Merry Christmas from Simply Southern Cottage

Photo by: Misty Swilley Photography

Hello sweet friends! You guys!!! What an immense blessing you have been to me this year! And WOW! What an amazing 2018 it has been!  When I look back on the last 10 years of my life, I stand in sheer amazement of how the Lord has allowed His glory to unfold in my life.  Do you guys realize that I only know you because I experienced the greatest heartache of my life? I often wonder where I’d be if 2009 hadn’t entered my life….. If I’d still be on the path of “keepin’ up with the Joneses?” *face palm* But because redemption is WHOLEHEARTEDLY real, the Lord blessed me with an amazing second chance AND gave me the incredible, humbling blessing of building a community of sweet friends all centered around a little broken down cottage in north Louisiana.

Man o man I’m grateful for y’all. In the early days of my marriage falling apart, I was adamant that however this story transpired, it WOULD NOT be lived in vain.   It took a LONG time to get to the place I am today, but I’m truly living my best life now.  And want to know what thrills me to no end?  The things I’m envisioning for my future pale in comparison for the plans the Lord is yet to unfold!  Ephesians 3:20 is the promise of that. And y’all…. THIS IS WHY I WAKE UP EVERY DAY.

I’ve watched this story touch lives in ways I never dreamed.  I can’t begin to tell you the countless messages I’ve received from all across the world.  Women (and men) who’ve walked a similar path, are maybe in the thick of it, and feel so much hope after reading words I’ve written or pictures I’ve posted. (I’m sooooo plain you guys and just write and post out of the overflow of my heart!)  And y’all, this whole journey….. this is what it’s about. It’s not about the number of followers, likes, subscribers or comments.  It’s about people knowing they are not alone and that there is SO MUCH HOPE on the other side of pain.  While you are in the middle of it, you will never believe these words.  But I am here as a living testimony that life WILL BE normal again.  The Lord hears every cry, wipes every tear and even groans prayers for us when words cannot be formed.

So from the bottom of my heart this Christmas season, thank you thank you thank you.  Thank you for allowing me to tell my story in a unique way that outwardly personifies my own beauty from ashes.  When I was face down on the floor crying out for the Lord to save me, I never dreamed He would send a little cottage in Louisiana that was as broken as I and then give me a platform to share my personal restoration story alongside the renewing redemption of my home.  Words cannot adequately describe how humbled I am you guys choose to join me in this journey.  Because of you, the enemy has lost and the Victor has won!

So what’s next for Simply Southern Cottage?  SO MUCH Y’ALL.  If you are like me, I so loathe when people “vaguebook” lol and I don’t want to do that to y’all, but I promise I’ll reveal more as soon as I can.  I can tell you that I absolutely will be writing more in 2019.  I’m honestly ashamed of my lack of writing this year. Ugh, please forgive me.  But I’m making some notable changes in my work that’s going to free me up more to spend time developing the Simply Southern Cottage brand.  You’ll start to see some things trickling out from me in late January if not before.  Bear with me and stay tuned. I promise it will be worth it.

Merry Christmas everyone.  Thank you so much for loving me and this little cottage so well. I’m completely honored you make a decision to share your time, energy and effort with me, and I don’t take that lightly at all. What a privilege to be trusted with such a precious gift.  Onwards to 2019 and all the awesomeness the Lord has in store of us!

PS: I posted a more personal update on Simply Sara.  Feel free to hop over there also if you’d like.

Love to all,