Looking out my much-loved wall of family room windows, I see that most of the leaves are on the ground now. When we got home a week ago, there was still a lot of fall color, but it’s November. Soon winter will be here—we had a preview this week! I enjoy this view every day that I am home, no matter what the season or weather. Vivid fall color, crisp winter snows, budding spring greens, and even rainy, foggy days are highlights. But every day has its own beauty, even “in between” days like today.

…more

We are now back in our home once again. It’s been about 21 months since we first started our Van Trek around the nation following my retirement. We haven’t been traveling every day of those 21 months, but we felt that it was time for us to take a little break and tend to our house for a while.

…more

Leaving Vermont we headed a little north and then west across New York and Canada to Michigan. Heading south out of Michigan we continued to see many areas where fall was continuing its magic of transforming green clorophyl into golden reds and brilliant yellows.

…more

(No, our van didn’t look back and turn into a pillar of stones. This is just one of the interesting things we encountered on our “van trek” into Vermont). It has always been a desire of Bonnie’s to be able to be in Vermont during the season of colored leaves. But, the timing was never just right nor was it convenient for us to make that trip from Tennessee to the hills of Vermont at just the right time to enjoy the changing of green leaves to colored leaves.

…more

A little over a year and a half ago, I wrote a very short blog entry entitled, “Faithful Servants” dated February 5, 2013. After retiring from my position as pastor of the Johnson City Alliance Church, Bonnie and I began to travel around the country in our cargo van. The first stop we made was to visit with our mentors and friends, Ron and Reba Mayers.

…more

When we were in the Everglades earlier this year, we enjoyed attending the ranger-led talks. At one of these, the ranger asked that each of us tell what state we were from. The lady next to me said that she was from Vermont, so afterward I asked her where in Vermont she called home. When she said “Calais,” I knew she was from my sister Dot’s neck of the woods.

…more

On our way back to Michigan from the Creation Museum in Kentucky, we stopped at Mazza Museum in Findlay, Ohio. This unusual museum is on the campus of the University of Findlay, and is the first and largest teaching museum in the world specializing in collecting original works by the most distinguished and honored illustrators of children’s books. It began with four artworks in 1982, and has increased to over 8,000 pieces today.

…more

Dayton is a town with many attractions, although it’s also a town whose history has often been forgotten.

…more

Because we are letterboxers we often find ourselves wandering through a cemetery in search of a hidden letterbox. This is what we were doing on July 28, 2014 when we ran across a very unusual and distinct grave monument.

…more

Answers in Genesis’ Creation Museum near Florence, Kentucky, is probably the most unusual museum that we have ever visited. Topnotch exhibits (Disney World quality) present an entertaining, yet also compelling, argument for young earth creationism.

…more

The Mackinac Bridge is currently the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world. It is also the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The bridge connects the lower peninsula with the upper peninsula of Michigan. The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957 and is five miles long.

…more

The Upper Tahquamenon Falls is the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Up to 50,000 gallons of water per second are propelled 50 feet down into the river below, sustaining a thunderous roar in the heart of an otherwise peaceful Michigan state park. In winter, the power of the falls is halted, frozen and preserved in the breathtaking beauty of crystalized water columns.

…more

If you’re looking for a scenic drive where the pace is relaxed and the views are truly calming, I would encourage you to consider the Natchez Trace. You won’t find any amusement parks or tourist resorts along the way, but you will find yourself refreshed when you arrive at your destination.

…more

As we are enjoying the lovely spring-blooming trees, shrubs, and flowers along the way, on this leg of our trip, we are also reading in the book of Numbers in our Bible reading plan. Today we read the part where Aaron’s rod budded, and it reminded me of how God uses nature to show us Himself.

…more

Pensacola is home to the National Naval Aviation Museum. And it’s the world’s largest naval aviation museum with more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space…and the admission is $0.

…more