Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Jordan Staal...

Some players are known for their goals.

Some players are known for their statistics.

And then there are players like Jordan Staal—leaders whose impact can't always be measured on a score sheet.

When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup Championship last night, there were plenty of players who could have been considered for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. But there was something fitting about seeing Captain Jordan Staal receive the honor.

For years, Staal has been the heartbeat of this team.

He isn't flashy. He doesn't seek attention. He simply shows up every night and does whatever is needed to help his team win. Whether it's shutting down the opponent's top line, winning key faceoffs, killing penalties, or providing leadership in the locker room, Jordan Staal has been doing the little things that championships are built on.

What makes this moment so special is how long he's waited for it.

Since arriving in Carolina, Staal has been part of the foundation that transformed the Hurricanes from a struggling franchise into a perennial contender. Through coaching changes, rebuilding years, playoff heartbreaks, and near misses, he never wavered. He remained committed to the organization, his teammates, and the city of Raleigh.

That's the mark of a true leader.

As captain, he has led by example. His work ethic is second to none. His teammates respect him. The fans love him. And when the biggest games of the season arrived, he elevated his play even further.

The Conn Smythe Trophy isn't just awarded for scoring goals. It's awarded to the player who has the greatest impact throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In many ways, Jordan Staal's entire career has been about making an impact that goes beyond the numbers.

He has shown that leadership matters.

Character matters.

Consistency matters.

Watching him lift the Stanley Cup as captain was emotional enough. Seeing him receive the Conn Smythe Trophy felt like recognition for years of sacrifice, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to his team.

As a die hard Hurricanes fan, I've watched Jordan Staal give everything he has to this organization. This championship validated what we've known all along—he is one of the greatest leaders to ever wear a Hurricanes sweater.

Twenty years after Rod Brind'Amour captained the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup, another captain has etched his name into Carolina hockey history.

Congratulations, Jordan Staal.

Stanley Cup Champion.

Conn Smythe Trophy Winner.

Forever a Carolina Hurricanes legend.

🏒🏆❤️🖤

Jaccob Slavin: Christian Athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, and Stanley Cup Champion...

Some athletes become known for their talent. Others become known for their character. Very few are remembered for both.

That's what makes Jaccob Slavin so special.

For years, as a die hard Hurricanes fan, I have known what the rest of the hockey world is finally recognizing—that Slavin is one of the best defensemen in the game. Night after night, he quietly shuts down the league's top players, makes impossible defensive plays look routine, and leads by example both on and off the ice.

But 2026 elevated him into truly rare company.

In February, Slavin helped lead Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since the famous "Miracle on Ice" team of 1980. Wearing the red, white, and blue, he played a critical role on the blue line as the United States captured gold in Milan, fulfilling a dream that every hockey player has when they represent their country.

Then, last night, he helped bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes captured the Stanley Cup Championship win.

With that accomplishment, Slavin joined one of the most exclusive clubs in hockey history. He became only the second American player ever to win an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup in the same year, joining 1980 Olympic gold medalist and New York Islanders defenseman Ken Morrow.

Think about that for a moment.

Generations of American hockey players have dreamed of accomplishing what Slavin achieved in a single year. Winning one of those championships is extraordinary. Winning both in the same season is almost unheard of.

Yet if you've ever listened to Slavin speak, you'd never know it.

What stands out most about him isn't the gold medal around his neck or the Stanley Cup ring he'll soon wear. It's his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Through every interview, every success, and every accomplishment, he consistently points the attention away from himself and toward God.

In a sports culture that often celebrates self-promotion, Slavin chooses humility. In a world that encourages athletes to build their own brand, he chooses to build a legacy of faith, character, and servant leadership.

As a Hurricanes fan, I couldn't be happier to see him finally lift the Stanley Cup. No one deserves it more. He has represented this organization, this community, and his faith with integrity since the day he arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Olympic Gold Medalist.

Stanley Cup Champion.

Christian husband, father, and role model.

Not a bad year for Jaccob Slavin.

And perhaps the most inspiring part of all is that if you asked him which title matters most, he'd probably tell you it's none of those. His identity isn't found in a medal, a trophy, or a championship banner.

It's found in Christ.

Congratulations, Slavo. Hurricanes fans couldn't be more proud.

🏒🥇🏆❤️🖤

Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champions...

Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champions...

Lord Stanley's Cup is coming back to Raleigh, North Carolina!

What an incredible moment it was to watch the Carolina Hurricanes complete the journey and bring the Stanley Cup home once again. Last night's shutout victory was the perfect ending to a season filled with determination, sacrifice, and unwavering belief.

Bussi stepped into a huge role in the net and did an outstanding job after taking over for Freddie Andersen, who had an incredible playoff run himself. Throughout the postseason, every player on this team contributed in some way, proving that championships are won through teamwork, resilience, and a commitment to something bigger than yourself.

As a lifelong Hurricanes fan, this win feels especially sweet. We've waited twenty years to see Lord Stanley's Cup return to Raleigh, and seeing it happen on the 20th anniversary of the Hurricanes' first championship makes it even more special. It's hard not to think back to 2006 when Coach Rod Brind'Amour, the captain of that championship team, hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

What makes this championship even more meaningful is that Rod was at the center of both victories. Twenty years ago, he led the Hurricanes on the ice as their captain. Last night, he led them from behind the bench as their head coach. Very few people get to experience one Stanley Cup championship from either role, but Rod has now been part of bringing a championship to Carolina in both. That full-circle moment is something we Hurricanes fans will never forget.

This group of players worked tirelessly for this moment. Through the highs and lows, they never stopped believing, never stopped battling, and never stopped playing for each other. They earned every bit of this championship.

Today, as the Cup makes its way back to Raleigh, Hurricanes fans everywhere are celebrating. From the loudest fans in the arena to those cheering from their living rooms, we've all been part of this journey.

For me, it makes the moment even more special because Scot and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this year. We were married in 2006—the same year the Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup. To see them bring the Cup back to Raleigh on the 20th anniversary of that championship, with Coach Rod once again leading the way, feels like the perfect full-circle moment.

Twenty years in the making, and worth every second of the wait. 

🏒❤️🖤

Remembering D-Day: June 6, 1944...

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of one of the most significant days in world history—D-Day, June 6, 1944.

On that morning, more than 156,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in what became the largest amphibious military invasion in history. The operation, known as Operation Overlord, was a pivotal turning point in World War II. Soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and other Allied nations stormed heavily fortified beaches under relentless enemy fire, knowing many would never return home.

It's difficult to fully comprehend the courage those young men displayed. Many were barely older than teenagers. They left behind families, friends, dreams, and futures because they believed freedom was worth fighting for. They stepped off landing crafts into uncertainty and danger so that future generations could live in liberty.

As I think about D-Day today, I'm reminded that freedom has never been free. The rights and privileges we enjoy every day came at a tremendous cost. Thousands gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy, and countless others carried the physical and emotional scars of war for the rest of their lives.

History can sometimes feel distant, especially as the years pass and fewer veterans remain to tell their stories firsthand. But days like today are important because they remind us to pause and remember. Remember the sacrifice. Remember the courage. Remember the selflessness.

Scripture tells us in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

While the soldiers who landed on Normandy's beaches came from different backgrounds and walks of life, they shared a common purpose that day. Their bravery helped change the course of history and brought hope to a world engulfed in darkness.

Today, let us honor the heroes of D-Day—not only with words, but with gratitude. May we never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy, and may we always remember those who paid the ultimate price to secure them.

We remember. We honor. We are grateful.

#DDay #June6 #NeverForget #FreedomIsNotFree

20 Years In The Making...

20 Years In The Making...

I've been a diehard Hurricanes fan from the very beginning. Through the highs and lows, the playoff runs and the disappointing seasons, I've always cheered for the Canes. That's why this run has been so special to watch.

The journey to where the Hurricanes are now has been an amazing one. In many ways, it's been 20 years in the making.

The last time the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup was in 2006. That championship team, led by Rod Brind'Amour, gave Carolina hockey fans memories that will last a lifetime. Since then, there have been plenty of ups and downs. There were years when the playoffs seemed out of reach and seasons that ended far sooner than we had hoped.

But this organization never stopped building.

One of the biggest turning points came when Rod Brind'Amour returned behind the bench as head coach. The same determination, leadership, and work ethic that made him a fan favorite as a player became the foundation of the team's culture. Under his leadership, the Hurricanes transformed into one of the NHL's most consistent teams.

Over the years, the Hurricanes have assembled an incredible roster filled with talent, character, and team-first players. They've built a reputation for relentless forechecking, strong defensive play, excellent goaltending, and a work ethic that never quits. More importantly, they genuinely seem to care about each other and play for one another.

That's one of the reasons this group stands out to me. Talent alone doesn't get a team this far. Character matters. Chemistry matters. This is one of the best groups of guys I've seen wear a Hurricanes sweater, bar none.

This playoff run has been a testament to perseverance. Every season, every playoff disappointment, every lesson learned has helped shape this team into what it is today. They have continued to grow, mature, and believe that they could compete with the very best teams in hockey.

Now they stand on one of the biggest stages in sports.

The Golden Knights will be a tough opponent. They are a talented team that knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. There will be challenges ahead, and nothing will come easy. But if there's one thing Hurricanes fans know, it's that this team never backs down from a challenge.

As a fan, I'm incredibly excited to watch this series unfold. Twenty years after that magical 2006 championship season, the Hurricanes have another opportunity to bring the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh, North Carolina.

I'm looking forward to every game, every shift, and every moment. And I'm praying that on this 20th anniversary year, the Hurricanes finish the job and bring Lord Stanley's Cup home once again.

Let's Go Canes!

Welcome To North Carolina...

Welcome To North Carolina...

If you just moved to North Carolina, there are a few things you need to know before you fully assimilate into the culture. This isn’t written in any official handbook, but it should be.

First of all, Interstate 40 is not a highway. It is a lifelong group project that nobody finishes. No matter what time of day you drive it, there will always be orange cones, one confused worker holding a sign, and traffic backed up for absolutely no reason. North Carolinians don’t ask, “Is I-40 under construction?” We ask, “Which part today?”

Then there’s Charlotte traffic. Nobody understands Charlotte traffic. GPS doesn’t understand Charlotte traffic. Scientists don’t understand Charlotte traffic. You can leave your house at 2:17 PM on a Tuesday and somehow end up sitting still for 45 minutes wondering where all these people came from. Meanwhile, someone in a Nissan Altima with expired temporary tags is weaving through six lanes at the speed of sound.

Raleigh drivers are a completely different experience. In Raleigh, people brake because:

• a leaf moved
• sunlight hit the windshield wrong
• someone thought about merging
• there’s a curve ahead in three miles

You’ll be cruising along peacefully when suddenly every brake light in Wake County lights up like it’s the Second Coming.

And if someone invites you to Bojangles, understand this is not simply “grabbing food.” This is fellowship. This is tradition. This is spiritual. North Carolinians will fight harder over Bojangles seasoning than politics. If you say the biscuits are “just okay,” prepare to be escorted across state lines.

Now let’s discuss the Outer Banks. Tourists think the vacation begins when they arrive at the beach. Wrong. The Outer Banks traffic begins approximately six counties earlier. At some point, your GPS will estimate “Arrival Time: Eventually.” You’ll spend three hours moving one car length at a time while someone in the backseat asks if you’re “almost there” every six minutes.

And finally, perhaps the most important lesson of all:

“Bless your heart” is not kindness.

Context matters.

If someone says:
“Oh honey, bless your heart,”
you may have just been called incompetent, ridiculous, or spiritually exhausting.

Southern people can insult you, pray for you, and offer you sweet tea in the exact same sentence.

But despite all the traffic, construction, pollen thick enough to qualify as weather, and debates over eastern vs. western barbecue, North Carolina really is home to some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

Just don’t insult Bojangles while sitting in I-40 traffic on the way to the Outer Banks. That’s how fights start.

Dave Ramsey Repost...

I hope everyone will read this Dave Ramsey post about going cashless. It’s a two minute read and NO one has explained it better. Please take 2 minute's and read!

Dave Ramsey repost:

HERE'S WHAT NO CASH ACTUALLY MEANS:

A cashless society means no cash. Zero. It doesn’t mean mostly cashless and you can still use a ‘wee bit of cash here & there’. Cashless means fully digital, fully traceable, fully controlled. I think those who support a cashless society aren’t fully aware of what they are asking for. A cashless society means:

* If you are struggling with your mortgage on a particular month, you can’t do an odd job to get you through.

* Your child can’t go & help the local farmer to earn a bit of summer cash.

* No more cash slipped into the hands of a child as a good luck charm or from their grandparent when going on holidays.

* No more money in birthday cards.

* No more piggy banks for your child to collect pocket money & to learn about the value of earning.

* No more cash for a rainy day fund or for that something special you have been putting $20 a week away for.

* No more little jobs on the side because your wages barely cover the bills or put food on the table.

* No more charity collections.

* No more selling bits & pieces from your home that you no longer want/need for a bit of cash in return.

* No more cash gifts from relatives or loved ones.

What a cashless society does guarantee:

* Banks have full control of every single penny you own.

* Every transaction you make is recorded.

* All your movements & actions are traceable.

* Access to your money can be blocked at the click of a button when/if banks need ‘clarification’ from you which will take about 3 weeks, a thousand questions answered & five thousand passwords.

* You will have no choice but to declare & be taxed on every dollar in your possession.

* The government WILL decide what you can & cannot purchase.

* If your transactions are deemed in any way questionable, by those who create the questions, your money will be frozen, ‘for your own good’.

Forget about cash being dirty. Stop being so easily led. Cash has been around for a very, very, very long time & it gives you control over how you trade with the world. It gives you independence.

If you are a customer, pay with cash. If you are a shop owner, remove those ridiculous signs that ask people to pay by card. Cash is a legal tender, it is our right to pay with cash. Banks are making it increasingly difficult to lodge cash.

Please open your eyes. Please stop believing everything you are being told. Almost every single topic in today’s world is tainted with corruption & hidden agendas.

Pay with cash & please say no to a cashless society while you still have the choice.

Thoughts On SOTU this week....

I've been letting this statement - that was made earlier this week by our President - percolate. I still shake my head in disbelief at how not even ONE of the dems stood when it was spoken. Not even ONE!!! What's really disheartening is that it had to even be spoken at all!!!

Having a President who has the backbone to stand for us - the American Citizens - this way makes me proud but also sad because it never should've had to be spoken or stood for to begin with. It should have been a given in everyone's hearts and minds - even the dems! How unAmerican not to stand for your citizens!!!!!! Who, by the way, put your butt in office to begin with.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are not for us - the American citizens - then you are against us and you should be taken out of office!

AMERICAN CITIZENS FIRST NOW AND ALWAYS! 

USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!

February 13th SpaceX Crew 12 Launch Seen in NC...

I wanted to share a picture with you here of the SpaceX Crew 12 launch from the 13th that was seen here in the wee morning hours in North Carolina.  The picture I'm sharing was shared to me because I was not awake at that early morning hour to see it for myself.  It's circled in the picture below.

TPUSA's Halftime Show....

TPUSA's halftime show this past Sunday was awesome.  It was nice to watch a halftime show that was more family friendly than I've seen in many, many years.  Watching their halftime show reminded me of how the halftime shows used to be when they put making sure it was family friendly of most of importance above everything else.  When they were considerate of the little eyes that were watching.  When it mattered to have a halftime show that was more American than in more recent years.    

I really believe that Kid Rock is making an effort to change his image because he himself has changed.  On his last song they highlighted the stage with his real name, Robert Richie.  I know that the public wants to continue to call him Kid Rock but when I saw his real name that's when I knew that he's really trying to make a real change away from how everyone has always associated him as being.  I believe it was his way of saying Kid Rock is dead and now Robert Richie lives and he's living for God.  

The Groundhog Got It Wrong Yesterday - As A Result....

Martin Luther King, Jr Day!

Today marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Every year I listen to his "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on Aug. 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I listen to it because I never want to forget the great Americans who made a difference. Although he made several notable speeches my favorite will always be "I Have A Dream".

Here is a link to watch the speech in its entirety: https://youtu.be/OTwVbUJbQxk?si=N0FGrFMaYbdaJ-MP.

(Just an FYI, MLK was just a man. He made mistakes like we all do. Remember that when remembering him. His accomplishments in the civil rights movement outweigh all the areas where he missed the mark.)

We are so Thankful...

We are so incredibly thankful for being given so much pebble gravel so that we could fix the low spots in our gravel driveway.  Our driveway is around 600 or so feet long so you can imagine how much it cost to get two dump truck loads of new gravel put on it.  It's something we are going to have to do but being giving this gravel buys us some time before having to do it.  

Happy 1st Day of Winter!

We wanted take and moment to just say, "Happy 1st Day of Winter!"

I'm not sure how much of a winter we will have this year.  It varies from year to year as to what we will receive in the way of snow.  We love seeing it but no one here, in NC, knows how to drive in it seeing as we hardly ever see the stuff...LOL! 

Happy Hanukkah My Jewish Friends...

This is the reason that my household will always pour out blessings on Israel/Jewish people.  I will always honor them because my God tells me to do so in His Word and I always want to honor Him!

I thought a little education on Hanukkah might be in order for those that don't know much about it.

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew Calendar, which this year occurs from the evening of December 14th to the 22nd in the Gregorian Calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. One branch is placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shammash (שַׁמָּשׁ‎, "attendant"). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shammash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.

The name "Hanukkah" derives from the Hebrew verb "חנך‎", meaning "to dedicate", because on Hanukkah, the Maccabean Jews regained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple.

The reason for the Hanukkah lights is not for the "lighting of the house within", but rather for the "illumination of the house without", so that if a passersby should see it they'd be reminded of the holiday's miracle.

Hanukkah lights should usually burn for at least half an hour after it gets dark.

Typically two blessings (brachot; singular: brachah) are recited during this eight-day festival when lighting the candles. On the first night only, the shehecheyanu blessing is added, making a total of three blessings.

The blessings are recited before each candle is lit. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle or oil) is lit on the right side of the menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first but it is lit first, and so on, proceeding from placing candles right to left but lighting them from left to right over the eight nights.

Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner Hanukkah.

Translation: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light[s].

After the lights are kindled the hymn Hanerot Halalu is recited.

It is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning, and some have the custom not to work for the entire time of burning. It is also forbidden to fast or to eulogize during Hanukkah.

Anyhow, I thought you'd enjoy learning a bit about this holy holiday of the Jewish people.  

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Yesterday...

Yesterday marked 84 years since Pearl Harbor happened.  May we never forget!

To All My Dearest Friends....

This song speaks my heart when it comes to my dearest friends and they know who they are. I want you all to know how thankful I am for each and every one of you. I will walk the extra mile for you always.

The Extra Mile - Al Denson:

It may be a phone call late at night

That wakes my heart and brings me to my knees

It could be the hurt that's in your eyes

That shakes my soul from all complacency

But, oh, I want you to know

That I will be the one who prays for you

It may be the presence of your past

That haunts your very will to just believe

It may seem the weight of all the world

Has crushed your dreams and laid them at your feet

But, oh, I want you to know

That I will be a friend to see you through

For I will walk the extra mile

When the road ahead seems long

I will share those lonely silent nights

That pass without a song

Knowing that the darkness

Is but for a little while

For you, my friend, I will walk

I will walk the extra mile

It may be the mention of your name

That brings a smile into my busy day

It could be a place we've been before

That echoes all the tender words you'd say

But, oh, I want you to know

That I have never had a friend like you, like you

And I will walk the extra mile

When the road ahead seems long

I will share those lonely silent nights

That pass without a song

Knowing that the darkness

Is but for a little while

For you, my friend, I will walk

I will walk the extra mile

And though the miles create a distance

That keeps us worlds apart

There's a road you walk each day

That travels through my heart

And I will walk the extra mile

When the road ahead seems long

I will share those lonely silent nights

That pass without a song

Knowing that the darkness

Is but for a little while

For you, my friend, I will walk

I will walk the extra mile

For you, my friend, I will walk

I will walk the extra mile

(song link: https://youtu.be/s_Hw5XbJTfQ?si=TqQ9Hb9k83plfw-O)

Charlie Kirk Day!

Today we celebrate and remember the life of Charlie Kirk!  When you click on his name it will take you to a link so that you can learn about who he was but you'll need to click on his name/picture.  The most important thing you should know is that he was a child of God!  He loved the Lord with all his heart, mind and soul!  His Savior came 1st in his life!  He was a man making a massive impact for God with the Gen Z'ers.  His message was strong and firm and he never wavered in his stance or faith.  Sharing Jesus with these young people was his most important calling over everything else that he did.  

Christian nationalism asserts that the United States is a country founded by and for Christians.  Christian nationalists in the United States advocate "a fusion of identitarian Christian identity and cultural conservatism with American civic belonging.

If you really study history you will see that the majority of the signers of our Declaration of Independence were in fact Christians.  If you go further back you will see that the first settlers in our country were also Christians.  Christians are why we are a nation.  If not for them there would be no USA.  It was their faith that led and guided the early days of our government.  It was their faith that grew our nation.  It is how it should be today instead of the torn up/apart mess that it is.  God's intent and mans intent are only the same if one is totally committed to God in every aspect of their lives.  Without that kind of committed and dedication to God our society crumbles as it has been doing for so long now.  

May the memory of Charlie Kirk be more about his faith than his politics.  May his legacy grow so large that he will live on forever.  May we never forget that he gave the ultimate sacrifice one can give because he died while making the absolute best effort that he could to change lives for Christ!  

We need to remember that as lives are changed for Christ they are also changed politically as well.  Those on the other side of the fence hated that he was making real change and that he was reaching our youth with his message and they wanted it stopped.  What they didn't bargain for was the uprising that it would cause.  TPUSA is larger today than it has ever been because of his assassination.  What others meant for evil God is changing for our good and His Glory!  

To God be the glory, great things that He has done,  so loved He the world that He gave us His Son, who yielded His life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.  

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!  Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!  O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory, great things He has done!

Check out this great message from Charlie Kirk on a podcast at this link:

Charlie Kirk on Dr. James Dobson

B.R.A.K.E.S...

I wish a program like this was around when my husband and I were first driving at 16 years old.  This is a fantastic program and every teen should take part in it.  So much learning that could ultimately save lives.  Watching them drive the different driving scenarios and responding in the correct way as they were instructed by the instructors to do was so awesome to watch.  Scot and I got to take a little part in it as well on one of the driving courses (all the parents did).

Get your teen signed up by clicking the link below and do this with them.  You will be glad you did.  

www.PutOnTheBRAKES.org

Happy 1st Day of Autumn...