Steve surprised me and took me to a beautiful place in Cullman, AL called the Ave Maria Grotto. A monk there built all of the following exhibits out of shells, tiles, minerals...basically anything he could find. It was beautiful!! And I'm just amazed at the talent this man had. It's a must-see for all my Catholic friends out there!
Wayside Shrine: Shrines like this are common throughout the countrysides in southern European and Latin American countries. Travellers will stop to pray before continuing on their journey.
An Outline of St. Peter's Church in Rome
Steve and Ryan by one of the exhibits.
A Shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mother.
The prayer in front reads: "O Mother most dear we believe that you inspired the creation of this shrine. Blessed and beloved virgin and mother, abide with us, not only as an image in cold stone, but as our true and living mother. To every visitor show the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Amen."
Jesus died on the cross to save us all from our sins.
HE IS RISEN!!!
The Tower of Babel.
The Chipmunk Crossing
We then travelled to an old covered bridge built in 1933. Gorgeous!!
The boys got out and played in the river beneath the bridge.
From there, we passed through our 4th state on our way to Tennesee...
...our 5th State.
Lookout Mountain in Chatanooga, a Civil War battlesite. We arrived here the day the shootings happened at the Marine recruitment office in Chatanooga.
The beautiful entrance to the battlefield.
