As you read this blog, I am likely riding a boat down the canals of the Riverwalk of San Antonio, Texas, or maybe I’m taking in the glorious stories of a tour guide with a strong Texas drawl about the battles of the Alamo, or I could just be rolling out of bed, sipping on my second cup of coffee. Any of those is perfectly fine by me.See, this week, Heather and I are on vacation. This is a delayed ...  Read More

I’m on a gardening kick, which all started with my love of food and cooking. I started by learning to grow the fresh herbs I always found myself buying such as Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, and Rosemary. A few failed attempts, some trial and error, and a little advice from other gardeners helped me sustain a consistent herb garden. I’ve since moved forward and added some vegetables and fruits th...  Read More

“Camp is not all it’s cracked up to be.” I spoke these words about camp before I moved here to Jacksonville. Growing up I went to camp, maybe once or twice during middle school. Camp was not something I was interested in; it didn’t hurt my feelings if I missed a week of camp. This attitude I had about camp continued when I became a youth minister in Indiana. I was never forced to push camp on stud...  Read More

Trekkies, Potterheads, fans of Marvel (Stan Lee called them “True Believers”), Perhaps you know someone who identifies themselves in one or more of these fandoms.With 23 movies, and newer TV shows like WandaVision and Loki on Disney+, the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) has a large group of devotees, including my sons. They will discuss with great excitement the revelations and connections they fi...  Read More

When I was a child, we moved into a house with a decent sized backyard.  Our neighbor next door had a pool, and even more fascinating, a garden!  He was growing corn, tomatoes, carrots, and more.  The next spring, my dad got the gardening itch, and we planted a garden, as well.  We cleared out the rocks and roots, tilled the dirt (it’s Florida, I think it would be wrong to call it soil!) and then ...  Read More

Have you ever had your breath taken away? Upon the birth of your child? When speeding down that first major decline on a roller coaster? By being knocked flat on your back during a game of dodge ball? Upon receiving the news of the tragic loss of a loved one? Or the unfortunate odor of a skunk? We’ve probably all lost our breath at some time.Recently, a group of us were blowing up balloons for a p...  Read More