Carissa Lovvorn

 

Originally published in Athens Now, September 4–17, 2026. What faith does it take to begin a race when you know the finish line is still miles away? Watching young runners give everything they have to finish a cross-country race reminded me of something much bigger than running. Our own faith journey requires perseverance, endurance, and trust in God—even when we are tired and the finish line seems far away. In this month's Carissa's Corner, I reflect on what it means to keep

As I dropped my son off in the carline, he turned around before walking in and signed, “I love you.” As a child with unique challenges, we were told he might experience some speech delays. So as early as 3 months old, I began teaching him baby sign language. By 6 months old, he was already mimicking the signs. Though he doesn’t use sign language anymore, he occasionally signs “I love you” when distance prevents our voices from reaching each other. And, every single time, it g

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble. And he brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so, He guides them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:28-30 (NKJV) As a young child, I looked forward to spending a week of summer with my friends at our church’s overnight camp. The site, located along beautiful lake Guntersville in North Alabama, epitomized everything you would expect from a

by guest author Lottie Partridge Do you enjoy baking? There’s something both magical and a little intimidating about pulling out those mixing bowls and diving into a new recipe, especially if you’re trying your hand at decorating cookies for the first time. It can feel like a lot of work: the measuring, the folding, the perfect oven timing… and let’s not even talk about icing. Seriously, who knew there was a right and wrong way to make icing? But with a little patience and a

by Emily Green Davis As I opened my Bible in preparation to lead my women’s small group, I was not ready for what the Lord would reveal to me. I had decided to walk through the book of Ruth since I hadn’t studied this book in a few years. It’s always amazing to me how alive the Word of God truly is and how God has a divine appointment for each and every person as we read the stories breathed by Him Himself. As I walked through the “Fields of Grace” study by DGC, God convicted

For those of you who know me personally, know that I love to operate machines. Band saw, jack hammer, tree cutter; you name it, I want to try it. But every now and then I come across a piece of equipment that I struggle with using. For example, my husband formally owned a landscaping company. When he sold the business and equipment, he decided to keep a lawnmower for our house. Which one might you ask? The largest one he owned. Boys and their toys! This happens to be the mowe

On May 31st, I woke with a much different mindset than I have today. I spent the morning planning our third pregnancy announcement and deciding what our two oldest girls should wear while holding our baby’s 2nd ultrasound picture. I met my husband at the OB’s office and excitedly paid for the Heartbeat Bear. I was thrilled to be able to have such a precious memento for the girls. I almost jumped out of the chair when the ultrasound tech called my name. I remember talking a mi

My husband owns a landscaping company and works very hard to provide for our family. From time to time, he has to buy new work boots. New boots, plus a 12-hour work day, plus 90-degree Alabama weather, equals a disgusting, smelly mess by the time he comes home. Normally, there would be a chorus of “EWWW... ” that would ring out from the girls (and momma) once the boots were removed, but the other day was different. Garth, obviously exhausted from the day, laid down on the flo

Birthdays tend to bring about reflection on the past. It was around this time, twenty years ago, that I started down a wayward path. I had just turned fourteen and was about to start high school when I first learned that my parents were getting a divorce. I took it hard. I withdrew from my childhood friends, started to act out, and stopped caring about school. Ultimately, I failed the first half of ninth grade and dropped out completely during the second semester. I did not h

I love the simple things. Muddy hands, playing in the rain, quiet walks in the woods, family prayer time, and small acts of kindness are just some of the things that make life worth living. I am a Southern momma trying to teach herself and her family how to enjoy simplicity while sharing God’s grace and love with others. I am so thankful that you have decided to join me on this Grace Growing journey! #seedsforsharing

I believe all mothers have a collection of memories that are etched into their minds. One of my favorite memories is when my oldest daughter was around two and my husband and I took her on an evening walk. We just happened to be close to an open field and tree line when the sun was starting to set. Mid-step, she stopped and looked at the sky. The colors were breathtaking and I remember asking her what she thought. But she seemed to be in her own world and did not respond to m

My children teach me so much about life, love, and faith. I sometimes feel as if I knew nothing before I had them. Recently, our four-year-old Ella, asked to pray before supper. We all bowed our heads, closed our eyes, and waited…nothing… waited a little longer... and still nothing. Like any good momma, I opened one eye to check things out. She was staring right at me which startled me of course. But then she spoke. So innocently she whispered, “Will you remember me the words