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Anna Filly Photography

Anna Filly Photography

Roanoke, Virginia Wedding Photographer specializing in timeless wedding, engagement and lifestyle photos.

Calling Oneonta Home – Redeemer Community Church

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Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church- Northern Alabama Photographer

Calling Oneonta Home

Like morning sunlight breaking across the dark night sky, or a swelling of music after a dramatic pause, here I am, writing to you.

It’s been quiet on the blog around here lately and I am so thankful for your patience.  After my husband and I moved from Mobile, Alabama to Oneonta, Alabama last September, Anna Filly Photography had it’s busiest season yet. Following that busy season, were the Holidays, and then before we knew it a New Year had begun.

We finished 2018 serving and loving our clients well.  I decided that for a short span of time, I’d stop blogging as I slowly began the process of planting my roots in Oneonta’s soil.  I love blogging, so stopping was hard.  But stopping allowed for me to settle in our new home, and embrace our new life here.

The transition of moving to a new place, making it home, building friendships and running a business in a new location has been a little overwhelming at times.

I have a tendency to want to rush the process in order to hold the product in my hands.  I want to rush the process of making friends, so I have them.  I want to rush the process of building a business in a new location, so I’m known here.  I want to rush the process of putting down roots, so I feel secure.  You get the idea.

But, the one thing the Lord keeps whispering over me is that good things grow slow. Planted seeds don’t produce fruit the next day.  The sweetest fruits don’t blossom & ripen overnight.

      Time is life’s most valuable secret ingredient.Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church - Northern Alabama Photographer

In time, Oneonta has become home for us.  This tiny community has welcomed us in with open arms and Southern charm.  It’s amazing to me how closely knit this small town is.  Everyone knows everyone, and the history of how and why runs back for generations.

David and I have loved getting to know the members of our new church.  Attending there has been such a breath of fresh air.  Which brings me to the images in this post.  Over Christmas, I was given the incredible opportunity to photograph our church staff and their families.  It was SO fun to share my love of photography with our new church family, and I am so thrilled to introduce them to you today!!

Redeemer Community Church

Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church - Northern Alabama Photographer

This image ( above ) was used on our Church Christmas Card!!

Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church - Northern Alabama Photographer

This is Matt Scott, our Pastor at Redeemer Community Church.  He and his wife, Stephanie ( whom you’ll meet in a moment!) started the church three years ago.  Matt has such a sincere heart for the people in Oneonta.  He’s a man on a mission and after meeting him, you’ll walk away inspired.  Matt and Stephanie’s son, Davis, is such a cool kid.  Him and David (my husband) have become such good buddies!

This is Stephanie, our Director of Redeemer Kids.  Stephanie sparkles.  Seriously.  She has a heart of gold and a beautiful way of making life brighter.  Her love for kids is one of the sweetest things about her.  She is incredibly intentional, extremely organized and is the BEST supporter and encourager to Matt.  Her family means everything to her, and goodness gracious, she treats everyone like they are family!Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church - Northern Alabama Photographer

This is Jared.  Jared is our Director of Student Ministries.  He teaches, disciples and loves on the teens and youth of Redeemer Community Church each week.  Jared is incredibly passionate about diving deep into the Gospel and teaching it to our students.  Him and his wife Emily are precious together, aren’t they?!

This is Perry!  Perry is our Director of Discipleship as well as our *new* Pastor for a brand new church campus that we are launching in Altoona, AL in April!  Perry has a great sense of humor, a deep love for the Lord, and a sincere desire to see lives changed by the Gospel.  His family is absolutely PRECIOUS, and his wife, Mary has become such a sweet friend to me.  This bunch is so sweet!

This is LaNeia, our Executive Assistant at Redeemer. When you walk into the offices, she is the first person you see.  This lovely lady keeps everyone organized, on task and efficient.  She is SUCH a radiant asset to the staff. 

This is David, if you know me, you know how deeply my love for him goes.  David is my husband, as well as the Worship Pastor at Redeemer Community Church.  David has such a humble and sincere heart for Jesus Christ.  His love for the Lord reflects in everything he does.  As the Worship Pastor, he intentionally invests in the volunteers that lead worship with him.  He strives for musical excellence (not perfection) each Sunday, and is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet!  ( I may be a little biased!)Calling Oneonta Home - Redeemer Community Church - Northern Alabama Photographer

I am so grateful to start blogging again, and to start sharing our lives with you once more.  Thank you for joining this journey with us, and for cheering us on.

We love you.

xoxo Anna Filly

Filed Under: Personal

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary says

    January 24, 2019 at 2:43 pm

    Anna, you have such a way with words. We are so blessed that the Lord brought you and David to Redeemer. We love you guys!!

    Reply
    • AnnaFilly says

      January 26, 2019 at 1:49 pm

      Thank you SO much for being such wonderful friends to us. We are ETERNALLY grateful for you, Mary!

      Reply
  2. Pres :) says

    February 6, 2019 at 11:00 pm

    Yess!!! Love that your W O R D S are back !! You are such a voice of His heart and truth . . .
    L O V E Y O U

    Reply
    • AnnaFilly says

      February 7, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      I love you more than wordssssss!!

      Reply

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Hi there! I’m Anna Filly, a Wedding & Portrait photographer in the sweet, deep South. I love hosting dinner parties, sparkling water, & magnifying love through the art of photography. I have a slight obsession with fresh cut flowers, ice cream is my guilty pleasure & crinkling nose laughter is my muse. Grab something sweet & browse the site! I’m so glad you’re here.

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When your bestie marries the love of her life & yo When your bestie marries the love of her life & you capture a few precious moments. 💫🫶🏻🎻💐
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Congrats to Matthew & Karley on their most wonderful day ! Though it poured down raining, you’d never tell. The love and the joy shined through in such a magical way.
The Lang Family is welcoming their third baby this The Lang Family is welcoming their third baby this Fall & celebrated with a session. So much joy, & so much love 💕
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If I sat with you & told you every detail of Grayson & Carters story, we both would be laughing & crying at how beautiful it is ! These two got married atop the mountains & rolling hills of the Roanoke valley. It was the sweetest, most intimate elopement full of tenderness & joy. 

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Remember that time we booked a cheap flight to Ita Remember that time we booked a cheap flight to Italy & 24 hours later we were on the plane ? ✈️💫

I’ll never forget the whimsy & adventure of this trip. Surprising our best friend & joining her in Italy as she celebrated getting her PhD was such a joy. How this came about (thanks for buying the ticket, Dave!!) & the village that came together to make it happen so my people were taken care of back home …*sigh*… my gratitude abounds.

10/10 would recommend traveling the world with your besties. 

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There are just some people that walk into your life & change it forever. Jordan & Karley are family to me. My eleven year old self had no idea how much these two would change me for the better. They have been with me through every season- good times & bad. I am so grateful for them.

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