PCS Bobcats!

Carter, Summer, and Tilly are all enrolled in PCS, Presbyterian Christian School, in Hattiesburg.  They love school so much, which is such an encouragement to my heart.  It was homecoming week at PCS which meant, this was a week of firsts for our family, first spirit weeks and first parades, that is! And boy did the children LOVE it!  If they love high school and college homecoming parades, can you imagine what they will think about Mardi Gras? I know!  

Wednesday, I loaded up these three cuties and took them to the PCS homecoming parade, and we had so much fun!  Tilly and Summer loved the cheerleaders.  I think everyone down the street could hear Tilly when she yelled, "Mommy!  Here come the cheerleaders!"  So sweet!  

Here's the Bobcat, Boomer, I think is his name.  Tilly was not a fan of him.  She hid behind me until he was way out of sight.  I don't know what it is about mascots, but she is not a fan. At. All.  

We are making so many memories already as a family in our new city, and we just love it.  We live right in the middle of everything, and that is so much fun!  

USM Homecoming!

Our family is all about making memories where we are, and today, we did just that!  We headed down Hardy Street towards downtown Hattiesburg about 930 this morning to get ready for the USM Homecoming Parade.  

The big 3 were so excited, as they had been to their first parade earlier in the week (another post later this week, sorry out of order!).  

Little bit did not know what to think, she just sat wide eyed with her lovey, until we gave her a sucker that is, and she was in heaven!  I went to parades lots as a child, so it was very exciting for me to take my children.  Growing up, we always went to the Ogeechee Fair Parade in Statesboro, and many a times in March, we went to the St. Patrick's parade in Savannah.  

The policemen got the party started right on time.  

Here is the President of University of Southern Mississippi.  I couldn't catch her looking our way.  

The cheerleaders, my girls' personal favorite.  It wasn't long before Carter, Summer, and Tilly were shouting, "throw me some beads!"  Or, "throw me some candy!"  It was so much fun to watch their little faces and join in with their excitement.  

Summer wearing all of her beads at one time.  

Tilly with her beads.  

What a fun morning that turned into a fun day.  David and Carter went out to tend some land he and some other church members will use once hunting season begins, and the girls and I stayed home.  We painted our fingers and toes, watched Angelina Ballerina, took naps, and enjoyed being together.  So thankful for these sweet memories we are already making in our new city.  Tomorrow is a big day, our first Sunday at our new church!  I'm looking forward to hearing the new preacher at Hardy Street Baptist Church!

The big easy!

Last weekend, our party of six hit the road to one of our most favorite places, New Orleans!  It was a year ago this time, we were there for David to defend his doctoral project.  Going back this time was way less stressful with the exception of trying to keep up with all of our little people, ha!  They were troopers.  

Friday night, we wanted to eat at New Orleans' Food & Spirits, David's favorite restaurant, but it was slammed, so we opted for Deanies, which is loud and fast, ha!  We enjoyed fried shrimp, po boys, and seafood pizza.  

For dessert we hit up one of our NOLA favorites.  There was not one close to our home in Georgia, but we have one right down the road in Mississippi, so we have to practice saying no daily!  

Here is Story saying "cheese" for the camera, love it!  PS how cute does she look in her flare leg jeans?

Love these two!  So. Much. 

I told you she was good.  Any time the camera is out, she looks at you and says cheese, mouth full and all.  

I love Tilly's look of pure delight.  

Saturday morning, we hit up the french quarter.  Cafe du Monde was packed, lined up around the corner, so after a quick breakfast at McDonald's we walked around.  

I snapped a few pictures of St. Louis Cathedral, isn't it stunning?  We couldn't figure out why, but New Orleans was really crowded last weekend.  The Saints weren't even playing at home.  Maybe a lot of people were on Fall Break, who knows!

For lunch, we got po boys at Crabby Jacks, another favorite.  

After lunch, we took the children to the playground on the seminary campus to burn off some energy before naptime.  

Love these four!  

We ate at Voo Doo BBQ for supper.  The last time we ate here was after David had graduated the first time from NOBTS with his MDiv.  It was fun to go back with our four.  

Can you guess where we went after supper?  Sno Balls, just down the road from where we lived.  

Saturday night around 8:00, we finally got into this place.  This was our third time to try.  You can't go to NOLA without going here, can you?  We don't think so!  I promise we did more than just eat, well maybe not, ha!  New Orleans is such a special place for our family, and we loved being able to go there last weekend.  How special that the Lord saw fit to move so close to this place where we felt so very close to Him!  

So long, Austell! Hello, Hattiesburg!

 The day before we hit the road, we wanted to take one last picture of the children at our home on Brooks Drive.  We lived in this house for 3 years, and brought home Tilly and Story from the hospital to this home.  So, it's kind of special.  Three of our four children learned to walk in this home, three of the four were potty trained in this home, two of the four learned their letters and sounds in this home, one learned to read in this home, four of them filled the halls with their laughter and footsteps, and for that we will certainly miss Brooks Drive.  

 Carter and Summer are so obedient to look at the camera and smile.  Tilly, is it really that bad?  Story has learned to say cheese whenever I take out the camera, and it's so cute!  

One last picture a little further away.  I am thankful for our time in this home and the memories made there.  I am excited for the next chapter of our family's story, and I am eternally thankful that home is wherever the six of us are, so the address really does not matter.  

Wordless Wednesday.

Frank and Shirley.

We left behind some very special friends when we moved. That's part of it right. Part of being obedient and following after God's will for your life.  Mr. Frank and Mrs. Shirley (Tilly says their name FrankandShirley, all together, it's so cute!) are some very special friends.  This is a picture of our last time with them before the move.  As the usual goes, we met at our favorite eating stop and had supper.  We have been doing this ever since we moved to Austell, before Tilly or Story were even a thought on our brains.  Aren't they brave to take on all of us, especially now that there are six of us?  I think so, and they do it with such grace and patience.  I love this picture of them walking to their car, hand in hand.  It makes me look forward to growing old with David.  I sure hope we can bless the socks off some young family, just as they have done for us.  

Rowell, party of six.

So, I have a lot of catching up to do.

We still don't have internet at home, something about the modem.  But, we are mooching off someone's wireless.  Is that stealing?  I would gladly pay them if I knew where it was coming from, ha!  The week before we left Atlanta, I got to spend a lot of sweet time with friends.  One dear friend, Wendy (one of my roommates from college), came over to see me, and she brought this precious bundle of love with her.  Lincoln Justice Rowell, fourth son to my dear friend.  I gladly welcome her to life as a party of six!  Lincoln was born while we were in Hattiesburg for a visit back in August, so I sadly missed his birth.  Oh, how thankful I was to have finally met this little guy.  I was even more thankful to spend some sweet time with his precious mommy.  

Thank you, sweet friend, for coming to spend some time with me.  It blessed my heart more than you will ever know.  Thank you, Lincoln, for letting me hold you and love on you!  I hope to do it again real soon before you grow up too fast and think you're too cool for sugars.  

Our first week.

Our first week in Mississippi has been wonderful. I have a full blog post coming soon with all the wonderful details. Let's just say it involves new schools, karate, corn, Awana, UGA, my new best friend - #gps, and Hardy Street. Lots going on for our party of six! The only pictures I have access to right now are on my phone. Here's a picture of our new church taken last night. I just love the big steeple against the bright, blue sky. One of my dear friends made this comment about my picture: here's the church, here's the steeple, open the doors, and see all the O'Dells!

And this picture is mainly for the grandparents. My mom lets me know when I've taken too long to post pictures of our main attractions. One of the four's not bad, right?

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Moving day.

Early Thursday morning this big truck showed up at our house. The two gentlemen got our entire house boxed up in a day. Oh how thankful we are for their help!

This morning they came to load it up. How surreal it is to walk through our almost empty house. Several sweet friends have stopped by to check out the progress and visit.

It's hard to believe that in just two more days we will depart for Hattiesburg and begin a new journey with our party of six. We are thankful for our time here, for we have learned a lot. We are excited about what is next for our family, for we are hopeful to draw closer to the One who knows our every step.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Girls' night out!

This week has been full of sweet, sweet moments with some very special people, and it ain't over yet!  Our new church in Hattiesburg has given us a huge gift, and I doubt they even know it.  They provided the gift of movers to pack all of our stuff.  What!  It has been such a gift.  Mostly, because we get to do the more important thing.  Be with people.  Every day and night this week, we have had time to spend with special people in our lives, and I have loved it!  I haven't had to worry about packing boxes with lots of little ones underfoot, and it has been the sweetest gift to just be with people I love.  

Monday night was the first of many get togethers this week, and it ranks up there with one of the funnest nights I've ever had with friends.  My precious friends from college planned a surprise get together at the Cheesecake Factory in Atlanta.  It was the most fun!  At the end of the night, my cheeks hurt from laughing so much!  What fun!  Here I am with two of my roommates from college, and I will certainly miss doing life with these ladies.  

Here's the group of us after supper and yummy dessert.  It was awesome because my all time favorite cheesecake is seasonal, and they only carry it in the fall and winter months, pumpkin pecan cheesecake.  It's all the yummy gooeyness of a pecan pie on top and underneath pumpkin cheesecake.  One word, ohmygoodness!

I added this picture for the memory.  You will notice my friend, Julie, is cutting her eyes in the other direction.  It's because we put my camera on self-timer, and there was a lady standing there who was not happy with us for having to wait!  

We totally did the wedding thing where we all took pictures together.  This is my precious friend, Christina.  We met the summer before my freshman year at UGA on Chrysalis, which is a youth retreat I went on in Savannah.  She was one of the workers that weekend, and we just really hit it off.  That fall, when I got to Georgia, she just really ministered to my heart and took me under her wing for the entire year.  My first day of classes, she waited on me outside every class, and showed me where to go next, what a labor of love!  The campus is huge, and the bus system is overwhelming, so I was forever grateful.  We have remained friends over the years, and it's like she knows when I need a friend, and she calls or texts at just the right time.  Love her.  

This is my sweet friend, Twila.  Oh, how I love her!  Look at that smile.  Twila and I met my freshman year, her sophomore year.  One of my favorite memories is going to her parent's house for Christmas parties.  The Ellisons know how to throw down for sure.  Her sweet momma went home to be with Jesus this year, and my heart just aches for my friend and her family.  Twila's smile is the same as her mother's, so I feel like I'm seeing Mrs. E. every time I see Twila smile.  

Wendy.  We lived together for 3 years at UGA.  I met Wendy in the fall of my freshman year at BSU, now BCM.  Do you ever just meet someone and think, I really want to be her friend?  That's Wendy.  I knew the instant I met her that we would be forever friends, and I'm so thankful we are.  She has been at the hospital when all 4 of my children have been born.  Wendy just had her fourth little boy last month, and I got to meet him this week, too!  Don't worry, there's a post just for him coming.  

Julie.  We met my Freshman year and spent lots of time together traveling to see the dawgs play.  I have so many fun memories of away games with Julie.  Something special about her, Julie's brother went to college in Hattiesburg and played football at USM (University of Southern Mississippi).  Now, it's my understanding that one cannot live in Hattiesburg and not cheer for USM, so my sweet friend got her parents to get me and my family our very own tailgating cups! So precious!

Kristy.  I'm not sure which year we met in college, but I have a couple of memories that involve this precious girl.  She can sing.  Oh, how she can sing.  It's amazing how someone so little can produce such big notes!  Kristy ministered to my heart when Tilly went through her surgery at 3 months.  She prayed for me and sent me regular encouraging emails and messages during that season of uncertainty.  Kristy and her husband, Keith, have 3 A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E girls from Guatemala.  

Mary Katherine.  I met her Freshman year when she was at another SEC school, which I'm unable to type, but we are so thankful that she got right with the Lord and left her war eagle days behind to call the dawgs.  Wendy introduced the two of us, and we lived together for 3 years at UGA.  I was friends with Mary Katherine's husband, Trent, before her, so I just love her whole family dearly.  She is a constant encouragement to me, and it will be hard knowing that she's not just down the road.  Thank goodness for cell phones!  

Christina and Twila.  

Wordless Wednesday.

Amazing grace.

This week has been a whirlwind of getting ready to start our life in a new place, saying goodbye to friends and family, and trying to keep our routine as normal as possible for the sake of the children.  Oh the emotions I am experiencing!  I have many blog posts running through my mind of things I want to remember.  Sunday is a day I never want to forget.  I had the blessing of worshiping with my mom, grandmother, sister's family, and a dear, dear friend.  My pew was packed; it was awesome!  

I knew it would be an emotional day saying goodbye to my family, but I was not prepared.  The very first song we sang Sunday morning was Amazing Grace.   What a sweet song, with so many memories attached to it.  I was standing beside my grandmother worshiping, when I realized that she was crying.  And she never cries.  Never.  The last time I remember her crying was when I moved away to Arkansas.  For the remainder of the song, I held her hand, rubbed her gnarled fingers with my own, and listened to the words of the song, unable to sing only to stand in silent worship.  I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life.  Isn't that how it's going to be in heaven?  Worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with family and loved ones.  Oh, how I long for that day!  

Somehow, we made it through the rest of the songs.  In fact, I couldn't even tell you what they were.  I was just ever aware of this special time of worshiping with my mom, grandmother, sister, and friend.  I don't know if I will ever get the chance to worship with all of them this side of heaven again, and that's okay.  It's okay because there is the hope of something more and there's a peace that accompanies that hope.  Until then, I am so very grateful for a time to worship with my family once more before we move. 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Calling.

For those of us who are believers, most things in life come down to a calling, at least I have found that to be true for me.  I was called to Him, called to be a bulldawg, called to be a teacher, called to be a wife, called to be a mom, called to serve, called to love, called to ministry.  On September 23, 1997, David was called to ministry.  After David and I had been married for just a couple of years, God clearly called us to leave our current ministry position in Marmaduke, Arkansas.  He didn't really tell us where He wanted us to go either, so we moved in with my mom for a few months (gasp - it really wasn't that bad, she's pretty cool) until we left for MFUGE in Nashville.  While we were there, God clearly called us to seminary and not just any seminary, but New Orleans Seminary.  Here's what you need to know.  We did not want to go to seminary, and if we went to seminary, we did not want to go to seminary in New Orleans.  Here's something else that might be new information to you, God has a serious sense of humor!  Don't you love that about Him?  I love to think of Him laughing with me and even at me, sometimes.  Here's the thing, too.  He knows better than us, doesn't He?  Why do I know this?  Because we loved, I mean we really loved New Orleans and seminary.  Loved it!  After leaving seminary, God called us to Atlanta, where David served as a MIR (minister in resident, kind of like a doctor, but not really) at First Baptist Atlanta.   After that one year internship, He called us to Sandy Plains Baptist Church and from there, He called us to First Baptist Church Austell.  After being at First Baptist Austell for almost four years, the Lord has once again called us.  To this place.  

Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  

My only recollection of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, prior to this summer was traveling through there from Arkansas to the beach.  I'm hoping we get to see lots of friends who make that same trek each summer once we become residents. I digress. Last spring, David was contacted by a church in Hattiesburg.  Two weekends ago, David was called to be their senior pastor.  What an honor!  So, our party of six, will move a week from today from our home in Austell to our new home in Hattiesburg.  

We will be welcomed by our new church family at Hardy Street Baptist Church officially on Sunday, October 23, my grandmother's birthday.  One thing about when God calls you is that if you love Him and desire to obey Him, you have to answer that call.  Sometimes, answering a call means change and saying good-bye to people you love, but it also means the hope of something new and peace in having an obedient heart.  We are humbled by this newest calling He has placed on our family, and yet, we are confident He will be with us every single step of the way.  He promised.  

"The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."

1 Thessalonians 5:24