Things Never Done Before

I am quite proud of myself. I have done 2 things today that I have never done before. They were pretty simple, but still, it's fun to push yourself. I have decided that I should start making dinner more for my family. Isn't that like the first step into becoming a better wife and mom?? So I got on my friends food blog and was reading and one of her posts made me want to make this soup. So, there I go first thing never done I do, make homemade soup. It turned out REALLY good and REALLY spicy. The next thing that I had never done was cook using my computer as my cookbook. Seeing as I just got a new computer I was a little nervous but all fared well and it's nice to not feel like I am going to mess up this book with my wet fingers, etc. So there you have it. My 2 new things. I told you they weren't exotic. But I did it.

Do I Begin Again??

Ok, I know it has been about FOREVER, since I updated my blog. Did I have my second kid in my last post??? I really have no idea. With the increasing popularity of Twitter (@stephanietlee) and Facebook it has been easier just updating those and letting the thinking part of my brain kill this here blog. You know we live in a quick and easy world. That is what I feel these other social platforms are. Quick and easy. So, I am considering starting up my blog again. Just for those family and friends that really want to hear what is REALLY going on and not when I am going potty and what I am having for dinner!!!

I have been doing a lot of making my life simpler this year. The big thing is that I have closed down (or am in the process of) my children's boutique The Pink Elephant. It has been bittersweet, but I have decided to be a better wife and mommy. I really don't want to look back at my grown kids and have regret. My mom tells me all the time that she used to long for the ability to stay home and be with us as kids, but she could not. We have been blessed beyond measure and I feel it is my job and my duty to the Lord to be the best caregiver and friend to my kids and Mark as I can be. With that said, I will NOT by any means be perfect, but I will have more time for my family and for ME!!!

Besides helping at Abbie's school, working out (as much as I can), and playing tennis that is all that has been going on. I am sure there is more, but for now that is all I can think of. I am tired of feeling everyday that I did nothing but time got away. It is time to focus and GROW UP!!! Here's to my New Year's Resolution about 1 month early. Let's hope it works. It's time to have purpose, a Christ centered purpose.

I hope to include all of you in the journey, but if I decide to ditch the blog again for now, then.... I guess check me out on twitter or Facebook, or just call me!!!

Love,

My Random Things

It's all the rage on Facebook, but in case you aren't my friend (no offense) here it is:

1. I am married to my best friend.

2. When I was little I used to clog.

3. It is on my 2009 to do list to obtain some ink. IE: get a tattoo

4. I have the uncanny ability to memorize lyrics to songs very quickly.

5. I always thought I would marry someone famous. I guess I kinda did.

6. I don't really like my hands.

7. I really like fashion, wanted to go to fashion design school, didn't believe in myself enough to do it.

8. Due to #7, I have a MAJOR addiction to Project Runway

9. When I was a little girl I lost my Miss Piggy shoes in a river, it still makes me sad

10. I am a cry baby, I cry at commercials, movies, sweet letters, ANYTHING.

11. When I was younger I thought I was cute in my braces, see for yourself, there are some GREAT photos of me in them on Facebook

12. When you become my friend, it is for life- just ask Shaun, Aimee, C.Rae among others.

13. I have the best mother, father and brother a person could have. I love them!

14. I have watched "The Young and the Restless" for about 20 years.

15. I love that my 2 princesses are named after family members.

16. I have run 2 half- marathons and have become addicted.

17. I LOVE tennis and could play everyday.

18. I desire for my girls to understand how blessed they are and see the injustices of the world and love the Lord w/ all their hearts.

19. I don't think I truly understood the love of Jesus until I had my own children.

20. I am left handed, thereby very disorganized, chaotic, forgetful yet creative

21. I desperately miss living in Franklin, TN, but now know that the reason I moved home was to meet 4 very special friends!!!

22. My husband has a really cool job that sends me to places like: Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, the Grammy's and even Idaho

23. I remember big events by what I wore (remember #7)

24. I love to SHOP (again w/ #7- I think it's a problem!!)

25. I love Jesus, he is my all- I am by no means perfect, but I do try!!!

Congratulations, Mr. President

This has been an historic moment in our country. Whether you voted for him or not it is pretty amazing that a day after MKL, Jr Day we, the American Public, swore in the FIRST African American President.

This will rank up there with the days in my life that I will always remember where we were. My other days that stick out are the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle, the start of Operation Desert Storm, and 9/11. I know these other days are pretty catastrophic, but they are still memorable. Now to add a happy occasion into the list.

I did like that President Obama made mention that we all got ourselves into this economic mess we must ALL work together to get out of it (this is my interpretation at least!!)


Did I mention how adorable his girls are!!! OH MY GOODNESS, it will be fun to see them have fun in the white (or will it be the pink) house!!

Nature and ME

I love to be outside. I enjoy the things that the outdoors offers. What I don’t love is being too hot or too cold. I say I don’t like to hike, but I realized the other day when we took our “big” hike that it isn’t the hiking it is the weather that make me not want to do it. It was so terribly cold and I didn’t have the right “gear” to keep me warm. I still had a ton of fun but if the right clothing had been on my body it would have been so much more fun. So this is my thought. Get the right clothes, whether for hot or cold and I will be able to enjoy the outdoors and hiking even more.

Yeah, I know I totally look like a professional rock climber!!! NOT


This is what happens when you are not prepared. YOU FREEZE!!



Coming down the mountain.

New Year’s Week

The week after Christmas is usually a really fun one for our family. For the last few years we will load up and head to Gatlinburg for about a week. A lot of the time Mark will have shows for some type of youth conference. We go and enjoy nature, the lights and some good ole’ redneck fun!!

This year we took our friends the Whittaker’s up there with us. We had a great time. There were 5 adults, and 5 kids in the cabin and surprisingly very few tussles between the little ones. It was what you might describe as glorious.


One piece of fun we had was going out toAlewine Pottery. Here the kids got to make some real pottery. It was really neat to see how much fun they had at the real potter’s wheel. I was pretty jealous, I wanted to do it but the line was long and I didn’t want to hold it up. Maybe next time.

Abbie's Pot

Seanna's Pot

Sohalia's Pot


Of course Mark had to document the day via twitter.


We even got to be in a bluegrass band


Fun family times

I feel like I'm in Narnia

This snow on the trees and the scenery in Alaska is so beautiful I cannot even express it. The snow that just sticks to the branches of the trees looks almost fake. Like a set in a movie. I totally feel like I have just walked through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Maybe I should add meetingMr. Tumnus to the "wish" list.

Water, Ice, Alaska & Boys

My husband is still such a little boy at heart. I just love him!!!

NORTH POLE

Seriously we went there. It was the craziest thing. We went to North Pole, AK.
This is the place where all of your kids letters go to when they send them to Santa. You can go to the Santa Claus House, but it was only open on the weekends.

Well, we made the best of it regardless.
(even the street lights look like candy canes!!), AK. It was so much fun and did I mention it is COLD. It really is colder than anything I have ever experienced. I will tell you, burning of calories is happening on this trip. You can't sit still or you will freeze.

Also, a little birdie told me that one of my other "wishes" for Alaska might just come true tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

WE MADE IT

After 14 hours we finally made it to the 49th state in our great union!!! I even got to see an "igloo".

Ok, it's really just a chapel made out of ice out front of our hotel, but hey.... one can pretend. Now I need to see a moose and a polar bear (I technically saw a stuffed one in the airport but...) it is 7 AM my time and 3 AM Alaska time. I am going to bed and goodnight.

Oh yeah, did I mention that it is crazy cold. When the locals talk about how cold it is you know it's bad!!!!

Third Day on the 3rd Day, or 8th day or whatever….

It’s a well known fact that Third Day pretty much got their start at this club in Marietta called, “The Strand. The Strand has some major history. It used to be a theater in the 50/60’s (my parents actually went there and saw movies). It was several clubs, it has been abandoned and left for dead and it is now a glorious new theater/playhouse/event center in Historic Marietta, GA. The square as we call Downtown Marietta, has some real sentimental value to me. My parents went to shows at the Strand, ate at Dunaway’s Drugs, and shopped at some of the various stores on the Square. As I was growing up we would go eat there, shop there and just enjoy the history that was offered.

Fast forward a few years and Mark and I begin dating and he in this band called Third Day. They needed a place to play and practice so the dude that was running “The Strand” (a Christian Club) basically let them keep their stuff there, practice and be the house band. Therefore, most Friday nights as we were dating were spent up on the square. Ahh, good times. They even had their first album release party there.

A few years ago the city made a major push to revitalize the Strand Theater. Many local folks supported it and now we are sitting upon the Grand Re-Opening of the Strand. It is bigger and better. It has had an extreme makeover if you will and now is ready for the next generation to use it and enjoy. I am very thankful that it didn’t get torn down. I would feel like a part of my life was being taken away.

If you are ever there see if you can find some names you recognize on some of the seats!!!

this is how i looked when I saw this.



Tomorrow I will be in the midst of this!! Is this even human???

Why am i going??? Oh, yeah, I've always wanted to go to Alaska. I know I will take a look at this like a scouting mission. I will see how it is and if I like it then maybe we can go back in a few years, during WARMER months!!!

Y'all gots to pray for me. I am a Southern Belle. I handle the 30's like a baby. How will I ever survive??

I know.... I will just keep my eyes peeled for a moose. Sure hope I see one. That will make the trip totally worth it. You see that is on my life list, well if I really had a life list I feel sure it would be on there.

Sure wouldn't mind meeting Sarah Palin either. If any of you know how to contact her and let her know we are coming- DO IT!!!!

HUGE SALE

My store is having a huge sale to help make way for my spring line. If you are local stop by and take advantage of this amazing deal. Hey, let's stimulate this economy!!!! If you are not local and want me to send you some photos of what we have that is not listed on the website, let me know. We can do that too!!

BFF

Have you ever met a friend you just clicked with. It can be hard to make good friends that you know you will have no matter what happens. Well, this week I found just that in Heather. We have several things in common that I discovered as we were up in the mountains all week.
1) she is a laid back mom, like me
2) she likes to sit and chill out
3) she crys at sappy movies
4) she loves fashion

those are some just to name a few. we also have several differences, nothing that is irritating, just different. She is a good listener, whereas, I am a talker. She enjoys hiking, I enjoy the outside but not so much hiking (we are taking baby steps). I love hotels, she loves to camp!!! See, things that we can teach each other about.

I am excited about our adventure in friendship. I love that there is no drama, it is honest, real and fun. I have enjoyed teaching her about the South and learning more about California and cooking. I don't say this kind of stuff much but I do know that the Lord has ordained this relationship and that we are forever friends no matter where life takes us. So to my friend Heather- you are loved.

On Top of Ole' Smoky

The Smoky Mountains that is. Where have you been Mrs. Lee??? Well, we have been in a cabin in the mountains for a week, with NO INTERNET I might add. Mark had a week of shows in Gatlinburg with a youth conference called Xtreme. As part of the week we stayed in a great cabin there. We normally go to Gburg with our buddies the Cowen's over New Year's. Due to a little dude being born, they were unable to attend this year. We decided to take our friends the Whittaker's. Now the folks from SoCal were introduced to the world of Redneck in a real way. Nothing like a little Gatlinburg New Year's Celebration to show that!!!! Fireworks, Space Needle and the works. YEE HAW.

While we were there we took part in a hike up to the Chimney Tops, and what I would refer to as a mountain climb. When I have to grab hold of a rock, plant my foot and scale the side of a mountain- that is climbing to me!!! I am NOT the hiker. Mark, Carlos and especially Heather are. They have decided I am taking baby steps to get there. We shall see. It was very fun but COLD!!!!