Twenty Six ~ Fresh Start ~ New Leaf ~ Lessons Learned

I have had a wonderful birthday! I love when my birthday falls on Easter, I truly feel that it's a special present from God to me... because, I'm His favorite! (and so are you!) Twenty-six... A number I have been dreading for the crazy reason that I am now on THAT side of 30! However, I have had a change of heart; actually, I've been experiencing a change of heart over the past few months. I have often viewed my life as not enough, not what I had exactly anticipated, certainly filled with bad choices thrown in there with incredibley good ones. I have pretty much always gone against the grain... to the beat of my own drum! I have felt recently that my life has included a lot of failure; I haven't yet graduated from college, I'm overweight, my husband and I have debt that we need to pay off, and there are things that happened in the past year that satan tried to use to solidify these feelings of failure and lack of purpose and destiny. But God... God sees me for who He created me to be. He created me for His purposes, for a destiny that I am discovering daily as I seek His face. I'm learning that it doesn't matter what the world says about me, it doesn't matter what some friends or family say about me, what matters is what God says about me. Quite honestly, if the people in my life aren't supporting God's view of me and encouraging me to seek Him and become all that He has for me, if they are fueling the flame of failure rather than the flame of success, if they are pulling me in the wrong direction, then it's probably a sign that they don't need to be in my inner circle. I am learning that with age (most of the time) comes wisdom and I have decided that life is just too short. Too short to worry about who's talking about me. Too short to worry about who doesn't like me or something I do. Too short to worry about every single detail. Too short to spend time with people that drag me down. Too short to do anything less than live a life pleasing unto God!!

One of the biggest mistakes I have made in my life is that I let life pass me by. I neglect the moment and before I know it, the moment has passed. Well, not anymore! I am determined to savor each second God blesses me with life, to enjoy life's smallest gifts, to listen to my son's every noise becasuse all too soon, he won't want Mommy to to attend to his every need. I am determined to love my husband and respect him as the man of God that he is, to value our marriage as holy and sacred before the Lord and to be thankful that we found love so young! I am determined to live my life on purpose!

26 will be my best year yet! I've already begun a process of change. Change in my mind, change in my lifestyle, change in my body, and even change in wardrobe! I'm allowing God to do a work on the inside and on the out. I already made mistakes today in my journey of becoming all that I can be but tonight as I type this, I can say with purness of heart that I have no unforgiveness because I called a person that I have been harboring unforgiveness towards, humbled myself, and asked for forgivness and offered it. That makes me free to be forgiven of my sins and mistakes. Glory to God! I've learned that life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of what we make it!! I'm going to make this year great inspite of what comes my way... I already know that this year has to be better than last year because through the trials and tears of this year, God has made my skin thicker, my spirit stronger, and my heart more full of compassion! Watch out world... this year will see a growing me... I will be shrinking in size physically but growing in size spiritually!! God is going to do amazing things... all for His glory!

Just a couple of photos to show the outward tranformation that has taken place since my last birthday and lyrics to a song that sums it up!

 Me and Mr. Eli last year on my birthday!

 Me and Mr. Eli this year at my birthday celebration!

 Me with my sis Kayla

 Me with my sister Shelley!

Me with the most wonderful husband that a girl could ask for!!

There's some things that I regret,

Some words I wish had gone unsaid,
Some starts,
That had some bitter endings,
Been some bad times I've been through,
Damage I cannot undo,
Some things,
I wish I could do all all over again,
But it don't really matter,
Life gets that much harder,
It makes you that much stronger,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

[Chorus:]
And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I'm thankful, for every break in my heart,
I'm grateful, for every scar,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned.

There's mistakes that I have made,
Some chances I just threw away,
Some roads,
I never should've taken,
Been some signs I didn't see,
Hearts that I hurt needlessly,
Some wounds,
That I wish I could have one more chance to mend,
But it don't make no difference,
The past can't be rewritten,
You get the life you're given,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

Blood Water Mission - Put Down Your Soda and Build a Well!!

Here is what I spoke briefly about on facebook. Lent begins tomorrow, February 22nd. If you are a friend of mine who doesn't observe lent, I'm in no way suggesting that you shouldn't join me also!! I think everyone should... think of the domino effect that would take place if everyone reading this put down their soda or other drink of choice and took up water for 40 days! We take water for granted (I'm a top notch offender!) and I am committing to remember that water isn't a luxury that everyone has. Imagine if tomorrow when you went to give your child a drink that is was filthy and full of bacteria, how horrible would that be. What if someone could do something about it but instead they went about their day ignoring the problem, chugging soda, and acting as if drinking clean water was a chore they must suffer through. I am that person, I have a lot of friends that are that person. Are we sinning in this choice? I'm not going to answer that question, I'm simply going to say two things that Jesus said, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." and "whatever you do to the least of these, you have done unto me." If you plan to participate, please let me know, I want to see how wide we can get this thing to spread... just so we can look back and see how much a difference it makes to put down the soda and pick up the water... how much money does it free up for the use for the kingdom?Blessings and happy water drinking!!

 

We don't think about it - really. On the way to work, we swing by our favorite coffee shop to grab that jolt to get us started. After a workout, we slurp a blended fruit smoothie to sustain us. In the evening, we get together with friends over beverages to celebrate the end of another day.

What if we didn't have those choices? What if water was the only option to sustain us? And what if we had to walk miles to get water - only to have a water source that is contaminated and full of disease?

Choose to make tap water your only beverage for 40 Days between March 9 - April 23 to help Blood:Water Mission provide clean water for people in Africa who don't have a choice.

By giving up what you'd normally drink in exchange for the water from your tap you can save that money to help build clean water projects for communities in Uganda.

So ditch the morning coffee and o.j., leave out the lunchtime soda, and cancel the evening beverage. You won't need an ark for this 40 Days of Water, but you will need a little self-discipline and maybe a few friends to join you. But we know you can do it, because you know who you're doing it for. Make the choice.


Check back soon for more info and how to sign up!

***So why is Forty Days actually 46 days long?
Forty Days follows the traditional Lenten season calendar which consist of 40 fast days and 6 sabbath rest days. So essentially you get one day a week off, most people take Sunday off. How you choose to observe Forty Days is up to you.

Can you feel the love?

A recent episode of Anderson Cooper sparked a debate on Facebook; before I get bombarded with comments, let me say that I'm not saying that the debate was in any way wrong nor am I taking sides; the whole thing just got me thinking and fired up about a completely different issue than what was being debated. So, if you were one of the people involved in the debate and are reading this, please feel nothing but my love... no hate going on here!

The (horrible) episode was about the children of working moms verses the children of stay at home moms and as we all know, this is an age old debate. On this episode, working mothers were calling stay at home moms lazy; which is far from reality and completely uncalled for; and is what made a lot of stay at home moms angry. However, what gets my blood running hot is when mothers put other mothers down; in this case it was the working moms putting down the stay at home moms but let's face it, the shoe has been on the other foot more times than we care to recognize. Here are just a few of the (misguided) stereotypes from each side of the fence: SAHM are lazy, incompetent, moochers, bon bon eaters, and they are heavier in weight. WM are withdrawn workaholics who only care about themselves, their careers, and getting rich. These are just a few; you know there are many more out there. Let's face it, I don't care which side of the fence any of us reside (I have lived on both) we all work our tail ends off to provide for and meet the needs of our family, we go to bed exhausted, we feel guilty whenever we are away from them no matter what the reason, and our to do lists are never ending!!

The debates span way beyond this argument into how we raise our children. On a schedule, not on a schedule, what they eat, what they don't eat, how they are disciplined, and how they don't have any discipline. I am a Babywise Mommy, I had Eli on a schedule, I don't allow him to drink soft drinks, sweet tea, or even juice because I don't think that he needs the added sugar especially since I have a family history of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. This is what works for our family, I don't ask that you embrace it, but I ask that you respect it. I have a very good friend who is a doctor as well as her husband. Their children aren't on a schedule because if they were, they would never see them. I understand and respect their style because it's what works for them and their children are thriving. A close friend of mine has a saying that I love, "different isn't better or worse, it's just different."

All that being said, doesn't society and the media beat us up enough? We can't pass a magazine stand without seeing how we should be thinner, eat healthier, cook better, child rear more appropriately, work a full time job, chase our dreams, stay at home with the kids, be a craft diva, dress more stylish, be more organized, and after we have done all of the above still make time for an AMAZING love life!! Does anyone feel encouraged after reading an edition of Cosmo? I don't, I feel like my to do list gets longer!! SO, why in this crazy, hectic world where we are bombarded with what we're doing wrong and how we could do everything better do we attack each other? As women, we should ban together and say, "girlfriend, you're an amazing person! You're doing a great job raising your family, or You're awesome at your job and you are a great Mom!" All mothers have a common goal, to raise happy, healthy, well-adjusted children, if our fellow mothers are meeting that goal and are still sane, I say 2 thumbs up!! Amen?

Refer a Friend - Fastweb

Refer a Friend - Fastweb

Need money for college? Fastweb is a great way to find it!! Plus if you register, I am entered to win $500.00 so please do it for me!! Thanks!! ~Katie

New Year ~ New Perspective ~ Fresh Start

I love a new year!! In my mind, I know that it's just another day with a new number on the end of the date but something deep inside of my heart gets excited that it's a brand new year, a full 12 months, without blemish and full of possibilities!! I decided that this year instead of making resolutions I would make a 2012 bucket list. I have had it with seeing a new year come and go without doing any of the things that I set out to do and feeling no different than the year before. I want to live a life of purpose and to do that, I have to live each day... each moment on purpose!! As I began to think on these things, I was reminded of the "big rocks" in my life; in other words, the big priorities in my life, God, Tommy (our marriage), Eli, my health and fitness, school, Mary Kay, church work, close friends, and finances. If I am going to live a life of purpose, that's where I have to start!! On to my bucket list, I looked at all the big rocks and thought of what I would like to do to enhance these areas of my life, to make them count, and that's how my bucket list came to be! I have organized my bucket list into 9 categories AKA the 9 big rocks... here is what I plan to look at everyday and cross things off as I do them, and look back at on December 31, 2012 and say, you did it, GLORY TO GOD!!

2012 Bucket List:

Big Rock #1 - God
1. Read the entire Bible
2. Have at least 30 minutes of quiet time everyday (prayer and Bible study)
3. Ask God to show me where I can help others and be intentional about sharing the salvation message!!
4. Find a way to feed hungry people (don't know what this looks like but it's weighing on my heart)
Big Rock #2- Tommy (our marriage)
5. 365 days of notes (simple I love you or I appreciate you because... written on a post note)
6. Daily Check in/ devotional time (no phones, no television, after the munchkin is asleep!)
7. Monthly hot date!
8. 2 night camping trip (just the two of us)
Big Rock #3- Eli
9. 1 hour of outside time each day that I don't have school
10. Daily devotional time with the God and Me book I gave him for Christmas
11. Research and enroll Eli in a pre k 2 year old program
12. Take a trip to the ATL Aquariaum and Zoo
13. Visit WA once per week (when they are open)
Big Rock #4- Health and Fitness
14. Lose 75 pounds
15. 30 minutes of exercise 5 times per week
16. Walk in the Boston mini marathon
17. Take 1 hr for myself each week
18. Give up Diet Coke
Big Rock #5- School
19. Finish all classes that I register for
20. Maintain a 3.0 GPA
Big Rock #6- Mary Kay
21. Become a star consultant
21. Earn a red jacket
Big Rock #7- Church Work
22. Complete Lay Speaker Certification
23. Complete The Christian as a Minister
24. Continue to embrace the role of pastor's wife
Big Rock #8- Close Friends
25. Stay connected via e mail and facebook
26. Stay involved in weekly Bible Study
Big Rock #9- Finances
27. Pay off credit card
28. Pay off hospital bill
29. sell Tahoe
30. Learn to coupon
MISC
31. Read 6 books

Happy New Year Everyone!! May your year be filled with blessings and be lived out on purpose!!

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!