Why "Beyond the Porchlight"?
I never imagined I'd be writing a travel blog. But then again, I never imagined I'd travel far enough to need to leave the porchlight on for more than a night or two.
I grew up in a small South Georgia town rooted in faith and simple routines. Travel wasn't part of our lives. It was something for other people—something I saw in books or on TV, but never believed was meant for me. My daddy drove a big truck all week, and when he was home, we stayed close to home, too. And when we did leave—maybe to visit family—the porchlight stayed on. It was a quiet promise: "We'll be back soon. We're just away for a little while."
As a young mother of two, the idea of travel felt even more out of reach. But life has a way of opening unexpected doors. In my mid-thirties, I was allowed to travel for work. That "yes" changed everything for me, my family, and others. It opened my creative mind to the possibilities. People who, like me, may have thought travel was beyond their reach. Some had lost spouses and were afraid to go alone. But as more and more reached out and were brave enough to take the first step and to trust me, it became not just a job but a passion, and a ministry. I have built genuine relationships through travel, and we quickly changed our roles from acquaintances to friends.
Over the years, those friends have become more like family. We've celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, shared quiet moments on balconies, and laughed until we cried on buses rolling through the countryside. I've stood beside them at funerals and weddings, hugged them through heartache, and heard stories about how the weeks between trips once felt lonely—until they had another adventure to look forward to.
That's what travel has become for us: stepping away from the familiar, while still carrying it in our hearts. It's leaving the light on back home while we chase sunrises somewhere new.
Beyond the Porchlight is the space between home and adventure.
It's where memories are made, friendships are formed, and healing happens.
It's where we go when we finally say yes to adventure.
So whether you're a seasoned traveler or someone just now daring to go beyond your own porchlight, this space is for you.
To the first-timers.To the second-chancers. To a seasoned traveler.
To the ones who whispered, "I want to go."
Let this be where the stories are told, the memories are honored, and the spirit of adventure never stops calling.
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