From the Publisher
DEBBIE BROWER
The earth is a fascinating place. As I have grown older, my desire to see places I’ve always dreamed of has become a force in my life. This past August, Mike and I took a cruise to Alaska. It was a trip Mike had been dreaming of for years, and I went along with it because I just love to see new things. I wasn’t too happy about the fact that it was cold and I am not a cold weather person. I own very few really warm clothes and was worried I would freeze the entire time I was there. I was pleasantly surprised that it was in the 70’s during the day and the upper 40’s at night. Leaving northeast Texas’ over 100 degree temps and going to Alaska in late August was such a wonderful thing! It was the trip of a lifetime. If you do not believe in God’s amazing glory, go to Alaska. You will see all of the things He has made first-hand -untouched by all of the city life, construction, traffic -- all the things that make up life here. Those things were nonexistent. The wonder and the beauty will take your breath away. How can anyone believe that all of that beauty just happened without the intervention of something bigger than us? I was sold on Alaska -- and at this point, we are planning to return there in the near future. I can not wait. I am a “beach bum.” I could literally take a good book, a towel, and a chair, head to a beach, and be happy. Mike has never liked the beach. Whether it’s the sand, the salt, or just the lack of something to do (because he always has to be busy), he has never enjoyed it. Growing up only an hour away, I was on the beach almost every weekend during the summer. We would start on our tans in March in preparation for beach time. I remember baby oil, iodine, foil-lined tanning blankets, and lots of sun! I check myself daily now to make sure I don’t have skin cancer. We never worried about that back then. The darker the better...and we worked on it diligently. Nowadays, I use self tanner and make sure I wear sunscreen when I am in the sun. My beach trips are joyous affairs with my kids, who love it as much as I do. We have plans for Orange Beach already this summer -photographing a wedding while we are there -- and plans for a cruise to the saints, as I call it, next March. My dream has always been to go to the Caribbean islands and visit St. John, St. Marten, St. Lucia -- you know, all the saints! Mike encouraged Jaclyn and I to make plans for next year, so we have. I can not wait for that one, too! People may say I don’t have much in my house, a really fancy car, or a lot of jewelry, but what I do have are memories. Memories with my husband, my kids, my friends, and my dogs. I love my life. I love this country I live in. I plan to continue to see what God has made and make more memories. The earth is amazing. Just check out the photos that were submitted this issue. You will see beauty everywhere you go. Enjoy it while you can. Memories last forever. May God bless you and yours...