Why I love Birmingham!

I have lived in Birmingham for 6 years now. I really feel like I have a good understanding of this city and what it has to offer. I know I am partial to Birmingham because this is the city I went I first came to when I moved for college, it's the city where I fell in love, bought a house, and started my career. Birmingham will always hold a special place in my heart. But even if you don't have the emotional ties to this city there are still plenty of great things you should check out. Below is my list of the Top Ten Must See/Do Things in the Iron City.

1.The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham. I love Vulcan is just minutes away from my work. I love to see it overlooking our city. I have had so many fun times here. 

2. Tannehill- A beautiful state park that is very close to our house. We love attend Tannehill's Trade Days to look for treasures. 

3. Moss Creek Preserve - Is one of our most favorite places because it backs up to our dream neighborhood. The setting is beautiful. This particular picture was taken last year at the Moss Creek Festival.   

4. Regions Field...the Home of the Birmingham Barons! I can't say enough great things about this ballpark. Everything about it is awesome. 

5. Tunnel of Lights. This is a hidden gem for Birmingham. It's a must see if you are downtown one night. 

6. Railroad Park- I have very fond memories of walking at Railroad park when I worked for the nonprofit. We would take the kids in the program to the park for fresh air a good bit. It's a gorgeous park. 

7. The Bright Star Restaurant- It's a tradition that me, my mom and grandmother have lunch here when they come to visit. 

8. Pepper Place Farmer's Market- One of my favorite Saturday morning activies. This is such a neat part of town. I love seeing all the local vendors. 

9. Barber's Motorsports Track - A really neat place to visit. Even if you aren't a avid race fan it's pretty neat to have something like this is our city.

10. Sloss Furnace - A must see if you are in the Iron City. I have attended the Sloss Fright Fest once before. I will never go back to the fright fest but I would go back to Sloss during the day time. 

There are many other wonderful places to visit. Including the Summit Shopping Center, The Civil Rights Museum, Oak Mountain, and the list goes on and on. Come check our Birmingham, AL it's a great place!

90 Minutes In Heaven

I am a little late on this blog post but better late than never. A month and a half ago Mason and I attended First Baptist of Athens, Alabama with my grandparents. This is their home church and when they found out that Don Piper, the author of 90 Minutes in Heaven was going to be a guest speaker at their church they called me to let me know. I read the book, 90 Minutes in Heaven my freshman year in college and loved it. I loved the book so much that I suggested my granddad, Willard read it.  Don Piper, was an excellent speaker. I really enjoyed hearing him tell the story of his experience. What I gained most for listening to Mr. Piper was God is still working miracles today. Do not be discouraged and prayer does work. 



I found this summery of the book. If you have never read it it's a book I suggest reading. I really love it. 

Don Piper dies in a horrific car accident. Ninety minutes after his death, Don Piper begins singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" inside his crushed car. In what can only be termed an amazing miracle fueled by intense faith, Don Piper dies and then lives again after spending ninety minutes at heaven's gate. For the rest of his life, Don will try to come to terms with why he was allowed to experience the comfort of heaven only to be sent back to earth, a mangled version of his former self.

Don's Ford Focus is struck by a semi-truck while crossing a bridge. The impact sends Don's car into the side of the bridge, crushing him inside. Don's left leg is shattered in two places and missing four inches of bone. His right arm is dislocated and flung over the back of the driver's seat barely attached to his body. Don is covered in glass shards and looses most of the blood in his body. Surprisingly, Don suffers no internal or head injuries. As the result of his injuries, Don spends nearly a year in the hospital and many more months at home lying in a hospital bed. Don's left leg is placed in an experimental device known as the Ilizarov frame. This frame stretches Don's leg bones in order to replace most of the missing portion. Don suffers chronic pain for the rest of his life and cannot engage in many of the activities he formerly enjoyed.

Don is a minister and his strong faith is both a source of strength and frustration during his long recovery. During the ninety minutes that Don is dead, he experiences the awe of viewing heaven. Don does not feel sadness as a result of leaving his wife and three children behind. His faith secures him in the knowledge that someday they will join him in heaven and that God will continue to provide for his family on earth. Don is enveloped by brilliant light and melodious music. He feels comfortable and warm, ready to step through the gate and see the face of God. Don never sees God because he is suddenly sent back to earth.

On earth, Don battles severe depression, constant pain and continually questions why he was sent back. Although Don's faith never wavers throughout his arduous return to health, he does wonder about the fairness of being allowed to glimpse the glory of heaven before being sent back to a life that will never be normal again. It takes thousands of people praying for Don and several close friends confronting Don about his depression and bad attitude before he begins to come to terms with the whole situation. Don eventually reaches out to other people in pain and soon becomes a role model for others being treated with the Iliazrov frame. His message of the beauty of heaven inspires many, comforts others and brings more than a few people to know the Lord. As Don's physical recovery progresses, so does his emotional and spiritual recovery. Don learns to accept help when offered and to appreciate the small accomplishments in life.