LIVINGONEDAYAT ATIMEBY ANN CIPPERLY62 EAST ALABAMA LIVING
In the early morning hours,Vondalyn Hall often wakes up with sunlightstreaming through the bedroom windows inher quiet, still house. After losing three familymembers in eight months, Vondalyn findsmornings a good time to reflect. As she journeyedthrough that season of loss, the stormskept coming: a daughter and two grandchildrenwere in a car wreck, two grandbabiesentered hospitals at once, wood under herhouse had rotted, and the lake in her backyardwent dry. Through it all, Vondalyn found peaceand hope by living one day at a time in faith.“God prepared me for those eight monthsin 2018,” says Vondalyn, as she looks backon her life. “I came into that season and thepandemic this year prepared because of whathappened to me the last 74 years.”Vondalyn grew up in North Alabama ona farm and can remember not having a car,phone, electricity or indoor plumbing. Theygrew their food and made soap, sheets andeverything necessary for life on the farm.While those things might seem bleak tosome people, it was normal to Vondalyn andher family since all of their neighbors wereliving the same way.“We always knew we had hope,” she says.“It was based on the fact that my parents andgrandparents had such strong faith in God.That faith was based on the understandingthat God loves us unconditionally regardlessof how rich or small our circumstances. Weare never unimportant. On a farm, you seedaily that God provides.“I grew up in a country church. When I was3 years old, I went to the front of the churchand said, ‘I praise God that I am tall enough toreach the dishpan to wash my hands.’”Along with being thankful for all things,Vondalyn’s parents taught her if God givesyou an ability you are supposed to use it.Vondalyn graduated from the University ofNorth Alabama, majoring in home economicseducation with a minor in chemistry. Whileshe had a desire to become a missionary,those doors closed.She taught at Cullman High School for threeyears then took a year off to attend AuburnUniversity for her master’s degree. Afterwards,the university offered her a teaching positionin the Department of Consumer Affairs. Sheheld other positions before becoming coordinatorof recruitment and public relations forthat department.While at Auburn she met Dr. Robert “Bob”Hall, an Opelika dentist. They both had strongfaith in God. After they married, Vondalyn continuedto work at Auburn University intermittentlywhile their daughters were growing up.They had three daughters, Betsy, Ameliaand Katie. “We prayed that they would becomePhotots provided by Vondalyn Hallgodly women. By placing their faith in God,hope would come, giving them confidencefor living,” says Vondalyn. All three daughtershave had academic and professional success.They are all devoted to the Lord and love theirroles as mothers to Bob and Vondalyn’s sixgrandchildren.In January 2018, Vondalyn’s mother, whohad Alzheimer’s for over 15 years, was gettingworse. Her father was 97 years old and deaf.“As I drove frequently back to north Alabama, Isaw in my mother’s Alzheimer’s that God wasdirecting us to understand hope in a differentway. We could not base our hope on the circumstancesor on what we see, but the sovereigntyof God.”When her mother died in February, Katie’ssecond baby was born the same month in Texas.A couple of months later, in April, Betsycame home from Mozambique to have hersecond child. The next day, Bob suddenlybegan having health issues. “Less than a weekEAST ALABAMA LIVING63
- Page 2 and 3:
Because We CareEverywhere you look,
- Page 5 and 6:
Help familiesstay safe,warm, andtog
- Page 7 and 8:
CONTENTSFeatures54788288THE JOURNEY
- Page 9 and 10:
Departments10 LOCAL LOVE - SOMETHIN
- Page 11 and 12:
It’s full page Bernini8.75”x11.
- Page 13 and 14: went along, and people loved the Ca
- Page 15 and 16: rating. But I have fallen in love w
- Page 17 and 18: RDMEMBERSHIP• LINCOLN MOTOR COMPA
- Page 19 and 20: conference to discuss the impact of
- Page 21 and 22: Alabama’s Premier 55+ Active Life
- Page 23 and 24: Photo by Ann CipperlyPresident John
- Page 25 and 26: Grandview Public MarketThe market s
- Page 27 and 28: EAST ALABAMA LIVING25
- Page 29 and 30: EAST ALABAMA LIVING27
- Page 31 and 32: This is your Christmas spirit.VICTO
- Page 33 and 34: months of age in your count, so thi
- Page 35 and 36: Mike, a former teacher and football
- Page 37 and 38: closed, like other restaurants in t
- Page 39 and 40: Heritage House photos by Cody Allen
- Page 41 and 42: EAST ALABAMA LIVING39
- Page 43 and 44: SAUSAGE STROGANOFF OVER BISCUITSFOR
- Page 45 and 46: He had an interest in helping other
- Page 47 and 48: shareyourstoryWe would love to incl
- Page 49 and 50: The Foundation also continued to he
- Page 51 and 52: - Join us December 19, 2020 -pancak
- Page 53 and 54: shredded, mustard and a vinegar bas
- Page 55 and 56: EAST ALABAMA LIVING 53
- Page 57 and 58: The last thing Cole Burton remember
- Page 59 and 60: continue to pursue his military car
- Page 61 and 62: Photo by Denise ThomasVignettesBYCH
- Page 63: EAST ALABAMA LIVING61
- Page 67 and 68: When we live one day at a time, we
- Page 69 and 70: P R O F E S S I O N A L S O F E A S
- Page 71 and 72: Like most things in 2020, sorority
- Page 73 and 74: meant even more to me when the memb
- Page 75 and 76: Photo by Tristan CairnsLocated off
- Page 77 and 78: Photo provided by Storybook Farmto
- Page 79 and 80: Thanks for voting usBest Orthopaedi
- Page 81 and 82: Photos by Tristan CairnsInspired by
- Page 83 and 84: The Blackmon Boys honor tradition a
- Page 85 and 86: “His basic points include nonviol
- Page 87 and 88: Marion retired in May last year aft
- Page 89 and 90: A Champion of CharacterSome men bec
- Page 91 and 92: Dr. Kam has served as the director
- Page 93 and 94: Photo by Tristan Cairnsdistance, sa
- Page 95 and 96: Weekdays6-9 amMorning Fun!MORNING R
- Page 97 and 98: presentthedays12OFhristmasC12 DAYS
- Page 99 and 100: Text the word “Twelve” to 59925
- Page 101 and 102: FACES of EAST ALABAMAC O M M U N I
- Page 103 and 104: The FighterWill O. (Trip) Walton, I