Happenings Along The Trail

Howdy, folks! As I return to the lush, rolling hills of Huntington, West Virginia, it’s clear that the mountains have a beauty all their own—a beauty that’s as deep and enduring as the Texas plains are wide and open. Where Texas sprawls out beneath a vast, unbroken sky, the mountains here offer a different kind of grandeur. The Appalachians are more intimate, with their undulating peaks and valleys, creating a landscape that feels both expansive and personal. There’s a serenity to the mountains that you don’t find on the flatlands, a kind of quiet majesty that wraps around you like a soft, familiar embrace. The weather here is a far cry from the relentless Texas sun. In the mountains, the air is crisp and cool, often touched by a gentle mist that seems to breathe life into the land. The changing seasons bring their own palette of colors—verdant greens of summer giving way to fiery reds and golds in the fall, and a serene blanket of white during the winter. Each season paints a new pict

As a 34-year-old man who grew up with a deep love for all things Western, I’ve been thinking a lot about where these traditional values fit into today’s rapidly changing world. Raised in a family that valued faith, hard work, and the principles that built Western civilization, I’ve always seen these values as not just guidelines but as the foundation of a meaningful life. But as society shifts around me, I find myself reflecting on how these timeless principles can be lived out in a world that often seems to be moving away from them. The Freedom to Live My Faith For me, freedom has always been one of the most cherished aspects of Western culture. This isn’t just about the freedom to do as I please, but more importantly, the freedom to live out my faith openly and without fear. Growing up, I was taught that this freedom was a gift that came with a responsibility—to stand firm in my beliefs and to live a life that reflects my Christian values. In today’s society, where faith can sometime