It began with a song. A song that has one simple message and one main purpose…encouragement. The need to be encouraged will at some time be experienced by 100% of us. Less than ideal circumstances and unexpected changes in our daily lives is universal. But there is also a profound truth that is universal and unchanging…everyday living, Jesus understands.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
Our blog’s very existence and its continuation for 10 years is a tribute to you, our faithful readers and subscribers. We extend our gratitude to all of you for your support. Truly, we are the one’s who have been enriched and encouraged by you!! Saying “thank you” doesn’t begin to express our gratefulness for each of you!!
We are excited and blessed to celebrate 10 years of our Everyday Living blog. It all started in August of 2014, but the idea for Everyday Living has been around much longer. For years we considered ways to use the song Everyday Living (or at least the title and theme) in various ways as a means to encourage others. Butch had the idea of a blog called Everyday Living, but a demanding work schedule, and absolutely no knowledge about blogging or where to even start always put things on hold. Finally Pam decided it was time to stop talking about it and just do it, and here we are!
The garden has been a great source of enjoyment for us in spite of the hard work and upkeep. We keep adding something new and learning as we go!
Our garden was established in 2015. We hired a landscaper to bring in topsoil, large stones and do the planting. Garden “things” have found their way into posts almost every week for these 9 years.
This photo was taken on Monday of this week. The trees within the garden have matured, two Bloodgood Japanese Maples, a Coral Bark Maple, and two Sioux Crape Myrtles that are seen in this photo have grown at an unbelievable pace. Like our grands, they are growing up too fast! Everything gets bigger than you can imagine. Upon planting they looked like little twigs.
For years we have loved having guests for dinner and setting a pretty table is always a priority. It is the reason I decided to take the responsibility of trying my hand at blogging. I would place a few photos on Facebook from time to time and receive many comments suggesting I do something with them. The blog is a great outlet to share creativity.
In 2018, I was invited to join a group of three bloggers for Floral Friday. That eventually became Monday Morning Blooms. The first Monday of each month, you will find me in the garden, the woodlands picnic table, the Sunshine Cottage, or the dining room with a table setting that includes a fresh flower arrangement with flowers often cut from my garden!
We are thankful for the opportunities to travel over the past 20 years. Visits to five continents have been great learning experiences. One remaining continent that we would love to visit is Australia. It is too cold for a trip to Antarctica, it never made our bucket list. It has been our privilege to take you along on many of our journeys. This photo is in the ancient ruins of Ephesus.
As much as we have enjoyed visiting other countries, America is still the most beautiful! The Teton Range is stunning. There’s no place like home!
During this ten year journey of blogging, our greatest blessing has been becoming grandparents to our three grands. You, our sweet readers have indulged us as we have shared photos of them. Our oldest, EM is eight years old…
…EK is five…
…and WL is three! What joy they bring to our everyday living!
A dream came true in the summer of 2020 when my Renaissance Man had a garden house built for me. It was named Sunshine Cottage. Our granddaughters and I have made wonderful memories with tea parties, spend the night parties, reading books, and playing Barbie dolls!
Our first Christmas decorating the cottage for the girls was magical!
The day of Butch’s retirement party (December, 2021) was bittersweet, as one chapter ended and another began. He has learned that there is no such thing as retirement. It is a myth, but I think he is glad. Unless forced, sitting still just isn’t in his makeup! More time to garden, play with grands, and work on blog posts has been a big part of this new chapter!
Tea on Tuesdays had its beginnings in July 2022. My friend, Mary and I love sharing tea with our readers.
Teatime gives an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the moment with a friend, or friends, or by myself!
Today’s post celebrates a wonderful milestone for us. When we started in 2014, it was never in our minds that we might continue blogging for 10 years or longer. It was simply week-to-week. And, last year, a golden milestone was reached when we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. When we started in 1973, we had no idea how long it would continue, but made a commitment to marriage for as long as God, by His Grace, would allow! To reach 50 years and have the opportunity to share this special time with our blog family was awesome indeed!!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Congratulations on 10 years Pam and Butch! It is a joy to read about your Everyday Living, garden adventures, have a virtual seat at your beautiful tables, be an armchair traveler and see your adorable grands grow up! I consider it a privilege to share blooms and tea with you on our Mondays and Tuesdays. I can so identify with the time commitment and work that blogging takes. Wishing you the energy and enthusiasm for continue for another 10 years. Happy Thursday 🌸 🍽️ ✈️❤️
Mary, thank you for your sweet and encouraging comments. I could use a dose of energy and enthusiasm 😉❤️
I so love your blog, Butch and Pam. Every subject is dear to me, and I remember very well when you begsn. Congratulations on the many milestones this 10 years has delivered to you, your family, and to us!
Rita, thank you for following all these years and for your encouraging words!
Congratulations Butch and Pam on your blogging anniversary! Your blog brings all of us so much joy! Your gardens, nature walks, floral arrangements, and tablescapes are always such a treat. Your grandbabies are beautiful, and I can’t believe how fast they are growing up. I remember when Miss Ella Mae was a baby. Thanks for sharing the gift of your blog with all of us. Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Shannon. Your sweet comments warm our hearts. It does seem like Ella Mae should still be a toddler. Ten years have passed quickly!
Ten years is no small accomplishment. I’m so proud to say I’ve loved every post since I found you. I remember all of this so that must mean I was close to the beginning. Planting the garden was exciting even for me and just look how beautiful it has become! And Sunshine Cottage was another exciting beginning. I’ve always wanted a small building to play in but our front and back city yard is too small. So my dreams come true through viewing yours. Today’s picture of the crepe Myrtle, sunset or sun rising and the picture of Ephesus were stunning but they take back seats to the grands pictures. So fast they grow. Congratulations on 10 years and I’m looking forward to 10 more❣️
Alice, I believe you found us in the first year. You have been a constant and sweet follower. I love that you share your stories and memories with us. You are always encouraging us. Thank you so very much!
Congratulations on 10 wonderful years Pam and Butch! Your posts are always uplifting and full of beautiful photos. Your garden is one of my favorite places to visit and I am always inspired by your beautiful tables and flower arrangements. It is a joy to see your adorable grands when they appear and it’s fun to see how they change and grow. You have mastered the concept of living each day to it’s. fullest and finding joy in the little things. Thank you for always bringing an uplifting message, smiles and joy!
Thank you so much, Jenna. I remember you were one of the first bloggers that reached out to me. I appreciate your faithful visits and comments!
Congratulations to you both! You have brought much encouragement and joy into our lives. We have enjoyed each post! You both have wonderful talents. Your garden is beautiful! I know how challenging it is to keep a garden that organized and weed free! Your grands are so sweet. EK has gorgeous hair! Wonder who she got that from? 🤔 EM is growing into a lovely, pretty
young lady. WL is a handsome boy! We have enjoyed seeing them in the pics and miss them if they don’t appear on a regular basis! Pam, your decorating and tablescaping talents urge me to keep changing things up each month. I have loved the vacation pics and narratives! The nature pics are fabulous! I especially enjoy the sunrise, sunset and moon shots. God has blessed us with your blog. The verses are always uplifting. Please keep it up. We know it is a lot of work but hopefully a lot of rewards as well. You provide a lot of happiness! Give your sweet Daddy a hug from us! We would not have known of his accomplishments had it not been for your blog. Here’s to another 10 years of blogging! Clara❤️
Clara, you have blessed us with your sweet messages. I always look forward to your visits. Readers like you have been so encouraging and keep us motivated to hang in when we are tired! Thank you for your sweet friendship ❤️
I’m in tears joining this celebration! Happy 10th blogiversary! You bring such beauty, hope, wisdom, and truth to our world. What a blessing for ALL OF US!
Knowing you both, your beautiful family (including those 3 adorable grands), and reading your posts has encouraged me at times you probably don’t know. You make the world brighter!
My favorite picture has to be the anniversary pic (of course the 3 grands, too) because of how Pam is looking at Butch while he sings. Oh, my heart!
It’s such a blessing that God placed you in my life this side of glory. Thank you for ALL The work you do to make not only your cottage, garden, and homestead so beautiful, but for how you write and organize your words and message to convey such hope and inspiration to all of us!
God bless you ALL! I love you, dearly!! 💛🤍🩷🙏🎶❣️ Also, each day when I make my first cup of tea, I think of you!
Karla, it seems like I have known you forever. Your sweet messages and emails have always been a bright spot in my day. You remain in my prayers. Our faithful readers are true blessings and I am thankful that blogging introduced us to each other! It is nice to know you think of me each morning with your first cup of tea ❤️🎶🙏🏻
Congratulation Pam and Butch on 10 years in blogging world. I think about how this crazy world of blogging has brought so many of us together as friends. People we probably would not have met in our life’s journey without blogging. We have laughed, shared, cried and prayed for each other through the years. God really does work in mysterious ways. Have a wonderful week. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. I have met so many sweet people through blogging and you are definitely one of them! Hugs!
I’m so glad I found you, and been able to share a part of those 10 years with you! Your tables, your flowers, your gardens, and your life together have been such inspirations to me – in so many ways! Thank you for sharing it all with us, and congratulations on a decade of love and beauty!
Thank you, Barbara. You are a sweetheart and it is a blessing to have met you and become friends through blogging!
Congratulations on your 10th year of the Every Day Living Blog. What a blessing it is to have shared so many wonderful milestones and adventures with you and your beautiful family.
I can’t tell you how many times your blog has arrived having just the right scripture, lovely table setting, memory, kind word or photo of encouragement and inspiration…not to mention how many joyful times were spent together over tea! And the holidays are especially memorable with you all! Thank you!
I’m SO fond of the photo of Oxbow Bend, it’s just so stunning and one of our most favorite places to share.
Again, congratulations and thank you, and here’s to wishes of many more Everyday Living Days!
God bless you…
Sue, your words of encouragement are a wonderful blessing. We always pray that our blog will be encouraging and that our readers will feel loved when they open our blog posts. Thank you for all of your support through the years!
We also love Oxbow Bend!
What a wonderful outreach of promoting God’s beautiful world as well as the beauty of a long marriage. You never know how or when you are being used by God and I congratulate you on your 10 year long path of joy.
Thank you, Leslie Anne. You are a blessing!
I well remember finding your blog and being so glad to meet a fellow Alabama blogger with very similar interests to mine. It was rewarding to meet you for lunch some years back and we talked for hours. Then meet for dinner some time later with our husbands.
You have been the ideal dedicated blogger consistently sharing several times each week to a wide audience. Congratulations on your ten year anniversary.
You and Butch are encouraging and inspiring and I look forward to your posts. Bonnie
Bonnie, I often think that blogging has given me the opportunity to make lasting friendships. Because we are both from Alabama and have had the opportunity to meet for dinner and that long lunch several years ago, it seems we bonded with our common interests. You are a blessing!
Congratulations Butch and Pam on a productive and beautiful ten years. The many interests and talent you both have enriches our lives as your readers and followers. Thank you both for many hours of interesting and informative reading pleasure and the table settings are always absolutely gorgeous, not to mention the beautiful garden. God bless
Thank you our friend! It is always a pleasure to hear from you! Your words of encouragement are most appreciated. God bless you, Gina!
What can I say Butch and Pam that hasn’t already been said. I started my blog in October of 2012 just before you and I believe I have followed you from the beginning….or close to it.
First I have to say the pic of WL is magic. Of course the girls are adorable but that little guy’s expression is priceless. I love the way you look at your loving husband as he serenades you with music that has been threaded all through your posts. I, too love music and when I hear a song I usually remember where I was and what I was doing at the time it came out on the radio. LOL. As Shakespeare said…”If music be the food of love, play on.” and I add to that “Everyday Living”
Your gardens and flowers have been not only informative but beautiful as you chart their progress. I adore your gorgeous crepe myrtle in the garden photo…I pretend my lilac crepe myrtle is a lilac bush since I can’t grow lilacs in the Florida climate. Your tablescapes and tea parties are so enjoyable especially when you use an item from your Mother’s or a special friend. And I don’t believe we have ever seen all your AC tablecloths. 🥰
I remember when you were gifted the cute little Sunshine Cottage (and the fun of choosing a name, I believe you said EM wanted to name it the Butterfly Cottage and still calls it that) I remember your story of Butch and his hunting accident and his retirement.
Thank you for taking us on your journey and sharing your life and heart with us as you both walk with the Lord. Congratulations on this milestone.
Jeremiah 29: 11
Blessings Always
Kari, you are a sweetheart. I will never forget praying for you all those months when you were battling cancer. Praise God for His healing Hand upon you. You always encourage with your sweet comments. Thank you for your friendship as a fellow blogger! Blessings always!
What a joy to have followed along on this journey. You have inspired me with your beautiful tables and flowers, watching the grandkids grow and flourish, the evolution of Sunshine Cottage, beautiful scripture and your strong faith, and especially the love story that is Pam and Butch. Love you, my friend.
Roxanne, you are a sweet friend and follower. I wish I could have lunch with all of our followers, but so happy that we met for lunch in Highlands almost two years ago. I hope we make it back to Highlands and we can enjoy lunch again!
I so look forward to “seeing” you and your dear husband in my inbox. Each post is truly an encouragement to me. I am continually blessed through your loving words and beautiful photography. With thanks and a grateful heart.
Pam
Pamela, thank you for your sweet comments. You encourage us!
Blessings always!
Congratutlations, Pam and Butch. It’s been a real treat to follow your lives, your kids and grands, your travels and your gardens for so many years. Tons of terrific tablescapes, glorious blooms and so much love — all in one blog. Three cheers to you. Don’t stop!
Jeanie, you are so sweet! Thank you for all of your visits and comments through the years!
Congratulations on ten years. For a non blogger, it’s a joy to receive your message of faith and beauty. You have such beautiful grounds and I still say it must be the step just before heaven. Wishing you the best of health.
Oh Myrna how very sweet you are. Your comments are blessings that we don’t take for granted!
Congratulations, dear friends! Ten years is quite a milestone!
I always look forward to every post. Your love of home, travel, and Christ shines through all your writings.
I am thrilled that I have followed along for the past ten years. You both inspire us.
I wish for you another many years of you sharing your Everyday Living.
xxoo
Thank you, dear one! You inspire us with your Tidbits and your sweet comments.
One day we will have dinner in Arizona!
Congratulations Pam and Butch on 10 years of Everyday living. It has brought such joy and happiness to us and many,many more fans. Sharing your precious and beautiful grand children is a delight. Looking forward to many,many more years of reading this lovely blog.
God Bless
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thank you dear ladies for your sweet comments! We love your visits, always!
God bless you Marilyn, Joan, and Marion!
Congratulations on your 10 year blog anniversary! I don’t remember the exact time I discovered your blog, but it mu st ehave been around 2015, a few years before I retired. Your home and garden posts are always beautiful and inspiring. I’m like Butch in that resting and relaxing are not in my vocabulary, or so my husband says. 😂
Thank you, Rachel for your sweet comments. You have been following for a long time. Wow, you are like Butch…he never stops!
Blessings always,
Pam
Congratulations Pam & Butch on 10 years of blogging! What a blessing you two are!
Such a lovely post to celebrate those memories!
Blessings to you both,
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer for your sweet comments!
Your blog is successful because it is filled with love. Every post reminds me how blessed we all are. God is good. Congratulations on 10 wonderful blog years. I adore your little cottage. Did your hubby build it from scratch? It’s so adorable. Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us. Your grands are precious .
Lisa you are so sweet with your comments. My hubby sketched out the plans and we had someone to build it. My husband was still working when it was built, but he could have done it. Yes, God is good! Thanks for following our little blog.
Your blog is one of my favorites. Always upbeat and filled with so much beauty, especially those grandbabies. So precious. I love your garden – you and Butch have done so much with your little piece of Heaven. Lisa B.
Congratulations on this 10 year blog anniversary! I’m not sure when I came aboard as a follower of Everyday Living, but have truly enjoyed every moment I’ve been able to share with both of you in your lovely garden, seeing your joy in spending time with your precious grands, and being inspired by your beautiful table settings.
Congratulations, too, on your 50th wedding anniversary. May our Lord grant you many more years of honoring Him together.
Thank you, Cindie! You and I both love gardening. I am not sure when we found each other’s blogs, but I remember reading many of your posts while you were taking care of your precious mother. I am so glad we met over blogging!
Congratulations on 10yr blogging. I’ve been a reader for awhile and so enjoy everything you blog about. May God bless you two for extended years.
Thank you, Nancy. Your comments warm my heart ❤️
Super Congratulations on your tenth Blogging Anniversary!!! You two are so DYNAMIC together and I eagerly love reading your weekly blog and your travel & events. Your grands grow more precious each year❤️❤️❤️We still would love you to visit us in The Villages, Fl!! We have been here for almost 2 1:2 years and feel we have swallowed the Fountain of Youth, being so active here so much. Again, congrats and we all are delighted & pleased to celebrate alongside of you two🥳🥳🥳
Thanks so much, Penny. Your friendship is special. We would love to visit you in The Villages, it sounds wonderful. We are so glad you found our blog many years ago!
Oh my dears…. ten productive, fulfilling years of spreading faith, inspiration and joy… How pleased He must be with your use of His gifts. Beautiful as they are, the photos of your property are just a shadow of the Eden your love has created….and speaking of created love, those Grands must bring Heavenly smiles as your little ones grow and flourish under your tender and watchful eyes. Your joys are our joys.
I had to brush a tear from my eye viewing that tender, musical moment of exchanged devotion on your
wedding anniversary…. memorable. Thank you both for the gifts you have shared these past ten years
and for making our lives so much brighter by your dedication to Him and your blog.
Thank you, our dearest Mary! You have brightened our lives with your sweet comments. Hopefully, we will meet one day!
Blessings always,
Pam
It has been such a pleasure following along over the years. Watching your lovely grandchildren grow, I can’t believe how big they are getting. Watched as you changed your dining room, built the cottage and expanded the garden, All the while inspiring us all. Here is to many more wonderful years.
Thank you, Karen for following for so many years and your sweet comments!
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary! We began blogging the same year, me just a few months ahead of you. Would you believe we began reading each other in 2015?!! Cannot believe it has been that long, but your first comment was in October 2015. I’ve enjoyed your posts, your tablescapes and garden views, lovely fun trips and all you do for these years. Keep blogging!! And kudos to Butch, his Simple Southern Sunday posts with his fabulous photogreaphy are delightful.
Carole, wow I didn’t realize we started blogging the same year. I always love visiting you. Thank you for your sweet comments. We appreciate them!
Lovely Post…Pam…and I enjoyed seeing the last 10 years in photos, and your garden has always been my FAVORITE!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the shared memories, Sandi
Sandi, so sweet of you to comment. I remember meeting you through blogging early on. Thank you dear one!
I look forward each week to reading your blog posts. Thanks for sharing your family, home and Faith with us. You two are the same age as my husband and I and we are lifelong John Denver fans, so the Sunshine Cottage is especially enjoyed. We also have an only son. Again ,thanks for sharing Everyday Living!
Darlene, your sweet comments warm my heart. Wow, we have much in common! It is our pleasure to share, but without our readers it wouldn’t be worth it. Did y’all ever see John in concert! We did at least 10 times and each concert was fabulous. He was truly as good live as on recordings, maybe even better. Thanks for following our little blog.
Blessings,
Pam
Oh my Pam and Butch – 10 years is an amazing achievement! I love your blog; the gardens, the tablescapes, the walkabouts, the Sunshine Cottage, and of course watching the grands grow has been an absolute delight. It all really is a tribute to everyday living. You are so inspiring and encouraging to others and I am so glad I met you!! Congratulations and I’m looking forward to another 10 years!
Kim, you are so sweet. I am so glad I met you. I hope you are settled into your new home and I will be looking forward to your tablescape next week, my friend. Again thank you for always reading and commenting!
Happy, Happy Blogging Anniversary, dear friends! I don’t think I will ever be able to express how much your blog means to me! You two are such pillars of strength and stability and faithfulness. It comforts me to see the normalcy that you live out in your everyday living. We just never know how far-reaching our impact really is or how many lives we touch by our mere daily faithfulness and steadfastness. I have come to love you both and your family and always look forward to my “catching-up” days when I have time to sit down and really absorb and savor your posts the way they deserve to be. I pray God will bless the two of you with many more happy, healthy, good-quality years together, and I pray that during all those years you are able to maintain this blog. To be honest, it saddens my heart greatly to think of it ever not being here on a continuing basis. Sending much love to both of you today, in Jesus’ name!
Cheryl, your kind words are very encouraging. Blogging is harder now than ever before. Fewer people are interested! We persevere as long as we can! Blessings~
Pam, congrats to you and Butch on 10 years of blogging. Such a milestone. Your gardens, tablescapes and more inspire us all. We have watched your sweet grands grow up before our very eyes. Here’s to more lovely posts.
Thank you, Linda. I appreciate your encouragement and friendship!