I hadn’t given a thought to it until I saw a reminder on my Facebook memories. A year ago, a deadly wildfire was spreading through Sevier County and Gatlinburg, costing many lives and destroying millions of dollars worth of property, including many people’s homes.

It’s amazing how things can change in the span of one year. Gatlinburg is rebuilding and people are learning how to live with a new normal. I was there a few months ago, and the spirit of friendliness and community that made it such a great place to visit is still there, perhaps made even stronger by all the tragedy.

Where there’s community and cooperation, not even wildfires can keep a town like Gatlinburg down for long. It makes my heart happy to see them still going strong and building to be even better and stronger in the future.