NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS!

I always get so excited about starting a new year - I love to open my calendar to a NEW year and fill in all the blanks with new dates, and I LOVE to make New Year's Resolutions! I think there is something just so refreshing about starting fresh - and why not add some extra goals to it, too?!

So, here is my list of resolutions - I usually have a ton because I'm just a go-getter type! Ha!

1. Clean my house more often - yes, it is not a fun one, but a necessary one!

2. Write more - write more in my journal, write more thank you notes just because and write more on my blog!

3. Cook more - I need, I mean really need to do this one.

4. Study the Word more often - and not just study it, but make it more of a part of my everyday living!

5. Learn something new - and yes, I plan on using my knitting lessons to accomplish this one!

So, here's to a great 2010! 2009, you were a great year - no big complaints from this gal!

What are your resolutions????

Christmas after-thoughts from LeeLee...

So, Christmas is over - why is it that I always get so sad when Christmas is over? I have always been like that, ever since I was a little girl. I guess I just love the fact that I get to see so many of my family members, eat delicious food (and lots of it) and we get to celebrate the birth of our sweet Jesus. So, I ALWAYS make B keep the Christmas tree up until New Year's Day. Whenever I was little, my momma would whip that thing down as quick as the wrapping paper was thrown away! Oh, and did I mention that I make B take it down? Ha! I put it up, he takes it down.

Anyways, Christmas this year was a breeze - I made a point this year to actually enjoy it. I had most of my shopping done early on, and I made a budget for Christmas gifts, too! Dave Ramsey would be so proud! If you are an iPhone owner, I highly, I mean highly, recommend getting the "Giftbox" app - I was able to make my list of all the people I had to buy for, then put the gift idea (as well as budget for that person) under their name. The best part? I got to check things off! It was fabulous! So thank you, Giftbox app, for saving my sanity this Christmas. I have a lot to be thankful for this year - 2009 was a life-changing year in more ways than one. I have learned a lot - but isn't that the point of growing older? I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that you have an even better New Year! Now it's time to enjoy all those wonderful gifts from Christmas - my favorite? Knitting lessons from B! Ha!

Here are a few photos from our festivities.....

My pride and joy during the Christmas season - my overloaded Christmas tree!

One of my favorite gifts - from my boss - a Happy Everything platter! I have wanted one of these for close to 3 years! The santa at the top is actually an attachment, and there is an assortment of others that you can change out!

Lastly, this little angel-baby is the BEST gift of 2009...my sweet nephew, Grant! And guess what he is trying to do???? WALK! I can already tell 2010 is going to be a GREAT year :)

(btw, don't i look like a proud aunt leelee?)

Help wanted....

LeeLee seeks IMMEDIATE help with updating her blog! Ha!

I am not doing a good job at all with this whole update-your-blog-once-in-a-blue-moon thing! I am really, I mean REALLY going to make an honest effort to update once or twice a month - maybe I will surprise myself and do more! I wanted to give all of my um, say 3 readers an update on the crazy life of LeeLee and B...so here is a picture timeline of the

past couple of months! Enjoy :)

I spent a lot of time at the local farmer's market - I even learned how to snap beans....

We played a LOT of Rook - here was our favorite spot on my parents' porch....

My mom helped me make new pillows for my couch - sure beats buying a new couch!

We went to a gorgeous wedding at Chateau Elan in Georgia -

here we are at the Rehearsal Dinner

And here we are all dressed up at the beautiful wedding!We even got to see our favorite team, the Braves! We had AMAZING seats, and B was even on TV!

We did a wedding flowers for a family friend, Riki Lynne! Loved all the purple!

B with me and my sister, Katy at the wedding....LOVE him!

My mom and I traveled to Knoxville to go to my precious friend (and sorority sister), Katelyn's baby shower! She just had Avery last week, and I was so glad that I got to celebrate with her before the big day! It was a Halloween themed shower, and of course, we had to pull out the <> diamonds <>!

B and I went to ANOTHER shower in Georgia - this one was in the mountains at a winery!

I got to see all my lovely ADPi sisters at Homecoming - here we are at our alumnae tailgate!

My sister helped me make my Halloween costume....I was a GOOD witch!

I passed out candy for our "Trick or Treat on the Square" - there were HUNDREDS of kids!

But the cutest of them all was my favorite little monkey man! I can't believe how big my nephew (Grant) is, and we are so excited about celebrating Christmas with him this year!

So, that's what has been going on in my life! I am super busy with Mattie Mae stuff, as we are preparing for the big Junior League's Hollyday Marketplace! And who else is just DYING to put out their Christmas tree? B is trying to make me wait, but the anticipation is KILLING me!?!!!!

Have a wonderful day - update me on YOUR life :)

Mattie Mae Designs...and other happenings

I absolutely cannot believe that it is September....excuse me, 2009, but WHERE do you think you are going so quickly?????

Oh well, with September comes cooler weather and adorable new sweaters, tights and coats....it always seems like right when I am started to get tired of the stick-to-your-chair heat and humidity, Mother Nature always blesses us with some nice cool breezes!

B and I have been busy, but what else did you expect? We are doing much better after the whirlwind of emotions we went through in August (see previous post). I have since then been back to the doctor for a follow-up, and I was told that I am pretty much "back to normal" now, so B and I can just keep trying for our precious little one. I can say for both B and myself that this whole experience has really taught us how precious children are - they are truly a gift from our Heavenly Father....and we need to thank God every, single day for that. I know when we do hold our sweet baby in our arms, we will never forget it.

But on a different note, some of you may know that I come from a creative, I mean creative mother. This time last year, my older sister announced that she was pregnant, so momma's creative wheel immediately started turning....and thus produced Mattie Mae Designs. It's our own little line of onesies, burps and bibs - each onesie is hand-appliqued. Say it with me, hand-appliqued. And made in the US of A, too! I have learned the art of sewing on the appliques, but don't expect to see too much of my stuff...I am more of the cut/iron/pin girl. But through all of our creation, I did manage to take a sewing class, and I do feel somewhat comfortable on a sewing machine - as long as my momma or sister are NOT close by....too much pressure! So without waiting any longer, here are a few of MY favorite creations from Mattie Mae Designs...and if you are curious to see more, please visit the Mattie Mae Blog!

Hoot owl onesie

Robot bib and burp cloth

Funky chicken gift set - onesie, bib and burp cloth

Bird on a branch onesie and bib

Love onesie

Flower Power and Bird in flight onesie

And because everyone knows my B is a huge Georgia Dawgs fan....

a precious Georgia onesie and burp cloth (I actually made this set, and it is reserved for our future little one - but we can do other teams, too!)

If you ever need a baby gift, or just want something for your own special little one, please do not hesitate to email us at mattiemaedesigns@ymail.com!

Blessings to y'all!

Brokenhearted.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has...sent Me to heal the brokenhearted."

- Luke 4:8

I have been reluctant to even write this post, but I feel that it will help with my grieving.


Until this past weekend, I was expecting a precious bundle of joy. B and I found out that we were expecting around 2 weeks ago, and we have been on cloud nine ever since. I had a feeling that I might be pregnant, and while B was out of town for work, I took a test. I will never, ever forget when I saw that second pink line start to form on the pregnancy test. I was completely and utterly surprised, but it was one of the happiest moments of my life, too!


B and I have been wanting to start a family for some time, but we did not expect to pregnant so easily - or so quickly. So, I was just so elated! We told our parents and close family, and everyone shared in our excitement.


I went to the doctor this past Thursday, and I found out that I was around 4 weeks pregnant - the urine test actually came back negative because I was so early, and then they had to take a blood test - which came back POSITIVE! They gave me my due date - April 18th, and I scheduled an appointment to come back in September. It was finally starting to sink in that we were going to have our very own baby.


That very same night, I started spotting and cramping. I called my doctor, and they said to monitor my bleeding, drink plenty of fluids and stay off my feet. I went back to the doctor this past Monday morning for another blood test to see where my hormone levels were - B and I had hit rock bottom this weekend, so we were prepared for the worst. They called that afternoon to let me know that I did, in fact, miscarry.

My emotions have been all over the place, but we are completely and totally leaning on God. A friend of mine that also had a miscarriage recommended a book to me called "I will hold you in Heaven." It has been a lifesaver to me - every word and scripture that is in this book just absolutely calms my heart. Throughout this experience, B and I have learned that children are an absolute precious gift straight from God. I know that God is going to bless us with children - in His time.

We would appreciate any prayers - we have totally felt our family and friends covering us in prayer during our sorrow. If any of you who read this blog have dealt with miscarriage, I would love to hear your story, too! My friend that I mentioned above said something to me that made perfect sense, "Our babies were just too perfect that they went straight to Heaven."

And how beautiful is that????

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward."

-Psalm 127:3

So, my brother plays Minor League baseball now....

You heard it right....my (LeeLee's) little brother is officially a BIG athlete! Nathan was drafted by the Colorado Rockies organization last Thursday, and we couldn't be happier....or more proud! He got on a plane Monday morning to travel all the way to the wild, wild west - Casper, Wyoming. And the team he's playing for???? None other than the Casper GHOSTS!!!! We have definitely had a couple of laughs at that one! HA!

Other than all of that excitement, we have been pretty busy with weddings, graduations and just enjoying the 150+ degree weather....and it isn't even officially summer yet!!!

Since my brother is a GAZILLION miles away, I convinced him to start a blog - which has gotten my whole family chattering about "the blog." And guess who is the newest member of the blog community? None other than my FABULOUS mother - she's really a great writer, and I know I will really enjoy reading about her crazy antics!

Sorry I have been absent from my blog, I HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO update this thing more frequently. You heard me...let's see how long I stick to it!

Busy week....

This week has been absolutely INSANE! B and I have barely seen each other all week, and it is killing me! I am ready for a low-key weekend, right?

I have recently started a sewing class - yes, I am actually going to attempt to sew. My momma and sister have always been the sewers in my family, and I am frankly just sick of always watching them! So, I started a beginner's sewing class on Tuesday night - it lasts for 3 weeks, but it is SO going to be worth it! We had the choice of making either a little girl's outfit or a boy's outfit. I asked B what he thought I should make, and he said "boy" of course, because he seems to think we are going to have all boys....Lord help me if that's true! I will try and post pictures of my progress, but you can't judge me!

I also started training to become an adult literacy tutor - which has been the most empowering and scary (at the same time!) experience I have had to date. I am very nervous about being a tutor, but I know that the training I will receive will help me along the way!

By the time I get home from my new activities, it is past 9 o'clock, and B and I are NOT night owls. B has been working overtime since it's a busy time with the bookstore, so we have our pillow talks and talks in the bathroom while getting ready, but it's just not the same.

I guess I just miss my hubby, and I can't wait until things calm down!

Oh, and our two year anniversary is coming up....I still can't believe it has already been TWO YEARS! Crazy!

Hope y'all have a beautiful weekend :)

Help April and Brandon!

I wanted to post real quickly and ask you to visit http://www.livingtolove.com/ - two of my friends, April and Brandon, have the opportunity to adopt a sweet baby boy from Taiwan. Basically, they have a very limited amount of time to raise a huge chunk of money to bring him home! April is very good about explaining the whole situation on her blog, so check it out! To help with fundraising, she is selling cookbooks for $12 each, or 3 for $20!

So please, if you can, keep them in your prayers!!!

Oh, and I'm partial, too, because they are going to name him "Harrison," and B and I have already chosen James "Harris" as our first boy's name! I guess great minds think alike :)

Thanks, y'all!

Life.

I have neglected the blog for the past few weeks, but let me tell you...LIFE just got in the way!

My older sister, Megan, finally delivered my sweet nephew Grant on March 5th! He is such a pretty baby, and Im so glad he's finally here! Below are a few pictures of him - we all love having a baby in the family!

LeeLee, SheShe (my momma), Megan and Katy at Megan's shower.

Baby Grant.

LeeLee with my sweet nephew...I could hold him all day :)

B and I have been busy with many plans for the future - there are still a lot of unknowns, but we are excited about the many opportunities we have. Basically, the only thing we know for certain is that we are moving! We have no idea where we are going or really know the timeline. It could be October or it could be March - whatever it is, we are totally excited! Now don't get me wrong, I am definitely hesitant about moving, as I have lived in my hometown for over 20 years, but I know this will be a great move for us! We are just trusting our Lord with ever fiber in us!

So, that's life right now....B is going to Louisiana with my dad this weekend to watch my brother play baseball, so I have BIG plans involving nearly a dozen yards of fabric!

Blessings! Have a wonderful weekend!

LeeLee cooks!

Yes, you heard it right...LeeLee has started to cook!

B has always commented on how he wished I cooked more and how he wished he could take leftovers to work, so I finally caved!

It's not that I don't like to cook, I do! It's the grocery shopping and planning that I hate! So, this past Saturday, my sweet momma helped me plan out a menu for the week, and then we made our grocery list. She even went to the grocerry store with me, helped me pick out meats and veggies, and she gave tons of great advice!

So, B and I have had one full week of homemade meals, and we are loving it! Our menu included chicken supreme casserole, lasagna, minute steak with mushroom gravy and homemade soup!

Aren't you proud of me? Well, even if you aren't, I am proud of myself!

I already have the menu planned for next week, and I am going to brave the grocery store by myself! There is nothing like cooking a beautiful meal and enjoying it with your special someone...heck, even by yourself!

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend - I know I will, I am making a visit to my favorite fabric store in Nashville, and I have some big plans for some sewing projects!

Blessings, y'all!

Exalted by God

At the beginning of this year, our pastor did a series on being exalted by God and becoming a righteous person. This study has still stuck with me throughout this year, and I hope it continues to for the rest of my life - here are some verses that have stayed with me from the sermon:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. - Proverbs 14:34

Acts of Righteousness -

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to you Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

- Matthew 6:1-18

I am not really sure where this post is going, but for some reason, I had it on my heart to re-visit this!

My B is home finally, and we are super excited about a low-key weekend (and a birthday breakfast for my favorite papa!)!

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! :)

I miss my B.

Brad has an amazing job - he loves it very much, and we are very blessed that he was given this opportunity after he got laid off in October. However, with this new job, comes lots of traveling opportunities. So for the past three weeks, he has been gone for 12 days! Now, if you really know me, you know that I hate being by myself. So, when Brad lets me know he's going to be gone the next week, I try to find something to do every single night.



But this week, I just miss my B.



I have had something to do every night, but I am so ready for him to get home!



And it doesn't make things better to know that he is along the Georgia coast - can we say JEALOUS?



Anyways, I have learned to really appreciate my husband while he is at home! I hope you do the same for your special man!



Blessings!

LeeLee


My main man and myself this past Christmas :)

LeeLee gets a new vacuum.

That's right folks, my precious B gave me the best Valentine's gift this year...a NEW Kenmore canister vacuum!

You have to know that because B and I have a black labrador, Turner, we also have lots of dog hair. I have never really had a great vacuum (our old one was about 20 years old - an old Rainbow, the kind you have to put water in), so we usually end up with dog hair everywhere. I always manage to have a lint brush in nearly every room, but I was getting tired of it. Now, I have the most awesome vacuum, and I will not have dog hair everywhere anymore!

If you are wanting to buy a good vacuum, something that will last, I definitely recommend the Kenmore - mine even has a red light for when there is still dirt, or hair in my case, on the floor - it turns green when the floor is clean! How awesome is that?????

Sorry this has turned into such a "domestic" post, but I was really excited about it! Ha!

LeeLee reflects on last year...

So, I know that I haven't been very good at posting, but life just gets in the way sometimes!

Things have been very good for us this year - we started the year off with a positive attitude, ready to leave 2008 behind. Is it just me, or was 2008 a bad year for a lot of people? Brad and I both changed jobs, our marriage wasn't the greatest, and I was not a very happy person. Last fall, I realized how unhappy I was and decided to give it all to God. For so long, I had been trying to fix everything myself. I fasted from my friends (crazy, huh?) just to spend some real face-to-face time with my husband and my family. I had pushed them all away, and I needed to rekindle those relationships. So, if you didn't hear from me at all from September until now, you know why!

How are things now, you ask?

Couldn't be better! Brad and I are more in love today than we were the first day we met. We have been doing the Fireproof study at church on Friday nights, and it has done amazing things for us. Just opening the lines of communication has been phenomenal. Every night, we do a "love dare" - it ranges from just being patient, to surprising your spouse with something. But the thing that benefits us is the talking and the praying. God has been rocking our world right now, and I couldn't be happier.

I am also doing the Captivating study with a ladies' group, and it has been difficult for me at certain points. I'm still trying to push forward, but there are things that I do not want to face. The only thing that keeps me going in the study is knowing that those wounds that I am so afraid of facing are not so scary now. Now, I am not facing them alone - I am facing them with Christ.

I have lots of ideas for posts, and I will try my very best to get them all down on the blog...so spread the word, I'm back :)

Blessings, y'all!

LeeLee