My JOURNEY & testimony

 Until 2018, I believed I knew best how my skills would be utilized to help others, resolve problems, and how that might look in terms of my career even though multiple years had begun to lack peaks and become filled with continued challenges and seemingly endless valleys. I lived in the home built by namesakes' that had offered me safe harbor and a sense of stability at every critical point in my life. I strove to become the most highly competent, well-trained, and respected educator and servant leader I could be. I remained on the path that I set forth for myself. I walked until I had to be carried. (I was reminded: we need to remember to humble ourselves, take our surroundings into account and allow our course to be recalculated. We may need to accept guidance from others and not lean upon our own understanding.)

   Since 2019, while serving families through funeral ministry, continuing to address and face the changes created by the loss of friends and family, and examining my own journey while traveling new roads (thankful for lots of new friends, great servicemen and women, great schools, and again, LOTS of MILES of beautiful Pennsylvania roads), and catering my way through life with great people - I navigated my way back “home”. I left this Hollow more than once as a child and young adult due to danger, fear, and darkness. I understand youth that struggle with the anxiety and find it difficult to believe a happily ever after, let alone a future, or a purposeful life has been written for them... I can almost hear the dark, hovering voices of defeat that whisper telling them it's okay to write their own short ending; my being gets it. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Navigating and escaping those dark valleys of my own helped me "see, hear, and love" others. I believe there is purposefulness that has been bestowed upon me as an encourager.  Returning to the Hollow brought blessings and challenges; the journey brought me full circle and to quote Jelly Roll, "I'm alright with what's wrong with me."

   Through tears, God's powerful persuasion, and the decision to trust that He will make a way and grow this, well, beyond me or my abilities alone. THIS path is bigger than what I had envisioned for myself. This venture has the potential to allow me and others to have a positive effect upon the lives of our community; to grow an incredible natural space of healing, sharing, and educational initiatives. Meadow and Sky Nature Park will be operating with a cradle to grave perspective of life cycle as it relates to our journey through this world with a focus on our interdependence upon nature, farming, and the insights provided by physically connecting with our natural world and others within our community. My desire is to help establish a culture where people LIVE this LIFE to the fullest and desire to learn and experience something new every day. Hopefully finding peace, joy, laughter, and love within their faith, among members of their immediate communal groups and the community at large, amidst the crazy, wonderful animals of this earth, or out among nature's beauty. God's grace and mercy visited me through all of those in my youth: faith, community, animals, and nature. I am at a humbled point in life, admitting I can't do this on my own and living in the spaces where darkness once reigned, yet I have never felt more freedom and clarity of purpose. 

   I've begun to introduce the concepts of Meadow and Sky Nature Park as well as Meadow and Sky Green Burial Park... But what do they entail? How can you invest in a SEED INVESTMENT PACKET that will allow you to journey alongside me during this inaugural year? I've shared my personal testimony and my change of course. Please continue reading to better understand the bigger picture, the actionable steps, and the benefits I believe can be garnered by further investing in, revitalizing, developing, and conserving valuable resources that have sustained generations cradle to grave in Pennsylvania.

It’s made me reminisce on my pledge from 4-H, "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to greater service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."