Vroom......

Before you were conceived
I wanted you
Before you were born
I loved you
Before you were here an hour
I would give my life for you
This is the miracle of life.
~ Maureen Hawkins

It's hard to believe on this date five years ago, our oldest daughter was born. She was supposed to be an October baby but she entered the world 2.5 weeks early....very healthy and almost 8 lbs. I remember that when we found out we were expecting our first child, Jeff just knew that it would be a boy because boys are prevalent on his side of the family. And, because Jeff was riding motorcycles back then, the nickname he gave our baby was "Vroom." Well, as it turned out, "vroom" was a "vroom-ette."

She awakened this morning bright eyed and ready to celebrate her special day. We made cupcakes last night for her class at school. We bought her a pin to wear that said "birthday girl" and she glowed with pride when I put it on her this morning. And, she was so excited when we opened the RV door to leave this morning and there sat the inflatable cake that was out for my birthday just a few weeks ago. She was so proud to be five years old!

It's been amazing watching our daughter as she has grown from such a tiny infant to a young girl. It's hard to believe she is the same little person that we brought home from the hospital only a few short years ago. She was one of those "easy" babies....the only time we heard her cry was if she was hungry and to this day, she is mostly still "easy." She slept well and was very content as an infant. She was easy to potty train. Easy to transition to a regular bed. Easy when the "paci" disappeared. She made the whole parenting game seem so easy at first..then came her sister...but I'll share stories about Anna on her birthday. Gone are the baby fat rolls. But, I'm sure the toothless grins around coming around again as she begins to lose her baby teeth. She maybe said a hand full of words before she turned two. Since she turned two, the problem has been getting her to be quiet...not talk.

Rachel enjoys being the "teacher's helper" and "line leader" at school. She's very competitive and while she can be very prissy, she enjoys throwing the football with Daddy and hunting for bugs. She loves animals and will save a caterpillar from a certain death if it remains on the road. She loves the colors pink and purple and she says matter of factly that "those are everyone's favorite colors." She doesn't know a stranger. If there are children at the playground she jumps right in and plays. She loves to color and draw and play dress up. And, she knows everything about being a princess. For that reason, we are having a princess party for her on Saturday at Sweet and Sassy.

In July, she mastered the art of "swimming" with a life jacket on. She still hates getting water in her face so we haven't had much luck with getting her to go under water but I'm sure that will change in time. Her training wheels broke off of her bike a couple of days ago so we are working on teaching her to ride without them.

I recently asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her first response was, "let me think on that a few minutes." Then, she stated, "I want to be a nurse like Grandma so I can help make people feel better." It was one of those moments that makes a mother proud. Not only had she carefully thought out her answer; she picked a profession for altruistic reasons.

Jeff and I attended her birthday celebration at school earlier today. She was beaming with pride that we were there and that she was the star of the day. Tonight she gets to pick the location for dinner for her special day.

I hope today is a happy one for her and I know she'll have a blast this weekend at her later celebration.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I'd Rather Be At The Beach

We stayed in our home town last weekend. Jeff attended his company picnic on Friday. We had two birthday parties that we were invited to attend and we visit the Ocmulgee National Monument for their annual Indian celebration as well. Jeff and I went there years ago B.C. (before children). We thought the girls might enjoy it on the heels of our trip to Cherokee, NC. They did like some aspects but it didn't take long for them to complain about the heat. Afterwards we had dinner at Jim Shaw's Seafood in Macon. As always, a great meal. The rest of the week was life as usual and getting prepared for our trip to the Georgia coast for the weekend of Sept 23rd.

There is so much to see and do on the Georgia coast: beaches, historic sites, parks, etc. We visited Savannah earlier this year so this is our 2nd trip to the coast but it's the first in our new RV and to King's Bay. For our previous trip, we stayed at Skidaway Island State Park, and visited the beach at Tybee Island, and toured Fort Pulaski National Monument.

We stayed at Eagle Hammock RV Park at the Kings Bay Submarine Base for this trip. We were torn between staying there or at Crooked River State Park which was nearby. In the end, we decided to stay at the Navy base. We were glad we did. The facilities were extremely nice. It included pads for parking and full hookup. Additionally, the comfort station was very clean and offered some additional amenities including free washer/dryers and a family room with internet service, games, TV, etc. And, this military base was very nice as well. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who can stay at military facilities.

We arrived around 5:30 on Friday evening. It only took a few minutes to set up so we decided to try a local place to eat for dinner. The camp host recommended a seafood place in Saint Mary’s so we thought we’d try that. He said the food was good there and to try the alligator. I know everyone jokingly says alligator tastes like chicken but it really does….it’s just a bit chewier. We didn’t tell the girls it was alligator…we told them it was chicken. They ate it and really enjoyed it. After they ate a few pieces, we told them what it was. Anna has now decided she likes alligator. We tried their peanut butter chocolate pie for dessert….it too was yummy.

Thought For The Day: We spotted a sign on a billboard in Saint Mary’s that caught our attention. We found it to be quite humorous. This is the sign for your amusement.





On Saturday, we thought we’d visit the historic area of Saint Mary’s and then head to the beach after lunch. Saint Mary’s is a quaint town and luckily for us…not busy in the least. We walked through the historic part and visited the Submarine Museum. I’ve never been in an actual submarine and I have to say that I’m in awe at the fact that people can actually live in these things for long periods of time. Our friends wonder how we can stand it in such a small space but I think we have it great…especially if compared to a submarine.
We ate lunch at Sterling’s Southern Café in the Saint Mary’s historic district. That, too, was a great choice for a meal. The crab bisque was wonderful! The thing that caught our eye about this restaurant was their window which stated “serving dinner and supper.” It wasn’t too long ago when Jeff and I had a debate with my Mom on the proper names for meal times. Jeff and I call our noon time meal “lunch;” and, the evening meal “dinner.” My Mom called the noon time meal “dinner” and the evening meal “supper.” We chalked it up to one of her typical unique ways of stating things. But, we were proved wrong in this instance. The menu in Sterling’s states “In gentler times the noon meal was always referred to as dinner.”
We wanted to go to Cumberland Island but thought that it might be a better trip just for Jeff and me without the children. We would definitely like to do that some time in the near future. We also did not have time to go to the Okefenokee Swamp…that’s another item we’ll have open for our next visit to this area.
We drove to Fernandina Beach, FL, for the afternoon. It was so nice. The weather was perfect and the beach was not crowded in the least. If we were surfers, the water would’ve been perfect as well. The waves were quite rough though. While we enjoyed the visit to this beach, you simply can’t beat the beauty of the gulf beaches. The water and the sand were so much prettier at Santa Rosa Beach when we visited there in July. We stayed at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, FL, and that, too, is a nice RV park. Nevertheless, we had a great time at this beach as well. A day at the beach is better than any day at home, right? Anna particularly loved sitting in the sand and letting the waves wash over her and push her along. She giggled nonstop. And, Rachel spent her time collecting shells. As I laid on the beach with the surf washing over me and the breeze blowing around me, I couldn’t help but think how much I did not miss our house. I loved the fact that we had the freedom to go wherever we wanted without the responsibilities of a fixed home to care for. We could have been at home mowing the lawn, cleaning, painting, etc. Instead, we were on the beach and loving every minute.

After a full afternoon at the beach, we headed back to the RV for a much needed shower. We decided to drive through Crooked River State Park on the way back to the Navy base to see if we’d rather stay there on our next visit to this area or not. It looked like a very nice state park as well. And, I would request site #11 if it was available as it had the best view of the water. I think Eagle Hammock was nicer in terms of amenities and camp sites though. If we come back to this area in the future, we will most likely stay at Eagle Hammock again.

There is only one negative about the Georgia coast that I have seen thus far…and that is the insects. The mosquitoes are huge and they are relentless. If you ever decide to visit this area, ensure you have lots of mosquito repellent. You’ll need it. Luckily, we didn’t encounter red bugs on this trip. We did experience these on a trip to Jekyll Island years ago. But, as long as you know about it and prepare for it, it can be manageable.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance~~Lyrics by Lee Ann Womack

On Saturday, a dear friend passed away. He died while recovering in the hospital after gastric surgery.
I'm sure many can recall having some type of surgery in their life or have a loved one that has undergone surgery; and, we were told the risks associated with it. Most people do not think they (or their loved one) will be the "statistic." Unfortunately, surgery such as gastric bypass is extremely dangerous. And, there are many people who are choosing it as an alternative to a life time of obesity.

I found the timing of my friend's death to be reflective. As it was this month, just last year, that my niece died under similar circumstances. While a tragic loss such as this at any age is painful, it was even more so sobering as my neice was in her early 20s and left behind two children under the age of five to grow up without their mother. I often think of my niece and I miss her terribly. And, now I mourn the loss of my good friend Joe--two special souls who will no longer be amongst the living.

I am sharing this story because I'm hoping their short lives reminds everyone to stop and reflect on how precious each day is that we have here on this earth. I'm sure if either Joe or Ericka were here today to give us advice, they too would tell us to enjoy every moment to the fullest. And, when you get the choice to "sit it out or dance....I hope you dance."

In memory of Ericka and Joe.

Gone but not forgotten.

Rocky Top Tennessee

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God." ~~George Washington Carver

Every year in September for almost 15 years, we take our annual trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s always this same weekend because we have reservations at the LeConte Lodge on September 10th for each year. There are five trails to the top of Mt LeConte with the shortest being the Alum Cave Bluffs trail (5.5 miles one way) and the longest being the Boulevard Trail (8.8 miles one way). A lodge and cabins are at the top of the mountain that does require reservations for overnight stay. They provide dinner at night and then breakfast in the morning. The cabins are quite rustic and there is a central toilet facility shared by all who stay overnight. Because we go the same night each year, we have developed friendships with other families who also go on the same night each year.

We stayed at Tremont Hills campground in Townsend, TN, for this trip. There is ample space for each RV and the campground is clean. It has a playground area and a pool which Rachel and Anna love. And, it’s relatively convenient to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Our only complaint is that the bridge to enter the campground is a bit narrow…particularly when driving a huge RV.

We arrived at our campground on Thursday afternoon around 3 pm and settled in for the weekend. My mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gail & Harold, joined us for this trip. They have a camper and stayed in the site next to us. We stayed at the campground all evening to rest after our travel from Georgia to Tennessee.

We went to Pigeon Forge on Friday morning. Pigeon Forge has tons of stuff to see and do but it has gotten extremely congested over the years. It’s amazing how much Dolly Parton brought to this town by building Dollywood here. People really don't know about the economic boon that she has brought to Sevierville. And, she didn't just improve the economics but also did what she could to help literacy. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, provides free monthly books to all children in the community from birth or when they move into the community until they turn 5. She is an admirable lady and a fine example of how stars can use their prestige to give back to their communities.
And, Pigeon Forge does have two very yummy restaurants worthy of a visit; The Old Mill and the Apple Barn.

As I mentioned before, we always come on the same weekend in September because of our Mt LeConte reservations. Unfortunately, that same weekend coincides with a car show in Pigeon Forge and a motorcycle rally in Cherokee, NC. With the car and motorcycle rallies going on simultaneously, Jeff Foxworthy could visit and get loads of new material for his "you might be a redneck if..." jokes. Every lane on the main highway that runs through Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee becomes bumper to bumper traffic throughout the weekend due to these two events. People ride up and down the highway to show off their vehicle or motorcycle. And, many sit in a lawn chair along side the roads to watch vehicles drive by. A trip from one block to the next could take an hour. I guess for enthusiasts, it’s enjoyable. For those of us that come to the mountains to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living, it’s an annoyance on a major scale (and that’s putting it politely). I can't imagine being so close to the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and choosing instead to sit in a lawn chair by the road to watch cars go by. But then again, maybe seeing a view of the stars in a clear sky on top of a mountain isn't the only thing of beauty to many people. To each his own I guess.

We went to an interactive museum in Pigeon Forge called Wonder Works and we all had a great time. Jeff and I even tested our skill on the rock climbing wall. We both made it ¾ of the way up before falling. I have never attempted rock climbing of any kind before. I was amazed at how physically challenging that it really was. It requires use of all of the major muscle groups. We attended the “Hoot N’ Holler” dinner show at the museum Friday evening. That, too, was very enjoyable. We have attended others such as Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and the Black Bear Jamboree in Pigeon Forge during previous trips. The others shows had more pizzazz but I found the “Hoot N’ Holler” show to be very interactive which made it more enjoyable than others to me. Rachel and Anna were called up on stage and so was Jeff. Of course, I had neither my camera nor camcorder to record the entertainment. And, the dinner was good too. Most shows like this serve bar-b-que and rotisserie chicken. This show served all-u-can-eat lasagna, stuffed shells, chicken parmesan , salad, bread, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Considering the food and the interaction with the audience, I think this dinner show has been one of my favorites thus far…and we’ve tried Medieval Times and dinner shows in Orlando as well. So, I give the "Hoot N' Holler" show a thumbs up for those who visit Pigeon Forge. But, if you like the wow factor, you’d be better served going to one of the other dinner shows.

On Saturday we decided to brave the traffic and head to Cherokee, NC, to bring the girls to the Okonaluftee Indian Village. We thought the girls would enjoy seeing that and they did. Our trip was slowed due to a car that ran off of the parkway going through the National Park. The people who were in the vehicle were drinking and driving. For anyone who has ever traveled through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will agree that the road is curvy and can test the driving skills of even sober people. I can’t believe these people attempted it drunk. I was grateful that no one was hurt…including the passengers of the vehicle that wrecked. I was even more grateful considering that we could’ve collided with these idiots had we been traveling down this road only a few short minutes earlier. But, while waiting for the vehicle to be cleared, we had time to look more closely at the nature that surrounded us. And, Rachel "saved" a green furry caterpillar that was on the road. She placed him on a leaf so that he would be safe. So, our stop was not a complete waste of time.

By the time we arrived in Cherokee, we were ready for lunch and found a place to stop and eat. Then, we headed to the Indian Village. Unfortunately, we had to fight our way through the tons of motorcycles. Jeff and I used to own motorcycles. We enjoy them and also can say that most motorcyclists are great people to know. However, where we separate from our riding brethren are with the loud after market tail pipes. They are annoying to say the least. And, when you are surrounded by thousands of them, they rattle your brain. And, when you are hiking miles into the mountains on a peaceful trail, you can still hear the obnoxious noise that they make. Many motorcyclists who have after market pipes think that they improve safety for the rider as other drivers can hear them even if they don't see them. We disagree, the attention it garners the motorcyclists is mostly negative and will most likely warrant government legislation at some point…something I am not a fan of either. You know that whole concept of personal responsibility...long forgotten by many citizens unfortunately.


Rachel and Anna loved the Indian village. I have long since forgotten many facts about the American Indian, particularly the Cherokee. This time of the year is also the time that the Trail of Tears began in 1838. I felt sorrowful that these people lost their homeland so many years ago in such a terrible way. I was impressed to hear that they require their children to learn the Cherokee language in school as well as English before graduation. I think it’s awesome that they are preserving their heritage this way. Most of us who descend from immigrants do not know a word of our ancestor's native language.

If you get the opportunity to visit Cherokee, I also recommend visiting their museum and watching "Unto These Hills." Unto These Hills is an outdoor drama performed in their outdoor amphitheater but it is seasonal so you can't see it in the late fall or winter months. We saw it once years ago and would like to see it again but they end their annual performances before our September trip unfortunately.

After dealing with the cars and motorcycles for the earlier part of Saturday, we decided to stay at the campground and grill out for dinner that night.

Sunday morning was the day for Jeff and I to hike up Mt. LeConte. Gail and Harold took Rachel and Anna to Dollywood while we hiked. We chose the Alum Cave Bluffs trail and we began our hike at 9 am. The weather was perfect….not too hot or too cold. The bugs were minimal. Every time we hike it, I'm reminded of the rugged beauty of the mountains. We passed bear scat along the trail and were later told by a ranger that bears were very active right now because the berry and acorn crops were poor this year and that they were out searching for food. It's times like this that I'm reminded that we really need to get some pepper spray for protection. But, of all the years that we have been hiking in the Smokies, we have never encountered a bear on a trail. One of the hikers told me about his wrist bell that his daughter gave him to wear when he was hiking alone to help warn bears of his presence. The logic here is that when you are hiking alone you aren't talking, etc. which could give the bear a heads up that you were coming so the bell serves as the warning. Surprising a bear is never a good thing. However, when checking in with the rangers for his hike, the ranger said, "Ahhh, I see you have your dinner bell." The hiker wasn't amused.

We reached LeConte lodge around 11:45. We were able to get Cabin 10 which is the cabin we’ve always stayed in each year. Except this year, the cabin was different. It now has a covered porch and access to the porch from the inside of the cabin. We were quite tired from the hike and decided to catch a nap before dinner.
The rain started shortly thereafter. We had a nice, peaceful nap while listening to the rain and we were thankful that we had made it to the lodge so we would be spared wet clothes for the rest of the evening. It was in the 40s on top of the mountain at night so it wouldn’t have been a pleasant evening with wet clothing.

Throughout the afternoon we loaded up on hot chocolate. Before dinner we caught up on our things that have happened over the past year with our long time friends, Paul and Bruce, and then later listened to an educational briefing on why some of the trees were dying in the Smokies with Ranger Katie.

The National Park Service started placing rangers at Mt LeConte last year. A ranger will spend several months at LeConte Lodge and they spend their time educating visitors on the park and local history. Soon after the discussion on the trees by Ranger Katie, it was dinner time. Dinner is always delicious. Of course, they could serve us dog food on crackers and we’d think it was great because everyone is famished after the long hike up to LeConte. Dinner consisted of the usual…soup, cornbread, beef tips, green beans, mashed potatoes, cinnamon apples, a peach half, and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. After dinner, everyone went to Cliff Tops, the lookout point to watch the sun set. This year I think it was more beautiful before the sun started to go down. The clouds were rolling in and it was a magnificent sight to behold (picture at the top is the view from Cliff Tops). Ranger Katie provided another educational briefing out at Cliff Tops. She closed with giving each of us the task of pondering “What does the Smoky Mountains mean to you?” I’m going to have to ponder that for a little while and write something on another date. After dinner, we joined friends in the main lodge and caught up on what we have been doing over the past year and discussed other trails and parks that we needed to visit at some point. We turned in around 9:30 and slept soundly until almost breakfast time at 8 am. Breakfast is always equally yummy…pancakes, Canadian bacon, grits, biscuits, scrambled eggs, and Tang to drink. We were stocked up on calories to head back down the mountain.

We left Mt LeConte around 9 am and were back at the jeep by 11 am. We headed back to the RV, got showers and grabbed lunch at the Carriage House in Townsend. We decided to brave traffic and go to Gatlinburg Monday evening. It ended up being a great night to venture out. There were very few people out and about in Gatlinburg. It was raining pretty hard when we got there so we decided to go to the Ripley’s Aquarium. I've always loved the jellyfish exhibit. They just look so beautiful and peaceful. Rachel and Anna enjoyed it as always and they loved the pirate exhibit. We enjoyed it immensely because there weren’t many people there so we had our run of the place. Then, we ate dinner at the Park Grill. Rachel said the exterior reminded her of the Lincoln logs that she plays with at Harold & Gail’s house. It really is an awesome restaurant if you are looking for a cool place to eat in downtown Gatlinburg. And, you must try their white chocolate cheesecake for dessert.

Afterwards, we strolled past the shops and watched a local band playing. And, what would a visit be to Tennessee if you didn’t get to hear the song “Rocky Top?”

Finally, after a long day, we went back to the campground to turn in for the night and get ready for our trip home in the morning.

Tuesday morning was uneventful and we were on the road by 9 am. We arrived back to our home town by 4:00. Luckily, we were spared traffic in Atlanta which is a rarity it seems.

As always, we enjoyed our trip to the Smoky Mountains despite the aggravation with the autos and motorcycles.One need only to hike a trail away from the business of life to see why the Cherokees loved these mountains and why this land was later designated a National Park. It is breath taking and a reminder that true beauty is many times off the beaten path.

Princess for a Day

From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye.~William Butler Yeats

I celebrated my 36th birthday today. My how time flies…
I remember when I was a teenager I thought that people in their 30s were old. Now that I’m here I’m rethinking that notion. I guess ultimately age is truly a state of mind.
It’s interesting how our priorities change as we go through life. Seeing just how quickly time and youth escapes us, it makes me that much more appreciative of what I have right now and how quickly this time will also be gone.

I had a great birthday. I received lots of emails, phone calls, and cards from friends, coworkers, and family thinking of me today. I arrived home from work to find an inflatable cake in front of the RV to greet me. We went out for dinner and then we returned home where we shared a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.

For my gifts from my husband and children, I got what every woman enjoys….a gift card to a local spa. I have a suspicion I’ll need that massage after our hiking trip this coming weekend. I also got a DVD of the movie RV. We saw this movie at the theater. It's not exactly the best movie we've ever seen but we could certainly relate to a lot of the humor because of our chosen lifestyle which makes the movie RV a keeper for us. We no longer have room for “stuff” nor do I need anything so I was grateful for my small (as in taking up little to no space) gifts. My husband made me a card fitting for the occasion. He modified the RV movie poster for the cover of my card.
My daughters thought I should have a princess crown to celebrate my special day and I was happy to oblige. I may not be true nobility but I certainly feel blessed with priceless gifts.
I once saw another quote that stated “A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.”

I fully intend to.

Vanguard

When we first arrived at our campground a few weeks ago, I could not find our campsite. As I began to circle the campground a second time, a lady stopped me and asked me if she could help me find someone. I told her we were looking for our campsite. She introduced herself and showed me where our site was. Her name was Suede. We spoke briefly and she told me that she has been living on the road for over 14 years. I decided then that we needed to talk with her again at some point as she seemed fascinating.

Suede is almost 60 years old. Her husband passed away several years ago. She used to be a Methodist minister and at some point she felt like sharing the message of Christ in church was not fulfilling. She said God spoke to her and told her to "go on the road." And, she did. She hasn’t turned back since. She never knows where she will go next. She said God speaks to her and tells her when it’s time to go and where she needs to go to do his work.

I thought that Suede had an RV of some sort after our initial meeting. I found out later that she wasn’t living in a travel trailer, a pop-up camper or a tent. Suede lives in the back of her minivan. She has a small pad that she sleeps on in the back of the van. All of her worldly belongings are in this minivan. Her clothes are in one Rubbermaid container. Her food is in a small box in the front seat. She sleeps with the back of the van open and a net covering the opening to keep the bugs out. I was feeling so proud of us for simplifying our lifestyle and here is a woman who truly lives life simply. Our lifestyle change was dramatic in many ways but this woman truly lives simplification.

Suede had dinner with us this evening. She spent a good portion of the evening inquiring about our lives and our history. And, she shared information on her life as well. She does not proselytize to people…she simply does what she can to quietly and humbly share the word of Christ and she does so by action and by living the example of giving to others. I truly believe she'd give her last dollar to someone else in need if they needed it. She described herself as “very poor” but she also described herself as the “happiest person she has every known.” Now, how many people do you know who can say that with a straight face and that hasn’t been smoking something?

Before we parted ways this evening, she stated that she could sense that God was pleased with the changes we have made in our lives. She said that God has guided us in this direction so that we can help other people by setting the example. She said a word came clearly to her from God regarding us and the word was “vanguard.” She said that she wasn’t sure what that meant…but the word clearly came in her mind and she felt the need to share it with us. So, Jeff looked it up on the net.

Vanguard as defined by Websters Dictionary:
1 : the troops moving at the head of an army
2 : the forefront of an action or movement

I don’t know that there will be hoards of people following us or making the change in lifestyle that we have made. Our choices certainly aren’t the right choices for each person. And, what makes us happy is not going to be the same thing that makes every person happy. But, I do know this. Happiness will never be derived from material things. And, Suede is living proof of that.

She plans to leave Georgia in a few short days for her next calling…to hike the American Discovery Trail. This trail spans coast to coast for a total of 6,800 miles. And, she plans to walk every mile of it. I am very confident that she’ll do just that and no doubt will continue to bring inspiration to each person that she meets along the way.

I do believe in “signs.” Sure, usually we get out of life exactly what we put into it. I am a realist. However, I also believe in divine intervention. I believe that some times things happen for a reason and some times certain people enter our lives to deliver a message or provide guidance. I do not believe that God is found in a building or a book and that if people weren’t so busy they would see his work and his guidance all around them more clearly. I believe that God has angels among us quietly doing work on his behalf. And, I believe that Suede is one of those people. I believe her mission to us this evening was reaffirming what we already know. And, that’s that our recent decisions are right for our family. The only regret we have thus far is that we didn’t make these changes sooner. And, if our example can somehow make just one positive change for another person, then I'd say not only has our lifestyle change been good for us but it has been good for another.

Just this weekend alone, we have spent more time with our friends (both new and old) than we probably did in months or longer while at our previous home. On Saturday, our neighbors (from the neighborhood of the house we just sold), Mark, Lisa and their son Jacob, stopped in and had lunch with us. Then, we met our new “neighbors” who just purchased an RV; Orlando & Debra, and their four children. They live in Atlanta and just bought their RV on Friday. This trip for the weekend was their maiden voyage. They too were looking for a way to maximize time with their children. On Saturday evening, our friends Thomas & Nicola dropped by and watched part of the Auburn game with us. Orlando sat with us through the evening and Rachel and Anna played at the playground or on their bikes with Orlando’s & Debra’s children. The children enjoyed the visiting armadillos throughout the evening. On Sunday, we went to Thomas & Nicola’s home for lunch and a dip in the pool. The girls enjoyed playing with their pet rabbit, Bernard. And, of course, Suede joined us for dinner on Sunday night.

Yes, I’d say we are blessed in many ways. Like Suede, I would not classify us as “rich” financially (although we certainly aren’t impoverished either) but we are rich in other ways. We are blessed to have such wonderful friends and we are rich in love. And, we are blessed to have each other and our health. At the end of the day, isn’t that what is most important? A very wise friend of mine recently told me, “when you get money, do not spend it on material things. Spend it on experiences. Things can be lost or taken away. Memories are yours to keep.” We intend to do just that.

I hope one day that I can look back at my life and also say that I am the happiest person that I have ever known. At this point, I’d say we’ve made the right steps towards laying the foundation to do just that.

My 36th birthday is in a couple of days. And, if I can have a birthday wish come true, it would be that everyone takes the time to “stop and smell the diesel.”