A Small Town Girl's New Perspective on What a Small Town Really Is...

Before yesterday if you had asked me if I grew up in a small town, my answer would have been "YES!” I believe that anyone who grew up with me would agree that our town is that southern town that is depicted in all of the football movies. You know the one! That town that shuts down on Friday night to show complete loyalty to the football team, most places are closed on Sunday, most every family we know attended the same church that their grandma's grandma had attended, everyone attended one high school, no matter where you went or what you did somebody knew your Mama and so you couldn't get away with anything and you were constantly being asked the questions "how's your mama and them?" even though the truth was that they already knew, going to Tallahassee was a super big deal because there was so much to do and so many places to eat, and last but certainly not least there was the ONE place that everybody ate and hung out all the while constantly complaining that there was nothing to do and nowhere to go in this small town we called home... you know, the one we couldn't wait to leave!

Well, I have to admit that yesterday; the small town of Cairo, GA became A LOT BIGGER to me!! I have recently moved to Boston, GA and it's a small, charming community where everyone knows everyone! The homes are beautiful and the people are friendly. I have joked with people before that I thought I lived in a small town and then I moved to Boston... this joke became a HUGE reality to me yesterday. In Boston, we have 2 restaurants, a bank, some cute antique shops, a peanut company, a convenient store, and a store that sells EVERYTHING from groceries to furniture, to cars!!! We're a 10 minute drive from Thomasville and a 30 minute drive from Valdosta so venturing out of Boston on a daily basis isn't feasible so most days Eli and I hang out at the house and play outside when the weather permits. However, yesterday was a beautiful day and since I needed to go to our post office to buy stamps, I decided that E and I would go eat at the Cafe in town because they have a daily country cooking special (including a drink) for $6.95 and it seemed like a nice, fun outing for us. So E and I pack up the stroller and head down the street to the cafe when I see the sign on the door that reads, "Debit card machine out of order."... WHAT? Really? This is the 2000's right? This wouldn't be the last time that I said this to myself yesterday!!! Well, I never have cash on me so on to the post office we went, much to my surprise the Post Office was closed for lunch... every day from 12-1 they close down. Okay, breathe... the reality is sinking in that my outing is going to be unproductive and we're going home to eat leftovers. Then I remembered that there is a bank in Boston, they must have an ATM, being the only bank in town... so, we walk there and much to my surprise when I walk in and see 1 teller and 1 customer, that they don't have an ATM, you know what I'm thinking at this point... what year is this again? I have yet another idea... let's go to the other restaurant because they have AWESOME, CHEAP hamburgers!! So, we walk there and much to my surprise, they have closed down for GOOD!! WOW... so now we have 1 place to eat! Eli and I walk home very defeated and feeling like we've stepped back into the 60's!! The story does have a happy ending; I came through and found enough change in our house to take us to lunch at the only place in town!! :)

What's the point of this blog? To all my Cairo peeps... you do have food choices, a movie theatre, a skating rink, several banks all with ATM's, and you even have stores that sell things other than antiques!! So, when you think that there is nowhere to eat and nothing to do remember that there are smaller places with less convenient amenities and if that doesn't work for you, come visit me in Boston and I'll treat you to a fabulous lunch at the Cafe and a charming afternoon looking at old homes and quaint antique shops in a lovely town where it is safe and nice to walk everywhere!! :)

Acceptance with a Side of Turkey

A clean house, pictures hanging on the wall, a creative scrapbook area, and a mantle that tells the story of the family that now occupies this house. I take a step back and breathe in a deep sigh of relief, yes, I have finally come to a place of acceptance!

For the past 4 months, our decorative items, pictures, and carefully constructed scrapbooks have been sitting in boxes. If you came into our home before last Wednesday, you would have assumed we were in the process of moving, not that we had lived there for a while and were settling in. What changed last Wednesday? Company was coming over for Thanksgiving and I had to get everything in order to show the beautiful house that we now call our home. So, I frantically ran around unpacking boxes, throwing away trash, setting out knick knacks and pictures, and showing Tommy where to hang things. Now, I had been telling myself that I hadn't done all of this because I lacked the time... so, did time magically present itself last Wednesday, NO! The truth is, I had been putting off what I didn't want to do. You see, unpacking meant closing a door, and walking through the new one. In other words, casting down vain imaginations that things would return to "normal" and clothing myself in the reality of the new journey.

The truth is, I love our new home, I love being home with Eli, and I love going to school! But the truth also is, that I miss our first home deeply, I miss friends that I used to see all the time, I miss work, and I miss children that are apart of my heart!! But the ultimate wonderful truth is that God is incredible and my wounds are healing! These days, tears are few while smiles abound, I can go places that I couldn't go without twinges of pain, and I can do things that I never imagined possible. ACCEPTANCE is a wonderful thing.

As I took a step back late last Wednesday evening and looked around, I was HOME!! The last thing to be hung on wall was a canvas painted by a precious 4 year old class that I purchased at the auction last year. After I bought it, the sweet teachers signed the canvas and had each child sign it. The canvas is rainbow colored with butterflies to remind of sweet little girl whose name isn't signed and it reads: "Teach them to pray and when they aren't with you they will find their way." ~Laurie Helton
This canvas hangs above my personal scrabooking space, in my favorite room of the house where I also do my quiet time and Bible study... it's a melding of the old and the new... all the things that have happend and all the people that I have met on my journey that make me who I am. This canvas meant a lot to me when I received it but it means even more now becuase it reminds me that I planted seeds of scripture and prayer into the children I served and as I continue to pray for them, I know God is watering those seeds and they will find their way in Him. I find such peace in that!!!

Here are a few pictures of the canvas and the new beautiful space! :) Thanks for reading my thoughts!

Help! Selling My Tahoe

Hello blogging world!! Tommy and I are trying to sell our 2007 Tahoe LT. It's beautiful, still under warranty, and in great condion. We love it! We just need to be relieved of the financial burden!! If you or anyone you know might be interested please have them contact us! You can e mail me: katie.odum@yahoo.com or Tommy: odum_tommy@yahoo.com. We're asking $26,000 for it because that's what we owe but we will entertain any reasonable offers.

More Info: Beautiful 2007 Tahoe LT, rear entertainment package, sunroof, leather, captin chairs, 3rd row, cd/dvd/front input/, brand new battery, and heated seats. 73,000 miles still under warranty.

18 Months of Laughter

This morning Eli and I went to see Dr. K for Mr. E's 18 month checkup!! 18 months... 18 MONTHS... WHAT?! When did that happen??!!! My baby is such a little boy now... I can't believe it's been 18 1/2 months since our beautiful bundle of JOY came into our lives and changed it (and us) forever! Even on the days when I look like I've been to battle (and lost), haven't had a shower, feel ready to pull my hair out... I can say with absolute certainty that I wouldn't trade that wonderful ray of sunshine that is now a TODDLER for anything in this world!! He makes his Mommy's days!
I thought I would just take a moment to give an Eli update... no pictures! I need to learn from my friend Ashleigh Anne and take my camera to the doctor for pics!!! I always forget!!

Our 18 month boy:
*Dr. K says he's perfect! We knew this already of course but she is an unbiased person! LOL
*She couldn't give me a height percentage because Eli is off the charts... basketball player maybe?
*He weighs 29 pounds exactly which puts him in the 50th percentile.
*On the 9-24 month checklist there is only one thing that he "can't" do... drink out of a cup without a lid without spilling it.... I say "can't" loosely because I haven't been brave enough to let him try!!!
*Eli talks up a storm! A few of his favorite words are: puppy, Elmo, Brewster, Mommy, Daddy, EAT, SNACK, phone, please, more, play, toys, Mickey, and MILK!!!
*His favorite songs are: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, B-I-B-L-E, Row Row Row Your Boat, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
*Some of my favorite things that Eli does or says right now: He does the "love" sign during Jesus loves me, says "help" when he actually needs my help, says "I wub u Mommy!", sings and dances to his ABC's and to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, sings "Bad Boys", and pretend calls people on his phone and says, "Hey (insert name here) sup?"
*Eli's favorite people: Daddy, Mommy, Paw Paw, Maw Maw, Gogee, G-Paw, P-Paw & the other P-Paw (because he can't say P-Maw consistently yet!), GG, Pop, and the babies (abby and alena).
*Eli can't sleep without his wubby which makes me feel the urgent need to buy replicas!!!
*He loves to play patty cake with his green monkey!
*He LOVES milk!!!
*As always his laugh makes the entire world brighter... seriously, you think it's the sun but it's not... it's me beaming from Boston because Eli laughed!! LOL
*The one sure way that I can get E to stop crying is to sing The Mary Tyler Moore theme song... I've sung it to him since he was a little baby and he's always responded to it... I have no idea why!

We have definitely entered the toddler years and with that has come (with many more to come) many new experiences and hurdles. I look forward to each moment with our little monkey because no moment is dull!!

These are the thoughts of a proud Mommy... please understand that they don't come from a boastful heart... I love Eli with all my heart and know that he is who he is not because of me but because God knit him together and allows me to guide him through this thing called life as I allow Him to guide me! Blessings!!

Putting the BIG Rocks First....

We’ve all heard the story in one form or another; about the teacher who took out a glass jar, filled it with rocks and asked his class: “is the jar full?” “Yes.” The class replied. “No.” the teacher replied. He then took out a bag of gravel and poured it into the jar, then a bag of sand, and finally a pitcher of water until the jar was filled to the brim. “What’s the point of this demonstration?” he asked his students. One student replied, “If you try hard enough, you can fit everything in.” “No” the teacher replied, “If you don’t put the big rocks in first, they won’t fit in at all.

What are the big rocks in our lives? What should the big rocks in our lives be? These big rocks, better known as our priorities are whatever we’re spending our time, energy, and resources on. I was recently given the opportunity to examine my priorities and I can tell you… the big rocks weren’t fitting into my jar because my jar was too full of the things of lesser importance.

What should the big rocks be? God? Family? Marriage? Work? Friends? Hobbies? Vacationing? Money? Sleep? Paying off debt? School? Church? Volunteer work? How do you determine what your big rocks should be when so many things seem important and your life (and the people in it) pull you in a thousand different directions each day?

I took some time today to think and pray about what the big rocks should be in my life when it occurred to me that I first needed a mission statement for my life. A mission statement is a summary describing the aims, values, and overall plan of an organization or individual. What are my values, my aims, my overall plan for me? More importantly, what is God’s values, aims, and overall plan for me? That’s when I created a working mission statement… followed it with what the big rocks in my life should be which each support the mission statement. Each big rock gives reasons why, scripture that shows it’s value, and a plan of action. I also included 5 things that must get done that aren’t a part of these rocks so we will consider that the gravel, and 5 things that must be limited, we will call that the sand. My plan (not all of it because it’s long and some of it personal) is listed below… what’s your plan? I found that my life was running me… I wasn’t talking to God and determining how I was supposed to be following Him in running mine. With His help, I have said the final goodbye to that way of living and I am on my way to leading a more effective, productive, joyful, and fruit filled life attached to the vine (“I am the vine; you’re the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without me.” John 15:5)

My working Mission Statement: To live the life that God has blessed me with to the fullest by walking hand in hand in relationship with Him as He guides me and directs my steps. To share His love with the world through a life of Christian discipleship… I want to immolate and exude Christ and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To live this life and LOVE like I mean it!! To be the Katie that Jesus Christ has called me to be!

My Big Rocks:

1)      God

a.      Why? Because apart from Him I am and can do nothing! John 15:5

2)      Marriage

a.      Why? Because God has blessed me with a husband whom I love and who loves me and I am to be his helper. Genesis 2, Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 13, Proverbs 31 (and many others)

3)      Eli

a.      Why? He is our blessing from God as well as our responsibility. “Start off children in the way they should go and even when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

4)      Family & Friends

a.      Why? Because loneliness stinks!! God blesses us with family and friends so that we can be encouraged and have support. Jesus showed this example in the disciples…

5)      School

a.      Why? Keeping my eye on the prize … must obtain degree to go onto the bigger things that God has in store.

6)      Weight Loss

a.      Why? To be healthier and fit to do God’s work as well as enjoy my time with Eli to the fullest. “Do you not know that your bodies are temple of the Holy Spirit…” 1 Corinthians 6:19

5 Things that Must Happen:

Housework, Bill paying, Mary Kay, Sleep, church work!

5 Things that Must Be Limited:

Facebook, Television, Magazines, Sleep, and hobbies

Thanks for reading my thoughts! God Bless!

If... I don't usually do these but saw it and thought it would be fun!

If....

This is going around the blog world :)




Fill in the blanks....



If I were to get pregnant again... I would be overjoyed



If I could have any job in the world... Christian Marriage and Family Counselor


If I had a day to myself... I would call my best girlfriend and hang out...


If I could get married all over again...I would marry the same man but do our wedding completely different!


If I could live anywhere in the US... anywhere with my husband and Eli (I would like to remain close to my peeps but I wouldn't mind city living)


If my boy would have been girl they would have been named... Emma Katherine (Emma Kate) or Loreali Elizabeth.


If I could have any talent in the world... a beautiful singing voice


If you met me in real life... I hope that you would say that I radiate Jesus. I had someone tell me the other day that I light up a room... that's probably the 2nd best compliment I've ever gotten. (the first was that I am a really good mommy!)


If I could go back to school and get a different degree... Well, I'm getting my first degree right now, Psychology.


If money was no object... I would have more children and Tommy and I would partner with our friends in their ministry and spread the love of Jesus to anyone and everyone we could!!


If I could meet one celebrity, it would be... Reba, this is no shock to anyone unless you don't know me at all!!!


If I could shop at only one store the rest of my life... Target



If we were to get another pet it would be... NO... NO.... NO.... ABSOLUTELY NO MORE PETS


If I could go on a trip right now... New York City... hands down #1 on my to go to list!


If I had to choose between a house cleaner and a personal chef... I really enjoy cooking so I would definitely  have to say HOUSE CLEANER!!!!



If I had the option of plastic surgery.. I would have things reduced - not enlarged!!! LOL

Boots & Unexpected Blessings

Blessings show up in all sorts of places! They come in many shapes, forms, and sizes! I received a pair of hand-me-down boots this weekend and they are a blessing to me. The lady that gave them was so joyful in her giving, all she saw was someone who received joy in the boots and she wanted to give them to sustain that joy. The truth is that YES those boots brought joy, they are comfy, they are warm, and most of all, and they make me feel pretty and confidant. What that sweet lady didn’t know was that I don’t have any boots… in fact I didn’t have a single pair of winter shoes (aside from sneakers) in my closet. While this wasn’t a deep pressing need… especially in comparison to the inconceivable, astronomical needs of others here and around the world, to me, in a place in my heart, it was important. You see, my family has recently gone from being a 2 bread winner household to being a 1 breadwinner household. Don’t misunderstand me; we lack nothing that we need. God is faithful and He has provided ABOVE AND BEYOND what we could hope for or imagine. As He did through the sweet lady with the beautiful boots that made this brokenhearted young woman remember that I serve a God who truly does care about even the smallest longings of my heart. Not to say that I will want a corvette and because I do, He will give me one… no, that’s not my point, my point is that He used boots to simply remind me of His love, His grace, His mercy, His faithfulness, and to say, “my child, you’re mine and I love you… I see those deep places in your heart that you don’t allow anyone else to see and I care!” This weekend, I was met with many blessings. I didn’t go expecting to come away with personal blessings, I knew I would see the love of God working in the lives of others, and that it would bless my heart but I wasn’t prepared for what happened when I determined to serve God and others out of even the broken places in my heart. When out of obedience to the Father, I stepped out in faith and did what I thought I couldn’t do, many things in fact that I thought I couldn’t do. The truth, that became a living, breathing reality to me this weekend, is that I still can’t do them… not in myself that is, but “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13. This verse no longer means the same thing to me that it has all my life, to me, it doesn’t mean that I can do anything that I want and desire to do but that I can do all things that God desires and wills me to do by relying on His strength, and not my own. Boots were only the beginning!

I have been walking around with a broken heart full of anger, resentment, loneliness, sadness, and un-forgiveness. Carrying this heavy heart that felt like it weighed at least 15 pounds was causing bitterness to creep into my once very joyous walk with the Lord. After a very painful situation, I determined to weep forward and I did… I learned that God can do amazing things through tears and baby steps!!! And guess what, He did!! He worked through my brokenness! However, my heart wasn’t healing… “Why God?” I’m trusting you to heal it… I know you can… “Why God?” That not so comfortable answer came this weekend… “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” I wasn’t walking in 100% forgiveness, I was trying, but I wasn’t succeeding. I was slowly building walls around my heart so that no one could get to the brokenness that I was hiding. I wasn’t loving my neighbor, in this case, my enemies, as myself… I can’t!... not on my own. So a few days ago, I asked God to remove the unforgivness, the bitterness, the anger, the loneliness, and the sadness. I gave Him every broken piece of my heart and asked Him to heal it. I asked Him to help me to love my enemies. “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28 Then, I knelt in prayer and I prayed for the people that I needed to love… I asked God to bless them abundantly and I learned a valuable lesson… through submission, the support of a dear friend, and leading of the Holy Spirit, I realized that God loves those people as much as He loves me!! I knew it in my head, but it became heart knowledge… God loves my enemies, friends, strangers, and loved ones as much as He loves me! We’re all His favorite! Even when we sin and fall short, His love remains faithful and steadfast! Hallelujah!!!!! Isn’t that awesome?

I gave my heart to God this weekend and allowed Him to fill it with love. He did, He filled all the tiny creases of my broken heart with His love, His mercy, and His grace. I’m thankful that He worked through my brokenness and I am also thankful that He lovingly accepted my broken heart when I handed it over to be placed on the potter’s wheel to be reshaped. I lost 15 pounds of “heart weight”… Praise the Lord!

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases… those baby steps that I was taking through my tears were great for that season but hello to the powerwalk… I dropped the load at the foot of the cross and left it there… isn’t it funny that when I dropped the baggage, I felt light enough to run and what did God give me, new shoes!!! Watch out world, Jesus loves me and He loves you too… PASS IT ON!!!