On Saturday, we spent the Fourth of July exactly the way we needed to—swimming in the lake, running barefoot through the woods with the grandkids, and simply enjoying being together without the rush or noise of everyday life.
There’s something about slowing down that reminds you what really matters.
Keeping life simple. Staying true to our roots. Letting our grandchildren discover the beauty of nature through their own eyes instead of a screen.
I’m grateful for freedom, for family, and for places that make it easy to appreciate both.
The next day, Will and I took one of our favorite drives through Cades Cove hoping to spot wildlife. We weren’t disappointed. Seeing mama bears with their cubs never gets old, and every trip reminds me why the Great Smoky Mountains are one of Tennessee’s greatest treasures.
A new Tennessee law now makes it illegal to feed black bears and requires visitors to properly secure trash and other food sources. These rules help keep bears wild, healthy, and safe. The law also comes with hefty fines—and even criminal charges—for feeding or petting bears.
Seriously…petting a bear?
Some laws make you wonder what happened to make them necessary.
That little adventure got me thinking about all the reasons I love calling Tennessee home. No place is perfect, but this state has captured my heart.
It’s Beautiful
I never take for granted that I live where people vacation. From the Great Smoky Mountains to peaceful lakes, waterfalls, and winding country roads, Tennessee is beautiful in every season.
Four Real Seasons
Spring brings dogwoods and wildflowers. Summer is made for lakes and hiking. Fall paints the mountains with breathtaking color, and winter usually blesses us with at least one good snow that sends kids outside and slows life down for a day or two.
The People
Southern hospitality is still alive here. People smile, hold doors, wave from their front porches, and genuinely look out for one another. That sense of community is something I treasure.
Endless Adventures
Whether you’re hiking mountain trails, chasing waterfalls, floating a river, exploring state parks, antiquing, or wandering through small-town shops, there’s always something new to discover.
And yes…the waterfalls deserve their own category.
Fireflies
Every summer, fireflies fill our yard, and somehow it never loses its magic. They’re one of those simple gifts that remind me to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Antiquing & Thrifting
And, of course, this makes the list! Tennessee has some incredible antique malls, vintage stores, and thrift shops. From Memphis to Knoxville, Nashville to Chattanooga, you never know what treasure you’ll stumble across.
Tennessee Has Quite a Story
Most people know Tennessee for country music and the Smokies, but we’ve contributed a few surprising things to history as well.
Did you know Tennessee is home to:
- The first franchised Coca-Cola bottling company in Chattanooga.
- The original Piggly Wiggly, the country’s first self-service grocery store.
- The Goo Goo Cluster, America’s first combination candy bar.
- Moon Pies and Little Debbie snack cakes.
- The birthplace of country music in Bristol. Yes, Bristol!
- Nashville hot chicken.
- The very first Cracker Barrel in Lebanon.
Not bad for one state.
Of course, Tennessee has also given the world people like Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Reese Witherspoon, and so many others who have left their mark on history.
But what makes Tennessee special isn’t just what was invented here or who was born here.
It’s the people.
It’s the small towns, front porch conversations, church suppers, mountain mornings, football Saturdays, barbecue, music drifting through the air, and families making memories together.
It’s watching the sun set over the Tennessee River.
It’s driving the backroads just to see where they lead.
It’s hearing children laugh while they splash in a creek.
It’s realizing that the best days usually aren’t the busiest ones.
Tennessee isn’t perfect. No place is.
But it’s built on kindness, hard work, resilience, freedom, and a deep appreciation for God’s creation.
People from every background have helped shape the Volunteer State into what it is today. Different stories. One shared home.
If we want Tennessee to remain special, the recipe is actually pretty simple:
- Be kind.
- Be respectful.
- Take care of the land.
- Look out for one another.
- Never lose your sense of wonder.
Because that’s how Tennessee stays Tennessee.
Once you’ve lived here, it never really leaves you.
Whether it’s the mist rolling across the Smokies, music echoing through Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, or the quiet beauty of a country road, Tennessee has a way of becoming part of who you are.
And while I may have been born in Kentucky…
I’ll always be grateful to call Tennessee home.
And, I am grateful for you,
Bev