βI have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.β
ββGalatiansβ¬ β2:20β¬ β
After a busy Christmas week we are attempting to slow down (a little), reflect upon our blessings, God’s Grace, and His goodness, as the final days of another year are upon us. Perhaps a simple southern Sunday will be even simpler!
A winter sunrise welcomes the final week of 2020. While we probably shouldn’t wish time would hurry along, most of us are likely ready to say bye-bye to 2020!
An amaryllis is not a flower that we normally have although they are popular at Christmas. I spotted this one at a local grocery store and thought the red was festive for the holidays so I grabbed it up and headed home believing I had done a marvelous thing. It wasn’t cheap but I knew it would be a hit when I brought it in, so well worth it. However, after about 2 days, the pretty blooms were brown and falling off. PJ didn’t say anything but there was just that look.
We placed it out of the way since it seemingly bit the dust. The next day, new, taller growth was evident and a day later these wonderful blooms began to appear with more on the way. It is so top heavy with blooms I placed rods to help hold it up. I have been redeemed and now look like a flower genius!
As you know, Pam loves beautiful tablescapes. This book is such a thoughtful and lovely Christmas gift from one of our readers. Thank you Mary!
Kinda par for 2020… Pam ordered these books in November to enjoy and get ideas for the Christmas season. They were shipped out right away…and arrived yesterday. Thank goodness for the ability to track packages these days. Otherwise how would you know that it took 2 weeks for them to travel the last 60 miles! It is no problem, only an opportunity to get an early start on next year!
Seth, Allison and the girls gave us a personalized calendar for 2021. We love it. Since it is so cold, an idea to warm us up was to flip it over and pretend it is July.
Our throwback this week is Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, February, 2015. Based on pics we have seen, most of this part of Tennessee had a white Christmas this year!
Appalachian Digital Media managed to catch EK in the midst of Christmas Eve action. It takes a good lens and a good photographer to capture this “on the move” girl!
EM is a bit more willing to pose, if a few seconds can be considered a pose.
The first really strong cold front of the season prompted blackbird flocks to be on the move. This is only a small group of what appeared to be a few thousand in our trees and pastures yesterday. As a boy, I remember watching strings of these birds fly across my grandfather’s harvested cotton fields in the fall and winter. They seemed to go on for 10 minutes or longer!
We still see a lot of birds at times but it doesn’t seem like we see as many or see them as often as years ago. Maybe it is my imagination and the fact that everything is bigger and more when you are smaller and younger. What do you think?
For several years I have observed this type wrecker/tow truck on the roadways and I have the same thought every time I see one. Pam wondered why in the world I wanted her to get this pic when we pulled up at this traffic light.
This vehicle shows up to rescue people when they are in need and in trouble and things are a wreck, broken down, or messed up. I always thought that it is fitting that they carry with them a perfect symbol of rescue…a cross!
The girls could only open one gift each on Christmas Eve at our house. The rest had to wait until Christmas Day.
They loved their nutcrackers.
Hope you are ready for a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
βJesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and foreverβ.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Ready for a Happy New Year and vaccine, yes! Looks like your Christmas was thoroughly enjoyable. We had a white Christmas, so nice and quiet.
Christmas was enjoyable. I can imagine how beautiful your white Christmas was. Happy Sunday, Ritaβ₯οΈ
Butch, your eye sees what most donβt. A cross where others race around not taking time to see a cross in everyday problems. Isnβt that true of our times? Must say EM looks so much like her mother and EK like her dad. Itβs the first time these old eyes got a good look at the resemblance . Christmas just flew by and I for one will not say Iβm glad 2020 will be gone because 2020 made me slow down and 2021 is a question in my mind..I saw so much kindness in 2020 of people looking out for us. That you Abba Papa. The change in the calendar wonβt cause change in the heart.
Alice, you are so right..a change in the calendar will not change a heart. Your observation about the girls is what I see also. Happy Sunday β₯οΈ
Wow! To see a cross on a wrecker… that moved me!
2020 was a strange year for sure and we are all ready for a new year… but I have learned that there was some goodness in 2020.
I learned to not take life for granted.
The littles are getting bigger and more and more precious.
I hope Christmas was wonderful!
Sending Happy New Year wishes your way!
Nancy, there has been much to learn from 2020. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
Wonderful pictures and commentary Pam and Butch. The wrecker cross is a great observation. Pam, the amaryllis is beautiful and if properly stored will come back year after year. It would be a good project for EM. The Christmas pictures are so festive. The girls are just precious! You’ll enjoy your books during the cold days of January. Blackberry Farm looks gorgeous in the snow. It was extremely cold here but no snow. Wishing you a happy, healthy 2021. Claraβ€οΈ
Thank you Clara. It has been really cold here, but beautiful blue skies. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2021 β₯οΈ
I have a red amaryllis, and it is growing leaves again for the 8th year, and I hope it will flower again. So don’t throw that bulb away!! Those books look wonderful! I have all the Southern Living Christmas books going back to 1979. Stunning sunrise!! Cute kids!
Carole, I also have the SL books dating way back, most belonged to my beloved Mother.
Such a lovely post for this last Sunday of 2020. It looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas. Those girls are absolutely precious! Happy Sunday!
Thank you dear friend. Wishing you a wonderful week!
I always buy a Amaryllis bulb each year to enjoy watching it grow & flower. Mine put out bloom after blooms for us to enjoy. Itβs white & beautiful. I plant the bulb in the ground afterwards & they bloom out in our garden year after year. They give you your money worths.
Kay, the white amaryllis sounds beautiful! Wishing you a beautiful week!
I’ve always said it looks like a cross on the back of a wrecker! They rescue, just as the cross saves us.
Amen! Have a lovely week ahead!
Mother loved amaryllis and was a master at taking care of them. She kept them year after year. After blooming, she would place the bulbs in the basement. At the appropriate time she would bring them upstairs and place them close to a window for more light. Year after year they were beautiful. I believe you are in a zone to put the bulb in the ground. The girls are beautiful. Love the calendar. I have learned some things in 2020 that I will take into 2021.
Thank you Dianne for the info on how to care for an amaryllis bulb. Yes, 2020 has taught me much. Wishing you a lovely week!
A wonderful post for the end of 2020. It has certainly been a year. However, I think we all have been seriously reminded of many important lessons. Lessons I believe we all knew, but somehow became tucked away.
The girls are precious. Ella Mae looks so much like her mom and Emma looks like dad. I know they made Christmas extra special. Wishing you and your beautiful family a happy, healthy New Year.
Sandra, many reminders of of learned lessons that had been tucked away. Thank you and wishing you a lovely week my friend β₯οΈ
what a beautiful post…. love all the great smiles and flowers
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here’s to this end of the year week, a time of slowing down, putting our feet up, recalling the blessings and the beauty that God has brought into our lives this year despite all that’s assailed us.
you are a blessing to me, friend. thank you for sharing beauty and grace and serenity wherever you go …
Thank you Linda for your encouragement. You are a wonderful blessings to me!
Wonderful pictures! That personalized calendar is fabulous! Blessings and Happy 2021!
Thank you sweet friend β₯οΈ
Those photos of your girls. They are so beautiful. And I love the calendar idea. Slowing down is a grand idea. I won’t put things away for a bit. I still want to enjoy it awhile longer.
Thank you Jeanie. Wishing you a wonderful new year!
My days are so mixed up! We made a fast trip Christmas Eve to our daughters and got home Sunday afternoon. I was totally caught up with family and didn’t look at my blog links and missed Simple Southern Sunday. It is going to take me a few days to catch up.
The pictures of the girls are so sweet. I love a personalized calendar with the grandkids. We enjoyed that for a number of years. That is a wonderful gift.
We had a great time opening the Christmas Crackers I used on my blog hop photo. Included were whistles of various sizes that were numbered. We had a fun time trying to play a tune with the whistles. The song sheet included had numerous carols but after many attempts interrupted with bouts of laughter we didn’t successfully play even one song correctly.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday time. A New Year is upon us. Welcome 2021!
I am so glad you were able to be with your daughter and family for Christmas. Wishing you all of Godβs blessings for 2021!
Oh I LOVE the calendar, what a wonderful gift! The girls look so cute with their new nutcrackers, they will be great memory makers as they get them out every year. Amaryllis are such a treat during the holidays, the speed at which they grow and change fascinates me, like a gift that keeps on giving! I’m glad yours ended up doing so well, they are stunning when in bloom…I hope you both can enjoy these peaceful after Christmas days…
Jenna
Thank you Jenna. Many blessings for the new year!
Your little ones are always so cute but these are really wonderful photos of the two of them. It sounds like you had a blessed Christmas. A friend gave me a large pot with three amaryllis plants but they are too young for any blooms. I hope mine eventually have blossoms as beautiful as yours.
Thank you Karen, the girls are so much fun!
Oh, that is just hilarious about the amaryllis! How you redeemed yourself and came out looking like a true flower genius! I loved seeing the pictures of your dear grandgirls at Christmas. So precious! And, I love the cross on the tow truck. God bless you all with a wonderful remainder of 2020 and a healthy, happy 2021!
Blessings for the New Year my friend!
All the best for the coming year, dear Pam.
Amalia
xo
Thank you Amalia!
Delightful post Pam!
May 2021 be a blessed year,
Jennifer
Thank you my friend!
Such pretty memories of Christmas! Those amaryllis are interesting. I have a big bed of them that bloom together like a giant wave of red (don’t say Crimson Tide!) but after the hurricane, one single flower bloomed and looked like a symbol of bright hope in the center of dark gray damage. Happy New Year to you!
Thank you Leslie Anne, Happy New Year!
Lovely post Pam. The little princesses are darling. Special memories of Christmas. Time for a new year. Wishing you lots of bright memories, hope and love.
Thanks so much Linda. Wishing you a wonderful new year!