The late author, missionary, and public speaker Lillian Dickson (1901-1983) once said the following: "Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can only spend it once." I agree completely with the above quote. You can't use the same coin twice unless you visit the same establishment repeatedly and happen to get back a coin you provided when making an earlier purchase. But the chances of that occurring are slim to nil. We get only one life to live on this earth, so we might as well make the most of it. The time you're spending reading this post you will never ever get back, so it is my hope that you see it as time well spent. Spend as much time as you possibly can with those you love. Indulge your hobbies. Listen to your favorite songs. Eat your favorite foods. Work toward achieving whatever it is you have on your so-called bucket list, whether it's getting a master's degree, having three kids, or visiting every continent at leas...

Ever heard of Montpelier? Neither had I -- at least not until a couple of years ago. It happens to be the plantation house where James Madison (1751-1836), 4th President of the United States and father of the U.S. Constitution, and First Lady Dolley Madison (1768-1849) lived. They didn't live there full-time, of course, until Madison completed his second term in 1817. Located near Orange, Virginia, the estate is comprised of a mansion, historic buildings, exhibits, garden, forest trails and archaeological sites. The origins of the name Montpelier are dubious at best, but the first recorded use of the name is traced back to a letter written in 1781. Madison liked the French spelling of the word -- Montpellier -- which translates to "Mount of the Pilgrim." Madison had a staff of roughly 100 enslaved African Americans at Montpelier who served in a variety of roles, from cooks to carpenters. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Reg...