Category Archives: HOPE

My son and I sat in Neyland Stadium as the game began. The University of Tennessee’s band marched on the field and formed a giant T. The football team then ran through it as the crowd erupted into cheers. It’s … Continue reading →

Tomorrow morning, two parents have to live every parent’s worst nightmare: They have to attend their child’s funeral. They’ve been robbed of seeing how his bright future would unfold. But they won’t stand alone. A community will be behind them. … Continue reading →

The best gift I ever received was one I didn’t want. I unwrapped the gift from my sister and found a puzzle consisting of two pieces: A metal slot and a piece with oddly shaped knobs. You had to turn … Continue reading →

Attack. Don’t sit back. It’s something I learned playing football. And over time, it would become one of my most important life lessons. A little known fact: I never went to fourth grade.  The brain trust at Bells Ferry Elementary … Continue reading →

Pink clouds greeted the sunrise in the small town of Grapewater, Mississippi. After a cold, harsh winter, spring finally kissed the land. Jonquils and Bradford Pears exploded in yellow or white bloom. A hunched-over 46-year-old emerged from a run-down two … Continue reading →