Whitestone Country Inn Anniversary Photos ||| Kingston, TN Photographer || Paul and Jean Cowell
This is one of their wedding photos! I love it! What I love more is they have it hanging in their home.
I would like to wish two very special people in my life a happy 54th wedding anniversary. Paul and Jean are the innkeepers at Whitestone Country Inn, a gorgeous bed and breakfast on Watts Bar Lake in Kingston, TN, but more importantly they are wonderful Godsends to my life.
I met Paul and Jean a few years ago while shooting a wedding at Whitestone Country Inn, little did I know at that point God had crossed our paths for so many reasons. We’ve laughed together, cried together and we’ve been able to share so many wonderful memories together. They have been such a blessing to me and they are great examples of what choosing to love in a marriage looks like.
Last week while shooting one of their friends wedding at Whitestone, Jean asked me to take a photograph for their 54th anniversary that was this week. Of course I was thrilled she asked! I always love getting to document beautiful love stories and their love story is defiantly a beautiful one.
Paul and Jean were young when they met. Paul told me they dated long distance for years, sending each other hand written letters and going long periods of time without seeing each other. Seriously that is so romantic!
Paul and Jean, may God bless you with many more years together, for you have been such a blessing to so many people. May you continue to laugh together (and at each other) and walk beside each other on the path God’s created for you.
I leave you with a quote about choosing (something I think you have done well)
“I Choose Love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I Choose Joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I Choose Peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live.
I Choose Patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I Choose Kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me.
I Choose Goodness…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.
I Choose Faithfulness…
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love.
I Choose Gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I Choose Self-Control…
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”
― Max Lucado
Love,
Tonya
