Carnival For The Jubilee Family Development Center

I could not believe the vast amount of people who attended the community carnival at Peaks View Park on Saturday, June 5.

The weather was extremely nice and made for a day’s worth of fun activities.

My favorite part of the days was checking out all of the classical cars from the drive-in show. You would not believe the variety of cars that the local's brought. There were so many that I had never seen before.

I saw everything from a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air to a vintage 1909 Model T Ford, the first ever car produced on the market. I couldn't believe that car was still in existence. My favorite had to be the 2005 "new" version of the Ford Mustang. That is definitely my dream car and the one I got to see was white with red interior and it was perfect.

The food was amazing! I got to eat one of the famous "Lynchburgers" made fresh to order and ready to eat with a nice cup of lemonade...How refreshing! You have not lived until you have had the burger that made this town famous.

I then checked out some of the rides. I couldn't believe some of the rides that they were able to bring in to the park. They had everything from a gigantic Ferris wheel to mini upside down rollercoaster’s. My favorite was the red ring of fire, which is a roller coaster that goes in a loop shape pattern at super fast speeds.

The music was provided by some local Christian bands who were really good. Even Liberty University's own praise band and chamber singers provided entertainment at the event.

Other activities at the carnival included:

· A bake sale

· Giveaways

· Crafts

· Games

· A petting zoo and free horseback rides for the kids.

The atmosphere was perfect and Peaks View Park was an excellent place to hold this event. I hope they hold more of these types of events in the future.

Most importantly, I really enjoyed coming out and helping this organization raise the money it needs to continue its programs that help get children off of the streets as well as the ones who have been battered in abusive homes. They really deserve a place to go that will give them the love and support that they need to succeed and live a promising life. I really am glad my money is going to support The Jubilee Family Development Center by attending this carnival. I wish this organization much success in the future.

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The Bluegrass Miracle

I’m a huge LSU Tigers football fan and have been for quite some time now. I started liking LSU in 2002 when they beat Kentucky 33-30 in what has gone down as one of the best games of all time in LSU history. The game is known by all Tiger fans as the “Bluegrass Miracle.” I have never seen any game quite like this before. To be able to watch at home from your television screen gave you enough passion to actually feel like you were there as a part of the team’s dog pile, celebrating with them.

A Hail Mary unfolded from the hands of LSU quarterback Marcus Randall with just two seconds remaining on the game clock. Kentucky had just kicked what seemed to be a game winning field goal with 11 seconds remaining. The field goal was a chip shot 29 yarder by Taylor Begley that put the Wildcats up by three. Kentucky fans began their descent down the steps to the field where they were about to rush it and bring down the goal posts. 2,000 students were hanging on the goal posts, huddled around each other and celebrating because they knew that they had the victory in store. Even Kentucky head coach Guy Morris was doused in water. Kentucky was getting ready to celebrate one of its biggest upsets over a Top 25 program in its school’s history and would edge them ever closer to earning a bowl birth and a trip to the SEC championship game, and would ultimately cause the struggling Tigers to fall even further down the SEC standings.

Devery Henderson caught what has to be not only the biggest catch of his career, but the biggest catch ever in the history of LSU football. He amassed 201 yards on five catches that game, including the game winner, which was a 75 yard pass from Randall in a play that is known as “Dash Right 93 Berlin.” What an exciting play it was! LSU receiver Michael Clayton somehow tipped the ball into the hands of Henderson, even right after it was tipped by a Kentucky defender. Henderson somehow managed to break through the pile, cut off two defenders and make a scamper to the end zone. The ball thrown by Randall was impressive. He threw the pass from his 18 yard line and hit his target several yards from the end zone as would be expected, but somehow, Henderson was able to come down with the ball and break lose for the winning score. The pass was right on the money and placed exactly as the coaches had drawn it up.

"The one thing I will say about Devery Henderson, he never stopped on the play, and he was going full speed the whole time. He never gave up on the game or the play, and his ability to make the play was because his effort was good. It's a great lesson for everybody that if you're giving effort all the time, you never know when you're going to have an opportunity to make a play. But if you're giving effort all the time, you're going to have a better chance to make it when it presents itself to you. That was probably the greatest example of my coaching career of that happening for a guy when he was able to make that play,” said LSU head coach Nick Saban in regards to Devery Henderson’s miraculous reception.

The funny thing to me was to see all of the diehard Kentucky fans running on to the field in jubilation that their beloved Wildcats had just one the game right before the ball was even thrown and completed to its target. I enjoy watching the video over and over again just so I can see the faces turn from joy to like ohhhhh nooooo, what just happened? It’s priceless if you ask me!

I have seen a lot of great LSU football in my lifetime thus far, from SEC championships to BCS National Championships (two to be precise), but I have never witnessed a game this incredible and it is surely one that I will always hold dear to my heart every time I sit down to watch the purple and gold play each Saturday during football season. Yes, this game is right up there with the earthquake game of 1988, Billy Cannon’s Halloween run in 1959 and don’t forget all of the great championship moments down throughout the years. I guess it really is special to be a part of the tradition that is LSU football.

And hey, we can't forget the good ol' Cajun style cooking on game day that will make the taste of victory even sweeter!