1. An Introduction

Let’s just preface this blog with a disclaimer: I am not a writer, an “influencer”, a preacher or an expert in any of the titles that I hold (wife, mama, The Songbird of My Generation, etc.). I do, however, have thoughts that I want to get down from time to time. Some of these thoughts are streams of my conscience, others are topics of discussion that just burn me up and others involve my daily life as a homemaker, farmer’s wife, mother of (almost) two girls and member of the wonderful community that I serve as a teacher and music minister. I hope that any reader that would like to delve into my world finds this blog to be encouraging, challenging, uplifting and honest.

I grew up in Royston, Georgia, although I was told by a dear childhood friend that I was considered “Franklin Springs Royalty,” as my family, along with many others that I grew up with in my community (the neighboring, no red light city of Franklin Springs), came from a long line of God-fearing, Pentecostal Holiness people who were led to The Springs for healing and later to become preachers and/or teachers at Emmanuel College. It was there that my grandparents raised their family (my grandad was a math professor), where my dad met a PH, Carolina girl and fell in love, where they raised three children up in the local PH church and where I met my true love, a local boy himself. I love my home. I love my city. I love the community of people that raised me and that I now have an opportunity to raise future generations through my job as a teacher and minister. Some people discount our small, conservative town as “being in a bubble,” but I think this town as a whole has been blessed abundantly with wise, loving and caring people. People who do not bend easily because the rest of the world expects them to. People who live out their faith in their every day encounters and lifestyle. People that work hard. People that will share their summer harvest, their farm equipment and their homes to those in need. I love my town.

I’ll write A LOT about my raisin’ here in Franklin County, as it holds such a special place in my heart, along with the life that my husband and I are building for ourselves here. For now, though, I’m going to comb out this doodie bun that’s on top of my head and love on my baby girl and my farmer. Hope to have you join me next time, friends!

-Hillary