Hum: Stars
PNAU: Solid Ground
Fleetwood Mac: Landslide
The Drifters: There Goes My Baby Ray Charles: America The Beautiful Film: The Sandlot
Hollow Coves: The Woods
Blind Melon: 3 Is a Magic Number (School House Rock) Film: Never Been Kissed
Journey: Wheel in the Sky
Dear Joy, Some people move through this world leaving quiet trails of light, never knowing just how far their glow will reach. You are one of them. I found your Instagram around 2012, at a time when I was trying to find my way back to myself. Life had left me shaken—grief had settled in places I didn’t know it could reach, and I was rebuilding, piece by piece. In that season of searching, I stumbled across your world—the way you wrote, the way you saw beauty in the imperfect, the way you carried light even in the hardest moments. And somehow, through the small miracle of timing, it reached me when I needed it most. I remember watching as you and your family traveled, in that adorable camper with the painted flowers, moving from place to place, gathering moments like keepsakes. Your words weren’t just captions beneath images; they were soft lanterns, reminders to be present, to see the story unfolding in the life I was already living. At the time, my husband and I were passing through Texas and Arkansas, and I remember you pausing in Hope—finding hope in Hope. And I felt connected to that, as if we were both moving through similar landscapes, both looking for something unseen but deeply felt. Over the years, I have watched your journey, and in turn, you have shaped my own. You have inspired me as a mother—to embrace imperfection, to let love and presence be enough. You have reminded me that beauty is not in the flawless moments but in the honest ones. Your photography, your storytelling, the way you have carried on through hardship—it has been a quiet encouragement, a permission slip to create, to feel, to keep moving forward. I don’t know if you realize how much light you have given. But I want you to know this: You have been a light to me. You have made me a better human. And for that, I am endlessly grateful. May you always find stars in the darkest skies and feel the same warmth you so freely share. With love and light, -Lauren
Kenny Rogers: Just Dropped In Film: The Big Lebowski
A Thank You to Chuck Norris Chuck Norris doesn’t just inspire people—he roundhouse-kicks inspiration directly into their lives. I have never met Chuck Norris. But somehow, the man has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. And honestly? I owe him a thank you. Some people grow up with childhood heroes—movie stars, athletes, cartoon characters. Me? I grew up with Walker, Texas Ranger. It was my granny’s favorite show, and that meant it was our show. If Walker was on, the world could wait. And if Chuck Norris said something was important, you listened. Which is why one completely normal day, in the middle of my childhood, Chuck Norris unknowingly changed my life. The Day Chuck Norris Pulled Me Out of Class I was about 11 or 12, going through a rough patch—my family was on edge due to some pretty serious circumstances, and life felt uncertain. But on this one particular day, I was sitting in school, minding my own business, when I got called to the office. Now, let me set the scene: this had never happened before. My mind immediately jumped to panic mode. Had something happened to my dad? Was I in trouble? Was I about to be abducted by secret government agents? Turns out, none of the above. I walked into the office, and there sat my granny, looking dead serious. And then she said, “I was watching Walker, Texas Ranger today, and at the end of the episode, Chuck Norris said that kids should do karate.” Now, if anyone else had said this, it might have seemed random . But this was my granny. And this was Chuck Norris. She proceeded to tell me that she had seen a flyer for karate lessons at the Methodist Church and, since Chuck Norris personally recommended it (as far as she was concerned), she wanted to sign me up. She would pay for it, take me to my lessons, tournaments, everything. So I did it. And you know what? It helped me so much. Karate taught me discipline, confidence, awareness, and strength. But even more than that, it gave me treasured memories with my granny. She never missed a class. She never hesitated to be there for me. And all because Chuck Norris gave her the idea. The Total Gym Obsession (And My Baby Workout Partner) Fast forward a few years: I’m in high school, and late-night TV is infomercial gold. And the best of the best? The Total Gym commercial. I was obsessed. I wanted one so bad. Chuck Norris made that thing look like the ultimate workout. Forget a normal gym—I wanted the Chuck Norris way. Years later, after I had my first baby, Jaxon, I told my husband Jamie that I deserved a present for having his child. Naturally, I asked for a Total Gym. Jamie delivered. And so did the Total Gym. Not only did it help me get into the best shape of my life—even better than before having a baby—but it became a special bonding time with my son. Jaxon loved it. He hated being rocked in a chair, but if I laid back on the Total Gym, holding him in my arms while doing squats, and sang to him? He was out like a light. I literally sang my babies to sleep on a Chuck Norris workout machine. I have photos, videos, and countless memories of this. And now? Jaxon and Maggie love using the Total Gym, too. Chuck Norris workouts have officially become a family legacy. Post-Baby #3 & The Roundhouse Kick to My Gut Health Now, after my third pregnancy , I was feeling the weight of time. Recovery was slower, energy was lower, and I needed something extra. Enter: Chuck Norris’ Roundhouse green juice and probiotic. Embarrassingly enough to admit I have struggled with gut health probably my entire life. But this? Game-changer. Chuck Norris doesn’t sell health products. He sells bottled invincibility. Between the Total Gym, proper diet, exercise, and this probiotic, I have felt stronger, more energized, and healthier than I could have imagined. And yes, I fully believe that Chuck Norris himself has something to do with that. The Shirt, The Legend, The Roundhouse Kick of Gratitude Jamie once had a Chuck Norris t-shirt I gifted him that read: “Chuck Norris doesn’t break hearts. He breaks legs.” He loved that shirt. He wore it until it literally fell apart. And when it did? I saved it to make a t-shirt quilt. Chuck Norris, you’ve been more than just a Texas icon—you’ve been an unexpected mentor, a source of strength, and a legend in my life. Because of you, my granny walked into my school and signed me up for karate. Because of you, I got in the best shape of my life—and somehow turned a piece of workout equipment into a lullaby for my babies. Because of you, I found strength in every season of my life—before kids, after kids, and even now, as I chase them around. I may never get the chance to meet you. But if I do, I’ll shake your hand, look you in the eye, and say thank you. And then I’ll probably embarrass myself by crying. Chuck Norris doesn’t just inspire—he leaves a roundhouse-kick-sized impact on people’s lives and footprints of strength wherever he stands.
