The Home Front
Everyone needs the good Lord and a dose of Oak Grove in their life…What do I mean by that? Well, Oak Grove Baptist Church is where I grew up, sitting on a wooden pew wedged between my two sisters, trying not to wiggle or giggle as we sang hymns and listened as the word of the Lord was brought to us every Sunday. It’s where I learned of the Good Lord and came to know Him as my own. I do wish and fervently hope all of you have a place to think back on that is a firm foundation in your life, where you learned of the love and forgiveness and acceptance of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you don’t have that, you can think back with me on mine. 
Hymns and staunch Christians made an impact on me as I sat on the old wooden church pew every Sunday. Songs sung often by saints of old still dance across my mind, and I can vividly see the joy radiating from the face of those old saints as they lifted their voices to the Lord. And I wondered, what makes them filled with such joy as they sing these hymns? As a little girl trying to figure out life, I watched and learned things about my church family. I would always wonder why Brother Rural chose to lead the congregation in “Heavenly Sunlight” every time. If Brother Rural got up there, we knew to turn to page two in the church hymnal. Every time! “Shadows around me, shadows above me…I’m walking in Sunlight- Jesus is Mine.”
I can still see him through my child’s eye as he led the song. I can still hear my Popa Swann singing out with joy, with my Nanny Swann’s voice blending in; and I can still see Aunt Lett -who wasn’t really my aunt, but we all called her that- with that soft smile on her face, her eyes closed, and her right hand resting lightly on her cheek while nodding her head in time to the music. 
During my time at Oak Grove, the Good Lord became my anchor, and Oak Grove became a place to hold fast to when the storms of life prevailed. Oak Grove became a home away from home and a place to learn about the world, a place to grow and be nurtured, and a place to learn about God’s love. As I write this, I’m sitting in the middle of 6,000 acres, watching the sunlight trickle down through the heavily shadowed forests, and “Heavenly Sunlight” drifts softly through my mind, and happiness floods my soul. As I have progressed through my life, I now know what Brother Rural knows. I can look back across the years and see the unfolding of the song through my life. I have traversed through the shadows, but have been walking in sunlight my whole journey because Jesus is mine.
-Danna Standridge, Author of Happiness is Homemade Y’all! For speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations, email [email protected]. Join her in the kitchen on Facebook @DannaSwannStandridge and YouTube @dannastandridge8749.
Macaroni & Cheese
“This recipe is from my best friend, Beth. She’s been making this for her family for a long time. It’s a proven winner and easy on the cook, too. Enjoy!”
Ingredients:
- 2 cups large elbow macaroni
- 1/2 stick butter
- 3 cups milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 oz. cubed colby-Monterey jack cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place DRY macaroni into a 9″×13″ casserole dish. Melt butter and pour over the noodles. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours till noodles are done. Find more recipes from Danna in her cookbook, What’s Cooking with Danna, Y’all?
