Living Real

Today has been a beautiful and sunny day. We started it by meeting a new friend, Chip Googe of Googe Photography. I learned long ago that I don’t like studio photography. The photographers do great work, it’s just to me, it seems like they put the person in stilted positions and tell them to smile [...]

Wednesday. It’s already Wednesday! Today we expected to awaken to rain — likely the torrential type that floods the area. Matter of fact, a flash flood watch was called yesterday for today, based on the projected path of Tropical Storm Nicole, and other tropical activity. We decided that since torrential rain wasn’t what we awoke [...]

Today was fun! When we got up, the sun was shining and the promise of nice weather seemed to hold true. We prepared for a day of exploring and headed out. One of my favorite places is the Battery, so there we went, even finding a place to park along the road very near to [...]

I’ve regaled you with an overview of what we’ve done on vacation each day. Call it my way to scrapbook — or to keep memories.  Maybe thinking that you’re so insanely interested in my vacation that you’re here reading it is not quite humble, but… there’s got to be an outlet for the words within [...]

Easter. I can remember what Easter meant as a child. A new dress, purse and shoes. Often a hat. Definitely a basket filled with goodies, wrapped up in cellophane tied with a pretty bow. And the pictures. Can’t forget the pictures. Had to capture the moment of the Easter finery. And usually the house. And [...]

Sometimes God sets things up that you just sit back and wonder, “Why me? Wow! That was so cool!” Some of those events are highly charged, like my meeting with John-John, Josh and Angie. Others are just plain fun and fulfilling, like meeting Shellie Tomlinson and River Jordan on their “Southern Wing and a Prayer [...]

I’ve held my tongue, but no longer. I simply have to brag about my daughter-in-law. A couple years ago, she was in training to take over one of the local Sonic stores as an owner. (As if that’s not enough to be proud of!) While at one of the stores in Knoxville late one night, [...]

I’ve been having a “discussion” with my beautiful half-sister, Nina, via Facebook over the past couple days. She had posted something on her “status” there that both angered and saddened me. Nina’s not the first person I’ve seen or heard say words to this effect. The words? “Charity begins at home” Where does that come [...]

This Christmas is so strange for us this year. We’re not gathering with loved ones at home this year on Christmas Day.  We’re not gathering with loved ones at their homes this year. Instead, my husband, Jack, and I will be boarding an airplane around lunch time to fly to Orlando, Florida. I grew up [...]

My husband has such a servant heart and has gone for years dreaming about the truck he wanted, instead taking care of others with the money he could have used.  Last month we found a truck that fit his dream description. You can see the smile on his face when he brought it home. He’s [...]

One thing I find odd about Christmas and Thanksgiving is that people notice hunger and poverty at these times. People who never think about the homeless or poor suddenly do at these times. They even notice that there are people who are doing without sitting beside them at church week in and week out. One [...]

Jack and I are so excited! We’re parents again! Okay, not truly parents, but sponsors. Together with our friend Kristina Birkhead, we are now sponsoring four-year-old Judine Pierre. Isn’t she just the most beautiful little girl? She was born on July 2, 2005 and lives with her mother who is sometimes a seller in the [...]