Carpe Diem. She taught me this through her actions.

My mother, somehow, managed to do it all and do it all with style. As I reflect on my childhood and the lessons she taught me, my mind floods with memories.  One lesson stands above the others and I see now, more than ever, how it has become a way of life for me.

A little background- Mom was the principal of the public kindergarten in Ozark. Somehow she pulled off a full day of managing 300 five year old kids plus employees, and a hot dinner each night, not to mention killer birthday parties. Everything she did, and continues to do is above and beyond. If you’re wondering what the word “maximize” means… spend a day with Debby. She’ll show you ways to maximize an hour, a closet, a trip and a meal in ways you never thought possible. It’s really quite impressive.

Example of a 1950's double birthday party with Caroline Carroll Flowers:

It’s strange how I can hear her voice in my head when faced with a situation. If it’s a rough patch “this too shall pass,” if I feel as though I’ve been wronged “kill ‘em with kindness,” if I use a coupon “a penny saved is a penny earned,” and the list goes on.  The big lesson of living life to its fullest came from a bundle of other lessons and a childhood full of endless encouragement.

The lessons she taught me began at an early age. I am going to attempt to share with you this “bundle” of lessons that have helped me to seize the day each day and lessons that are a part of my core being thanks to mommy dearest. 

Be positive- Your attitude affects your outcome.

It’s a big world- Thinking big will lead you to incredible opportunities. Don’t settle.

Life’s more interesting if you never meet a stranger-  My mother NEVER meets a stranger. She’ll tell you to talk to people. You never know what you might learn.

Take pride in your work and prepare- Your work is a reflection of you.

You never know until you ask- what’s the worst that will happen if you do ask? Usually it’s not all that bad and worth the risk.

You can do anything you set your mind to- Have goals and create your path.

Don’t let fear slow you down- We all have doubts, but you can’t let them rule your life.

I can remember my mother by my side, teaching me these lessons through high school and college as the opportunity to share was presented. She knew that experience was the best teacher and encouraged me to take part in an array of activities and to seize each opportunity.  Some opportunities come to you. Others, you have to hunt down. Each one will add to your life, even the failures. Take from them, learn from them and keep the faith.  That is living.

When John and I were faced with the opportunity to turn our lives upside-down, move from Mobile, live homeless for three months unsure of what we would next call home, this mentality, like clockwork, sprang into action. The risk and the intense unknown could not hold down my desire to take on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I jumped on board with John, who happens to share this mentality.

Thanks to mom’s lessons, adapting to life as a Texan has been quite exciting. I’m not sure I knew how to handle all the opportunities that seemed to be at my fingertips, besides embracing them. Take a look-

1. ICE SKATING
About half a mile down the road is an ice skating rink. I checked it out online and found adult classes. I was immediately intrigued. For nine weeks John and I would attend our ice skating class. (He's quite the team player!) It was very challenging, but very fun! Watch out Kristi Yamaguchi.

This is Kurt Pratka- cutting board maker. In the short time I've known them, they realized that I am sometimes a bit apprehensive to get dirty... against my own will I ended up with mud on my face!

8. CHURCH
John and I have started attending the First Baptist Church of Houston on Sundays we are in town. Each time is an experience. Praise and worship with a room full of believers is just impossible for me to describe. I feel blessed to be able to attend!

9. BUBBA'S BURGER SHACK- HOME OF THE BUFFALO BURGER
Shack is no understatement. My first buffalo burger experience happened here and we've been back twice. It taste good and it's better for you. :)

10. TEXAS FASHION
The flowey arm shirts, belts, bedazzles, boots, and denim shorts are all new wardrobe items since living in Texas. Bloom where you're planted!

These are my cowgirl boots made of Python. Serious stuff!!

Bedazzled blue jeans are a must here. Did I miss this trend in Alabama or is it mainly a Texas thing?

All of this to say THANK YOU MOM!! Thanks for teaching me to roll with the punches and experience life for all the amazing things it has to offer. I am grateful to you for the endless amounts of support and encouragement along the way. You're an inspiration and I love you.

You've heard me talk about Beth Moore. This was part of her blog post on Sunday and I feel compelled to share it with you.

What a spirit of celebration! I know that Christ is joyful when we take delight in Him- especially on such a special occasion- His Resurrection!

Having the opportunity to work for yourself has some amazing benefits. The down side is that it is much more challenging to separate yourself from the work and simply relax. We spent the entire day Sunday outside- away from cell phones and lap tops. It was AMAZING.

The day started (as all of our days do) with a cup of coffee. I rarely make breakfast, but decided this would be a good occasion for a treat. I made Overnight Blueberry French Toast, a recipe I found and now have pinned on my Pinterest page. It is certainly a keeper and I will be making it again!

We jumped in the car and it was off to Houston's First Baptist Church. I knew it was going to be crowded so we arrived 45 minutes early. This is what I mean when I say crowded...

This is the congregation from one of four services held Sunday.

The message was wonderful, but WOW. The music was the best. Here you can see the 200+ member choir. Below them is a full orchestra. AMAZING!

Great media effects to compliment the music. The verse show here is Romans 8:37-40.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AMEN!

And yes... I snuck a camera in church... :)

From there John and I headed a few miles down the road to Memorial Park where we had an 11:30 appointment with a tennis court. I don't know all the rules, and a fly ball isn't uncommon, but we always have a great time!

Then is was time to picnic! We drove back to Sugar Land to Oyster Creek Park. We claimed out a spot under a tree, laid our blanket, unloaded our ice chest and dug in! Our menu would not have been complete without a Quattlebaum family favorite, a Tatum family favorite, something Mexican, an Auburn touch, and a flavored sweet tea!

MENU:
Debby Quattlebaum's Pickled Okra-Ham Rolls
Lynn Tatum's Potato Salad
Mexican Layered Dip
Turkey Wraps (an attempt at duplicating Auburn's Amsterdam Cafe's version)
Razzleberry Tea

It was delicious!!!

The rest of the afternoon consisted of napping in the shade, frizbee throwing, Pandora listening (Van Morrison Station), people watching and just good R&R. It was the perfect day to be outside!

We left about 3:30 so that we could watch the end of the Masters. We weren't ready to go inside- so we watched a live stream from www.Masters.com by the pool at our apartment.

Five years ago, on Easter weekend, John proposed to me in Central Park. It's amazing to see where life has taken us in these years together! We are truly fortunate to have one another and to have such an amazing support system of friends and family. We are blessed!

So we didn’t go around the world- but if you had been a fellow passenger these past couple of weeks, you’d find that our comparison isn’t totally off base.

Here’s the rundown on our 2,089 mile trip:

The journey began 6 a.m., Thursday, March 8 when we pulled out of Sugar Land. Destination Ozark, AL came about 5:30 p.m. and lasted through Sunday. During our time in the wiregrass- we met with a couple of stores and have two new dealers of Tin Roof Cutting Boards. The Flower Shoppe in downtown Ozark and Pure Imagination in Enterprise. Check ‘em out!

Saturday morning John and I joined hundreds gathered in Troy Alabama to run in memory of two precious lives- my classmate Brittany Shepard Pugh and her sweet son Shep. Both were tragically taken from this world  in a car accident a year ago. While the pain of this tragedy lingers, fellow friends and spouses joined with Brittany's family to honor and celebrate their beautiful lives.

Saturday evening, John and I, along with my parents attended the wedding of long time family friend David Smith and his beautiful bride. While I’ve known David my whole life, John quickly found a friend in him at Auburn University. David was a friend of Aubie during his time on the plains and in 2006 John and I were able to share with David and others in an amazing weekend in Orlando to see Aubie chase down yet another National Championship.

Needless to say- this reception would not have been complete without an appearance from Aubie himself!

We had a great time visiting with dear college friends!

Sunday afternoon, John and I headed to my parents condo in Bay Point with our traditional stop for two lotto tickets.

I am sad to report that although I kissed the tickets for good luck, we did not win.

A few days of work in the quiet was good to get in before our journey to Orange Beach with John’s brother, sister-in-law, their sweet daughters (Anslee and Leila) and John’s parents. I was taken back to my childhood as I watched Anslee and her friend pick out fun new sunglasses, get hair wraps and make friendship bracelets.

The next few days consisted of a boys fishing trip, boat rides, great meals and good times!

Entertainment provided by Charmoin's Dad!

A beautiful walk on the beach!

Sounds like the story should end here right? I gotta tell you this is only the half way mark!  As everyone packed up Sunday to prepare for the week ahead, John and I stuck behind. I joined the Junior League of Mobile last year and had one last meeting requirement Tuesday night to complete my first year and officially become a “member.” I can now transfer my membership to other Junior Leagues across the country and I am looking into the Houston chapter. I have been blown away with the Junior League of Mobile and what these women are capable of doing strictly through volunteerism. AMAZING!

I went to my meeting, John ran a few errands and it was off to Opelika at 7:30 Tuesday night.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent working and visiting. We got our third dealer in Opelika, AL at the Gallery on Railroad. Awesome store with such unique pieces. Be sure to stop by if you are in the area!

We were also able to see the new “Railroad Creamery” ice cream shop in downtown Opelika. John’s brother and wife are part owners and looking forward to opening the doors very soon!

Next stop: Birmingham. My sister, Christen is officially Dr. Quattlebaum  and a practicing dentist. I went to her office, had my teeth cleaned and she checked me out. Happy to report- I’ve got healthy teeth!

My brother, his wife and my sister live in Birmingham along with several members of my mom’s side of the family- the Fergusons. My dear Mamaw had a bad fall a couple of months ago breaking her shoulder in three places AND her leg right behind her knee. Talk about a scare! She has been in a rehabilitation center since working her way to recovery.

We all met up to visit her Thursday to help her celebrate her 93rd birthday. Words cannot express my admiration for this woman. She has such a spark for life and a determination to overcome all obstacles.

Mamaw told us of the friends she had made and how everyone in the building was now calling her “Fergie.” It was a joy to see her doing so well after such a horrible fall. As I sat there listening to her go on about her experiences, parties, exercises and new friends, my admiration for my grandmother grew tremendously. She continues to fight the good fight everyday.  My visit with Mamaw was truly inspiring and I can only strive to have her CAN DO mentality in my day to day life.

My mother, Mamaw and me May 30, 2008
John and Emily Ann Rehearsal Dinner

After our visit the five of us “kids” shared a couple of pizzas having the best time. It seems that it is so rare that we get this time together and I soaked in every moment.

The five of us going to Bama Jam Concert 2009

The rest of the weekend consisted of visits with old friends. We celebrating the announcement of a pregnancy, and shared in conversations around upcoming weddings. What a wonderful two weeks!

The bad news is that the radio in my car went out so we had a nice quiet 14 hour drive back to Texas…. that and a speeding ticket really made for an enjoyable afternoon…..

And our car looked like this. Again.

If you think your eyes are playing tricks on you- they're not. That is a vacuum cleaner and a monkey backpack.

We arrived back to apartment 4210 Sunday, March 25 around 7 p.m. Thus marking the end of our Spring journey.

Sometimes I wonder if we are slightly crazy. While we may not be to crazy just yet I'd say there are times we walk the line. If nothing else, it keeps life unpredictable and interesting setting us up for the ride of a lifetime.

How I fly through life. They say to stop and smell the roses, but without a conscious effort this can be pretty difficult. Just like everything else in life- it’s a discipline.

Since the launch of TinRoofCuttingBoards.com we have received some amazing feedback. We’ve heard phrases like “such quality!“ and “a beautiful piece of art!” What I’ve realized is that these cutting boards ARE a work of art- each pieced together by hand by the same three people every day.  

This got me thinking about the phrase “hand-made.” I am not an artist (even my handwriting stinks). I’m not a seamstress (ability begins and ends at sewing a button in a crisis). I’m not a chef (instead I’m guilty of frozen dinners). And the list goes on. I fall victim to convenience.  This isn’t a pity party- just an example that you don’t have to look far to find opportunities to make something by hand. What’s the trade off? T-I-M-E.  

And that is the value in something hand-made.  

In college, I decided to scrapbook my Auburn Cheerleading experience. I have two quite large scrapbooks with a pages highlighting football games, pep rallys, tailgating (yep- cheerleaders tailgate), practice, socials, beach trips, basketball, volleyball (yep- we cheered volleyball games too) and appearances. Truly some of my favorite memories and I felt that documenting the journey was worth the investment of time and money for materials. I did the same for my wedding, starting with the engagement in New York and ending with the before and after pictures of our first house. More favorite memories! All of this to say, those three scrapbooks are my prized possessions. There’s no telling how many hours I sat on the floor in a room filled with photos, different colored paper, stickers, scissors, glue, notebooks, and markers all to have something that will sit on a bookshelf until I feel the desire to relive those precious moments.  

People who make things by hand- do it because

A)     they enjoy it

B)      it represents something special

C)      it’s made specifically for a loved one.

My scrapbook making reflects the latter two. The process was not something I particularly enjoyed- it was the idea of the end result that pushed me through completion.

The folks at the sawmill in Texas create hardwood cutting boards because, yes it’s their job, but mainly because they ENJOY it. Remember- the whole reason they began making these cutting boards is because it was a passion and a hobby for the initial board creator. He pieced together custom cutting boards because he enjoyed working with wooden projects and because he could share this passion with his family by giving them a personally hand-made hardwood cutting board.

And now it’s a full time paying job for a handful of individuals that share that passion. Isn’t that what people search for their whole lives?  

Having the opportunity to visit the sawmill and see where the process begins and ends has opened my eyes and reminded me that some of the material possessions I cherish didn’t just appear. Someone, somewhere with an immense amount of skill, had to piece them together. The experience has tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me to stop, smell the roses and appreciate the work that goes behind the products I love.

I enjoyed the “reminder” I received in my inbox from Seth Godin (marketing and PR guru) the other day to stop and smell the roses. Check out his quick read on what we as consumers SAY verses what we DO and the influence we carry. Pretty subtle guy huh? The truth is consumers DO carry influence. Today, I hope that you will choose to share your influence on behalf of Tin Roof by joining our Facebook community and sharing our page (see image below). Ready to buy? Shipping is on us. Just visit the website and enter the discount code: TATUMBLOG to receive free shipping on any order through March 31.

(Click to enlarge.)

As I stated earlier, I’m not an artist in any sense of the word, but I don’t have to be. Luckily, there are people out there willing to share the beauty in their art through their God given talents. For my bubble of a life, it means stepping away from the most convenient route and opening my eyes to discover the artists that are willing to put in the time to produce a quality product. I know those people exists because I’ve seen them hard at work, hand crafting cutting boards in Texas.

Stop. Smell the roses. And join me in standing behind the artistry and quality of Tin Roof Cutting Boards. 

If you’re like me, the thing your day consistently revolves around is food. Personally- it’s not so much in the morning, or even throughout the day. It’s dinner. Dinner signifies the end of another day and tells my brain it is time to rest.

Since living in Texas, I have had the opportunity to attend two live Beth Moore bible studies with 3,500 other women. To help put this in perspective- it’s like planning at attend an SEC sporting event. I leave the apartment at 4:30 to meet a handful of other women that carpool into Houston and don’t get back to my apartment until about 10 p.m. It’s quite a commitment, but oh so worth it!

We arrive about 5:30, park a few blocks away (strategically planning our brilliant exit), claim our seat in the worship center and wait for the band to begin at 6:30.

The praise and worship portion of the evening is in a word… breathtaking. Tears fill my eyes each time and I know God is in that room- celebrating his children! Beth Moore begins the study about 30 minutes in the service.  If you don’t know who Beth Moore is, this is a desperate attempt to describe her and this Tuesday night experience.

Beth uses her captivating personality to display her convictions in a very passionate and relative way.  After two evenings in the upper balcony, I feel that this woman is my friend. She cuts to God’s truth and His word- easy reality or difficult reality. She’s witty and humorous and extremely educated. You can find her blog here and find several books and bible studies she has written through a quick search on line.

So what does Beth Moore have to do with food?  In Beth Moore’s last study we touched on the table and what a sacred symbol the table is in God’s eyes. You see in scripture several instances when God calls people around a table to experience a meal together. Can you imagine if God made food tasteless? Eating a great meal with the people I care about always makes for a memorable occasion. God finds such joy in sharing this experience with us at a table before Him. The thought of this makes me smile. What about you?

Table Life is a book written by a pastor’s wife in Minnesota. Beth pulled out this book and read a couple of excerpts. I don’t have the exact quotes, but I was able to find some information by the author from the Table Life website that will give you an idea on how enjoying a meal around a table is significant to God.


For years I have been fascinated by the role of the table in the life of Jesus. Of course he needed food to live and he was entirely dependent on the hospitality of others. But the table was much more to Jesus than food for energy. It was also the place where he deepened and celebrated relationships.

Table Life invites the reader to first look at Jesus licking honey off his fingers, giving thanks, enjoying lingering conversation, loving a stranger, making promises, telling stories—all at the table!

Today we love our coffee shops and cooking show but we often neglect to share the vulnerable, intimate place of home. Table Life reminds us that no matter what kind or size of home we live in, the kitchen table is precious to God. Our tables can become a place where children flourish, hearts grow in faith, and the community faith is strengthened in love. We experience this life by learning to treasure Christ’s presence at the table.


My father, Ken Quattlebaum started a blog in April and named it after a breakfast experience between Jesus and his disciples. Resurrection Breakfast symbolizes the third time Jesus appeared to the Disciples after he arose.  In my Dad’s words:


It was again confirmed to them that the son of God, whom they loved, worshiped and adored, had defeated the death so cruelly inflicted upon Him. He was again living and in their presence sharing the fellowship and servanthood of His prepared breakfast.


It’s so easy to take our personal dining experiences for granted- who we are with, what we are eating, where it came from, etc. Since it is such a central theme in our day to day life, I have tried to challenge myself with acknowledging the abundance of blessings at each meal. I hope that these words will encourage you to soak in your own experiences and see God’s presence at each meal.

Although John and I don’t have a table we eat at each evening, we never miss an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal followed by lingering conversations. Just in the past two weeks my memory overflows with such occasions. The other day, John and I had both missed lunch staying busy. At 3 p.m. I suggested we try a Mexican restaurant down the road. It was on a small pond and we ended up sitting out on the patio for about two hours enjoying wonderful food, beautiful weather and great company. Last week we walked to a farmers market in the town center and bought locally made salsa, peach balsamic, coffee, pasta sauce and honey. There is something about purchasing these things from the people that make it themselves that makes it taste better. Grilling out with John’s brother Crawford and sister-in-law Charmoin was certainly a treat. We could have sat around that table well into the night through all the laughter and story-telling. In celebration of purchasing a couch, we spent one evening snacking on tailgate food and dips while watching some of our favorite shows. Before attending my first ever true Rodeo (and the largest Rodeo in the world) John and I shared a meal with our friends from Tough Country.  Both parties would agree that we reached a new level in our relationship through conversation, laughter, and sushi.

If God enjoys watching us delight in great food with others we love before Him, then He must be smiling!

In a prior lesson, Beth pointed out that in the promise land, God provided wheat to his people- not ready made bread. God has given us the tools we need to be productive, but he wants us to share in the process, delight in it and be thankful.

I found motivation in that and I hope you do as well.

Now we are not physically making wheat, but we are trying to put bread on our table. We are thankful and happy to say that the website is up and running! What a marathon it has been these past few weeks- and it’s only the beginning.

We hope that if you choose to purchase a Tin Roof Cutting Board that you will share with us your experience on the website and of course your cooking experience with the cutting board. Please continue to help us spread the word and be sure to find us on facebook. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Until next time.

The clock in the kitchen read 11:45 p.m. Friday night. I went up the stairs, brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas, kissed my husband goodnight and walked to the other end of the hallway. The light in my 7-year-old niece's room indicated that she had tried her hardest to stay awake for me- even though I told her not to. I moved the purple unicorn pillow pet and slid into the bed. An hour passed and I woke up to rustling on her side of the bed. “Hi Anslee,” I said. She replied, “Hi Aunt Emmy Ann. Why didn’t you wake me up? What about the milk and cookies?”  I quickly snuck downstairs to gather the midnight snack I had promised. The next hour consisted of lighthearted chatter about classmates and birthday parties. Looking back I’m so glad I crossed my heart and promised my niece that we would have a slumber party with a midnight snack.  Through my exhaustion, I found such a refreshing glimpse into the spirit of an 7-year-old girl. 

Can you imagine if we all had this genuine excitement for life and relationships?

I didn’t have to dig too deep to find the inner child the next day. I was thrilled to be moving into our new apartment in the heart of Sugar Land, TX. YEP...we did it!We're not homeless anymore! We managed a six month commitment to a one bedroom apartment and we’re loving it! We’re living the simple life, frill free. During our last trip to Mobile we grabbed our mattress, two tables, a few chairs, an old bookshelf, an old clunky TV and two bar stools. I’m convinced that it is only by God’s grace we had access to these things and the box labeled "bedding and towels." We almost had everything we needed!

After a shopping spree at the Dollar Tree, a trip to Home Goods, and a miserable hour in Wal-Mart, we were set! We now had a coffee maker (truly the only main essential), one pot, one skillet, one mixing bowl, the best knives Dollar Tree has to offer, plenty of red solo cups and a set of four gorgeous plastic plates. WAHOOO!!!    

Yesterday was the first sunny day in our new apartment. I laced up my running shoes, threw on my headphones and I was out the door- ready to check out the surroundings. During my jog I couldn’t help but think about Anslee and how happy I am when I follow my child like intuition. Some favorites include- spending time outside on a sunny day, singing at the top of my lungs in the car, embracing my curiosity, laughing til my stomach hurts, and of course a late night snack of milk and cookies. If I ever become too cool or too grown for these things, you have my permission to smack me.

Quick flasback to my childhood-

I’m also reliving old childhood memories that I had no intention of revisiting.
Example One: Watching TV on the floor. This was a choice as a child. Now I find myself sitting on the floor in front of the TV because I have no other option.
Example Two: You’d think I had fallen down a flight of stairs with all the bruises and scrapes currently taking over my body. Did I all of a sudden become clumsy? I think I'll just blame it on the new confined territory.
Example Three: Sharing a tight space. Surely I had paid my dues by sharing a bedroom with my sister as a child? Guess not. Here’s hoping we don't go nuts in this space we call our home...and office.

These past few days have brought back fun memories all the while creating new ones. I’ve taken a fresh outlook on life and rediscovered the 7 year-old-girl within. May we take time to relish the small delights that come with each day just as a child would without even noticing. And if you ever feel that you’ve lost the ability to do this, cross your heart and promise me that you will go straight to the basics: a midnight date with milk and cookies.

Love,
The 7 year old Emily Ann

P.S. Here are a few more photos from the past few days...

This is where my child like curiosity led me yesterday... I didn't stick around too long.

Here we are on a hunt to find a comfy seat in our baby living room... I am sad to report that we're still seaching.

Decisions- they are a huge part of our lives. No….. I take that back.  Decisions are more than that- Decisions create our lives. After making several major decisions at the end of 2011 one still remains. We’ve reached a remarkable 70+ days of homelessness and we just cannot avoid commitment to a living situation any longer.

We knew this point would inevitably be upon us- but the signs could not have been any clearer these past two weeks. I’ve combined a list of 20 homelessness “symptoms” based on our experiences these past few weeks.  

You might be homeless if….

1. You sit in the driveway of a friend’s house and don’t know what direction to drive, because you’re not sure where you are sleeping that night
2. You have to purchase a cargo trailer to put all of your stuff in
3. You can pack for a “move” in 15 minutes
4. You never have to unpack
5. Your clothes don’t quite fit from all the fast food
6. It’s not uncommon for you to drink multiple red bulls to get through the day after a sleepless night in an unfamiliar bed
7. You’ve stayed with so many people, you can’t remember the last time you were alone
8. You have an urge to reach across the console and smack the person that’s with you because you’ve spent way too much time together
9.   You act on that urge
10. You have to explain to people that you couldn’t find your suit, socks, shoes or tie and apologize for being underdressed at cocktail parties
11. You have 15 minutes to change for a party and you realize the suitcase you need is in the other vehicle 45 minutes down the road
12. You attend a Mardi Gras party wearing no make-up because it was in the suitcase up the road
13. Your office is stuffed into a big gray crate that you keep in the vehicle
14. You have a printer in your trunk
15. To remain calm you convince yourself that moving furniture from storage units to a trailer with your spouse (and no one else) is a “team building” exercise
16. You surprise yourself with abilities and skills you didn’t know you had
17. Your spouse surprises you with abilities and skills you didn’t know they had
18. You laugh uncontrollably because you cannot believe that this is your life
19. You have truly discovered what it means to be resilient
20. You discover you have to put the big rocks in first to make everything fit (figuratively and literally)

For the past few months, we have somehow found this unexplainable safety in avoiding commitment. Now we are ready and excited to get into a place of our own (even if it is half the size of our old town home!) Major decisions are now upon us and in the works.  I look forward to sharing some of them with you in the near future!

The beginning of this journey was easy, but what a wild ride it has become! The most important lesson we’ve learned is DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. We have to keep our eye on the “big rocks” and if we hit a bump we must maintain speed and focus. We have a choice each day on how we will spend our time. We decided in the beginning not to get caught up in small details, but to keep pushing forward with big decisions and big steps. That’s not to say that we have not had to remind each other of that time to time. Two heads are truly better than one!

And now, a few photo highlights.

An awesome morning I had at the Grand Hotel watching a storm roll in drinking coffee and catching up with life on the iPad. (Thanks Mrs. Lynn and Dr. Crawford for inviting us down during the dental convention!)

This is a photo of my car throwing up because it is so full.

Happy Birthday to me!!! Yep. I got a trailer on my birthday. My poor Ford Edge just didn't know what to think after pulling this thing from Ozark to Fairhope.

John and I attended a Masquerade Party during Mardi Gras in Mobile!

Watching the parade with the girls!

This would be the "team building" exercise I referred to earlier. AKA anxiety in 10 X 20 storage unit.

John and I share in an array of emotions, but the top of our list is excitement, anticipation and a hunger to see this thing through. I am grateful for your continual prayers and support. As John would say, “we’re on the one yard line now.” We must keep pushing forward, working and hoping for the best. 

You’re tired, exhausted and need to recharge. What do you do? For the Tatum family, the answer is easy. It includes your most comfortable pair of jeans, a thirty minute drive on a back road, a quick stop for an orange soda, land for miles and a cabin with a tin roof. The Tatum Farm, in small town Alabama, is more than a place. It’s a state of being. It’s an escape from daily stresses and an opportunity to rediscover the peace that comes by simply surrounding yourself in nature.

I tell you all of this to introduce to you our new brand, logo and identity for the cutting board business. I’ve taken you through our decision to live out of a suitcase and our new business venture with custom wooden cutting boards. So it’s on to the next step- creating a business identity. First we set the boundaries. Here is what we decided to look for in a name:

1. a memory- something that would remind us of something personal (an experience, an object, a time, etc.)
2. a connection- we want a name that can resonate with others
3. a bridge - the name needs to connect back to the sawmill, trees and ultimatly the cutting boards
4. an essence- we want the name to capture the authenticity of the boards

Hmmmm…. days and days passed with ideas coming and going. One four hour road trip was dedicated fully to names and reminiscing on great times. The process was fun, interesting and exhausting. We went through several names and then several logos, but knew instantly that the name and brand we landed on represented all we had hoped it would. It’s a piece of our lives, and a theme we hope you will embrace.

Introducing...

The past few weeks have been an adventure and I cannot express my gratitude to you for your support. It brings me such joy to hear your comments and feedback. Encouragement and support was displayed in abundance from dear friends and family during our recent trip to my hometown of Ozark, AL. I am now experiencing that same support during my time in Mobile. Thank you!

So today, I invite you down an old road to escape reality with us. Sorry, no cell phone service here. Just a few rocking chairs under a tin roof.

The name of this blog is changing lanes, but this post is about changing paths. Career paths.

Now, I’ve only been out of college for three and a half years, so it’s not like I had this smooth path that I’d paved for myself. Nonetheless, I would have never guessed that I’d be managing a website, selling a product that three months ago I knew little about.

Top of the line, wooden, end-grain cutting boards is now my full time job. We’re working with web developers now creating a logo, website, identity, and marketing plan.

But why cutting boards? Well, I’m glad you asked.

John has had the opportunity to meet many people through his work on heavy duty truck accessories. He carries products from many suppliers, and has particularly gotten to know one located in El Campo Texas (near Houston). Tough Country is family owned and operated, and they truly take the word family to the next level. Employees of Tough Country have been there for years, because they say that they’ve always been treated “as if they were family.” During our stays in the Houston area, we’ve been able to learn about Tough County and discovered ways to do business together. Which brings me to the cutting boards…

Tough Country has a sawmill offering services mainly in custom carpentry such as staircases, paneling, flooring, molding, etc. Two years ago, C.O.O Kurt Pratka was looking for the perfect Christmas gift for his family. Having access to a sawmill, Kurt hand made a batch of cutting boards. The recipients of the boards raved about them and that batch quickly grew. People wanted more of these cutting boards. In the town of El Campo alone, Kurt has a hard time keeping up with the orders and requests. With the John Tatum “I can do that” mentality, the website idea was born.

As I stated earlier, we’re developing the product by making decisions on style, size, working on logos, web layout, marketing and more. John and I have visited the sawmill and personally met the people that work each day to create these hand crafted cutting boards. It’s petal to the metal and I cannot wait to introduce the website to you in a few weeks!

I've been told to find out what it is that motivates me and use that to guide my career path. I used to think that meant I had to be doing work that could change the world. I was wrong. It’s not a job that changes the world- it’s people. It’s how we chose to live our lives each day that makes a difference and those choices don’t end at 5:00. Selling cutting boards won’t change the world, but it will and already has changed my life. As far as being motivated for this new career path... consider it done. I am motivated by being a part of something pure, something honest, something unique, and something personal. I am motivated by being a part of something I can take pride in and something I can watch grow because of the work that I am doing. That something just so happens to be running my own cutting board website. I could have never guessed that my career path would lead me to being a part of the freshly approved Tatum International, LLC. I don’t know what all that entails, but I look forward to making my way on this new career path.