So, there I was... barely 18 years old, fresh out of high school, and in just a few short hours I would become a wife. His wife. Mrs. Tommy Odum. I had promised myself that I wouldn't fall for a guy from my hometown, I was convinced that if I married a guy from Cairo that I would forever be stuck there and never fulfill the plans that God had for me... (boy was I wrong). I was also convinced that I would marry at 22, after college... my plans went ary! But there I stood, all alone in the front of that church, in a beautiful white gown and ballet slippers, praying down God's richest blessings... I remember my prayer that day, I remember vowing to serve Him, asking Him for guidance, and begging him to fill in the gap for me since I truly had no idea what I was doing as a WIFE. I treasure that sweet time alone with the Lord prior to saying, "I do", people were rushing me to be here and be there but that time was of upmost importance.
A few short hours later, I stood there with my love and vowed to love him, to respect him, to honor him, and to be loyal to him. He promised me the same. I knew that we were making the right decision, I knew that God had brought us together, I knew that this was it!
Fast forward 12 years... boy am I glad that I said yes to that man, that I said yes to God even when it went against my own plan. We have had our fair share of ups and downs. We have stumbled, a lot. We have not always been the best example of a godly couple or a godly marriage. We have yelled, said terrible things that cut deep, and many times we have thought it would be easier if we just gave up. BUT... two things have remained true and kept us going. 1. We have always known Christ and His love for us. We have always known the deepest of our core that Tommy and Katie are truly "BETTER TOGETHER" than we ever were or ever could be a part. 2. We have always had a deep love for each other... even when we have been angry or hurt or gone through a hard time, God has blessed us with a love that just wouldn't die. I'm so thankful to be able to honestly write that I still get butterflies sometimes when I think about that man, my man. Butterflies, ya'll...! I'm 30 years old and I've been loving that boy for over 13 years, I've picked up his dirty socks off the floor for 12 of those years now, and I've mothered 3 children and I still get BUTTERFLIES in my stomach over that man. That is a BLESSING.
We have had to learn a lot the hard way but I want to thank a few people who have inspired us in ways that they probably never knew, that gave us truths to hold onto when the rubber met the road.
Jody Hughes, your name comes to my mind often, especially in a rough time... you gave me a card the day before our wedding that read, "love is a choice, not a feeling. you have to choose to love". That sounds like such a simple truth but it's a truth I've clung too when I didn't feel much like loving... it has kept me going when I felt that I was failing as a wife... I have made the choice to love. The amazing part is that I've often been blessed with the feeling after making the choice. Thank you for teaching me that.
Mom and Dad (Laura and Larry), thanks for showing us what it looks like to go the distance... our love may not look like yours, we may not do it the way you do it, but we have learned a lot from how you love each other and how you fight for one another. And, thanks for paying for our wedding and encouraging us to start out life together even when we were scared. Also, thank you for being amazing grandparents to our little people.
Granny and Papa (Jackie and Tom) who celebrate 60 years this year... wow, what shoulders to stand on.
Don and Brenda Adams, ya'll have been a couple we have watched from afar during our time in the ministry. Over these last 5 years, I have watched you, a ministry wife, and tried to glean from your spiritual strength, your poise, and your grace. I have heard Jennifer Cowart make the statement "think about what she will be like in 30 years and chip everything else away"... she was speaking about parenting but I think it applies in a lot of areas. Tommy and I can look at you and Don and say, if we want to have that kind of ministry, that kind of marriage when it comes time for us to retire... we need to chip some other things away.
Lastly, thank you to all the people who didn't think we would make it. Yes, that sounds odd but if truth be told, in the early years, you kept us going!!! We wanted to prove you wrong... I'm not saying that's holy... but it's truth! Thank you for the challenge.
Tommy Odum, I love you with a love that words cannot describe. I'm so thankful for the life we have together... it's better than I imagined. You are my knight in shining armor, my darling. I thank God for you. I couldn't have picked a better man to do life with or a better father for our little ones. Thank you for a dozen years... we've learned some hard lessons but I know we have slain some dragons that we won't have to fight again... and maybe just maybe our children won't have to fight them either. I'm so excited to see what adventures are waiting for us in the next 12 years. Happy Anniversary!
A few short hours later, I stood there with my love and vowed to love him, to respect him, to honor him, and to be loyal to him. He promised me the same. I knew that we were making the right decision, I knew that God had brought us together, I knew that this was it!
Fast forward 12 years... boy am I glad that I said yes to that man, that I said yes to God even when it went against my own plan. We have had our fair share of ups and downs. We have stumbled, a lot. We have not always been the best example of a godly couple or a godly marriage. We have yelled, said terrible things that cut deep, and many times we have thought it would be easier if we just gave up. BUT... two things have remained true and kept us going. 1. We have always known Christ and His love for us. We have always known the deepest of our core that Tommy and Katie are truly "BETTER TOGETHER" than we ever were or ever could be a part. 2. We have always had a deep love for each other... even when we have been angry or hurt or gone through a hard time, God has blessed us with a love that just wouldn't die. I'm so thankful to be able to honestly write that I still get butterflies sometimes when I think about that man, my man. Butterflies, ya'll...! I'm 30 years old and I've been loving that boy for over 13 years, I've picked up his dirty socks off the floor for 12 of those years now, and I've mothered 3 children and I still get BUTTERFLIES in my stomach over that man. That is a BLESSING.
We have had to learn a lot the hard way but I want to thank a few people who have inspired us in ways that they probably never knew, that gave us truths to hold onto when the rubber met the road.
Jody Hughes, your name comes to my mind often, especially in a rough time... you gave me a card the day before our wedding that read, "love is a choice, not a feeling. you have to choose to love". That sounds like such a simple truth but it's a truth I've clung too when I didn't feel much like loving... it has kept me going when I felt that I was failing as a wife... I have made the choice to love. The amazing part is that I've often been blessed with the feeling after making the choice. Thank you for teaching me that.
Mom and Dad (Laura and Larry), thanks for showing us what it looks like to go the distance... our love may not look like yours, we may not do it the way you do it, but we have learned a lot from how you love each other and how you fight for one another. And, thanks for paying for our wedding and encouraging us to start out life together even when we were scared. Also, thank you for being amazing grandparents to our little people.
Granny and Papa (Jackie and Tom) who celebrate 60 years this year... wow, what shoulders to stand on.
Don and Brenda Adams, ya'll have been a couple we have watched from afar during our time in the ministry. Over these last 5 years, I have watched you, a ministry wife, and tried to glean from your spiritual strength, your poise, and your grace. I have heard Jennifer Cowart make the statement "think about what she will be like in 30 years and chip everything else away"... she was speaking about parenting but I think it applies in a lot of areas. Tommy and I can look at you and Don and say, if we want to have that kind of ministry, that kind of marriage when it comes time for us to retire... we need to chip some other things away.
Lastly, thank you to all the people who didn't think we would make it. Yes, that sounds odd but if truth be told, in the early years, you kept us going!!! We wanted to prove you wrong... I'm not saying that's holy... but it's truth! Thank you for the challenge.
Tommy Odum, I love you with a love that words cannot describe. I'm so thankful for the life we have together... it's better than I imagined. You are my knight in shining armor, my darling. I thank God for you. I couldn't have picked a better man to do life with or a better father for our little ones. Thank you for a dozen years... we've learned some hard lessons but I know we have slain some dragons that we won't have to fight again... and maybe just maybe our children won't have to fight them either. I'm so excited to see what adventures are waiting for us in the next 12 years. Happy Anniversary!
I've so enjoyed reading this beautiful story, of the beginning of you and Tommy. What a true love store it is,you have been abundantly blessed and highly favored. Amazing couple.... I have a special love with uncle David, he is my whole heart. GBU!
ReplyDelete