Simple + Southern Sunday No. 25

April 12, 2015~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”
‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22-24‬

Each week, on Simple + Southern Sunday, we share a church, usually
because it caught our eye with it’s beauty! But this week, it’s a little
different. The church below was founded in 1829, and this particular
building was built in 1903, but has been maintained immaculately!
And I would love to let you all in on a little story that is so very dear
to my heart!

church

A couple of weeks ago I took my Daddy to visit his sister, my Aunt Jean. She lives an hour from us in the town where Daddy grew up. On our trip home, we decided to take our time and drive by this special church that holds precious memories for him. As we did, my Daddy was able to share with me a couple of stories that I will now forever cherish! When he was about ten years old, he walked to church early on Sunday mornings during the winter months in order to build a fire in the pot-bellied stove. This was an important job, because it was their only means of heat! The congregation paid him fifty cents each week, which was a lot of money in the late 1930’s! As he shared another precious memory with me, his voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. When my Daddy was wounded in the Korean War, this congregation had a special prayer service for God to heal him and bring him home safely! God answered their prayers! That detour was well worth hearing those two stories that I had never heard from my sweet, Godly Daddy! I would love for you all to read more about his life here: Living Legacy. Ahh, the serenity of a stream running through a gorgeous farm on a
spring morning! A sunset with its unusual light on our pasture caught my attention
from the kitchen window! I had to run out with my camera to
snap this photo! “Uh-oh, hope I don’t get stuck this way!” Butch captured this rare site in rural Northeast Alabama-a covered
bridge built in 1934!
Ada and Harper are ready for a bedtime story in their matching pj’s! Seth and Allison went on a ten mile hike this past weekend to the
highest point in Alabama, Mount Cheaha. God’s beautiful world! Dinner at home…poached egg over bacon wrapped asparagus,
parmesan brown rice, and rosemary focaccia bread!Katy captured this old tractor sitting just off the side of the road on
the way to Georgia-very simple and southern! An artist painting Noccalula Falls on day one of the 7th Annual
Southeastern Plein Air Invitational You talk about airing out dirty laundry!
Our friend who is on mission in England (where there are no clothes
dryers) has no choice but to hang his laundry out to dry!
We love how Butch captured the diamond-patterned light shining on
the tracks inside the covered bridge seen earlier!

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Psalm 122:1

Linking with Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , Life on Lakeshore Drive , Thoughts From Alice , Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , The Dedicated House , Dwellings-Heart of Your Home , Savvy Southern Style , Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage , From My Front Porch To Yours , Stone Gable , Confessions of a Plate Addict , Worthing Court , Between Naps on the Porch , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , A Stroll Thru Life , The Style Sisters , The Charm of Home , The Winthrop Chronicles , Cornerstone Confessions , A Delightsome Life , Imparting Grace , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Cozy Little House

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 24

April 5, 2015~ Faith, Simple + Southern Sunday

He is risen!

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride”
–Issac Watts

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay!”
Matthew 28:6 “The best news of the Christian gospel is that the supremely
glorious Creator of the universe has acted in Jesus Christ’s death
and resurrection to remove every obstacle between us and himself
so that we may find everlasting joy in seeing and savoring
his infinite beauty”
–John Piper
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God”
2 Corinthians 5: 21

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace”
–Helen Lemmel
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we
might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds
you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have
now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”
1 Peter 2:24-25 “At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!”
-Issac Watts
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ashes.”
–Elisabeth Elliot “For if we have been united with him in a death like his,
we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection
like his”
Romans 6:5^“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ”
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
“Death has died, love has won! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome
He has risen from the dead!”
-Lacey Sturm “Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow!”
-Elvina M Hall“…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…”
Philippians‬ ‭3‬:10 “Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless righteousness;
the great unchangeable “I AM,”
the King of glory and of grace!”
–Charitie Lees Bancroft
“Your blood has washed away my sin…Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied… Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table… Jesus, thank You”
-Pat Sczebel

^“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for
us all—how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things? “
Romans 8:32
“Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die!”
-Matthew Bridges

A very special thank you to Katy for all the beautiful photos!

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Psalm 122:1

Linking with: Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive , Thoughts From Alice , Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , The Dedicated House , Dwellings-Heart of Your Home , Savvy Southern Style , Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage , From My Front Porch To Yours , Stone Gable , Confessions of a Plate Addict ,Worthing Court , Between Naps on the Porch , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , A Stroll Thru Life , The Style Sisters , The Charm of Home , The Winthrop Chronicles , Cornerstone Confessions , A Delightsome Life , Imparting Grace , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Womens Bloggers

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 23

March 29, 2015~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place”
‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭27‬Seems like this time of year, each thing in nature shows up and makes a statement and declaration of arrival. Not that each one hasn’t been around all winter, but just not showing off and demanding our attention quite as much as now. Each bit of creation has its own special way way of saying “here I am, notice me!”. And we certainly do! The splendor of Spring awakens something in us and stirs our emotions. Perhaps new life outside is God’s display of new life that is available for the inside; the inside of our heart and soul that is. New life that is only found in Christ.

Maybe it was early spring when David sang the song recorded in
1 Chronicles 16:

“Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! “
‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭33-34‬

The stately neoclassical First Baptist Church building in our
downtown was dedicated in 1927! Patio peach trees are in full bloom along our driveway!
The cooler temperatures have prevented their usual
spring showing!

Braden all decked out for his Easter photos!The rustic barn at J & D Farms is ready for wedding season!
It is the perfect venue! Seth and Allison were married here! What a treat on Thursday evening…lemon tart with strawberry
coulis at Chez Fonfon! Bliss! The Yoshino Cherry tree-one of the prettiest blooming trees! Our kitchen island with a little touch of springtime!
Buckets of colorful blooms always get my attention!
The blooms on the Yoshino Cherry are breathtaking!
The historic Pitman Theater was built in 1947. As a 12 year old, I
spent many Saturday afternoons watching Frankie Avalon and
Annette Funicello in “beach party” movies, while eating a Zero candy
bar and drinking an Upper Ten (Did I just reveal my age?).
It now serves as an event venue.