This past weekend was a beautiful reminder that joy can be found in the simplest of moments—and in the strongest of communities.

Saturday was a perfect day for slow living. We walked up to the little festival in town with our 2 dogs, enjoying the crisp air, the live music from the band, and browsing the vendors. It was a lovely, easy way to connect with our community and allowing everyone to love on the puppers. That afternoon, we took a much-needed nap, proving that sometimes the best activity is simply rest.

Later that evening, our thoughts turned to family. Hearing about my granddaughter’s wonderful first birthday party made our hearts full, and we officially decided we’ll be heading to Florida in November to see our daughter, son, and our two granddaughters. Having that trip on the calendar is a light we’ll look forward to every day!

Sunday was all about spiritual and community nourishment. We started with church, which is always the perfect anchor for the week. From there, it was straight to a family fun day that included a lively chili cook-off. There’s nothing quite like fellowship over good food and friendly competition.

We came home just long enough to take the dogs out before heading to B-Town Worship at Switchyard Park. It was a truly powerful way to end the weekend—a large, collective Christian worship experience sponsored by many local churches. Seeing so many people gather together in faith and song was a deeply moving experience and a wonderful testament to the unified spirit of our community.

It was a weekend of quiet happiness, strong family ties, and powerful worship. I’m grateful for the simple blessings and the deep connections that made it so good.