Saturday, September 26, 2015, was one of my best days ever! My friend Lauran and I have talked about attending Mayberry Days for years; but, this was the weekend we finally got there! Those who know me well know that I am somewhat freakishly devoted to The Andy Griffith Show. (Seriously, I am.) Mom refers to Andy Griffith on my behalf as "Uncle" Andy. ~smile~ When I received the news of his passing on July 3, 2012, I actually cried. As someone who does not go crazy over celebrities (most of them do not impress me in the least), the fact that I actually shed a tear over a man I have never … [Read more...]

Just a handful of miles away from my home is the Liberty Mountain SnowFlex Centre – currently, the only snowless ski slope in the United States. Thanks to Liberty University, it has been sitting there waiting for me all this time! Do not get me wrong, I have absolutely no interest in skiing or snowboarding (just not my thing); but, tubing has always sounded exciting. I mean, you sit in a tube and you go downhill! No learning curve there! It just seemed like amazing fun. Believe it or not, Eric was a bit uncomfortable when I brought up the idea of using the SnowFlex mountain; he had heard … [Read more...]

Elephants and Sea Turtles and Pigs, Oh My! For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by these three animals. Well, I have been fascinated by elephants and sea turtles – I suppose piggies are just cute. ~smile~ Years ago, I saw a video of young people riding an elephant and thought it looked so cool! (What a life-changing experience it would be to ride an elephant!) Years went by, this little girl grew into a woman, and she still dreamed of riding an elephant. Everyone dreams of that, right? I mentioned it occasionally to people (mostly Eric), but I thought I would have to … [Read more...]

So far, this year has been full of new and exciting experiences. And, while I am thankful for them, I am reminded that not all experiences are pleasant. Some leave us with questions, heartaches, and empty places in our hearts. Yet, those experiences that cause us pain also afford us the opportunity to pour our hearts out in a raw, uninhibited way to our Father God. To receive His unexplainable comfort and peace. And, to know the joy which comes from leaning on Him when our hearts are broken. Earlier this year, I lost my godfather to a very unexpected car accident. And, a couple of weeks … [Read more...]

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the World War II generation. In many cases, I prefer classic television over modern shows – back when fathers were portrayed as strong and wise, and mothers were feminine, kind, and nurturing. Just today, I found myself watching a black and white cooking show and longing to know what it was like to live in simpler times. I suppose “simpler” is in the eye of the beholder. Those living through World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, and the Korean War probably did not consider the early and mid-portions of the twentieth century to be all … [Read more...]