Honestly, I don't even know if I remember how do use this thing. It has been SO LONG. What have I been doing. Being a mama. Where have I been, here there and yon.


I am going to try and document my life as simply as I can. I don't really like FaceBook b/c it kinda takes up too much of my attention. Here I can focus on what I want say and if anyone reads it great, if not, who cares. It's for me and me alone anyone that reads it.

My cousin, Ansley is the one that guilted encouraged me to get back to this so we shall see. She might be the only reader and that's cool. I imagine your family feels a sense of obligation to read the thrilling mundane accounts of your day.

I might change platforms, content, who knows just get the "journaling" back on track. It is healthy. Cathartic at time. I can't seem to hold a pen and write much more than a grocery list w/o getting a cramp these days so this will be a good place for my thoughts. Some thoughts some may like, others won't. That's the beauty of it. If you don't like it you don't have to click on me and read. Unlike your FB feed I'm not all IN YOUR FACE with my awesomeness, or lack thereof. Take it from me there is a total lack thereof.

Although, tonight, I rocked out some snowman cupcakes for my 4yr olds Star Student week.

See, I'm all mom like in one respect then boom I'll be all.... oh, I don't know probably all mom again but then my awesomeness isn't laid out for the world to see. Hmmm, gonna have to learn something cool. Maybe I'll start learning to throw Chinese Darts. That way I can become stealth and ninja like. That might be fun. Carpool mom by day and Ninja Mom rescuer of all things fragile by night.

Ok, gotta go, I need to research some Chinese Darts. Or just go watch some DVR'd Project Runway. Crap, the mom wins all the time!!!!

My Story- Have Mercy

First off, so sorry for the delay. With the end of school approaching and the husband being on tour I have been a bit overwhelmed and most of the times just crash and veg at night. I really want to finish my story so I guess I need to post more than once a month!!!

We left off at this dude walking into Mac's house. There were a group of us watching a movie after a long day at the "day camp" that we all worked at as counselors. I guess I should have remembered how much those kiddos wore me out BEFORE I decided to become a mama!!!

Anyway, this dude strolls into Mac's house and is pretty startled that we are all there. In this VERY southern voice he says, "dude, sorry didn't know you were having a party I just came by to get some tapes.". Mac then proceeds to tell him that we are from his work and we just last minute decided to hang out. He then introduces us all to Mark, guitar player in his band. As we all say hello, the first thing I say to Mark is, "you need a haircut!" (oh, did I forget when he walked in he had a ballcap- one of the ONLY times I have seen Mark in a cap, a t-shirt with a big black cartoon cat on the front that said HAPPYCAT underneath, and hair that came halfway down his back. UGH!!!) As a side note if you are VERY close to us you will understand now about the happycat and understand that I am NOT a crazy cat lady.

Cool under pressure (as with EVERYTHING in his life) Mark replies, "yeah, well I'm on my way to get one now." Thank the Lord!!! It really was NOT attractive, but what I did find appealing was that he didn't me mind totally dissing him the first time I met/spoke to him.

Mark proceeds to get some tapes from Mac. I was under the impression that is was tapes that Mark wanted to borrow but NOPE he was picking up some of their first release as Third Day, "Long Time Forgotten". I still don't know why Mark was getting those that day, maybe now that it's 20 years later I should ask and figure that out.

After our 5 minute visit with Mark we all settled back in and finished our movie. Little did I know that hot summer day that this first encounter with the long haired dude in Mac's house would lead to 4 years of dating, 14 years of marriage, 2 beautiful princesses and countless memories both good and bad.

I find it ironic that the Lord used Mark's laid backness and my ability (or disability) for pointing out the obvious to start our relationship. I guess it has taught me that you really never know who you are meeting or what kind of impact they will have on your life. But, if we are ourselves and real then we are honestly going to get unconditional love from those that are meant to be in our lives. Perfect and imperfect, the Lord loves us regardless and allows us to have those "real" relationships in our own lives. We are all blemished, broken, needy people. Thankfully, we are granted those few earthly folks that know and realize this and love us regardless. I know that I am so NOT worthy of this wonderful man that I am married to and he is the calm in my storm. I CANNOT imagine my life without him and need his level head and laid back attitude EVERY day of my life. It hasn't always been flowers and roses, I mean wait till I tell you about our first date!!!!

until then.....

My Story- Come Together

Ok so we last left off at me realizing that at some point in life I would be marrying someone famous. PLEASE, don't think cocky of me, I am sharing all of this to say that it has taken me approx. 30 years to realize that this "vision" or whatever you want to describe it as, had a point. I am NOT by any means stating that Mark is uber famous. I will state that he is quasi famous. When you go to your local Steak n Shake and there is a line of folks at your booth with CD's to sign and I'm digging for anything besides the kids crayons well.....

The Lord knew me. He knows that I have to process to a degree. As much as I like to jump in with 2 feet sometimes the water is WAY too cold and I get right back out. I can assure you, life with a rockstar is NOT all the peaches and roses that some folks dream of. Could I give a laundry list of CONS, sure. I don't want to do that. What I want to do is try and encourage all of you to take what the Lord lays on you and realize He does have a greater plan for us. So I didn't marry Jimmy Conners or Andre Agassi, but I did get a humble man who happened to take the talent that in high school might have made him a "geek" and has been quite successful at it. I mean, my years of saying rah, yay, go team, BLAH BLAH got me NADA- well, except I am very fun to go to a ball game with!!! :)

How did this trip all begin. Let's go back to the dark ages when the earth was cooling (stole that line from the hubby)....

It was the summer after my first year in college. To say that first year was rough is an understatement. It HATED the school I chose. I went b/c there was a guy I like my last 2 years of high school. That as you can imagine is the STUPIDEST reason to pick your college. SIDENOTE: young ladies reading this. Fall on your face before our Lord to begin protecting your heart and give you a passion for HIM and not for anything else. This will save you so much heartbreak in the end.

My parents knew this was a poor choice but they allowed me to be the adult- oh yeah, cause at 18 I had already made such GREAT decisions!!! Anyway, off I go to school. Several things including a horrid Math class led me to near insanity. Then came the kicker. You know that one thing that just sets you over the edge. My sweet, amazing, loving, role model of a grandmother passed away. This was expected, it was in no way a sudden thing, but honestly I really felt like I was losing it emotionally. I REALLY loved my Ma-Mah and REALLY HATED that Math class.

Parents weekend comes and I break down and beg my parents to let me come back home b/c I was so miserable. I would work, go to the local school and then do what I should have done in the beginning and seek the Lord's will for my life and choose the correct place for me to go to school. Again, this is more preparation for the coming years. As usual I thought I knew what the Lord wanted me to do but oh how wrong I would be. At least this time I chose to follow.

Being the ever level headed man he is my precious daddy allowed me to come home. There would be rules, there would be consequences. Just as the Lord had me suffer the consequences of my actions I knew my ever Godly earthly daddy would make me understand the error of my way. It was done in love, there was no malice, ill will, etc. He just wanted me to think about my decisions and begin to really show some adult behaviors. (Now, let me also mention that I am a BIG OLE daddies girl and as much as he wanted me to learn from my mistakes as I wanted to go home I think I had him at the first tear!!!)

So I come home, enroll in the local community college (later UNIVERSITY!!! WOOP WOOP BIG TIME NOW!!!) and begin to get my life together, as best I can. I decided to take a job at our church in our preschool afterschool program. That is where I met Mac Powell. The guy that would change my life forever. The man that would introduce me to my future husband and best friend!!!

He would change my life b/c we worked together and as we became good buddies, he began introducing me to his friends. One of those friends became the love of my life Mr. Mark Lee. So here 14 years later I shall give the man who started the whole thing the credit he is due.


Mac Powell, I owe you a mighty big thank you. Had we not decided to join our "forces" and color some awesome pictures and chat whilst our young afterschool children napped I might not have had the roller coaster ride I have been on the last decade or so! For that I thank you.

Ok, back to my story. Why does the lead singer ALWAYS get all the attention. GEESH!!! :)

So the months pass and you begin the summer hang. As our jobs transitioned from afterschool caregivers to Day Camp counselors (oh yeah, the lap of luxury I tell ya) there was a solid group of us that would just chill at Mac's house after work and watch movies and hang. This was before cool coffee shops or maybe we just weren't cool. That is up for question!!!!

One night this dude came by Mac's house....
(to be continued)- I know the suspense is KILLING YOU!!!

MY STORY- Who I Am

I remember the day like it was yesterday. Sometimes I think it was something that I imagined because seriously, how could what I had dreamed become a reality.

Let's set the scene. I was 7 or 8, have always been a fan of all things tennis and I had a Jimmy Conners poster on my wall (I always liked him over McEnroe, but hey!!!). I also had this really cute puppy poster that I had just scored from the Book Fair. Fresh baby blue paint on the walls and some deep blue shag carpet on the floor. My parents let me pick this out. Why they ever allowed blue shag is BEYOND me but....

I loved my room, it was right in the line of action down the hallway so I always knew what was going on. At night I would fall asleep to the sound of my mom filling her bathtub in our purple tiled bathroom across the hall. This night was like no other, as I am drifting off to sleep I am saying my prayers.

My mom and dad had always encouraged us to pray for our future. Pray for our "to be" spouse, pray for our "to be" children, pray for protection over our hearts as we grew up. So I pray, and I do the falling asleep while you are praying drift off. Sometime later, it could have been 5 minutes, it could have been 5 hours, I wake up and rehash the dream I had just had. It wasn't clear what was happening in the dream, it was totally clear what was SAID in the dream. I was told by a "person" that I didn't recognize and couldn't clearly make out that I was destined to marry someone famous. WOW!!!! Now that is the dream of any little girl!! Remember that Jimmy Conners poster!! Maybe that was who I was to marry. It didn't make sense in my brain that I was about 20 years his younger. Or, maybe I would marry a football player, or a different tennis player. Never in that rationalization did I insert anything but a sports figure into that role. As I drift back to sleep I think, that's so strange. How would anyone know that I would be marrying someone famous. Only God would know that. Let's don't forget, I am young and don't fully understand that we can be approached by the Spirit in many ways. This vision that I had was always my secret. This is not something that I felt I should run around and tell the world. I could be perceived as cocky, crazy or just being a kid. Either way I felt this was an intimate moment for me and me alone.

As the years pass the memory of that night would come into my mind. Not that I felt that I had to seek out someone famous in anyway, I just always wondered why it was a memory that continued to surface in my mind. Even after I met Mark, I didn't think too much about it as he was carving his path in the world of Christian music. Honestly, for years I never even gave it one thought.

Now, as my oldest daughter Abbie is the same age I was when I had what I now call a word from God, I wonder, has she been told something about her future that she wonders if it will come true, should I ask, would she tell or is it best to let it be her moment to treasure and look forward to as I did.

I share this story because as I reflect on the 14 years that Mark and I have been together I now know that it wasn't the summer of 1993 that began the preparation for the life that I would soon be embarking on it was that sweet moment some 30 years ago that was the Lord's simply yet poignant way of preparing me for battle. I'm not gonna lie. Being married to a "famous person" (trust me I use this word loosely, but I feel anyone that is recognized by folks they don't know is considered famous) has its many perks but what isn't seen is the behind closed doors situations of fear, happiness, hurt, questioning, celebration, frustration, and every other emotion that could ever be felt. The Lord knew that my heart needed to be prepared way before I ever met Mark to deal with the wonderful roller coaster life that He knew I would be blessed to ride on!!!

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.