It all began with feeling bored, and wore down by life’s routine that we all end up having to deal with. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. I was starting to forget who I was and I didn’t like it. I didn’t feel connected like I used to. See, I was always an outdoor kid. Talking to trees, sleeping in them. Hiking through the mountains without a care. I’d see a mountain lion or grizzly every now and again and they saw me but never messed with me. I was just part of all the nature around me and I felt safe and free and understood. Then I grew up and it was all about jobs to pay bills, use what time I had for myself to clean the house, do laundry, go grocery shopping, basically it was the routine of adulthood, which is fine…until I realized I was losing my connection to myself and to life around me. I didn’t want to have tunnel vision through life, I didn’t want to focus on only “things” and accruing more “things”. I was a poor kid growing up. Government cheese and all and as a kid, all I wanted when I became an adult was to be comfortable; have a safe home, a good car and not live paycheck to paycheck. I worked hard, and after many years I finally reached a place where I felt comfortable. I also started to forget about “things” I used to like to do before I got “comfortable” in the process of working to “comfortable” like drawing, dancing, making things, going on country cruises, hanging out in the forrest and more. I got sad, then angry…at myself. I’m a problem solver and life is nothing but problems and solutions. Continuous learning experiences. This was just one of them. How do I be an adult and remember to “see” as I did when I was as a kid.

One weekend I heard a mineral and crystal show was coming to town and I had a day off, so I went. A mineral society member told me that there was Garnet in Virginia. It’s my birthstone so I decided I was going to take a country cruise my next day off, go back out to nature, teach myself to remember who I am and who knows, on the way I may just find some Garnet. While walking through a creek I found some Garnet. It was fun, and I started to remember that kind of fun. The whole, get dirty and who cares what people think about it.

I kept going. I planted trees, donated fruit in trade for letting me roam around, and I found more minerals. I started collecting. I met folks who needed some spiritual help and so I gave away some and still do. I met more folks who wanted help finding out what was on there land so I did and still do that and as my collection grew I thought to myself “What do I want to do with these”. So I decided to create this store.

I was driving and thinking of a name which I struggled with for a few months. It had to wrap up everything about me, about nature, about our spiritual connection to earth, God and all the other spiritual essence that lives among us. I had decided to take another country cruise to clear my mind when out of nowhere a hawk passes right in front of my windshield. It was flying low! It was the crack of dawn and as I caught my breath I seen something ahead and slowed down even more. I was going about 35 then 20 when I realized it was a black bear crossing the road in front of me. Our eyes connected and out of nowhere a saying popped into my mind: “the kingdom of God is within you, all around you, not in buildings made of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and I am there, lift a stone and you will find me.” Although I don't follow religion, this saying resonates deeply with me and to just pop in like that was a sign if you will and I suddenly knew the name. Spirit, Wood & Stone.