Tonight I had an encounter with someone who has always "just grated on me". Is that a southern term? I don't know, but for those of you not sure what it means, just imagine that I'm cheese and this person makes me feel like I'm being raked across a cheese grater whose sharp edges grind me into a million little...
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Devotional Journeys
A Mom’s Thoughts While Sitting in Her Car at Midnight:03 AM, Waiting on Her Teenaged Son
One thing I'm learning while I raise a teenager (because isn’t that how we learn? By doing?), is that what you get out of something is definitely directly proportional to what you have already put into it. In other words if we had not invested, i.e., “filled the tank” in our son when he was younger... by spending time...
Adventure, Educational Journey, Travel & Adventure
Holmes Wild West Adventure, Summer 2018: Day 1
This summer, we decided to take an epic road trip adventure and drive "Out West" - the first time we've ever driven (we have flown) west of the Mississippi, except to drive to Texas, where my husband originally called home. And epic it was! We loaded up the boys and my nephew, Porter - who had just graduated high school,...
Devotional Journeys
A Lesson from Archery: Be the Arrow, Not the Archer
The Arrow and the Song, Longfellow Aiming to be Archers? Several years ago, when my eldest son was around the age of seven or so, he and a few of his friends took up archery lessons. The bow and arrow was a pretty big deal around our home for a while, and I had to keep my head up to keep...
Faith & Family, Faith Topics
Generational Parenting Fake News
I want to go on the record today in defense of my parents' generation. In fact, I want to apologize for my generation of ungrateful complainers. I think you're getting a bum rap on social media these days and it's just not fair. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that there's a lot of FAKE NEWS...
Devotional Journeys, Faith Topics
What Am I REALLY Praying For You?
Consider the following situation... Let's say you’ve been asked to pray for someone, and he or she is very specific in asking you to pray for “this” or “that”, or that God will “work in a specific way” or “bring about a specific answer”... Do you agree to pray for them? Then, do you ACTUALLY pray for them? (I mean,...
Devotional Journeys, Faith & Family, Faith Topics
Digging Out of a Rut
I've been reading "My Utmost for His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers over and over for many years now, almost daily. I love it - and even though I am always reading new books, studies, and devotionals, this one is ALWAYS on my night stand. I don't read it by the actual correct date, but simply read it through -...
Devotional Journeys
ALL NEW CHRISTMAS SHOW AT DOLLY PARTON’S SMOKY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES
Disclosure: As a member of the Dollywood Insiders Panel, I occasionally receive complimentary resort stays and admission to theme parks and attractions. In this instance, I was given free admission to this attraction so that I could review it. However, as always, all opinions are entirely my own. Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show continues its inaugural season with...
Tennessee and Appalachian Region Travel, Travel & Adventure
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort: An Extraordinary Family Getaway
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort has only been open a little over two years, and in that short amount of time I’ve enjoyed five different stays at the property. On every single trip I’ve found something new and wonderful about this special place that makes me fall in love with it a little more every time I visit. During my very...
Devotional Journeys, Faith & Family
Rx for Restless Hearts: A Tall Order
"You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." - St. Augustine, Confessions 1.1.1 Just a quick word to my friends, young and old... I have been witnessing so much relationship heartache from so many these days. And yes, I've known my share. And through this heartache and suffering, which I...