If you’ve followed me long you know I’m thankful for this season and all that it has to offer. Wife, mother, teacher, business owner, faith, family, friend, food, and the list goes on. Today I’m thankful for the American entrepreneurial spirit where anyone can be a small business owner.

As they say Rome wasn’t built in a day…. and businesses don’t build themselves. You don’t own your own business because you do not like to work. You own your own business because God has put something on your heart to create, build, help, inspire others. You work more at your own business than your job. You are the the face, author, designer, customer service all from your home office while juggling life.

For my husband and his business partner Okra Magazine was a dream a lifetime ago born in Georgia when they worked together as art director and photographer. My dream was never to own my own business. From the fourth grade on I was going to be a pilot. By thirteen I was a certified babysitter and sixteen I work in a grocery store. I graduated college in three years and was working for my alma mater by age twenty as a flight instructor building hours. I’ve always been a hard worker and a rule follower doing what I was supposed to do. By this point in my life I am an educator, administrator, Ph.D. And yet I did, and it changed my life. I gave up control, gave it to God and tried to stop fixing everything. I am thankful to share what God’s done in our lives.

Did I mention that my husband and business partner started a magazine in their 50s? Their vision for a Southern Magazine covering 13 states with circulation in 50 states with a new approach to the magazine business and the beloved South. Okra. for all things southern and the person on your list who has everything.

When you support a small business you keep that dream alive. That entrepreneurial spirit, that goal to give more, and the family their basic needs.

This season please shop small and keep those dreams alive. Saturday November 24th is Small Business Saturday. Of course we’d love for you to shop small all year long.

Happy Thanksgiving!

💗,

Julie

Romans 15:13