Archeology and Agriculture

 

Continuing to Tell Our Story

 

Celebrate and Honor Black History Month with a Preservation Donation

 

For Every $4 You Donate Today We Will Get $6

In case you missed the news, we’re launching phase two of a historical trail, cemetery, museum, and education center at the Flatwoods Community and the Moore Family Century Farm, a 154-year-old historically Black community in Benton County, Tennessee.

Thanks to an extremely generous offer from the Tennessee Historical Commission, for every $4 you donate we will receive $6.  In honor and recognition of Black History Month, we are launching a campaign this year asking for your financial support to preserve one of the few remaining historically black landmarks in Tennessee.

“Our Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant program is one of the main ways the Tennessee Historical Commission makes meaningful contributions to the protection and study of our state’s treasured historic places,” said Patrick McIntyre, State Historic Preservation Officer, and Executive Director. The Federal Historic Preservation Fund provides 60 percent of the project costs with a 40 percent match of project funds from the grantee supporters.

Make any size donation to develop phase two of this outdoor interpretive educational complex to provide jobs and attract tourism dollars in our county and state. Please share this letter with your friends and family.

State Representative Bruce Griffey echoes our intention, “…the Moore Family Century Farm is one of the last few remaining historic African American farms in the country. I feel that the preservation of this state treasure and the documentation of the generations of honorable family members that lived and worked there, is of vital importance for the edification of ours and future generations of Tennesseans. I thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this worthy project and urge you to approve any needed funding for this historic landmark.”

DONATE TODAY!

Tax-exempt (EIN: available upon request) donation platforms include:

+ Mail: Check payable to NAPAS, PO Box 135, Whites Creek, TN 37189

+ Zelle: 731-415-2588

+ Cash App:  $NAPASTEAMS

If you have questions or comments, see our website www.visitmoorefarm.org; call or text 615-364-9075.  

Take care,

Moore Family 

Hobby Happiness

 

I have very fond memories of participating in the childhood of my nephew. I witnessed many of his “firsts”-first crawl, teeth, steps and words. His first and favorite sentence was “Is everybody happy?” This question would always make me smile. After a few months of hearing the question from him, my smiles turned to meditating on that question. Am I happy? 

 Happiness is defined as a combination of how satisfied we are with our life and how good we feel on a day-to-day basis. We have the ability to control how we feel. We can form life-long habits for a more satisfying and fulfilling life. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 reminds us that happiness and service are a gift of God. The word states: 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (NIV) 

This wisdom guided me to ask another question – “What makes us happy?” Buying stuff, status, wealth, popularity, the refrigerator, the medicine cabinet — all have failed to get the job done. Research suggests that what really works, though, is a passion or a hobby – a time to play. January is National Hobby Month. 

A hobby is an activity or interest pursued outside of our regular occupation for pleasure. Hobbies are a great source of relaxation. They can reduce anxiety and increase concentration. A hobby can add eight hours of joy, gratification and contentment to your week. 

For example, businesswoman Lisa Brown is a perfect example. A dinner and salsa dancing demonstration at a Latin restaurant inspired her to take dance lessons at the age of 40. As her mastery grew, she was competing in numerous dance categories and found something that ignited her entire being. “It’s changed me totally,” she says. “Salsa has given me a great gift. I went to the office, had a great family to care for, but dancing shifted my spirits and direction in such an amazing way. I feel 20 years younger.” One of my sparks came from a recommendation from my physical therapist to practice yoga. Therapy turned into a passion to achieve an advanced certification to teach this ancient mind body system. 

So how do you get your hands on this happiness pill? Select an activity that interests you or has value. Try different activities and see what connects. Meditating on this question expanded my life. Over the years, the answers for me have included traveling to 34 states and provinces in North America, exploring the continents of Africa, South America and Europe, African dance, drumming, gardening, singing, crocheting, sewing, coin collecting, painting, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball, creating jobs, advocating for a living wage, writing a book, producing a radio show, teaching African American history, mentoring women…I am sure you get my drift. I continue to explore this question during my quiet time with God. Use your imagination - the possibilities are endless. 

 These hobbies re-introduced me to myself, long forgotten under a pile of duty and obligation. They reacquaint us with the enthused, eager soul we used to be and give us a reason to be that person as often as we can each day. Celebrate your favorite hobby this month. Host a hobby party with friends. Research different hobbies with your children and select a new one to try. Hobby happiness is the truth. Have fun because the Bible tells us so!

Source: explore.chicagocollections.org;  http://collections.carli.illinois.edu:80/cdm/ref/collection/uic_7sh/id/3198