Magnolia Designs

This is a very cute and quite creative site. Kathy is the person behind these great creations/ideas. I have known her for several years. It was probably about a year ago that we were able to reconnect. She is now living in the land of Maple and Moose, she is a Georgia Peach that has been transplanted in Canada. Take a look at her things and let her know if there is anything you might want. She is generously donating a "paper pack" for the blog party. Go give her some love and THANKS so much for doing this for us.

Blog Swag

As most of you know there is going to be an ATL Blog Party. All of us ladies and gent here in the Dirty South are getting together and having some good hang time and getting to know the people behind the words we read!!! As a little perk to the partay Heather and I decided to get some SWAG from folks as a little door prize/giveaway type thingy. I plan on spotlighting the persons who are donating these generous gifts over the next days leading up to the party. Most of these companies/persons have online businesses or are available for purchase online. Please if you are reading this go and support these people or at least let's give them the appreciation they deserve. I mean, it totally cost them something to do this for us so THANKS!!!!

Happy Birthday Abbie!

5 years ago today I had the most precious, beautiful little baby Abigail Madden Lee. Little did I know that day that my life would forever be changed and this small little child would quickly eat up my heart. From the beginning she has been such a shining light. She was a big baby and being new parents we didn't quite have the eating thing figured out but as soon as that was corrected she became an angel baby. She didn't sleep much because she was so inquisitive and wanted to take in EVERYTHING around her. She slept great at night and was happy during the day. I didn't know then that her little personality was already there. She is still a little angel (sometimes the devil pokes in for a visit but it's short lived!!)
She is very kind, loving, beautiful and HYSTERICAL. On her 5th Birthday I have decided to list the 5 things I LOVE and ADORE most about my little munchkin.

1) Her SMILE, it is infectious. She grins so big it just melts your heart.

2) Her imagination. She is always singing, making up songs, writing books, drawing and just playing pretend. I love that she is so creative and a free thinker. I don't think there is a box that can hold this one. She will ALWAYS be thinking outside of it!!

3) Her adoration of her father. He is her all, he hung the moon and stars to her. I love this because I feel that she will have such a passionate love for her heavenly Father. Being able to understand the love of her father will make it so much easier to freely love Christ.

4) Her laugh. Ohh, when I get a good belly laugh out of her it just gives me chills. Let me tell you. It is fun to make this critter laugh!

5) Her heart. She is such a precious angel. She is very conscious of others and the difference between right and wrong. She is honest and will tell on her self on a regular basis. (Seriously, how amazing).

I love this girl. She is my baby and my big girl. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for her. It will be big I am confident. I really never understood the love for a child until 10/28/03. At 8:21 am that all changed. It rocked me so hard I realized I NEVER wanted to go back.

Sweet Abbie, I pray you always know how much your mama loves and adores you. My sweet buddy!!

My Other Rockstar!!

She is cute, and quite a little musical talent. She is almost 5 and her piano teacher says she is pretty scary good!! I know she got it from her daddy b/c me... um not so much musical talent.

Third Day Guitar

Do you want to own a piece of Third Day collective memorabilia? Do you want to help someone in the process? Then go and bid on thisThird Day,Chronology Guitar. It is a signed, limited edition (like only 30 were made), out of Mark's personal collection guitar. The money that is raised for this will all be given to the Cowen Adoption Foundation. These are our friends who are in the process of adopting a baby and are in need of some MAJOR funds before December. Don't miss this chance for a truly unique piece. Go tell all your friends!!!

Thanks,

MUSIC BUILDS CONTEST... WINNER!!

First off, I must say that this "little" contest that I just decided to come up with one afternoon has really taken off. I got about 20 entries. That was about 2-3 entries per show. I am very impressed. I was really excited that Mark didn't know about it, but in the end began looking for people that had signs at the meet and greets, etc. See it really can pay to be a Wired member!!!!

OK, now the big moment. The overall winner is:


ROSE RICHTER

There are SEVERAL reasons why Rose is the winner. 1) IT'S PINK AND FUZZY. 2) I don't think I have ever done a post about it but I LOVE Cupcakes!!! Her picture, it's in the shape of a cupcake, YUMMY. 3)Did i mention that it's PINK AND FUZZY!!!
Congratulations Rose. Here is your prize:


You will be the proud new owner of a PINK iPod shuffle!!!
I will need your mailing address so get it to me so you can claim your loot.

The winner. This was VERY hard. There are so many reasons that all of you should be the winner. And in reality you all are. Now, don't get me wrong, there had to be a grand prize winner(b/c I HATE a contest that doesn't have an overall winner- we're adults we can handle it!!!) but because you all did so good I am going to give you a small prize. Each entry will receive an autographed copy of Third Day's latest DVD, "Christmas Offerings".

I will need mailing addresses for each of you to make this happen so you can email them to: thirddaywife@me.com

Also, over the next few weeks I am going to spotlight all of your pictures here and let you know why I loved each and everyone of them. (Not just because my honey was in most of them either!!!)

Thank you all for participating and keep checking back because of its popularity the contest will begin again during the Third Day "Live" tour. Be warned that this time there will be a points category b/c I feel guilty having to pick a winner without some standards!!! So go out and get your tickets to a really great show and try to be the BIG WINNER next time.

BLOG PARTAY!!!

I know some of you are looking for another type of post (I am getting around to it, just be patient!!!)

Until then let this whet your appetite. Here is info. about the BLOG PARTY I have told some of you about. Come it will be fun. Thanks to Heather for really being the one to put this together. I know I told her I would help but.... well this little thing called Kitty got in my way. But she is very precious- Kitty, not Heather, well Heather is but I was talking about Kitty.

I'm there so you should be too!!! Check out this link for more info and the chance to meet some of your other "friends" Below is the "formal" invite from Heather

Oh how fun is this... The date is so near! Less than a month before we get to see each other face to face! I am excited about this blog. I want to use this as a place to get to know everyone who will be a part of the Blog Party! It will be such a fun night, but we have a little bit of house keeping first.

Remember the date of the party is NOVEMBER 8th, at 6:30 pm.

We will be having it at the Fickle Pickle Barn in Roswell GA.

Cost is $21 per person. Dinner cost $20 and I added a dollar so we can have a little extra to play with! So first things first if you plan on attending please go ahead and use the Pay Pal button on the side to buy your ticket! I have set up a Pay Pal Button on the side to make it easy to collect the money for the party. We can give a 100% credit back up till the day before. After that we will just have to enjoy the meal you purchased. :)

Ok last bit of info... My goal is to feature one person a day, in their words of WHO THEY ARE. So if you have not sent me a picture, your website and a bio of YOU, then send it to whittakerwoman@yahoo.com. I'll do mine first!

First...Pay, Second... Bio, Third... lets get to know one another!

Has anyone been to the Fickle Pickle?

See you there,

Owl Obsession

Recently Abbie got her some "big girl bedding". It has taken me almost 5 years to find what would fit her personality.

Well, one day I was browsing through a catalog and it hit me. It was the one. It was as if I heard singing, beckoning me to purchase it. It was the cutest, most fitting bedding I had ever laid eyes on. (And let's remember I see ALOT of bedding owning a children's boutique!!) Well, I told Mark we were making an excursion to said store because quite frankly I COULD NOT WAIT and order it. You know that mail can run a little slow sometimes!! On the day we got it Abbie was not home. So I decided to surprise her and I quickly washed all the sheets & pillowcases and hurried up and made her "new" bed. When she got home I told her I had a surprise for her. I opened the door and she just stood there. Then about 5 seconds later she squealed like I have never heard. It was total glee. She was so proud and then she said... "look at the owls!! I love them". I told her I liked the owls because they stayed awake at night and could keep her company as she went to sleep. (Don't worry we say prayers and she knows that the Lord is the one watching over her, but it's fun to pretend!!). She just loves her bed and can't get enough of it.

Fast forward about a month. She is now TOTALLY obsessed with owls. She has decided to start a collection (so hopefully she can be on some Disney show your stuff show- if you know about this please inform me!!). Then she found out about the school I went to. In college, I went to the local University and when it started it was a "night" school, therefore their mascot is none other than an owl (you know nighttime, students, need to stay awake, owl) it fits, a little kooky but fitting. Abbie has decided she is going to go there, because of the owls!!

We check out books about owls, we watch shows about owls, we play with stuffed owls at the bookstore, we find owls on clothing and have to have it!!!, owls, owls, owls. HOO would have thought the purchase of this super cute big girl bedding would lead to this.... it's a little over the top but I LOVE that she gets so passionate about things. Let's hope that translates to positive things in the future.

Hey, maybe she will major in owls!!! (Can you do that???)

MUSIC BUILDS CONTEST... ALMOST OVER!!

Ok folks. I have officially gotten 8 photos of folks with signs about ye old blog here with Mr. Mark Lee of Third Day. He tells me that he has taken at least 15 photos or more with folks. That means that there are a bunch of you that have NOT gotten me your photo. You have until midnight on Monday, October 13 (which happens to be Columbus day if you are interested) to send me your email. If you are new here and are catching the show this weekend here's what we are talking about.

Tomorrow officially begins the much anticipated Music Builds Tour in Detroit, MI. This is a show that should not be missed. Both bands, Third Day and Switchfoot have been really working hard to make this THE show of the season. I for one don't normally like when the man goes on tour, but they all have been so excited about this tour that I just can't help but hope they have a ton of fun and some really great shows. You can make that happen. If they are coming anywhere near you go out and take a gander. Not only is it 3D and SF, but you also get the great music of Jars of Clay and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Let me know if you will be at any of the shows. I plan on going, but not till later in the tour, so ye who get to go to some of the first ones- I'M JEALOUS!!!

Hey, I have an idea, make a sign for Mark that you read my blog (don't you think he would get a kick out of that !!!) Who knows, maybe if you post a photo of you at the show with your sign, I just might be able to get you an autographed goodie!!! If you can get the rare photo of you, the sign & Mark you might get a bonus prize!! I'm just sayin', I might know some folks that can help me out with that. Email the photos to me at thirddaywife@me.com and I will keep checking back. Pass on the word

Go, get out the bling and get to craftin' up those signs. Go, quit reading and get busy.

EMAIL PHOTOS TO: thirddaywife@me.com

Give me a REVELATION

Today we were in one of Mark's favorite places. Borders. Well as I was walking around said store looking for Mark guess what I found.

I have seen Third Day stuff in stores before, but NEVER such a prominent display in a major retailer such as this. As I was beaming with pride I thought, "hey, why don't we have a copy of that for our house!!". I wonder if there is anyone who can help me get one!

Fear NOT!!

Something happened today that made me question myself. Not wanting to get into specifics I will be very vague but relevant.

I allowed fear to control me. I sat frozen not knowing what to do in a given situation. Then later that day I felt this tugging, pulling, NEED to make it right. I am a believer so my "little voice" to me is the Holy Spirit. So, in an attempt to escape that fear and uncertainty I approached that person (not literally but in an email) and expressed my apologies for not taking the oppourtunity to give them the praise they so richly deserved because I didn't know how they would react. My fear of the unknown kept me from blessing someone. How I felt the rest of the day SUCKED. I didn't like myself. Now, for the record I will state that this is someone I have known A LONG TIME. I would dare say, close to half my life. Circumstances made it weird but I should have moved past that and faced my fear not run from it.

Anyway, I don't know why I am sharing this. This is a little more personal and deeper than I normally go, but I really struggled with this and it took ALOT, I mean ALOT for me to take the hard path vs the easy path. I hope that it worked, I may never know, but honestly it doesn't matter. I followed what I felt my Lord telling me and somehow, someway I know that it will work for the good.

Thanks for letting me share.

Band Geeks!!

Ok, I need to disclaim this post and say I really love my husband and am very proud of him. He is very successful at what he does.

Now let's just say if we had met in high school we probably would NOT have ended up together. Let's set the story. Here we are 15 years ago, I am a young, immature high schooler. I made fun of the band geeks. Not right, I know. It probably stems from some sort of jealousy that I have NO MUSICAL TALENT WHATSOEVER!!!

Now, I still sometimes have this mindset. You see, when Mark and Mac get together there always seems to be some sort of talk about their band days. I generally cringe and then laugh at the fact that I am married to a "band geek". I even have proof of this type of action.

We were at a 4th of July parade this year and Mac and his family were there too (on the other side of the street). The "boys" were having a text conversation since they were not right by each other to make their comments. I guess some sort of band marches by and this is what appears on the screen- SERIOUSLY!!!



Now you see why I am the way I am!!! Don't hate me please.

Hello Out There!!!

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been totally engrossed in baby land. I am out on the road for a few days with Mark. Maybe I can get some ideas for blogging. Please don't forget about me. Keep checking back and see what I come up with.

SWEETNESS

Seriously, how amazing is this little one. Words cannot express what that sweet smile does to me!

I'M FAMOUS!!!

Most of you may think that because of what Mark does that I get to do interviews and q&a sessions all the time. Well, not actually. You see, most folks want to know about Mark and what he does. Sometimes I can feel left out (begin the tiny violin playing now!!!). Well, thanks to this lovely lady NOT ANYMORE. I am blog famous. You want my autograph???

Kat has an amazing blog with amazing readers. She decided awhile back to ask Mark and ME!!! (YAY ME) some questions about parenting etc. In actuality she only asked me 1 question but whose counting?? Please head over to her blog and read the interview. I think my part will be up tomorrow (unless it landed on the editing room floor)

OH SISTER!!

Oh to have a big sister. I am in line at Moe's today ordering for Abbie and me. The baby is fussy and Abbie (being the exceptionally good big sister she is!!) told me she would give sister the bottle. I think GREAT. This way I can order, pay and all that jazz (why did I go to an order and take your food to table place w/ a newborn and 4 year old- by myself? I am still trying to figure that one out). Anyway, when I lean down to carry the carseat to the table this is what I find. Isn't she pretty, love the bottle hanging out of her mouth. Thanks all to big sister!!!

SOUTHERN LOVE

The other day I was having lunch with my new California friend Heather. We ate at this great little restaurant "The Fickle Pickle", ironically the pickles that came with our sandwich were um shall we say, not one that a fickle person would like!! Anyway, as we were there talking and splitting our sandwiches, yes splitting. I was so happy that Heather wanted to try mine and me hers so we decided to split them. This is the making for a beautiful friendship.

Back to the story, as we ate she began talking about wanting to see South. Me, See South?? what does that mean. She said, ya know the stuff y'all (well she didn't say y'all as remember, she is from Cali. She probably said you all) the stuff that the South has that they don't see in Cali. I was intrigued. I needed some examples. I thought this would be funny. Oh, it was.... one of the things she mentioned was the "John John". (Again, she didn't know the proper term for it, but being the good Southern lady I am I quickly corrected her description - the one piece gingham outfit with a mongram type thing in the center that boys wear) yes, the John John. (Named after the outfit John F. Kennedy, Jr. wore in the famous photo of him saluting his father's coffin). I know me some trivia about a John John. Aren't you impressed. Well, I have my own opinion about this type of outfit and Heather shares the same opinion. Not wanting to offend any of our readers we are keeping it to ourselves.

So, I am driving and thinking, wow they don't have those in Cali. That really probably was a little something that probably intrigued her. So as we continue our conversation we begin talking about the North Georgia State Fair. You see, this is something I LOVE. I mean I will go and hang at the fair a few times when it is here.(I know it's redneck but hey...) I mean you can't beat winning a huge toy just by placing a quarter on a color and praying that the little mouse runs into that colored hole (you know what I'm talking about!!!) So, we decide that we are going to load up the Whittaker clan and the Lee clan and fair it up one night. (We would really love to meet the Hixson clan there if they can b/c I know the same obsession that that family has for the fair as well). As we made our final plans via email that night this is the reply I get. DIRECT QUOTE!!

Fair... We are good for the (date removed- we don't want you stalking us :) ), I am actually very excited to see me some south!

She really did, she is ready to see some south!!! I love that she calls it South. We call it other things, but to her it is seeing our culture as it is, very different from hers. But buddy, rest assured she will see some MAJOR SOUTH @ the fair.

FREE MUSIC PARTY!!

If you want to have a good time you need to head over to 33miles website right NOW!!!
My buddy Jason is the singer for this band. He has to have the most unbelievable voice I have ever heard. They are releasing a new album on Tuesday the 16th. The new album is great. They have really worked hard and poured themselves into this release. They have worked with some award winning producers and writers. They are really making a major splash on the CCM scene.

So if you don't go over because it is pretty cool you get to listen free, go because Jason and his wife Jennifer are some of our best friends from when we lived in Nashville and they have two of the sweetest kids on the planet and we love them to death and because well.... just do it!!!

If you comment about the music I just might know somebody that I can get a free autographed copy of to send to a lucky member of my viewing audience. Now that has GOT to be incentive to go take a look.

For more info about 33Miles you can follow Jason on twitter- jasonbarton33 is his handle.

PRETTY NEW BLOG

I have a pretty new blog. Thanks to my friend Jennifer, I am now in girly land. I visited her blog and it was so cute, I just had to do it myself. Go on now, make your blog cute. It's super easy. It took me like 5 minutes.

FAMILY TREE

It has now been 5 weeks since we became a family of 4. It is still weird to think about sometimes. Now instead of talking just about Abbie, I talk about "the girls". That statement has been said by both Mark and I and every time we say it, you see a little grin come to both our faces.

The big girl has been the most amazing big sister EVER. She is loving, gentle, patient and helpful. If the baby is crying we have watched Abbie go and tell her "it's ok big sister is here". SWEETNESS. Mark has noticed that if Katherine is big time crying Abbie will act as if she is Katherine and say things (in a high pitched sweet voice). "i'm hungry, bring me some food", as if she is speaking for her sister. PRECIOUS.

Katherine is a really good baby. Sometimes too good. I find myself forgetting she is in the room because she is asleep and so quiet. That is not a good thing, but I chalk it up to the lack of sleep. She eats well and generally sleeps well. I will be honest it is not the kind of sleep I am used to but the middle of the night TV programming has been quite good as of late.

All told we are fairing well as we transition this family unit. It takes longer to get out of the house. I don't get to sleep as much. I have WAY more laundry. I have to wash bottles. These are the things I have had to re-adjust to after 4 1/2 years. It is pretty much like riding a bike, it just comes back. To say it has been super easy would be a lie, to say we are managing quite well is the truth. What makes it all worth it is to see the joy in Abbie's face as we draw pictures, paint, etc and she has me do a "family portrait".

4 is an even number- it just works and we love it.