proud," she said. "Everyone just says I do a lot for the community but I just do what I see needs to be done."
She learned to roll up her sleeves and get involved at a young age.
"I believe if you don't like something, or you see something that needs fixing, then jump in and help make it happen, Krystl said. "Talking about the break won't mend it. Actual work fixes it.
"In Waskom, my grandfather has always been that way. Growing up, my family was always involved in the community and my Papa always instilled this mindset in me."
Krystl graduated from Waskom High School in 2001, then attended Stephen F. Austin University. There, she received her bachelor's degree in business management in 2005 and a master's degree in business administration in 2007.
She began a business in Atlanta in 2013 - a gymnastic and cheerleading school called FlipNCheer.
"FlipNCheer began with just a dream to offer cheerleading but most importantly a Christian-focused environment. FNC is where God has placed so many of us to spread the love and word of God," Krystl said. "I was in the gym at the age of 3 and never looked back."
She started competitive cheer at 11 then went on to cheer at SFAU, later coaching the university's all-girl squad for 3 years.
Since opening the gym, she has also ventured into making T-shirts and macaroons at a company called GHEKo.
"My little girl Halley and I started a small macaroon home-based shop this year as well," she said. "Halley and I fell in love with baking macaroons and so developed 'Sassy Macs.'"
Krystl put together a Mac of the Month Club and takes special and holiday orders.
Her FlipNCheer venture has eight employees and approximately 250 athletes. With the pandemic going on, she is keeping the students in shape by holding online stretching lessons.
"We have been doing virtual training, posting little contests and just trying to keep our kids moving during the break," she said. "We will take things day-by-day and work to adapt to our new norm."
She also has created a new pandemic design T-shirt, "Back Back Gimme 6 Feet," which is a parody of the current popular song "Back Back Gimme 50 Feet."
With all gyms being closed, "This has been such a time of reflection and appreciation for us," she said. "We know coming back is going to be slow, but we also will be coming back rested and ready."
As a downtown business owner, she is a member of the Atlanta Merchants Association. Her role is to focus on social media, promotion and event planning. One of those events is the popular Hometown Christmas festival and parade.
"I work with Lisa Thompson to head up this project along with so many amazing other ladies including Raegan Rice, Jamie Albertson, Cheryl Brooks and Kayla Howard," Krystl said. "In the beginning we all wanted a place for our kids to grow up with neat opportunities that showed them being from a small town didn't mean you still couldn't have amazing and fun events."
Krystl said her family has had a lot more time together since COVID-19 hit.
"As a gym owner, family dinnertime is a little different than others, so we have been enjoying the opportunity to have meals all together," she said. "We have been having ring-toss games and honestly talking more. My husband and I love our front-porch morning coffee time."
She said it was the couple's dream to retire to a front porch with rocking chairs and a view.
"Well, we laugh at that right now," Krystl said. "We are getting in lots of front-porch sitting practice."
She said the most difficult part of social separation and the pandemic is trying to shield her children's minds and hearts from developing negative attitiudes.
"I want my children to see the amazing things coming from this," she said. "I want their memories to be full of time with their family and enjoyment of the time to run and play."
Any fears she or husband harbor are not discussed in front of them.
"We are honest about it. But I believe as a town, state and even country we are raising some children that will be way more understanding, forgiving, patient and of all things appreciative because of this time," she said "I know many times we have all taken for granted so many things.
"When things are back to normal, I pray we always remember these times and never take any of it for granted." n