TIM TEBOW EXPEDITION!

College of the Ozarks, located in Hollister, Missouri,  is an educational institution with an association with the Presbyterian denomination.  Since I grew up just 30 minutes south of the school, and attended a Presbyterian church, it seems as though I have heard about this place all my life.  Our church often had visiting preachers who were members of the faculty of the school.  As an adolescent, I remember my father talking to me about it being a good college for me to attend when I finished high school.  My parents were very frugal, and since students at College of the Ozarks worked at various campus jobs, in lieu of paying tuition, the arrangement naturally appealed to my parents.  However, there came a time when their encouragement for me to attend there diminished.  That was probably because my senior year of high school, I was "going steady" with a local boy who went away to attend his freshman year at the College.  Since he also had a sister attending there, I would sometimes go up for special events on the campus, and spend the night in the dormitory with his sister.  Perhaps my parents thought that the young man and I were getting too serious, because talk of me attending college there came to a screeching halt!

This photo shows the beautiful Williams Memorial Chapel.  When I was a teenager, I attended services there with my boyfriend, and his sister.  On my recent visit to the campus, I once again entered the sanctuary, and had a much greater appreciation for the artistry inside, with its magnificent stained glass windows, and carved wooden pews. 

Perhaps there is no prettier time to visit this campus, or the Ozarks in general, than the spring of the year.  That is when you will see the hillsides polka-dotted, with blooms of dogwood trees, as well as the domesticated pink dogwood trees, that can be spotted throughout the College of the Ozarks campus.  The spring is also the time for a very popular event on the campus, called The Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Community Convocation.  In past years, their convocations have made the news because of the famous leaders they have hosted as speakers to come to our little isolated corner of the world.  Such dignitaries as Margaret Thatcher, George Bush, Colin Powell, and Sara Palin, have been featured in the past. 

When I heard that Tim Tebow was going to be the featured speaker for 2016, I made an all-out effort to get to attend.  Even though the tickets for the events are free, they go very quickly, because of the limited seating of the indoor athletic arena where it is held.  Through answered prayers, I had the blessing of getting a ticket, and being there to tour around before the presentation.  This sign at the entrance of the college that welcomed Tim Tebow, should be a clue that he has a strong association with the Florida Gators Football team!

As I was touring the campus, the colorful blossoms around the greenhouses caught my eye. 

As long as I can remember, there have been swans on this lovely Lake Honor, that is located just inside the campus gates.  Decades ago, I won a local photography contest, with a picture of a black swan, that I photographed, as it glided across the waters of Lake Honor. 

College of the Ozarks is built upon five fundamental goals---academic, vocational, Christian, cultural, and patriotic.  This photo of the Christian cross symbol, the American flag, and the Liberty Bell reproduction, all give visual tribute to those goals. 

There have been hundreds of students who have had their wedding ceremonies in this hallowed place.  As a matter of fact, it is rumored that some young (and optimistic!) gals try to get a date set aside for their wedding in the chapel, even before their prospective groom is aware he is to be married!

This photo shows the exterior of the Ralph Foster Museum, which is dedicated to the history of the Ozarks region.  The museum is home to a famous Thomas Hart Benton painting, as well as the original broken-down "jalopy" vehicle seen in the television series called "The Beverly Hillbillies".  The museum houses thousands of objects representing archaeology, history, firearms, and antiques.  I had a rewarding experience with the museum, when an elderly relative told me his family had donated a piece of "Ozark folklore" to the museum.  Back in the 1800's, if a rounded stone was found inside an animal that had been slaughtered (in this case, it was a deer), the stone was saved as a sort of "talisman", and purported to have healing powers.  My relative's mother had found such a stone, and when they cleared out her belongings at her death, they donated the stone to the museum, along with the folklore tale associated with it.  The museum curator was able to find the stone in question, and put it out in a display case for me, when I visited the museum a while back!

The greenhouses are open to the public and many of the plants are for sale.  This gives the students that work there retail, as well as horticultural, training!

The Clint McDade orchid collection can be seen in the Hoge Greenhouses.  Mr. McDade, one of the School's first students, donated the nucleus of the collection, which today numbers more than 7,000 plants.

I was very thankful for the opportunity to represent the "blogosphere", as a member of the media for the Tim Tebow presentation!

One of the photojournalism students who was sitting in the media area, snapped this photo of me, while we waited on the festivities to start.  How do you think she did??!!

I felt very fortunate to be able to be so close to the stage, where, as you can see from this photo, Tim Tebow, made his inspiring comments.

Can you see in this photo, a black rectangular box on the bottom of this man's shoe?  WHAT IF that little black rectangle had a Biblical Scripture reference written on it???  There would have been dozens of media folks who would have seen it, as we were sitting directly across from the bottom of his uplifted shoe.

Something as seemingly insignificant as a Scripture reference, written in small letters, using "eye black", and situated under the eyes of quarterback Tim Tebow, is what first grabbed my attention about this football player.  That is because I am involved in a healthy living program that emphasizes Scripture memory, and I was intrigued when I saw a football player on television with  "PHIL 4:13" written under his eyes. 

Tim Tebow told the story of how his parents would not allow him and his siblings to play their beloved sports, until they had recited a Bible verse from memory.  Philippians 4:13 is a favorite for Christian athletes, because it says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  That is one reason he chose that Biblical reference to put under his eye, using the eye-black paint.

For the 2009 BCS Championship game, Tebow changed the verse written under his eyes, in eye black, to John 3:16  .  The telephoto lenses of the media at the game gave several close-up views of the reference written under his eyes.  Although it is AMAZING to me that so much of the world did not know what it stood for, the fact that "John 3:16" was the highest ranked GOOGLE search term over the next 24 hours blows my mind!!!  Later, he switched verses he wrote under his eyes, and there were 3.43 million searches on the Internet of "Tim Tebow and Proverbs 3:5-6". 

When asked about the phenomenon, Tim stated, "It just goes to show the influence and the platform you have as a student athlete quarterback of Florida"!

Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.  His book, "Through My Eyes", was named the Number One Sports Book in 2011, and the best selling religion book of 2011.  He started the Tim Tebow foundation in 2010 ,  ( www.timtebowfoundation.org ) which does considerable philanthropic work in the the Philippines, where his parents served as Christian missionaries. 

A big THANK YOU to College of the Ozarks for bringing Tim Tebow to speak to us!  If you would like to learn more about College of the Ozarks, go to their website, www.cofo.edu , to start planning your visit!  You can sign up for their free email announcements, that will keep you abreast of all the great things going on at this bastion of Christian education.

I am using the inspirational life of Tim Tebow as the visual aid for my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse that says, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."  Proverbs 16:2    This philosophy of life will give you "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia    (Note:  The "halo" above Tim Tebow's head is a reflection on the glossy photo, but the more important "reflection" is that his life reflects his commitment to his faith! To see his speaking schedule, or arrange for him to participate in one of your events, his website is www.timtebow.com )

JIMMY CARTER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES EXPEDITION!

On a recent road trip through the American South, the route was planned so that it would pass through the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, for the purpose of visiting the Jimmy Carter National Historic Sites, as well as attend Easter Sunday services at the church where Jimmy Carter teaches a Sunday School class.

This brick structure is about the largest building in the tiny town, so it was fairly easy to find.  Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended both grammar and high school here.

They were influenced by teacher and principal, Miss Julia L. Coleman, who was a guiding force at the school from 1912 until 1958.  She told her students that "any schoolboy, even one of ours, might grow up to be president of the United States." 

The former school now functions as a Visitor Center and Museum ( www.nps.gov/jica ), and includes a replica of the Oval Office, as it looked when President Carter was in office.  My traveling companion, Diane, looks very "presidential" sitting in this place of distinction!

When I had my turn to be photographed at the desk, it was the first time I could see what it looked like to be sitting at a desk that is cleared of "stuff", sitting on top of it!  The desk I use at home is stacked shoulder-high with "to do" files, and memorabilia!

This is the former school auditorium, and most likely the place where Rosalynn Carter was honored for being the valedictorian of her class in 1944.  We sat in the old-fashioned wooden seats to see a very interesting video, telling about the Carters and the amazing lives they have led.

The Visitor Center serves as a museum, and also has exhibits that recount significant milestones in the life of Jimmy Carter.  This exhibit contrasts the peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter walking in his fields, with the President Jimmy Carter, walking on the "mine fields" of Washington, D.C.  I think it is safe to say that no matter where Jimmy Carter is photographed, he is "Outstanding in His Field"!

Another photo exhibit told about the work that Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter have done in third world countries, as well a few of their adventuresome treks to climb

some of the tallest mountains on the globe!  He is also well known for his work with Habitat for Humanity ( www.Habitat.org ), that has its World Headquarters in nearby Americus, Georgia. 

In 2002, Jimmy Carter was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize ( www.nobelprize.org ).   The award includes the gold medallion, a diploma, as well as a cash sum of about 1.5 million dollars.  President Carter was presented the award for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflict; also, undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights , and working for social welfare.  As an ex-president, Carter has conducted  active peace and mediation campaigns , which sometimes seemed to run counter to official U.S. policy.  One of the negotiations he is most famous for---and which he referenced when he taught his March 27, 2016, Sunday School class on the topic of forgiveness---was the signing of the 1979 Peace Treaty by Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.   Therefore, I am using my memories of the Nobel Peace Prize as the visual aid for my First Place 4 Health  ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse that says, "A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:34-35

This portrait of Jimmy Carter when he was U.S. President, and the quote written above it, are in the entry hall of the Visitor Center.  The full quote says "We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles."   President Carter spoke these words in his 1977 Inaugural Address, and attributed the words to his high school principal, Miss Julia L. Coleman.

The entry hall is also the location of the official National Park Service gift shop, that is "chock full of nuts"!!  (Peanuts, that is!)  There are also souvenir clothing items, books, postcards, and presidential memorabilia items.

A short distance (2.5 miles) outside the city limits, visitors can tour the Carter Boyhood Farm.  This is where Carter lived for 14 years. 

On the 360 acre farm that the family moved to in 1928, the Carters raised cotton, peanuts, and corn to sell, and vegetables and livestock for their own use.  In 1938, "an almost unbelievable change took place in our lives when electricity came to the farm," Carter recalls.  East of the house is the commissary building where Earl Carter, Jimmy's father, sold seeds and supplies to farmworkers and neighbors.  Young Jimmy Carter picked cotton and worked alongside the farm's African American employees, some of whom were childhood friends. 

Jimmy Carter has been in campaigns where he was seeking to be a member of the local school board, governor of Georgia, and President of the United States.  His most recent campaign, however, is the one where he is seeking to be a cancer survivor.  I am thankful that on the March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday I was able to worship God with him, at a small church in Plains, Georgia, as he was declaring himself a winner in that campaign!

As I listened to him teach Jesus' Gospel of Grace and forgiveness on the cross that morning, to a diverse group of people, from  around the world, I was also thankful that I had voted for him all those many years ago, when he was running for President.  As a result of his serving in that office, it has given him a platform to tell (and more importantly, DEMONSTRATE!) the Good News of Jesus Christ.   That gives  me "MILES OF SMILES"!!   Tricia

JIMMY CARTER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES EXPEDITION!

On a recent road trip through the American South, the route was planned so that it would pass through the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, for the purpose of visiting the Jimmy Carter National Historic Sites, as well as attend Easter Sunday services at the church where Jimmy Carter teaches a Sunday School class.

This brick structure is about the largest building in the tiny town, so it was fairly easy to find.  Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended both grammar and high school here.

They were influenced by teacher and principal, Miss Julia L. Coleman, who was a guiding force at the school from 1912 until 1958.  She told her students that "any schoolboy, even one of ours, might grow up to be president of the United States." 

The former school now functions as a Visitor Center and Museum ( www.nps.gov/jica ), and includes a replica of the Oval Office, as it looked when President Carter was in office.  My traveling companion, Diane, looks very "presidential" sitting in this place of distinction!

When I had my turn to be photographed at the desk, it was the first time I could see what it looked like to be sitting at a desk that is cleared of "stuff", sitting on top of it!  The desk I use at home is stacked shoulder-high with "to do" files, and memorabilia!

This is the former school auditorium, and most likely the place where Rosalynn Carter was honored for being the valedictorian of her class in 1944.  We sat in the old-fashioned wooden seats to see a very interesting video, telling about the Carters and the amazing lives they have led.

The Visitor Center serves as a museum, and also has exhibits that recount significant milestones in the life of Jimmy Carter.  This exhibit contrasts the peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter walking in his fields, with the President Jimmy Carter, walking on the "mine fields" of Washington, D.C.  I think it is safe to say that no matter where Jimmy Carter is photographed, he is "Outstanding in His Field"!

Another photo exhibit told about the work that Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter have done in third world countries, as well a few of their adventuresome treks to climb

some of the tallest mountains on the globe!  He is also well known for his work with Habitat for Humanity ( www.Habitat.org ), that has its World Headquarters in nearby Americus, Georgia. 

In 2002, Jimmy Carter was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize ( www.nobelprize.org ).   The award includes the gold medallion, a diploma, as well as a cash sum of about 1.5 million dollars.  President Carter was presented the award for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflict; also, undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights , and working for social welfare.  As an ex-president, Carter has conducted  active peace and mediation campaigns , which sometimes seemed to run counter to official U.S. policy.  One of the negotiations he is most famous for---and which he referenced when he taught his March 27, 2016, Sunday School class on the topic of forgiveness---was the signing of the 1979 Peace Treaty by Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.   Therefore, I am using my memories of the Nobel Peace Prize as the visual aid for my First Place 4 Health  ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse that says, "A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:34-35

This portrait of Jimmy Carter when he was U.S. President, and the quote written above it, are in the entry hall of the Visitor Center.  The full quote says "We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles."   President Carter spoke these words in his 1977 Inaugural Address, and attributed the words to his high school principal, Miss Julia L. Coleman.

The entry hall is also the location of the official National Park Service gift shop, that is "chock full of nuts"!!  (Peanuts, that is!)  There are also souvenir clothing items, books, postcards, and presidential memorabilia items.

A short distance (2.5 miles) outside the city limits, visitors can tour the Carter Boyhood Farm.  This is where Carter lived for 14 years. 

On the 360 acre farm that the family moved to in 1928, the Carters raised cotton, peanuts, and corn to sell, and vegetables and livestock for their own use.  In 1938, "an almost unbelievable change took place in our lives when electricity came to the farm," Carter recalls.  East of the house is the commissary building where Earl Carter, Jimmy's father, sold seeds and supplies to farmworkers and neighbors.  Young Jimmy Carter picked cotton and worked alongside the farm's African American employees, some of whom were childhood friends. 

Jimmy Carter has been in campaigns where he was seeking to be a member of the local school board, governor of Georgia, and President of the United States.  His most recent campaign, however, is the one where he is seeking to be a cancer survivor.  I am thankful that on the March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday I was able to worship God with him, at a small church in Plains, Georgia, as he was declaring himself a winner in that campaign!

As I listened to him teach Jesus' Gospel of Grace and forgiveness on the cross that morning, to a diverse group of people, from  around the world, I was also thankful that I had voted for him all those many years ago, when he was running for President.  As a result of his serving in that office, it has given him a platform to tell (and more importantly, DEMONSTRATE!) the Good News of Jesus Christ.   That gives  me "MILES OF SMILES"!!   Tricia

MACLAY STATE PARK EXPEDITION!

The Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is a Florida State Park ( www.floridastateparks.org/park/Maclay-Gardens ) and is located on the outskirts of Tallahassee.  At the very first site where my friend and I were able to park the car to look around, the first thing that caught our attention was a big warning sign about alligators, BUT with dozens of people standing in the body of water we were being cautioned about!  The image stuck in my head so much, that I am using it as a visual aid about "obeying commands"!

This sign about alligators has a "commandment" saying "DO NOT FEED THE ALLIGATORS"!  You can be sure I obeyed that commandment!  Likewise, I want to remember this visual aid to help me learn one of my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verses that says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  John 14:21

In addition to the swimmers in the water, we saw folks in kayaks, seeming to encircle the swimmers.  My assumption that the "circling kayakers" were there to protect the swimmers from alligators, was only partially correct.  As it turns out, the folks in the water were training for the Redhills Sprint Triathlon, which was scheduled for later that month.  The kayak patrol was there to  offer guidance, assistance, encouragement, and rules-compliance, for the competitors.  For more information on this annual event, check out their website at www.Redhillstriathlon.org   .

The water temperature was still too chilly for an enjoyable swim, plus there was a rainy mist falling---which explains why all the swimmers had on wetsuits.

This photo shows the swim area, as well as the sandy beach and launch ramp for the body of water known as Lake Hall.

The area has picnic tables, covered pavilion, and lifeguard tower, and is nestled under the massive trees, dripping with Spanish moss.

The park also has kayaks for rent, although they were not available for rent at the time we were there, due to the triathlon training that was taking place 

Lake Hall forms the border of a portion of the park, and the far side of the lake is lined with private property and private homes (which are obscured by fog in this photo).

The park is also the home of the Tallahassee Rowing Club, as evidenced by these sleek looking vessels, known as "sculls" or "rowing shells". 

The park is part of a U.S. Historic District, known as Killearn Plantation Archaeology Historic District.  Maclay named his property "Killearn" after the birthplace of his great grandfather in Scotland. 

This photo shows the trail head for one of several hiking trails within the park. 

The red brick sidewalk leads to the Visitor's Center, which also serves as the entrance to the formal gardens.  There is an additional fee to go through the gardens, and depending on the time of year, may include a tour of the original home of Mr. and Mrs. Maclay. 

The hostess at the Visitor Center invited us to take a seat to watch the video about the history of the gardens.  We learned that they were originated in 1923 by Alfred Barmore Maclay (1871-1944) and his wife Louise Fleischman Maclay.  After Mr. Maclay's death, his widow ( who is from the family of "Fleischman's Margarine" fame), donated them to the state of Florida. 

My friend and I enjoyed a picnic lunch under one of the covered areas shown in the photo, and as you can see, had the place completely to ourselves, even though it was on a Saturday!  I am sure the misty weather conditions were keeping down the visitors, and imagine that this place is normally filled with folks enjoying the outdoors. 

Since there was not another single person at the swim beach, which had been full of people just about an hour earlier, I was a little surprised to see a new-looking pair of "Crocs" sandals setting on the beach, without any signs of who might have been their owner.

Seeing this pair of abandoned "Crocs" shoes made me wonder if the owner accidentally lost them, or if they were all that was left after the alligator ate whoever was wearing them!  It made me remember the old nursery rhyme that says "See ya later, alligator; after while, crocodile!"  Thinking of this gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!   Tricia