We have been on the open road (cue Goofy’s “On the Open Road” song from A Goofy Movie) for a little over two years now and until this current job, all jobs have been west of the Mississippi River.

We have seen the Grand Canyon, Zion, Glacier, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. We have drank Butterbeer at Hogsmeade at Universal California and had authentic Chicago deep dish pizza in Chicago. We have visited a real mining town of yesteryear in Montana, visited the hometown of Quaker Oats and Aunt Jemima and walked on the Strip in Las Vegas.

But none of that compares to the South.

The food. The history. The people. Unmatched.

When Keegan called me to tell me our next job location was in Alabama, to say we all were excited would be the understatement of the century. And Alabama has exceeded our expectations in the best ways.

Each election year gets darker, more violent and creates more fear and anger than relief and happiness. As a parent and a homeschooling mom, it is my job to teach my children how to navigate and be successful in this world today and watching the reactions of Americans on both sides of the political race was disappointing to say the least but something good did come of it.

I refuse to raise my children without the understanding of “how things work”. For example, if you stay up late and I wake you up early, I don’t want to hear any complaining. If you want money, you have to do your part and earn it. If you mess with fire, you’re gunna get burned. If you are going to vote for anything, make sure to do your research and vote for those who will make the country a better place, no matter gender, race, age, or sexual preference and always remember God. It’s not just a teachers job to teach your children. It’s yours too!

This election was an unnecessary metaphorical bloodbath. When November 5th came around, I knew I did NOT want to be pacing the house waiting for results. I don’t know about y’all, but on a normal day, I do not handle stress during the waiting game very well so I knew November 5th was going to be H E double hockey sticks. If not because of social media…..it would have been because of my husband. It wasn’t my first rodeo….so I decided not to take a chance.

Why not take a day that is stressful and sometimes unfair and turn it into a history lesson? A history lesson many have forgotten or never learned. A history lesson so dark, bloody and sad but also heroic, historic and still relevant.

A civil rights museum — talk about fitting for the times, right?!

We took the kids on an eyeopening journey at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, a museum that gave us so much more than pictures and exhibits. It sent us back in time to a time when the world was black and white, literally split down the center. It was a priceless history lesson that everyone needs to see for themselves. http://www.bcri.org

Did you know Rosa Parks was NOT the first black woman to refuse to move from the white section of a public bus? If you did, please message me and inform me because we did not. Claudette Colvins, 15 years of age, was the first black woman to refuse to give up her seat nine months BEFORE the infamous Rosa Parks, on March 2, 1955. Just as important, if not more since she was the first, as Rosa Parks, sparking a movement of epic proportions.

Seeing a replica of a public transportation bus, metal charred and torn, steel charred pipes where cushioned seats once stood, shards of glass covering every inch of the floor inside and out was a reality check I was not prepared for. The thought of people of any color, age and gender, sitting on a bus, minding their own business, being burned alive inside, all because of the opinion of others was nauseating.

Standing mere inches away from a jail cell that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sat in while he penned the infamous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in April 1963, a letter I read before going to the museum and was stunned to notice that it is a relevant today as it was 61 years prior. Click on the link to read the pdf of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” https://www.csuchico.edu/iege/_assets/documents/susi-letter-from-birmingham-jail.pdf.

To watch the video of MLK standing at the Washington Monument in D.C. giving one of the most famous speeches in history, his “I Have a Dream” speech brought me to actual tears in the middle of the museum. I felt completely ridiculous wiping away tears but knowing that his speech still has an impact on people today is exactly why Dr. King gave that speech. A man so full of love for everyone, he spoke for everyone of all ages, races and genders then and every day since.

I think this country needs a refresher course.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Election Day. We left there with heavy hearts and somber thoughts of “how can people be so cruel all because of an opinion on a skin color??!” We left knowing we would have been part of the revolution. We left there knowing we could all make a difference in the world.

A lesson I am here to tell you. Yes, you. You are important. God made you because He knew the world needs you! And if we can all work together, towards happiness, the world would flourish and grow in the right direction. If you are ever in the Birmingham area, please go check out the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. It is such a special place, you will leave forever changed, hopefully for the better!

Our middle daughter turned 8 years old this last weekend and we celebrated in Panama City! We surprised her, Zoe and Jax with a dolphin sightseeing cruise and it was a blast! The captain even allowed Rory and Jax to drive the boat in the Gulf!!! The happiness was radiating and we are so grateful to be able to share these experiences with our babies. I highly recommend http://seascreamer.net if you are in Panama City and want to go see some dolphins and have a lot of laughs. Great crew, lots of amazing information and we saw 7-8 pods of dolphins!! We even briefly got the **National Geographic** version of the dolphin life (you and me, baby, ain’t nothin’ but mammals….ok I’m done LOL). After some good seafood, lots of sand in places one should never have sand and even catching a jellyfish in a sand bucket, we made it home tired and Rory a year older! A great trip!! I even tried cheesy grits and swore I went to heaven after every bite!!

Remember to take the time to travel, even if it is only domestically. It is so worth it! Great people, great food and great memories are waiting for you. You only have to say yes and start driving! God is good, y’all!