The many venues of God’s creation speak different dialects.  Atop mountains, the majesty of His grandeur envelops me . . . amidst forests, I sense a harmonious peace . . . and standing on an ocean beach, my infinitesimal smallness. Here’s but a glimpse of the humbling and comforting dialect wind, surf and sunrise spoke to…

Watching the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea has been invigorating. Fantasizing soaring off a ski jump five stories high; performing Shawn White half-pipe, snowboard acrobatics; and skiing downhill at 80+ mph with Lindsey Vonn provide a vicarious adrenaline rush for this ‘ole’ duffer. Then reality sets back in . . . for me…

Another New Year . . . my 76th . . . how many have you checked off? I’ve been blessed with far more years weighted towards the positive ‘10’ end than those trending lower.  However, it was in those years laced with trials, grief, failure and shame that God’s unwavering love, mercy and forgiveness became…

My soul’s at rest watching season’s first snowflakes silently drape their pristine white blanket over the home He has given us here down in the ‘holler’ by the ‘crick’ in this awesome corner of His creation called The Great Smoky Mountains. We are so blessed! I find myself asking the humbling, grateful “Why me?” once…

Man paints in watercolor, oils, acrylic and tempera.  God’s palette far surpasses all, brushing the skies with with radiant sunrises, blazing sunsets,  billowing clouds . . . the heavens with twinkling stars,  flashing meteors,  glowing galaxies . . . and the earth with verdant forests, towering mountains,  thundering oceans . . . and in the…

Hiking the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s trails is to journey back in time, with the soothing rhythm of cascading waters and songs of unseen birds the only sounds punctuating the forest’s tranquil silence.   Century old dwellings beg of myriad of questions about their long past inhabitants, and, standing by a cascading waterfall, my mind envisions native Cherokees who once paused  here as…

Some 53,000 souls are etched on the Vietnam Memorial Wall . . . no designation of rank . . . death recognizes no insignias . . . just a generation of men and woman who each gave all. Silently standing before its replica in Knoxville yesterday, I found my childhood friend’s name, Ronald Charles Kinsky.…

3,000+ ft. up on Castle Mountain miniature tundra flora hosted a dazzlingly vivid red and gold display to bid this ‘ole’ snowbird adieu. No human Rembrandt could ever hope to replicate the incredible display He brushes upon each tiny leaf of these hardy keepers on the heights . . . beckons one’s soul to remain.

We’ve all heard, “A picture is worth a thousand words”.  Alaska’s Denali National Park pulsating aurora displays, vibrant sunrises, sunsets, and fall color hues brushed across the heavens and landscape add a 1,000X multiplier to that phrase. Unfortunately, I slumbered through the northern lights show during the latest trip to Denali National Park, but awoke to what was one of the most magnificent sunrises…

Our friends’ Great Dane just birthed seven puppies . . . sure thankful I’m not her : )