living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
Gus is a true adventure dog. Yes, he sleeps a lot most days and loves the comfort of his blankie. But anytime we say "go," Gus is ready—without a clue where we're going. He loves to be with us. Wherever we go. Whatever we do. That's our Old English Bulldog. Jet ski with a dog …
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I traveled a LOT in 2017, 2018, and 2019 when I was single. Back then, more of my blog posts centered on those travels. Even today, I have travel posts peppered in whenever my husband and I take a trip—so travel will always be part …
Continue reading Best Places to Travel by Category: My Travel Superlatives
"...throw off everything that hinders..." (Hebrews 12:1) This was the lesson I learned after hiking Angels Landing in the rain. My experience hiking Angels Landing trail It was March 2020—early March, right before the world shut down. My friend Kara and I took a trip to Zion National Park with the goal of hiking Angels …
Continue reading Angels Landing Hike in the Rain—And What It Taught Me
Adventurous dog owners... this one's for you. Have you ever thought about taking your dog kayaking? We did this with Gus a month or so ago and I wasn't sure what to expect. It's not that I was worried—I just had no idea what Gus would do, if he would jump out, if we would …
Does your everyday life seem boring? Does it feel like you're just trying your best to get through the ordinary? Or living for the weekend? Or longing for your next trip or adventure? If you're nodding yes, you are NOT alone. The regular days of life can easily feel mundane and even burdensome, when compared …
Those of you who know me are no doubt thinking... wait, what? Didn't you and John get married in 2020? Yes. Yes we did. That's also when our Colorado honeymoon took place. July 2020. However, I realized recently that I never wrote a recap of our Colorado trip. Blame it on being a newlywed at …
Living less than an hour from the Smoky Mountains, we are not lacking for hikes. Unfortunately, Smoky Mountain National Park does not allow dogs on trails—and we have a dog who loves to hike. So, we're always on the hunt for new dog friendly trails near Knoxville, TN. A few weeks ago, my husband John …
Our 2021 Christmas Beach Vacation For the second year in a row, John and I took a Christmas trip to a beachy destination that I'd never been before. In 2020, it was coastal Georgia—St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island to be exact. It's a beautiful area with stunning beaches; however, being on the Atlantic Ocean, …
Continue reading Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama & the Florida Panhandle
Is it possible or even practical to visit both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park in just two days? Yes. Absolutely it is. But let me amend that by saying I would only recommend attempting both parks in two days during off season months, like April, September, or October. Why? Far less traffic and people …
Continue reading Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: Two National Parks in Two Days
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." It's one of those Bible verses I've known since childhood. Such a beautiful, powerful promise from God. But I can't say I fully grasped it till recent adulthood—when I moved to Tennessee and met my husband John. Sure, …
adventure and the girl 