Erin Akin Carroll

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know, my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know
My Redeemer

He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I’ll proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
And now He’s alive and
There’s an empty
Grave!

And I know
My Redeemer lives
He lives
I know
My Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer

I know
My Redeemer lives

My Redeemer Lives

Nicole C. Mullen

I found a lot of inspiration in my Google Reader this week and I wanted to share the highlights with you. If these blogs aren’t currently in your Reader, add them now. You don’t want to miss anymore of the goodness.

Monday

From Bryn Alexandra Interiors: Tales From House-Hunting

Bryn always has gorgeous home decor images, but I liked to see the things she might be looking for in her home search. These blue floors in the sunroom have officially been added to my wish list in a home– or something I’ll do later if we find the home.

From Small Words Blog: Chalkboard!

I love how Kim took a piece of art from her house and kept the frame, but turned the rest into a chalkboard for family use. It looks wonderful! Be sure to click on the link to see how she and her husband did it.

Tuesday

From Millie Holloman Photography: Spring Has Sprung

These images are from Millie’s home and I am completely smitten and inspired.

Wednesday

From The Sweetest Occasion: Pupcake from Coco Cake

Thursday

From ABCD Designs:  Perfect Pair Letterpress Stationery

How cute is this?

From Elizabeth Anne Designs: “Bookcases and Shelves” by Rachel

These shelves of cookbooks are so beautiful and inspiring. The hanging pots (especially the copper pot) make it even better. And let’s not even talk about the gorgeous subway tile.

From Adventures in Renovating a Brooklyn Limestone: “Favorite Nook: Freckles Chick”

I love a gorgeous, organized closet. Even the simplest storage and organization pieces bring this tiny nook to life. The scarf hooks are my favorite part. I need that.

What were your favorite posts in your Google Reader this week? Aren’t bloggers so inspiring? I can’t imagine what I would be doing if I didn’t have so many creative bloggers to look to for daily inspiration.

Note: I’m not a huge prankster, so I won’t be playing any April Fools jokes on you today.

Hudson and I had a super busy day. I had a list of things to do that was a mile long, and they all had to get done today.

While Hudson napped this morning, I wrote Easter cards and thank you notes. All stationery by Ashley Brooke Designs.

After Hudson’s morning nap and after he finished his cereal, we set off with a large list of things to do.

The first thing I wanted to do was take some photos of the dogwood trees in our yard and our neighbor’s yard. In case we ever move to a newer neighborhood, I want to be able to remember these old, grown trees.

We stopped at the gas station, then went to the mall to visit the Easter Bunny. The line is always so short on weekdays, and while I’m sorry that Todd missed it, I’m glad that we were in and out in ten minutes. Hudson loved the Easter Bunny and he even wore the cute john johns that his KK gave him.

Fortunately, the people working there got a much better, more centered picture. I was making goofy faces while trying to take this picture!

After the mall, we drove through Chick-fil-A so I could get a sandwich.

Then we drove back downtown to make a deposit at the bank and then to the post office to mail the Easter cards and thank you notes.

I needed to pick up my Easter dress from the tailor, so we stopped by Nick’s Tailoring to get the dress. We love Nick and he loved Hudson.

I bought the dress at Ann Taylor a little over a month ago and it was a little big in the waist.

After visiting with Nick and getting the dress, we had to go to Sherwin Williams to get two cans of paint. We’re putting our house on the market on Monday and we’re doing some touch up painting this weekend. It was kind of a challenge to take care of all of the paint stuff while holding Hudson, but we managed. He is fascinated by my keys right now and they kept him entertained.

My friend Samma has been talking about all of the Le Creuset at Tuesday Morning. Because we were near Tuesday Morning, we drove a little farther out of the way to go see if Tuesday Morning had any Le Creuset in stock. They had some, but it wasn’t the right size and it was the graphite color. Not really what I’m looking for.

By this time, Hudson was not so happy about being carted around. We still needed to go to Target and Little Lambs and Ivy (to find some undershirts for Hudson), but he needed a bottle, a diaper change, and a nap. So we came home. Hudson finally woke up from his nap and we were off again!

We went to Little Lambs and Ivy (a great children’s shop on Devine Street in Columbia) and found what we were looking for, plus some. They have the most adorable clothes. Hudson enjoyed crawling around while I found some goodies for him to wear this summer.

Then we finally went to Target. We needed nursery water, formula, and food for Hudson, so it was a quick trip. But he loves Target. The store was packed and I forgot to take a picture while we were inside, so I got a picture of him in the buggy. He loves riding in the buggy at Target!

That was our day. Everything mentioned in this post consumed the entire day. I’m worn out. I’m about to make Katie Lee’s Logan County Hamburgers and settle in to watch Project Runway later tonight.

Hudson and I try to go at least one walk every day. Sometimes things are too hectic and we never get out there, but for the most part, we take a good three mile walk every day.

I love walking around our neighborhood and looking at all the houses, big and small. Checking out all the old trees. Looking at the houses that have clearly been occupied by the same owner for 60 years and those that have been updated and have recaptured their charm with cute fixtures and new paint.

Then I encounter the great smells like a fire in the fireplace or the smell of someone’s laundry coming out of the dryer vent. I love to walk close to supper time to get the smells of meat on the grill.

This is one of my favorite things in the world. It may be nosey, but I find so much comfort in knowing that everyone is going along with the routines of the day by doing laundry and cooking supper.

On the way home from choir practice tonight, I heard the song Sweet Southern Comfort, which is seriously overplayed even years later, but is so much fun to sing in the car. I just like calling out the Southern states.

My list of Southern comforts includes:

1. Hearing Louisiana Saturday Night on the radio.

2. An all-night conversation with some of my best friends.

3. A random phone call from my mother during the day followed by another random phone call just an hour later. Just because she felt like saying hello.

4. Arnold Palmers made with Firefly

5. A piece of snail mail written in familiar handwriting.

6. The way my boy lights up and squeals when his daddy walks in the door every evening.

7. The smell of chocolate chip cookies baking.

8. My bedroom being filled with the scent of laundry and dryer sheets (because our laundry “closet” is in our bedroom).

9. Finding Pretty Woman, Father of the Bride, or Steel Magnolias on TV.

10. A summertime thunderstorm at 3:00 in the afternoon.

11. Hearing someone say “sugah,” “dahling,” or “wawta (water)”.

12. Azaleas and dogwoods in bloom.

13. Bourbon pecan pie, beignets, and strawberry shortcake.

14. The sound of old hymns like The Solid Rock, Holy Holy Holy, It Is Well, and How Great Thou Art. I also cry when I hear my family members sing I’ll Fly Away. Might even cry just thinking about it.

15. The old, nostalgic feeling of being a child and pulling up to my grandparents’ house in Arkansas and getting excited about seeing all of my cousins.

16. Hearing my parents talk about their days as Southern youngsters and, through them, hearing about my grandparents’ days as Southern youngsters.

17. Seeing cotton off the interstate in Louisiana.

18. Seeing the pecan trees growing in front yards in Louisiana.

19. Looking for the “Crossett Light” with my dad and cousins.

20. Sitting in the living room at my Aunt and Uncle’s house, singing old hymns and giggling about the way my grandmother would always take the highest part when harmonizing.

Southerners, what are your southern comforts?

Non-southerners? What little things give you comfort and remind you of home?