Fall is in the Air
There is no denying it; some days are just better than others. I prefer blue skies with crisp autumn air over freezing rain under skies of grey. However, we can’t control when it rains, so it’s best to just let it happen. After all, we need rain; it helps us grow. But when the blue skies come, get outside, roll down the windows, let the wind cool your soul, and drive. Each day is a blessing. We should be grateful.
Fall is setting in, and that means busy season for the screen printing business. As many of you know, my wife and I own Hardhits Community Branding. A couple of years ago, I had a new vision for the company and needed the right people to help me fulfill that vision. Some people were already on the team, but I was missing one. I was lucky the right person to lead the team lived in my house. Vanessa took over running Hardhits at the beginning of the year and has done an amazing job taking the business to the next level.
September has been a blur for us. Vanessa and I sit in our office until midnight most nights, working through emails and logos. We are blessed to have a community that supports small businesses like ours and a staff happy to work late and accommodate rush jobs. Our production manager, D’Ante, oversees the printing process, and graphic designer, Alex, hand draws customers’ dreams into designs, and Vanessa makes it all come together, ensuring the shirts look great and are delivered on time. Our team is dedicated to providing high-level customer service, high-quality printing, and imaginative design. I am grateful to have such a cohesive team to serve our community.
Fall means the second year of The Very Flannel Dino. I love reading and believe it is fundamental for freedom. As Frederick Douglas said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” September’s Flannel Dino was encouraging for freedom. The room was filled with inquisitive faces and caring parents. I don’t have the words to express how blessed and grateful I am to Vita Nova Coffee and Creatives for supporting the Flannel Dino and allowing me to read about Pete the Cat, Bad Monkey, and Smart Cookies. It’s the highlight of my month.
Due to popular demand, I will add Curious George to my reading list in October. It’s great to get feedback from the Dinos. I am writing a children’s book with my oldest daughter, Julia, and am challenging myself to have the first draft ready to read by the October Story Time. It’s called Little Dinos and follows twin Velociraptors Athena and Artemis. Athena is wise and clever, and Artemis is independent and fierce, and together, they learn how to adapt to an ever-changing world. Don’t miss the next Story Time on October 17th from 10 AM until 11 AM at Vita Nova in Nokesville.
It’s not just work that’s busy in the fall; it’s family. With Oliver doing football and Julia doing SCA, and with Homecoming, I feel like Vanessa and I spend half our day driving back and forth, picking them up, and running errands. Not to mention the two little monkeys who started at Premier Martial Arts. It can sometimes get overwhelming. There are so many schedules between work and kids, but it’s worth it. I am so grateful to have kids with such positive energy. I am blessed to support them.
You might have noticed an increase in Politics and Parenting posts in September. After reading American Covenant, it has helped me focus my thoughts. I write every day, and I write about congressional reform because it needs to happen. Expect 3-5 weekly postings about congressional reform woven through stories about family and pop culture.
Some of you have taken notice already. THANK YOU to our ten new free subscribers and three subscribers who upgraded to a paid membership last week! It’s such a blessing to have a community that supports reading. There is some exciting news to share as well. Co-author Michael S. Johnson of Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People will be a guest on the podcast coming up. I can’t wait to have him share why we need congressional reform with you.
AND!
The man, the myth, the legend Yuval Levin, Author of The Fractured Republic, A Time to Build, and American Covenant, will join Politics and Parenting in October. Levin is the leading political theorist in the country, and no one has done a better job than he and his team over at AEI of explaining why our politics is so divided and why Congress is at the heart of it all.
Coming up Monday, September 30th, is the next in a Series of Tank Talks on Virginia Presidents. This month is about John Tyler, the first accidental president. I’ll explain how his desire to extend the sphere of republicanism while simultaneously preserving slavery put us on a pathway to the Civil War. The talk starts at 7 PM. (RSVP on Facebook by clicking here.) When it’s over, we will play a Jeopardy review game, and the winner will receive a $15 gift card to Heritage Brewing Company. I am so grateful to have the support of a great business like Heritage to host these great history talks!
I started this journey nearly four years ago, not knowing what I was doing. My family has blessed me with support, and all along the way, I have made new friends and gained support from this amazing community. I am so grateful for the love, and I will continue to better myself to bring representation back to people like me and you. Thank you, God, for helping me with the highs and lows.
It will rain again, but don’t let it wash you away. Stand firm and soak it in. There are better days ahead. If you want to be a ray of sunlight and support my journey for Congressional reform and increasing literacy, consider becoming a paid subscriber to Politics and Parenting. For only $10 a month, you can help bring Congressional reform to the forefront of American Politics.