You Don't Need Permission to Care
July 31, 2026
Every community has a "somebody" problem. We've all heard these familiar lines or similar ones and perhaps have even spoken them. Somebody should clean up that park. Somebody should rehab that old building. Somebody should organize an event. Somebody should create a space for kids to gather. Somebody should help our senior citizens. Everyone agrees that something should be done. The problem is that everyone assumes somebody else will do it. Communities don't change because everyone identifies the problems. They change because individuals decide to become that "somebody." I learned that lesson years ago through something as ordinary as a bus shelter. What began as a simple idea became one of the clearest reminders I've ever had that communities change when someone decides to act. For years, I lived across from what our town called a “bus stop.” Trust me, the name made it sound much nicer than it actually was. There was no shelter. No bench. No protection from the rain, snow, heat, or wind. People simply stood beneath the marquee of the Embassy Theatre while they waited for their buses. It wasn't much of a welcome for visitors, and it certainly wasn't a comfortable place for our locals who utilized the buses. Like many people, I found myself saying, "Somebody ought to do something about that." Learn More
The World Cup’s Unexpected Gift
July 31, 2026
Our country has spent far too long focused on what divides us. We have become so accustomed to hearing what is wrong with America that sometimes we forget to notice what is right. Who would have guessed it would take the FIFA World Cup to stitch us back together? I recently heard someone sum it up perfectly: "Who knew all the USA needed to begin healing was inviting other countries over for a giant sleepover to watch their favorite movie: soccer." It made me smile because, in many ways, it feels true. Like so many others, I have enjoyed not only watching the World Cup matches but also watching the thousands of visiting fans experience America for the very first time. Seeing our country through their eyes has been refreshing. Many have fallen in love with a place that we already knew was special but perhaps had stopped appreciating. They discovered the natural beauty, impressive stadiums, and, most importantly, warm, welcoming people. Again and again, visiting fans have apologized for believing the stereotypes they had heard, that Americans are unfriendly, don't care about soccer, and lack stadiums worthy of hosting an event of this size. Instead, they found themselves overwhelmed by America's beauty, impressed by the quality of our facilities, welcomed with genuine hospitality, and by their own account, amazed by both the variety and quantity of our food. Learn More
Wide Open Spaces & Wild Adventures: Part II — Yellowstone National Park
July 31, 2026
Honestly, I doubted anything could top the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Tetons, but I was wrong. Yellowstone exceeded every expectation I had. I think I pictured it as overly commercialized and overrun with tourists, an impression that may have been shaped by all those childhood episodes of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo stealing picnic baskets. Speaking of picnic baskets, our first surprise in the park came when we watched a woman stop her car in the middle of the road, jump out with camera in hand, and chase a black bear through a wooded area causing the surprised animal to run straight toward a family enjoying a quiet picnic. I’m not entirely sure how that situation ended, but I certainly hope it ended better than it could have. What surprised me most about Yellowstone was the incredible diversity of the scenery, weather, and wildlife. One moment we were driving under bright sunshine across wide open fields, and next we were standing at the rim of a canyon in several inches of snow, watching waterfalls plunging hundreds of feet over cliffs. One morning we awoke to temperatures of just 16 degrees with blowing snow while back home in central Pennsylvania, people were sweltering in temperatures in the 90s. Learn More
Wide Open Spaces & Wild Adventures: Part 1-The Grand Tetons
June 18, 2026
I had two songs playing in my head throughout this past week, and soon you’ll understand why. The first was the song made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash entitled “Jackson.” The second was “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks. Together, those songs perfectly sum up my latest adventure. In our quest to visit as many national parks as possible, my husband, Blain, and I recently packed our bags and headed to the airport, bound for Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and perhaps that made the trip even more exciting. We traveled without a specific agenda, simply ready for adventure. Our first surprise came before we ever reached the mountains. Not only was our flight on time, but we were unexpectedly upgraded to first class not once, but twice on both legs of our outgoing trip. We are used to sitting with the common folk, so, we felt thoroughly pampered as we were offered unlimited beverages served in real glasses, warm hand towels, and full meals. My immediate thought was, “So this is how the other half flies!” I don’t think I’ll ever walk past the first-class section again without at least one lingering, longing glance. Learn More
