Special Feature Back by popular demand, the Celebrate the Family Expo will welcome Alabama chefs and food bloggers to take the stage and share cooking tips and tricks on the Sweet Grown Alabama Celebrity Chef Stage hosted by Janice Rogers of WBRC-TV and JT of WERC Radio. With eight different chefs and food bloggers sharing some of their favorite tried and true recipes, you will not want to miss one minute! Here is a sneak peek at the incredible line up. Schedule for the Sweet Grown Alabama Celebrity Chef Stage At 10 a.m., learn from Katrina Adams of In the Kitchen with K-Marie. Adams is a cele ..read more

Special Feature It’s time to shred! You can securely shred documents for free with The Arc of Central Alabama’s RecyclABILITY at the Celebrate the Family Expo on September 14, 2024. The Arc of Central Alabama is unique in that most of the people enrolled in Arc services rely on Medicaid and do not have natural family supports. The Arc truly becomes their home and family – supports their personal goals, ensures they are housed, clothed, engaged, and their medical needs are taken care of. The Arc serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families through comp ..read more

Special Feature Lance was furious when his wife Stephanie announced she had become a Christian and wanted the children to know Jesus. “I don’t want my children brainwashed with fairytales!” he yelled. Stephanie does not regret her decision, but she worries her children may reject Christ because of Lance’s resistance to Christianity and their spiritual disunity as parents. She wonders if she should stay married to a man who has such disdain for God.  Perhaps you became a Christian after marriage, but your spouse has not come to faith in Christ. Even though your conversations are mostly goo ..read more

Encouraging Word Life has its ups and downs, its good days and bad days. As we travel life’s journey, we will climb to the mountain top and travel through the valleys. Even though we would like to be we are not exempt or excused from the adversity and challenges that life brings. As we experience life, we will at times struggle, stumble, suffer, need to sacrifice, and surrender. We must learn how to respond to these different situations along the way. Struggle. Life has its struggles. Struggling is to strive to attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance. In John 16:33, Jesus said ..read more

Healthy Living  Birmingham native Mary Morgan Brown, MD is returning to the Magic City to join the St. Vincent’s based Henderson & Walton Women’s Center (HWWC) team beginning July 1. “I was actually born at St. Vincent’s and my mom was a patient at HWWC, so this feels full circle for me,” Dr. Brown says.  In her free time, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Jake and their chocolate lab, Hank. Dr. Brown attended The University of Alabama for her undergraduate degree and then headed to the University of South Alabama for medical school. She then journeyed to t ..read more

The Great Outdoors Our daughter Banks and I had been on the road for six days. She was 12 years old at the time, and she endured the doldrums of long driving spells like a seasoned long-haul driver. That’s not to say our journey had been without excitement. Quite the opposite. We tried to summit Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Va. We conquered Mount Mitchell and Sassafras Mountain, the highest peaks in N.C. and S.C., respectively. And we hiked headlong up the steepest trail we had ever been on at Bald Mountain, Ga. which is the Peach State’s highest mountain. Banks and Walt Merrell hiking to ..read more

The Home Front In the state of Alabama, recipes are not the only culinary treasures handed down. In some families, culinary ministries are handed down from generation to generation. My Grandpa Campbell used to carry turnip greens to church and gift them to those he felt may need the extra blessing that only a big ol’ pot of turnip greens can deliver. Now, I know what you are thinking, but I gotta say, don’t knock it till you try it. Getting a big pot of greens and a skillet of cornbread can help you get back on your feet when life deals you a blow. Danna is seen here with her parents, Gerald a ..read more

The Family Pet Sibling shenanigans have been an ongoing source of parental nightmares and family hilarity since the dawn of time. Anyone who grew up with a sibling can attest to the fact that both the most trouble they’ve ever been in as well as their happiest moments probably occurred with their brother or sister standing beside them. This happens among every species, not just humans, and it is with that fact in mind that we introduce the dynamic duo of Tank and Emerald.  Tank is seen here having fun while playing in his beloved tunnel. Click here to learn more about him. These littermat ..read more

Special Feature Birmingham-based Lettermen of the USA (LotUSA) joined hands with Honoring Veteran Legacies to send three Alabama World War II heroes back to Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.  Howard Polin, Otis Brannon, and Authur Hullett were able to return to Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. LotUSA, an Alabama national 501 (c)(3), donated to sponsor an Alabama veteran to Normandy and helped make the trip possible. Every dollar donated to Honoring Veteran Legacies, an Alabama 501 (c)(3), went directly to support three Alabama World War II veterans on this ..read more

Parenting Points Summer often brings a whirlwind of activities. While these experiences create lasting memories, they can also lead to a hectic pace that exhausts families. Amidst the busyness of summer, it’s vital to find moments of rest and reflection. Embracing Sabbath practices can help families reconnect with each other and with God, providing much-needed respite and spiritual renewal. Understanding the Sabbath. The concept of the Sabbath originates from the Biblical commandment to rest on the seventh day, as God did after creating the world (Genesis 2:2-3). This rest day is about ceasing ..read more