Outdoors

Walt Merrell and camping group outdoors

Cahaba River Eggspedition with Walt Merrell

March 26, 2024

The Great Outdoors I woke during the night… rain pitter-pattered on the tent top. A once soothing creek right behind our camp now gargled into the Cahaba River, as if it were angry.  The slow, steady rain had swollen both creek and river.  The noise likely wouldn’t have disturbed me had my air mattress not …

Walt Merrell's daughters in snow

Good Storms Make Great Memories: Walt Merrell Snow Stories

February 27, 2024

The Great Outdoors In 2014, ice covered everything in South Alabama during the dark of the night before, and just as He promises, the sun blanketed the entirety of the landscape the following day. With no power, we retreated to the den because it was heated by a wood burning fireplace. With three young girls …

Walt and Hannah

Walt Merrell’s Lessons from the Father, and the Wife

January 29, 2024

The Great Outdoors Snow fell heavily that blustery February night. Hannah and I had only been married a year or so, and we were still caught somewhere between adventurous college students filled with puppy love and established married folks who made budgets and paid bills on time. Centerville was halfway between her work at the …

Turkey gobbler flaring

From Deer Season to Turkey Season

January 29, 2024

The Great Outdoors presented by: Mark’s Outdoors Deer Season Ends… February brings the end to yet another deer season and hopefully everybody had a bountiful one! When you pick up your meat from the processor, if you run out of room in the freezer or have more meat than you can use, share your harvest. …

Bay fishing on boat

Shepherding Outdoors: Modern Day Ebenezers

December 28, 2023

The Great Outdoors Even in the bitterest of cold January months, most of our eyes and hearts will start to drift toward spring. A few hunters, our family included, will stay focused on what we call the “deer woods” through mid-February, but even for us, after that, all eyes will turn toward the hope of …

Screen Shot 2019 12 28 at 3.16.40 PM

44 Years of Equipping Families to Enjoy the Great Outdoors!

December 28, 2023

The Great Outdoors  presented by: Mark’s Outdoors A special thanks from the family at Mark’s Outdoors for allowing us to serve you for 44 years! Our doors opened in January of 1980 as a small tackle store and has expanded to what you see today! From five employees and less than 2,000 square feet to …

Top 10 Gifts image

Top 10 Gifts for the Outdoor Lover!

November 28, 2023

The Great Outdoors presented by: Mark’s Outdoors Struggling with what to buy for your friend or family member that loves the outdoors? The staff at Mark’s Outdoors is ready to help! Here’s a look at items on their Top Ten List, specially priced for the Christmas season. 1. Survival Backpack $40 2. Fenix Flashlight $90 3. …

image 6487327

Christmas Gift Giving Made Easy

October 25, 2023

The Great Outdoors Presented by: Mark’s Outdoors Don’t miss Mark’s Outdoors Black Friday Sales! Holiday shopping can be a hard task to face. Let the staff at Mark’s Outdoors make it easier for you with great gifts at great prices for your family and friends! We are having one of the largest Black Friday sales …

Deer Season Check List

September 26, 2023

The Great Outdoors Presented by: Mark’s Outdoors October 15, 2023 is opening day for bow hunting, which means it’s time for the final stages of getting your fields finished and stands placed. It’s also time to get your gun sighted in, and Mark’s Outdoors offers a free sight in with the purchase of two boxes …

bigstock Buck Whitetail Deer Odocoileu 2425553

Deer Season Prep = Deer Season Success

August 25, 2023

The Great Outdoors presented by: Mark’s Outdoors With deer season opening on October 15, now is the time to make sure you are prepared to hunt. Making yourself a checklist will help insure that you have everything you need to make your opening day a successful one. Go ahead and pull out all your camo …

Get MORE
Good News!

E-subscribe to

Birmingham Christian Family

birmingham christian family logo