BIG NEWS for SOUTHERN PLATE
Dear Southern Plate Family,
When I began SouthernPlate, my kids were young and we were in a completely different season of our lives. We were helping with homework, teaching kids to ride bicycles, and going on family adventure weekends. Being able to share the fullness of my heart on Southern Plate was a natural fit and as a result, God saw fit to bless me with a family that reached around the world. Through the years I’ve met thousands of you in person and names and faces of so many more have become family to us in all the ways that matter most. The love of this community for one another has inspired, encouraged, and helped me to become who I am today: A woman with an overwhelmingly grateful heart.
As we’ve moved from season to season, and the kids grew older, Ricky and I found ourselves with time for just the two of us and we discovered that we love camping, studying our bibles together, and spending evenings in the rocking chairs on our front porch enjoying the peace of life. A little over a year ago, a thought came into my mind: What if I could work on my Bible study full time and focus on this season of our lives? I talked to Ricky about it and immediately discovered that it was something he hoped for as well.
And with that, I began praying and searching for the perfect person to take on the mantle of Southern Plate while I stepped back to pursue the desires of my heart in this season in our lives. God answered my prayers and then some, by sending Stacey Lynn into my life. My entire family has come to love her for her warm and sincere heart, generous spirit, and can-do attitude about every aspect of life. We started working together on SouthernPlate months ago and she dived in and hit the ground running. All of my prayers, even those I didn’t think to pray, have been answered in Stacey. I met her through her love of the Southern Plate family and so, in the process of passing the apron to her, she’s had a natural way of looking after the same things that I do, in much the same way. We share a similar heart for the Southern Plate family.
You know, I’m always saying that Southern Plate is my virtual dinner table and everyone is welcome. When new folks come along, we just pull up another chair and bring in another place setting. And so, you may have noticed a fresh face at the table. That, my friends, is Stacey Lynn. She is the answer to a prayer and she’s going to be stepping up and making sure the tea glasses are full while I get to take a place at the table with all of you.
Stacey Lynn isn’t changing a thing. All your favorite recipes will remain here, right where they’ve always been. She’ll continue to add new recipes from the old days as well, along with quick and easy family favorites, what we’re craving during the baking seasons, and new treats for those special holidays and occasions that we all look forward to so much. She’s also got quite a few ideas to make your lives easier, recipes more accessible, and our hearts warmer.
I’m so excited about the future of Southern Plate, even more so about getting to take part in it with all of you. As Ricky and I move on to this new season in our lives, we are both looking forward to getting to spend more time at this wonderful table with the family that God has blessed us with here.
Gratefully,
Christy
PS: Check out my video with Stacey Lynn below
God bless you and your family!!! ❤️
Christy wishing you and your family many many blessings as you begin this new chapter in your life. It was a pleasure getting to know you and the family. I hear excitement in your voice as you make this announcement, so it must be the right thing to do. Make sure to have Momma stop by now and then to say hi and share a recipe.
Welcome to the family Stacey Lynn. Look forward to the journey we will all take together.
God blesses us in many ways. Happy to be part of this wonderful virtual family.
Stacey Lynn a very warm welcome from us in Atlantic Canada ❤️
Wishing you the best in your new life! You will be missed.
What a great opportunity for both of ya’ll. Looking forward to learning more about Stacey Lynn. Wishing you much enjoyment in your next chapter Christy. God’s blessings to you.
Thank you, sweet Debbie!
So sad to see you go but hopefully you will be sharing now and then and your spirit will always be here. I have went from a novice cook whose kids use to say “Dad please don’t cook tonight. Let’s go outtonight to eat” I have been here for the ride from the blog to books and Facebook and thanks to you my grandkids say poppa are you going to fix us a banana pudding? COURSE I have to blame you for my weight gain from eating to much of that delicious food….lol….Take care and God bless you and your family
So exciting that God has opened this door for you and for Stacey Lynn and for the entire family of Southern Plate. May He continue to bless you and all of us as life is constantly changing and challenging.
Amen! thank you, sister!
How exciting for you Christy! And how obedient you are to the Lord’s direction! Congratulations to you Stacey! I look forward to more fabulous recipes and digging deeper into the Lord with you, Christy.
Hugs from South Texas,
Mary Beth
Thank you so much, Mary Beth! Stacey Lynn won’t disappoint – I’ve seen what she’s cooking up next! I’m so thrilled to be able to study the Word with you. He is so good to us!
Christy, what a blessing for you and your family! Thank you for all the blessings you’ve passed along to us through the years. May your legacy live on here, and best wishes to Stacey Lynn, too!!
Sending all good thoughts and many prayers your way!!
May you be blessed in your next chapter of life! xoxo
Oh thank you so much, Bobbie! He is so good to us!
Stacey Lynn, thank you for setting me a place at the table!
I love y’all! See ya in the kitchen!
Christy, how we have all loved following you for years. Watching your family grow up and reading your stories are always such a joy. You always made me feel like part of the family.
Blessings in your new adventures and welcome Stacey Lynn – Christy, just please be sure to keep sending us a story now and then 😉
Susan
Thank you for a great site with awesome recipes. I wish you and your family the best in future endeavors.
Christy, your kind Southern spirit has touched me for many years. Whenever I see Southern Plate in my in box I know I will enjoy a piece if writing that will make me feel like I am talking to kin. All the best to you, and welcome arms to Stacey. Warm good wishes, Karen
I look forward to Stacy Lynn’s ideas and input, but I will also miss yours. You have been an inspiration with your recipies and bible study. Thank you for everything!
Welcome Stacy Lynn. Looking forward to what you bring to this wonderful site. God’s blessings to you and yours.
Will miss you but know the torch has been passed to the right person. Your first cook book is my go to recipe book for many recipes along with your email posts. God Bless.
Thank you Walter!
Susan, I couldn’t have said it any better, so I’ll just say dittos to Susan’s reply. Love you, Christy and welcome aboard, Stacey! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Jo ❤️
Congratulations Christy, you deserve to do what make you happiest after all your years of hard work. I love Southern Plate and your Bible study is a blessing to me, I’m glad they will continue. Welcome Stacey Lynn!
Love you Christy, and have so much enjoyed you, your blog and your cookbooks through the years. I’ve been following since your kids were little and a lot of your recipes are part of my family traditions now. Excited for this new season of your life and may God bless you in it!
I sure will, Susan. Thank you for your encouragement, love, and grace all these years!
I have always loved Southern Plate. Have all the cookbooks too. Enjoy this new phase of your life! Excited for you! Welcome Stacey Lynn and this new challenge. You will be awesome!❤️
Thank you for taking the time to welcome me 🙂 Feeling blessed.
Congratulations Mrs. Christy. I firmly believe what God has for you is for you. God is really moving in your life and that of your family. Keep up this WONDERFUL forum and congratulations Mrs. Stacey Lynn, welcome.
Christy, I have followed you since your 1st book and have met you twice. I live in Birmingham (Clay), AL and have a daughter in Athens, AL. I support your new venture and love you for it! I also whole heartedly welcome Stacy to the helm! Go with God always!!
You’re kids grew up at the same time my grandkids did and they have eaten many recipes we’ve prepared from Southern Plate. I have saved many of them on my computer but glad I will be still be able to find them online. I have all your cookbooks plus the magazine devoted to your recipes which a had spiral bound and laminated. I have admired your Bible studies but haven’t participated because I am involved with attending a helping to lead other Bible studies. I loved you writings particularly as you wrote about your several sets of grandparents as they reminded me of the older generation of people and cooks in my own family since I am originally for the Nashville area. I understand and accept this new reason, will miss you but look forward to the new person’s offerings. Please occasionally contribute to the website for old times sake. God’s blessings in this new season.
Thank you so much, Valaria! We serve an awesome God and He sure does spoil us with His love!
Christy, I totally understand this new season in your life. I’m so grateful I stumbled onto your first cookbook in a bookstore. When My daughter moved to Alabama, I told her to shop at the stores you shop at and she might run into you, not knowing it would be a drive thru at Little Caesars that she would spy you. I’m so grateful for the friends your family became to them. I wish you the best in your new adventures, and am glad to hear you’ll still stick around. Welcome to Stacey Lynn! I look forward to your addition to this wonderful site. I trust Christy totally in picking the best!
Awe thanks Valaria for the Welcome!
Gratefully,
Stacey
Welcome to our family, I can’t wait to see what your cooking!
Thanks Chrissy for this awesome and lovely blog
Wishing you and your family God’s blessings and all the best in your future endeavours.
Welcome to the blog Stacey Lynn and looking forward to even more wonderful recipes.
Hi June, thank you so much for your warm wishes. I will make sure Christy sees your message.
Gratefully yours,
Stacey Lynn
This is such a wonderful sharing of how God is working in our lives 24/7….AND for how an overwhelming abundance comes into our lives when He knows we are ready for what He had already planned for us! God never ceases to amaze me in how He lays out a path so perfectly for His will to be done. 🙂 Congrats to you Christy, and a very warm welcome to you Stacey Lynn! I’m sure this is going to be a great blessing to all of the Southern Plate family, whether at the table or wearing the apron. Shalom.
Big hugs to both of you!
Linda
Thank you so much, sister! ❤️Shalom! ❤️
We will certainly miss you and your stories of growing up in Alabama, sharing your sweet Mama and grandmas stories, sayings, wisdom and recipes. But I am proud that you are following the Lords leading. May He richly bless you As you continue to serve and obey His calling
God bless you and yours
Betty
Thank you so much Betty. I sure do appreciate your support and encouragement. When He moves, we follow!
I’m so happy for you Christy! But I will miss you greatly. You were one of the first bloggers I met online who reached out to me and helped me navigate my own blog. You’ve been a huge source of inspiration and I appreciate all of your support along the way. I wish you all the best and welcome Stacey with open arms!! ❤️
Well.. wow sis. I’m happy for you in many ways but kinda sad in others. I hope this is blessed and God shows you many great and wonderful things beyond your imagination.
Always love you, kiddo!
May I be happy, sad and excited all at the same time? I have enjoyed your wonderful words – and recipes so much. The recipes fed my body and your wonderful words fed my soul. I wish you all the best and I am excited for you as you go forward. I know I will continue to enjoy Southern Plate. I was thinking about you today and planned to let you know how addicted (in a good way!) I am to the green bean recipe (with water and butter). I don’t know if I will ever cook green beans a different way again. They are absolutely delicious. To be honest my initial thought upon seeing the recipe for the first time was not real positive, but I knew you would not let us down. A neighbor brought us some green beans she had grown and I gave it a try. Wow!! I was hooked and have been making them on a regular basis since. So, thank you for the recipe!! A heartfelt thank you for sharing your life with us through the years. I wish you and your family love and God’s many blessings. My best to all of you!! April McBride
Thank you so much, April! I’m so grateful for having the Southern Plate family a part of my life all these years. The wonderful people here taught me a lot about humanity and kept me grounded in the goodness that surrounds us no matter how the world may toss and turn. New seasons have new flowers to pick and memories to make, but we still love thinking back on the seasons before and I’ll still be hanging around smelling the flowers with all of you.
That is funny about the green beans because every time I make them I always think “I should really put more into this.” and I end up sticking to the same way and we’re all happy again, lol. I appreciate you trusting me enough to try them! Blessings to you and yours, sister.
Ok, April, let me in on the green beans please.
April. honey, never mind I found it. Thanks anyways.
-Debbie
April, I love the green beans too!! Sooo good.
Stacey
Love you crazy brother. ❤️We need to do a duet again soon.
Oh and I am from Tuscumbia and I miss it. I live in Birmingham now. It’s nice here but it’s not the same.
Christy, I am so thrilled for you. But you will definitely be missed here. I have absolutely loved your blog for years. And welcome Stacey!!!
thank you Pat 🙂
Hate too see you go, and going to miss you…but I know Stacy will do a great job, like you also…don’t forget us, please let us know from time to time what you have been up to and say hello…Virginia
Thanks for believing in me Virginia. And don’t you worry… I won’t let Christy stay away 😉
So happy for you Christy……. you have been an inspiration and such a huge help for me…. I Will miss you terribly but will remain faithful to Southern Plate and welcome to Stacey
We have been friends for a short time but it feels like I have known you all of my life!! I truly enjoy every aspect of our Southern Plate family and gatherings! I welcome Stacey Lynn and can’t wait to spend time with her as well!! I’m so very happy all the way around!! Save my place at that table!!
You always have a place at the table 🙂 Thank you so much for your warm welcome.
Welcome Stacey Lynn to Southern Plate! Happy cooking!
Thank you so much!
Christy, I’ve loved Southern Plate for several years and I look forward to continuing to hear from you and your family her. I’ve been in the Front Porch Fellowship with you for a year now and definitely look forward to having you there more and more. I wish you the best and I’m grateful for your vision and obedience to the Father.
Looking forward to you Stacey Lynn! Thank you Christy!
Christy,
Thank you for all you do!! I’ve followed you for several years now! What a blessing you’ve been in my life!! Looking forward to the future with you! I’m sure Stacey will be such a wonderful addition to Southern Plate! Looking forward to getting to know her and new recipes!!
I was so happy & blessed to happen upon this site! I will miss you Christy, in a manner of speaking, ( since there are other avenues to seek u out on, YouTube, etc,)
And Welcome Stacey lynn, I’m sure I’ll be feeling just as blessed now that God put u at the helm!
God bless!
Sherry M
How exciting for you and your husband. I have enjoyed your newsletter and reading it all the way to the recipes. I joined your Bible Study on Facebook as well.
Thank you for helping to keep us fed.
Best wishes and Blessings,
Brenda