Expect a blessing. That was the topic of the article I read as we prepare for the holiday season. Instead of counting our blessings, the author encouraged us to expect a blessing. I was chatting with a friend. I was curious to see how she would answer some questions in my new daily planner, and,…
Embracing God’s Relentless Pursuit
The presence of God is a profound mystery. He goes before us: Deuteronomy 31:8: NIV: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. He is present at all times, past, present, and future: Psalm 139:5 You hem…
Adventure & Joy Awaits: Our Weekend at Occoneechee State Park
What a fantastic weekend!! We had the most eventful, hilarious, and back-to-nature weekend at Occoneechee State Park. Our first camping weekend had been here, but we wanted to try coming back and staying on the water. We stayed at C32. We arrived at sunset and set up our 9-person tent. This tent is vintage, and…
Living Stones
My father wrote a book titled “The Man Called Jesus.” I was thinking of his story from the perspective of the thief on the cross, as well as the exchange between him and Jesus from the cross. My study with Kristi McLelland emphasized the “we culture” in the early Church and the importance of viewing holiness in…
Finding Peace in the Present: A Bike Ride Reflection
Riding our bikes is a place of peace and a time to slow down. The smooth hum was instantly lost to the air. It was a planned afternoon on the Capital Trail with our granddaughter, Autumn, no pressing agenda, just the simple rhythm of turning pedals and teaching her to love nature and being outdoors….
Finding Healing and Hope in Prayer and Friendship
My current Bible study author noted that journaling is a way to share God‘s faithfulness. At the end of each year, she will spend three days reading through all her journal entries to contemplate God‘s faithfulness. As you know, this is a practice for me to write about what I’m learning in life, meaningful events,…
Mt Vernon Trail: Potomac River
On October 26, 2025, for Parish’s birthday, we ventured out to the Mt. Vernon Trail. If you’re looking for the best way to soak in the beauty and history of the Washington D.C. area without getting stuck in traffic, the Mount Vernon Trail is an absolute must-do. This 18-mile paved multi-use path is much more…
Treasures for a Lifetime
Gifts I Will Cherish Always Turning a new decade is always a moment for reflection, but this year, my 60th, was marked by the most profound gift: a letter from my daughter, Valentina. I know how much words matter, both to her and to me, and reading her acknowledgment of our journey has left me…
Ohana Hebb 7th Annual Family Reunion
Date: October 17 – 19, 2025 Location: Bear Creek Lake State Park Weather: Sunny, 50s in the evening, 70s during the day; the leaves were starting to show color Theme this year: We rented a shelter, Carrie designed our t-shirts, and we tried a Seafood Boil (we used mild sausage vs spicy) with Roasted Oysters…
A Heartfelt Birthday Conversation with My Father
I was writing another post that I just saved and left. In the middle of my post, my Echo Show (Alexa) blurted out, “Message to Anna, Happy Birthday, Tom, Happy.” What? I did not set that to go off, and when I asked her who did this, she did not have an answer. I laughed…
